A 3rd major cruise line throws in free tours worth thousands of dollars if you book soon
Cruise industry trendwatchers, take note: There's now a third major line offering customers a multiday land tour for free if they book a cruise in the next two months.
Miami-based Regent Seven Seas Cruises this week launched a limited-time offer that gives customers a complimentary pre-or post-cruise land tour package as an add-on to a cruise when they book select Europe voyages scheduled to take place in 2023.
To qualify for the offer, you must book by Jan. 6.
The free add-on land tours that are available as part of the promotion, which normally cost as much as $2,699 per person, range from three to four nights in length and include:
- A three-night tour of Cappadocia in Turkey with a visit to ancient cave churches at Uchisar Castle and the Goreme Open-Air Museum. The add-on trip would normally costs $1,499 per person, based on double occupancy.
- A three-night tour of London and the Cotswolds with a visit to the Tower of London and the Roman baths in the city of Bath. The add-on normally costs $2,099 per person, based on double occupancy.
- A four-night tour of Madrid and Barcelona that brings stops at multiple historic sites. It normally costs $2,699 per person, based on double occupancy.
There are seven such add-on tours available for free as part of the promotion in conjunction with 59 departures of Europe sailings scheduled to take place between April and November of 2023.
Other destinations where the add-ons are available include Ljubljana, Slovenia: Umbria in Italy; Athens, Greece; and Copenhagen.
Each of the land tour packages includes accommodations in hotels, some meals and guided tours.
As an alternative, in lieu of the free tours, Regent customers who book by the Jan. 6 deadline for the 59 departures can opt for a $750 per-person credit when they book (up to $1,500 per cabin).
The free tours and credits are only available to the first two people staying in any given cabin.
The Regent offer comes just days after upscale river cruise line AmaWaterways announced that customers who book select 2023 sailings in Europe, Egypt and Asia will get a free pre- or post-cruise land tour worth up to $1,680 per person as an add-on.
Also announcing a similar program in recent weeks was upscale cruise operator Oceania Cruises.
Oceania's offer brings free pre- and post-cruise tours worth up to $4,600 when booking one of 15 longer sailings scheduled for 2023. The tours range from one to three nights in length and include visits to such iconic destinations as the Taj Mahal in India and Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
As is the case with Regent's offer, the AmaWaterways and Oceania offers are only available to customers who book in the next couple of months.
The free add-on promotion comes as cruise lines look for ways to boost bookings without dropping their base fares.
Related: The ultimate guide to picking a cruise line
Many cruise lines have struggled to get occupancies on ships back to normal levels since they restarted operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. In lieu of discounting fares, many lines have been offering "value-add" freebies to customers including free shore tours, drinks packages, Wi-Fi packages and gratuities.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
- What to pack for your first cruise
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees