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Everything posted by Flatbush Flyer
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If your “free” grats were OCAPP (pass through funds from O via TA) they may not be combinable with other perks originating from O (though called something else.
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Would you take any of these quasi upgrade offers?
Flatbush Flyer replied to Stockjock's topic in Oceania Cruises
Useless since the list changes regularly (and the included SM wine are the same across all onboard restaurants. -
Would you take any of these quasi upgrade offers?
Flatbush Flyer replied to Stockjock's topic in Oceania Cruises
Which is why I posted “WAS one.” (Hope all is well on your end.) -
Would you take any of these quasi upgrade offers?
Flatbush Flyer replied to Stockjock's topic in Oceania Cruises
Not true. with O Life, the basic booze perk was one of three possible choices for your included perk. -
July 1st changes: Air program, Comparisons and Summer Sale
Flatbush Flyer replied to WESTEAST's topic in Oceania Cruises
Well, O has never really marketed itself as “luxury” although, years ago (as more lines self-proclaimed themselves as “premium” (a term first used by O)), O started claiming to be “ultra-premium.” -
O Club - Silver Status - VIP Shore Excursion Check-in
Flatbush Flyer replied to WESTEAST's topic in Oceania Cruises
osandomir: “We probably won’t ever get to that level of loyalty if it actually exists….” ??? It certainly does exist! -
O Club - Silver Status - VIP Shore Excursion Check-in
Flatbush Flyer replied to WESTEAST's topic in Oceania Cruises
I see your point in that someone whose president’s level should know what they’re talking about😳. nonetheless, there’s no way the head butler was seeking out a silver level O Club member and whisking him/her through the tour waiting line. -
O Club - Silver Status - VIP Shore Excursion Check-in
Flatbush Flyer replied to WESTEAST's topic in Oceania Cruises
I still think you are misunderstanding something. The VIP “tour check in” that supposedly starts at Silver (or any other level for that matter) was a failed experiment of a few years ago. O would set up a marked off lane with a sign in the lounge. It was supposed to be limited access. The only problem was both the general line and the VIP line were going to the same table and the differentiation quickly disappeared when the crowd surged forward. The VIP deal lasted less than a year and I’ve not seen it again on six cruises over the past 24 months. What “Butler escort” deal he was talking about is something different for the top tier O Club folks. -
O Club - Silver Status - VIP Shore Excursion Check-in
Flatbush Flyer replied to WESTEAST's topic in Oceania Cruises
Perhaps you misunderstood. s/he said “president’s circle.” It’s the highest O Club level. -
Your supposition is incorrect. The “bread and butter” of those cruise lines requiring passports includes regularly scheduled “closed loop” itineraries. Perhaps the informed decision-making that keeps them afloat trumps the “reading” and limited experience of some occasional passengers who erroneously believe that legitimacy is more important than common sense. One only needs to peruse the daily news to see the fallacy of that belief.
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And, yet, there are plenty of cruise lines that actually “would never allow the birth certificate as a valid document” (for all of the obvious reasons). It appears that you are the one who may be “exaggerating” with a baseless claim. in any case, International cruise travel without a passport, travel/medical insurance and adequate credit card limits remains a recipe for disappointment and inconvenience to self and others.
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It appears that you seem to think that folks without a passport will get an automatic (and immediate) OK to their request to CBP et al. to fly home to the US without a passport. Not as easy as you may think. There can be significant time and associated expense to the unprepared passenger in making that “pass” happen (if it happens at all). Add to that the reality that there’s not a US embassy/consulate readily available in every port city. Worse still, the rest of us may experience delay of the ship because of one person’s bad travel choice (e.g., no or inappropriate passport for someone wanting/needing to leave the ship, fly home, etc.). And, yes, requiring all passengers on all itineraries to bring a valid passport actually does save ship’s personnel normally unnecessary support efforts to accommodate the ill-prepared passengers. And it’s that “worse still” scenario that is one of the main reasons why premium/luxury lines require them. It avoids the creation of potentially negative delay consequences for all the other rules-abiding passengers as well as for their staff. On the other hand, the practice of/incentive to those (mostly mass market) cruise lines that don’t require passports of all passengers on all itineraries is obvious. They don’t want to lose the revenues created by every last passenger - particularly those struggling to afford their product. And their concern for the burden it may place on their staff may not be all that important to the line’s management (after all, just look at their unfavorable crew:passenger ratios for evidence of that reality).
