Experience with all-inclusive vs. regular: what is the true cost spread?

[jan-n-john]

I'm curious to hear actual experience/opinions about what is the bottom-line cost of a typical pay-as-you-go cruise (low starting cost but pay extra for things) vs. an all-inclusive like Regency Seven Seas, Seabourne, etc. Of course I understand it varies with the person, but just wanted to get a feel for peoples' experiences.

 

Full disclosure: we will be doing a week in the Carribean in Dec. on Celebrity, then a similar trip in February on Regent Seven Seas. Base fare (Aqua Class) on Celebrity is about 1400 pp; on RSS, it is about 3500 pp. (including air fare and hotel and transfers). When all is said and done, I certainly expect RSS to come in higher, but the question is, what spread would typically be experienced when all the dust has settled? Ballpark numbers.

 

Let's say on Celebrity we are talking about a few nice dinners other than Blu, 2-3 shore excursions, a few drinks per day, gratuities, spa day, and so on, plus air fare, hotel, etc. Typical cruise. But what other things are lurking there that will separate us from our money that we won't experience on RSS? (obviously casino, shopping, dining ashore etc don't count since they're the same for both).

 

What has been your typical final day total (to the cruise line) for a nice cruise on a good ship (say 4-5 stars), and how do all the extras add to the basic fare? How much do you really save by not going all-inclusive?

 

Obviously we'll find out for ourselves, but I thought I'd ask.

Edited August 19, 2013 by jan-n-john

[Keith1010]

I would post this on the Regent Board.

 

Regent is really the only of the luxury lines that include items such as shore excursions.

 

In the end, the other different that is hard to put the dollar figure to is the overall quality and overall service of luxury lines. That means that there are less passengers to crew, more public space, higher quality meals, etc.

 

Keith

[Waynetor]

I understand what you are trying to get at but I think it is somewhat llike a case of comparing apples to oranges.

The cruise lines that offer all inc. have no or very few inside cabins, their standard cabins are larger and they have higher staff to guest ratios offering a higher level of service so comparing cabin type value is hard.

 

Basically if you take a cruise lines like Celebrity/Princess to get a comparison you would take the cost of a top suite and add the cost of a premium restaurant each night, cost of daily use of Sanctuary area to get premium lounge chairs, cost of special coffees etc. Spa and casino cost are extra for each so don't count. Add around $60 per day to Celebrity/Princess cost to offset the beverage cost in the all inc.

Only some luxury lines include tours but if you are comparing one that does then add around $150 per port day to the mainstream line cost to make the comparison.

 

If you go all inc to get the better service, food etc but don't use the free drinks and do your own tours, you are over paying. If you go mainstream and only buy some extras because that's all you want you come out ahead but with mainstream with all the premium items added come out near the same cost.

 

If you are tempted by things like bingo or art auctions these temptations will not be an issue on Regent.

 

Since you re looking at 2 specific cruises start with the cheaper one and then add what you think what you will spend on things that are include in the other include cost like air and transfers. Don't forget Dec is generally cheaper than Feb.

[dorisis]

I'm curious to hear actual experience/opinions about what is the bottom-line cost of a typical pay-as-you-go cruise (low starting cost but pay extra for things) vs. an all-inclusive like Regency Seven Seas, Seabourne, etc. Of course I understand it varies with the person, but just wanted to get a feel for peoples' experiences.

 

Full disclosure: we will be doing a week in the Carribean in Dec. on Celebrity, then a similar trip in February on Regent Seven Seas. Base fare (Aqua Class) on Celebrity is about 1400 pp; on RSS, it is about 3500 pp. (including air fare and hotel and transfers). When all is said and done, I certainly expect RSS to come in higher, but the question is, what spread would typically be experienced when all the dust has settled? Ballpark numbers.

 

Let's say on Celebrity we are talking about a few nice dinners other than Blu, 2-3 shore excursions, a few drinks per day, gratuities, spa day, and so on, plus air fare, hotel, etc. Typical cruise. But what other things are lurking there that will separate us from our money that we won't experience on RSS? (obviously casino, shopping, dining ashore etc don't count since they're the same for both).

