AMHuntFerry

I dug out a receipt. Yes, there was 20% added to a bottle of wine.

If this is the 20 day cruise on Nautica starting on May 10, 2023, I'm seeing the Ultimate O-Life special on the US site. Call your TA and see if you can get it.

In the US (does Canada get the same offers as US?), the date ranges are May 2023 to March 2024, and there are 75 cruises. I don't have a pdf, but if you have specific cruises (or month/region), I'm happy to check on the two US sites I've seen it on.

I remember paying $10 for a simple cocktail at the W in SFO in the early 2000s and about fell over paying that much! But that was after my BIL had spent a few hundred on a couple of bottles of wine at dinner so I was a bit numb 😉

We've only been seated with one other couple in the specialties (4 to 6-tops in GDR) but there are larger tables.

One thing that perplexes me during these frequent drink package discussions is that there is often a comment or two about how expensive alcohol is on O. I live in a mid-range location (not SFO, but not podunk town) and the cocktail/liquor prices on O are about the same as the mid-range bars/restaurants (more than the local, blue-collar tavern and less than the spendy-hipster-joints). Maybe the beer and wine is what people think is overpriced? The only wine I've had on O is a Cotes du Rhone and it was about what I'd expect to pay in a mid-range restaurant. So why is there the feeling that O-drinks are overpriced?

Use the rules that LHT28 references. I've found a pretty good rule-of-thumb to be is "N/A" is listed for the Unlimited option, then it probably qualifies for the O-Life perk (no guaranty this is always true though, so check).

My spouse estimates they were about 5-7 lbs, but may be bulky for someone small. We can't remember for sure if there were lockers. We think we remember that there were lockers available for a fee but we didn't use them. Things like towels (not valuables) could be left on the bus. The lockers (if we're remembering correctly) were at the beginning of the walk. I believe you must wear shoes/sandals while in the tube. I wore my basic Tevas (with ankle and toe straps) which qualified for wearing in the tube and are comfortable to walk in (Keens are good too). I also took a dry-bag (REI has them for less than $20...very handy) for our wallets and my sarong, plus we both had a water-friendly wide brim hat (hate the sun!). The following was in our tour description (from O): "Guests are advised to wear a swimsuit under a cover-up, t-shirt, shorts, water shoes or tennis shoes (shoes must be closed or have a strap, flip-flops are not allowed) they won't mind getting wet, and bring a towel from the ship. A change of clothes and shoes is also recommended. All guests participating in this tour will be required to fill out a liability waiver. Guests must be at least 10 years old to participate in this tour. There is a minimum height requirement of 40" which is strictly enforced. The cave system and its waterways may cause claustrophobia and panic in a very small percentage of guests. Guests must carry their own tube during the hike. "

Not quite true regarding "we". Those of us with TAs have had the opportunity to purchase some cruises for approximately 40% off the O-website price (non-suites on the ones I browsed, and even insides were discounted). So while I agree with much of what you say regarding the great value of 4-category upgrades and I have no great love of advertising gimmicks, your opinion regarding the "Ultimate O-Life sale" has been read and people can make up their own mind.

The pianist on Riviera in December 2021 did this game, so maybe it depends on the current pianist. I hope you get lucky next time!

It is only available through TAs at the moment. There are also a (very) few unadvertised deals on non-suites floating around.

You can see what is included with the different staterooms and suites here: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/ships/vista/suites-staterooms I copied the relevant info... Veranda Stateroom Amenities Tranquility Bed, an Oceania Cruises exclusive, with 1,000-thread-count linens Complimentary soft drinks replenished daily in your refrigerated mini-bar Complimentary still & sparkling Vero Water Private teak veranda Bulgari amenities Room service menu 24 hours a day Twice-daily maid service Oversized rainforest shower Belgian chocolates with turndown service Interactive television system with on-demand movies, weather and more Wireless Internet access and cellular service Writing desk and stationery Plush cotton towels Thick cotton robes and slippers Handheld hair dryer Security safe Exclusive Concierge Privileges In addition to Stateroom Amenities Expanded lunch and dinner room service menu from The Grand Dining Room Complimentary laundry service – up to 3 bags per stateroom+ Priority noon ship embarkation Exclusive card-only access to private Concierge Lounge staffed by a dedicated Concierge featuring complimentary soft drinks, coffees and snacks throughout the day Complimentary welcome bottle of Champagne Priority online specialty restaurant reservations Unlimited access to the Aquamar Spa Terrace iPad® upon request for your enjoyment on board++ Complimentary Oceania Cruises logo tote bag Cashmere lap blankets, perfect for relaxing on your veranda Complimentary pressing of garment upon embarkation++ Complimentary shoeshine service +Up to 20 garments per laundry bag; additional restrictions apply. ++Certain limitations apply. Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.

