AlexCherie

1 hour ago, shepherd really said:

Good for you, but since the situation has changed dramatically since I booked and paid for my cruise the onus should be on Oceania to adjust its policies as other cruise lines have.

 

Their 70% of repeat customers on these cruises are being treated poorly, that will have consequences for them long term.  

The situation changed, but ... We were in the midst of a pandemic before and after I booked. The short term environment might have changed, but I was personally aware that another surge might happen. 

It was a chance I took. I certainly accept your point of view, don't deny you the right to believe that way. 

But I know what I knew at that time. 

42 minutes ago, espmass said:

...  If Norwegian is allowing this perhaps Oceania will at some point?  ...

Probably an unpopular belief, but I hope they won't even if it costs me dearly.

Much as it might benefit me, I cannot be a hypocrite at this late point in my life. I preach owning my decisions and their outcomes and one I made quite consciously was choosing O, knowing their cancellation policies. 

That's on me. 

 

7 hours ago, Jayne E said:

...
We’re scheduled for Caribbean O cruise 2/7 and wish we weren’t. ...

Triple vaxx. Live in almost isolation, and scheduled to leave on January 4. Waking with cough, etc.today on NYE. Testing is tomorrow, but there were absolutely no signs prior to this and even now I would say that most of America would wake with what I have and go to work. I certainly would have. 

Bottom line: this thing is moving at lightning speed almost because the symptoms are so mild. I think the likelihood you get it are extremely high. Consider that either good or bad.

3 hours ago, powlan said:

In light of Covid we just cancelled our March 18 TA Mia/Lis cruise. After cancelling all the air, hotels, house sitters and the cruise itself I called the agency that issued our travel insurance policy They told me that we could extend the policy to cover another trip up until 12/2023. I asked about a refund of the premium. They said that it would have to be for a medical reason and a doctor would have to sign the document. Since "fear" of Covid is not considered a medical reason If we wanted the premium refunded we would have to show that we had tested positive and were under quarantine and as a result couldn't take the cruise.  This last option they were a bit muddy on but since neither myself nor my wife, have or ever had Covid, are triple vaxxed, and have never been tested positive we think that we'll probably go for an extension rather than try for the refund. We don't have CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason) insurance. 

 

My wife and I are triple vaxx, and we live in almost isolation. Our cruise is Tuesday.

Within the last 24 hours our bodies indicate we have Omicrom. Unfortunately, perhaps the likelihood of this smaller problem for you is about to go away. 

 

8 hours ago, HiFi43 said:

Here is a note I just got from Bob Binder Oceania CEO about the waitlists…

 

All Oceania sailing through the end of February are waitlist only so we can manage the flow of bookings, maintain a safe occupancy and efficiently handle the health and safety protocols as we prepare the final manifests.  This is similar to Royal Caribbean.

 

 

Please also keep in mind that changes are possible as the local ports review their requirements.

 

Take care

 

Bob

It is entirely possible that Bob and the crew at Oceania is grossly underestimating the rates at which their guests will be failing the dockside tests. 

Within the range of outcomes that the CDC won't have to ban cruising. There won't be any of us left that haven't tested positive.

3 hours ago, pattiecake78 said:

We are also on the Riviera jan 4 Miami to Miami cruise, my husband spoke with someone at Oceania today and was told the cruise ship is currently at 38% capacity.  We were on an Oceania cruise ship In March 2020 in South America when South America closed all their ports.  This will be our first cruise back, wish the timing was better. 

Jeez, 38%.

Well, I'm guessing you'll be able to eat in Polo as much as you'd like. My TA tells me that none of the current ports are going to be cancelled (fwiw, also on 1/4). 

I'll take him at his word, but January 4th is a long, long, long time away. 

For what it's worth this morning my TA has triple checked with O - at this point there are no changes expected to our itinerary for January 4 (which, by the way, today includes San Juan). 

I'll take them at face value.

I've posted elsewhere that the ship has just this morning updated required documentation, asking all guests to be pre-registered with their testing partner.

It is pretty clear - with so many ships being CDC inspected - that the situation is quite fluid and O is doing what they can to adjust. 

Wouldn't surprise me to get to the dock only to find we are all being sent home, regardless of testing outcome. Thankfully we have family in SoFL and can crash there. 

In order to facilitate the process, we are being requested to pre-register with Eurofins MyLab application.

Just an FYI, I don't see the need to share that whole email.

15 hours ago, molemaui said:

 

On my last OI cruise, I was concerned about cabin size (we booked concierge veranda) It was fine on the Riviera so we booked it again. Might be concerned about cabin size on O's smaller ships as all veranda cabins are a third smaller. Have a PH booked for our Baltic cruise in Sept. but at this point doubtful it will happen. 

 

Well, if you don't take that cruise, it will be a tidy sum to be used somewhere else in the world. 