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When it comes to unexpected problems while traveling abroad, a better observation might be “pay now or pay later.” (hopefully not followed by that other observation: “we told you so.”😳) Seriously: Have you ever given any thought to the reason why most (if not all) premium/luxury cruise lines require ALL passengers on ALL itineraries to have a valid passport? Could it be because their travel abroad knowledge/experience demonstrates that doing so eliminates all sorts of related and potentially significant problems for their passengers?
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Traveling to ANY foreign country without a valid passport (just to save $$) is the poster child for “pennywise and pound foolish.” And if some folks who do (or want to) cruise/travel a lot aren’t preparing for unexpected emergencies that might include unplanned international flights, it’s a good bet that they’re not buying travel insurance either. Passports and Travel Insurance? Not necessary….. ……until it’s needed.😳
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https://abcnews.go.com/amp/International/wireStory/cruise-ship-rescues-68-migrants-finds-5-bodies-111274018
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Is the Oceania menu as limited as their website says?
Flatbush Flyer replied to CaptainCook808's topic in Oceania Cruises
OOPS! I should’ve instead asked if they like those items - expecting the answer to be something like “too exotic.” (Of course, either could pass for a version of “chicken fried steak.”😎) The point I had hoped to make is that “picky” eaters sometimes never get past the name of a dish on a menu. -
Is the Oceania menu as limited as their website says?
Flatbush Flyer replied to CaptainCook808's topic in Oceania Cruises
Some here might say that, perhaps, you should follow your own advice. -
Is the Oceania menu as limited as their website says?
Flatbush Flyer replied to CaptainCook808's topic in Oceania Cruises
Did you not enjoy either the Wiener Schnitzel or Milanese di Vitello on O? -
Logistics of Ship-Sponsored Shore Excursion Guarantee
Flatbush Flyer replied to Slythgal's topic in Ask a Cruise Question
Regardless of what a cruise line’s advertising may say about not leaving without passengers on one of the ship’s tours that returns late, the truth is found in the fine print of your cruise Ticket Contract and Terms & Conditions. I’ve yet to see or hear of a cruise line that truly “guarantees” the performance of its contracted services (which can include ship’s shore excursions, pre/post cruise flights they arrange, etc). As the old saying goes: “Time and Tide wait for no man” (or woman). All sorts of things from weather to sea conditions to port labor issue and ship traffic can (and do) impact the ship’s time flexibility. And let’s not forget that the person with the final say about any changes to port arrival/departure times is the Port Captain (not the ship captain). -
Any solo cabins available other than on NCL?
Flatbush Flyer replied to abellkathleen's topic in Solo Cruisers
Oceania has solo cabins. -
Is the Oceania menu as limited as their website says?
Flatbush Flyer replied to CaptainCook808's topic in Oceania Cruises
This is the Oceania forum. That said, I doubt you’re going to find all the menus online for any cruise line’s meal rotation (which can be longer than 2 weeks). Even then, there’s occasional variation in the rotations and specials, including the regional menus in the Terrace Café at certain ports. And, remember too that, with advance notice, O chefs will make custom dishes for you if the ingredients are readily available. -
Is the Oceania menu as limited as their website says?
Flatbush Flyer replied to CaptainCook808's topic in Oceania Cruises
No disrespect meant. Rather, if you’re a “meat and potatoes” person, Oceania is probably not a good choice (unless you don’t mind paying the premium fare that covers all of the complex food ingredients/preps you won’t eat).