Regent's loyalty program and Oceania

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I'm just wondering if Regent's loyalty program would ever be extended to Oceania.

What with the cruise lines sharing more infrastructure and process, I wonder. Or would this just continue to be one of the items that distinguishes Regent?

It sure would be a good way of enticing us over there!

I guess the free internet is the big perk, and that might just be too expensive for O. But the SSS savings would be a small thing, and the onboard booking discount another (does O have something like this?)

Mr. Del Rio mentioned loyalty in another thread, thought this was fair game.

[tallship]

I'm just wondering if Regent's loyalty program would ever be extended to Oceania.

What with the cruise lines sharing more infrastructure and process, I wonder. Or would this just continue to be one of the items that distinguishes Regent?

It sure would be a good way of enticing us over there!

I guess the free internet is the big perk, and that might just be too expensive for O. But the SSS savings would be a small thing, and the onboard booking discount another (does O have something like this?)

Mr. Del Rio mentioned loyalty in another thread, thought this was fair game.


I would love to see a crossover in this area. Another thing that I would also like to see is the opportunity to earn upgrades over time (earned by the number of nights, etc).

[hondorner]

The biggest problem with crossover at the present time is the completely different programs developed separately by the two cruise lines in question.

It starts with different qualifying methods -- Regent counts days aboard, and Oceania counts cruises (extra long cruises count as two).

Then there are different rewards. Regent, in keeping with its all-inclusive nature and luxury class, tends to award benefits as additional amenities, while Oceania, in keeping with its "ala carte" nature, tends to award cash-related perks such as shipboard credit and paid gratuities.

I kind of think that Prestige has considered some sort of blending, but I suspect that a blending of loyalty programs would cause as much dismay and dissension on both sides that it would hurt more than it would help.

As much as the cruise lines are alike in food and service, they are different in concept, and it might be better to use Regent loyalty on Regent ships and begin earning Oceania perks on those ships.

[Travelcat2]

I have to agree that keeping the loyalty programs separate makes the most sense. In addition to the reasons mentioned by hordorner, the cost per night on Regent is quite a bit more than Oceania. I would think that it would require 2 Oceania nights to equal one on Regent.

In terms of upgrades -- it would be great -- although there are so many Seven Seas Society members in each category. . . . it might be difficult for Regent to fairly administer the program. I do love when we get offers to upgrade for a reasonable cost.

[cruzndiz]

The only area Regent is lacking for me when it comes to Loyalty Programs is in their casino. I wish Harrah's would step in and take over that contract! :D

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I appreciate that you don't like the casino, and that if you liked it better that you might be more loyal to Regent, but in what way is that part of the loyalty program?

[ChatKat in Ca.]

I think that most casino's have a time for play loyalty program but not at sea.

I would have loved to have some benefits on Oceania being a Regent Gold Cruiser. The products are so similar that I still think that at some point there will be a merger....maybe when the R ships (Renaissance) ships finally retire. I see more and more changes on Regent that are Oceania standards - of course at near double the price.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Yeh, I'm with you Kathy. I'm Gold now and it would be great to have a few perks if we ever spring for Oceania, since R seems to be pricing itself pretty high for us right now. We hardly even used our Silver perks, but admit that getting on to the internet where and when you like is great.

[Travelcat2]

If you compare Regent's loyalty program with other luxury cruise lines, you will find that it is, by far, the best. As I have stated previously, comparing Oceania with Regent is like comparing apples and oranges. Oceania is the very best premium cruise line. . . . . but, it could not, by any definition, be considered luxury (due to the fact that it is not all-inclusive). For those of you who would like to see a cross-over in loyalty programs, kindly give details of how this program would work -- considering the price differences and the fact that one is all-inclusive and the other is not. Just curious:confused: I'm sure that Regent would love to hear your ideas.

[cruzndiz]

Oh, no, Wendy you misunderstand me :eek: I do like the casino on Mariner!

What I meant about loyalty was most casinos (even at sea) have some sort of perks given to those of us who spend hours and hours and $$$$$ playing consistently. The Casinos Austria or whatever they are that are on RSSC ships don't even keep track of who is playing, how much, etc. I am just waiting for the day when Apollo lets "one of their own" companies (i.e. Harrahs) take over the casino contract like they did for other cruise lines.

This doesn't sway my cruising decisions ~ Regent is still #1 :D

[Travelcat2]

Just read that the contract with the current casino folks is due to expire soon!

[Rally]

Oceania is the very best premium cruise line. . . . . but, it could not, by any definition, be considered luxury (due to the fact that it is not all-inclusive)

Just out of curiosity, is this definition (can't be luxury if it isn't all-inclusive) a generally accepted definition in the industry and amonst cruisers, or just your definition?

[Travelcat2]

Rally, it is whatever you think it is.

However, almost all luxury cruise lines are all-iinclusive. Take from that what you will.

[jhp]

I always thought of Regent as a luxury line before it went all-inclusive. And I still consider Crystal as a luxury line, even though they still aren't AL.

[ChatKat in Ca.]

The service on Oceania is equal to that of Regent. The difference is in a few of the amenities. Food is a close call, a Concierge Cabin and higher has similar perks. I have a few reviews out there comparing. It's a half step down and I like the lack of pretense on the O ships. There are well educated travelers onboard. Many of the staff have been on Regent. As for the casino, the rules in the Oceania Casino are 1 to 1 Blackjack and there was no craps table. There were not enough table games on either of the O ships. The casino being in the Martini's Lounge was great.

