Regent Seven Seas Cruises – “FREE Luxury Hotel Package”

I have truly had it with this one.  Regent has just announced that it is rolling out a luxury hotel package that is included with your cruise.  It uses the word “FREE” in all capital letters.

To be sure the package looks attractive:

• 1-Night pre-cruise hotel accommodations in city of embarkation at a luxury hotel
• Transfers from the airport to the hotel (restrictions apply for cruise-only guests) and from the hotel to the ship
• Breakfast prior to checkout
• Porterage

But then there are the caveats…essentially it is only FREE if you paid a fare available after the price hike on October 1, 2010 and if there are three in a suite you get to pay an additional $300. 

So let me get this right:  The FREE hotel package is only available if you paid a higher price and if you are not a third person in a suite.

Call me silly, but that sounds like it is a blatent case of consumer fraud.  The FREE hotel package is NOT FREE.  You are paying for it because, as I have said from the beginning of this deceptive practice, the cruise fare has been jacked up to cover the cost of it.

Folks, if you like the Regent Seven Seas product and like the fact that everything is packaged together, that is great.  BUT, and this is a big BUT, do not think for a minute that anything Regent is including is FREE. 

I have a very hard time doing business with someone that isn’t honest with me.  What do you think?  Join the discussion on The Gold Standard Forum.