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Regent, Oceania, Seabourn, or Azamara?
I've taken many-a-cruise on most of the major cruise lines, however, haven't experienced the luxury lines yet. Can anyone give me some advice on which is the best and why? Is the all-inclusive of some really all inclusive? Help!
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All-inclusive ships
Regent Seven Seas is the most all-inclusive of the cruise lines because they now include shore excursions and a pre-cruise hotel night along with airfare and transfers. The all-inclusive shore excursions are particularly valuable in some destinations (i.e., Alaska). Be sure to look at Regent's website that some excursions have surcharges (i.e., dog sledding, helicopter tour, and other premium-type tours -- and rightly so). If you drink, the included alcohol is worth taking into consideration. Since you've sailed before, you probably know you can end up with a pretty hefty bar bill at the end of a cruise.
You can get a credit for the "free" air and "free" pre-cruise hotel night if you're using miles or, in some destinations and certain times of the year (i.e., Ft. Lauderdale), you may want to do some research on available hotels and take credit for the hotel and do your own. Your TA will be happy to offer some thoughts on that. Put in your budget a $100 pp air deviation fee with Regent if you're doing a pre- or post-tour and using their included air. Regent's ships are all-suites, and soooo comfortable! Even their lowest priced suites are wonderful. IMHO the decor and design of Oceania and Azamara ships are lovely and their size is ideal. The older I get, the smaller the ship I prefer (and the larger the stateroom). Azamara "Club" is more inclusive (i.e., wine) and they're including more overnights in ports. Oceania's new Marina is a beauty, and they've just released the rest of their 2012 itineraries. Seabourn is all-inclusive for gratuities and beverages and their new ships have standard balconies vs. their older (but wonderful) ships, those having mostly French balconies. Suites are similar in size to Regent's suites. I think you'll find the service to be impeccable and food excellent. Because many of Seabourn's ships are smaller, they can get into some ports where the mega-ships can't. By the way, you can also get a credit for the "free" air with Oceania if you have miles; if you're flying economy you may do better taking advantage of their included air. Your TA can give you a comparison. Speaking of comparisons, based on your age, you should be able to get a pretty substantial savings by having your TA purchase your travel insurance through an alternate insurer rather than purchasing through the cruise line. If booking Seabourn or Regent, look for sailings with Virtuoso Voyager Club benefits. Hope this helps you decide. |
Another thing to remember is that Regent and Seabourn are luxury lines while Oceania and Azamara are premium deluxe lines. The difference this makes is mostly in the inclusiveness of the product and the cabin size. On Regent and Seabourn all suites with the exception of the top level ones are the same, very comfortable size. On Oceania and Azamara, unless you book a penthouse or above the cabin size and bathroom size are small. If you do go up to a PH you will be spending about the same as on Seabourn.
As for Regent, imo, it is more expensive than Seabourn because they are now including what they call "free" excursions and "free" hotel rooms. These are not free. The prices have been adjusted up to include them. Personally, I do not like ships' excursions and do private ones for the most part, so this is not worth the extra money to me. And you can get a credit for not using the hotel room which only proves it's not really free. In truth, you cannot go wrong on any of these lines. They all offer a terrific product and I would certainly let the itinerary play a big role in deciding. |
All four lines offer a premium experience over and above the mass-market lines, although some may be owned by a MML. First, draw yourself a chart and list the amenities you wouldn't mind paying extra for: "premium" dining venues, alcoholic beverages, shore excursions, airfare, crew gratuities, ship-to-airport transfers, and pre- and post-cruise lodgings. Then list the cruiselines that offer them as part of their "base" price. That'll give you a basis for finding a cruise that's affordable and worth the price. Otherwise, you may end up paying for benefits you'll never use, or can find (and even less expensively) on your own.
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Add Crystal to the all-inclusive luxury list
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CRYSTAL TO GO ALL INCLUSIVE IN 2012 Gratis Gratuities, Wines and Bar Service Added LOS ANGELES, March 22, 2011 - Crystal Cruises is enhancing its already expansive host of luxury services and amenities. .Effective spring 2012, vacations on the award-winning Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity will include complimentary fine wines and premium spirits throughout the ship, open bar service in all lounges, and pre-paid gratuities for housekeeping, bar and dining staff. . .... The new benefits begin with each ship's first Trans-Atlantic cruise next year: Crystal Symphony's "Beyond the Sea" sailing from Miami to Lisbon on March 19, 2012, and Crystal Serenity's "New World to Norway" voyage from New York to London on May 8, 2012. A complete list of 2012 Crystal itineraries, with fares, for all cruises is now posted on Crystal's website, www.crystalcruises.com<http://www.crystalcruises.com>, and all cruises are now open for booking. .Also included with all cruises is free round-trip air transportation from two dozen North American gateways (or a generous air credit), with airport/ship transfers included. |
we just got home from a 66 day sfo-china [pek] ride on rssc voyager.....
