MEFIowa

Just for excursions, study all the ones O lists. Then do a thorough Google search for yourself of tours/excursions in and around your ports of call. Only you will know what is best for you, most interesting, worth your time and money. BUT when wife and I did W. Caribbean in 12/21, we did ALL of our own excursions. The prices were better and the excursions were better. They all went off without a hitch (e.g., a trip to Livingston & then up the Rio Dulce in Guatemala ending in Mayan river villages). We're doing the same, all our own excursions, for our upcoming 11/22 E. Caribbean cruise on Sirena. So, for us it is Cruise Only Fare (no airfare, excursions, drink packages, OBC, etc.).

So, every TA covers O's "gratuities"? Whether in US, UK, etc.? No matter what cruise, cabin, etc.? Why is it so painful for people making claims about the inherent value of TAs to SPECIFY the details? What all they're paying for, when, how, etc. I have NO doubt but that people who spend thousands annually and tens of thousands over time with a specific TA will get some "benefit". But they paid for it over time. TANSTAAFL.

And what is an "SS"? Merely trying to make sense of what he wrote, "The price went down over $1600 with all of the promotions applied!" The devil is always in the specific details.

And that's what I'm getting at. The detailed specifics. I have NO doubt but that if you spend a fortune annually you'll get something. But I'm not that type of annual spender. So (1) my wife and I mainly do one O cruise a year. We're (2) only interested in A4-G, nothing higher. We (3) look for the periodic O sales to see if a cruise we want qualifies. If it does, we upgrade the already booked cruise to the new cabin. And we (4) book our own airfare. Plus, we (5) book our own excursions. Then we (6) are NOT interested in any drinks package. Given (1)-(6), what will a TA do for us, even the very "best" O TA?

I think you're missing my point. The SALE is outstanding. The issue is whether your TA is getting you some price below that or merely just booking or reducing your previous booking to the new sale price. ("Mine was on vacation last week, so I booked directly with Oceania to use the upgrade sale, and just transferred it over to my TA. The price went down over $1600 with all of the promotions applied!") And DETAILS include things like is the $ quoted with airfare, for example, or Cruise Only. Pulled out my 2023 Collection of Voyages book(!) which I received on 2/22/22. That 7 day "Stunning Scenery" Seattle to Seattle (Jun 16, 2023) had a B2 CRUISE ONLY fare then of $3099. The OLife Choice Fare then was $3899. The Labor Day 2022 SALE reduced those prices to $2,099 and $2,899, respectively. So, I'm not sure where the $4500 or $1600 is coming from. There was one price increase around 1/1/22 and I believe another around 4/1/22. I saw the published price for our already booked Cruise Only for Sirena (B2, 11/22) go up $100 each time. Oceania Cruises 7-days from Seattle, Washington, United States to Seattle, Washington, United States

Merely trying to get details, specifics, when all we get are generalized claims, that seem to imply savings over and above the sales price but don't really specify it: "Mine was on vacation last week, so I booked directly with Oceania to use the upgrade sale, and just transferred it over to my TA. The price went down over $1600 with all of the promotions applied!" SO, did he save this $1600 over and above the sales price? I don't know. "I had booked an A-3 for the 1/31/23 Riviera Caribbean cruise. When the sale was announced, my TA dropped the price by $600 for the cabin." SO, did he save $600 over and above the sales price? I don't know. Going by what I found regarding contacting a TA that seemed to know their way around O AFTER a sale had been announced, they weren't discounting the price below the sales price. The sale reduced the price, not the TA.

Which specific insurance carrier and policy details? How can one assess if this "trip insurance" is actually of much value from a reputable trip insurance provider with "good" coverages?

So is the price you paid for your A3 $600 UNDER the sale price? The Labor Day sale price for that specific cruise at the A3 is $3649. Did you pay $3049? Oceania Cruises 10-days from Miami, Florida, United States to Miami, Florida, United States

Though the lack of specificity makes this impossible to dissect. IF you got the "Labor Day sale" price, then what "price" went down "$1600"? What specific "promotions" were applied? To what exactly? I've booked sales prices in 2021 and 2022 directly with O (an A4 Concierge Veranda on one, $2099) and a B4 Veranda on another, $2249, both 10-day cruises on Riviera) and when I contacted a TA (one that does heavy O business) they weren't able to "lower" that specific sale price. We book our own airfare and our own excursions. And we're not wanting expensive penthouses or suites. Just wish people who post these would give the SPECIFIC DETAILS, not vague generalities.

Some goodies provided depending upon cabin level. When we did A4 Concierge Veranda 12/21 it came with this, that you didn't get with the B, C, F or G rooms: "Complimentary Oceania Cruises logo tote bag". As opposed to the O Club "up-leveling" benefits, here, for example, from Blue to Bronze levels: "COMPLIMENTARY MEMBER CAP AND TOTE BAG UPON NEW LEVEL ACHIEVEMENT"

The ships have different "specialty restaurants", with the bigger ships (Vista, Riviera, Marina) having more than the smaller R class ships. You can make your reservations for them in advance, with some cabin classes getting to make reservations earlier. These are included. BUT there are ADDITIONAL PAID eating opportunities on the larger ships: La Reserve ("Open for dinner on board Marina & Riviera only. Reservations required. Wine or Champagne experience surcharge applies.") and Privee (Host a private party for up to 10 privileged guests in our most exclusive onboard dining venue, Privée. Available on board Marina & Riviera only. Reservations required. A room reservation surcharge applies.") The GDR and Terrace Cafe and Waves Cafe are open dining. While on our 12/13-23/21 cruise on Riviera we NEVER ate at the GDR. We feel in love eating under the stars in the Terrace Cafe aft, the buffet. And I'd start the day at a table next to the waves at Waves (7 or 10), with a sun salutation smoothie. And Baristas served some light food in the evening. Always laughed seeing potato chips in small bowls, for example, as I'd walk by.

