tigerfan75

On Vista now in Concierge A2. Products in our stateroom are Bulgari.

Yes, it SHOULD be. On the Vista now for transatlantic to NYC. Four ports now listed as anchor/tender ports that were not so previously noted…

The Vista tenders are short rows of benches back-to-back, resulting in tight knee-to-knee positions…

+1

Others will correct me if I am wrong… In my experience, I book excursions as soon as possible from the PDF, by calling into O and paying with my credit card. At a later date, after the non refundable OBC shareholder, etc. may appear, I ask for my TA to contact O for another O Guest Statement invoice. At every instance, the non refundable OBC is automatically applied to the excursions, and a refundable OBC shows on the account. I usually take from the Purser at Reception the refundable OBC (what is left!) in cash the next-to-last day of the cruise, and keep my credit card points. I suppose I could request my TA to have O refund by credit card, but I have not done that.

On Vista now. As stated in another thread, we had a wonderful experience in Ember. Working with Reservations for a return visit at a 6:30pm time…

Also on Vista now. After a short sail from port the seas are rough, with heavy fog and rain. Not a weather person, but probably a weather front, which should mean clear sky on the other side. I am glad I am not on a tender during this. Given what I see, I cannot fault the Captain for being on the side of my safety.

On Vista now. OCA told me the same yesterday…but she told me Oct.4 was 2025 -2026. Not long to find out!

+1

Enjoyed Ember last night. Excellent beef filet, cooked perfectly medium, with baked potato and corn on the cob. Had a 6:30pm seating with shared table with another couple. Absolutely no push/rush during meal. We were there for 1hour 45 minutes. I found ambiance quite pleasant, YMMV.

No masks seen.

We use Ship’s excursions quite often, especially when I do not want to do the detail evaluation of each port on a longer B2B2B sailings. Destination Services use local contractors, so it can be a GREAT experience in one port, and SO-SO in the next. We also DIY if we know the port requires a more extensive exploration than O’s offerings. Yes, the O excursions are expensive, but we generally find them well done.

From the info I have seen, “friends &family” enjoy the same benefits. I will be booking for a 2025 family trip while on board in Sept. Good Luck!

I have used my pdf to select the excursions and then called O to place my order at 360 days before sailing. I am confident that 365 would work, too.

We have joined two different ATW cruises. Enjoyed both immensely. As a “segmenter” there were zero issues with fellow guests…

PPG = Pre Paid Gratuities

IIRC, the Dinner times begin at 6:30 p.m. for all venues. Sometimes, if the ship is totally booked, and the cruise is a shorter one, then the Specialty Restaurants may occasionally allow 6:00 p.m. reservations. Enjoy your cruise!

Here is an article (probably old news to some) that describes what may have been the lead-up to the development of Simply More... How 'elite' advisors are shaping the direction of Oceania Cruises: Travel Weekly

I recall a very enjoyable afternoon with the County Fair event on a recent TA. Each of the ship's departments had a booth on the Pool Deck with a competitive activity (ping pong ball throw into a cup, guess the native country of each senior officer, knot tying, etc.) which earned the participant chances in the lottery draw at the end of the Fair. Lots of fun!

We always opt for O-Life without Air, and choose the Shore Excursions. Yes, one will encounter a poor excursion every now and then, but on the whole, we have been VERY satisfied with O's excursions and Land Programs, and Pre and Post Tours. And we also DIY in places (St. Petersburg comes to mind) when the local DIY tour is vastly superior to O's options. Another consideration is that with the occasional port change due to weather, political issues, etc., the convenience of an O Tour steps to the front... Whichever you choose, enjoy your future cruise!

Thanks for all of your effort. It is VERY much appreciated. I very much look forward to hearing if the "new and improved" internet is as advertised.

Detergent and machines are free. Laundry rooms are located on each deck. GREAT place to catchup on the latest gossip…

THANK YOU for all the work and effort to share with us! Regarding the OLife all-inclusive change: Was a change-over date mentioned?

In my experience, the O hotel package uses nice hotels. But the prices are per person, and I can DIY the same hotel for much less. Then the savings can be applied to my own DIY transfer to the ship, and I still come out money ahead... But I understand the convenience that booking O's hotel package may bring. Enjoy your cruise!

My understanding is that OCI is Oceania Cruises….