Regent Reduces Single Supplement!

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has today announced a program of reduced single supplements on many of their 2010 sailings! Offering supplements of 30-50% on selected sailings on both the Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner, this represents an exceptional value for solos looking for a relaxed experience on a true luxury line.

Regent offers all-inclusive pricing, encompassing gratuities, wine and alcohol with lunch and dinner along with a bar set up of your choice in your suite, bottled water and soda, and for 2010, also includes free air and unlimited excursions of your choice!

I've long held that luxury lines many times are the most solo-friendly, and Regent (along with Crystal) are working hard this year to prove me correct! If you're looking to move up into luxury cruising, call me toll-free at 888-SAIL-123 (888-724-5123) or email me at amber@cruiseresource.com for a personal consultation and quote. Remember, I hold the exclusive Luxury Cruise Specialist designation from CLIA, so I can help you navigate the choices between lines.

Regent Goes Clothing Optional...

... Oh wait, that's optional clothing for formal night. Sorry for the confusion.

Following the trend in the industry, and truly their own passengers' preferences and actual habits onboard their ships, Regent Seven Seas Cruises has announced a revised dress code. Beginning with the 2009/2010 New Year's sailings, the evening dress code will consist of Elegant Casual for most sailings, with longer sailings adding 2 "Formal Optional" nights.

In reality, the "formal" nights on Regent the past few years have been more "elegant casual" than what cruise traditionalists would consider classic formal nights, and this step toward what I'd call more "contemporary formal" nights brings the line's official policy more in line with the actual experience. And in my opinion, more in line with the vast majority of their target demographic, both current passengers and future cruisers.

For those interested, here's the exact policy:

Daytime Dress Code (until 6 p.m.) During the day, resort style clothing (including shorts, warm-up suits, jeans and sneakers) is acceptable in all public areas. Bare feet are acceptable only on the Pool Deck. Note: Bathing suits, while acceptable at the Pool Bar and Grill, are not considered appropriate in any indoor venue.

Evening Dress Code (after 6 p.m.) Two types of dress code have been established for evenings in public areas: Elegant Casual and Formal Optional. The number of Formal Optional nights is dependent upon the length of the cruise, as follows: • Cruises of fifteen nights or less will be Elegant Casual for the duration • Cruises of sixteen nights or more will have two Formal Optional nights

Elegant Casual: Skirt, or slacks (no jeans) with blouse or sweater, pant suit or dress for ladies; slacks (no jeans) and collared shirt for gentlemen. Sport jackets are optional. Note: Jeans, T-shirts, baseball caps, shorts, sneakers and bathrobes are not considered appropriate in any public area after 6 p.m.

Formal Optional: While guests are welcome to dress each evening as per the Elegant Casual dress code, during Formal Optional evenings, guests may opt for a more formal choice of clothing including gowns and cocktail dresses for ladies; tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suit with tie for gentlemen.

Great job, Regent! This will help your guests and potential guests to feel very comfortable in their choice, and easier for agents to ensure they properly explain this often very confusing aspect to cruising to their clients.

EXCLUSIVE Savings on Regent Paul Gauguin!

Our family of companies has been given an EXCLUSIVE pricing opportunity for the Regent Paul Gauguin in French Polynesia this summer. These prices aren't available from anywhere but from one of our group of companies.

The Paul Gauguin is simply an amazing ship. Intimate, personal, inclusive, perfectly suited for one of the most beautiful places in the world. Tahiti and French Polynesia are spectacular, and the Paul Gauguin is the best way to experience it. From the Gauguin gallery onboard (with, ironically, more originals than the Gauguin Museum near Papeete), to the lovely Gauguines, the social hostesses onboard who are all natives of Polynesia and serve not just as your social hostesses but also as cultural ambassadors, this is a sublime experience.

Of course, since it's Regent, the cruise is all-inclusive, from bottled water, tips, to alcohol with lunch and dinner along with 2 bottles of your choice in your cabin, this is truly an all-inclusive cruise. The quality of the dining onboard is extraordinary, and the service levels what you'd expect on a true luxury cruise.