Glad we've got our nice tote from Riviera 12/21 for our upcoming 11/22 Sirena cruise. Will be interesting to see if there is another one or something different or nothing at all.

Now I feel a bit less guilty. I kept a handful off Riviera on the 12-13-23/21 cruise. Got one opened, out of the plastic wrapping, by my PC as I sit typing this. And 3 more still in the plastic in another room.

Might be slightly off the path, but I spent 14 days in Paraguay in April-May 2022. Drove over 2000 KM and spent time all over the country. Including 6 nights in Asunsion, the amazing old-world capital. I was the ONLY tourist there. Wandered around two UNESCO world heritage sites with my guide (Jesus and Trinidad). They were so friendly everywhere, even the obscure rural areas (Humaita), and so happy to have a tourist. And while I suspect tourism has been a bit better in Peru, Chile and Argentina, they'll be happy to see you there, too.

May depend on which "hot tub". With the B4 Veranda we don't have the access to the large therapy hot tub/mini-pool in the forward spa area. BUT if you ever light it, you may run into my wife (who smokes) and then you'll likely see me coming to bug her either on the pool deck area or near Horizons (the two smoking areas on Riviera).

If you see a man with a goatee wearing a t-shirt with "Paraguay" blazing, either by the pool or disembarking/embarking for an excursion, that will be me. (I spent 2 weeks there in April 2022 and brought back a collection of t-shirts with Paraguayan logos and designs.) We're deck 7, B4 Veranda.

Second that specific November 2023 Med cruise has only 2 sea days with 7 excursion days. So, you can use the early 2 sea days just to relax before doing lots of excursions to fascinating places. Wife and I were on Riviera 12/13-23/21 in the W. Caribbean (A4 Concierge Veranda). We had 2 sea days and lots of excursions. We did excursions at all the ports we stopped at. Kept us busy and we normally went to bed on the nights before excursions before 2200. We only did the comic's show. We were NOT there for evening entertainment. Spent the sea day afternoons in and around the pool or spa area, but also did some "classes" in the mornings on those days (e.g., an hour presentation on watches and time) and groups (mt Veterans' group get together). The food was outstanding, the cabin amazing, the staff friendly & providing great service, and the passengers were a delight to interact with (e.g., met a fellow Air Force officer who I'd encounter throughout the voyage). We fell in love with Riviera. We're going back to the E. Caribbean in Nov 2022 on Sirena but doing 20 day B2B on Riviera for both the E. & W. Med, Oct-Nov 2023.

First, you might consider this particular cruise that is ON SALE now and thru 9/7. The B4 Veranda is a sweet price. Wife and I are on this, but we booked it when it had essentially the same sale price on the earlier Memorial Day sale. Oceania Cruises 10-days from Athens (Piraeus), Greece to Barcelona, Spain

Wife and I will be on Sirena in the E. Caribbean on Thanksgiving 2022, so will be interesting to see what they do. BUT a rather hard pass for me on actually wanting to eat yet another traditional Thanksgiving Day meal. Hoping to be eating lots of different food that day. They did some nice Caribbean food days on Riviera 12/21.

I merely pulled them off O's own web site this morning! And O is not "hiding" the gratuity policy. They clearly state the daily rates. Whether you can prepay or not isn't my concern. I don't give businesses money I don't have to up front. Months or years in advance. But that's just me and how interest works. I'll pay at the end of the cruise.

Too funny. All those years with bathtubs one must think the body count and medical evacuations were quite high on Oceania. But I don't remember reading about too many bathtub fatalities or serious injuries. Though my wife loves a bath, so she's quite glad some bathtubs remain. She'll be taking a bath on Riviera on our 11/9-19/23 Med cruise (B4 Veranda). And if she's happy....

Wife and I are booked on the last itinerary of the sale. Which was on identical sale for the Memorial Day sale 2022 (when we upgraded). Same prices for the two sales. Currently the only "Wait List" cabins are the inside F and G.

ALSO found here on O's web site. Pretty OPEN statements: Gratuities can be prepaid. Suites and above $23 Per Person Per Day Concierge and below $16 per Person Per Day How much are Gratuities and can they be prepaid? – Oceania Cruises (zendesk.com)

That's funny, "dark secret"! I think you mean an OPEN statement found easily? " For guests occupying staterooms, gratuities of $16.00 per guest, per day will be added. For guests occupying Penthouse, Oceania, Vista or Owner's Suites where Butler Service is provided, gratuities of $23.00 per guest, per day will be added. In addition, an 20% service gratuity is automatically added to all beverage purchases, spa services and dinner at La Reserve. Naturally, guests may adjust gratuities while on board the vessel at their sole discretion." What is your gratuity policy? – Oceania Cruises (zendesk.com)

BUT you seem to be forgetting that they KEPT the other activities already planned... Day 10: Indoor Golf Putting, Baggo Bean Bag Toss, Table Tennis, Social Bridge Play, Team Trivia, Brainteasers. So, there was all that originally was schedule plus the additional activities, including two that had nothing to do with gambling: Afternoon movie and a Meet the Production Cast.