Flatbush Flyer

Also look into “insure my trip.” Their search engine is the most robust among all the travel insurers. Top flight agents and no extra cost to you for quotes or services. And do consider a comprehensive policy s just medical. Usually the cost is not that much more and your trip issues will be covered as well.

I hate to have to say this but, some TAs are unscrupulous, particularly when it comes to their losing money on a booking change. I’m not saying that your TA is wrong (or unscrupulous). But, it’s long been obvious that some TAs are unhappy with having to get fares readjusted downwards as, if nothing else, it affects their commission. And those few who are unscrupulous may just tell you what they want you to hear. And then there’s the other side of O promotions: On any given day, you can call O direct or your TA (who then calls O on your behalf) and if you make several calls to different agents - all with the exact same question (e.g., inclusion/exclusion of X,Y or Z affecting A,B or C sales, fare mods, FCCs et al.???) it’s not unusual to get a variety of different answers, opinions, etc. O has long been idiosyncratic with its policies and practices. And sometimes it means great results while, at other times, it can be frustrating (and costly).

One thing pursuit of a PhD teaches you is to read (and understand) the “fine print.”

Just call O back and talk to a different rep. The phone rep cannot change the $ on your TA booking. But s/he certainly can tell you the sale price.

The “low price” guarantee with “book onboards” requires your cabin class to have current availability. No availability = no price match.

I agree with many of your “one and done” items. For example, I find that, when it comes to the Caribbean, there’s just “no there there.” It’s mostly scrubby islands that pale in comparison to the best Pacific and Indian Ocean exotics. And the proliferation of mega-ship floating amusement parks has turned it into a Walmart parking lot. Folks who want “exotic” need to head to Hawaii, Polynesia, the Maldives…. And, as you point out, there are many locations worthy of far more than the half day drop-in on a cruise. That said, however, is why we carefully choose itinerary starts/ends so that we can add extended land stays in different location at each end. Itineraries like Cape Town (following a Safari) to London or New York (with a West End/Broadway binge) fits our bill perfectly. Rounding the Horn in South America with added land time at the start/end in Brazil and Peru is excellent too. Where I differ with you is on the topic of sea days. We like long cruises of mostly 3-6 weeks and there must be adequate sea days to break up the numerous full days of touring. We also appreciate that, in recent years, O has added many more overnights in key ports including some two night stays in places like Hong Kong and Reykjavik.

But the right TA could probably cover your gratuities AND commission share at about 5-10% of the commissionable fare. Next time you’re onboard an O ship, ask fellow passengers which TA they use. Eventually, you’ll realize that your hearing roughly the same six agencies mentioned over and over again. At least call them and ask what they can add to O’s deal for a new booking or one you may transfer within the 30 day window after you make a direct booking.

You want us to look for you?

You faired better than me. I only found one booked cruise that qualified and the only cabin availability was C and below. Not willing to give up the veranda.

You should now see if the rebook(?) starts the 30 day transfer clock and then move the booking to a good O savvy TA who shares commissions.

Read the header on the specific cruise on the list. It says “call TA or O for prices.”

Looking at some of the list, it just looks like they’re trying to fill up the leftovers. I did check out one that had B availability and, as expected, it was the last aft cabin port side (which, if I remember correctly, is partially obstructed by the window washing trolley).

Every once in awhile, there’s temporary O prices so low that they don’t show on the O web (this is in addition to the rotating TA “quiet sales.” One of those times is going on right now. If you look on the O website and click on the Extraordinary Savings banner, you’ll see a whole bunch of remaining 2023 cruises on “the list.” I saw one of my current bookings on the list and, while checking on an out-of-the-blue <$200 O refund that just appeared on my credit card account, asked the O rep to look up the current price for my cabin class (since I had originally booked it onboard and, even transferring it to my TA, I have the price drop match guarantee! In checking, the agent said “only cabin availability is in C and below and the savings are huge” (and they are- like >$1k/pp for a C on a 3 week cruise). Since we’re in a higher cabin level and don’t want to move, that’s the end of the new deal for me. Yes, there’s that pesky Book Onboard “price drop match” fine print that requires cabin availability in your class in order for the price match to be OK. In any case, there may be some of you who are still looking for a 2023 cruise. So, you may want to check out the “Extraordinary Savings” list now on the O website. However, to get the sale price (which is not listed), you’ll need to call your TA or O direct.

Don’t need it? Don’t read it. Seriously, SF is no different than any other major cosmopolitan city both in worthwhile and unequalled things to do and see as well as isolated pockets of less than ideal behaviors. “Been to a city” and “live in a city” are vastly different things. Nonetheless, if you honestly think you’ll be in danger (not just in SF [LOL] or anywhere else), you really should avoid travel that includes those places).

