I think it is time for us to change our cruise line loyalty even though we have over 150 nights with Regent. We are booked on Sydney to San Francisco in November and just received our flight information. We upgraded to business class since it is a long flight from Honolulu to Sydney. They wanted us to fly from Honolulu to Los Angeles to Sydney, that is about 10 hours longer flight time as compared to a direct flight from HNL to Sydney. They said there were no direct flights that would get us there the day of sailing. Our option has been to pay the extra $100 each to fly direct the day before our sailing and pay for our own hotel for one night. They also told us there would be no airport or hotel transfers provided. We did a similar cruise under the Radisson ownership and they paid for the hotel provided transfers. We are ready to cancel the two future cruises we had booked on Regent and change to Silversea or Seabourn

Sorry to hear about your situation. I'm somewhat surprised given the distances that Regent doesn't allow for an overnight in Sydney prior to your cruise. Do you deal directly with Regent or through a TA? I imagine that living in Hawaii does pose some air challenges that we don't have from the Mainland even though you're much closer.

I can only tell you that I was impressed with Regent during my recent experience getting business class seats for our cruise from Sydney next February. I provided B&K with the exact flights I wanted to Sydney and from Beijing (paying the deviation), and Regent was able to book them quickly. Subsequently, there was a slight glitch in that the airline changed one of the flights, but I'm hoping that will get worked out.

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Eugene

I experienced some disappointment with my air arrangements for Sydney-Auckland cruise in November for DINGO. We wanted to fly Delta as I have boo~koodles of airmiles with them-we added on Business class. We were told that Regent wasn't booking with Delta to Sydney at that time. I realize that Delta doesn't fly out of Auckland, so now I'll be stuck with miles on United and AA, that I doubt I'll use. My situation isn't as bad as konogolfer, but..... :rolleyes:

Interesting, Beth. Apparently, they are using Delta early next year because that's what we're on to Sydney in February.

My experience, which I actually posted on CC as a "how-to" lesson, was to do a lot of homework, including having B&K find out which airlines Regent was using ahead of time, and then examining all the possible routings so that I could ask for exactly what I wanted. It worked perfectly, until Delta changed one of the flight arrangements.

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Eugene

Thanks, Eugene,

We didn't do our homework, since in the past we could always get a flight on Delta. This time, we did ask to be routed on Delta, but Regent wouldn't book us on them.

We had two different experiences and I learned from them. On one trip last year, I waited to get airlines through Regent and what they offered me coming home was dreadful. I paid the deviation and got much better flights (the flights I wanted) and it was well priced via doing it on my own. This year for DINGO, I was johnny on the spot with my reservations and got exactly what I wanted. I could never have done better elsewhere.

I've been happy with the way Regent handles air. They took great care of me on MUSH with rescheduling my air home and for DINGO I got exactly what I asked for (even managed to get first class from DFW to/from LAX since I booked a Qantas codeshare with AA). I did pay the deviation fee and for my hotel but I simply consider that "insurance" against missing the ship (not to mention that I want to see Sydney).

Making you fly from Honolulu to LA then to Sydney sounds kind of nuts. It would be nice if they threw in your transfers but not a deal-breaker for me.

The situation for the people living in Hawaii is the same situation that people in on the West Coast face coming to Fort Lauderdale. If the cruise line can get you to the ship with any routing the day of embarkation that is what they do.

So those on the West Coast have to take a red eye to arrive early morning. The flight from Honolulu direct to Sydney arrives too late to make the ship.

Actually the same situation. However when coming from Hawaii it is a ton more flying but the rules the air department must follow are the same.

Although it does not feel good the option is to pay the deviation fee and fly in the day before but Regent will then not provide the transfers or the hotel for that one night early arrival.

Now if they would just change the rules!!

Sounds terrible having to fly all that extra way.

Does Regent ever have to offer forced overnights anymore?

Sorry to hear this konagolfer. In the good ole' days they did fly us into FLL and overnight us from West coast. IMO, if they have discontinued hotels for passenger for 1 night when necessary, than they should waive your deviation fee.

Hope it all works out for you!

Flying to LA from Hawaii to turn around and fly the opposite direction to Sydney is ridiculous. But the deviation fee is only $100pp. That is really a modest price to pay for personal flexibility. Yes, you still have to pay for a hotel in Sydney when you get there. But you gain an extra day in Sydney and a chance to catch up on sleep before boarding the ship.

Fortunately, Regent was able to get us a superb alternative to connecting in California for our $100pp deviation. We fly nonstop from Vancouver, BC to Sydney arriving three nights before our cruise--just what we wanted. We have always found the deviation fee well worth the cost.

All of this on top of Regent's special air offer that puts in business/first at 40% of what we would pay if we purchased the cheapest tickets independently. We are happy campers.

They offer forced overnights when there is no way to get them to the ship for the day of embarkation. Happens sometimes. I really think the $100 deviation fee is the best option for many itineraries.

At least we can TALK to Regent other cruise lines you have to do it all by fax and email and then they come back with something that wont work and then you have to email back again.

With Regent I can get on the phone and hear the options and make requests it is SO much better.

Konagolfer, I surely would not abandon Regent (and I am approaching 300 nights with them) on this issue, because the grass will not necessarily be "greener" at SS or SB.

I have paid that deviation fee several times to get exactly what I wanted, and always go a day early anyway on long flights (short ones, too!) The deviation fee is a small price to pay to get exactly what you want. And never ever book a room through Regent.

