Flatbush Flyer

As long as you don’t “bogart” that table or add a sound track to your space, I see no problem with a single entertaining themselves. That said, the dining venues are not the local Starbucks coffee shop. And, most importantly, taking/making a cell phone call in any restaurant is the poster child for RUDE.

I’ve gotten many O price adjustments -particularly when the original reservation was a book onboard with low price natch guarantee.

Concierge.Tahiti@ihg.com Contact ASAP

Much of Oceania’s “self-promoting” language in the past has often used the phrase “ultra-premium.” I don’t see that changing since NCLH’s current marketing blend of “good/better/best” across the three lines has obvious benefits.

Not as much as what the wheels are made of. Take a look at Briggs and Riley wheels - both 2 and 4 configuration: indestructible. TravelPro used to be that way. Now, you only get their best wheels (solid rubber with stainless steel ball bearings) on a warranty repair.

You haven’t noticed the price increases just before “ultimate” O Life is offered?😉

My reference to your post is merely pointing out that the term “any” without the qualifier “one” can be interpreted in such a way as to suggest that one gets “any” (i.e., “all” if they do desire) perk(s) offered. It’s an important difference (or, at least, it was until Simply More). As for the “house select” package, the wine-by-the-glass menu (same for the “prestige” package) is mediocre at best - filled with primarily $10 (retail in the US) wines. Even the prestige package is a bit pricey for the average booze consumer - particularly if your an elite O Club member on a multi-segment cruise where you’re invited to pretty much every possible free booze event plus invited dinners.

“any” and “any one” (of the three) are vastly different things.

Not really. Regular O Life gets only one of the three perks (SBC, tours, booze).

Impossible to figure since there’s no “cruise only” fare for comparison.

For most hard-sided polymer type luggage, many types of scuffs are quickly handled with a “Mr Clean Magic Eraser.”

“Small ship lines” (at least some of them) have plenty to do. Our preferred line has a “hands on” cooking school (on 3 of its 7 ships w/cooking demos on the others), an arts and crafts teaching space, stellar speakers and naturalists, wine and spirits tastings, a string quartet playing often in multiple occasions, a combo w/dancing, a show band, special events like “line crossing” ceremonies, a boat building contest and even a “country fair” with games and prizes. There’s also an excellent library and game room along with a small casino on each ship. What is admittedly different is the size and scope of production shows due to the smaller venue size. In addition to invited guests (often in line with the visited ports), a small production company does some very decent song and dance shows. And, what definitely is missing are phony art auctions, pesky photographers, incessant PA announcements, thundering herds of passengers with inadequate space ratios, mediocre-at-best food (with self-serving [yuck] buffets) and nickel-diming you for every little thing (pay for bottled water? LOL). But, if it’s Broadway that you’re looking for, take a “small ship” cruise that begins/ends in NYC and do a Broadway binge! That’s what we do (including this July SF-NY- 3 weeks on Oceania Insignia).

Though it’s not quite the standard-bearing DiFara’s (Avenue J in Brooklyn), you need to do this.

Excellent description!

Take a look at Briggs & Reily -particularly the Simpatico series of compressible hard side checked bags, which fit a lot more than you’d expect in 26 “-28” sized bags. They also have small rollaboards for valuables et al. that are stackable with the hard sided checked bags (makes for easy movement through the airport and packs nicely in typical transfer autos at cruise ports). Lightweight with lifetime warranty. Not cheap but worth every penny.

As regards what is the “final” ShoreEx listings, I’m afraid that your O rep is clueless. The ShoreExcursions PDF will often be modified on multiple occasions between its first issuance (often just boilerplate info) at a year out all the way through to the emailing of you “final docs” email which should include your “cruise vacation summary” and the newest version of the ShoreExcursions PDF. Sadly the PDF file name never has a version date in the file name. But, the differences from one version to another can be significant (deleted/canceled ports/tours, added ports/tours, modified descriptions/times/etc….. And, once you embark, you still may get a printed notice of further changes from DS on day 1 and whenever else a change has been made. We usually book fairly long O cruises of 3-7 weeks more than a year out and we’ll often get 5+\- updated ShoreEx PDF over the course of the pre-cruise months.

Okay - do your best with what you’ve got. But, I’d still call Princess back and ask the rep to shoot you an email saying not required. You’re probably okay without it (based on the website). But, whenever I have an uncertainty, I always call and get an email that shows the answers came from a live employee of the cruise line.

And what if it has changed? Get a passport and then you won’t need to worry about the correct documentation.

LOL - there is no “final.”

Use whatever clout you have if it’s needed. I’m unfamiliar with just how much a TA can accomplish in booking the tours. If they’re using the web, it may be just as glitchy as a passenger using the web. If it’s via a call to the TA’s O rep, that’s how I’d do it.

I would be amazed if you actually got to someone in Miami who handles Shore Excursions. Your best bet depends on who did your cruise booking and the purchase of your tours. Hopefully, you didn’t do it online since, as I often report here, because the Cart is EXTREMELY glitchy. However you booked, I hope you got (and still have) the original/dated “prepurchased shore excusions” PDF which shows all the math in a spreadsheet and confirms (without question) what you bought and when you bought it. Have that document with you and ready to share a copy with whoever your end up interacting (which, sadly, may be once you board the ship). Of course, if you’re using a top selling TA who belongs to O’s Connoisseurs Club or who is an O Preferred Partner, ask them to champion your pursuit of a “reasonable” fix, that being to add you to the tour list. BTW, from personal experience and being adept at getting what I am due, a little bit of gentlemanly but persistent “al dente” repetition of your complaint at a crowded Destination Services counter can work wonders (so glad I was born/raised in Brooklyn). If you’re an elite level O Club member, that can sometimes “grease the wheel” of solution. But, if you’re not elite and/or have no great TA, (and/or you don’t have the prepurchased shore excursions PDF), you may find yourself SOL. If it was money you were owed, there’d be “light at the end of the tunnel,” since that’s the easiest fix for O. Final thought to all reading this. For the zillion threads time, do not buy your O tours online!!! Always make the call and get that PDF.

Silver Fleet -we often use them.

When I hit my 80’s, all will be fine. I’ll just keep relying on my rugged good looks and engaging personality. 😎

If you read the Ticket Contract and T&Cs, you’ll find that the verbiage allows them to make all sorts of changes, exclusions, etc. And, by purchasing the cruise, you have agreed to them.

If you are an IHG One Rewards FF, and you’ve arranged for a day room months in advance, you’ll find that the Intercontinental’s day rates are very very reasonable (and it includes lunch. FWIW: just stayed there this past March (umpteenth time) for several days post-cruise and always find it to be a wonderful experience.