tigerfan75

Although tech savvy, PLEASE no app. I want to holiday, not carry and use a phone. Everyone is different, just that I hope Cunard delays going in that direction…

Captains Party and Happy Hours were last night on the Insignia ATW cruise…

We enjoy the introduction of the Staff, which facilitates matching faces to the position during casual encounters elsewhere on the ship…

Yes, there were Captain's Parties on our three O sailings in 2023. And the nights were as you stated, either on the second night, or the first sea day.

I have had success in switching from CC paid to SBC on prior O cruises. I do not know if it a universal truth, or just my natural charm...

Just a week ago, I booked a cruise for late next year. I, too, was surprised to learn that the distilled water was not furnished free of charge. It has been free on every other cruise line I've used. It was explained to me by the Cunard phone rep that it was a "relatively new policy". I am concerned about how to carry my water onboard, also.

I read the explanation differently. As I understand it, O is paying the gratuities continuously at a full guest ship level. As an offset to its paying of the gratuities, O takes whatever the auto gratuities generate from the actual guest level.

I usually book directly with Cunard. Then I approach my TA for a quote. The TA usually provides a post-cruise rebate check of 5 - 7% of the fare, as well as other sailing benefits. If I like what the TA has to offer, I transfer the booking to her within the 60-day window that allows a transfer. If, for whatever reason, I do not want to transfer, I can keep the booking with Cunard.

+1. Really, really liked it!

Thanks for the info. Such a change will affect my upcoming plans. Can you provide the source of your info? I sincerely appreciate it.

I do not use O for flights. Did an O sailing last summer that boarded in Reykjavik. Since Delta is my preferred airline, I used Delta from JFK to Reykjavik. Good luck…

I appreciated that others apparently somehow found Ember lacking. Several I spoke with had heard the characterization of "Applebys, and did not even try it. I enjoyed it very much, and took advantage of dining there as much as possible. Obviously, an example of YMMV....

+1. Was on a Cunard queen more than a decade ago, and we did piracy drill off the horn of Africa (Somali)....

Also consider sailing multiple back-to-back segments of a world cruise. We can't spend the money, or stay away for 6 months, but a 55-day LA to Bali part of the upcoming Oceania ATW is a very interesting itinerary for us. Good cruising whatever your choice...

IME, the cost savings of any O sale can range from nil to significant. Only homework will provide the "value" answer. As for the other issue, Simply More is sold "with air" or "no air with a credit". The credit depends upon the sailing. An online mock booking will tell you the amount of the air credit for your selected cruise. Good Luck.

My experience has been different than just a straight $250 SBC. I have a flyer from a September sailing that says "SBC on your current or future voyage is $100 to $500 per booking, certain restrictions apply." Perhaps a call to O for your particular stateroom category, length of cruise, etc. will clarify the exact number for you. Good Luck.

And a "champagne"...?

With Simply More, the Excursion $$ are for Excursions only. If you booked with OLife, inquire with your TA if an option change to OBC is possible at this late date. However unlikely it may be, as a last resort, have your TA request some sort of exception, given the changes in the cruise. Call O directly to see if excursions are available in their system, but not yet posted online. If you are unsuccessful on all fronts, check the Destinations Services Desk immediately upon boarding for the latest Excursion additions. Good Luck.

IME it can take weeks before the excursions show online. Sometimes a new Shore Excursion pdf will have them listed earlier. Following advice from fellow posters, I never book my excursions online, but rather call O to book. They allow this even if a TA is used. The online booking of excursions can be “glitchy”, and never seems to display the discounts appropriately. Stay patient and occasionally check for availability…

I’ve always had a VERY good experience with TMobile Magenta Plan internationally. The “welcome” text as one enters each new country raises the visit’s anticipation. Enjoy your cruise…

Yes, this is the only way to do it…call O.

My experience has always been that if the desired itinerary is also being sold as a multi-segment Grand Voyage, then one had no option to book the segments separately.

You might consider the strategy used by many on CC. Make your reservations on-line for other days. Then when boarding, head directly to the Dining Reservations Desk to make an extra reservation for the evening of boarding, which I assume is "the first night" in your question. Often, guests are tired, unpacking, etc., and choose not to dine in a Specialty that first night, so there is generally some availability if you can get to the Desk early. Good Luck.

Bookings for all rooms include specialty dining.

Try the Marriott Cotton House. A smaller boutique hotel that we very much enjoyed. Outside courtyard dining, close proximity to HOHO busses. YMMV…