There is a big sale coming next week on Regent and it affects many cruises. These are cruises on the Voyager, Mariner, Navigator, but NOT the Paul Gauguin.

As Marc mentioned in another post I always feel like these things come out just as I leave town. I have been working with my office all day via email but we do not have all the details yet. Some cruises will have free shore excursions added, some will have rate decreases.

I do believe this will affect and reduce ALL of my 2009 escorted cruises. Some of the Asian Cruises will have an offer of $999.00 one way upgrade to Business Class Air, I know this is the case on DRAGON, on 10/17/09.

Nothing can be done until everything is announced early next week. We hope to have all the information by Monday or Tuesday of next week and will be sending out an email to all our clients who are affected.

It is going to be a huge undertaking to adjust and re-invoice all these bookings, we literally have hundreds of invoices to redo. I request your understanding in not emailing the office and asking about your particular voyage. We will methodically work and check all the dates affected and adjust all bookings accordingly to whatever is to the best benefit of each of our clients. It will simply slow us down to answer all the individual emails about your individual cruise.

I appreciate your understanding and if there is anything non-urgent please just wait a little while to contact the office so they can work through all these bookings and get things adjusted. As you can imagine RSSC will be swamped pulling all this together as well, so we will not be able to adjust your booking until we receive confirmation from RSSC and make sure all discounts are transferred to the new bookings.

I sincerely appreciate your co-operation as we work through this big project. Thank You.

Ngaire

Sounds good. Quick question, which I certainly won't pester the office about: Is this just going to be 2009 cruises or will the sale extend into 2010, or do you know?

Have a great trip.

------------

Eugene

Thanks for keeping us informed, Ngaire. Will look to hear from your office. Appreciate any added benefit that comes our way.

Ngaire, thanks!!!

Have a great TWENTY FOUR DAY cruise; Arlene and I wish we were sailing with you. Tell Ken that we need great pictures of Robison Crusoe, Easter, and Pitcairn Islands.

Oh wow, I just sent mail to Debbie about air prices! Hopefully she will just ignore me until she has time.

Looking forward to hearing if it affects my booking.

Eugene,
At this point I believe it will be for 2009 only.

Wendy,
Don't worry we have been putting everything in order this week so that we can take care of the new promotions next week and I will let Debbie know that she can get back with you when time permits.

I just noticed that both halves of C2C are now at 2-for-1 fares on Regent website. If free air is gone, then this saves $100 and $300 per person respectively for the two weeks. If free air is still included (or the air credit) then this is a gigantic price decrease.

I am waiting for my new invoices to see how much money we save.

There is plenty of room on C2C and airfare to Europe is relatively cheap; we sure could use some additional scotch drinkers to join us. :D

This is probably going to make me regret not doing both weeks of C2C. Not complaining though - we have saved an incredible amount of $$ on the Navigator portion from when we first booked it last year.

Marc and all those on escorted cruises:

Here are the new rates for the escorted groups so you know what is coming. This is the information I currently have but working here on the ship I am at a disadvantage so you must forgive me if I have anything incorrect or if it changed since I last heard on Friday.

Viking - no changes.

Sea to Sea - 8/14/09- Greek Islands, Navigator and 8/21/09 – Baltic’s, Voyager
Now 50% off, with the Free Air or air credit, Free Excursion package in place for both 8/14/09 Navigator and the 8/21/09 Voyager. We still have the flight included from Istanbul to Copenhagen. Really a fantastic value now

Captains – 6/26/09 – Norway, Voyager
Was a 30% discount now a 40% discount, with free air or air credit and free excursions

Dragon – 10/17/09 – Vietnam, Mariner
50% off – free air or air credit, free excursions and $999 one way upgrades to business class air.

Not all cruises are discounted but at least this way you will know what I coming if you are on an escorted cruise.

Ngaire, wow!!

That is a $2.000 per person savings on C2C!!!! :banana: :banana: :banana:

I assume we lose our $250 per person shipboard credit on Navigator and the combination credit will be smaller but not that big of a deal given the discount we are getting.

Not sure about any of the Shipboard Credits we will just have to see how the paperwork comes back. The combination credit will definitely be smaller as it is a percentage of the overall cost.

Is the 50% off new for Dragon? I don't believe the free air is? Love the business class upgrade. What a savings. I am surprised that Viking has nothing. All cabin classes still available.

Yey, got notification of free excursions Rio-FLL on Voyager! I also see this date listed under "free air on most remaining crusies" list!

There must be something special about Viking. Not only are there no additional discounts or free shore excursions, but the price for the second leg has actually gone up about $500 per person in the past week. Tom.

Tom: I give up I was looking at first leg 13 nights saw reduction from $5970 to $5695 (whoopie) cannot find it now .... making it so difficult you say the H with it -

I have found that the website is not always accurate when it states that a certain cabin category is available so while Viking may look like it has all cabin categories available that may not be the case or it could potentially be just a few in each category.

Tom, maybe it's called "we already have your money"!

Tom, I was thinking the same thing! I guess because Mark Conroy is supposed to be onboard for part of the sailing. And then Olivia pointed out that we've already made final payment, so both are so true.

Joanna, don't you dare get me all excited by saying you are researching the first leg of VIKING but then not book it!!! ;) I am not trying to twist your arm or anything...but you know we would just LOVE to cruise with you and Mega Pickle Man!

Susan is definitely correct. I know for a fact that the Web site is not accurate in terms of what cabin category is available.

---------------

Eugene

Kristin: We'd love to be on this trip but extremely doubtful - and sailing with you two on first leg would be special!!!

I have checked and there are less than 50 cabins on the full Viking cruise. There is more availability on the first leg but not as many as you may think. I am sure that is why there are no additional savings and that the price has gone up on the second leg. It is the old supply and demand at work.

VIKING (also known as President's cruise to non LCTers) is so unique & booked quickly, we booked 1 1/2 years early. I was sure hoping that enough people cancelled by final payment that maybe they would lower the price to fill up the cabins (especially since both WC's are way below capacity).

No further discount or free excursions sounds like there's still high demand....DANG!

I was hoping to get a chance to meet Mark Conroy but from my reading of the cruise it appears he's only going to be on portions of the first leg. Tom.

This is a great cruise and set of ports!!

Marcie it will be like Carla and I are on the cruise with you guys, we can have lunch in Newport and I can walk not drive back to Boston and still be there a couple hours before you guys with the time slots they are showing and Do lunch again.....
LOL

FV

Darn, Joanna! But I understand...and I know that someday we'll cruise together.

Susan, thanks for posting the availability - I was wondering about that. Of course, the RSSC website shows all categories available on the first leg except the Voyager Suite which shows "closed". Doubtful that is the case, with only 50+ suites left.

I am SO anxious for this cruise!!!

There's actually more than 50 on the first leg; the second leg appears to be more popular.