papaflamingo

I can't say 100% but I am fairly confident you'll get the OBC to use on the ship. But if you use non-refundable OBC then it would likely be credited back as "non-refundable" OBC so you'll have to use it. But honestly... it was a "gift" of some sort anyway, and how many excursions that you've upgraded have been cancelled? Seems you're making an issue out of a rare event.

Like rcandkc said, I don't think they aren't "use it or lose it.". The "use it or lose" it OBC is the "non-refundable" that you get from Regent. Any OBC you get from a refund that you paid money for is yours to cash out if you don't use it.

Yes it's refunded.

Doubt it's a "windfall" when you consider the additional cost of an extra day at sea (fuel, alcohol, food, etc.).

Have you tried using Safari instead of Firefox? Not sure if it'll matter, but I find that on my Mac Safari seems to be the most stable browser. Otherwise, call Regent as suggested, don't wait or you could lose the tour.

Looking forward to your review! We board Voyager in Oct. for 22 nights so I'll be particularly interested in your impressions of the ship. We also have cruised to many of the ports you'll be visiting so your reviews will bring back many good memories! Have a great cruise! 😎

Just a quick comment about the "every day" selection in Compass Rose. You want it discontinued, why? If you don't like the selections, simply ignore the left hand side of the menu. If you eliminate the "every day" portion all you'll have left is the right side of the menu anyway. But honestly, on long cruises especially, the "every day" portion allows for some "de-tox" meals. We've done 44 nights. I can't eat the more "gourmet" side of the menu every night, so sometimes a more "bland" meal of chicken and veggies is "just the thing." But as to it being "basic," sure... "basic" escargot, caesar salad, steak and lobster with the sauce of your choice (I like Hollandaise on my steak), baked potato and asparagus is... for me.... pretty nice. 😎

I think a lot of the shift to Regent, etc. is that more and more avid cruisers are reaching "maturity" and have the time and resources to do these "destination" cruises. Plus as we age and increase in our ability to afford cruises we go from the inside cabin to the outside cabin to balcony, junior suite, full suite. Regent is full suite, full inclusion. I have loyalty points on Royal Caribbean (even have an open booking I got many years ago). Because of Regent I'll not likely sail in anything less than a suite anymore. But comparing prices for a suite on Royal Caribbean to a similar cabin on Regent, it isn't really all that much more. Main stream cruises are from pretty expensive to insanely expensive. I looked at Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas (new mega ship due out this year) and it's INSANELY EXPENSIVE! For fun, I looked at a New Year's Cruise for Dec. 2024 and it prices from $3763 per person for an INSIDE cabin to $40,709 per person for the Icon Loft! And that's a Seven Night Cruise. That averages from $537 per night per person Inside to $5815 per person for the Icon Loft!!! AND for everything under the Icon Loft (I believe) you have additional costs for drinks, specialty dining, gratuities, shore excursions. Compares to any Regent cruise cost over the same dates.

Yes, but I've never seen it on Regent, I have on other cruise lines. The worst (IMHO) was at Midnight, New Year's Eve, on a Royal Caribbean ship where most everyone (amazingly) was dressed in evening clothes (tux's, suits, cocktail dresses, formals), in the middle of the crowd was one woman who was in her bathrobe, slippers, and hair in curlers. I did think the pink slippers were an especially "nice" touch. True story! 😱

My son did 20 as a Navy F/A 18 pilot and now with Fed Ex. It's a great time for pilots... Hope to see you on board. 😎

It's a little more complicated than you think. But good luck on whatever airlines you choose to fly on. Hope you have a better experience.

We'll definitely have to have a drink! Are your sons commercial pilots?

Expensive flights are just going to be with us for awhile. The airlines are very full and have crew shortages. Simple supply and demand. Too much demand and not enough supply. That's why Regent raised their prices and their contract flights are "less convenient." If you want to deviate you are likely looking at uncharges for the most desirable routings.

We will be on that cruise with you (getting excited). Our plan is to simply do room service. But since you're in a Penthouse A, when you board check with your Butler. He'll set it all up for you and if you want another couple maybe he can arrange for service to the pool deck or somewhere. It's also possible, due to the number of long excursions, that the Pool Grill could stay open for dinner on those nights.