Oh, the horror! Yes - stay on the ship and fear for your life.😳😉

Ultimate O Life certainly is a good deal for many O customers - particularly those new to Oceania. However, as some of the threads here on CC’s O forums have indicated, in many cases, it’s not so great for O regulars with existing bookings wanting to have it added to their deal. Savvy shoppers who have already taken advantage of previous “special” fare pricing on an upcoming cruise are often locked out of “Ultimate” O Life because O denies anything that smells like its definition of “double dipping.”

$15 twenty-five years ago would be almost $30 today. I’m no sommelier but I know enough about wine to be mildly dangerous. Depending on the varietal, I’d say something true to its character, is going to range in US retail cost today from ~$25 to ~$75 per 750 ml. That said, what you find on a ship (often at a 300-400% markup), for example, in by-the-glass selections are ~$10/bottle (retail) mediocre-at-best wines at home. Spending $50-75+ on a well respected Deep End Mendocino or Willamette Valley Pinot Noir you bring aboard and paying the $25 corkage (total outlay $75) could easily cost you ~$250 onboard (if they even had it). Whenever possible, bring your own wine from home or from appropriate ports.

We recently booked that 2025 Nautica CPT-LIS-BCN. You may want to jump on it ASAP.

Depends on the cruise line.

DONE (within the last 12 months): Summer 2022 Insignia ARN-LIS-NYC 36 days Autumn 2022 Marina BCN-FCO-MIA 47 days Winter 2023 Regatta SYD-SYD-PPT 33 days UPCOMING (so far): Summer 2023 Insignia: SF-NYC 20 days Autumn 2023 Regatta: SEA-YVR-LA 23 days Winter 2024 Riviera: BKK-HK-Tokyo 37 days Spring 2025 Nautica: CPT-LIS-BCN 26 days (also looking at one or two more in 2024)

If O cancels one of your O Life selected tours during a cruise, you can be refunded the “base” value of that O Life tour (I.e., $100). Usually, you need to go to Destination Services and sign a doc indicating you want the $100 which will appear on your account within 24-48 hours. If you don’t sign the doc, it should appear as a credit on your final account statement (or within 48 hours of disembarkation). NOTE: I suggest getting (and balancing) a printout of your “complete” account (includes tour names on each line) at least once prior to issuance of your final printout (there are occasional errors - if so, often it’s bar charges). What happens next after the O tour cancellation depends on several factors: If you have purchased tours beyond your O Life allocation, the next most expensive allowable O Life tour on your account will become the replacement O Life selection and you will be refunded whatever you originally paid for it - unless you choose to book a new allowable O Life tour with a higher retail cost (O Life assignment priority goes to the most expensive allowable tour <$200). If you do not choose to replace an O cancelled tour and it was one of the minimum required number of tours to qualify for the YWYW 25% discount, you will not retroactively lose the discount. And, in any case, you can always add paid tours onboard and receive the YWYW discount if you had the YWYW deal before embarkation.

Absolutely. And, despite the FAQs on the O website saying it’s a “6 bottle limit,” it’s only a CYA statement and is never enforced. Depending on our embarkation city, we often bring a case onboard and never have had an issue (nor have we ever heard of or seen someone stopped for more than six bottles- wine/spirits). You can also replenish your stock enroute at appropriate ports. Of course, the daily Currents published an occasional reminder that all personal booze is for “in cabin” consumption except that you can take bottles of wine to dining or other public venues for a $25 per bottle corkage fee. Sadly, however, there are the occasional cheapskates who pour their cabin wine in a glass and take it elsewhere trying to avoid the $25 fee. But, cabin glassware is different and, fortunately, Maitre d’s (et al. staff have recently increased their vigilance and tactfully remind the offenders about O’s generous personal booze policy.

Asking for specific policy recommendations is not always efficacious. What works best for me may have little to do with what is best for you. Why not talk with a trusted travel insurance broker? We use InsureMyTrip.com. Excellent reps, no broker cost to you and their search engine (good to consult both before and after your conversation with their agent) will help you to zero in on the best coverage for you.

Perhaps I should’ve been more clear. I did say “<$15/bottle US retail” meaning cost of the bottle at your local wine shop or supermarket in the US. As you may know, O recently discontinued its “7 bottle” package (choose from a list all priced in the package at about $45 each plus gratuity). With a very few exceptions, the offerings were mostly <$10-15 US retail bottles. Smart shoppers could cherry pick the occasional “loss leader” worth ~$20 and buy 7 bottles of the same item. O finally realized they had some passengers who knew enough about wine to be “mildly dangerous” and who were buying up the “better” bottles in the package (e.g., all 7 being the same item) immediately upon boarding. Ergo, bye-bye 7 bottle program.