AMHuntFerry

In the past (but post-pandemic) they still had complimentary drinks in Martinis and Horizons in lieu of a party. Did they skip that too?

Are you only looking at the Owner's Suite on Riviera? If so, this may make a difference in some of the replies. It will be easier to address your original question if the cruise(s) are listed, as well as the cabin category that you like, what you like about cruises, and what you don't want on a cruise.

I received the 2024-2025 "Tropics and Exotics" brochure (which had South Pacific sailings through July 2025) in fall/winter 2022 (guessing Sept/Oct 2022 from fare expiration date). That is apparently not this year's schedule though (maybe due to Allura schedules being released in September 2023).

Do not trust the online booking...ever (well, maybe sometime in the future). Call O and get the pre-purchased shorex statement from them after confirming any bookings and waitlists. It is itemized and every detail you need is in this statement. Your TA can also send this doc if you want to check it, then call if any changes are needed.

I have rarely experienced any of the behavior you are worried about. Have I seen lounge saving? Probably, but I rarely use the lounges, and when I do I can find always find one...finding two together can get tricky if there is high demand. All-about-me passengers have been too subtle for me to notice (or were not memorable), although I distinctly remember eaves-dropping on a look-at-me name-dropper, but that was entertaining rather than annoying due to its novelty. There are rarely lines for anything, and when there are, people are well-behaved. A June Alaska cruise was the least enjoyable due to (maybe?) a younger, American-centric, 90% 1st time on O, multiple alumni groups crowd; least enjoyable but still enjoyable if that makes sense.

Constants (also checked against Vista on Preisman blog): Appetizers: Soups: Salads: Entrees: Dessert: Constants are seasonal fresh fruit plate, souffle' of the day (flavor varies), vanilla & chocolate ice cream (other ice creams and sorbet vary in flavor); 4 varying desserts (1 "healthy"); cheese plate (flavors vary)

Which cruise line? I may be able to take it off of the don't-bother-list.

I'm not sure, but you may need to send the original. I'm not sure how much of a stickler they are about the fine print but if you don't get the discount it may be because they want the original. Your TAs should be able to get the current rules from their O-rep and it will all work out in the end.

Does "Gave all the info to my TA" mean that they sent your certificate to O for you? The original certificate had to be sent via snail mail in January 2022 and the instructions were the same on my September 2023 cert. My original invoice was dated January 26th and the updated one was May 26th...those dates are just when it was created though, not when the discount was applied, so not very enlightening regarding how long it took...sorry

Question for those who have used their $200 certificate: I assumed the $200 was per cabin (so $100 per person) and was surprised when there was a $200 discount for each of us ($400 total) on our revised invoice. Is this others' experience or did I get a bonus typo?

Brief rules from an unused certificate: Category D or higher on R-ships C or higher on O-ships B5 or higher on Vista (no mention of Allura but cruises were just released when I got this cert.) Must book within 45 of return from previous voyage (I take this to mean new bookings only) May not combine with special offers (or onboard booking savings) One time transfer allowed if within 30 days of cancellation There is other fine print but these are the ones I think will matter to most.

We have received them when we did not book onboard or when we bought a FCC. We did not receive one when we booked on board.

Short answer: There is only one 25% discount that kicks in when the minimum number of excursions is booked (although if using the glitchy online version, a call to O may be needed). I think you're missing a key fact though...everyone who booked after September 1st has SM and the Tour Price is what you pay if buying less than the minimum (for 25% off). (Just FYI - those with OLife have essentially the same deal of Tour Price or 25% off with minimum (plus also the Ultimate Pkg). There is a cancellation policy on the last page of your shorex pdf. If you don't have it, your TA should send it to you. It gets updated sometimes, so ask for it as often as you like if you're interested in updates. The Packages are described on the first page.

Watch once before boarding and once in your cabin. It's a few minutes total...no big deal. At least we don't have to pass a quiz (although maybe we should...the ship would be half empty).

