Regent Seven Seas President, Mark Conroy - Sandy
Fenton - Regent Seven Seas Sales Manager, Kate Otto

On a recent visit to Central Pennsylvania, Mark Conroy, President of Regent Seven Seas Cruises was a guest with Sandy Fenton on "Let's Talk Travel with AAA" for a two-part "All-Inclusive, Ultra-Luxury Cruising" show series. Conroy's cruise industry career began in 1974 in the mailroom of Norwegian Cruise Line while studying at the University of Miami and throughout his career he has served as President of both Renaissance Cruises and Commodore Cruise Line and VP of Sales for Royal Viking Line before joining Regent Seven Seas (formerally Radisson Seven Seas) as President in 1992.

1. What exactly does an "all-inclusive" cruise ship mean?

All inclusive is pretty much what it sounds like. The cruise fare includes all meal s , gratuities, soft drinks , mineral waters and alcoholic beverages. Really , the only items not included are shore-excursions, spa & beauty treatments, casino, & gift shop purchases.

2. What is the greatest advantage to sailing RSSC?

I would say our all inclusive policy, luxurious & spacious suites with balconies, personal & attentive service and being one of few guests (490 to 690) versus thousands. We also give our guests the convenience of choices to dine when and with whom they like. We have multiple dinning venues including the only Le Cordon Bleu at sea. Never having to stand in line for anything is another strong point of our cruise experience.

3. What is the greatest misconception about sailing RSSC?

Travel agents and guests think that our cruises are more expensive than they really are. If you take a premium or contemporary cruise in a comparable size suite and then add on all the extra charges they have you will see that total cost of the vacation experience is comparable. I think the other misconception is that our guests are older. Our current average age is 56 and during the summer we have many young people and a great deal of generational travel.

4. What can a first-time RSSC guest expect from their cruise?

Excellent personal services provided by a caring staff - wonderful food and a chance to visit some fascinating destinations totally hassle free. You also have the opportunity to meet your fellow guests who are interesting , well traveled & successful people. Once you sail with us 98% of our guests say they will return for a future cruise.

5. What do you foresee for ultra-luxury cruising in the next couple of years?

We are well positioned. In spite of all the recent negative economic news , our guests are still traveling. As I said, our typical guests are successful - having worked hard and done well and they are enjoying the fruits of their labor.

6. How would you describe a "typical" RSSC guest?

Somewhere between 35 and 70, well travel ed , successful , interesting and active. Most have college degrees and are either professional s , executives or own their own businesses. 85% have been on a cruise before and on most cruises 50% are Seven Seas Society Members who have sailed with us before. Some are retired but many of them are still working and use our WiFi wired ships to stay in touch with their business, their investments and their family & friends at home.

What are your top 3 RSSC priorities?

Keeping our guests safe & happy , retaining our crew ( who are the key to our success ) and continuing to constantly improve our product both the hardware and the guest experience.

8. How has your position as the president of RSSC changed during the last few years?

I really am the chief customers advocate making sure we do the right things to keep guest coming back and also recommending our cruises to their friends and family members . I am also the company spokes person and stay pretty busy dealing with industry issues and state, local and international governments. As president I also play an active role planning future itineraries based on the feedback we get from our guests. And I'm here today telling everyone to sail with Sandy on the AAA Regent Navigator cruise to the Caribbean in February, and it's at a terrific 2 for the price of 1 price. An amazing value and excellent first time Regent cruise.

. 9. How important is the dining experience to your guests and how does RSSC differ from the other luxury lines?

Very important, our guests are used to fine dinning at home and will settle for nothing less when they go on vacation. I think the variety of dinning options and the quality of our food and service set us apart from other cruise lines.

10. What are the "must have" onboard amenities/experiences a RSSC not only appreciates, but expects?

No crowds . No standing in line . Personal & attentive service provided by a well trained caring crew. Spacious suites with fine linens and soft goods . Well appointed spacious bathrooms and of course balconies. They expect excellence and we work very hard to deliver.

11. In this new high-tech, internet age - why do you still feel a travel agent is essential & important?

Our guests are busy people and they are committing their time and money when they book our cruises so they want to make sure they know what they are getting and that they are choosing the right product. They use professionals for tax, investing and legal advice so why wouldn’t they want to do the same when planning their travel. They also want to be in a position to hold someone accountable if the trip does not go well. That being said about 85% of our guests go to our website or other travel sights either before they book their trip or after to obtain additional information.

12. And last...but not least - What is your absolute favorite, kick-back, relax and get way from it all Regent Cruise - and why?

Hard Question, I love the Greek Islands and Turkey and the overall med in general because all of the choices that are available there. Tahiti and the Islands of French Polynesia is paradise and the best way to experiences is aboard the Paul Gauguin. Last but no least the Caribbean, even though I have been going there for 35 years it is still great to be able to board a ship in Ft. Lauderdale and escape. I enjoy it even if I don’t get of the ship in every port.

QUESTION:  We are thinking of taking a cruise this year, but really don't know where to start - any ideas?

ANSWER:  Yes. First off -

If you're concerned about your travel dollar (and who isn't) but still want to go on a great vacation (you've earned it) and you want to get the most for your money, then I would highly recommend looking into a cruise.

Never before has there been such an extensive offering of ships, cabins, itineraries, amenities and once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences.

Depending upon your interests, your passions and the size of your pocketbook, just about every type of dream vacation at sea can be yours.

Do you want to take the family and cruise the sunny Bahamas and Caribbean aboard a mega-liner with 3,000-plus passengers including non-stop action, never-ending entertainment, bountiful buffets with kid-friendly and teen-friendly activities? If yes, then I would check out Carnival, Royal Caribbean and NCL.

