AMHuntFerry

Make sure you have an updated Guest Statement (and other docs) from your TA. It will show your OBC and how it's allocated (usually split evenly between guests). It's generally recommended that you have a (print and/or electronic) copy of all relevant docs (SBC, shorex rez, dining rez) in case there are any discrepancies during your cruise. Also, anything you paid out-of-pocket will show up as a refundable credit in your onboard account and is "used up" after all of your OBC has been used (or the OOP is refunded if not used up).

For those reading this thread gleaning info, please review O's FAQs. Some of the older FAQs (especially pre-pandemic) should be viewed with skepticism, but the dining rez FAQ is correct: https://oceaniacruises.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005477653-How-many-dining-reservations-am-I-allowed-in-each-specialty-restaurant

Haha, I meant tomorrow or Monday. Usually Sunday is OK (until it isn't 😉 )

1. I play it safe and log on ahead or time, remind myself what buttons to push to get to the reservations, then log off. I prep by entering my name and PW and then wait until 12:01 ET to hit the button. 2. Going from memory...first you choose whether you want a private table, share with a friend (need their booking number), or share with others. Then you pick a restaurant and a calendar will show up with available dates; when you click on each date it will show the times that are available. If there is one you like, you click the time (and maybe some more clicks) to save that reservation. Then you go on to the next restaurant. You'll get an email with the rez and it will show in your account. If you want to check times later, you can change your rez in a similar manner.

Saturday is website maintenance day, so avoid it. Even if you can access your account, things may not work correctly. Don't worry, everything will be back to normal either tomorrow or Sunday. The weekend is a stupid day to do maintenance, but ???

Use one of the websites that Hlitner did not mention and you will be able to see cabin availability for entire decks as opposed to O's 5 or six random cabins at a time (and without giving identifying info other than state/country...just skip the email entry since it's not required on the sites I use). Some sites have the new upgrade that has little glowing dots over available cabins so I don't even need to make my own chart now...so easy!

I have had something similar happen when pricing Premium Economy and have not figured out if I have bad entries (I tried many permutations) or if it is something else. The price (especially on United) is often significantly less on the airline's website. I use ITAMatrix to see who has relevant flights, then check their websites directly for actual prices. There are many benefits to booking air directly with the airline. One of my favorites is to book a less-than-optimal arrival/departure time or duration due to significant price difference, then change to a better one (of my choice) at no cost when the airline changes/cancels the originally booked flight(s). No change fees and price guarantees (on the airlines I have used) has also been handy.

A year of so ago I was interested in the behind the scenes process and managed to find some interesting info about not only the Vero water but other processes. The 2019 O PR for the new Vero water: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/media/2019/OCEANIA+CRUISES+TO+ELIMINATE+PLASTIC+WATER+BOTTLES+IN+PIONEERING+GREEN+INITIATIVE+-+Partnership+With+Vero+Water+Will+Save+More+Than+Three+Million+Plastic+Bottles+Per+Year/ Edit: forgot the Vero Water link: verowater.com Go to the following page, then click on the link to open a pdf with environmental info. Water info is on p. 24-25 of the pdf. https://www.nclhltd.com/sustainability/environmental Without reading all of the details, I am not clear as to what the source of water for the Vero system is. I don't have a problem with treated water, but hey, I drank out of streams in the pre-giardia days. I like the sparkling Vero water and have never had it flat in the restaurants. If it sits in our room for a day it loses is sparkle though. The still water attempted refills are annoying, but typically (not always), the waiter or other water server learns quickly...I'll keep putting this issue on surveys in order to affect change.

It is difficult for me to take your comments as generally true since I am also familiar with how things are when traveling via ferry. Days when cruise ships are in are expensive even if you aren't on a cruise. Most (all?) tour operators who do business with the cruise lines will not do business with individual cruise passengers (whether O or Princess or anyone else). Also, the shorex prices I have compared in Alaska sans-cruise have actually been comparable or lower (when the 25% discount applies) than the O prices (again, when cruise ships are in port). If you want to save money, take the ferry.