note that "free", means prepaid in my mind.... dress code is no shorts or jeans after 6pm....open collar shirt for men, slacks w/ blouse or dresses for gals....my wife wore both white & black jeans w/ top that covered the pockets often....there were some formal optional nites where you could dress in tux or suits, i usually wore a sport coat & shirt w/sams club chinos....many people dressed to the nines often.... there were decent free shore tours w/ good availability....i only paid for 1 of the xtra charge tour... you pay for casino, spa, boutique & premium booze [glenlivet & jw black were well drinks]....there were wines for purchase, but we found the free selection fine...cigs were $3.75, cigars were $ 3 to 52 w/ about 20 offered... no tipping policy...but some did... the staff was as friendly as could be.... great lectures, shows were ok... coach air was "free"...we drew aa dfw-sfo & i sprang for the ug & ua pek-dfw & paid $1499 ea for the yup....airport to/from ship was free... internet charges were $200 for 800 minutes [25c/min] w/ more for smaller pkgs....sat phone was $6.50/min....as fcruisers on rssc from when it was radisson [1st on regent], we had free internet & 9 hours of sat phone split into 3hrs on 3 segments w/ no carry over... the trip was too long, but only became a sorta drag the last two weeks... edit to add...we rode seabourne ~ 25yrs ago so cant comment on the current fleet.... also we were in steerage [cheapest], cabin was 350 sqft incl balcony, largest we have had.... ps...there is a coffee bar w/mocha,latte,irish.etc & pastry,fruit,cereal,juice,etc open 6:30-5pm....we ate there every day, so no full breakfast for us...they would deliver to the cigar lounge.... 24 hour room service.... food wasn't holland america which is usa style, but was quite good tho i would liked to have a bk whopper at times... the highlight is that i have 11 texas tens [$100] in my pocket from the casino, enough for another day on board... more trivia....cell phones can be used on board....at sea they go thru the sat phone w/charges....at port, they go thru the shore towers, so ok in hawaii, but at tahiti, got $2.50/min roaming charge... wifi in cabins....good response time from 10pm-7am...there was about 20 terminals in the ship internet room.... $1.00 each to mail post cards from the ship....they were sent by the port agent w/local stamps....no charge for the promo cards showing the ship... guests are allowed to tour the ship w/prior clearance....we roned at melbourne and stayed w/relatives who came on board the 2nd day for lunch & a visit when they brought us back....the lunch was to be $40 ea but we were not billed....should i send a check?... |
My thoughts on Seabourn Quest:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cruis...urn-quest.html |
Thank you clacko for your report. The "Steerage" suites are the same size as the others standard suites....fabulous. I'm a big fan of Regent...right down to the walk-in closets. I miss the cushions on the balcony chairs, but understand it's better than having them in the way in the cabins at night and in wet weather. They were so snuggly for light snoozes outside. (napping is one of my favorite activites on ships :-) ). I just had clients back from a Voyager cruise and they had guests to lunch in HNL. Like you, they weren't charged for their guests' meals and they were told "not to worry about it.". They took the $150 pp Virtuoso shipboard credits instead of the Virtuoso excursions -- since the Regent ones were already included -- and spent them in the shop.
How many others on the cruise were doing the full cruise vs segments? If you could have only done a few segments, which would you pick? |
Originally Posted by LindaTerrill
(Post 16092365)
Thank you clacko for your report. The "Steerage" suites are the same size as the others standard suites....fabulous. I'm a big fan of Regent...right down to the walk-in closets. I miss the cushions on the balcony chairs, but understand it's better than having them in the way in the cabins at night and in wet weather. They were so snuggly for light snoozes outside. (napping is one of my favorite activites on ships :-) ). I just had clients back from a Voyager cruise and they had guests to lunch in HNL. Like you, they weren't charged for their guests' meals and they were told "not to worry about it.". They took the $150 pp Virtuoso shipboard credits instead of the Virtuoso excursions -- since the Regent ones were already included -- and spent them in the shop.
How many others on the cruise were doing the full cruise vs segments? If you could have only done a few segments, which would you pick? In addition to being all-inclusive, I receive an $800 pp credit (Read "additional discount from already discounted from brochure rate") and book my own flights using points. |
Lots of range when something is considered inclusive. Friend did an Indian Ocean Regent cruise "all inclusive" and we did an Indian Ocean cruise on non-inclusive on the MV Discovery. No comparison as to ambiance and luxury between the two cruise lines, so that is not my point.
But the shore excursion MV Discovery offered at extra cost to the Phinda Game reserve on the eastern South Africa port stops was also offered by Regent, but only as an extra-priced option beyond the "inclusive" Regent shore excursion, which went only to a more simple game park option. So the point is, what a ship "includes" may not be all that much value added. Shop and compare carefully. Going to a local "zoo" for free as an inclusive "tour" is not the same as going to a really fabulous game park like Phinda, if this is one of the reasons you want to see this part of the world. Do some homework to see if the included shore excursions take you where you want to go is all I am saying, and they may well might meet your needs. But one always has to ask what is really "included" when it is inclusive. |
Extras on river cruises
You might want to take a look at river cruises, too. A tour at each stop (not "ports" on rivers) is included, wine and beer with dinner on many lines, bikes for riding along the river banks on some, and some are including wifi for certain destinations. Lots of new ships being built with more space. Totally different experience from the big ocean liners; relaxing, pleasant holiday. No casinos or production shows. Few children. Many well-traveled retirees. Lines to look at: Viking, Avalon, Uniworld, AMA, Tauck. Danube, Rhine, Yangtze in China, Russia and the Nile (when tourism is back on track there) are good choices. China with Viking was one of the best I've taken.
The only negative is when you're tied up to other ships. Food is good, but not gourmet; buffets for breakfast and lunch. |
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