INTERESTING COMPARISON
I just did an interesting price comparison between Regent and SilverSea. Thought you all might find it interesting as well. I know several have mentioned trying SilverSea, we are certainly among those, and there has been mention of Regent’s price increases and such. This is just for interest, I was bored this morning, so I compared three possibilities.

These prices are the current rates shown on both websites as of today. In all cases with Regent there is included free economy air, shore excursions and now starting in 2011 the free one night pre cruise hotel program.
With SilverSea, economy air is also included, and they too offer biz class upgrades, although theirs vary depending on departure city, no shore excursions and no pre cruise hotel package. Also with SilverSea, there are additional taxes and fees as noted, while with Regent, those are also already included.

Number 1 – comparison of Regent Mariner 12 Days June 2011 cruise ATH – IST, against SilverSea Silver Wind 12 days June 2011 cruise ATH – VCE. Almost identical itineraries, a couple of differences.

SilverSea
lowest is a Vista Suite (no balcony) $9072 pp
Lowest balcony $11,327 pp
Medallion suite (comparable to PHC) $16,992 pp
Taxes are $325 additional per person.

Regent
Lowest is a veranda H $8999 pp
Mid level veranda E $10,399pp
PHC $15,699 pp

Number 2 – Comparison of Regent Mariner 7 day January 2011 Caribbean - FLL – FLL to SilverSea Silver Cloud January 2011 SJU – Barbados. Different itineraries totally.
SilverSea
Lowest is a Vista suite $3148 pp
Lowest balcony $3958 pp
Silver Suite (comparable to PHC) $6748 pp
Taxes are $100 pp.

Regent
Lowest veranda H $3499 pp
Veranda E $3799 pp
PHC $4999 pp

In both of these cases, when you factor in Regent’s inclusiveness they still have lower prices, except on the 7 night using a Vista suite on SS.

Number 3 – comparison of a 10 night Navigator cruise in Oct between Montreal and New York against
SilverSea
Lowest Vista suite $6102 pp
Lowest veranda $7642 pp
Medallion suite (comparable to Nav suite $10,722 pp
when using Regent Navigator
taxes and fees are $150 pp additional.

Regent
Lowest H $5799pp
Lowest veranda $6999pp
Navigator Suite $11,299 pp
In this instance Regent’s Navigator suite comes out higher than SS Medallion suite, but the PH’s on Regent aren’t any larger than standard suites, so used the Navigator suite for comparison.

My personal conclusion here, is even with Regent now including shore excursions, all taxes, free economy air (included with Silver Sea as well) and now the new program that starts in 2011 of the free 1 night pre hotel, that in a lot of instances, if not most, Regent still comes out less expensive than SilverSea, and is overall a very good deal considering what you get for those bucks.

Obviously it can depend on the particular instance, suite one picks, and other factors, and, I am aware that there are some excellent deals on SilverSea, but when you consider all that Regent now includes, it is something to think about.

OK so I probably need something more productive to spend my time on - think I'll clean out the pantry or linen closet! :)