Try putting quotes around "Connoisseurs Club" or use "Oceania Cruise Connoisseurs Club".

can I call Oceania myself and ask them to book the excursions, or must my travel agent do that? You can call directly (easier for everyome) If you don't want to use the refundable credit, do you then ask for a $$ credit or how does that work? I'll give an example that fits your question since it gets messy. Say you have $300 per person of SM shorex credit and you book three $110 shorex for a total of $330. $30 gets charged to your credit card (or other OBC). Case 1: One of the shorex is cancelled by O before embarkation; typically (as in last month) I've received a credit to my CC (for $30 in this case, $330-300) and I'd have $80 ($300-220) in SM shorex credit to use on something else. Case 2: One of the shorex is cancelled during the cruise; you should get $80 in non-refundable SM shorex credit to use on other shorex if possible; the $30 you paid with you CC shows up as a credit on your account (or at least it has in the past but maybe it's changed?) so that should be usable on anything or refundable.

Yet some people are chomping at the bit for an app 🥸

There are cruises (>=18days) where PH get more reservations than A-cat and below on the larger ships. On the smaller ships PH and A-cat get the same, but more than B-cat and below >=8 day cruises. It sounds like those don't describe the cruise you're interested in, but I just want to make it clear to other readers.

From September 2023:

We booked the O-Miami tour, but it was cancelled due to lack of interest, so have a back up plan.

I'm on Regatta in a few weeks. We're not really champagne drinkers, but I may have one at some point and will try to spy the label on any bottles in my vicinity to report status in June.

There is no discount on O for guaranteed vs. chosen cabin. "Worst" case is you get upgraded again 🙂 Book it! If you have buyer's remorse before the sale ends you can get the A1 (or 2 or 3 or B4, etc.)

@vipro Here is a photo of the opposite side of Vista that show the 10002 (couldn't find 10003 but probably the same) balcony area really well: Ref: https://thepointsguy.com/reviews/oceania-vista-cruise-ship/

There is usually not a huge difference between PH3 and PH2, so I'm guessing that you are considering a cruise that is part of the upgrade sale (prices on the O website already include the sale discount/upgrade). I'd say "jump at the chance" if it's in your price-zone since the PH3 being part of an upgrade sale is less common (than OV through A-cat), and the non-sale difference between A1 and PH3 is significant. As for PH3 vs. PH2, the only difference is usually location. If ship movement is not an issue for you then there is little point in booking a PH2.

Here are the T&Cs from a September FCC. I have not cancelled, but would do as ak100 did and not take the risk. This is the only downside I can see with an FCC.

Same in Alaska...even if you can find a tour operator when the cruise ships descend, they aren't going to be any cheaper. Even then, an alumni group may steal your Hubbard Glacier small boat up close tour (grrr!).

Yes. Also, I assume I can use my shipboard credit for excursions after the SM credit is used for the required number of excursions. Is that correct? Sometimes. It depends on the source of the OBC (e.g., my O-Club OBC can be used, but the OBC I received due to a price drop cannot be used) And I will get the discounted price for them, right? Yes. If you qualify for the 25% discount, all subsequently booked shorex should be discounted (except, I believe, "executive cars" or whatever they are calling the car/driver combo). And can I make changes to the excursions booked with SM credit, once I board, assuming there are slots open and I'm within the CX period? No...the cancellation deadline is in your shorex pdf (embarkation if the whiskey has not altered my memory 😉 ).

They are rare enough that I find them entertaining rather than annoying. In fact, they are at risk of being trolled if one of us is feeling crusty.

Yah, sometimes it makes no sense. We were on a 7 day CA coastal right after another 7-day CA coastal in fall 2022...the first one had the discount, the second one did not. I've noticed the same with SM...sometimes yes, sometimes no (but only for 7, and maybe 8, day cruises).

I have the same issue with possibly not wanting to commit within the deadline. My solution is to purchase an FCC since they are fully refundable if cancelled within 1 year (after that you lose your deposit...eek!). If a cruise is booked with the FCC, you still get a one-time itinerary change at no cost. As for lines, just fill out the form to purchase an FCC and drop it off at the desk...no need to wait in line (you can also do this when booking a specific cruise and have no questions). The only reason to stand in line is if you actually want to discuss something.