Jancruz

28 minutes ago, grifdoglover said:

@AMHuntFerryI was referring to an earlier post by @LHT28 where it is stated read the fine print that you cancel one month prior to final payment no penalty.  I am fully aware of my booking dates and penalties.

 

30 days is 100% penalty

Jancruz1

9 minutes ago, WESTEAST said:

Enjoyed reading your posts and that Riviera is in good shape as we board her in August. Our past two cruises have been onboard Regatta so we are looking forward to our favourites that you mentioned at Jacques - Dover sole and Choux Chantilly Cream😋.  We do a mix of O excursions and independent and curious if you had difficulty booking O shore excursions as we found many were closed/waitlisted.  O indicated that the waitlist will probably clear but have options prepared - the option in Killybegs is to take the local bus to Donegal Town - did you stop there on your tour in Killybegs and if so, any recommendations for a nice spot for lunch?

Glad you had a wonderful trip and you are home safe and sound..Hi to Teresa and our love to both of you!!

Jancruz1

5 hours ago, PaulMCO said:

Two favorites ===>

 

Passover evening -- we are at a Seder in the Terrace with over 100 fellow passengers sailing from Egypt to Israel...  Magic.

 

We are going through the Straights of Magellan.  The sea had over 10 ft swells and the ship is rocking and rolling. We are the only ones in Toscana at 7pm.  We order a bottle of red and our Croatian Sommelier decants it without spilling a drop.

That is so interesting I am going on a Seder at Sea next April on Regatta

Jancruz1

56 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Surely, it seems easier to have O do it. But, the trade off is that, should something go wrong with air to/from the cruise, those who sought the O “convenience” are then stuck trying to connect with O for necessary changes while I’ve already called the airline direct (or immediately went to the customer services desk at the airport). I’m then on the next available plane in that airline’s consortium while they’re needing to go through an unnecessary third partner (if they can get through to them e.g., on a weekend, multiple time zones away.

 

If the squeamish would just take the time to use a tool like the ITA Matrix website search engine, they’d quickly know their options and could then just call their preferred airline and ask the rep to assist them in making the best choice and booking it for them. 

ITA Matrix ...someone in their late 80s 0r 90s probably think thats a new kind of Mattress..

Unless you are that age you dont understand that everything is harder and they take the easy way

Its a matter of having to..not even wanting to..I dont want to say you will see..BUT you will see..

LOL

Jancruz1

1 hour ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

As I often say here, NEVER use O Air, particularly for bizclass.

Hi FF,

Looking forward to our cruise..

The problem with your statement is some seniors cant or dont want to do it them selves and the comfort of having Oceania do it for them makes up for the difference in price..You and I are confident in what we do but I have found through the years people are different so we can never say never..

Jancruz1

6 hours ago, WildWanderers said:

From the limited authoritative information on the new program, it seems to me that for new bookings from July 1 you have a choice of opting into something called SimplyMore, and that OLife will not exist any more.  You can look at it as...SimplyMore replaces OLife.  Air fare in or out was never part of OLife, and it will not be part of SimplyMore;  so no change there.  The three OLife choices of onboard cash or excursions or basic drinks package have been replaced by a bit of all three in the Simply More;  or another way of looking at it is...you get the basic drinks package (which was a full OLife choice), plus a bit of onboard cash, plus some money for excursions.  The upgrade to the drinks package, currently called Prestige Select, will be available in some name.  It was not part of OLife, and will not be part of SimplyMore.

My understanding is that for bookings we have made that leave beyond this October, we will have the option to switch to the SimplyMore scenario if it is more interesting for us.  I spoke to our Oceania agent this a.m., and he indicated that he will be in touch with us to discuss for each of our future already-booked cruises, whether the current way we have booked should be left, or do we want to opt for the SimplyMore scenario.

People can opt for no SimplyMore, I think, in the same way that they can opt for no OLife.  

My comments are peppered with "I think" as none of us will know the full story until Oceania publishes it.

 

Cheers,

Greg from Gatineau, Québec

Part of what you said is correct and part incorrect..

Jancruz1

6 hours ago, AMHuntFerry said:

Someone did mention Windstar in an earlier post (p 1?), but I agree...I think it and Azamara are my idea of competitors based on our preferences. Even though we drink, I probably will think twice about any alcohol-all-day-every-day lines which puts Windstar above Azamara. I like Windstar's menu of prices for Wifi, drinks, etc....more like O before the coming change. And they have kayaks!

The small ships have no elevator and no balconies and are 185 square feet..dont compare..it was fine when I was young..I loved it!!

Jancruz1

Yes sometimes after the ship leaves and someone didnt cancel but didnt come..it may happen.. you can ask for an upgrade at the front desk when you board.and they will let you know probably the next morning...you will be charged if it is a big upgrade..

Jancruz1

NO

Jancruz1

1 hour ago, TonicTraveler said:

I did my first Atlas Ocean Voyage this past March in Antarctica.  The onboard experience was wonderful.   The ships are beautiful, the food was very good and service was excellent.  Atlas does have a limited number of solo rooms.  They are ocean view and 183 sq ft.  The bathrooms are bigger than the R ships and have walk in showers.  I will be curious to see how the new O pricing compares with Atlas.  Atlas also has some very nice Med. itineraries with long port days.  Their ships carry 200 guests and feel more like a yacht than a cruise ship.  I would cruise again with Atlas in a heartbeat.

