http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/c...nt-seven-seas-rolls-out-2011-offers.html

Regent has a PR blurb on Cruise News this morning about discounts on 2011 cruises. Are there any in addition to the ones on we know about on the Western Caribbean (1/4/11) cruise and the South America (1/11/11) trips?

Thanks . . . Peggy

8/20/10 - Regent Seven Seas Rolls Out 2011 Offers

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is rolling out very attractive offers for 2011, including two-for-one fares, plus additional bonus savings of up to $2,000 per person. Also included are round-trip air and ground transfers between airport and ship; unlimited shore excursions; beverages, including premium spirits; 24-hour room service; no additional charges for specialty restaurants; and complimentary prepaid gratuities.

Fares start at $5,599 per person for 10-night Mediterranean cruises aboard the Mariner in April; $6,499 in May; $7,499 in June; $7,999 in July; and from $7,999 to $8,999 in August.

Based on checking my current bookings and contracts the pricing is identical to what it was orginally. At first glance I cannot see any reduction in the original fares.

This happens a lot as all cruise lines constantly advertise their offers and we get lots of calls thinking pricing is new but it is the same offer.

Before Regent came up with their quarterly review deadlines for changes in pricing we would see a "new offer" that sounded great, get lots of calls but only to find out YES they are doing XXX now but you no longer get XXX and the fare was higher. This was particularly true of the Paul Gauguin with the "free air offer" everyone wanted the "free air". The free air offers were often higher overall because without the free air the actual cruise fare was less and you could simply add the air at the regular RSSC price and have a better value.

This is normal marketing that all cruise lines do to sell their products.

I do like the way Regent does it now with the quarterly time frames where all prices change at the same time and you can check everything on those magic dates. Not to say they cannot change a price if they chose in the interim but they pretty much stick to the those dates of 3/30 6/30 9/30 and 12/30.

Thanks Ngaire . . . see you on board in January.

Peggy

Ngaire alerted us to one (I think) really spectacular "discount." We've booked Voyager, Safaga to Barcelona for next November. I had already told Julie (at B&K) that as we got closer I'd need help setting up a 2-3 day pre-cruise; as I didn't want to be that close to Luxor and not see it. Only disappointment I had with the itinerary was that we wouldn't be in Alexandria long enough to see the Pyramids (at least it didn't look like it). Then Regent just came out with a Pre/Post cruise package for the cruises originating or ending in Safaga.

FREE Egyptian Land Program
Sail on any of the voyages below and enjoy a FREE 3-Night Egyptian Land Program from Luxor, or an additional $300 per person savings.

Your FREE 3-Night Egyptian Land Program includes:
• Exclusive tour of the Egyptian Museum, the Pyramids, Sphinx,
Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque
• Exclusive Sound and Light show at Karnak, Luxor temples,
Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon
• Nile View rooms for 2 Nights in Cairo and 1 Night in Luxor
• Meals per program, ground and air transfers and entrance fees
• All tours accompanied by an Egyptologist


And it's FREE (no additional charge)! :woh: Also makes trying to book FF Air easier going into Cairo rather than the airport at Safaga. Not to mention that I don't have to try to set all this up myself.

very nice

USNA72
We are also on that cruise and have signed up for the land package. Like you we were waiting until later to book a precruise tour. Glad they made up our minds for us!

Maybe someone here can help me with this. I've been asking about Syrian visas and have gotten 3 different answers, all from Regent.
#1. They are not needed
#2. If you do not get off in Syria you do not need one and will be able to board the ship.
#3. You must have one and cannot board the ship without it.

I got tired of trying to figure it out the past couple of weeks. Does anyone know the real answer? I would be forever in your debt!

Mary B,
The Answer I got from Ngaire, my TA, was that if we didn't get Syrian Visas we could simply treat the Syrian port as a "virtual" sea day. At this time that's our plan.
BTW where in Maryland are you? Anywhere near the Annapolis area? Around Aberdeen?
Greg

We are in the Gaithersburg/Potomac area, a few miles NW of DC.
Our plan is the same as you, I like the term "virtual" sea day.

ok, so here is a question about Syria. I had looked at this cruise, but had nixed it as we would be travelling with our son who is in intell in the Marines. He has a list of places he cannot go for several years, Syria being one. All the other ports (Egypt, Israel, etc) are allowed. Would he be able to board the ship and not get off in Syria and just treat it as a sea day, or would they deny him boarding with this restriction on his passport?

I wish I had a solid answer for you Rachel. If what we are being told is true, then I would think that he would be treated the same as Greg and myself. I would call Regent and ask but it would seem the answer depends upon whom you ask.
I would be very interested in what answer you get!
Mary

Rachel,
Actually, the FSO or SSO at your son's unit would have better guidance. From Regent's perspective he could certainly "take a sea day." However, the agency governing his security clearance might deem being in "Syrian Waters" as undesirable.
Greg

I think he would have to ask the powers that be who put those restrictions on his passport. And ask Regent, of course.

Not a passport issue at all. Has to do with his security clearance and being in the Marines and therefore subject to the UCMJ.
Greg

That is what I thought, Greg. The FRO for his unit is hopeless--does nothing as far as I can tell unless the CO gets on his case.
He will actually be out of the Marines by then, but the restriction lasts several years, 6 was what I was told by someone who had the same type job. I think I will just put this trip on my "in-the-future" list as the other places I definitely want him to be along with us since he is fluent in Arabic and lived in Egypt for a while.