I don't believe it's the pre-package that is an exception, it's the same as going straight to the ship. If you deviate a flight but arrive or depart on boarding day or leave on arrival day you can still use Regent transfer (I believe). We deviated our flights for our next cruise, but the return flight, even though I deviated, leaves the day we arrive in port so I will still be able to use the Regent airport transfer (or at least my TA says I can and I'm set up for it).

I'm a retired Delta pilot. Gates are never guaranteed, especially in Atlanta. There are many reasons for gate changes that can affect your flight. Often the F/A's don't know the gate assignment until they ask the pilots. But if you want to know the expected gate, you can always go on the web and check the status of the flight. Usually it will include the gate you leave from and gate you'll arrive at. Then check the status of your next flight and it will give the departure gate. Also, for planning, the gate a flight goes into today is not the gate it'll go into in a week, so don't count on planes being next to each other next week just because they are today.

You bring up an interesting point in this discussion. Many people point out that it's often cheaper to cruise on a different line, be it Seabourn, Silversea, Royal Caribbean, etc. if you don't use Regent Air. But like you, I prefer Regent. Is there a savings to be had on other lines? Sure, but what is the "value" of the entire Regent experience minus the air? I find, when I add up the "value" to me of the ship, crew, food, drink, excursions, etc. I, personally, find Regent worth the premium they charge, regardless of air. The cost of Business Class air on Regent is "icing on the cake" for me.

Be sure to check out GoReady and Faye. I have a policy with each as well as Generali. All have been really easy to work with, although I have not filed a claim with any of them. But their prices and benefits were comparable for the cost. I always decide which benefit is most important and then compare the different companies and their benefits. Example, since I live in Ga. then Medical Evacuation from the Caribbean is less important than when we cruised to Fakarava in 2018 in the South Pacific where you'd need a private medevac plane to come get you.

If you deviate you can ask to use whatever airline and go on whatever flight you want. If they have contract rates it's approved with no additional charge (except, of course, the additional to upgrade). If they don't have contract rates but can still book the flight they'll offer it with whatever additional it'll cost. We deviate every cruise. Have all your requested flights in from to of you, and when within 210 days of the cruise you can call and give them your choices. That's the most sure way of getting the airline and flight you want via Regent.

Oh please. It's always taken time to get refunds. Instead of whining about it, just be happy that once you've agreed to a cruise, paid for the cruise, that they'll EVEN HONOR price reductions. Keep whining and they'll change that too. If you find their policies "unacceptable," then don't do business with them. There are lots of other cruise lines out there. Find one that's more in keeping with your vision of "acceptability." Give me a break. 😏

The problem, as you clearly state, is Barbados is too expensive. Customer service has nothing to do with availability and cost of flights or hotels but does have an impact on prices.

I too agree that the cost is getting significant. But air is driven by the airline rates so that is out of Regent's control. The reason that people are getting more uncharges when the deviate or having to settle for ridiculous air itineraries is just this. The non stop flights and desirable routings are way too valuable for the airlines to discount them to the cruise lines. All costs have gone up worldwide. Tours are more expensive (I assume) as many tour companies went out of business due to Covid, Regent has to compete with mega-ships for tours, etc. Food, oil, drinks, labor, all are at a premium now. So.. costs go up. For me, I will continue to compare cruise line options. Regent is still close or better in cost for comparable cabins, amenities, etc. with most other cruise lines. I won't sail in an Inside Cabin anymore. I won't fly transcontinental in economy. I want all inclusive. So when I add that criteria up on...say....Royal Caribbean, Regent is about the same cost. Of course that may change, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Alaska flights are "domestic." They are in coach not business class.

May point is your use of the term "extortion." And surely you know that refunds aren't instantaneous in any business. It takes time for these things to process through the system, especially in a company as large as any cruise line. The mere fact that they even give a re-pricing refund AFTER you've agreed to a price and paid it, is a HUGE benefit. You should be happy that policy even exists.

A was responding to AllyFree's comment that Royal Caribbean was practicing "extortion." That is a term, along with "Bait and Switch," that people love to use. But both are illegal and very serious allegations. It also amazes me that people can book a cabin, take advantage of price cuts, something that doesn't happen in many business, and then complain that the difference in the price isn't refunded fast enough. That's what I was responding to.