I can get a little philosophical when it comes to money, so please feel free to skip this post (or wish you had) 🙂 Here's the SM drama as I see it so far: Fall 2023: SM is implemented and prices go up the same amount as the SM shorex credit ("SXC" 'cuz who doesn't love TLAs). However, some wine/beer and another internet account are also included. If you use all of the perks (emphasis on "use", as in, it's actually available), you have gotten simply more (as advertised), a "win". If the SM perks are worthless to you, there was a significant price increase to your cruise-only fare, a "loss". Fall/Winter 23: O should have heeded "be careful what you wish for". It was speculated that one reason for the SXC was to increase the number of passengers using O excursions. It appears to have succeeded beyond O's expectations, and now there are angry customers who did not get the shorex that they were promised. Something needed to be done to either increase the availability of shorex, or to decrease demand (yay, Econ 101 to the rescue!). We know that shorex resources in some locations are limited while in others there are more than enough; it appears O chose to try decreasing demand since in 2024 the SXC was reduced (or maybe a combo). January 2024: The reduced SXC is implemented for new bookings and some people are angry about the reduction, while others recognize that the reduced SXC may have been balanced to some extent by lower (or zero) price increases (i.e., a "win" for the cruise only crowd). O may also increase the number of shorex in locations where it is possible, but it will be a challenge/impossible on some itineraries. Will whatever O does change result in better results booking shorex? Will O change their policy regarding cancelled shorex to better match what they used to do when an O-Life shorex cancellations (i.e. rebook or full/partial refund), or possibly some version of FCC? Will O change the first date for booking shorex until after final payment (or after the $500 penalty starts)? These are all questions I have wondered about while watching the changes. For me it is moot since I am in the cruise only crowd, and it just comes down to "am I willing to pay that price for a cruise only experience (i.e., no shorex, no booze, no internet)? And if I get to go whale watching for no additional charge? Sign me up!

I used one of those post-cruise $200 certificates in January 2022. The process when using a TA was (may be different if booked directly with O): First, you have to book the cruise within the (45-day, I think mine was shorter) timeframe on the certificate. After you have a booking with deposit (not a hold), you send in the completed certificate (hint: scan/copy the completed certificate in case it goes astray). After a while (can't remember), a line item called "Bonus Savings" showed up beneath the "Air Credit" on the revised invoice that my TA sent to me.

Here's the room service menu from June (any cabin-category, higher also get GDR):

The drink menus are much easier to decipher now than before they restructured them in January or February 2023. Here is a page from a sample drink menu: If this was your menu in, say, the GDR, then everything under "Wine by the Glass" and "Beer" would be included with your lunch/dinner under SM. The items under "Specialty Coffee" and "Cognac & Armagnac" are not included. You are fairly safe in the GDR, Terrace and Waves, but the Specialties may have by-the-glass items (e.g., sake) that are wine, but are not included. The safest is to ask when ordering as has been advised earlier. Here is an example (from Ember) of when you need to ask: There are wines by the glass listed, but it's probably a safe bet that they are not included...ask anyway. The regular wines by the glass menu should also be available.

I don't think there is any one special evening in the GDR as other people might consider the Global Cuisine menu featuring Thailand as their can't-miss dinner. The only dinners that I recall being "advertised" as anything special were the ones mentioned earlier in Terrace (also the wine pairing dinners if applicable). There has been a "Chef's Special" dinner in Terrace for two consecutive nights (so no one misses out?) that features dishes from the region where the cruise is visiting. The "advertising" is in Currents, and there is even a sign near the GDR posted menu.

Unsourced lobster: and the bisque appears every night:

At least 1 (of 14-ish) GDR menus has Maine Lobster, but it may not be offered on any particular cruise: Found another!

