ORV

Maybe a good idea, but the makeover is happening now, and there are no cabins like this advertised once the Riviera is back in service.

You mean like this? You probably have the exact wording😁 I shouldn't say anything as I have trouble listening to that last part, and now it's going to bite me in the rear. "Please make sure to review the entire invoice including the cancellation schedule on page two. Penalties for this sailing begin on xxxx xx, 2023. Please make sure your passports are valid at least 6 months beyond your return and please make sure to purchase insurance."

From page 4 of the Oceania invoice for a closed loop Caribbean cruise. Someone may have already posted this. Passport, Visa and Health Requirements Oceania Cruises requires all travelers to be in possession of a valid passport in order to sail on any of our published itineraries. Passports must be valid for no less than six (6) months beyond the completion of travel. Birth certificates, passport cards and copies of passports are not accepted. Visa and health requirements, including regulations regarding vaccination certificates and other health accreditation, vary by destination. It is the sole responsibility of each guest to secure and provide appropriate valid travel and health documentation for their chosen itinerary. Airlines may also deny boarding should guest not be in possession of required visa(s) and health documentation. Health requirements, recommended immunizations and other health precautions vary by destination and change

Yeah, about that, not sure I'm going to make that one, sadly. I was looking forward to it.

I'm not sure about the % off of bottles, but you are correct about the La Reserve dinner. As always you have to look at what you plan on doing and how. Are you going to book that La Reserve dinner in advance or wait until you're on the ship? Are you going to purchase the Premium package pre boarding or wait until you're on the ship? If you book the La Reserve in advance before you get the drink package then you won't get the discount, or you will at least have to get an adjustment. Now let's look at a little math. On a 10 day cruise in January you are paying $600 extra for Olife. If you chose the basic package for 2 people that has a value of $800. $40 a day x 2 people x 10 days. So you save $200 over the package price. Now, let's look at the discount for a LaReserve dinner. I see a dinner for $354 per guest = $708 for a couple. You're going to get a 20% discount off of that if you purchased pre cruise, or bought the package onboard, then booked your LaReserve, if there was any spaces left at that point. So your discount was $141.60. What was the better deal? Are you going to go to more than one LaReserve dinner? I didn't add in the 18% gratuity in the above. I don't know if it's pre or post discount. I also don't know the bottle discount for having the package. I don't buy bottles onboard if I've already paid for a package. It's early in the morning, so I might have missed something, but I still think you're ahead taking the package for your Olife and upgrading onboard. IF, and this is an important if, you plan on having the drink package and upgrading it.

Well we'll see how this pans out.

This is interesting. I've missed this before. I haven't counted but were there 625 cabins before update? Or, is full capacity determined by any rooms that can accommodate 3 or 4 people? I see quite a few triples on the deck plan. Maybe they're pulling out 40 sofa beds. I didn't count the cabins. My eyes are too old for that.

I gotta agree with Lyn on this. In and out much quicker when we dine alone.

What the best use of Olife is is a source of constant discussion. It all depends on your lifestyle and wants. Some swear by the excursions, but most of those don't drink much or don't take the drink package. There's a lot of factors involved for us, depends on the itinerary and how much time we'll actually be on the ship. Having said that we usually take the drink package, then upgrade on day 3 or 4. I'm not exactly sure what you mean by Connoisseur list? Are you talking wine?

No bottles on the package. They do give a discount on bottles if you have a package. If you get more than two doubles each day then you will save money with the package. Best way is to take the package as your Olife perk and then upgrade for $20 per person, per day.

Just for clarity, the wines in either package are exactly the same. They are by the glass. The differences in the packages is that the basic is only wine & beer and only available at mealtime. The premium package includes spirits and it's all available anytime a bar is open. I've also heard you can get it brought to your room, but I've never done this.

While I usually agree with you I do think the Maitre D does takes in to account not only your room level but your Oceania Status. I do completely agree with the second paragraph. Having said that I don't have an issue getting a good table while being in an OV or Inside. But I've only been in an inside once. I'm also of the group that we rarely have an issue dining alone if we choose to in the GDR. The only time this is really important to me is in the morning. Until I've had a couple of glasses of Iced tea and a little food I'm not really in the mood for chit chat.

Oceania typically doesn't offer a discount for a guaranteed room. What it does is allow you to book a lower level that would otherwise be waitlisted.

Keep in mind that those in rooms that don't have this access can get the same services from the regular ship's concierge, only thing is that in time of crisis they will probably be busier than the Concierges in the lounges.

Not necessarily, it's more about the design than the size. The R ships are really well designed structurally and mechanically.

What device are you using?

Right here I think you hit on my biggest reason for not using the area. Obviously the powers that be don't see it as a concern as they didn't make any changes on the Vista.

Where is the Zenith Club?

Because they can.

Scroll up towards the top right of the page, there is a white box that says search. It now defaults to "This Forum", that is a new feature with the most recent update. Since the last big update you've had to manually select it or you were searching the whole site, not just the Oceania board. Prior to that update it worked fine, I think there was a search for this forum and a separate search for all of Cruise Critic. Classic case of not leaving well enough alone. At any rate just type in what you are searching for and hit go. If you are on an app I got nothing.

Any discount is better than none.

They did still allow Teresa to use up my extra, but only on her booked treatment, but not any extra treatments.

No, you are right about the product, they used to let you use the certificate for it, but they didn't this past September, at least on the Regatta. You know how things can change from ship to ship and cruise to cruise. I find it interesting you only got that amount in Apr of 19 yet we got $230 in Sept of 19. Perhaps it was the book by date.

I just went back and looked at a couple of old invoices. In Sept of 2019 we got $230 each Spa credit, I was wrong on the $260 amount, but close. I believe it changed in November of 2019 and there was a window there where Gold and up didn't get anything. We took a cruise in Dec of 2019 that we didn't receive anything. At some point they reinstated it with a new amount of $150 per person. When was your last cruise that you got $150 on? Edit,( don't seem to be tracking this morning) PS, I don't think they allow you to buy products anymore. I just confirmed that with Teresa, she asked them about that in Sept.

With the number of repeaters that Oceania has I would say there are quite a few that are gold or higher that gets the free treatments of $150 each. Not only has the amount gone down $110 per person, the value of what you get has gone down with the price increases. Perhaps the amount of free OBC they give to O club members is driving the increase. Also in the past we were able to use any leftover Spa credit towards the gratuity, now it's doesn't count toward the tip and it's use it or lose it.