It would be nice if they waived the deviation fee for simply arriving a day early (yes, I know this is not the OP's problem.) So many folks do this anyways, it seems reasonable. They wouldn't have to offer a transfer or a hotel, nor supply a custom itinerary, just flights a day early. I know, I'm dreaming, but when you go for the great Business upgrades, opting out of Regent Air isn't feasible.

I know that $100 is a drop in the bucket in the scheme of things, it's just a minor annoyance. For Florida departures I now usually book my own air, and come out slightly ahead. But for other itineraries Regent air is so convenient I usually pay the deviation.

Thanks for the advice and kind thoughts. Hubby has calmed down a bit after his original snit when we received our proposed air itinerary. We have opted to fly direct a day early, pay the deviation fee and book hotel on our own. We have been to Sydney three times and even spent a month during the 2000 Olympics so did not want to spend any extra time this trip. Sure wish Regent had not moved most of the air contracts to American Airlines (and partners) as we have most of our frequent flyer miles on United and Delta. We are still thinking about canceling our two booked trips for 2011 as we feel that Regent seems to be in a decline as far as the outstanding customer service they offered in the past (before Apollo).

Hi konagolfer,

Glad things worked out and you and your husband will be onboard. I am on this cruise, too from Sydney - Auckland. We call it DINGO-"Down under Including New Zealand Great Opportunity". Maybe we can meet up sometime on the cruise.

Konagolfer, I have noticed the air that Regent is providing now is not as direct as it used to be since air in included in the price. But with the way air has been going up in price we almost always come out ahead with Regent air. So it is always a give and take with air. Flying is no fun anymore, cut backs on number of flight, cut backs on food and cut backs on service. Flying used to be something I look forward to, no longer.

Konagolfer - Good to read that you have made a pragmatic, albeit reluctant, decision on the flight to Sydney. The original Regent proposal certainly was odd. We have found that using the deviation provides us far better routing options. Further, as we are not comfortable using any routing that gets us to the departure port on departure day, we have always taken the option of deviating.

I would suggest that the contracts for routes vary considerably and are not necessarily weighted towards AA. In our case, flying out of and back into Vancouver, the Regent contracts were with Star Alliance carriers and gave us excellent non-stops to Sydney and back from Auckland on Air Canada and Air New Zealand, respectively. Great connections and loads of nice United miles!!

All of us on T-Devil (aka Dingo) hope that you will be pleasantly surprised to not perceive a "decline" in service on the ship. We did not perceive such on our Panama Canal cruise on Navigator this past May. One hopes that Ngaire will bring not only her famous good weather juju along on this cruise, but her good service juju as well.

Cheers, Fred

Hi Beth,

You can always transfer orphan AA miles to the following loyalty programs:

Alamo® Car Rentals
Avis Rent A Car
Budget Rent A Car
Diners Club® Points
Hilton HHonors® Points
Intercontinental® Hotel stays ( including Intercontinental® Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels and Resorts, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood® Suites, Holiday Inn® and Holiday Inn Express®)
National® Car Rentals
Priority Club® Points

http://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/programDetails/redeemMiles/aaRedeemMiles.jsp

Do you have Continental miles? I believe United and Continental miles will merge in early 2011 so maybe the United miles will become useful to you over time.

Andrea

I realize everyone has their preferences, but I find AA award miles MUCH easier to book than Delta, so I have switched almost entirely to AA/BA and affiliates mileage programs, along with AE Membership rewards.

When I went from Denver to SD to catch the Voyager they had me first class from DEN to LAX and then a 3 hour layover to catch the puddle jumper to San Diego. No Way! There are tons of direct flights between the two. I just took a direct flight and ate the other one. But I was on the WC and I don't know whether to blame my TA for that or Regent.

I think that for those that do the WC or other long cruises just want to get there and get on the boat without the musical chairs air routes. Air Travel these days is hard enough. Regent needs to look at their cost cutting vs customer satisfaction issue. Will the ends justify the means if Regent Loyals switch cruise lines? The way you make money is not only fill the ships to capacity but make sure they are full 3 years down the road. I don't think the new owners have learned this lesson yet.

Regent has always favored Star Alliance for my flights. I am not fond of Delta in anyway at all, especially their rewards and upgrade travel. If I had a gateway city of note, I wouldn't mind AA, but I am forced into USAir for the points thing. Use my "orphan miles" that Andrea talked about for hotels, etc., and HOARD my *Alliance miles for air only!

One thing we seem to all agree is that flying is not the pleasant experience it used to be!

I agree with Pat. Forcing someone who has paid a lot of money for a cruise that includes airfare, and additional money to upgrade to business class, to fly from Hawaii to Australia via LA is simply ridiculous and connot be reasonably explained or defended. Tom.

Tom, maybe we could cause a mini revolt here for those who are not flying from the mainland, and for whom Regent suggests such a stupid air itinery! Hey, it worked for the all inclusive and dress code thing!

Thanks, Andrea, I will be able to transfer those orphan AA miles points. I don't gather Continental points. Maybe I can find something else to do with them. Appreciate the tip.

Olivia, perhaps we can appeal to their conservationist side. Regent (and other lines) ask passengers to save on the use of soap and water by not having their towels washed every day. But they don't seem to mind the environmental impact of wasting fuel by sending someone on a 5000 mile detour. Tom.

That isn't very Eco friendly is it?

Beth: I was originallt on DINGO but had to cancel. I had the business class upgrade and Ngaire had me on a Delta flight from ATL to Sydney (via LAX). I can't remember the additional fee I had to pay.

Hi David, Sorry you had to cancel DINGO as I was looking forward to those Pooch battles with you on sea days.