Tranquility Base

14 minutes ago, mhdesno2 said:

If it is because they couldn't go through the Suez Canal, why couldn't they have sold a different itinerary? It seems like such a waste.

Their first of several cruises bouncing around the Eastern Med starts next week.

They needed the time using an itinerary which only stops at essential ports in order to go from Dubai to Civitavecchia via Cape Town to make that date.

The reverse cruises in Nov & Dec from Barcelona - Cape Town - Singapore which have a normal number of stops has proved popular.

Thanks @arxcards

Yes, you are correct, waiting till onboard to decide on transfers is smart.

I'll consider the buying direct changeable / refundable fare cost with the EZ fare and decide later.

The EZ fare looks to be cheap insurance at present.

An expanded question now, but I thought I'd continue using the same thread.

Looking at the Princess EZ flight option the pricing is fair.

I'm considering that option as the flight is only 70 mins later than the earliest departure time that EZ Air permits to be booked.

That way if the ship is late arriving I am covered by EZ Air.

(Yes, I am aware of the option to stay a night in Melbourne, but want to consider all options beforehand.)

1. The previous port is Sydney, docking at OPT.

    Scheduled departure is 4pm on a Thursday.

    Due to departure restrictions from there, what are the subsequent restrictions on departure time due to the local ferries if the ship does not  make that 4pm departure time ?  

2. I have never used Princess airport transfers.

    Are the departure times of the transfers based on those earlier  EZ Air flights ?

3. I can't find transfer booking info on the personaliser.

    Can you book online, or do you have to phone ?

Thanks.

Thanks @tedandandy

Very helpful.

Will have a think about options.

Interesting discussion.

Here's a query.

Does room service (non PH) include a pizza from waves during dinner times ?

If not, and I order and pick up myself, can I take back to the cabin and then also a couple of glasses of wine using SM ?

20 hours ago, tedandandy said:

He met us on the morning with lovely clean van,

Thanks, @tedandandy

Did he meet you / return at the normal port gate, or actually at the ship side ?

How much time would you suggest for what you did, so as not to feel time pressure getting back to the ship (just one day port stop) ?

Approx cost to expect for 2 or 4 people for what you did ?

16 hours ago, Vallesan said:

So for us, we look at the bottom line, not what was in the past compared to what is now or in the future. If we consider the ‘bottom line’ fits our budget and the itinerary suits then we go for it!

A wise comment.

Makes the chances of having an enjoyable and easy going holiday far more likely.

One of the advantages of the listening devices that I have found is it helps me to find the guide again inside a busy location.

I sometimes wander a short distance from the group, and it can help to find the guide again by hearing what they are describing or which direction they are moving.

Obviously wandering too far can lead to issues, so I'm careful not to do that.

11 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

This one is prior to final pay. But, the “price drop match” is good up until day of embark (as long as their is cabin availability in your cabin class.

Thanks.

Yes, I also refared last week getting the new sale price (prior to final payment).

That booking was just a normal booking, not a book onboard one.

Have you recently ( last 18 months) received the actual sale price $ reduction on a book onboard booking which is after final payment.

10 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

But, that’s why Book Onboard (which might be done a year or two prior to embarkation) has so much added value. Just yesterday, I used the price drop match guarantee (due to the O “flash sale”) for a cruise booked many months ago.

Was the cruise you refared after final payment ?

55 minutes ago, osandomir said:

gets us the best possible results.

Can you give examples of savings you have received under the BPG inside the period of about 3 months prior to departure.

Thanks.

3 hours ago, osandomir said:

What I actually found very unusual there was barely someone at the future cruises sales desk every time I was passing by. Nevertheless, the sales person stated that the sales were going very strong for the O cruises in the future.

2 hours ago, Harters said:

That was also the case when we passed by on our Vista cruise a few weeks back. And certainly when  we went to book a cruise there was no-one else waiting. I've no recollection of how busy it was on our two previous cruises so don't know if that is unusual. 

22 minutes ago, osandomir said:

We’ve previously cruised with Oceania not two but almost twenty times and I can tell that it was really unusual based on our experience.

I guess one factor would be cruise length.

Guessing a 7 day segment would be busier than a 32 day segment.

On 5/23/2024 at 1:22 AM, pinotlover said:

The sum of the segments can now be less than the credits awarded, but not more. If you now book a 10 day + 10 day cruise = 20 days = 1 extended journeys = 1 cruise credit. Been this way for awhile. However, if you now book a 20 day segment + 17 day segment = 37 days or oops, no longer. Now just separate back to backs and 2 cruise credits. You don’t get the 3 credits as in the past.

Thanks for the heads up.

Your posting made me check my combination cruise booking.

1 booking, 1 invoice, 2 cruise IDs, total voyage length between 35 - 44 days as shown on the invoice.

I had assumed, incorrectly as it turned out, that this booking would gain 3 credits.

Nope; as each individual segment is less than 25 days so the booking gains only 2 credits.

Thanks everyone.

On considering these options and timings I think we'll stay with a taxi option.

It is a Saturday also.

3 hours ago, hokie_fan said:

Super bad idea?

This seems like such a great opportunity to try Oceania, I really hate to cancel.

No, I don't think it's a super bad idea, however weather that time of year certainly is a gamble.