The sailings we have with these special offers are:

June 6, 2009, 7-night sailing round-trip Papeete - Category D Balcony - $2,995/person, Category E Oceanview - $2,340/person, Category F Porthole - $2,195/person. Government fees and taxes are $210 additional. Third passenger is FREE on this sailing (fees/taxes are additional).

May 15 & July 29, 2009, 10-night sailing round-trip Papeete - Category D Balcony - $3,640/person, Category E Oceanview - $2,795/person, Category F Porthole - $2,595/person. Government fees and taxes are $300 additional. Third passenger is FREE on this sailing (fees/taxes are additional).

As a Tahiti Tiare specialist, I'm happy to assist you with pre- or post-cruise extensions in the islands as well.

If you have dreamed of French Polynesia, promised yourself (or your loved one) that you will go "someday", or if the idea of sitting in a lounge in crystal clear water with a waiter bringing you drinks right to your chair sounds heavenly, then this is your opportunity. Call me at 303-690-8937, toll-free at 888-SAIL-123 (888-724-5123) or email me at amber@cruiseresource.com to book your escape to paradise now!

Luxury Savings News

You've all most likely been inundated with sales and offers from the mainstream brands such as Carnival, Princess, NCL, etc. But you may not have seen some spectacular offers from lines such as Crystal, Regent, Oceania and Azamara. All are offering similarly amazing deals, which bring their pricing down to values never before seen.

Would you believe up to $2,000 in onboard credit from Crystal for 2009 European sailings? In addition to other savings offers? Huge discounts on the Regent Paul Gauguin in French Polynesia if booked prior to March 31? And did you notice that there are now included shore excursions with Regent sailings?

Azamara has announced they will be offering cruise-only rates so you can take advantage of the discounts available in airfares right now direct from the airlines.

How about a historic Transatlantic crossing on the Queen Mary 2? You've not seen prices like this before!

Interested in a river cruise? There are fabulous bargains to be found this summer, even in high season.

And these are only a tiny portion of the offers available right now in the Deluxe and Luxury brands.

So if you've longed for the pampering and quality of these Deluxe and Luxury lines, and have the ability to travel this summer, now is the time to book! You might find yourself paying less for one of these cruises than you've paid in the past for a mainstream brand.

As a CLIA-certified Luxury Cruise Specialist, I can help you find the line, itinerary and value best suited to your preferences. Give me a call or email me at amber@cruiseresource.com!

Regent to Offer Free Shore Excursions and More!

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, a relaxed but elegant luxury line, has just announced a new promotion for new bookings through March 31: Free Excursions during select 2009 cruises! This is part of their new “ultra-inclusive” cruise pricing initiative. For a limited time, guests on select 2009 voyages can choose from a selection of complimentary shore excursions, a value of up to several hundred dollars per guest.

Simply book by March 31, 2009 and they will include unlimited access to complimentary, award-winning shore excursions during your voyage. This is in addition to the all-inclusive cruise experience (which is already one of the best true luxury deals around, as they include alcohol at lunch and dinner, a free bar set up in cabin, soft drinks and bottled water, and gratuities in the regular fare).

This offer is in addition and combinable with the current 2-for-1 and free air offers!

“We are delighted to be able to offer our valued guests even greater value with a Regent experience that now encompasses both the ship and the destination,” said Mark Conroy, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “At a time when travelers are seeking greater value and unique vacation opportunities, we offer a spectacular array of voyages that offer more value and more luxury than ever before.”

With offers of free airfare, cruise fares that begin at $3,995 and free unlimited shore excursions, the company expects that these voyages will be in great demand. On each of the select cruises, guests can participate in at least one complimentary shore excursion in each port where excursions are offered. These excursions are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability. Guests with deposited reservations can pre-request their excursions online starting 120 days in advance of their sailing date. In addition to the free excursions, there will be a number of Regent Choice excursions that will require payment of a supplement.

In addition, for first-time Regent cruisers, there is a $500/cabin onboard credit! Though in all honesty, I can't imagine having a $500 shipboard bill when excursions are free!

