Priority Boarding for Upper Suites, Poll and Discussion

[Hambagahle]

I just go back to the question "Why should a possible one-time Regent customer who drops an extra few grand get a benefit that a long-time Gold or Platinum (or higher) cruiser doesn't?" You've got a possible one-and-done cruiser being treated 'better' than someone who has been loyal to Regent for 10, 20 years or more but just happens to prefer booking a PH. IMO, the upper level SSS members should receive priority boarding before someone who just happened to book a 'named' cabin. After all, they're the ones who have spent tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars with Regent. And what about people who have been bumped from a lower GTY cabin, or someone who took a deal on an upsell? They may have actually ended up paying less for their upper level cabin. Do they still get priority boarding?

 

 

 

True, in the grand scheme of things, whether you board at 12:00 or 2:00 is a very minor thing...but when you start alienating your established customer base with policies like this, it's a problem. I just think Regent needs to give these things more thought before they roll them out...and you absolutely, positively, definitely need to include Platinum and above members in any of these programs, too.

 

 

 

I mean, my wife and I are just Gold, but I hate to think of how much money we've spent to enjoy a few weeks every year aboard a Regent ship. We usually book 'F' cabins or thereabouts, with the occasional foray into PH or named suites - and I'll be honest, it kind of irks me that first-time Regent cruisers are getting priority boarding and included laundry on some itineraries - perks that I've never received in my 8 years of cruising on Regent. Maybe I'm petty, but that's the way I feel. We specifically chose Regent initially because there was no 'us and them' mentality. I just hate to see that going away.

 

 

 

I am "just Gold" too. However I have only once booked a "normal" suite. On all our other voyages we have had - at the least - a PH B. once a SS Aft. I think all this fuss about the "lanes" for boarding is silly. As I have said before - I fly Business class. I do not expect to have to stand in a long queue to check in or board my flight. And I get a % increase in FF miles for my ticket. I see no reason why on earth I wouldn't get the same "privileges" when boarding a ship.

 

Were we to take a normal suite I would not expect to have any priority and that doesn' t bother me an iota. It is a choice I would have made myself...

 

 

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[Travelcat2]

[quote=Hambagahle;54806758 As I have said before - I fly Business class. I do not expect to have to stand in a long queue to check in or board my flight. And I get a % increase in FF miles for my ticket. I see no reason why on earth I wouldn't get the same "privileges" when boarding a ship.

 

 

And, as I said before, Regent is not an airline. Airlines have 2-4 classes of passengers. Regent ships are equivalent to a First Class section on an airplane. First Class is not boarded based on who paid more to get their First Class ticket. Some people pay nothing (Frequent Flyer miles) and others pay top dollar. It doesn't matter - First Class is boarded at the same time (and the same can be said for Business Class).

 

In terms of Oceania - once again - Oceania is not Regent (nor are any other mainstream, premium or premium plus cruise lines).

 

Regent is doing what Regent is doing but let's not mix things up by discussing airlines and non-luxury cruise lines. IMO, they are not relevant to this discussion. What is relevant is other luxury cruise lines (Crystal, Silversea and Seabourn). Someone posted several pages back that Silversea has some type of discreet priority boarding. I would like to learn more about that.

[Focused1]

TC: “Someone posted several pages back that Silversea has some type of discreet priority boarding. I would like to learn more about that.”

 

 

We sail in the upper suites on Silversea. I have not noticed nor am I aware of a priority boarding policy. Frankly, I don’t remember ever having to stand in line or wait to process in when boarding a Silversea ship even on the larger ship Silver Muse which we sailed on in September. We normally show up around noon time, process in and board the ship. Now, where the differentiation enters the equation is when upper Suite rooms are ready which is usually earlier. Perhaps the policy is so discreet even eligible passengers aren’t aware of it?:D

[WesW]

Silversea offers a early boarding VIP package that we had no idea existed until our TA gave us one. We were met about 11:30a.m by a Silversea representative who discreetly escorted us onboard (checked in, champers in hand) suites were ready. We not only go to board early, we had dry cleaning/pressing included for the cruise, and two comp ressies for the french specialty restaurant (Le Champagne)

[Travelcat2]

Silversea offers a early boarding VIP package that we had no idea existed until our TA gave us one. We were met about 11:30a.m by a Silversea representative who discreetly escorted us onboard (checked in, champers in hand) suites were ready. We not only go to board early, we had dry cleaning/pressing included for the cruise, and two comp ressies for the french specialty restaurant (Le Champagne)

 

Thanks for the explanation. So, if I understand correctly, anyone can purchase a "VIP package - no matter what suite level they are in? The fact that it is so discreet is definitely different than what Regent is doing.

