Sales call from Regent

[eddmel]

Just got a sales call from Regent. They wanted me to book a cruise.

I did take a cruise with them 4 yrs ago but have had no contact with them after that cruise...until this phone call today.

I was surprised that they are going back to such old customers.

Plus, I'm on the national do not call list!

[wripro]

I guess you have to sign up for the National Do Not Cruise List too.

[DaveFr]

Unfortunately, the National Do Not Call Registry has several huge loopholes. From the FAQ:

"No. Placing your number on the National Do Not Call Registry will stop most telemarketing calls, but not all. Because of limitations in the jurisdiction of the FTC and FCC, calls from or on behalf of political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors would still be permitted, as would calls from companies with which you have an existing business relationship, or those to whom you’ve provided express agreement in writing to receive their calls. However, if you ask a company with which you have an existing business relationship to place your number on its own do-not-call list, it must honor your request. You should keep a record of the date you make the request."

"Existing business relationship" is a pretty ambiguous phrase. Your best bet is to contact Regent and request that you be put on their internal Do Not Call List.

Dave

[Goofyisme]

I've been called 3 times by them even though I have told them I am no longer interested in their current product. Wonder where they are finding room on all these full ships I keep hearing about LOL.
In any case if you like the package they now offer I am sure they continue to pull it off well and provide a good experience, just not the bang for the buck I look for.

[Observer]

I got a call yesterday from a Regent "cruise consultant."

It was a very off-putting and high pressure call. The caller immediately began by talking about the lowered single supplement. He apparently knew from the outset that I travel alone.

He told me about a number of summer/fall cruises with a "low" (his word) single supplement. I did some quick figures, and the per diem for each was nearly $1000. I remarked on this. The high pressure salesman/consultant recited what was included, esp. the excursions. I said that I had been to nearly all of the ports before (often on Regent) and did not want excursions. He had no response.

I was really surprised by this high pressure call. Obviously, Regent has to scramble to fill its ships -- even a couple of months out.

[TedC]

No call yet, but if Regent calls to offer a substantial free upgrade I will not be put off!

[Responder]

No call yet, but if Regent calls to offer a substantial free upgrade I will not be put off!

Me too...

"Our operators are standing by."

[nana541]

Me too...

"Our operators are standing by."

Oh call me please!!!!!!!

[SnoBirdCruiser]

Wow!! Regent "agents" actually called you at home soliciting business? Perhaps its a sign of the times, but it sure reminds me of "boiler room" tactics.

Has anyone called Regents/Oceania's head office to inquire if these are legit agents?

[cruiseluv]

I can't imagine this tactic producing any sales. Reminds me of telemarketers calling you in the middle of dinner asking if you need to refinance your mortgage or need a new roof.

[Observer]

A couple of responses:

The call I received was pretty clearly from a "legit" Regent agent. He started off with info on "reduced" (50%) on several cruises. Thus, he apparently had access to Regent files revealing that I travel solo.

There's no need to wait breathlessly by the phone for the call. You can simply look on the website for the fares. The several fares he quoted were the same fares one finds on the web.

[Pam]

Surely they aren't trying to bypass the established, recognized travel agencies who bring them so much business. That would be so non-professional.

[azgkrudi]

We got a call the other day, too - but it was because I had been on their website and "saved" a cruise that I was possibly interested in. I don't like that intrusion...

[jhp]

I agree with Pam and Kristin. Regent should never allow their telemarketers to phone a previous cruiser who regularly books with an independent agent. I don't like unsolicited phone calls of any kind, but this would really irk me.

[mushroom]

I would have thought that FDR would have learned a valuable lesson years ago when he drove a wedge between Renaissance Cruises and the Travel Agency Community. I sincerely hope that he takes steps to keep this from happening again! He, of all people, should realize that his network of loyal travel agent suppliers is something to be respected. Many of us are extremely loyal to our agents!

[cruiseej]

I haven't read anything here which indicates Regent would cut out the TAs. They're trying to stimulate interest, to drum up business. It could well be that they would be happy to let the TA book the trip, or to book a trip and transfer the booking to a TA upon request, right? No one who has posted above about receiving one of these Regent calls has been interested enough to try to book a trip, or even to find out what the response would be if they say that they prefer to work through their TA.

I'm not saying I welcome high-pressure sales calls, but inferring that this is an effort to cut out TAs seems an unfounded conclusion.

-- Eric

[journeyfan]

My DH got a call from a Regent rep last week pressuring him to book a cruise. Since we already have 2 cruises booked with Regent that we've yet to take, my DH thought it was a scam call from someone trying to find out when we were leaving on our next cruise so he could rob our house. The caller insisted he was a Regent rep and to prove it, today we received a card from the rep thanking us for our interest in Regent!

[Colonel(Ret.)Wes]

No Regent sales calls for us yet..thankfully.

ps..also wanted to say, nice to see cruiseej/Eric posting on the Regent board again.

[cruiseej]

Thanks, Col. Wes! I tend to drift away from the board when we don't have a future cruise planned, and other things (read: major home remodeling project) take precedence. We're not yet to a point in life -- nor bank account! -- to cruise several times a year, or even once a year. But we've got the bug, so eventually we start planning a cruise, and I'm back on CC. I've been lurking for a while, catching up on the issues of the day before posting. We're now booked for a December cruise on Mariner, so I'll be hanging around for awhile! ;)

-- Eric

[shuguley]

My wife and I are very careful about answering calls that come up on caller I.D. with stange number, no number or a strange name.

When you received a call from Regent, what was the caller I.D.?

[Goofyisme]

My wife and I are very careful about answering calls that come up on caller I.D. with stange number, no number or a strange name.

When you received a call from Regent, what was the caller I.D.?

My caller ID showed Prestige Cruises I believe.

[Travelcat2]

IMO, having your TA speak with Regent about this issue may be the most efficient way to handle it.

[gillianrose]

Surely they aren't trying to bypass the established, recognized travel agencies who bring them so much business. That would be so non-professional.

It's very easy to transfer a booking from a cruise line to a travel agent, so no harm, no foul to the TA.