The applicable sailings are:

Alaska on the Seven Seas Mariner: June 3, June 10, June 24, July 1, July 8, July 15, August 26, September 2. Complimentary tours include a native canoe adventure or an adventure hike to Mendenhall Glacier from Juneau; a zipline tour or a ride on the White Pass Scenic Railroad in Skagway; a sea otter and wildlife quest in Sitka.

Europe and the Baltic on the Seven Seas Voyager: June 26, July 24, July 31, August 7, August 14, August 21, August 28, September 25. Complimentary shore excursions in the Baltic include an evening at the ballet, a visit to Hermitage museum, or a tour of Peterhof Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia; a walking tour and concert or a countryside fishing and lunch tour in Tallinn, Estonia; and a city tour by sea and visit to Fortress Island, or a sailing tour in Helsinki, Finland.

Mediterranean (and Caribbean) on the Seven Seas Navigator: July 10, July 17, July 24, July 31, August 7, August 14, September 4, September 11, September 28, October 16, October 30, November 8, December 18. Among the complimentary excursions are a visit to Pompeii or a Riviera tour from Sorrento, Italy; a tour of Ephesus from Kusadasi, Turkey; a tour of Sicily; a tour of ancient Rome from Civitavecchia, Italy; a tour of Mayan ruins and river cruise in Belize; a visit to Q’eqchi indigenous river community in Guatemala; and a stingray sandbar swim in Grand Cayman.

Asia Pacific on the Seven Seas Mariner: September 16, October 1, October 17, November 1, November 18, December 2. Shore excursion options include a tour of the Peace Park in Nagasaki, Japan; a full-day tour to Hanoi from Hong Gai, Vietnam; a kangaroo and koala tour in Melbourne, Australia; a Maori cultural experience in Wellington, New Zealand.

Tropics on the Seven Seas Navigator: December 18 where you can experience an off-road adventure in Bora Bora.

Alas, my favorite ship in the world, Paul Gauguin, is not included in this offer, but there are other offers which apply to her as well.

If you're interested in learning more about any of these sailings, feel free to email at amber@cruiseresource.com!

Regent To No Longer Operate Paul Gauguin

In news which will sadden lovers of the Paul Gauguin (and those who have dreamed of sailing on her in Tahiti and French Polynesia), it is expected that Grand Circle (the owner of the Paul Gauguin) and Regent Seven Seas will announce this week that Regent will no longer operate the Paul Gauguin after the 2009 sailing season currently available for sale.

It is unknown what Grand Circle has in mind for the ship at this time, so keep watching here for updates once that announcement is made.

If you've been planning on sailing the Paul Gauguin, which I personally believe is the perfect ship for French Polynesia, it's time to stop procrastinating! Take advantage of this advance information and book your 2008 or 2009 sailing NOW! As a Certified Tiare Specialist, I can help you in all aspects of your dream cruise and vacation in French Polynesia.

More 2009 Openings: Regent Seven Seas

It's definitely *that* time of year again, when there is a rush to announce the new itineraries by each line.

The most recent announcement is from Regent Seven Seas. Their 2009 program features an unprecedented two World Cruises, new itineraries across northern Europe and an enhanced version of the sold-out "Discovery Collection" series of voyages to Africa, the Middle East, India and South America. Regent is offering a broad selection of sailings to Africa, Antarctica, Alaska, Asia, Australasia, Europe and the Mediterranean, India, the Caribbean and Mexico, the Panama Canal, South America, and Tahiti and the South Pacific in 2009. Regent in 2009 will operate the 700-guest Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner, the 490-guest Seven Seas Navigator, the 330-guest Paul Gauguin and the 198-guest expedition ship Minerva.

If you haven't tried Regent's casual luxury style of cruising, and are looking for something upscale but not uptight, give me a call. I'm happy to discuss how it's different, the value of this type of luxury cruising, and the great itineraries they offer!

2009 Season Itineraries Released - Uniworld, Crystal, Regent and Princess

Tis the season... for new itineraries! More 2009/2010 itineraries are being released. Up now are Uniworld, Crystal, Regent and Princess!

Citing people wanting to schedule bookings farther in advance, this week Uniworld opened their 2009 European schedule of river cruises. Their full schedule is available for booking now.

