How a Luxury Cruise on Regent Seven Seas is Less than Princess and Holland America

We took a sampling of three cruises in the Mediterranean for 2013 — Regent Seven Seas, Holland America and Princess. Since Regent is all suites, we leveled the playing field by comparing staterooms as close to each other in accommodations as possible.
While not all cruisers will book a suite, we felt it was only fair to compare using an “apples to apples” approach. For our clients that prefer to save more money by booking a lower fare category, not take excursions, not to have a free hotel stay before your cruise to catch up on your rest, not tip the servers and wait staff, not experience the alternative dining venues at no additional charge, not drink alcoholic beverages at no additional charge, not to enjoy a 1 to 1.5 staff to guest relationship on a more intimate 700 passenger ship, and use miles programs to book your own air tickets, these comparisons may not make sense.
And, by the way, let us not forget about the superior guest service and the scrumptious food you will savor on Regent Seven Seas. We are not talking about the quantity. Is it possible to get too much freshly prepared and beautifully presented cuisine?
Here is the math. Just “food for thought” when you look at the price comparisons. It’s up to each individual client to decide what constitutes a good deal.
2013 MEDITERRANEAN COMPARISON
CRUISE LINE |
REGENT |
HOLLANDAMERICA |
PRINCESS |
Ship |
Seven Seas Mariner |
Ms Ryndam |
Rubi Princess |
Embark Port |
Monte Carlo |
Athens |
Venice |
Disembark Port |
Athens |
Athens |
Athens |
Total Nights (cruise + 1 night hotel) |
8 |
8 |
8 |
Ports Visited |
7 |
6 |
6 |
Size of Ship (guests) |
700 |
1260 |
3080 |
Staff to Guest Ratio (lower number is best) |
1 to 1.5 |
1 to 2.2 |
1 to 2.7 |
Space to Guest Ratio (higher number is best) |
68.7 |
44.3 |
36.9 |
Suite Size (sq. ft.) |
301 |
283 |
323 |
Category |
Deluxe Suite – H |
Veranda – BB |
Mini-Suite – ME |
ADDITIONAL CHARGES |
|
|
|
Air from US East Coast (including air carrier imposed surcharges and other taxes) |
INCLUDED |
$1719 |
$1351 |
Ground Transfers |
INCLUDED |
$108 |
$93 |
Shore Excursions |
INCLUDED |
$834 |
$834 |
1-night pre-cruise luxury hotel pkg |
INCLUDED |
$300 |
$300 |
Gratuities/service charges |
INCLUDED |
$84 |
$84 |
Bar Drinks & Wine (with gratuities) |
INCLUDED |
$201 |
$201 |
Frozen Drinks/Soft Drinks/Bottled Water |
INCLUDED |
$81 |
$81 |
Alternative Dining (3 nights) |
INCLUDED |
$75 |
$75 |
Other Fees |
$0 |
$107 |
$65 |
TOTAL (per person) |
$4,999 |
$5708 |
$5333 |
SPEND PER DAY (per person) |
$625 |
$713 |
$667 |