Or perhaps you prefer a romantic, discreet, private, ultra-luxurious and intimate experience at sea with very exotic and off-the-beaten path ports (and you can afford it) - then Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas or Silversea Cruises will not disappoint. These all-inclusive (that's right - drinks are included!), very indulgent and gracious ships will pamper you 24/7. Be on the look-out for special two-for-one sales promotions onboard Regent Seven Seas - you'll actually pay much less than you think...and the value for your dollar will knock your socks off!

If, however, you are looking for something in the middle that would provide a terrific cruise experience appealing to all members of the family, yet more traditional and without the constant, non-stop high-energy activities- then look into Holland America, Princess, Celebrity and Azamara. Be aware, however, you'll still have to pay for all the extras, like sodas, bottled water, cocktails, wine, gratuities, etc., etc.

Your priority is to choose the right ship, with the right itinerary, at the right time of the year for you and your family. Decide what you want and what you can afford and then make sure you talk with a trusted and reputable travel agency with a cruise specialist on staff.

Most of us know New Providence Island as the location of Nassau, the nation's capital & popular cruise port and the home of glitzy Paradise Island or the Cable Beach resorts & casino area.

WHERE TO STAY:

PARADISE ISLAND - If you like BIG, flashy, high energy mega-resorts with non-stop action, entertainment & activities - Atlantis is the place for you. (Every person I talked with in the Nassau Airport was either coming or going to a family beach getaway to Atlantis , a business convention to Atlantis or they had won a sales contest to Atlantis.) If, however, you prefer a quiet, "movie star"/VIP vacation - and your travel budget can handle it - then stay at the "One & Only Ocean Club". A favorite of Tiger Woods, Michael Jordon & Oprah, (although now they all own homes on Paradise Island) you'll get all the ultra-luxury pampering you want without the massive crowds - although you can still use all the resort facilities at Atlantis.

NASSAU - Graycliff. I'd heard and read about Graycliff for years - and although parts of the property needs a facelift - we loved it. Known as the gracious, old-world Grande dame of Nassau, the history of this Georgian colonial mansion will knock your socks off. Located next to the Government House with an easy walk to & from downtown, the 20-rooms & suites are recently renovated - the Hibiscus Cottage was a great choice for us.

I also like the British Colonial Hilton, a classic property catering to the business crowd, right in the heart of downtown Nassau. Although situated on a small beach, with a fantastic view of the cruise ships, if it's a Bahamas beach day you want - go elsewhere.

Sandals - considered Sandals (famous all-inclusive resorts) best property - I was really surprised with the demographics. I thought the guests would be 24-year old honeymooners, yet 30-60 seemed to be the norm. (If you upgrade to a suite, you can have dinner at "Gordon's on the Pier" - a fantastic seafood restaurants, sitting on stilts hanging over the ocean - complete with a Bob Marley look-a-like playing guitar and singing Antonio Carlos Jobim hits. And speaking of Bob Marley, a brand new resort & spa will be opening next month and the entire theme is...Bob Marley. It may not be your style, but I was pretty impressed with what I saw.

CABLE BEACH - The Crystal Palace/Cable Beach resort area can be crowded and loud with lots of Vegas-type shows, casinos and water sport activities - and pretty affordable with lots of packages available. The more quiet, low-key and family oriented property is the newly remodeled Sheraton, sitting right on the beach with one of the best resort pool complexes I've ever seen.

WHERE TO EAT:

Graycliff...period. If you can only have one dining experience in Nassau, Graycliff is the deal - from cocktails served in the living room to dinner in one of the lovely dining rooms - it's worth every penny. And...if you are a wine connoisseur or a cigar aficionado, Graycliff boasts the 3rd largest wine collection in the world and Graycliff famous cigars are actually hand-rolled on the property by Cubans in a small "factory". We had an amazing and memorable dinner.

Of course, there are several excellent high-end celebrity chef dining options on Paradise Island and lots of great Mom & Pop places to enjoy a spicy conch salad washed down with an ice cold Kalik Bahamian beer.

WHAT TO DO:

Of course the Bahamas are all about sun-filled days lounging on the beautiful white-sand beaches and swimming in the blue-green crystal clear waters - but make sure you take some time for a historic walking tour or carriage ride in Nassau. Nassau is filled with some great little restaurants and pubs and high end, duty free designer stores.

If you've got the kids, check out the Ardastra Zoo and the marching pink flamingos show, it's really a fun couple of hours.

One of our favorite highlights was the "People-to-People" cultural exchange where you go to the home of a Bahamian host family , become acquainted and then share a meal together. Sitting around the crowded dining room table with three-generations was both pleasant and insightful. We learned so much about their culture and their lives. We talked about politics (they knew more about Hillary & Obama then we did) , the Haitian illegal immigration issues they are facing and the expense of living on a tropical island (a loaf of bread or a gallon of gasoline average $6.00 each). The homemade delicious food was prepared by the women of the family and we felt welcomed from the moment we arrived. The "Peope-toPeople" program is complimentary, but you do need to register and make reservations through the Ministry of Tourism.

HOW TO GET THERE:

*By ship or air. We flew roundtrip from HIA and all flights were perfectly on time and our luggage was a-ok. (There really are some positive air travel stories out there!)

EXTRA BAHAMAS TRAVEL TIPS:

*Check out all the ongoing Bahamas air & hotel sale packages and book early with your trusted travel agent.
*If you're being "bugged" to get your hair braided or to buy something, be polite, but firm and say "no thank you".
*Most Bahamians are not on our "get it done -now" time clock, so be prepared for a laid-back island atmosphere.
*Avoid any tours having to do with Anna Nicole Smith - they're bogus and stupid - and I would not spend a lot of time in the "famous" straw market , get out and walk about exploring historic Nassau and the British connections.