Crystal, too, has opened their entire 2009 schedule, with the exception of the 2010 World Cruise, which will come later. The 57 destination-rich itineraries call on 185 different ports with an extensive mix of cruises ranging from seven days to a 106-day World Cruise. New for 2009:

• A return to cruising the Amazon for the first time since 2006;
• Virtually all Mediterranean cruises feature overnight calls in cities including Barcelona, Istanbul, Monte Carlo, Venice and Sorrento;
• Two ships cruising Asia, including cruises in China/Japan, Southeast Asia and India with overnight stays in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Osaka, Kōbe, and Bangkok among many others;
• A choice of exotic and tropical holiday voyages in South America and Antarctica or Caribbean.

Most itineraries feature at least one overnight stay allowing for greater exploration into some of the world’s most fascinating destinations. In addition to attractions like Dubai, Athens, Stockholm, Sydney and Vancouver, there are 11 maiden calls in Kiel, Germany; Rangiroa, French Polynesia; Napier, New Zealand; Komodo, Indonesia; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Petropavlovsk, Russia; Kotor, Montenegro; Lipari, Italy; Sinop, Turkey; Patmos, Greece; and Trogir, Croatia.

Regent has opened their bookings for two sailings in Antarctica on their new Minerva (formerly Exlorer II) expedition ship, currently undergoing renovation. (Gee, there seems to be a theme here - we've recently reported on similar acquisition and renovation of an expedition ship by Silversea. I think we can conclude that expedition cruising is getting extremely popular! But back to Regent Minerva.)

Setting sail Jan. 14-25 and Jan. 25-Feb. 8, 2009, both voyages begin with visits to the Falkland Islands' wildlife-rich shores and the village of Port Stanley. Minerva then cruises to the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula (with opportunities for disembarkation and exploration as weather permits), followed by a transit of the Drake Passage. Before returning to Ushuaia, Argentina, Minerva will sail along Cape Horn, at the confluence of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The 14-night cruise on Jan. 25 adds a call at South Georgia Island, which features large colonies of king penguins, fur and elephant seals.

Both itineraries include a one-night, pre-cruise stay in Santiago, Chile; roundtrip charter flights from Santiago to Ushuaia; a city tour and Patagonian lunch on embarkation day in Ushuaia; and a complimentary backpack and parka. Minerva has an ice-strengthened hull. Inside, Minerva offers all ocean-view suites and staterooms, two open-seating restaurants, a full-service health club and a salon. Designed to carry up to 394 guests in Antarctica, Regent limits the ship's capacity to just 198 guests for maximum comfort.

Finally, Princess has announced they will open bookings for their 2009 summer European program on March 14. With 6 ships (Ruby, Emerald, Crown, Grand, Royal and Tahitian Princesses), 90 voyages on 36 different itineraries, visiting 132 ports and destinations, Princess definitely has one of the most varied and comprehensive programs in Europe.

As was posted here previously, there will be two mid-summer "top of the world" itineraries between New York and London on the Tahitian Princess which offer calls in Greenland and Iceland. The Ruby Princess, also making her European debut, will operate cruises in the Mediterranean and Greek Isles. Emerald Princess takes over the Scandinavia and Russia itineraries, while Crown Princess sails in Northern Europe, British Isles and the Mediterranean. Grand Princess will offer itineraries to the Mediterranean from London (primarily marketed to residents from the UK, but a nice, different itinerary for those from North America as well), along with late season sailings to the Greek Isles and Egypt which proved extremely popular in 2007 and already for 2008. Finally, Royal Princess will focus on sailings to the Holy Land, Mediterranean and Black Sea.

Accompanying this launch announcement from Princess is a new promotion for their past passengers. Princess' Europe cruises will be the first to offer Captain's Circle Launch Savings, a new discount for past passengers. This $100-per-person discount is available to Captain's Circle members who make their Europe bookings by Sept. 30, 2008, and will remain combinable with subsequent promotions. Princess is the first line to offer such broad discounts to their past passengers, available to bookings on all their ships, in any type of cabin. Way to go, Princess!

A full list of itineraries is available at www.princess.com/news/article.jsp?newsArticleId=na935.

If you're interested in any of these itineraries, give me a call soon so we can plan your 2009 cruises!

