papaflamingo

Honestly, free or included are merely semantics. My real point was that in the U.S. Regent provides a single price for the cruise BUT allows a credit if you choose to not use Regent air or the pre-cruise hotel. Everything else is simply part of the cruise price, use them or not. The seemingly never ending discussion regarding "free" vs. "included" seems to be from people who want monetary reimbursement for a missed excursion. The nitpicking argument that excursions "aren't really free, we pay for them" is the same as saying "toilet paper isn't free, we pay for it." The bottom line is that Regent's business model has a single charge for everything except spa, flights, and hotels. Doesn't make any difference as to whether they call it "free" or "included," it's all part of the price, As for the $150 value if excursions, there is nowhere that I'm aware of that states that. In all the listing of excursions for a cruise, the non Regent Choice show in price "FREE."

No. Here is the quote from my post #18: "Regent charges a flat fee based on cabin selection. The only add ons are Flights, hotel rooms, spa services, and Regent Choice excursions. Everything else is FREE! Including excursions, dining, drinks, toilet paper, laundry, crew members, pool towels, deck chairs. You pay for none of those things whether you use them or not. So they're FREE." Just like toilet paper or towels, they're supplied by the cruise line FREE of any additional charge.

You said "Why can’t they tell you the truth if there is a different reason?" Sort of means you think they are being dishonest. 😏 I bet if you call Regent they'll tell you the reason they cancelled.

I look on Travel Agent website that I belong to. When I use their cruise booking engine I can select the cruise and go cabin category by cabin category and its shows which cabins in each category are available to book.

No one said "that we shouldn’t care if cancelled and/or if no other alternatives are available," most of us said it happens on ALL cruise lines and is part of cruising. As " What’s the difference?" I asked what difference does it make whether the term "FREE" is used or the term "INCLUDED" is used. HOW does a word make ANY difference to ANYBODY? Everyone who chooses to cruise knows that ports and excursions can be cancelled or changed. If s single port is a deal breaker, then a visit by land is a better idea.

You are making wise choice. Cruising is not for everyone. I, on the other hand, will enjoy the substitute port or the extra day of relaxation on the ship. To each his own.

Did you really completely miss my point? Really? 😏

Was the free plant part of the marketing campaign? If so, then you "paid" for it, right? In all honesty, "free" vs "included" are simply marketing tools. But since you said "It is absolutely different," what "absolute difference" does it make?

If Casablanca is a "deal breaker," Then you're right, you "made a grave and expensive mistake." Never cruise for a single port, instead fly to the destination and tour by land. Cruise ports get changed or canceled all the time for many reasons. On our last cruise we came within 100 feet from the dock but the wind was too strong to dock, and it was a small port with no tug boats, so off we went to a day at sea. It just happens. As for an explanation, on another website, one person had her TA contact Regent for an explanation. Regent stated that Casablanca was cancelled due to “lack of a supplier”. Hope knowing the reason helps. If you have a question regarding your cruise, contact Regent directly or get you TA to contact them. That way you'll likely get the answer.

So, I bought a new TV for Christmas. It came with a free game controller. I didn't want the controller but since it was "free" I couldn't refuse it and get a monetary credit. I could, however refuse to take it. So let me ask you.....WHO do YOU think paid for the "free" controller? When Regent chose to provide free laundry to all passengers, the cost of the cruises didn't go up to cover the additional service. Do we "pay for it?" Sure, just like I paid for the controller. But your obsession with "free" vs. "included" is odd. You comment on it in nearly all your posts. We all know it's simply a marketing tool. So......

What makes you think they're not being honest? Have you called and asked why an excursion is cancelled and been been given a dishonest answer? Would the reason make difference? More acceptable to you? We've had excursions cancel, and to be honest I never really wondered or care mush as to why. If it's cancelled, it's cancelled. Nothing I can do about it, no matter the reason. And you put way too much emphasis on "gee we pay for excursions." Regent charges a flat fee based on cabin selection. The only add ons are Flights, hotel rooms, spa services, and Regent Choice excursions. Everything else is FREE! Including excursions, dining, drinks, toilet paper, laundry, crew members, pool towels, deck chairs. You pay for none of those things whether you use them or not. So they're FREE. Flights and hotel rooms are included in the quoted cost. If you choose not to use them you get money off the cost, so they're INCLUDED. 😏

Thanks. Didn't see that. Fortunately we're booked on the Grand Cruise that departs March 2025.