[tallship]

I always thought of Regent as a luxury line before it went all-inclusive. And I still consider Crystal as a luxury line, even though they still aren't AL.

I agree with Rally and JHP here. I did a year of research before selecting Radisson (Regent) in 2006. There were a number of luxury cruise products out there to choose from - Crystal, Cunard (Queen's Grill), Silversea, Seabourn, SeaDream and Radisson. All-inclusiveness did not have anything to do with being considered luxury but is now a differentiator in the Regent product.

editing to add - I also agree with Wendy re: pricing though. On some cruises, it would be great to be able to opt out of excursions altogether such as the Caribbean cruises. These cruises are pricey with both air and excursions now included. I also notice that many cruises (crossings esp.) are now 14 day and there is no longer a 7 + 6 day option.

[Travelcat2]

I All-inclusiveness did not have anything to do with being considered luxury but is now a differentiator in the Regent product..

This is exactly what I meant by my all-inclusive comment. As ChatKat posted, Oceania and Regent are very close in terms of service and food. They may be the only "premium" cruise line that could almost be considered premium-plus. All-inclusivity was simply an easy way to lump SS, SB and Regent together (Crystal is almost a all-inclusive "wanna be" but is certainly a luxury line).

Getting back to the subject. . .. the only perk that I can see that could easily be shared on both Regent and Oceania is free internet. Since Regent management does read these boards, I still feel that they would be interested to hear a suggestion as to how a merged loyalty program would work.

[PaulaJK]

Most certainly I am not anti perks.............however, I am worried that these two lines will become more and more blurred..........until Regent becomes Oceania's Azamara.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Oh, no, Wendy you misunderstand me :eek: I do like the casino on Mariner!

What I meant about loyalty was most casinos (even at sea) have some sort of perks given to those of us who spend hours and hours and $$$$$ playing consistently. The Casinos Austria or whatever they are that are on RSSC ships don't even keep track of who is playing, how much, etc. I am just waiting for the day when Apollo lets "one of their own" companies (i.e. Harrahs) take over the casino contract like they did for other cruise lines.

This doesn't sway my cruising decisions ~ Regent is still #1 :D

Thanks for the explanation! I've never more than walked into the casino and looked around, so I had no idea.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

(BTW, I agree that a "luxury" line does not have to be all-inclusive. I like this very much, but the jury's out on the excursions, for me.)

Okay, I'll bite TC. I think that it would be nice if a Regent cruiser, upon booking an Oceania cruise, could be offered the same (small) SSS discount, and offered whatever shipboard perks they had accumulated on Regent: free internet, a couple of pressings, an hour or two of telephone calls, laundry, whatever.

By the same token an Oceania cruiser could be offered a SSS discount on their *first* Regent cruise. And frequent O cruisersperhaps could be offered honorary Silver status, for example.

A small thing, but perhaps this would facilitate crossovers.

[tallship]

Wendy - perhaps it would cost a greater number of nights on O to reach silver given the price difference

[hondorner]

Wendy - perhaps it would cost a greater number of nights on O to reach silver given the price difference
Remember, O doesn't count nights. I have 57 nights on O (and would be up to 81 if I had not suffered a small stroke a few weeks ago), but I have only 3 cruises under my belt. Simply put, this means that I have absolutely no perks on Oceania and will not, until I am on my 5th cruise, when I will receive a nice bronze pin and will start to receive $200 in shipboard credit. That will be all until I complete my 10th cruise.

By the time I have accumulated 10 cruises and will be eligible for a silver pin and free gratuities plus $400 shipboard credit, I will likely be well over 150 days on O.

In other words, the 21 day level counts for less than warm spit on Oceania, and there is no way the perks will transfer. Imagine the resentment on O if Regent guests got free internet on O after 21 days on Regent, when O guests NEVER get free internet.

In the same vein, I have had opportunity to hear FDR on the subject, and it is extremely unlikely that Regent and Oceania will ever blend into the same product. I won't say "never" because no one can be that sure, but the circumstances would have to be more than exigent.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

No I don't believe they will blended either, nor should they. But there could be some sort of modest cross-over. Too bad about the O perks program; it sounds pretty lame. Regent is definitely great in that regard--they probably rue the day they gave away free internet after 21 days!

[Travelcat2]

Wendy's ideas were starting to look viable . . . until I read the perks (or lack thereof) on Oceania.

Hondorner -- first, I hope you are feeling much better! When I first read details of the Owner's Suite on the Marina and it mentioned that you get a laptop to use, etc. I assumed that it included the internet. I just checked the website again and it is clear that it does not include internet access. How disappointing. Thank you enlightening us:-)

While I believe the two cruise lines will be kept separate in most ways, it would be nice if there were some perk that reminded us that we are sisters.

[jhp]

In my opinion, the lines are so different in their incentive programs, it would be way too complicated to build a bridge between them, except perhaps internet.

I'm with PaulaJK, the more they blur the lines between R and 0, the less choices we have in what are now two separate lines. I, for one, hope that doesn't change and that they will continue to have their own identities.

[Travelcat2]

IMO, having an incentive to book Oceania doaes not blur the two cruise lines. Some peopleare still having a difficult time in this economy. Why shouldn't there be an incentive to book a sister line?

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Yes TC, that's what I was trying to say, thanks. I don't want the lines blurred either.