 

What has been your typical final day total (to the cruise line) for a nice cruise on a good ship (say 4-5 stars), and how do all the extras add to the basic fare? How much do you really save by not going all-inclusive?

 

Obviously we'll find out for ourselves, but I thought I'd ask.

 

Figure the per diem cost on the Celebrity by including liquor, Special restaurants, gratuities,etc and the compare those to get the difference, One would need to stay in a large suite on Celebrity to get anywhere near the space in the cabin one gets on the Regent. It is the cabin space that makes the difference for us.

[John Bull]

I quite often see posts on CC that say there's not a huge difference in cost when you allow for all the includeds.

 

Well, I've worked out a few & that's not the conclusion I've come to :rolleyes:

The price differences are still very very significant, way beyond the depth of my pocket.

No doubt the experience is much better, as a couple of posters have said.

But you're still talking expensive luxury lines vs mass-market lines.

 

Sorry, but you'll have to go back to the drawing board ;)

 

JB :)

[Happy ks]

This past April our total cost for airfare, hotel pre night, off the ship meals, excursions, mini suite on Ruby Princess, on board expenses, gratuities, taxi fare...everything, came to around $1900 per person.

[MHF]

The main difference to us is size of ship. On a smaller ship, there are few (if any) lines or waits for anything. Of course, a small ship means no large production shows, no rock climbing, only 1 pool, etc.

A small ship can also get up close to ports/sights and usually has eat-when-you-want, rather than set times or set tables.

It depends on what you like and what matters to you.

[boogs]

It depends on what you like and what matters to you.

 

And how much you can afford. We once took a land tour and ended up having dinner with a couple who cruise almost exclusively on Regent. Listening to how much they enjoyed that line, my wife and I decided to consider it for the next cruise we were planning. After factoring in all the additional costs necessary on a typical mass market cruise line to gain a comparable cruise experience, the cost still ended up being about 50% less than on Regent. True, that additional cost bought a smaller ship, a slightly more personalized service, and different ports of call, but we just couldn't justify spending that much more for a cruise. We don't drink much, so having drinks included in the fare on Regent was money wasted.

 

We would rather pay for only the extras we want, not those we have little use for.

[CruiserBruce]

This past April our total cost for airfare, hotel pre night, off the ship meals, excursions, mini suite on Ruby Princess, on board expenses, gratuities, taxi fare...everything, came to around $1900 per person.

 

This doesn't give us the info you need if you give us a number of nights....

[kennicott]

To me, the term "luxury" used so often in the context of evaluating cruise experiences is a misnomer. I agree with Berlitz when they say: "Unfortunately, the word has been degraded by marketing people and advertise agencies---you can even buy a luxury burger these days." For us these are primary differences between the three lines we use, Regent, HAL and Princess:

 

*Regent is pretty much an all inclusive experience which we greatly prefer. As with just about all the large mainstream lines anymore the marketing approach is to cut down on the initial "sticker shock", meaning you pay extra for just about everything on the cruise except your stateroom and eating in the main dining room or at buffets, like the "Lido". We call it "nickel and dimeing". Surprisingly, the final tally doesn't pencil out all that much more, if any, on a Regent cruise compared to the other two on a similar itinerary. Regent has a "Value Comparison" feature on their website and we find it surprisingly accurate, even though it is prepared by Regent and may have a degree of bias. Here is an example: https://www.rssc.com/media/experience/pdfs/2015_Mediterranean_Comparison.pdf

 

*Arguments abound over what should be included in the "all inclusive" features. For instance, for those non-drinkers, the fact that all except premium liquors are free, doesn't set well since they can't take advantage. Some do not like the shore excursions being included. We really like the shore excursions that Regent provides and in our estimation they are greatly superior to those offered by the other two when it comes to queue lines before hand and the number of passengers on a coach.

