Bo1953

18 minutes ago, mnocket said:

I don't always book with a full-service TA, but I did for my upcoming AOV cruise to Antartica.  The TA I chose was one who posts frequently on FB and is very knowledgeable about AOV.  I didn't get a discount - that wasn't my motivation.  AOV has earned a reputation for abysmal pre-cruise communication.  For that cruise I wanted a TA who had personally done the cruise several times and could provide the type of pre-cruise guidance that AOV fails to deliver.  I'm happy with my decision.  For a different AOV itinerary, I probably would have gone another direction. 

mn Thank you... I Am interested in a Caribbean sailing for our first outing with AOV... 

bon voyage

Hello all - I Am not looking for any specifics in terms of names and etc...

I Am wanting to  find out how most fellow passengers here prefer booking their sailings for AOV.

I did sign up for information from AOV's website and requested contact through email and you know what happened next, lots of calls from a TA (which I did not answer/take). And of course, the emails the TA sent made it urgent to book right away for various reasons that at this juncture does not matter to me as I have yet to decide which sailing I want and a few questions for them before placing the deposit.

Ultimately, booking direct or using their 'assigned' TA, will using my own vetted TA possibly yield better overall results in terms of communications, good fare structure different from the brochure and possible "discounted" rates, etc.???

With just about most everything 'included' in the fare, just wanting assistance to figure out the best way to book, overall.

TIA for your thoughts and input on this

bon voyage

7 minutes ago, hcat said:

or at least a friendship bracelet!

hc in which case more valuable than the upgrade, in the short run!!! LOL

bon voyage

One additional question on this topic, please.

If I understand the consensus correctly, the Horizon Deluxe Stateroom is preferable to Horizon Stateroom even for either a Caribbean or Western Med sailings?

TIA and bon voyage

On 3/16/2024 at 11:21 AM, Rick&Jeannie said:

Read your terms & conditions for *any* cruise line. They all reserve that "right".

Thank you for this, sometimes "we" forget about T&C's and focus only on our wants and desires... 

While not always pleasant endings, yet.... those are the T&C's, which often times go unread.

bon voyage 

On 3/16/2024 at 11:00 AM, Rick&Jeannie said:

Is it true that people have heard it was Taylor Swift....?

In which case, I Am sure she would have offered the OP some type of compensation for the inconvenience...

bon voyage

On 3/16/2024 at 7:18 AM, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Who was the VIP ? 

I assure you, it was not me.... LOL

Was it you???

bon voyage

1 minute ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

There isn’t a balance, residents vote to limit ships/people and the government overrules them

Thank you for the follow up, to clarify my comment about balance is in the way of who wants what and when...

It is understood, at least by me, that the final decision on what happens in docking is a Government decision.

bon voyage

On 3/12/2024 at 8:02 PM, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

Not really

 

Businesses, yet I have heard (not verified only through news reports) that there are residents who do not want tourists to return soon.

I understand that businesses want tourists to return, that is their lively hood going down the drain, for sure.. along with some of their employees.

Where is the balance???

bon voyage

On 3/12/2024 at 7:31 PM, markeb said:

The only thing you gain checking prices after final payment is frustration. Just don’t do it. 

Unless, that is unless you have a very good TA who can work miracles on actionable items...

Thank you spot on input,

bon voyage

Thank you for adding "vent" as part of the post up front....

bon voyage on whichever cruise line you choose going forward...

On 3/12/2024 at 7:13 PM, Ex-Airbalancer said:

What a funny thread!

itinerary was change because the port was closed because of the fires in August 

Do you think if X docked a few miles off shore and tendered OP onto the dunes, would there be a reason for being upset over the change??? LOL

My guess, is no.

bon voyage

Actually, many passengers will admire you for bucking the trend in dressing for Chic Nights...

bon voyage

12 hours ago, CruisingTheWaves said:

To me using potato chips is just another way of adding crunch, similar to breadcrumbs. I know Capital Grille uses potato chips on their au gratin potato side dish and I’ve always enjoyed it 🤷🏼‍♀️

Methinks that there are some passengers whose closest brush with 'Fine Dining' is on a cruise ship. I Am sure there are more than a few who would never spend the money for a Capital Grille experience... LOL Yet, thank you for sharing the experience.