Good to hear as the President is a very good friend of mine..I will forward your message to him with your permission..

Jancruz1

9 minutes ago, ORV said:

We have been coming in 3rd and a couple of times second, mostly by ourselves but occasionally with another couple. I’m ok with that score when it’s just the 2 of us. 

Aslong as you are getting those points..Whos the CD and do you like him/Her??

Jancruz1

1 hour ago, PhD-iva said:

Thx! I can always count on your posts to include lots of great advice!

There are so many new cruise lines coming out in the next year and I bet many will have sales..just keep your eyes open...Lines you havent mentioned .Atlas, Scenic, Crystal, Azamara, Virgin RitzCarlton, MSC, Explora, Emerald and many more.

Jancruz1

6 hours ago, ORV said:

Jan, if I remember correctly it was rolled out prior to Covid but was scheduled to start sometime in 2020. Then there was the shutdown and the transfers started with the restart. My only experience with it was last week from LHR to Southampton and was very impressed.  Excellent breakfast at the Sofitel hotel, a short wait, then a bus ride to the port

Orv, Thanks for the help..looking back you are correct..So glad you and Teresa are enjoying your RVA cruise..How is the trivia going??I will be so happy after July 1st when all the fuss is over and everything is cleared up..

Regards,

Jan

28 minutes ago, jonthomas said:

Correction...transfers have  always been included since we have done our 3 cruises this year, so it's not new.

Jon you are new to cruising with Oceania but the transfers were always extra  charge with Oceania.

When you said always I was under the impression youmeant since we started..20 years ago

Not sure the exact date it changed but it was after Covid....I do agree it was a good change..

Jancruz1

On 6/16/2023 at 3:46 PM, osandomir said:

Actually, this didn’t come from Oceania. Nothing is clear now - only someone’s TA interpretation of the new offer. We’ll have to wait until all the details of simplyMORE appear on the Oceania website after July 1st.

You are incorrect it did come from Oceania

Jancruz1

I think the confusion is that the phrase "Cruise Only" used to mean something different than it is going to be under "SimplyMORE".  The new 'Cruise Only" simply means no air included.so a discount to the price equal to the air credit.

You are correct..Thanks,

Jancruz1

22 hours ago, jonthomas said:

Azamaras food does not compare to Os. Not to us.

 

As for the new olife will include transfers with air, it always included transfers, so that's NOT new.

Transfers with air started this year..it was not ALWAYS included

Jancruz1

1 hour ago, TonicTraveler said:

I am basing this on the webinar presented by Oceania about Simply More.  I also called Oceania to confirm.

On the webinar there was no cruise only and Im not sure you called the right person to confirm..as far as I know AT THIS TIME Excursion only money and wine and beer with lunch and dinner is an absolute must..

Jancruz1

8 minutes ago, SellaVee said:

It's all about the value, value, value, and getting "free" credit for excursions I won't or can't use will make this a poor value choice for me.  I can see them wanting to make it simpler for people who are happy to let O organise everything for them, but I've been into my travel agent today and picked up a Windstar brochure.  I don't see O running out of drinks, but I do see them running out of excursion places.  What then for the free excursion credit?  It seems shortsighted to no longer allow cruise only.

The money for excursions can be used for any excursions they have even a car and driver or a private excursion for the two of you..

I dont see how anyone that does anything on land cant use that excursion money

Jancruz1

2 hours ago, DachshundsRule said:

Are there more details on drinks? "Champagne wine and more" doesn't say if it's still just at lunch and dinner, if more means expanded to hard liquor, what an upgraded package would cost...

 

I'm completely confused now. We're booked for 2025. Won't do any excursions. Picked Olife beverage package and was planning to upgrade since I like a glass of wine before dinner and husband prefers a scotch. If I stick with my Olife choice, will the "Champagne wine and more" not apply to me? Should I switch my Olife to OBC and buy the upgraded beverage package now? Help!

An upgraded package of liquor is $30 a day per person

Jancruz1

8 hours ago, Woofa said:

Meh.  Looks like they are replacing Olife with a newer version of Olife.  Looks like we will be sticking with cruise only.  Main difference seems to be new version includes air.  We shall see if you can still take the credit and what the prices are but don't think this will really affect us. 

Woofa there is no cruise only

Jancruz1

8 hours ago, basenji56 said:

"It does not start until the 1 July so they do not have the pricing.  So, I cannot check all of them until 1 July at least this is what I was just told."

True

Jancruz1

52 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

😂😂

 

Jan;  Only attempting humor along with ORV. People have no interest in paying for what they don’t like, but want others to help pay for what they do. Maybe we’ll just take the No lobster discounted package. 🥂

ROTFL

Janruz1

3 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

I agree. I’m not a frozen lobster fan like some here, like mine fresh. How about only serving lobster once per segment or doing up charges for all those double surf, no turf ers? I should get a lower ala carte rate! 🍷

Up charges..this message board would blow up with complaints..people are complaining now and they dont even know why..

Jancruz1

4 hours ago, ORV said:

I don’t use the gym, sauna, play pickle ball, use the pool or hot tubs, go to the shows or lectures and don’t want to subsidize those that do. See how that can work? It’s a slippery slope. 

You are too funny we miss you!!

Jancruz1