 

As you know, we like Silversea overall but hope that Regent never decides to make one or more of their specialty restaurants ones that passengers have to pay for.

[Anchorbuoy]

deleted

[nfcu]

Also note that unlike Regent, almost all of the Silversea check in process happens on board the ship at the Reception Desk, not in the terminal. On Silversea, you receive your suite key when you arrive in the terminal and then board to get your picture taken, register your credit card, etc. There is no line up in the terminal after boarding begins.

 

All of Regent check in occurs in the terminal like mass market cruise lines.

[rcandkc]

Also note that unlike Regent, almost all of the Silversea check in process happens on board the ship at the Reception Desk, not in the terminal. On Silversea, you receive your suite key when you arrive in the terminal and then board to get your picture taken, register your credit card, etc. There is no line up in the terminal after boarding begins.

 

All of Regent check in occurs in the terminal like mass market cruise lines.

 

This is not true. It depends on the Port you are embarking. I have registered onboard several times.

[Travelcat2]

This has been our experience as well. If you exclude Miami (and there is no port I would rather exclude), most of our embarkation check in has been on the ship and is handled very well. Now I'm wondering how the priority boarding (which BTW is now listed as a benefit of upper suites on the website) is done when you are checking in onboard. Perhaps it isn't as "in your face" as it is in Miami.

[briar14]

Our experience has been the same, sometimes dockside and sometimes Constellation Theater 🎄

[Caroldoll]

Hambaghale. I need you to know I am right with you.

[dlouise]

And i'm right there with you both.

As an aside I just read on a Crystal thread that they now have priority boarding.

[Paul&Shark]

I just go back to the question "Why should a possible one-time Regent customer who drops an extra few grand get a benefit that a long-time Gold or Platinum (or higher) cruiser doesn't?" You've got a possible one-and-done cruiser being treated 'better' than someone who has been loyal to Regent for 10, 20 years or more but just happens to prefer booking a PH. IMO, the upper level SSS members should receive priority boarding before someone who just happened to book a 'named' cabin. After all, they're the ones who have spent tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars with Regent. And what about people who have been bumped from a lower GTY cabin, or someone who took a deal on an upsell? They may have actually ended up paying less for their upper level cabin. Do they still get priority boarding?

 

True, in the grand scheme of things, whether you board at 12:00 or 2:00 is a very minor thing...but when you start alienating your established customer base with policies like this, it's a problem. I just think Regent needs to give these things more thought before they roll them out...and you absolutely, positively, definitely need to include Platinum and above members in any of these programs, too.

 

I mean, my wife and I are just Gold, but I hate to think of how much money we've spent to enjoy a few weeks every year aboard a Regent ship. We usually book 'F' cabins or thereabouts, with the occasional foray into PH or named suites - and I'll be honest, it kind of irks me that first-time Regent cruisers are getting priority boarding and included laundry on some itineraries - perks that I've never received in my 8 years of cruising on Regent. Maybe I'm petty, but that's the way I feel. We specifically chose Regent initially because there was no 'us and them' mentality. I just hate to see that going away.[/quote

 

Bill,; very well said! We do understand your feelings.

The SSS membership benefits are eroding.

We became Platinum by making 17 trips in the past 5 years. Just see what happened to the perks in those five years.Perks like , free wifi, laundry etc are available for first timers now as well.

 

Jackie won't like this, but I see a bad moon rising for those who worked so hard to achieve Titanium level. Their premium benefit is the limousine service. Right now in Belgium f.i. for all 2018 sailings a free limousine service to the airport is offered for All customers for All suites.

 

This might be a pilot project......before roll out...:cool::cool:

 

Bill; We sail with Silversea and Seabourn as well.