 

*We find that Regent provides much larger quality staterooms on the average than the other two, with a few exceptions. One is the Mariner's concierge suites, one step below penthouse, penthouse requires you to have butler service, (we generally book this class which is the equivalent of the better "mini-suites" or "Veranda" on the other two). On the Mariner those staterooms actually are the same as or inferior in size and quality to the equivalent class on HAL and Princess.

 

We looked into the much ballyhooed so called premium "Oceania" pretty closely. One problem for us is that we are reluctant to give up our benefit prerequisites on the other three to begin from scratch with a fourth line. But the big game breaker was the dinky size of the Concierge level staterooms on some of the Oceania ships, even on their two larger relatively new ships the same staterooms are quite a bit smaller. Now, granted, on Oceania if you jump up one category to "Penthouse" on their two larger ships the staterooms are gigantic. Unfortunately you have to have butler service to get those and we dislike butler service. Been there done that.

 

*As for dining, it is a toss up depending which voyage we have been on. It does appear that Regent has a few more quality dinners in the main dining room where items like oysters, escargot and lobster are served, but on HAL the best specialty dining room we have ever experienced is their Pinnacle Grill on the Prinsendam. Although the quality has slacked off slightly even there in recent years.

 

*Evening entertainment on HAL and Princess is far superior to Regent, mainly due to the size of the vessels and passenger capacity.

 

*Used to be good "Roll Calls" on CC that were meaningful, but since the advent of nickel and dimeing the roll calls are saturated with posts regarding particulars involving independent shore excursions from folks searching for cheaper deals and not wanting to pay the cruise lines price for their sponsored shore excursions. Now, it appears that the majority of cruisers like the low initial cost of the voyage which allows them to get on board very cheap, then, if they watch their expenditures during the cruise they enjoy a relatively inexpensive voyage.

 

If one is willing to put up with all that add- on charging and still desires to have a lot of quality throughout the cruise E.G. large superior veranda stateroom, gourmet dining, excellent shore excursions, quality liquor, then the cruise can be enjoyable and the overall quality probably just about as good as one finds on the all inclusive, so called "luxury" lines, but I bet the total price of the cruise will end up being more reasonable on the all inclusives, plus you don't have to put up with all the BS the SS Nickel & Dime ships force upon you.

[calliopecruiser]

If you're only looking at dollars and cents, I think there's no question that the mainstream lines are still going to be cheaper, even if you're traveling solo (though not a lot cheaper than Crystal if you're traveling solo). However, "cheaper" is what you'll get, because the experience will be very different. Now, having better service, fewer crowds, or nicer furnishings might not matter to you because you're satisfied with what you've got, but I think it's a very different product that you'll be buying, so it really is like comparing apples and oranges.

 

I think the value of the "all inclusive" cruise lines is great because it's a much, much better experience for my taste. I like not being nickel-and-dimed and having to sign for everything I use or consume. I'm a very light drinker, but I like being able to try different cocktails without worrying if I'll like it and therefore get my money's worth. The all-inclusive feel is a luxury for me that goes beyond the actual cost of those cocktails or soft drinks. I also like the smaller ships with more space and fewer (if any) crowds, and I've found the staff on Crystal (my first and only luxury ship experience) to be far more genuine and friendly than the staff I encountered on my previous cruises as well.

[donaldsc]

You should have a fairly good idea of what the individual items costs. it should not be hard to create a spreadsheet and do the numbers yourself. You could even put a value on the undefinable items.

 

DON

Edited September 6, 2014 by donaldsc

[kennicott]

I also like the smaller ships with more space and fewer (if any) crowds, and I've found the staff on Crystal (my first and only luxury ship experience) to be far more genuine and friendly than the staff I encountered on my previous cruises as well.

 

That's interesting and I agree, Coincidentally I just responded to an old posting where a claim was made that the Regent Seven Seas Navigator is overcrowded. Since I saw no evidence of that on the two cruises we did I checked out some comparisons. This is what I said:

 

"Our first cruise on Regent was on the Navigator, two weeks, and I don't recall it crowded at all. That ship converted me to Regent due the size of the concierge cabin and the quality therein. Plus, I was very pleased with the 1.6 passenger to crew ratio and the demeanor and congeniality of just about every crew member we came in contract with. Since then we have spent many more voyaging days with Regent including another on the Navigator for over a month in the Caribbean and South America. Love those block parties and still love the Navigator.

