Regent Air Concierge Explained: What Replaced the Ultimate All-Inclusive Fare?

If you are searching for the difference between Regent’s All-Inclusive Cruise Fare and Ultimate All-Inclusive Fare, there is an important update: Ultimate All-Inclusive is no longer the current U.S. and Canadian fare option. Regent replaced it with Air Concierge on April 1, 2026. Air Concierge lets you add personalized, market-priced flights to a Regent voyage instead of choosing a cruise fare with air already bundled into the price. Regent announced the change in March 2026.

That change gives travelers more choice, but it also creates a new decision: should you use Regent Air Concierge or book flights independently?

The best answer is not automatically the option with the lowest initial price. It is the one that gives you the right balance of flight schedule, cabin class, flexibility, transfers, support, and total trip cost.

Quick answer: Regent’s cruise experience remains highly inclusive, while airfare is now a separate choice for U.S. and Canadian guests. Regent’s current inclusions and Air Concierge announcement describe the two parts. Air Concierge may make sense when you value coordinated air planning, customized routing, included embarkation-day transfers, and the chauffeur credit. Independent air may be more attractive when you want to use points, control the ticket directly, or can secure a better schedule and fare on your own.

What happened to Regent’s Ultimate All-Inclusive Fare?

Regent introduced two fare choices in 2024: an All-Inclusive Cruise Fare and an Ultimate All-Inclusive Fare that added air and ground benefits. In 2026, Regent announced that Air Concierge would replace the Ultimate All-Inclusive pricing option for guests in the United States and Canada. The former two-fare structure is documented in Regent’s 2024 announcement, while the current replacement is detailed in Regent’s March 2026 announcement.

This matters because older articles and search results may still tell you to compare “Cruise Fare versus Ultimate.” For a new U.S. or Canadian booking, the useful comparison is now:

1. Regent’s All-Inclusive Cruise Fare plus Air Concierge
2. Regent’s All-Inclusive Cruise Fare plus independently booked flights

What Regent still includes in the cruise fare

The air change did not remove Regent’s core cruise inclusions. Regent says every voyage includes unlimited shore excursions, specialty dining without an added charge, beverages including fine wines and spirits, unlimited Wi-Fi, prepaid gratuities, valet laundry, and 24-hour in-suite dining. A one-night pre-cruise hotel is included for guests in Concierge-level suites and higher. See Regent’s current inclusions.

That distinction is important when comparing quotes. Do not assign extra value to dining, drinks, gratuities, laundry, or standard included excursions when they are already part of the same Regent cruise fare. Focus on what changes when air is added.

Regent Air Concierge versus booking your own flights

Regent’s published Air Concierge details support the program-specific entries above. Exact airline availability, fare rules, seats, and itinerary options remain dependent on the live proposal. Review the official Air Concierge announcement.

How Regent Air Concierge works

1. Book the Regent voyage

Start with the ship, itinerary, suite, and promotion that fit your trip. Air Concierge supplements the cruise booking; it does not replace the All-Inclusive Cruise Fare. Regent’s published cruise inclusions remain part of the voyage whether or not you add its air service. See Regent’s current all-inclusive experience.

2. Wait for your Air Concierge window

Regent says access opens 270 days before sailing for guests in Concierge Suites and above, as well as Seven Seas Society Platinum members and above. It opens 240 days before sailing for guests in Serenity Suites and below and Gold members and below. Regent lists these access windows in its launch announcement.

3. Submit your flight preferences

Air Concierge is designed to consider preferred airlines, routing, cabin class, travel dates, and seating. This is a meaningful difference from treating cruise air as a generic add-on, but preferences are not the same as confirmed inventory. The actual flights and price presented are what you should evaluate. Regent describes the available personalization here.

4. Pay the Air Concierge deposit

The current deposit is $125 per guest, with a maximum of $250 per suite. If you accept the itinerary, that amount is applied to the airfare. If you decline it, Regent says the deposit is converted to shipboard credit for the sailing. See Regent’s deposit policy.

5. Compare the proposal with a true like-for-like alternative

Compare the same travel dates, airports, cabin class, connections, baggage assumptions, seat costs, change terms, and ground transportation. A business-class itinerary with a comfortable connection is not equivalent to a lower fare with an overnight layover or airport change.

6. Confirm the complete plan before accepting

Review the operating airline, flight times, connection points, cabin on every segment, seat status, baggage allowance, ticket rules, transfers, and what happens during an airline schedule change. Because Air Concierge uses market-based airfare, it should not be assumed to be either cheaper or more expensive until the live itinerary is compared. Regent explains its real-time pricing approach and support model.

When Air Concierge may be worth it

Air Concierge deserves serious consideration when:

• Your cruise begins or ends in a city with complicated international flight options.
• You want help evaluating different airlines, travel dates, connections, or premium cabins.
• You expect to use the Blacklane credit and embarkation- or disembarkation-day coach transfers.
• You prefer having Regent involved in the air portion when plans change.
• You want an end-to-end plan but do not want to research every route yourself.

