Early payment discount

[turtlemichael]

Without revealing too many details I wanted to inquire whether this situation was unusual. Last week I got offered by my ta a 10% discount if I paid the balance on an upcoming Regent cruise about 5 weeks before it would otherwise be payable. It was too good an offer to resist and I took it. My credit card has now been charged the balance, less the 10%, so it's all systems go.

While I am satisfied I am covered by insurance if anything went wrong, is this an unusual situation? In my near 10 cruises it is the first time this has happened. Should anyone be concerned about Regent's (or perhaps the agent's) cash flow or financial viability or is there some other explanation? I'm intrigued though not overly concerned.

It is one thing for a cruiseline to discount its prices to encourage bookings in a slow time but why give a discount to someone who is already booked and presumably intending to take the cruise ?

[Travelcat2]

Without revealing too many details I wanted to inquire whether this situation was unusual. Last week I got offered by my ta a 10% discount if I paid the balance on an upcoming Regent cruise about 5 weeks before it would otherwise be payable. It was too good an offer to resist and I took it. My credit card has now been charged the balance, less the 10%, so it's all systems go.

While I am satisfied I am covered by insurance if anything went wrong, is this an unusual situation? In my near 10 cruises it is the first time this has happened. Should anyone be concerned about Regent's (or perhaps the agent's) cash flow or financial viability or is there some other explanation? I'm intrigued though not overly concerned.

It is one thing for a cruiseline to discount its prices to encourage bookings in a slow time but why give a discount to someone who is already booked and presumably intending to take the cruise ?

I believe that this is something promoted by your TA. We have no concern whatsoever about Regent's cash flow. It sounds like a good deal to me. . . I'd go for it!

[turtlemichael]

I believe that this is something promoted by your TA. We have no concern whatsoever about Regent's cash flow. It sounds like a good deal to me. . . I'd go for it!

I did go for it! The four figure saving has already been earmarked elsewhere. :D And the charge on my card was of course by Regent so I have no vested interest any longer in what happens to the TA now. I'd still be interested to know if anyone else has similar offers.

[SanFranCruizer]

Make sure you get a copy of the RSSC invoice that shows balance ZERO. I wish my TA called me up and said something like that!

[piri]

Michael, I'm going to have words with my travel agent ;) Look forward to seeing you onboard the Mariner. Cheers.

[turtlemichael]

Michael, I'm going to have words with my travel agent ;) Look forward to seeing you onboard the Mariner. Cheers.

Piri, you have mail!

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Wow, sounds great! Wish we could do that, since I was musing about paying for our cruise early anyways since the Canadian $ is so high right now.

But do make sure you have a *Regent* invoice that shows your payment.

[Avondale]

Just paid early for our Nov. 8th cruise thru our travel agent.
The next day the amount showed on my Amex card account as being paid to Regent Seven Seas Reservations, Fort Lauderdale. Check your credit card account on the internet to see if such payment was made to Regent.

[Threechicks]

Was this discount IN ADDITION to the redeemable for cash shipboard credits offered by many TAs? My TA gives me about the same amount but I pick it up in cash from Reception while on board.

[Travelcat2]

I just noticed that there are four countries represented on this small thread. I do not believe that bookings, on board credits, etc. are handled the same in the U.K., for instance as they are in Canada. I know that some people use U.S. TA's to get certain benefits......perhaps we should be using a TA in Australia -- those benefits are amazing:)

[Baysurf]

We are going to Alaska on Regent Navigator and we were also offered a discount if we paid in full by a certain date. It was a pleasant surprise!

[turtlemichael]

In my case:

It is the only discount from this agent. I have no onboard credits apart from those generally available such as Amex Plat.

The credit card charge is by Regent in Fort Lauderdale. I have no doubt it is genuine even though I haven't received the Regent zero balance invoice yet.

My suspicion is that Travelcat2 is correct and this is agent initiated and specific.

As most of us are I am sure aware all sorts of deals are done in the travel industry and sometimes they do not have a lot of logic or consistency to them. Sometimes they are geographic specific. I recall a year or so ago that Regent offered substantial discount to Aussies who paid early because of the state of the Aussie dollar against the US dollar. The Aussie was languishing below 60 US cents. Now it is over 90 cents and I'm glad Regent haven't imposed a surcharge! ;) So I think I was just lucky and I would not think it would be a good idea for everyone to rush to Aussie agents based on what happened to me :)

[bigdipper]

I just responded to thread on this subject on Oceania board and if RSSC, not a TA, is doing this, it really smacks of a company short on capital. 10% for a few months is a very high borrowing cost, especially since these days a company with good credit can borrow short term for very low interest costs. I would suggest than participants be doubly certain that credit card company or travel insurance would cover for a default.
Ralph

[turtlemichael]

I just responded to thread on this subject on Oceania board and if RSSC, not a TA, is doing this, it really smacks of a company short on capital. 10% for a few months is a very high borrowing cost, especially since these days a company with good credit can borrow short term for very low interest costs. I would suggest than participants be doubly certain that credit card company or travel insurance would cover for a default.
Ralph

There is no evidence that Regent is doing this. It is overwhelming likely to be the agent. I am not naming the agent. If it were anyone other than the agent others would have said the same thing as me.

[Threechicks]

If the agent is providing the discount you would not receive a discounted invoice from Regent. Regent's invoice would be for the full amount and there would be a separate discounted invoice from your TA.

[rallydave]

It is possible the agent has a cash flow issue and the sooner he or she has the client make final payment, the sooner the TA receives their commission. If this is the case, Regent is receiving the 10% discounted payment for the cruise and the TA is just receiving a smaller commission leaving Regent whole.

Since this discounting does not appear to be wide spread, would assume it is not Regent but, the TA who is discounting with Regent's approval. Regent must approve this discounting as if Regent didn't approve this process, they would not accept a lesser payment than the full cruise amount.