 

For comparison purposes as to how crowded a ship is going to be, I always check out the passenger to space ratio of every ship before we book. For instance, HAL's Prinsendam comes in at a 41.6, best of all HAL's ships. The new Royal Princess is 30.6. My most favorite ship of all, the S.S. Voyager is 56.3, the S.S. Mariner 63.9, The HAL Statendam, 34.3, The Allure of the Seas, largest passenger ship afloat, 35.4, The Oceania Marina and Riviera 51.6. Oceania's R-ships like the Regatta--36.7. But hey, the lowly SS Navigator is 53.8, which confirms my experiences on her."

Edited September 7, 2014 by kennicott

[Life is Good Cruising]

I'm curious to hear actual experience/opinions about what is the bottom-line cost of a typical pay-as-you-go cruise (low starting cost but pay extra for things) vs. an all-inclusive like Regency Seven Seas, Seabourne, etc. Of course I understand it varies with the person, but just wanted to get a feel for peoples' experiences.

 

Full disclosure: we will be doing a week in the Carribean in Dec. on Celebrity, then a similar trip in February on Regent Seven Seas. Base fare (Aqua Class) on Celebrity is about 1400 pp; on RSS, it is about 3500 pp. (including air fare and hotel and transfers). When all is said and done, I certainly expect RSS to come in higher, but the question is, what spread would typically be experienced when all the dust has settled? Ballpark numbers.

 

Let's say on Celebrity we are talking about a few nice dinners other than Blu, 2-3 shore excursions, a few drinks per day, gratuities, spa day, and so on, plus air fare, hotel, etc. Typical cruise. But what other things are lurking there that will separate us from our money that we won't experience on RSS? (obviously casino, shopping, dining ashore etc don't count since they're the same for both).

 

What has been your typical final day total (to the cruise line) for a nice cruise on a good ship (say 4-5 stars), and how do all the extras add to the basic fare? How much do you really save by not going all-inclusive?

 

Obviously we'll find out for ourselves, but I thought I'd ask.

 

We have cruised on both RSS (Mariner) and Crystal (Symphony, once on Harmony) several times on each line along with several Celebrity ships. Is RSS worth more than double the price of a Celebrity cruise, IMO, not really. We did enjoy eating at Signature and Prime 7 and suggest you make reservations in advance. Everything is elegant on these ships, service was very good but also have had great service on Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. I know Royal is in a different class than RSS and Crystal, but that's the cruise line we enjoy cruising on now.

 

Is the service, food, entertainment, etc. on the luxury lines worth double the price of Celebrity, IMO again, not really. They say, different strokes for different folks. I'd be curious as to your thoughts after you have cruised on both RSS and Celebrity and if you feel it was worth all the extra $.

 

Wishing you a safe journey on each of your cruises :)

[Guest maddycat]

I quite often see posts on CC that say there's not a huge difference in cost when you allow for all the includeds.

 

Well, I've worked out a few & that's not the conclusion I've come to :rolleyes:

The price differences are still very very significant, way beyond the depth of my pocket.

No doubt the experience is much better, as a couple of posters have said.

But you're still talking expensive luxury lines vs mass-market lines.

 

Sorry, but you'll have to go back to the drawing board ;)

 

JB :)

 

I was thinking that the experience on an AI luxury cruise line would be different, but not necessarily better.

[skandls]

If you are booking a regular cabin on the mass market line the price difference will be substantial. If you book a real suite on Celebrity and a regular cabin on a luxury line the costs will be closer. We look are cruising on a per day basis - adding all the costs we expect to incur. After you have been on a couple of cruises you 'know' your spending habits.

