Flatbush Flyer

Email O’s special services for a definitive answer.

Bridge channel on the TV.

While it might be interesting to get to the root of your IT issue (try dumping your Oceania cookies), the fact remains that booking tours online is never a good idea. The “cart” remains very glitchy (search CC for my numerous previous posts on the specifics). Instead, call O direct - even if it takes several attempts to find a knowledgeable/agreeable phone rep (whose attitude/direct contact info will be useful in the future). Alternatively, you could go through your TA but, only if that TA truly knows how to navigate the maze that is the combo of O Life & YWYW. In any case, the right O rep can quickly help you work out the best value approach to your desired tours AND send you the very important “prepurchased shore excursions” PDF which has all of the math that will prove helpful if/when O cancels tours onboard and you need to decide on replacements/refunds/etc.

Just a reminder to not use your own detergent and scented dryer sheets. The self-serve laundry provides free ocean-safe detergent.

We usually do an ATW segment (or two consecutive ones) every year or two. In the past, our preference has been finishing the ATW in NYC (for the Broadway binge). Who are the current ATW cruisers and when you join can get varying results (also different from ATW person to person) regarding the vibe for joiners. There will be the extremes (“Thank God- someone new to talk to!” vs “You’re not one of us.”). But, mostly, it’s just another cruise since the O opens segment bookings as soon as the allotted ATW cabin are sold. In any case, we’ve always felt comfortable with and welcomed by MOST of the ATW passengers with whom we regularly interact. As for the differences on Insignia during an ATW, do know that the executive chef has a very nice discretionary budget to keep things interesting. And, if you join later than sooner, you’ll usually find more specialty dining reservation availability. There’s also plenty of non-repeating entertainment (beyond the regular ship’s troupe stuff). We’ll do the last segment of this year’s ATW, which is 3 weeks from SFO to NYC. Our biggest disappointment is that Ray Carr will have finished his time on that itinerary. But we like Dottie and we know enough crew that we’re sure to renew some acquaintances.

Not saying it may not be the case. Saying that all sorts of O practices can vary significantly depending on who’s running the show and circumstances of the day. For example, the separate line for elite O Club members to get tender/bus tickets at the morning line up in the Lounge may/may not be there.

At least, for the lettered cabin categories (no butlers), you put your breakfast orders on the supplied card and leave in the note holder on your door at night (including delivery time wanted). The next morning, you get a call when it’s on the way. For room service at other times, you call in an order (ask for estimated arrival time). You may or may not get a warning call regarding delivery. As regards room service breakfast, the only important thing that has changed in recent years is that, at least, B veranda cabins now can get the same hot breakfast options as do A (concierge) cabins.

Excuse the poor wording. I was trying to reply to Basor that you don’t need a butler to get a warning call before meal arrival.

I wouldn’t count on that always being true.

Of course, we’re all O customers. But, are you an optional O Destination Services customer who has paid a premium for ship tours that provide things like booking convenience and priority handling? This is no different than “class of service” treatment anywhere in the travel or hospitality industries. Pay to Play!😎

Its own “excursion” customers who are paying for convenience and priority. This thread is about O passengers who do or don’t use ship tours.

Actually, with or without a butler, everyone who orders room service for any meal time gets a call when it’s on the way.

It is already fair. The ship provides first for its own customers. That’s part of he convenience that comes with the possibly higher priced ship excursions.

Oceania has casinos?😉

OP: “scheduled” arrival time and “actual” arrival time can be vastly different things. Our most recent month long cruise from SYD to SYD and then on to PPT arrived 2 hours late on the first segment return to SYD. Many folks who had early departure flights (almost never a good idea) or private tours were scrambling to make whatever new arrangements that were deemed necessary. That said, always give yourself buffers when it comes to any key part of cruise itineraries.

Not necessarily true. Our next cruise slated for an embark from Bangkok is actually at Laem Chabang (including an overnight there). Nonetheless, the majority of the ship tours on the first full day (and I assume on the changeover day as well) are Bangkok based.

The “cruise vacation summary” in the e-docs does have embark port info. But, it is not the same as the new boarding pass with scannable bar code. And the luggage tags come with the hard copy blue book (not the emailed “final docs” nor the separately emailed “boarding pass.”

That would be very dependent on where you are and the type of vendor. The more off the beaten path you are, the less likely USD will be accepted.

If you don’t complete the online checkin, it won’t generate the email with the boarding pass. And the photo taking part (best to use a desktop to take picture [or upload acceptable image]) can be a bit glitchy.

Check with the closest PRC embassy/consulate with a visa office (e.g., San Francisco). The website (make sure it’s the actual governmental office and not some commercial visa service). There’s a cutoff date (I can’t remember it) regarding when in the recent past (before their visa departments closed for Covid) your existing 10 year visa had to have been issued. Fortunately, the instructions (at least on the SF website) are good.

Though your room key doesn’t have your photo, most of the time you will get off/on the ship using facial recognition. So, a current ID photo is taken. In years past that was done at embarkation. Now, for one thing, you take your own picture during the online check-in. It’s supposed to save time at the actual embark though at some embark ports, the check-in folks still take the picture. Of course, taking your own photo pre-embark also can be done with most desktop/laptop computers. Think too about the increasing use of QR codes in all sorts of situations. During Covid times, how often have you received a QR code card rather than a printed menu? Phone with camera and QR code reader plus other gadgets? Better safe than sorry!

Whether or not you stay on the ship is irrelevant to the fact that you have entered the country. And, for that, you must have a valid Vietnamese visa.

This is very true. Perhaps if O advertised them as the “boat rides” that they are, their expectations would be more realistic.😎

As aforementioned, we earlier this year spent about a month on Regatta (OZ, NZ, Polynesia). Other than a few Cyclone related itinerary changes, it was great. We’ll be back on her this coming August/September.

Though using the appropriate bank ATM (with an ATM card but never a credit card for a cash withdrawal, which will immediately start accruing interest on your account balance), does not require you to have your passport in hand (never a good idea to take a passport off the ship unless mandated by a local authority), do know that, if a passport is required for some particular bona fide reason when you are ashore, you can sign it out from the ship’s Purser’s office and return it when done. Go Buckeyes!