Harters

It will not be long. When we disembarked last year, there was a queue of taxis waiting, so there was no wait at all. Which is what logic suggests would be the case. Taxi drivers know that there will be plenty of customers when a ship disembarks, so will be there to pick up the ready business.

No, you didnt misread.

I used to play on a now defunct food/restaurant forum where most contributors were American. Tipping cropped up regularly, as it does on CC, and I have a very definite view that for many of those who are "big tippers" it makes them feel good about themselves. That their largesse is able to help less well off folk. I'm definitely not against folk doing things that make them feel better about themselves.

I think that's absolutely right. They've probably learned from the restaurant industry that few people ask for "discretionary" service charges to be removed, whereas many people may simply not tip (old fashioned cash tipping or by card).

That's sort of my point. If I'm looking for a hotel and Hotel A appears to be charging X, which is less than another hotel charging Y. I decide to book Hotel A then realise the resort fee makes it dearer than the other. So, I have to go back to look at Y to see if they charge a resort fee also. And if you've maybe looked at a few possible hotels, it becomes a pain. If the hotel room rate was simply transparent and inclusive, as it is in many American hotels, it would be for the better.

I note it says "especially in London" so, presumably, some hotels have copied the disreputable American dodge to con tourists. I see the article notes its "discretionary" unlike American resort fees which seem to be mandatory. Havent seen it myself, so expect it's few and far between. It's a con, like the restaurant at the Sofitel hotel at Heathrow which levies a service charge, yet leaves the tip line open, so effectively hoping unsuspecting tourists will tip twice. I bet it catches many foreigners out, who may not fully appreciate that the service charge is the tip. Hopefully others will pay a wee bit of attention. 😀 An interesting article here mentioning that resort fees are controversial in the States. I read there was legislation going through Congress to regulate them, supported by Biden? https://www.thetimes.com/article/uk-hotels-are-quietly-starting-to-levy-service-charges-i-dont-like-it-one-bit-x6w9pfvws

As I mentioned, I've never seen other than this here in Europe. Resort fees are a marketing dodge to make the price appear cheaper than it actually is. For example, the hotel I stayed at in Miami Beach before our last cruise advertises a room price of $119.20 per night. That's their own advertising and the price that appears on the likes of booking.com. So, you might pick that hotel, over others, because of the price. It's only when you get to the final booking page that you find there's also a $51.30 resort fee, per day, to add. Of course, they could have simply stated their price was $170.50, plus tax - but, of course, that wouldnt be a good marketing dodge. Because I know things are different in America to many other parts of the world I know, I always pay more than a wee bit of attention to terms and conditions, so it was no surprise it was there ,as we've come across this dodge before.

Resort charges seem to be a particularly American thing. I'm sure I've never seen similar in a European hotel. The price is the price - not a bit of false marketing to make it look cheaper than it really is. I was pleased when O started to include gratuities in the cruise price, for European customers, early last year, as had been the case for the Australian and New Zealand market for some while prior.

It's been a significant issue here in the UK for the hospitality industry - worsened by our leaving the European Union and the industry no longer having the benefits of "free movement" of labour. Prices have increased, so it's no surprise that similar has happened in other nations and with other hospitality sectors.

There were a couple of nights on our Vista transatlantic, earlier in the year, when the show was late afternoon. 5.30 as I recall. They showed a film in the evening instead.

Indeed. On the earlier trip, we tried the Carluccio - although left without eating as they'd run out of everything we tried to order. Not even that now. Anyway, here's my review of Vivre, at the Sofitel - more by way of warning than owt else. https://www.hungryonion.org/t/heathrow-london-vivre/38515

My only recent experience is the Sofitel at T5, where we've stayed twice in recent years, prior to flights to the States. Very decent hotel at a reasonable price for the location. It's own restaurant is a mediocre tourist trap type place

Well, you've certainly looked at several of the "big hitters" in the industry. From that list, I'd be more confident in suggesting that you're not going to find what you're after. And, if you do find perhaps a small company that does offer it, I'd urge some caution. Some small companies have an atrocious record in dealing with claims - we took an appeal to the Insurance Ombudsman on behalf of my father in law some years back. Eventually won but it was a real pain getting there. The suggestion at #3 to contact a broker is probably the best way forward for you.