Would it be an idea to start a new thread and compare their loyalty programs with Regents? The free sailing that can be earned at Seabourn might be tempting now more than ever...:halo:

[Travelcat2]

And i'm right there with you both.

As an aside I just read on a Crystal thread that they now have priority boarding.

 

As an Oceania customer, do you not agree that you are used to it and therefore it isn't a problem? Please consider that Regent customers have never gone through priority boarding and there were no complaints that I ever read on CC that indicated that the boarding process was anything but great. Sometimes our perspective is different based upon our prior experiences.

 

Paul&Shark - thanks for the heads up. Wow - that is an expensive perk (depending upon the port of course). Having just turned Titanium, we were quite impressed with the Mercedes that drove us from the ship to the airport (we were so excited that we didn't notice much about the vehicle that took us to the hotel).

 

Agree with you about the bad moon.

[ronrick1943]

I really think everyone is making way too much out of this. Regent has a good marketing team---I'm pretty sure they know what they are doing. They need to keep the loyalty program going, but they also need to sell those higher suites at full price--to do that they need to be competitive, and if that means better perks for high end suites-that's the way it goes. Once Regent has to upsell these suites, Regent is saying the value for that suite isn't what it should be. They can do both. Rick

[mariners]

I am one of the passengers who have not sailed on Regent for quite a few years, but voted on the poll. Those who know me, or have followed my posts, could easily predict that I would vote for all passengers being treated equal (outside of their suites). Despite being on our way to Titanium, we chose not to sail to Regent as we didn't like the direction that Regent chose to go at that time. Other passengers stayed, or chose to sail on Regent as it was a good fit for them.

 

I understand why those in "named" suites believe that they should get more, and they do. If your suite is almost four times the size of my regular suite, it should cost you close to four times as much for your suite. You get an included night at a hotel, extra amenities in the suite; a butler; etc. What it should not do, IMO, is create a different experience for you outside of your suite. Why? Because that is the way that Regent has chosen to market the experience, and it is that experience that passengers pay for when sailing Regent.

 

Oceania, a line I sailed this summer, is marketed differently. One knows that there are additional costs, and that not all passengers are "equal". One knows that passengers are treated differently when it comes to boarding, reservations, amount of tips, etc. based on their cabin/suite. We had a great time, got what we paid for, and absolutely loved Privee (well worth the extra cost).

 

dlouise, our go to cruise line is Crystal. Not once have I ever seen anything that made me think that there was a priority boarding system for passengers. Whatever Crystal does for priority boarding must be done discreetly. The only difference that I have noted between passengers in different staterooms is related to the extra visits to Prego and Silk Road (2 specialty restaurants) and this is not something that is "in your face" as nobody knows who has paid for the extra visits and who gets them included.

 

That being said, I always keep hoping that Regent will return to its roots so that I can once again sail on a line that I loved. As, according to passengers who have recently sailed the line, they don't have difficulty filling their ships, that's unlikely to happen.

 

Happy sailing whatever line you choose.

[Travelcat2]

mariners - so good to see you on the Regent board. Your post brought back memories of why we almost left Regent (and sort of did by sailing Silversea and Oceania). For a company that was making major strides forward, it now seems that they have gone backwards a few years. There are so many alternative methods to entice passengers to sail on difficult to sell itineraries rather than giving away benefits that took loyal passengers up to 400 nights to attain.

[dlouise]

TC, We are former Regent customers, and left when the tours became included. We sailed in named suites then, as we do now on Oceania and love Oceania. I believe if you pay more you should get more, but it doesn't have to be in everyones face. It is the same thing as flying business class, they board earlier than coach.

 

Mariners, I read yesterday that those in the top suites on Crystal are given gold cards when their id is checked upon entering the cruise terminal and they are first to be escorted on to the ship. Only repeating what I read yesterday.

[Travelcat2]

It is the same thing as flying business class, they board earlier than coach.

 

.

 

There is no "coach" on Regent - all First Class. Also, on planes, some people pay top dollar while others use points ...... still there is no special boarding within First and Business Class on airlines.

 

Glad that you enjoy Oceania. I find the newer ships gorgeous but cannot tolerate the class system and the food does not match up to Regent (except in specialty restaurants). When we last sailed Oceania, we dined in specialty restaurants every night.

