Things constantly change at RSSC. Some updates to the way things are done may help you.

MY ACCOUNT - AIR ITINERARY
For the first time yesterday I saw "air itinerary" and "air deviation" on the tabs under "my account".

At this time it appears air done by Regent without a deviation the air itinerary is listed.

The air itineraries done via a deviation are not yet listed, I am sure this is coming in time.

If you want to do your OWN air deviation request there is a form you can fill in with your wishes and if RSSC can honor that request without any additional upcharges the air itinerary is confirmed and the $100 pp deviation fee is charged. Some people like to handle their own details so this a nice feature. Air deviation requests are now available "approximately" 270 days from the cruise date.

GUARANTEES FOR CABINS
It appears the days of buying a guarantee and receiving a higher category cabin are over.

The new invoices with guarantees have the statement "GTY'S will be berthed in the category purchased and may not be assigned until the day of sailing"

SHORE EXCURSIONS
Shore excursions can now be waitlisted on line and are clearing frequently.

Shore excursions and dining room reservations are now printed on your Regent Invoice.

HOTEL PROGRAMS
Typically hotel programs from Regent were way overpriced. In the last few days I have found that some of Regents packages have been reasonable and in a few cases the same price as you can purchase the least expensive room with the same features (included breakfast and taxes) on line at the hotel directly.

When you consider if you do Regent air the deviation fee to come in a day early is waived if you do the Hotel through Regent and then the transfers are included a couple of these hotels were LESS expensive than you could buy directly from the hotel. When they were more it was still a lot less than in the past. Checking five hotels two were a great value the other three about $300 more. With the air deviation fee waived it became only $100 more and you got the transfers. Also often the online rates have hidden fees and taxes.

I have not checked all the hotel rates offered and some may still be high but was REALLY surprised looking at these rates in the last few days. Normally I used to say do not even bother to look at the hotel packages so this is a definite change in pricing.

I am sure that some of the web sites with discounted hotel prices will still be cheaper or if you elect for a no breakfast room but hotel packages are certainly worth checking now.

Wow, good info, Ngaire. I am going to see if I can waitlist for a tour on our upcoming cruise right now!

Thanks so much, Ngaire, for keeping us informed of the new web features. Just out of curiousity, I checked on a hotel program for pre-FUN2. Still overpriced there.
HYATT REGENCY PIER SIXTY SIX RESORT:
Number of Nights: 2, Price: $599.00 per guest based on double occupancy.

Hyatt's website has a AAA Breakfast rate of $577.42 Total After Taxes. Less than 1/2 the Regent price.

Still, I'm really glad to know to watch for any Regent Hotel programs that are reasonable. Will keep it in mind for our 2011 Barcelona to Venice.

Was able to successfully wait list for the Belfast Pub tour.

Thank you, Ngaire, for constantly keeping us updated on new policies for all those things.

As for the gty fares only being in the fare purchased, to me it looks like you will get either the worst cabin in the class that is left over after everyone else picks their cabin, or whatever you happen to end up with when people cancel in that class? I know I am probably wrong here, maybe you can clarify, as I'm certain others are wondering same thing.

Seadog, perhaps those new prices Ngaire talked about kick in for pre-cruises farther into the future?

RachelG, everyone going to Belfast is entitled to a Pub tour, either with or without Regent taking you to one!

Thanks, that's great information, Ngaire. I can't see how they can make the GTY thing stick, except perhaps in a very good market. For the past while the GTY has been a way of filling up the ships, so we'll see how that goes.

Wendy, or in the alternative, in a bad market where there are cabins left in a lower category gty to give out!

Doesn't make sense to me. Why I asked the question.

Last cruise, I had a G gty, and ended up on deck 9 (I think, anyway, an "upgrade") Mariner just below the part of the pool deck starboard of the buffet area, where most of the "moving of chairs" takes place in the morning. I did not consider that an upgrade, but knew going in that I would take what I got.

Inventory is very inventive these days. I certainly cannot shed any light on how they manage the inventory of a cruise ship. It is an art form!

It is true when people pick cabin numbers the guarantees will normally end up in the worst cabins in that category that are not selected.

Another way to berth guarantees is on certain sailings right before departure paid upgrades are offered to booked specific passengers to a higher category cabin. Many of those may be booked in the lower level cabins and they pay for last minute upgrades (of course at a lower cost than they would have been orginally). We have had people choose to pay from a G to an E just to know exactly where their cabin will be located. This then releases those lower category suites to be assigned to the guarantees in that category. It is a highly complex situation as each move creates more space in different categories it is as I said an art form managing this inventory. If I ever think I have it figured out it changes.

I am sure there will still be situations where a guarantee is given a higher category but I do think that the obvious choice of Regent is to berth guarantees in the category purchased.

I am still a fan of the "H guarantee." All upgrades have been meaningless to a D, E, or F cabin so I have never done it for the upgrade potential; just the price. Of course, if H were still available when I booked, I would book a specific cabin.

Hi!

I can't see my air itinerary for my upcoming cruise on rssc.com. The booking is there, as are the excursions. Can everyone else see it? Is there any reason I can't?

I just hope everything is ok with the booking....

:)
Liz

Remember air is not done until around 60 days before sailing so if your cruise is in August it wont be there for some time yet.

Ngaire -

Thanks for the tip, but I already have paid for and done the deviation and have the flight info?

Still not showing up - is it near the book excusrions link?

Sorry I'm so confused!

:)
Liz

"The air itineraries done via a deviation are not yet listed, I am sure this is coming in time."

I had this on the original post but it is so easy to miss things I do it all the time.

The heading AIR DEVIATION is there to 'request' a deviation. If that does not show on your account it may be because you have already done your deviation.

I am sure one magic day all the deviation air schedules will also show up. It is a "work in progress".

Got it! I don't see the air deviation tab/heading at all, so hopefully it's in no-man's land still! I just can't wait to see it - I like all the info at my fingertips!

Thanks!

Liz

Are there any bad H cabins on Voyager?

Franosu, some people don't like the vibration at the back of the ship where the H's are on the Voyager, not sure if that will bother you.