Flatbush Flyer

I agree. That said, what further sleuthing I have done suggests that the term “flex fare” (as regards Oceania) may be a TA referring, at least, to O “quiet sales” which are time limited and rotated among O Connoisseurs Club member agencies.

Absolutely.

You may want to get connected with a good cruise specialist TA who sends out regular notices about the best deals available (close in, far ahead, etc) and who provides substantial perks including rebates.

No such thing on O. It may be a term used by a particular TA, where they add or subtract their own perks or non-O air, transfers, gratuities et al. amenities.

During Oceania’s recent Flash Sale over Memorial Day weekend, there were quite a number of cruises that would meet or beat your price criteria. There’s also a continuing 4 category upgrade sale with a number of shorter itineraries that would easily beat your criteria. You said a week? If you mean 7 days (in a balcony) check this out: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/bermuda-cruises/boston-to-boston-NAU240918/?sr=%2Fspecial-offers%2Fupgrade-sale. At $4300 per veranda cabin (without included air or air credit) but with $400 excursion credit, wine/beer at meals, all other available beverages, unlimited internet an all specialty restaurants, I’m sure you’d find that price meets your criteria. How about 10 days for $4700 (no air) with same perks with an additional $200 in excursion SBC. https://www.oceaniacruises.com/caribbean-cruises/miami-to-cartagena-NAU241203/?insider=8j3p-tahryn-nicastro&sr=%2Fspecial-offers%2Fupgrade-sale And let’s not forget that we haven’t added TA SBC or rebate to the deal. I think that sale is still on for at least a few more days. It includes more than 50 cruises (or course some are more expensive for a variety of reasons. But, Oceania cruises can be quite the value laden bargain if one keeps their eyes open across the multiple sales each year.

Your post sounds like you’re assuming a retail restaurant $50 steak is considered by some to be better than a $20 steak. That might be possible but not in every situation. A better question might be “how do I get the best steak for the least cost?” The actual/specific cost for the steak is open to interpretation. After all, what does that US Prime filet mignon cost the cruise line that provides it as a no extra cost item? It may only be a $15 item in your “bottom line” fare calculation on a premium/luxury line. This is not much different than looking at the cost of cruiseline airfare. That “bargain” RT intercontinental economy air add-on of $1000 on a mass market line might get you a $1200 DIY air credit on a premium/luxury line. Ergo, my constant reminder that “net daily rate” of the vacation (for all required and optionally desired items) is what matters in looking solely at the math of the cash outlay. Of course, we then add the quality (as much as if not more than the quantity) of what we get to determine what true “value” exists when doing comparisons.

Sounds like it may be time for you to follow so many other HAL (and Celebrity/Princess) cruisers and move up to Oceania.

Missed that lesson/discussion in your Naval Architecture class?

BINGO! It would seem that some mass market cruisers may be unaware of (or just disregard) the reality check called “space ratios.” Sure those newer monstrous ships are physically huge. But, with a 5,000+ cruiser capacity, their passenger/space ratio will pale in comparison to much smaller premium/luxury ships at a 600-1200 passenger load. Likewise, an unending list of eateries on those same giant mass market ships may appear appealing at first glance. But, it would be very interesting to see their overall per person comparative food budget (which historically falls at the low end of per passenger spending) compared to the other cruise industry segments.

Better? Better for…..??? Based on……???

O may include some of them on individual/mulyi-segments that are focused on the Miami to Amazon experience.

While the Caribbean “milk runs” are still profitable for O (and Vista has added cabin availability in that region), the reality remains that there are far more interesting and unusual “exotic” and “tropical” destinations than what has become a Walmart parking lot for floating amusement parks. I think that you’ll find that many O regulars are opting for other Oceans and longer cruises (e.g., partial/full transpacifics and/or the Indian Ocean). I know that we long ago swore off the Caribbean (and Florida) unless it’s a necessary part of an otherwise enticing itinerary like doing the Amazon or an unusual transatlantic.

the earlier restaurant booking window is only for whatever is your pre-cruise allowance.

You’re a bit behind the times as regards women covering their heads in a Roman Catholic church: The 1983 Code of Canon Law lifted that head covering requirement for women.

if it’s on the excursions PDF and online cart excursions choices, it’s an excursion.

Same exact cabins with a few non-earthshattering perks for $4000 more? No The only time we do Concierge (A) cabins is when the choice of available Veranda (B) cabins are in terrible locations OR the itinerary is long but with a relatively minimal A cabin price difference.

Yes- this is Italy - where schedules are more a set of “guidelines.”

AMEN! And men should remember to please remove your hat whenever you enter a Catholic church.

It’s a touch late for looking at November (2024) cooking classes!

Good question. The prepaid coking classes do end up on your prepurchased shore excursions PDF. But that doesn’t guarantee they’ll be counted as “tours.”

Basically, for each cruise embark, I have on hand the original and “final pay” O invoices, the most updated version of our prepurchased tours pdf (the one with the math on it) and the version of the shorex pdf in effect at the time of the tours’ pre-purchase. Add to that the “cruise vacation summary” (.e., the emailed “final docs” and luggage tags) and the O boarding passes along with any required visas and, of course, valid passports and any other docs deemed appropriate.. That said, there can be numerous O shorex list PDFs over the 365 day pre-bark.” But, like the O fare invoices themselves, all that O passengers really should have onhand (in order to argue onboard account errors/disagreements - e.g., “I bought a very different tour than the one I just experienced”) are the initial booking docs and their most current versions. Note: Though I like hard copies, all my docs are also readily available on my iCloud. And, finally, anytime either I or my TA does any transaction that generates a newer document version, I’ll end up with a copy. But, usually (as aforementioned), all that is necessarily in my onboard “doc packet” are the above mentioned items.

For future reference: If you have/had on hand your prepurchased shore excursions pdf (the one with all the math), you can use it as a worksheet as the excursion situation changes once onboard. If there are tour cancels, I know how much is due back to me (even if they don’t get “posted until the last cruise day). Same goes for added tour purchases for which I’m due a 25% discount (that will also appear late in the cruise). You can spend money coming back to you before it is posted. So, you don’t have to wait until the last moment. And just to CYA, get a full account printout from Guest Services midway through the cruise and prior to the last day to make sure call is balanced before leaving the ship.

This one is prior to final pay. But, the “price drop match” is good up until day of embark (as long as their is cabin availability in your cabin class.

And often getting updated shore excursions PDFs as well. (I find them much easier to work with).

“don’t stop believing’”