Why trust me: I have been sailing on small ships since 2012, and I price these sailings for clients every week. Regent Seven Seas is my largest supplier by a wide margin. I book more than ten times the volume with Regent than with my next largest partner.
When someone asks me whether Regent is worth the price, they are usually asking about the bill they will see at the end of the week, and on Regent that bill is short. Shore excursions, drinks, specialty dining, gratuities and Wi-Fi are already paid for. Whether that justifies the higher fare depends on what you would spend on a line that charges for them, and I will show you how I work that out.
What does a Regent fare include?
Regent's all-included page lists unlimited shore excursions, unlimited beverages including fine wines and craft cocktails, all specialty restaurants at no added cost, a mini bar restocked daily with your preferences, unlimited Wi-Fi, pre-paid gratuities, valet laundry and 24-hour in-suite dining. Two items depend on your suite: butler service starts at the Penthouse suites, and concierge suites and higher include one pre-cruise hotel night and the transfer from that hotel to the ship. Airfare is not in the fare.
What happened when I priced Silversea?
In September I compared the two lines before my first Silversea sailing, and I wrote up the pre-sailing comparison. The Silversea fare for my December sailing came in about $2,500 CAD per person below the Regent fare I looked at. Then the extras arrived. Shore excursions and some restaurants are charged separately (La Dame carries a supplement of $60 USD per person), and I have paid about $2,400 CAD in total on my card for excursions and dining reservations with the ship still five weeks away.
Silversea includes butler service in every suite, and Regent starts it at the Penthouse level. Regent includes valet laundry, and Silversea charges for it.
How do I compare two fares?
Start with the gap between the two fares in the same suite category, and note whether it is per person or for the whole booking. Then price the shore excursions you would take in each port, counting only the ones you would book anyway. Add the specialty dinners and the drinks you would order (wine at dinner adds up faster than most people expect). Finish with gratuities, Wi-Fi and laundry if the cheaper fare leaves them out, and set that total against the gap.
If the gap is larger than the extras, the cheaper line wins on price. If the extras are larger, Regent does. Either way you have a number, which is better than a feeling.
Who is Regent worth it for?
Regent suits travellers who take excursions in most ports, who like a glass of wine with dinner and who would rather not look at a bill all week. In my experience those are also the travellers who feel the extras most on a line that charges for them. If you spend most port days on your own, drink little and care more about a butler in a lower suite category, another line may fit better, and I will say so.
What does Regent's fare not cover?
Airfare, travel insurance, extra hotel nights and some transfers are yours to arrange. Even in a concierge suite or above, the transfer from the airport to the hotel and the transfer from the ship to the airport at the end are extra. I coordinate flights and hotels for my clients, so those costs are in the plan from the start.
Where I start
Send me the sailing you are considering and the suite category, and I will price it two ways, with the extras added to each fare. It takes me a few minutes and it usually settles the question. You can book a call with me whenever it suits you.
Frequently asked questions
Does Regent include drinks and gratuities?
Yes. Regent lists unlimited beverages, including fine wines and craft cocktails, and pre-paid gratuities. Because "unlimited" is not defined on the page, I confirm any premium or reserve items for your sailing.
Does every Regent suite come with a butler?
No. Regent lists butler service in Penthouse suites and higher. Silversea includes butler service in every suite.
Can I reserve Regent's shore excursions before sailing?
Yes. Regent guests reserve excursions online at no charge once the booking window opens, and the dates vary by sailing. I track those dates for my clients, and I am happy to book the shore excursions on their behalf, because most of my clients have better things to do at 8 p.m. than be on Regent's website navigating the booking portal.
Are Regent's specialty restaurants easy to get into?
They are included, and popular times fill up early, so I make reservations on behalf of my clients as soon as the window allows. I explain why in Why Your Regent Dining Reservations Should Already Be Made.