 

Personally we would not cruise a lux line in the Caribbean even if we won the lotto. Being pampered and waited on is not important to us. So for the Caribbean we go for the best entertainment. If we could afford it - the premium and luxury lines are great for the more exotic cruises. It is nice to get back from a long day of sightseeing and have a great dinner with super service.

 

So you will find out for yourself if the added money is worth the superior service and extra perks on Regent.

[Flatbush Flyer]

I'm curious to hear actual experience/opinions about what is the bottom-line cost of a typical pay-as-you-go cruise (low starting cost but pay extra for things) vs. an all-inclusive like Regency Seven Seas, Seabourne, etc. Of course I understand it varies with the person, but just wanted to get a feel for peoples' experiences.

 

Full disclosure: we will be doing a week in the Carribean in Dec. on Celebrity, then a similar trip in February on Regent Seven Seas. Base fare (Aqua Class) on Celebrity is about 1400 pp; on RSS, it is about 3500 pp. (including air fare and hotel and transfers). When all is said and done, I certainly expect RSS to come in higher, but the question is, what spread would typically be experienced when all the dust has settled? Ballpark numbers.

 

Let's say on Celebrity we are talking about a few nice dinners other than Blu, 2-3 shore excursions, a few drinks per day, gratuities, spa day, and so on, plus air fare, hotel, etc. Typical cruise. But what other things are lurking there that will separate us from our money that we won't experience on RSS? (obviously casino, shopping, dining ashore etc don't count since they're the same for both).

 

What has been your typical final day total (to the cruise line) for a nice cruise on a good ship (say 4-5 stars), and how do all the extras add to the basic fare? How much do you really save by not going all-inclusive?

 

Obviously we'll find out for ourselves, but I thought I'd ask.

 

 

We did a spreadsheet comparison of an Oceania 10 day cruise in a veranda cabin vs HAL, Celebrity et al. (this summer). With air credit, a price drop, a special deal via a top Oceania TA and figuring in the included gratuities, TA OBC, specialty restaurants, all non-alcohol drinks, etc. total costs were not that far off. We did the prestige alcohol package on top so we wouldn't get nickel/dimed. With less that 700 passengers along with superb food and service, the choice was a no brainer and our Oceania experience proved it true enough that we booked another one while on the cruise..

 

 

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[kennicott]

As I've mentioned previously, Regent does an excellent job with cruise value comparisons. Granted, their numbers may be biased since they furnish them, on the other had, our experiences bear those out. Matter of fact, in most cases they understate the expenses we would have had with the other line(s).

 

Not certain about Oceania having such comprehensive comparisons or even doing anything of the like, and since they are a sister line to Regent, you won't see the two working against the other. However, since Oceania is sort of in between the regular mainstream lines and the higher enders, being a quasi-premium line I guess, and unlike the self proclaimed "luxury" lines--E.R. Seabourne, Crystal, Regent, Silver Seas, etc. Here is a comparison of Regent versus two regular mainstream lines, Celebrity and Princess on pretty much identical Alaska itineraries. Berlitz rates Celebrity #2 and Princess # 4 (from a combined cuisine and service standpoint, out of the top 11 largest mainstream lines in the world)

https://www.rssc.com/media/experience/pdfs/ValueComparison_AlaskaPrem_2015.pdf

[Flatbush Flyer]

As I've mentioned previously, Regent does an excellent job with cruise value comparisons. Granted, their numbers may be biased since they furnish them, on the other had, our experiences bear those out. Matter of fact, in most cases they understate the expenses we would have had with the other line(s).

 

 

 

Not certain about Oceania having such comprehensive comparisons or even doing anything of the like, and since they are a sister line to Regent, you won't see the two working against the other. However, since Oceania is sort of in between the regular mainstream lines and the higher enders, being a quasi-premium line I guess, and unlike the self proclaimed "luxury" lines--E.R. Seabourne, Crystal, Regent, Silver Seas, etc. Here is a comparison of Regent versus two regular mainstream lines, Celebrity and Princess on pretty much identical Alaska itineraries. Berlitz rates Celebrity #2 and Princess # 4 (from a combined cuisine and service standpoint, out of the top 11 largest mainstream lines in the world)

 

https://www.rssc.com/media/experience/pdfs/ValueComparison_AlaskaPrem_2015.pdf

 

 

Oceania occasionally send out a similar comparison blurb taking into account a conservative estimate if airfare, specialty restaurant and beverage charges, etc. They are real eye openers when you look a bottom line costs of the "better" mass market lines.