 

Thank you for the information regarding Crystal. Wish I had taken a photo of the special embarkation line in Miami. It could not have been more "in your face".

[auldlassie]

I boarded Explorer in Miami on 20th Dec a few days ago. Travelling as a party of 4, 2 of whom were in a premium suite and auldladdie and I in a concierge. Our pals in the premium suite wanted to board early so we all arrived at the terminal shortly before 12 noon. We did not expect to be allowed to board at the same time and were prepared to wait. However, we were most surprised to find a long queue of well over 100 people already boarding. I now know most of them were not in a premium suite either.

 

In fact, that day, there was no check whatsoever of what suite you were in. Everyone was boarded on a first come first served basis with no demur.

 

Is that normal or abnormal for Explorer or for Maimi?

 

Incidentally, the table to sign the health form was set so far from the tensa barriers/lines for boarding that many people did not sign it at all and just joined the boarding queue and were most definitely NOT checked at any point prior to boarding for that. We pointed this out to staff but it was pretty much ignored with a shrug.

 

 

Is that unusual or normal? All my previous cruises have ensured it was practically unmissable to complete a health form.

 

 

To address the question raised in the thread, I personally feel it is fine if premium suites board first, just as it is that first class airlines allow priority boarding. I think the concept of paying for these perks is well understood.

[dlouise]

TC Dining in a Specialty Restaurant every night is certainly a perk or priority that most passengers do not receive. We get two reservations in each restaurant and we sail in a large suite so you certainly got perks that most or all don't, and we have been sailing the large ships for 6 years.. And that is not elitist in your mind.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I boarded Explorer in Miami on 20th Dec a few days ago. ...

In fact, that day, there was no check whatsoever of what suite you were in. Everyone was boarded on a first come first served basis with no demur.

 

Is that normal or abnormal for Explorer or for Maimi?

...

Is that unusual or normal? All my previous cruises have ensured it was practically unmissable to complete a health form.

...

 

Yes to the first question about boarding, at least it's been normal for us. As to the second, I would imagine that the medical office would have sorted through the paperwork, noted the missing passenger forms and asked those passengers to fill them out later on. They are usually pretty careful about these things, especially with "code reds" dogging several of the ships in recent years.

[liptastic]

I boarded Explorer in Miami on 20th Dec a few days ago. Travelling as a party of 4, 2 of whom were in a premium suite and auldladdie and I in a concierge. Our pals in the premium suite wanted to board early so we all arrived at the terminal shortly before 12 noon. We did not expect to be allowed to board at the same time and were prepared to wait. However, we were most surprised to find a long queue of well over 100 people already boarding. I now know most of them were not in a premium suite either.

 

In fact, that day, there was no check whatsoever of what suite you were in. Everyone was boarded on a first come first served basis with no demur.

 

Is that normal or abnormal for Explorer or for Maimi?

 

Incidentally, the table to sign the health form was set so far from the tensa barriers/lines for boarding that many people did not sign it at all and just joined the boarding queue and were most definitely NOT checked at any point prior to boarding for that. We pointed this out to staff but it was pretty much ignored with a shrug.

 

 

Is that unusual or normal? All my previous cruises have ensured it was practically unmissable to complete a health form.

 

 

To address the question raised in the thread, I personally feel it is fine if premium suites board first, just as it is that first class airlines allow priority boarding. I think the concept of paying for these perks is well understood.

 

I would agree with you re the premium suites boarding first. I don’t find this an issue at all, but the fact that you noted the health form not being completed is to me more of an issue. I was under the impression that the form should be completed for all passengers travelling on board and handed to relevant staff.

Have a lovely festive cruise. Jean.

[Travelcat2]

TC Dining in a Specialty Restaurant every night is certainly a perk or priority that most passengers do not receive. We get two reservations in each restaurant and we sail in a large suite so you certainly got perks that most or all don't, and we have been sailing the large ships for 6 years.. And that is not elitist in your mind.

