Is Regent worth the extra $$$$?

[nana541]

Are you kidding me? It's not free it's included at $500-$600 per person PER DAY it's over priced.

 

Cruzsnooze!! First you are welcome to your opinion but I have just one question for you.....have you EVER sailed with Regent???? I asked because in looking at your posting history I notice mostly Princess and Royal Caribbean???

So I have just got to wonder how you know $500 - $600 a day is not worth it, given all it includes.

Welcome to the Regent board! Enough said.....

[LindaM]

Good grief!!!! The point is, it's included, no more nickle and diming, signing or wondering about just how much more will you owe before this cruise is over....

If you don't like the package Regent offers then go cruise with Carnival..... Wait in lines and sign, sign, sign for everything, and oh

ya owe them another $1000, or $2000 (or more) at the end of the cruise.

 

Ok now I've had my say....yes I think you just might enjoy Carmival

 

 

PS thanks Esimon :)

 

My feelings, exactly!!! (Except I wouldn't have suggested that someone would be happier with Carnival). Regent does cost a lot more. We are paying for a more dignified, classier and elegant experience. I am willing to pay for it---I just can't afford to do it as often as I'd like.

[nana541]

My feelings, exactly!!! (Except I wouldn't have suggested that someone would be happier with Carnival). Regent does cost a lot more. We are paying for a more dignified, classier and elegant experience. I am willing to pay for it---I just can't afford to do it as often as I'd like.

 

LindaM: your right...the Carnival comment was uncalled for....

[tombo]

Even though it's an illusion that anything is "free" on Regent, it's an illusion that I enjoy nonetheless. Since the final prepayment occurs four months before the sail date, it's easier to disassociate the pain of the expenditure and the happiness of gratification. Then after you return, if you've continued to receive income and haven't charged very much while away, you get the bonus illusion of having more cash on hand than usual! All of this contributes to the impulse to do it again.

[forevertravel]

I have to throw in my 2 cents worth. I totally agree with Nana and others. Once you experience Regent nothing compares. If you enjoy the finest things in life and being pampered, then Regent is for you. Do you pay a little bit more? Of course. Remember, you get what you pay for. As others have said, once you arrive on the ship everything is paid for. Sure, it's not free...what is? But the experience is worth every penny. I hate having to sign every time I want a drink and hate those pesky photographers the most. So, if you want to indulge and get the best service go with Regent. Look at it this way. Other cruise lines are like staying at a Hilton or Sheraton. Regent is the Ritz and Four seasons. Do you pay more at Four Seasons? Of course. Do you get better service? No question. It's all a matter of preference and how we want to spend our money.

[KathyPet]

We did our first Regent cruise (10 day Mediterranean) last September on the Mariner and just loved it. We have previously sailed with Seabourn. I just booked a 9 night Baltimore-Bermuda cruise on RCCL for this June and in order to get the same amount of cabin space as the standard cabin on the Mariner I had to book a Jr. Suite on RCCL. I would sail with Regent all the time if I could afford it.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Even though it's an illusion that anything is "free" on Regent, it's an illusion that I enjoy nonetheless. Since the final prepayment occurs four months before the sail date, it's easier to disassociate the pain of the expenditure and the happiness of gratification. Then after you return, if you've continued to receive income and haven't charged very much while away, you get the bonus illusion of having more cash on hand than usual! All of this contributes to the impulse to do it again.

.

 

That's a very good point, and one that I think applies to us. We go on our next Regent trip in about 5 weeks or so, and I will definitely have that impulse, although I'm not about to act on it, because Regent prices are out of sight right now. But it is nice not having those pesky credit card bills when you get home.

 

... Once you experience Regent nothing compares. If you enjoy the finest things in life and being pampered, then Regent is for you. ... Other cruise lines are like staying at a Hilton or Sheraton.

 

I would say, rather, that once you experience one of the luxury cruise lines, nothing compares. I haven't done Seabourn or Silversea, but I know folks who adore Seabourn. I also believe that Oceania stands up well to that test.

 

I would sail with Regent all the time if I could afford it.

 

That's the bottom line, isn't it? Again, I would say that I would sail one of the luxury cruise lines all the time, try each of the ships, if I could afford it.

