As I see it, free upgrades will be rare.
Since the goal is to maximize revenue, offers will be made for paid upgrades at wonderful deals!
Then the cheaper cabins will be sold (since they are always easier to sell than the more expensive suites.)
Bingo! a more full ship & more revenue

Regent has done a wonderful job filling the ships! Since many of us believe that the line is being beefed up for sale, this makes a lot of sense.

For those who get closed out of "free" shore trips and speciality restaurants, perhaps they will reconsider.
I know that I was upset on both of these issues. I could not dine in Prime 7 once, while many others did multiple times.

No system is perfect.

And so it goes...... Doug