Cabin 9093 - give us a ring when you get onboard!. We have our COVID tests planned for January 1, and God willing we'll join you. Triple VAXX. 

I'm PUMPED.

On 12/20/2021 at 5:43 PM, 1985rz1 said:

The last part of the testing requirements in the new Sail-Safe Notice is important, should one test positive at the pier-side antigen test:

 

...Even if the country where your cruise embarks does not require a negative COVID-19 PCR test for entry, Oceania Cruises strongly recommends you obtain a PCR test not more than 72 hours prior to embarkation. If a PCR test is not readily available, then we encourage guests to at a minimum take a laboratory administered COVID-19 antigen test not more than 72 hours prior to embarkation. Guests that fail to test prior to departure or cannot provide proof of a negative laboratory supplied test result and subsequently test positive for COVID19 upon embarkation will not be reimbursed for quarantine or return embarkation arrangements.

Also got this ... 72 hours of course is sort of problematic for us. We depart on Jan 4; leave for Miami on Jan 3 and Jan 2 is a Sunday. Jan 1 is a Saturday and a holiday. Getting tested in that tight window on a holiday/weekend isn't going to be easy. 

Naturally we'll do it. 

2 minutes ago, sofietucker said:

Don't forget you can also order from the specialty restaurants' menus for room service! We did that to have a second meal from Jacques; fabulous. And if you are a fan, it offers foie gras as a scallop--the sliced liver, not simply the pate style (which is offered as an appetizer)--in a couple of different versions, as a hot starter and as an addition to a steak.  

I might be mistaken, but I think the specialty restaurant room service is only at the PH level. We are issued oars before we get to our concierge level room. 🙂

I did consider going all the way to PH for specifically that reason, actually, but my wife would have killed me to spend that much.

You know what, I bet that the ship is so empty we won't have too much trouble getting extra nights if we'd want them.

1 hour ago, molemaui said:

 

While it is of course built into the cruise fare, speciality dining is no extra charge on Oceania. On our last O cruise, we managed to to Jacques'  and Red Ginger twice. 

 

Since you're from Lockport, how about bringing some wings from Bar Bill and Beef on a week from Charlie's!

We were able to get reservations at each of the venues, every other day. Jacques on the 4th. 

Don't you know it! Bar Bill's wings are great. Next time you are in town, Schwabl's ... they get nothing wrong, ever. 

2 minutes ago, molemaui said:

BB King venue is fantastic. Sailed HAL a couple of times just before the pandemic.

 

At this point, do not care about itinerary. Just want a nice "floating resort". Will care more about itinerary when we're comfortable traveling beyond the Caribbean. 

 

As you have also sailed HAL, I think you will be blown away by the food on O. HAL was real good but O is outstanding!

I doubt there will be substantial difference between, say, The Polo Grill and Pinnacle. Perhaps at the margin, some minor gains.

But how often can you dine like that? And if you've forked over $100 to eat at the Pinnacle, for me at least there is a hidden pressure to "get my money's worth" ... leading to discomfort the next day. 

We'll see, but it strikes me that what I am going to enjoy a great deal is the consistency of great food. Having surf and turf by the pool, a lamb chop with an egg in the morning, insanely great tea parties in the late afternoon, and smoothies and espresso all day long. There is a liberation there that I'm anticipating will help me enjoy Red Ginger even more. 

So yeah, I am looking forward to being blown away. God I need this time away.

15 hours ago, molemaui said:

 

 ... We're sailing Oceania again next week and can't wait! 

See you onboard. Riveria, January 4? 

19 hours ago, sofietucker said:

... and HAL usually do offer small jazz combos of some sort... Onward and upward

We will be making our first O cruise in less than 10 days, and we are excited just to not be home.

At the end of the day I think the strong comparison is going to be with the Pinnacle class of HAL. We absolutely loved BB King venue, and HAL's standard meals + specialty are fine. In the Vista-class room, with 4 nights at a specialty restaurant ... pretty hard to beat combination. 

Unfortunately I'm not a fan of the itinerary of those ships right now.

On 12/21/2021 at 12:23 PM, susiesan said:

Alex, I am booked on that April 4 Riviera cruise, Spain and Canary Islands itinerary. Up until a month ago the cruise was fairly well sold. Oceania recently moved the final pay date to 60 days which is frequently a sign a particular cruise/itinerary is in trouble. It could be that people are concerned we might not make it at all to the Canaries due to the volcano and there would be a massive itinerary change. It could be that watching what is going on in Europe with covid restrictions that only bubble excursions can be used to get off the ship. It could be the new mask mandate will still be in place in April. So many unknowns.

 

If all the above scenarios are in place on Feb. 4 or O doesn't move back FP date to 30 days I will be cancelling. I am already having my TA look at this same itinerary for 2023. People here are always crowing about how all Oceania cruises sell out but here is one that is wide open for bookings.

Thank you. 

