papaflamingo

Pacific Rim would be nice! Tempura Lobster....YUM!! 😎

Yes. That's one of the big perks to Concierge. So really not much of a problem in my opinion. I doubt that offering a few perks like early excursion booking will attract an NCL or Oceania loyalist. We were RCCL loyalists for years, but as I got older and was able to afford, both in time and cost, Regent, we began sailing itinerary based and found we love the all inclusive small ship cruises. Not much in the way of loyalty perks would have influenced my decision.

Like last time they'll likely upgrade the decor to the new look. Doubt they'll do much more than that. Not sure what else they CAN do in only a few weeks.

If they come in as Gold, Four log ins for WiFi and Early booking for Shore excursions and Dining Reservations, $100 OBC, are the big ones. The question is, what's the highest level that you can transfer to? When we crossed our Diamond Plus status on Royal Caribbean to Celebrity, the highest level we could get was Elite, which, at the time (many years ago) equated to Diamond, which was one level below D+. Also keep in mind that likely (at least RCCL did this) any cross program will start you with the status, but ZERO nights. So to achieve the next level you'll have to sail the entire time on Regent.

@Dobby36 Thank you. 😎

Check the airline's website. Best example, look at Qatar and read the perks for "Business Lite." That's what you'll be offered. It's not Regent, it's the airlines. If you read Delta's website you'll see that you'll see that you are limited, with a Delta One ticket (their business class) to entry to the Skyclub limited to 3 hours prior to departure, but anytime between connecting flights. Also certain destinations aren't considered "Delta One" so no free entry. This is not dependent on "restricted business," but for ALL Delta One tickets. So go on the web and research the business class perks of the airline you are interested in and you'll see any limitations. Again, look for terms like "business lite" that you'll find on Qatar. You'll be, when in restricted business, the lowest (or close to it) level of ticket so any perk restrictions will likely apply.

You are misunderstanding Regent's comment. As I showed with my screenshot from my old booking from 2018 it was, indeed, Restricted Business Class. Their comment came particularly with Qatar Airlines when they began to offer a Business Lite fare. That fare, if you look on their website, does NOT include pre-flight seat assignments or access to their lounge. Restricted Business falls into those fare rules with, apparently, an option to "up grade" to include both pre-flight seat assignments AND entry to the lounge. U.S airlines, at least, do not discriminate (at this time) between levels of fare. You are able to pre-select seats, enter the lounge, get full business class perks on board. A smart person (you can ignore this comment if you like) would read about offered perks before accepting an airline assignment from Regent on a deviation. BUT, Regent, at least since 2018, has ALWAYS used Restricted Business Class. Regent didn't "decide" to book on "lower level," they have always booked on a very low contract rate. Honestly, you are more than welcome think anything you want about me and are definitely more than welcome to ignore my posts. In fact I highly encourage you do ignore them, although the fact you read this one suggests you don't actually "ignore" them 🤣. The opinion of someone I have never met and plan to never meet is completely irrelevant to me and my life. BUT, I am actually NOT wrong about this. But heck.....it's America... believe whatever the heck you want. Doesn't change the facts.

Sette Mari is non reservation. So get to the restaurant at least 15 minutes before opening to ensure you're at the front of the line. Tell them it's your anniversary and you would like an intimate table outside. I'm sure they'll accommodate you. Happy Anniversary!!!

When RCCL and Celebrity merged programs we were awarded Elite status on Celebrity if we were Diamond or above on RCCL. But that was the highest tier we could be granted. And our Elite status was with zero days cruised. So to achieve he next tier we would have to actually EARN 750 points (based on from 2-24 points per night depending on cabin, etc.). I imagine any merging would be similar. There'll be a max "highest level" and you'd need to sail the entire number on Regent in order to move up. Pretty sure this is "much to do about nothing."