 

Your post was of particular interest. Yes - Master and Grand suite guests (and Explorer suite guests on Explorer) can dine in specialty restaurants as many times as they choose (although I cannot imagine dining in a specialty restaurant more than once or twice). This is pretty much an invisible benefit ...... meaning that no one really knows who is dining in a specialty restaurant multiple times. This is far different than a special line being set up with a carpet (not red as some have indicated) with a sign indicating that it is for the exclusive use of Seven Suite passengers and above. This is very much 'in your face'. Having said that, I acknowledge that people from some parts of the world accept the "class system" without question. This is not necessarily true of people in North America and specifically people that have sailed luxury cruise lines over the last several years. There are literally thousands of upper level Seven Seas Society members that stay in lower suite and are not part of this new policy.

 

auldlassie - what you described is how boarding has been done for as long as we have sailed on Regent (2004).

 

In terms of the health form, what you experienced is not typical but, iMO, it doesn't matter since anyone that is sick will lie on their form (in fear of being denied boarding and losing 100% of their cruise fare). IMO, this is a discussion for another thread and is something that Regent needs to address to alleviate this fear.

 

Back to the "class" distinctions. My DH is British so I am quite aware of the class system that exists in the U.K. When you are raised to believe that people in the upper class are deserving of special treatment, it can be difficult to understand the views of others (as it is for those of us that do not believe in a class system can understand how people can willing accept this type of system).

 

At this point, it is becoming clear that new posters are not reading earlier posts as it has become necessary to repeat ourselves multiple times (such as explaining why boarding an airplane with 2-4 classes of passengers has nothing to do with a luxury cruise ship where everyone is sailing First Class).

 

As I have said twice so far, we are not affected by this policy but do not want to see Regent go further down this "new" path of ignoring their valued long term customers in favor of passengers that may book an upper suite once and never book Regent again. IMO, loyalty (in life and on Regent) is a benefit that cannot be measured in dollars/GBP's/Euro's, etc.

[ArtsyCraftsy]

I am one of the passengers who have not sailed on Regent for quite a few years, but voted on the poll. Those who know me, or have followed my posts, could easily predict that I would vote for all passengers being treated equal (outside of their suites). Despite being on our way to Titanium, we chose not to sail to Regent as we didn't like the direction that Regent chose to go at that time. Other passengers stayed, or chose to sail on Regent as it was a good fit for them.

 

I understand why those in "named" suites believe that they should get more, and they do. If your suite is almost four times the size of my regular suite, it should cost you close to four times as much for your suite. You get an included night at a hotel, extra amenities in the suite; a butler; etc. What it should not do, IMO, is create a different experience for you outside of your suite. Why? Because that is the way that Regent has chosen to market the experience, and it is that experience that passengers pay for when sailing Regent.

 

Oceania, a line I sailed this summer, is marketed differently. One knows that there are additional costs, and that not all passengers are "equal". One knows that passengers are treated differently when it comes to boarding, reservations, amount of tips, etc. based on their cabin/suite. We had a great time, got what we paid for, and absolutely loved Privee (well worth the extra cost).

 

dlouise, our go to cruise line is Crystal. Not once have I ever seen anything that made me think that there was a priority boarding system for passengers. Whatever Crystal does for priority boarding must be done discreetly. The only difference that I have noted between passengers in different staterooms is related to the extra visits to Prego and Silk Road (2 specialty restaurants) and this is not something that is "in your face" as nobody knows who has paid for the extra visits and who gets them included.

 

That being said, I always keep hoping that Regent will return to its roots so that I can once again sail on a line that I loved. As, according to passengers who have recently sailed the line, they don't have difficulty filling their ships, that's unlikely to happen.

 

Happy sailing whatever line you choose.

 

I appreciate your distinction between "outside the cabin" and "inside the cabin" visible treatment of passengers of different cabin classes. This has helped me see the issue in a more clear way. I'm very new to all this, and I'm learning a lot (and this is making me think about how much I value various aspects of cruise travel). I canceled a booking on Oceania to book a similar cruise on Regent due to a number of factors, and I still think Regent will be a good fit for me (I'm doing the Serene Sunsets cruise in Sep-Oct 2018, Vancouver --> Alaska --> Panama --> Miami). Bottom line for me: I want a relaxed comfortable experience with outstanding food and service. I book the best accommodations that I can justify in terms of cost. The rest is all "extras." Thanks for your post. It helps.