[nana541]

I have to throw in my 2 cents worth. I totally agree with Nana and others. Once you experience Regent nothing compares. If you enjoy the finest things in life and being pampered, then Regent is for you. Do you pay a little bit more? Of course. Remember, you get what you pay for. As others have said, once you arrive on the ship everything is paid for. Sure, it's not free...what is? But the experience is worth every penny. I hate having to sign every time I want a drink and hate those pesky photographers the most. So, if you want to indulge and get the best service go with Regent. Look at it this way. Other cruise lines are like staying at a Hilton or Sheraton. Regent is the Ritz and Four seasons. Do you pay more at Four Seasons? Of course. Do you get better service? No question. It's all a matter of preference and how we want to spend our money.

 

Oh oh Forevertravel you put it soooooo perfectly! Guess I want to be a Four Seasons kinda girl :)

[Travelcat2]

Oh oh Forevertravel you put it soooooo perfectly! Guess I want to be a Four Seasons kinda girl :)[/

 

You already are;)

[newlondon]

forevertravel, I couldn't agree with you more:D You get what you pay for!! I have said this many times on this board as well as SS and on River Cruising about Tauck. Unfortunately there are people who don't want to hear that and wow the reactions:eek: I still maintain no matter what others say it is a truism. If you want the best you pay for it.

[Balloon Man]

Newlondon is spot on. True value is getting what you pay for. If you pay less your expecations should be less. When I pay more, such as on Seabourn or Regent, then my expectations are that much higher. Of course, at the end of the day there is rarely such a thing as a free meal, or drink, or excursion: they are all in the fare. But the satisfaction of not having to sign for everything also has comfort value.

[TedC]

Sailing with a few hundred pax instead of a few thousand is worth a lot for many of us.

[stjohnrocks]

This bit about free makes me laugh. My favorite line to my DH after buying yet another pair of shoes is "but they were on sale". His response is alway well how much were they and do you Really need them? Of course not but "it's free and on sale" work on me everytime;). So I'm guessing I'm going to like Regent:).

[nana541]

Ok we do all know it's not "Free" but darn near everything is included.....

You can choose to take only included tours, there are lots of them! You can choose to drink to excess on included liquor or you can choose to purchase something fancier!

Sadly the following is not included:

Casino, Spa, Regent Laundry services, phone & Internet (unless you have sailed 21 days with Regent:) business air unless you are in Penthouse and above, last I do not think Caviar is an included food item... No worries about that as I don't like the stuff!

 

Included all..... No signing!!!!! No big bill at end of cruise :)

[RachelG]

Plenty of opportunities to eat caviar if that is your thing. Every Sunday breakfast is caviar and champagne. The captain's reception, plus several other times throughout the cruise.

[nana541]

Plenty of opportunities to eat caviar if that is your thing. Every Sunday breakfast is caviar and champagne. The captain's reception, plus several other times throughout the cruise.

 

Well see even more Free errr Included stuff :)

[Swyre]

Not convinced Regent is more expensive, or at least not worth bothering about. I'm taking my first cruise (on Mariner) in a couple of weeks time, esentially as a surprise for my other half (she won't know anything about it until we get to the dock at Istanbul).

 

I did a lot of research and sums before booking with Regent and from what I could work out, by the time you add on the cost of a room with a view, what you'll spend on drink, air fares, speciality restaurants, gratuities, whatever, Regent looks like a pretty good deal.

 

Anyway, Regent, Silversea and similar are the only options open to me as I don't want to spend my holiday in a floating theme park. Regent's floating boutique hotel looks much nicer!

 

R

[RachelG]

Swyre, What a great surprise, and what a lucky wife! How are you going to get her to Istanbul though without her suspecting something?

[ginny123]

Swyre, my husband had the exact same thoughts...no floating theme park for him, and after much calculating, research, blood, sweat and tears, we booked. We loved both cruises we've taken on Regent and are looking forward to booking another one soon. Hope you have a wonderful time!

