Konagolfer, I surely would not abandon Regent (and I am approaching 300 nights with them) on this issue, because the grass will not necessarily be "greener" at SS or SB.
I have paid that deviation fee several times to get exactly what I wanted, and always go a day early anyway on long flights (short ones, too!) The deviation fee is a small price to pay to get exactly what you want. And never ever book a room through Regent.