There is likely to be some rain, but one year to the next varies as to whether it's a big nuisance or merely a slight irritant.

If the travel budget permits, go and get a feel for the different islands.

If you like it and need to go back, then Regatta is there again in Aug / Sept next year.

39 minutes ago, EJL2023 said:

2) You have purchased minimum number again, however ONCE ONBOARD AND CRUISE HAS STARTED, O cancels an excursion due to missed port or whatever. Even though you are now below the minimum, since it was canceled after start of cruise, the remaining excursions will still be with the 25% discount AND you will not be required to purchase another while onboard to get back to the minimum number.

 

If a seasoned O cruiser could confirm or correct what I have outlined above it would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks. 

15 minutes ago, 1985rz1 said:

This is what has reported by several others on this forum as their experience.

Thanks.....that would seem logical & fair.

As  mentioned earlier, I am fine with the pre-cruise situation as you still have a choice as to how you wish to proceed regarding the remaining bookings / discount / no discount situation.

7 hours ago, Yaya_in_Oz said:

I didn't bother with a private transfer.

Many thanks for the transport & hotel info.

That is useful.

@OzKiwiJJ

I don't suppose the ship will sail via "Null Island"....the buoy which marks where the Prime Meridian crosses the Equator ?

1 hour ago, IWantToLiveOverTheSea said:

If Oceania had to cancel an excursion, you get credits/refunds, but may no longer qualify for 25% off unless you book another excursion. 

I wonder about this scenario.

1. Booked the minimum (eg 5) excursions to qualify for the package discount;

2. These all become non-refundable at embarkation as per the Ts & Cs;

3. Oceania cancels one of these excursions or the port visit;

4. If the remainder of the excursions revert to full price, do they remain non-refundable or are they now subject to the normal onboard cancelation period ...(about 36 hrs prior to arrival) ?

The whole:

SM excursion credits restrictions,

the 25% discount package,

the pre cruise situation,

the onboard situation,

the voluntary onboard cancellations,

the Oceania onboard cancellations,

the missed port cancellations,

the different timeframes when tours become non-refundable,

the slow refunds,

the errors in the online booking of the package,

the no online pre cruise cancellation ability, 

the no ability onboard a multi segment cruise to access / amend excursion bookings prior to the next segment.....

It certainly has turned into a mission in understanding and perseverance.

One needs a holiday to recover.

On 5/24/2024 at 11:11 AM, Jetswdo said:

Does Princess keep local currency for port stops at hand at guest services- just for exchanging say a $100 bill

Occasionally and in very limited amounts.

I have in the past changed a GBP 50 into GBP 10s. 

A question please:

If you have booked originally with the Princess Plus fare, can you subsequently revert back to the Princess Standard fare ?

For info:

It is not yet final payment date.

The cruise still has availability however not in the cabin category booked.

Approx taxi fare from Station Pier to Tullamarine please ?

Two persons.

My reading indicates about $90 ?

Yes, am aware of the Skybus option, but just currently looking at timing options before booking a flight.

Thanks.

10 hours ago, Redtravel said:

No.  That happened to us.  We prebooked 6 tours. That was the number that got us the 25% discount.  Later a port where we had an excursion got cancelled. It was replaced with another port.  We were down to 5 excursions.  The price of the remaining 5 tours jumped back to full price.  Called O and was told that we had to have 6 tours to reinstate the discount.   We booked an inexpensive 6th tour to recover the 25% discount.

Thanks.

I also think I can manage that in the pre-cruise situation.

10 hours ago, Redtravel said:

   We are on Marina now. We decided to switch to a different excursion. My account has the refund for the cancellation.  The replacement is posted at full price. Destination services assured us that eventually we would get the 25% discount.  It hasn’t happened yet.  

Thanks.

Yes, I was mainly interested about the onboard situation.

Specifically if an excursion is canceled by Oceania.

Eg: missed port.

2 hours ago, MEFIowa said:

but the price doesn't compare to the Extraordinary Saving Sale of 2023.

Many of us booked or refared using the ESS in 2023.

The cruise I just booked is for 2025.

If I used past deals as a yardstick I would probably often just find myself staying at home.

So I book based on what I consider is good value for 2024/2025 conditions.

Same with airfares.

I am wide eyed  at some of the prices compared to previous deals over the years.

However, when it comes to travel, for me, it is what it is.

38 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

You are probably correct regarding number 1 since that was the rule with O Life’s YWYW 25% deal. Any package purchase was not refundable once onboard. Even had the rule printed on the tour tix.

Thanks.

From the info quoted below then yes, it is the same as the old rule.

29 minutes ago, daydreamer62 said:

Here is the wording from the pdf sent to me with my final cruise details 

"All excursion packages have the added convenience of being fully refundable until sail date and must be purchased in advance of sailing to enjoy the maximum savings. Packages will be non-refundable thereafter.

Thanks.

Will have to take this into account.

@Flatbush Flyer

I seem to recall you posting somewhere that if you have booked the minimum required for the discount, and Oceania cancels one of those excursions, then the discount still remains on the remainder. Even though you are now below the minimum.

Do you know if that is the case even if there are other excursions available to book ?

Either at the same port or a different port ?