MEFIowa

Though I've found that by watching the periodic sales, I can book a C, F or G early and then upgrade for free or nearly nothing to a B veranda. I wonder if those in the Cs book later and never saw the upgrade sales? What they don't know and when they don't know it...

You are absolutely correct! When I flew to Paraguay in April 2022 I had to make 2 appointments in March, weeks in advance, to ensure I'd have results to meet either a 24-hour antigen or a 48-hour PCR requirement. And that was from the flight from Sao Paulo to Asuncion (at 1000 on Tuesday), since the minutia of the entry testing requirements was quite specific. So I'm having to ensure at least one test result when they couldn't guarantee either 12- or 24- hour turnaround. It all worked out ($90 PCR test on Sunday at 1500 that came back at 0700 on the day of the flight out, Monday), so I cancelled the noon Monday antigen test (which would've been $65). And thankfully I found out the Paraguayan testing turnaround was measured in hours in early May, so no problem getting that 24-hour pre-departure test (for $28) or test result, using the Embassy's list of test sites.

Only you know what is valuable to you. That $3100 could be spent elsewhere in addition to having a very nice A3 experience. Having done 10 days on Riviera in an A4 12/13-23/21 and having fallen in love eating out under the stars aft in the Terrace Cafe, not having to wear anything fancy, I found the specialty restaurants didn't matter that much to us. And we bought some nice things in the boutiques. I love my RAF Red Arrows Citizen Eco-Drive wristwatch that I'm wearing right now, for example. And my wife enjoys her fancy handbag and purse. But that's just us.

I've booked a couple but every time I saw the cruise on one of the holiday sales (e.g., Presidents' or Memorial Day) and I upgraded to a veranda for free (paying the same price for Riviera's B4 as for the Oceanview I had booked). So, I'd be watching the sales for any specific cruise you're interested it. I've booked a G and an F early to then wait & watch for the upgrade sale. Went from a F to a B4 on another recent sale. Right now I've got one F booked on a 2023 cruise that I'm hoping will eventually go on sale, too, for the upgrade to the veranda.

It is the Cruise Industry asking the CDC: Cruise Industry Calls for CDC Review of Pre-Cruise Covid Testing Rule - TheStreet

Having flown from Des Moines Chicago, O'Hare to Sao Paulo, Brazil to Asuncion, Paraguay and back recently, the whole thing was a joke then, and then they started dropping the entry and exit testing requirements, both Paraguay and the USA! Mask up in only some planes to disembark in crowded airports with thousands of unmasked passengers. A haphazard review, if any, of any vaccination documents. I do NOT remember ANYONE anywhere seriously studying mine! Ministry of Health forms that no one reads and which you can just fill in with "fantasy" (said the German national who didn't know he had to fill one out before GOL would let him get on the 737 in Sao Paulo, so he filled it out in a few rushed minutes to be allowed on the plane, but when we land in Paraguay no Paraguayan even looks at!). So why is cruising treated differently on June 21st? Vaccination is as good as it gets now that COVID is endemic, like the flu. IF you're at serious risk, don't TRAVEL. Whether by airplane, bus, train or cruise ship.

Yes, so if you are on board NOW or in the very near future, BOOK... I booked a 2024 Baltic cruise the moment that opened up recently. And then changed rooms with a Memorial Day sale upgrade. I did NOT wait until my Sirena cruise in 11/22 to book.

What you're saying makes no sense in an inflationary period, where prices are rising over time, not falling. I did NOT wait. So, the list price of my room on that 11/22 Sirena cruise was $2599. I paid $2399 while on board Riviera in December 2021. With only $500 down. I won't pay any more than that. IF there is a sale price, I'll get the sale price. Didn't go on sale for the first 2 public sales of 2022. But I keep my eye open. IIRC the list price rose to $2699 at the end of December 2021 and then rose another $100 to $2799 around April 1st, 2022. So not only did I save $200 by booking when I did, but now the price increases have added $200 to those trying to book today. SO, waiting likely means losing money. Future prices will be higher than current prices which are higher than past prices.

What, I booked a specific cruise while on Riviera in 12/21--on Sirena, 11-18-28/22-- and got the contractual paperwork, for my specific room, so NO price increases. My price is locked in unless they offer some sale price that is lower. This cruise was NOT put on sale either with the Presidents' Day or Memorial Day sales. But I will keep my eye out

Which 12/21 Riviera cruise were you on? I read that the Riviera cruise after ours had serious COVID issues, which our 12/13-23/21 cruise did not have. The cruising world got really weird in late Dec & Jan.

I was on Riviera 12/13-23/21 (W. Caribbean). Have to STRONGLY disagree here about Paul Baya. For example, he was at our Veterans Get Together early on the cruise. I think we had about 30 veterans. By the end of the meeting, he personally addressed us each by name by memorization, in the exact order of our own presentations to the group. Every time I saw him during the cruise he'd personally acknowledge me. I even talked with him once about getting our two oldest veterans together, since one of the sons wondered who the other oldest one was. I believe he did get them together. And during the mid-cruise survey I mentioned that we didn't have any presentations on the ports or areas we visited. That night he personally called me. I wasn't in but he left a detailed message about accessing the library of related presentations that were in the video library accessible on the TV. The only time I used the phone was to listen to his voice mail! Of course, I thanked him in person the next day after I watched 2 of the videos. Now we only had 719 passengers. But Paul was out and about and accessible. Always friendly. And always looking out for the passengers.