[Travelcat2]

I cannot imagine a better surprise. Even if she thinks you are spending a week in Istanbul. . . . . that is fabulous too:)

[forevertravel]

As RachelG said "caviar is included". Many a times for breakfast or as appetizer in Compass Room. Yes, nothing is free but once you paid for it, you feel is free because there are no checks to sign. I have crunched numbers and compared cruises I'm interested in with other cruise lines. Yes, I usually end up paying $1,000 or so more. However, to me is all worth it. For example, we booked the 16 day Asia cruise for next March. I looked at Oceania, Silversea and regular (not luxury) lines. I crunched the numbers and Regent was a much better deal. I am upgrading to business class for $1500/pp. Regular coach fare is over $12,000 and business around $18,000. If I add that to a regular line ($10,000 or so for a balcony cabin) and then drinks, tours, and a 3 day pre-cruise or post cruise tour Regent is throwing in, I'm better off with Regent. I know the service will be superb and I won't be with over 1,000 passengers. So yes, I'm also a Four Seasons kind of gal. That said, I only hope Regent stops raising fares so much. I think having an increase several times a year is a bit much. But, for the time being is Regent. Even DH loves Regent and goes along when I tell him how much the cruise will be. I apologize I've become too wordy.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Wow, that's quite a surprise. Hope you can convince her to bring the kinds of clothing that she might want to wear on a cruise, without tipping her off to the surprise! (I know what I would wear for a week in Istanbul is quite different from what I like to wear on a cruise ship in the Med.)

[nana541]

Not convinced Regent is more expensive, or at least not worth bothering about. I'm taking my first cruise (on Mariner) in a couple of weeks time, esentially as a surprise for my other half (she won't know anything about it until we get to the dock at Istanbul).

 

I did a lot of research and sums before booking with Regent and from what I could work out, by the time you add on the cost of a room with a view, what you'll spend on drink, air fares, speciality restaurants, gratuities, whatever, Regent looks like a pretty good deal.

 

Anyway, Regent, Silversea and similar are the only options open to me as I don't want to spend my holiday in a floating theme park. Regent's floating boutique hotel looks much nicer!

 

R

 

Wow I am so impressed we have a "New to Regent" cruiser who already gets it...by the time you put all the components together Regent in many cases is an excellent deal! Which is also why we have not cruised Oceania as I just can't make the numbers work

Welcome to Regent and you must be a keeper if Regent is the surprise! :)

[Swyre]

Not that difficult for me to keep the secret because (actually) cruising (probably) isn't really my thing as I'm an outdoor person who would rather be in a tent for a week or sitting on a horse but I'm getting excited anyway! As it happens, other than for ski trips (not much snow in London) I've only been out of the UK twice for holidays in my fifty seven years and associate aeroplanes with work.

 

Sally (my other half) knows it's a four hour flight from London but not her destination other than it's likely to be warmer than the UK so she's worked out she's probably going to the Mediteranean but not exactly where. She has postulated that we may be going on a cruise but without actually denying the facts, I've pointed out to her that cruises leave from Southampton and we're leaving from Heathrow.....

 

All she knows for sure is that we're staying at a hotel in Feltham (a particularly nasty part of London but next to the airport) the first night of our holiday. We're spending the night before the cruise in Istanbul and I simply won't tell her what's happening the following day. Maybe I'll be able to see Mariner from the hotel tho'. When we get to the docks I'll tell her we're going on a ferry which is (sort of) true.

 

As regards clothes, I'm not that sure what to wear myself but I've told Sally to "think tea at Claridges" in the evening and "comfortable" during the day. I get the impression tho' that people aren't all that bothered what you wear as long as you don't put your feet on the table (which we won't).

 

Actually Regent's business plan is quite clever. As I've paid "up front" a few months ago and have forgotten about the cost, by the time I get on the ship the holiday will appear to be free so I won't mind paying for a bottle (or several) of premium wines. If it was "pay as you go," I'd probably consider them too expensive.

 

R

[RachelG]

Swyre, you must be the UK version of my husband. He is 58, and would rather be sitting on a horse or out hiking in the wilderness than anything else. But I dragged him kicking and screaming on a Regent (then Radisson) cruise 10 years ago, and he has been hooked ever since. Now he is the one trying to convince all his friends to come with us. Since you "get it" as far as the business plan, I suspect you will be hooked also.