We haven't been on an O ship yet, and waffled on this longer "Grand Cruise" at more dollars. Ultimately we picked a 10 day Caribbean trip in January - not particularly less expensive on cost per day, but airfare and shorter term put us onboard at $7K instead of $15K. 

AAR, when we board I'll be considering going anyway and doing two O trips in one year. For us, that would be a ridiculous amount ... and I'll tell you why. I think the 2023 trip will be easily another 25-35% more. I don't think there will ever be a better time to take that particular itinerary and I will never spend $1,000 a night for my wife and I to vacation. That is simply obscene.

I can't even believe I'm thinking about it ... the two trips would be more, combined, than I've spent in over 120 nights of cabin expense on Celebrity, Holland America. I am so, so excited for this next trip.

But I'll say this, that itinerary is a great one. One of the best by any cruise line, anywhere in the world, at an incredible time of the year to do what we like to do ... walk around old cities. Your fears about bubble excursions stand out.

Cheers, and thanks again for the response.

32 minutes ago, howiefrommd said:

Actually, I do.  I think you have a much better chance of a January cruise actually happening than a March one. 

Interesting perspective. 

Sort of like, it's too late to cancel something that is right around the corner, but if things worsen a whole new world can occur.

One of the things I've noticed the April 4 trip on the Riveria for Spain/Western Med, where a surprisingly large number of cabins are available. mmm.

32 minutes ago, ak1004 said:

We are in our mid 50s. Never had any issues being around people in their 70s or 80s.

I can appreciate that. Never been an issue for me either. 

I've read more than once about people commenting on the proliferation of so many motorized scooters, often couched in a lack of patience. 

Strikes me as a real bias, and the original poster asked about feedback. It's just something nobody else mentioned and if this was a Holland America thread, this sort of observation would be made many times over. 

Cheers.

 

On 12/17/2021 at 2:46 PM, Yesimapirate said:

...

 

As some background,  we're both late 40s with extensive travel experience ...

So, I've never been on Oceania. (Jan 4, first time).

Consider average age/fellow guests. One thing about people in their late 40s ... nothing personal here, but ... they tend to have a limited patience with people in their 70s and beyond. Just saying. That whole "it reminds me of my parents/I'm not that old" thing.

19 hours ago, Hinda said:

I am booked on the January 4, 2021 cruise on the Riviera.  Because of the latest news about Covid I have asked Oceania to let us move to a later date.  Same ship and same ports.  We 80 and 79 and are concerned about our health.  Oceania has refused to let us do this.  We have been on 12 Oceania cruises and love the cruise line.  But Oceania has disappointed us.  We have not asked for a refund or future credit .  We just want to be safe.....we are both triple vaccinated.

 

Hinda

 

 

On the same sailing, and hope to see you aboard.

FWIW, also tripled with Moderna vaxx. We aren't concerned so much with any threats against our health. Naturally that is a highly individual thing.

One thing that gives us solace is that we all will be pretty much 3xers. We'll have done everything we possibly could (collectively, as guests), and be in an environment where those in charge are doing everything they possibly can.

You have been on a great many of these trips. I'm sure your experience has been that you've been surrounded by people that are incredibly intelligent, engaged and desirous of doing the right things for their health. 

Personally, I think being on that ship will be safer than pretty much any place on earth. This will be our first Oceania cruise and although the circumstances are less than perfect - and given the choice, I'd take my money back like you would and go at a different time - nothing is going to get in between me and a great time. 

Cheers, and bon voyage.

For those of you that have sailed when the masks were required ... curious how this impacts wet environments?

Pools, hot tubs, etc; does the ship enforce in those areas? Limit use?

We are considering upgrading to Haven on a late November TA cruise from Rome to New York. We have a just a balcony booked right now.

My concern is that we will lose a great deal of what is important - insofar as the pool/Courtyard has that open end area. 

Thoughts?

2 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Read the current SailSafe FAQs (11/24/21) on the O website as well as your O Ticket Contract regarding pre-testing.  
Though pre-1/17/22 cruises will have mandatory testing at the pier provided by O, the “recommended” pretest during the 72 hr window is essential if you want O to cover Covid related costs should you be denied boarding at embarkation due to a positive Covid test at the pier.

FWIW: There’s a zillion posts across numerous O threads here on CC regarding this (e.g., the December 21, 2021 ATW cruise (and segments)). You may want to follow the SailSafe FAQs and CC O forums religiously before your cruise happens.

Well, yes I did. 

I says that Oceania will provide pre testing - not whether or not they will accept tests done outside the dock. Which I would presume would lower wait times to get in.

I should have been more specific I guess. Is anyone getting their own testing done? Is it allowed?

We anticipated getting tested the day before in POM, but am I to understand that we need to be tested at the dock? 

Sorry to be last minute Larry. We also sail on 4Jan, and this will be our first COVID effort. We aren't within the 20 day window to pre-board.