AMHuntFerry

Yes, the pdf usually changes between booking and sailing if you book more than a few months out. Sometimes the times change after sailing; nothing is in stone.

Is Baristas open late on R-ships now? Last fall on Regatta they were the bar for the GDR and didn't have the evening Baristas menu like Riviera did. Say yes, and we will be happy campers. 🙂

If it's been awhile, ask for the latest version. Sometimes shorex get added/deleted and there may be price changes. Also, keep an eye on times in port and shorex times (even after you book). These have been in flux lately. On my fall cruise there are shorex that don't line up with the port times (e.g., shorex ends after the ship is supposed to leave), or my 7:30 am kayaking that is now 12:30 pm (thankfully!) with no heads-up from O.

As LHT28 says, get the shore excursions pdf for your cruise. It has package info as well as other critical info such as cancellation (by you or O) policies. I have never seen a shorex where UPC did not apply, but I suppose it is possible. You can tell the price of the excursion by looking in the UPC column on the website. If it says "N/A" then it is included for no additional cash. If it says something like "$69", then your additional cost is $69. UPC usually costs about $110/day. If there are OLife-qualifying shorex that you like, OLife combined with YWC may be the better choice. If you are mostly interested in the above-$200 shorex, then either YWC or UPC may be the better fiscal choice but it highly depends on which shorex you choose. If you narrow down your shorex choices to the ones of interest, you can either make a spreadsheet to compare or call an O-rep (or your TA if they are VERY O-shorex experienced) and they will help you figure out the best package. I like to do it myself, but you don't have to. Note that it is rarely possible to do more than one shorex per day.

That's only for the annual plan. Single trip plan goes up to $1M.

In the US we can remove OLife from our booking and pay less (= the OLife OBC)...not sure that's an option in the UK though. If it is an option and there are not enough OLife-qualifying-shorex still available, just drop OLife. If you still want to take O shorex, there are other packages available (YWC or UPC) and ala carte.

It is open for tours on the first day so it is not very quiet but it is open (until I think 10 pm or so)

Ask your TA (or O rep) for the "combinability" rules for your fare. They have them in written form and can send them (mine does). For example (your sale will have different rules), the current Extraordinary Sale is combinable with only a couple of things...O-Club Loyalty benefits and 2-for-1 deposits (whatever that is). O-Life Choice (not Ultimate) and O-air can be added just like drink packages and shorex packages. Nothing else is combinable...shareholder SBC, OCAPP ppg, and onboard savings are some of the things listed.

It was in writing on the Currents inserts we received in September 2022. I keep my hard copies just in case there is ever a question regarding what was promised.

I'm starting to think you are AI since you can't support your statement with verifiable facts, but here-goes anyway so other US pax have info to make their own decisions. Go to the PRC US embassy (Wash. DC) website (this is my state's location): http://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/zj/qz2021/202206/t20220614_10702581.htm Read the procedures, specifically II.(3), "The physical application documents can be submitted to the Visa Office at the appointed time by the visa applicant or by an agent..." The LA consulate has the same language in their April 29th (kinda recent?) notice: http://losangeles.china-consulate.gov.cn/eng/visa/chinavisa/202304/t20230429_11068942.htm

Excellent (re)post @Flatbush Flyer! I am guessing you have a FAQ doc that you can easily cut and paste since you thankfully answer questions again and again (and again...). As one who only uses a TA for cruises (only O so far...that TA on QM2 is still in the wings for maybe 2024), one of the many reasons I use a TA is that I am able to access better fare rules than are available on the O website (don't know about via phone-rep). By "better", I mean clear (and in writing which I find easier to understand) regarding what can be combined and what cannot be combined (both O sales/perks and consortium perks). It takes some of the guesswork out, although I still ask about specific combos "just in case".

My parents have been to China on both DIY and Elderhostel trips and encouraged us to go. We never made it for pleasure and it looks like those DIY days are long gone. The last time my spouse went (Nov. 2019) he took zero electronics (no phone, not even a USB) and used cash only (probably not allowed now).

