Pcardad

All reports are that it is back to normal - I am going out next week to check it out.

It is an allowable deduction...I verified it. Google is my friend.

The cruise fare and the commission are the same...the only difference is how the kickback to the client is paid. Chances are the OBC is deductible and the check to the client is not.

Regent has a limit on the amount of OBC a TA can place...or they used to.

Much better than the previous 11 day lockdown...ty for the info.

The OBC's described in the letter from the TA are refundable. "Any unused reward credit can be pulled out as cash on the last day of sailing. For guests that wish to receive their reward back in check form Regent will automatically send out any unused reward to your home within 30 days of disembarkation."

There have been refundable OBC for at least 10 years...not sure about longer than that.

What would you like me to explain? I have no idea why this one agency made a change. I know that Regent has not informed me or the office I work through or my Rep of any changes. Maybe they are putting as much as possible ($1,500) onto an OBC as a tax write-off?

Seems like the TA is buying the Client refundable OBC.....which can be taken as cash or in a check after the cruise....am i reading it wrong?

Makes perfect sense - if a TA buys OBC for a client, Regent makes sure it is on their account for the sailing. If it is unused, Regent refunds it to the client (or the client may draw it as cash during the cruise). It has been this way for years.

I apologize to you, Pudgesmom, if my response came across in any way negative...that was certainly not my intent. I have also had negative experiences but if I judge them to be isolated incidents then I do not post them so as not to discourage others. However, Regent, like any other company, has its shortcomings and I think those should be discussed here, mentioned in comment cards, pointed our to the GM and whatever other method is most appropriate for the circumstances in order to get the issue corrected. The positive experiences are mentioned by myself and my clients in great detail on the mid-term cruise card and the final cruise card along with names and specific examples. Good people are hard to find and Regent owes 95% of its success to its people.

Lol, I am sure you would...and that's OK. I am not trying to educate you, just share facts with others. Any TA can buy OBC for their clients...it is certainly not something that has changed recently or that senior people at Regent would get involved in.

It is not - Regent doesn't get involved with kickbacks. I just checked with my contact at Regent. This is a change at the TA level.

That is 3rd hand knowledge...I am not sure how solid it is. I can confirm that neither myself not any other TA I know of have heard of any changes whatsoever on the part of Regent. If Regent made any change whatsoever, it would be in writing. Sounds like this may just be the single agent...at least until we get more info.

What proof do you have that Regent had anything to do with this change? As a TA, I have not been sent anything. There is no commission change and Regent has nothing to do with a kickback so how are they responsible?

I wonder if Regent is clamping down on the kickbacks? I haven't heard anything but it seems a lot of TA's are making changes...

Israel wants passengers on B2B cruises to be tested at the changeover...Regent is not currently doing this. Regent's current policy is "Guests will only be tested while on board if they report symptoms consistent with COVID-19, and it is deemed a medical necessity by the ship’s doctor, unless required to disembark due to local public health requirements." Israel feels that passengers who have been on a previous leg should be tested with the new passengers coming on board.

Israel is wanting extra testing of passengers from previous legs....

I am sorry but I didn't say that. I said "but I have clients who have spent millions who have not received a response to letters written"...and I do. This couple wrote two letters to corporate about an issue and never got a reply. I was speaking to the hit or miss results of writing to corporate. They were not writing about an excursion nor seeking a refund.

Would you be willing to elaborate on the discussion and who you had it with? Were you given a copy of the quarantine policies?

AIG is good - so is Allianz. Regent insurance is too expensive.

I suspect Regent is following EU guidelines instead of those of individual countries or they might have updated their requirements by now - or they are just slow. https://www.rssc.com/voyage-health

Regent is following the EU mandates.

Malta is a single day stop mid cruise and Regent says Malta requires this form. I am filling this out and the form will only accept 4 countries as a FINAL destination...Malta is not one of them. You cannot proceed with the form until you make a selection as to final destination. It would seem the only way forward is to select Malta as the final destination.....? Regent has no knowledge of how to complete this and suggests I call the consulate. I have a call into the consulate and have emailed as well - has anyone had any luck completing this? With gratitude...