 

 

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[kennicott]

They are real eye openers when you look a bottom line costs of the "better" mass market lines.

 

Well, people have warned before, don't get the air fares into this. Way too convoluted and confusing.

 

As a for instance, in three days time we get on a Princess ship in Copenhagen. 17 day voyage terminating in New York, fly home to Anchorage, turn around and fly to Rome for a 32 dayer on Regent, getting off in Miami.

 

We use cruise line air for both. Princess beats the pants off Regent cost wise and otherwise. We going business class on both. Princess starts us off in Anchorage and terminates us in Anchorage. Not so for Regent, we have to get to Seattle on our own and back home from Miami on our own. So much for luxury.

[Flatbush Flyer]

Well, people have warned before, don't get the air fares into this. Way too convoluted and confusing.

 

 

 

As a for instance, in three days time we get on a Princess ship in Copenhagen. 17 day voyage terminating in New York, fly home to Anchorage, turn around and fly to Rome for a 32 dayer on Regent, getting off in Miami.

 

 

 

We use cruise line air for both. Princess beats the pants off Regent cost wise and otherwise. We going business class on both. Princess starts us off in Anchorage and terminates us in Anchorage. Not so for Regent, we have to get to Seattle on our own and back home from Miami on our own. So much for luxury.

 

I don't know about Regent's or Celebrity's air deals nor am I interested in how they route folks. I do know that we pass on Oceania's offer of "free air" and take the dollar air credit (e.g., about $1k to certain European ports) and then use FF miles or a $/FF combo for business class tix when and where we want to fly.

The OP was asking about bottom line cost. For Oceania, the air credit reduces the bottom line cost compared to lines w/o "free air." Then add the other items I cited (free gratuities, specialty restaurants, beverages, OBC, et al.) and the per diem price gap between Oceania and Celebrity or HAL is significantly reduced. And IMHO, when one considers the quality of food, service and passenger load, no other cruise line comes close to O's value.

 

 

 

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[MrsPete]

Celebrity is about 1400 pp; on RSS, it is about 3500 pp. (including air fare and hotel and transfers).

I don't believe your question can be answered. To use an old saying, it's like asking, "How long is a piece of string?" It's going to depend upon the individuals involved.

 

How much is your transportation?

How much will your night-before hotel cost?

How much for meals on the road?

How much for tips?

How many for-a-charge meals will you eat onboard?

How much for excursions or other experiences on shore?

How much for travel insurance?

 

Those numbers will vary so widely that we, who do not know your habits, cannot even make an estimate.

[kennicott]

I don't know about Regent's or Celebrity's air deals nor am I interested in how they route folks.

 

Last time I checked with Oceania their air package was similar to Regents. I believe they even use the same air concierge personnel. I do know that Oceania isn't going to do me any better than Regent does for my homebase airport. Both relegate you to 25 "gateway" airports, or they will route you out of one of their "supplemental airports" for a nominal fee, which appears to be the regular rate. Regent does offer a real deal on business class upgrades on some sailings though, which is better than the other lines offer, by far. Generally speaking though, the HAL and Princess air packages and upgrades have been commensurate with Regents.

 

In short, HAL and Princess begin my air at my doorstep and not so for Regent and Oceania, they restrict me to a departure and arrival airport 1450 nautical miles away. Big difference right there.

[calliopecruiser]

In short, HAL and Princess begin my air at my doorstep and not so for Regent and Oceania, they restrict me to a departure and arrival airport 1450 nautical miles away. Big difference right there.

 

And that explains why comparisons like these will always vary with the person making the comparison. It will be different for different people in different circumstances.