Yes, every cabin has one internet account included. I did a quick calc and for a 10 day cruise you would need to drink about 2 full-price (more drinks if happy hour) alcohol drinks per day per person to spend what is leftover after paying cabin-gratuities.

Assuming you are talking about the regular O-Life promo ("pick 1 of 3"), just book cruise-only instead (no O-Life) as it sounds like a better choice for your preferences.

I just checked my Sept. 2022 Regatta Currents for music during dinner hours. During dinner hours there was nothing in Martinis (usually piano before dinner and late evening). The strings played during dinner in their usual spot, and occasionally a band played in Horizons for dancing (sometimes before dinner, sometimes during early dinner hours).

Yes, there is a wines by the bottle menu. They can keep your bottle stored and you just ask for it at any restaurant, or you can have it in your room. There are often "deals"; to see them, go to the display on embarkation day (I think in Terrace).

You may want to also calculate the O-Life choice of the House beverage package (although you may be choosing the shorex instead). The cost per day will vary by length of cruise, but here's an example: A 10 day cruise where O-Life costs $300 per person will come out to $30 per day per person for the House package. If there are days you won't drink with meals at all, cruise only (or O-Life with shorex) may be less. Many of us love spreadsheets on O 😉

Now I'm seeing it on a second US site but you have to call/contact them to book and the price is unclear. I'll contact my TA later today and see what's up.

Can anyone confirm that the Ultimate O-Life sale is appearing soon? I found it on a reliable site (24 itineraries) while browsing, but would like confirmation before getting hopes up.

FYI - Riviera will be on the Alaska runs in 2025 and she has larger veranda cabins (and lovely large showers) that may suit you better than Regatta's verandas...282 vs 216 sq. ft.; more pax but also more amenities. If a balcony isn't an absolute must, there are 4 C1 cabins on R-ships that are larger (~282 sq. ft.) but quite forward. They sell fast though. I keep my eye on O Alaska and CA prices. The Alaska-only itineraries rarely have great deals with the seasonal sales (especially if you book PH since they are less common in the 4-cat upgrade offers). The best price is usually when the itineraries come out. If a better deal comes along your TA will be able to get it (but any perks with the original booking may go away).

Ah, yes...a PH will do it. We don't care about cabin size (even tried out what are now Solo-cabins on R-ships) so the price difference from OV or veranda on O to anything on Seabourn is massive for us. The menus on O (more choices of non-meat dishes) and no need for a jacket/blazer fit us better, although I like the Seabourn Alaska itineraries better (especially one-ways with smaller ports).

I am not seeing Seabourn Alaska cruises that are less than Oceania. Can you give an example (month/length/cabin class)? I am on a June sailing so I compared similar sailings and Oceania is way cheaper.

We found the airport hotels to be more cost effective than near the cruise port, but we only require clean, quiet, and comfortable beds. Be careful though as there are serious duds (reviews are your friend). In our younger, adventurous days we mostly used free shuttles or public transport, but we've started using private transport more; however, they do exist in Miami if that is your preference. The taxis in Miami are price-regulated (e.g., fixed price from airport-area to cruise port), and (we thought) reasonably priced; the "free shuttle" from airport to hotel was infrequent so I'd use a taxi next time (if there is a next time...the Miami airport was horrid). Many airport hotels also have cruise transport vans that are slightly less (assuming 2 pax) than a taxi but less convenient.

It looks like Riviera will be taking over the west coast/Alaska runs in 2025. I'm looking forward to the next itinerary release to see what is available.

An adjustable height table would be a wise addition. We used the desk as a serving area, but the new tables appear barely large enough for two plates and coffees.