The ground benefits can be meaningful, but value them realistically. Regent currently offers up to $500 per suite in Blacklane credit, available from 10 days before the cruise through 10 days after it, plus coach transfers on embarkation and disembarkation days. Review the stated timing and transfer benefits.

When booking your own flights may be better

Independent flights may be the stronger choice when:

• You have airline miles or transferable points that materially reduce the cost.
• Elite-status benefits or a preferred airline are central to the trip.
• A simple nonstop route is available and you are comfortable managing it.
• You want full control over ticketing, seats, changes, and communication with the airline.
• You plan to arrive well before embarkation or stay after the cruise, reducing the value of same-day coach transfers.
• The independent itinerary is clearly better after you include seats, bags, transfers, and acceptable flexibility.

Booking independently gives you control, but it also makes you responsible for coordinating the air, hotel, transfers, and cruise arrival plan. I generally recommend arriving at least one day before embarkation for an international cruise, and sometimes earlier when weather, seasonal congestion, or a complicated route increases the risk.

My advisor comparison: the six numbers and details that matter

When I compare Regent Air Concierge with independent air for a client, I look beyond the headline fare:

1. Total air price for the suite, not an incomplete per-person figure
2. Cabin on every segment, especially when an itinerary mixes classes
3. Departure, arrival, and connection quality
4. Ticket change and cancellation rules
5. Ground transportation value, including what the traveler will actually use
6. Support and recovery plan if the airline changes or disrupts the itinerary

This is where professional planning can be especially useful. I can help you compare the cruise, suite, air choices, and full trip value as one vacation rather than a stack of unrelated prices.

Why book your Regent voyage through a travel advisor?

Regent’s new structure means you are making two connected decisions: which voyage and suite to reserve, and how to arrange the flights. When you book with me, I can compare the same Regent sailing with Air Concierge and with realistic independent-flight options, review the routing and cabin class on every segment, account for transfers and the Blacklane credit, and identify the questions that should be answered before you commit.

I can also help you evaluate suite location, current promotions, pre-cruise arrangements, and the overall trip rather than leaving you to coordinate each piece separately. You remain in control of the choices; you gain an advisor who knows the reservation and can help keep the details aligned. Regent’s Air Concierge announcement specifically says the program is designed to support guests and Travel Partners and directs travelers to a professional travel advisor as a booking option. See Regent’s announcement.

Already found a Regent sailing? Send me the voyage, suite category, and departure airport you are considering. I will help you compare the complete options before you pay the deposit.

Ask Melissa to compare your Regent options →

The bottom line

Regent did not stop being all-inclusive when it retired the Ultimate All-Inclusive Fare. The cruise fare still includes the signature onboard and destination benefits Regent publishes. What changed is how U.S. and Canadian guests arrange and pay for air: Air Concierge is now an optional, personalized service using live market pricing. Regent’s current inclusions and Air Concierge announcement explain the two parts.

For some travelers, Air Concierge will be worth paying for because of the coordination, route assistance, transfers, and chauffeur credit. For others, points, a preferred airline, or a better independent itinerary will win. The right comparison is specific to your sailing and the flights you would genuinely choose.

Frequently asked questions

Does Regent still include airfare?

For new U.S. and Canadian bookings, airfare is not automatically bundled through the former Ultimate All-Inclusive Fare. Regent replaced that option with Air Concierge on April 1, 2026. The underlying cruise remains sold with Regent’s All-Inclusive Cruise Fare. See the official announcement.

What replaced Regent Ultimate All-Inclusive?

Air Concierge replaced the Ultimate All-Inclusive pricing option for guests in the United States and Canada. It provides personalized flight planning using real-time market airfare. Regent announced the replacement in March 2026.

When can I request Regent Air Concierge?

The program opens 270 days before sailing for Concierge Suites and above and Seven Seas Society Platinum members and above. It opens 240 days before sailing for Serenity Suites and below and Gold members and below. See Regent’s published access schedule.

What happens if I do not accept the proposed flights?

Regent says the Air Concierge deposit is converted automatically into shipboard credit if you decide not to use the proposed itinerary. See the official deposit terms.

Does Air Concierge guarantee the lowest airfare?

Regent describes the pricing as real-time and market-based, not as a lowest-price guarantee. Compare the proposed itinerary with independent options that use the same dates, cabin, routing quality, and flexibility. See Regent’s pricing description.

Ready to compare a Regent voyage?

Do not choose a Regent fare or flight plan from the headline price alone. I will help you evaluate the itinerary, suite, promotion, Air Concierge proposal, and independent-flight alternatives together, then explain the tradeoffs in plain language.

Start planning your Regent voyage with Melissa →