I hesitated to post the link, but here it is since it is the direct/core reference: http://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/zj/qz2021/ We have ten year PRC visas for business purposes, so have been through the drill pre-Covid (used an agent for convenience). The worst part was finding a photographer who can meet the photo requirements; PRC is very strict. It was better than getting Russian visas though...their approved vendors are a nightmare (lost my spouse's passport one time; sent us someone else's passport another time and expected us to forward it with not even a "thanks"...ugh!). I doubt we'll be interested in traveling (business or pleasure) to either country for quite a while if ever.

Instead of taking $600 OBC, you are better off (fiscally) removing OLife from your booking. You are paying $600 for your $600 NON-refundable OBC. The Unlimited Passport (UPC) is rarely worth it unless you are on a cruise with no Your World Collection (YWC) (25% discount) option. Make a spreadsheet and run the numbers if so inclined. The OLife shorex option can be cost-effective, but only if there are 3 tours that appeal to each person and qualify for OLife (don't need to match). If all/most of the tours you like are "OS" or over ~$200 then OLife shorex is not useful...YWC is typically the better way to go in this instance (again...spreadsheets are handy). YWC and UPC also have better cancellation policies than OLife (see your Guest Statement and shorex pdf). To answer the question that you asked: Yes you can use the $600 OLife OBC to pay for shorex.

Can you please reference your source? The PRC embassy (US) site states "The physical application documents can be submitted to the Visa Office at the appointed time by the visa applicant or by an agent..." in their January 2023 notice regarding the re-opening of the Visa office. Has there been a more recent notice that I'm not finding? Good luck getting O to recognize current rules quickly. As I said, they can be slow as was witnessed during the restart of cruising among always changing Covid-rules.

The current policy on the PRC embassy's site went into effect March 15th; it includes "15-Day visa-free travel for cruise groups at Shanghai ports". O tends to be slow to update this type of thing especially for a cruise this far out, so I'm not surprised they have outdated info at the moment. The PRC determines who needs a visa, not O.

Ask for it and insist that it be sent. It should come with your Guest Statement and other docs when you book (or when it becomes available - about one year in advance...if you can see prices and can book online then it exists). It has critical info regarding booking, cancellations (by you or O), etc. that you need. Also, you said you booked shorex already. Did you receive pdfs showing itemized payment info and confirmation of the bookings? Ask for that too.

You should have been sent a pdf with shore excursion information. The intro material (before shorex descriptions) tells you about the discount packages available on your cruise. One is the "Your World Collection" (YWC) which gives you 25% off all shorex that you pay for (although it's not always available). If your O-Life shorex perk is 3/person, I am guessing your pdf will have a minimimum number of 4-6 per person (could be more, so check the pdf) to get the YWC discount. Your O-Life shorex count toward the YWC minimum (ex: If the YWC minimum is 5pp then you need to buy 2 (=5-3) more per person). You do not have to take the same shorex or even have the same total number.

Wait, what?? We have to wear socks?!? I guess I'll be packing a checked bag next time 😉 (and don't make the UK pax snicker with the "pants"...we'll have them showing up in scandalous attire 🤪)

You can see similar prices if you search deeply on the Cruise Critic search. Sorry I can't direct you to other sites that show the sale prices. https://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseto/cruiseitineraries.cfm?shipID=607&cl=75&startDate=2023-10&cabin_type_id=3

My guess is you are seeing the Italian version of the Extraordinary Sale.

I looked at your October Riviera itinerary from your signature; on my TAs site it is showing starting prices of $1749 for balconies and $2849 for suites (with the Extraordinary Sale).

Europe has different advertising rules. The Extraordinary Sale prices do not show on O's US site, but it may be a requirement in other countries to show the sale price. Just speculating...

I looked at our Currents from last fall's CA-coastal. The first solo-social was embarkation day in Horizons at 6:30 pm with the social hostess. Check your Currents in your room for the time/location for your cruise. You can also check at Reception if you don't want to wait for your room to be ready.

The shoes above are what my spouse wears, but I've been eyeing slip-ons...currently this style is winning (probably black) is below, although he likes deck shoes too...so, uber-formal or casual? I hate shopping so who knows if he'll every wear anything other than black leather tennies.