Yes. These are flights I booked myself for a non cruise. I am retired Delta and have access to the Delta Employee Discount program that gives us a minimum of 25% off any scheduled flight worldwide. But Regent's fares are generally (international Business Class) so low I can't touch them even with my discount. It's not that Regent Air Dept. is a "magical, mystical...black box," it's that they are bound by strict contract rates and the airlines, being oversold and understaffed, don't need to cut their rates for anyone. So it's very hard for Regent to stay within the contract and most often means "undesirable" routing. When you call Regent to deviate, you need to research as many options as you can. Look for flights that have TWO rates, one refundable one not refundable. Those are generally the flights that have Contract rates. Also compare among airlines and flights. It's pretty easy to figure the one's without contract rates as they'll be obviously higher than others. Also, these days, non stops are very hard to find as they are the "bread and butter" of the airlines and not being discounted. So you have to expect at least one plane change. Also, look at going a day or so earlier than you originally want, sometimes those rates will be lower. If nothing else, and you can't find anything satisfactory, let them send you on whatever routing they figure out.

We had friends in the suite next to us, the one with the TV on the wall. We never heard them and they never heard us. I only heard our neighbors when sitting on the sofa and it sounded like he was sitting on his sofa, presumably we were back to back with only about 6 inches and a wall separating us. Then again.... I have hearing aids too....so who knows HOW loud anyone was. 😜

It's possible. Flight costs seem to change daily these days. I booked tickets to London in Oct. for June (not a cruise so I paid for them). I have changed them at least 4-5 times as the costs have shifted. Ended up with enough E-credits to help significantly with booking our flights for our next cruise AND a trip in Oct. to see friends in Ca.!

Thanks..., will do!

First, this is a pretty minimal problem, one can always get hot water and tea bags from room service. Second, if they say "cannot" and then "do," what a great benefit and unexpected surprise. Better that than expecting a kettle and not getting it (I can already imagine the posts here if that happens). Thirdly, it IS possible the TA got it wrong in verbiage. Who really knows what an agent says to a TA?

Did you request the flights you tried to deviate on and were they on the same day as Regent's flights? That may be why. Also, when I deviated I asked the Agent for an example of a routing with no up charge. She told me... I paid the up charge.

If you paid the $175 Deviation Fee then you can call for free to discuss the same booking. I did this last year for our Feb. cruise a few months ago. I arranged the Deviation and then United changed the flight schedule giving us a very short turn time. I called Custom Air and was able to discuss options. Since it was regarding an existing flight booking there was no additional $75 fee. You may have to pay a new $175 deviation fee if you make a significant enough change that it becomes a cancellation and rebooking of flights. Long story for us, we were flying ATL-SFO-HKG. The SFO layover changed from 4 hours to 1:40...to short for comfort. I tried to adjust to a different day since the same day, but longer layover (13 hours) was a significant up charge. It would have meant a cancellation and a new booking so another $175 pp plus any up charges. Anyway, found out from Regent that they paid for the tickets about 60 days out (Dec. 20 in our case), so on Dec. 22 I called United (can't do it on line) and was able to change the flights to leave the day before and lay over 13 hours and catch the late flight to HKG and still arrive the same day, only 12 hours earlier. NO extra charge from anyone and even though I didn't tell Regent, the correct flights were listed on my Final Cruise Summary, so they were aware of the changes.

Regent has always booked Restricted Business Class. It's on your Booking Confirmation under "Additional Items, Air Arrangements. It also states in the FAQ section "Due to recent airline policy changes, all classes of service, including Business Class, may no longer include luggage, seat assignments and lounge access." Here is a screen shot of my 2018 cruise on Mariner showing Restricted Business Class.

UPDATE for me.... we had this problem for our Grand Cruise next year. Of course our final payment date is rapidly approaching so taking no chances of the booking being dropped I called. The Agent confirmed that all our deposits were received, etc. Then added that because we had an on board booking, so a significantly lower deposit, and they changed the itinerary (we were supposed to go through the Suez Canal, now we're doing East Africa to Cape Town), that when they made the change then likely the computer didn't recognize the reduced deposit so showed it as still needed. She had someone (or she did it) manually enter it and the "manage this booking" has come back and all is normal. ALSO.....: IF your "manage this booking" is missing, you can still access Shore Excursions or Dining Reservations by simply "clicking" on the right side of the page where it shows when the excursions or dining open for booking. Underneath the date the lettering will change from black to blue when they can be booked. You can click on it when it turns blue and it will take you to the appropriate page to make reservations. So you don't actually need the "manage this booking" to actually manage the booking.