It would not exist if it wasn't - although I don't understand the logic either. It may well be related to consumption though. Related to the included gratuities - everyone has their cabin cleaned and everyone is served meals. In that respect, everyone is on an equal basis. Whereas, it's a matter for individual guests to decide if they are having an alcoholic drink in a bar. I'm only guessing - I come from country where tipping bar staff is not really a thing (and certainly not something related to every drink).

I'm unsure where a land based venue comes into this. We're discussing O's gratuity policy aren't we? In this case, from O's website "In addition, an 20% service gratuity is automatically added to all beverage purchases, spa services and dinner at La Reserve. " https://oceaniacruises.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005476793-What-is-your-gratuity-policy

Yes. A 20% gratuity is added to all purchased drinks.

As you've looked at several companies, it's probable that it no longer exists. All companies change their policy based on assessments of risk and my guess is that all will pretty much make the same assessments. Might be worth you mentioning the companies that you've discounted so folk know not to mention them in a reply to you.

Indeed. It's a good job that trees grown to make paper are a renewable resource. Sort of. Probably get an O brochure about every two/three weeks and a similar brochure cycle from our TA (which never mentions Oceania, always lots of mentions of some other lines - Celebrity, MSC, Princess, Norwegian. HAL, etc)

Last time we went for a long weekend, we stayed at the Hotel JL No. 76. in the Museum Quarter. Nice small hotel with decent breakfast. Definitely not a corporate box

Some years back, my partner spent a long weekend in Luca with colleagues. They had a great time.

Over the decades, we've visited the States on several occasions. Twice to New England. Great seafood - I wish we could get that quality as easily on this small cold island off the coast of Northern Europe. My best story about Maine lobster (perhaps my only story), comes form our last trip there. We stayed in Portsmouth, NH for a few days. One day we took a boat trip out on the Piscatagua River. The captain said that a lot of lobster is caught in the estuary. If it's landed on the northern side of the river, it's sold as "Maine lobster". If it's landed on the southern side it's sold as "lobster".

No. We're off to the Olympic Lagoon in Paphos shortly. We don't expect it to be quite as good as Oceania but it is half the price. We're hoping it's good enough and may well replace cruising. Three weeks in Tenerife in January as usual (apartment). Bay of Biscay cruise, round trip from Southampton in June on Vista. Nothing yet planned for a UK break in the summer or anything for the autumn (although ideas for both)

I can. And my White Album is in the box with all the other LPs. And my claim to fame is that I saw them perform at the ABC Ardwick in Manchester in 1965

That'd be us. Back in the late 80s and early 90s, we cruised with P & O at a time when you were allocated a table for the duration. On two of the three cruises, our dining companions were, lets say, not folk we would have chosen to spend time with. It was one of the factors that put us off cruising until we discovered O, and its two-tops, in 2017.

I agree. Not least when you remind yourself of what O's President said when extolling the virtues of the greater inclusiveness of Simply More when it was introduced (Press release 27/6/23). (my use of bold) "Thanks to the launch of simply MORE, our guests will enjoy even more value, more choice and more convenience than ever before. Over the past 20 years, we have continued to adapt and evolve to the wants and needs of our valued trade partners and guests. We are always seeking to enhance the Oceania Cruises experience and raise the bar in offering the best value in luxury cruising. So, we asked our key audiences, guests and travel partners, what they wanted, and that was simplicity, choice and value. Through our new simply MORE value promise, they now have all three. "For me, the cornerstone of this exciting new value promise is the generous credit offered to every guest to be spent on shore excursions of their choice. Oceania Cruises is renowned for our imaginative and immersive itineraries, journeying to every part of the globe, which are enhanced even further by our industry-leading array of enriching adventures ashore."