It seems that lately Regent has been making offers which are only good for new passengers (example: a $250 per person onboard credit). While I can see why they are trying to entice new passengers to try Regent I feel like it leaves the loyal repeaters out in the cold.

Is anyone else bothered by this?

Lori, I thought anyone could get that $250 onboard credit, did they say it's only for first timers?

Nope, it's only for first timers.

I guess what really got me is they are offering it on the PG trip I have booked for June 7, but since I'm a repeater, I can't get it. I suppose one could argue that I'm getting a society discount instead but it still bugs me.

It doesn't bug me. Not sure why. I think it's good that they are going after new customers.

Ah, but they've discontinued the Society Discount on a number of cruises, changed it from a percentage to a flat amount and have increased the per diems substancially! And they've even taken some of the tiered benefits away, like the spa treatment. It's good they are going after new people, but if they take away the incentives for loyalty they ought to think about how many repeaters can go elsewhere because of incentives other cruise lines might offer.

Not as much as I am bothered by the high per diems . These keep increasing close to 15% per year!

Yes, I agree with Kathy as well--we need more and better Society and onboard discounts! Or benefits (can anyone say "free laundry"?)

I think Seabourn has the best loyalty program - after 140 day - 14 days free! That will keep you coming back, especially once the new ships with balconies are launched.

We just did our first "reward" cruise and it was great - couldn't have been any better if we were paying passengers!

Just think how many free days some of you would have if Regent offered this program.

Anyone know if Regent will be making any changes to the society program for 2008? I hope there aren't any unpleasent surprises like last year.

Pammy on my web under "2008 Specials" and "2009 Specials" are all the Society Savings and Onboard Booking dates and amounts. So I have all the figures even for the 2009 season and you can see them now.

They have not had society savings on the Alaskan and European Season for at least 2007 maybe even 2006. I cant remember now.

I know we all hate losing that discount on all the cruises as it sure was nice but most cruise lines offer the past guest discounts only on certain sailings.

Ngaire - We had society discount on WAVE and an onboard booking - Monte Carlo to Dover. I just looked at the invoice - it was quite a discount.

You're right Kathy. I think it was 10%. Sprinkling around enhanced SS discounts like this, as they did in 2006, would be great--they'd see lots of loyal cruisers jumping at the relative bargains.

Society discounts aside...why are repeat cruisers being being essentially penalized? A New cruiser gets $500 per cabin, a repeat passenger $0.

Lauri, Unfortunately we are finding these "New" customer savings in many aspects of sales life these days. I am not saying it is right, just that it is happening to lure new people to buy items they've not bought before.

I don't receive SS mailouts nor have we ever cruised on SS but curious if they offer incentive discounts to new customers?? It sounds like Seabourn sure has a good thing going with the free cruises....sigh!

Seabourn's website has deck plans up for their new ship. It looks fantastic! Only thing I don't see is a walking track that makes a full circle,

Crystal has Crystal Society discounts on all cruises and on board booking discounts when they apply. In 2003-4 when they first introduced the Crystal Serenity and had three ships, very often they had discounts for new cruisers only. Lately, with only two ships (Harmony went to the Japanese market), the ships have been sold old or nearly sold out, and they haven't done that to any extent. They did however change their Crystal Society perks for past passengers a couple of years ago, and yes, that did bother lots of us who are past passengers and loyal to Crystal. No longer do we get on board credit on all cruises, just certain milestone ones that alternate with the double upgrade milestones. We are about to take our 20th Crystal cruise and we do get a double upgrade for that level. We still enjoy a Crystal cruise (with assigned seating and all the things that Regent cruisers don't particularly enjoy like lots of sea days, tipping, and smaller than Regent staterooms), but we don't think they have the best past passenger perks afloat anymore.

SS is behind regent in the loyalty game, IMO. We aren't getting free internet and things like that. You have the 5% Venetian savings on some sailings and onboard savings on about every other 2008 sailing.

Carnival, on the other hand is giving great repeater awards! I guess that is where Seabourn might get some of their ideas.

Debbie - Seabourn has given a reward cruise after 140 days from the beginning - long before they were owned by Carnival.

Are other Carnival owned lines offering "free" cruises after 140 days? We have hundreds on Holland America and they've never given us anything (except grief when there was a problem!)