Where did you read this? According to the Terms and Conditions on the website, the $500 non refundable/non FCC is only on Voyager cruises of 100 days or more. Did I miss something? Voyages 100 Nights or Longer Category Name Suites A-H Days Prior Cancellation Amount Vacation Date Per person Deposit Date – 181 10% $500** 180 – 151 25% 25% 150 – 121 50% 50% 120 – 91 75% 75% 90 – 0 00% 100% **Cancellation amount: 181 Days Prior is $500 per person Administrative fee and may not be converted into a Future Cruise Credit.

Ok, read your other post. My question regarding cancellations on other cruise lines was to your comment in post #11 "I have been cruising for over 20 years and i do not have any allegiance to any cruise line but i have been on 9 different cruise lines during that time, so i do think i'm capable of making a comparison." Your comment indicated to me that you have not seen cancellation from other cruise lines. Perhaps I missed your point.

Why do you find it "dishonest?" Have you called Regent and asked why a port has cancelled? We had a port change on an upcoming cruise, and the email stated "due to a berthing conflict." No deception at all but also meaningless to me. If a port is cancelled, it';s cancelled.

We are traveling with another couple who are first time Regent cruisers. We select dining before them. Can I add them to my reservation when I book dining or do we have to wait until their selection opens up?

We are traveling with another couple who are first time Regent cruisers. We select dining before them. Can I add them to my reservation when I book dining or do we have to wait until their selection opens up?

So in all your 20 years of cruising no other cruise line cancelled or changed anything other than Regent? 😏

Not to snarky, but it's pretty unlikely anyone here will know what port Regent will substitute on a cruise 7 months away. They should send an email so you'll know when they officially cancel the port. There is currently a travel advisory for Burma due to civil unrest. A lot can happen in 7 months. But it's very likely that another port or two will be substituted.

We have friends currently on Celebrity on a Trans Atlantic. The ship sailed last Friday with only 45% passenger load. There are lots if reasons people choose not to cruise, especially post Covid. It simply is what it is. My understanding is Regent, as a policy, doesn't "dump" fares to fill their ships. So they may offer some specials to help sales, but generally they tend to just sail with a reduced load.

I have been cruising since 1998 (Regent since 2018). We have 84 nights on Regent, including 40 last summer. Other than losing a port stop, we have had maybe one or two excursions cancel. After our first few cruises we rarely used ship tours on the other cruise lines. But yes, last minute cancellations did occur occasionally on the other cruise lines too. ALL the issues that Regent faces are faced by EVERY cruise line. Missed ports for weather, missed ports for medical emergency deviations (happened to us a few times on other cruise lines), Itinerary changes due to mechanical problems, port worker strikes, political upheaval, etc. In my experience, Regent handled these issues better than most by substituting new ports, providing on board activities for unplanned sea days, etc., even substituting new excursions when able. If you want to see how much this happens on other cruise lines, then cruise one or two of them and compare. Or, simply read the forums of the other cruise lines.

If a port is cancelled, it's cancelled. The reason is irrelevant. What difference does it make as to why? Nothing any passenger does will change the decision. If you must know, wait until you board then ask. It's simply part of cruising and happens on ALL cruise lines for many reasons.

The Covid shutdown seriously impacted tour companies. Many went out of business, and of those still operating, she do so on a limited basis. Regent also competes for those excursions with other cruise lines, many who bring in thousands instead of hundreds on board. It's just the way it'll be in the post Covid cruise world for a while.

We have a cruise in Oct. that has 4 days in Israel and 2 days in Egypt (also going on a shore excursion to the Pyramids). These are "bucket list" ports for us. BUT.... we recognize the instability of the region. So if they are cancelled, will we be disappointed? Sure, but we'll adjust. It'll still be a great cruise.

Very true! In fact, it'll be nice to go to the Passport Card and be able to easily carry it in your wallet and all visas are digital.