Here is the wording from my Future Cruise Certificate (FCC). I think everything (perks, conditions) is pretty much the same as if we had booked a cruise onboard, except for the OBC which was higher ($250?). Note that the deposit paid with a FCC is fully refundable until expiration, while a booked cruise has the new $150 penalty; at least that was the case when I was choosing FCC vs. booking in September (the $150 penalty had just started being applicable a few days earlier). Sorry for the annoying cut-paste formatting! FCC: You’ll receive our best available offer at the time of your voyage selection. The earlier you book, the better choices you will have for accomodations and amenities, and the lower the price will be. Once you select your cruise the applicable savings noted below will be applied to your reservation. ONBOARD SAVINGS BY CATEGORY Savings shown are per stateroom SAILING LENGTH OS - OC PH A - B C - E 7-9 days $500 $300 $250 $200 10-19 days $800 $600 $400 $300 20-35 days $1,500 $1,000 $800 $500 Terms & Conditions: Certificate is redeemable for up to one year from date of purchase towards deposit of future voyage. Selected voyage may commence outside of one year. Certificate cancellations are fully refundable up until expiration. If US$100 Shipboard Credit was given at the time this Certificate was purchased, this amount will be withheld from the refund. After expiration date, the full value of the Certificate will be forfeited. If you need to cancel after a voyage is selected, the standard booking terms and conditions will apply. Onboard Booking Savings varies based on sailing date and stateroom/suite category selected, and is combinable with current savings offers at time of voyage selection. Onboard Savings is applicable to Ocean View and higher categories. Please note that not all promotions are combinable with Onboard Savings. Guests are encouraged to select their preferred future sailing as early as possible to secure preferred pricing and stateroom availability. Oceania/Vista/Owner’s Suites, Grand Voyages, combination (multiple segment) cruises, and guests from Germany/Austria/Switzerland/Lichtenstein may require additional deposit, which will be due at the time your voyage is selected. Certificate is exclusively available for purchase by onboard guests only and is non-transferable. One Certificate maximum may be applied to a reservation. Once applied to a voyage, guests may utilize their one-time change-of-sailing prior to the cancellation penalty period of the voyage selected. Program is applicable to new bookings only and is not applicable to reservations booked prior to Future Cruise Deposit certificate purchase. Oceania Cruises reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares, fees, promotions and surcharges at any time. Ships' Registry: Marshall Islands.

If I recall, those itineraries were just released (a few days ago?); however when I looked at the online availability there are a few categories either that are Guarantee or Waitlist already. My perspective: When I was debating booking a cruise for last June (looking in December/January), I kept track of availability by seeing how many cabins were still available in my chosen categories. When inventory dwindled below my comfort level, I booked; in my case the price was unlikely to go lower since sale-prices are typically only applicable to cabins with high availability. If you have the time, track the availability and, if possible (based on your desires), wait until the 30-day pre-cruise window (but before Feb 29th) to get any applicable onboard booking perks (as mentioned by others) along with the NY-sale. Even if onboard perks are minimal, you'll get the price guarantee which can be valuable later. Note also that this cruise is an O-Club 10% sale ("expires" March 31st); I doubt it would be the better deal, but with combinability allowances/restrictions it never hurts to ask (especially if you have additional perks like TA, Amex, etc.).

The refit was in 2022. I don't recall the fitness/spa area being part of the "re-imagining". In their releases, O specified that the cabins, dining, and bars would be refurbished. That said, hopefully any maintenance issues are quickly dealt with; a short comment in the mid-cruise review (or earlier directly to management) might get some action.

If you haven't found it yet: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/ships/vista/culinary-experiences scroll down to the second row and click the Aquamar Kitchen box. This is Vista's menu since Marina doesn't have it yet, but I would expect the menus to be similar if not the same. Question for @edgee: Are the "bowls" (usually one selection) and composed salads (usually ~3-4, not including the lettuce based ones) still available in Terrace? The bowls are my spouse's default lunch choice and the salads are mine, so it will be more convenient if they are in Terrace too.