Can you imagine the 🙄 I from Chef's when I arrive to the Fine Dining Steak House as a vegan??? LOL

Now, that is worthy of a Fine Dining experience and cost... LOL But as long as my guests are enjoying their meals, that is what matters most to me.

bon appetit and bon voyage

12 hours ago, keesar said:

Next there will be a complaint about having bread crumbs on top of fish!  And whipping cream on top of desserts!  

🤣🤣🤣👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿 the OP never indicated if they were refunded or not, as well... LOL

bon appetit

39 minutes ago, taylortime05 said:

Have you sailed yet in cabin 1601?   We are on the Eclipse in June 2024 in cabin 1606 right across from 1601. 

Yes, last Aug/Sept 2023...

Quiet and easy access to elevators and stairs.

bon voyage

I can only say that our FBC flights were perfect to/from Europe last year. 

Our only challenge was on the return was BA changed planes and fortunately we found out before outbound so we could re-select seats...

The UA flight there was no charge for selecting seats, but for BA we had to pay and had no issue with that to get what we wanted as that is BA's policy and not FBC.

Yet, this goes to show that each of us have different experiences and expectations with/for FBC...

bon voyage

5 minutes ago, ISABELLA said:

I am not arguing anything. That is not the point of my posting.

Okay, then we can accept that may not have been the point of your post and can only request that you clarify what the point is so we do not provide information which is of no value to you.

The point of my post is, essentially, that a call to X would be better for clarification on the issue as presented to us here, as our individual experiences can possibly be vastly different than yours.

bon voyage

2 hours ago, goofysmom99 said:

I'm currently on Summit with a SNAS scooter in a concierge cabin.  No problem.  The issue is avoiding being hit by the people who don't look up from their phones!  I already had two folks stumble into me....and I wasn't moving!

At sea as on land... hopefully they did not severely injure themselves... 

bon voyage

On 2/28/2024 at 9:10 AM, hcat said:

Too many are rented to folks who can't handle them.. Rental should require short training video or hands on &/or a dr's note.. they can be dangerous to the operator and others!

On a Silly sailing once, I witnessed a scooter do major damage to a persons heel and Achilles tendon... needless to say they had to go to the Medical Clinic (limping) for clean up and bandage... the 'I'm sorry' line was lame at that point... IMO.

bon voyage

9 hours ago, ISABELLA said:

As was explained to me on board - I can change to NRD, still keep OBC, but cruise will be repriced at current price. My question is if I need to cancel the cruise, will I loose deposit I paid on board ($200) or X will charge me ($900)? 

If you accept what was told to you onboard at the time of booking, not sure the reason for your posting.

@Jim_Iainrelated their experience, which which was not satisfactory or so it sounds.

IMO, your next (needed to have been first) move would be to contact X to verify your thoughts/information/concern.

If not satisfied with their response then you can argue it there.

bon voyage

15 hours ago, weregoingcruising said:

In Chicago LSD stands for Lake Shore Drive.

In Delaware it is known as Slower Lower Delaware and it is!!! LOL

bon voyage

1 hour ago, JJK2008 said:

Many here on CC don't realize that when you book through a TA, the TA is the customer of the cruise line NOT you as the passenger. You are a customer of the TA. This is why they won't talk to you. It can be a hard lesson learned. We've seen it numerous times over the years. I know we are in the minority in that we never use a TA. We ALWAYS book direct. We have dealt with similar circumstances as yours and it's always easier to speak with the cruise line direct. In our experience the cruise line has always been very accommodating. The cruise line WANTS to solve the problem and will work with you. Doesn't mean you'll always get what you want, but the issue is usually resolved satisfactorily. I know many here on CC swear by using a TA. Yes, when things go smoothly, GREAT. But when issues arise (which they often do) not all TA are the same. IMHO, it's just not worth using a TA to get a bottle of wine in the cabin or a couple of hundred dollars of OBC. Good Luck.       

If this is all your TA is providing to you, then yes, book direct is advisable.

Our TA usually has fares 15% to 20% lower than booking direct, which is the value proposition for us and others here, as well.

bon voyage

Here you go, a recent posting about one (1) X passenger - from Mr. Elliott's website...

bon voyage

Hello All - new to AOV and wanted to ask what is the time frame for release of the above mentioned sailings?

Only 2024, early, are currently showing...

TIA and bon voyage - bo1953