Wife and I are back in 11/22 as well (Sirena). But as I did in 12/21 (Riviera), I'd more likely book on board. To get the discount, reduced deposit, etc. That will come with the contractual paperwork the O agents on board will hand you.

I saw that, too, and kept in mind the recent price increases I've seen on various cruises. I booked a B2 Veranda on an 11/22 Sirena cruise to the E. Caribbean while on Riviera in 12/21. Saved the $200, lower deposit, etc. But IIRC on 1/1/22 the published fare went up $100 and then around 4/12/22 it rose another $100. So that $2599 B2 which I booked at $2399 is now showing a published fare of $2799. It didn't go on sale for either the Presidents' Day or Memorial Day sales.

They were seemingly rather heavy smokers on Riviera 12/13-23/21 and my wife smokes. So I routinely talked to nearly all of the senior officers in the evening at the smoking area by Horizons where they'd congregate to smoke. (They didn't smoke down on the pool deck outside smoking area.)

I say let those who want to write them, write them and those who don't, don't. And we can decide if we'll read them. And as someone who took a 12/21 cruise, I do think they were quite interesting and often informative during the COVID restart in late 2021 and early 2022.

So do we. Booked an 11/22 on Sirena while on Riviera and have since booked BTB Med cruises on Riviera in Oct-Nov 2023 plus a Baltic cruise on her in late 2024.

I only deal with real numbers. So not sure where you get your starting figure, since I don't know what cruise you're talking about or how you arrived. So, I guess we'd start by seeing how much we paid for the cruise to begin with and the cost of getting there. Then add in all that we pay for on the cruise. But it always has to be apples to apples. And that would mean identical excursions (but then we might not like each other's choices?). And I'm starting from the discounted sales price of the cruise (e.g., the recent Memorial Day sale), always a sales price. So my B4 Veranda for the 11/9-19/23 10-day Med Cruise on Riviera is $2249. Today that B4 is going for $2899. And my recent 12/21 A4 on Riviera was $2099 (Presidents' Day sale 2021). The identical cruise on her in 2/23 for the same room is $3999.

Relying on my MBA, I keep in mind that there is no such thing as a free lunch and there are choices & opportunity costs. So... I bring on board my 6 bottles of wine. That I paid pittance for but enjoy. And I buy beer, wine and hard liquor in ports at the least expensive places and bring them back on board. Plus I book my excursions in advance direct with the excursion. And I'll find good airfare on my own, with no shortage of sites willing to help me do that constantly searching. I bet that when I compare what I actually spent for the things you're paying for, I'm spending less. Wanna bet? I think I paid less than $60 for all my wine, beer, and hard liquor on my 12/13-23/21 cruise. And I drank every night. Plus, I brought some back home. But then I paid $1 for a beer & $5 for small bottle of rum in Belize City. And less than $10 for Cana and Tequila in Mexico.

Wife and I were on Riviera 12/13-23/21, W. Caribbean. IIRC, we had about 719 passengers and 779 crew. We were pampered if we wanted to be. But you did pay attention to the signs that said, for example, when the concierge would be in the Concierge Lounge.

What exactly is "too good to be true"? The OLife choices are essentially pre-paying in advance to get what you paid for at an inflated price. What, for example, does the beverage package actually get you? They aren't giving you FREE drinks. Or FREE excursions. When you see how much it costs you and what you get, I'll stick to "Cruise Only" fare at sales prices (e.g., Presidents' or Memorial).

From the 12/13-23/21 Riviera cruise in the W. Caribbean, rather laid back, limited and sedate. Keep in mind what is "night life". Thus, our comic did two shows. The first, 12/16, was at 1730! The second, 12/20, was at 2130. Wife and I went to the 2nd. But I was curious about the 1st so I waited outside the doors at 1830 that evening. A mad rush to get to the restaurants that open at 1830.

In Belize City wife and I enjoyed Martha's Cafe in December 2021 (off Oceania Riviera). It is vegan/vegetarian, but has a nice view, is close, and the staff were friendly. We enjoyed the lunch and beers on a hot Sunday midday. Martha's Cafe - Harbour View Boutique Hotel & Yoga Retreat, Belize (harbourviewbelize.com)

The Sale was just a simple one for wife & I on our 11/9-19/2023 Riviera cruise, turning a C Deluxe Outside into a B4 Veranda for the same $2249. [The B1-2-3 were then all priced together at $2,899.] So saved us $650 per to get the Veranda upgrade.

Wife and I found the food outstanding on our 10-day 12/21 cruise on Riviera. No complaints from us for any of the restaurants, whether breakfast, lunch or dinner. Delicious. I fell in love with Waves in the AM and the Terrace Cafe in the PM (eating under the stars outside aft).

Was on Riviera 12/13-23/21 and I cannot remember the pool music. At all. Didn't notice it or pay attention to it. A bit like the unobtrusive display screen that showed data. So I found it so unobtrusive that I was enjoying my time in the pool and around the pool, swimming, lounging, reading, etc. Nor did the Waves restaurant or bar bug me. Nor the outdoor smoking area. Etc. Found the pool area relaxing.