Our favorite Specialty restaurant on Grandeur was Pacific Rim. But if you want to celebrate, and like French food, I'd choose Chartreuse. For me it just seems more "fancy" than Prime 7 or Pacific Rim. The others are wonderful, but there's something about a French Restaurant that says "elegant and classy" to me, and a place for a special celebration like a birthday or anniversary. Personal opinion of course, you really can't go wrong at any of the restaurants.

Best advice ever. And after a major overhaul too. We are the same way. Having said that, we did Grandeur in Jan. and had a wonderful cruise. No issues with the F-2 Suite, although we could hear our neighbors on one side only, and only when we were on the sofa and probably they were too. So no issue at all for us. Other than that everything was great. I know there are issues with door leaks on every ship. The gaskets aren't effective for a variety of reasons or the doors don't seat correctly. On a new ship it's likely the latter and likely needs a major adjustment. If all the suites in a specific category have an identical problem then it is a design problem from the shipyard and likely beyond the capabilities of the crew at sea.

I may have flown you up there. I flew out of Atlanta and did CVG frequently around that time. And I didn't participate an any illegal job actions, although I, along with every other Delta Pilot, was accused of it more than once. 😜

We're like Chamima. We also have a great TA who is more than willing to send my flight requests. We had to book flights back when Regent shutdown our ability to phone due to over loading of the agents. So I communicated with my TA my flight requests. Long story short, we went through a number of back and forth emails as my desired routing was not available at all (not even with an up charge). And it took time for Regent to process my request, get back to her, and for her to forward the info to me (we were on a cruise at the time). Every other time I've personally called. I have always been able to reach an agent with minimal wait time, and they have always been terrific to work with. I sit with the airline flight schedule open on my computer so I can see all the flights that I am interested in. If I can't get my first choice I can get the Agent to give me an alternative, I can look at the flight in real time on my computer and decide. Once decided I can look at the seating chart and have the Agent select seats as we are talking. For me, it's well worth the time to be able to discuss options I may not have considered, and see seats available so they can be selected (on U.S. airlines at least) immediately. That's one of the great things about Regent, "one size does not fit all" so they afford the opportunity to be as involved or uninvolved that we want. I leave all the other stuff (except shore excursions and dining reservations that I do on line) in the very capable hands of my TA. 😎

I think you're overthinking this. I doubt there are many who will translate benefits at the Titanium level. If they've reached that level on Oceania or NCL they're probably loyal enough to not jump cruise lines. So even if someone did, it's would likely be a single couple or person and extremely rare. And consider, YOU can jump to Oceania and receive THERE top tier benefits if you want. We were Diamond Plus on Royal Caribbean. That let us get Elite benefits on Celebrity. However we were limited to Elite as the highest tier that would transfer, and our eligibility for the next level started with zero days on Celebrity. So likely that would be something NCLHS would do. I doubt they'd let a top tier NCL member come over to Regent as a Commodore. As for the "ALPA work slowdown in 2000-2001," I survived it too....as a Delta Pilot and ALPA member. That was totally different than this situation, and it wasn't a "work slowdown," those are illegal job actions. Pilots simply chose not to fly overtime. 😎

Yes. If you are within the 365 days (or 300 if not in a Concierge or above or Silver member of SS Society), you can have your TA put a hold on the cruise (I think it's up to 7 days you can hold a cruise, but don't quote me on that) and your TA should send you a booking confirmation with a booking number on it. You can enter that booking into your "my account" "booked cruises" section on the website and you can hit the "customize" button for Shore Excursions and it will allow you to see every excursion in each port and if it's available for you. I don't think you can book until the deposit is paid, but at least you can see actual availability. If you only want to look at the excursions, you can select the cruise and at the top of the itinerary there may be a "Click here to receive a list of all shore excursions being offered on this voyage" prompt and they'll email all the available excursions. But it won't be finalized or show availability. That can only be seen in the "customize" portion of the booking. If that prompt isn't there, you can select each port from the itinerary and get an idea of what excursions have been offered in the past.

In my experience the Custom Air Agents are fantastic! I always call them personally so I can explore all the different options. In your case, since you are considering different days, I think you'd be better off to call them yourself. That way you can ask about your desired flights in order of priority and see which works best for you. Cut's out the middleman (the TA), so the decision is yours and immediate. I don't see what benefit your TA will get since Regent either has or doesn't have contract rates on a flight.