More Luxury in Tahiti

Just as Princess is wrapping up its final season of the Tahitian Princess in French Polynesia/Tahiti, yet another luxury line is announcing plans to sail there. Joining the Regent Paul Gauguin and Star Clippers Star Flyer will be the Silversea HSH Prince Albert II.

As we discussed a few days ago, the HSH Prince Albert II is the new luxury expedition ship for Silversea which is currently undergoing extensive renovation to turn it into a ship worthy of the Silversea name.

I've been asked several times when Princess will be going back to French Polynesia, or if another line will go there instead. Frankly, the French Polynesian government would much prefer to have lines such as Silversea, Star Clippers and Regent there. Princess was there mostly because they agreed to the government's terms in order to purchase the former Renaissance ship, which they then renamed Tahitian Princess. They had a good run there for several years, but were running into issues on airlift capacity and pricing, many times with the air cost being very close to the cruise price, not something generally experienced by typical Princess passengers. I'd be surprised if French Polynesia will be anything more than a stop or two on longer itineraries for lines such as Princess, Celebrity and Holland America for the foreseeable future.

I'm sorry to see a mid-level line leaving this market simply because French Polynesia is one of my favorite place on earth. It doesn't suffer the tourist overload that Hawaii's development over the years has created, maintaining much more of its pristine beauty and low impact tourism. The water there is so incredibly beautiful, and with the lagoons surrounding these ancient islands, it's accessible for a variety of activities, from snorkeling, swimming, great beach days, magnificent sightseeing on the mountains, and of course my passion scuba diving. It's the most romantic place I've ever been.

Obviously, this is not a budget destination. But for a trip which is truly extraordinary for the senses, it's absolutely worth it. Have a special anniversary coming up? Second (or first) honeymoon? A "I've dreamed about it" trip? Contact me for more information. I am a Tahiti Tiare Specialist, so can help you with all your arrangements and match you up with an idyllic trip to this tropical paradise. Believe me, you'll fall in love with it too.

Regent Special Offers!

Since the newsletter has already gone out for this week, wanted to alert you here as to some special offers just released by Regent!

First up, there's a reduced single supplement on the Seven Seas Mariner for the March 4, 14 and April 7 departures. In Categories C-H, the single supplement is only $499! This must be booked by January 31, so act now!

Past passenger on Regent? Then you may be interested in their "Build Your Ship" cruise on the March 14 Seven Seas Mariner. Past passengers will be given the opportunity to participate in planning sessions for the new ship they're soon to announce! In addition, Mariners will be given a one category upgrade and a $250/person future cruise credit!

Thinking of Alaska? Regent has a New Year's Sale through January 12 with 2-for-1 offers on the Seven Seas Mariner sailings in Alaska on May 27, June 11 and June 25!

Never sailed Regent? They have an offer for you, too! If you're a first time passenger with Regent, you'll be given a $250/person onboard credit for the Seven Seas Mariner sailings in Alaska on May 27, June 11, June 25, July 9, July 16, July 23 and September 3!

Fabulous offers from this wonderful luxury line. If you're interested, contact me NOW!

Regent Continues Paul Gauguin Management!

For all of us who love the Paul Gauguin comes the exciting news that Regent has extended its management contact of this wonderful ship through January, 2010. Since the Paul Gauguin was sold to PGSL a couple years ago, it's been an ongoing question as to how long RSSC would continue to manage her, and in fact how long she would stay in French Polynesia. With this announcement, we can breathe easily for at least two more years.

French Polynesia (Tahiti) is one of the most beautiful places in the world to cruise. For anyone looking for what I believe to be the ultimate South Pacific experience, I'd highly recommend sailing this ship while you can.

More Fuel Surcharges

Oceania and Regent Seven Seas have both added new fuel surcharges for their passengers. Oceania passengers will be assessed $7/person per day effective December 1 for sailings which are not paid in full as of that date and all new bookings. Regent's surcharge is $7.50/person per day also effective for new and unpaid bookings as of December 1, 2007.

I believe it's only a matter of time before the RCI brands (Celebrity, Azamara and Royal Caribbean) announce similar surcharges.