MEFIowa

We've been on 4 O cruises:

1. Riviera, W. Caribbean, 12/2021: NO lecturer. But could watch old lectures from their video library on our TV.

2. Sirena, E. Caribbean, 11/2021: One lecturer. Her focus on music & culture, her family from there.

3. Riviera, C-E Med, 10/2023: One lecturer. Archeologist. Nice presentations the day before of what you might see the next day in the various ruins and excursions.

4. Riviera, E-W Med, 11/2023: One lecturer. Archeologist. Nice presentations the day before of what you might see the next day in the various ruins and excursions.

I attended every lecture except one on #4. The lectures for #2 were in the morning, while the lectures for #3-4 were at 5 pm.

16 hours ago, ak1004 said:

I don't know why people still continue comparing pre-SM with post-SM. OLife is history. The only thing that matters is how the current prices compare to other lines. ... Because the itinerary and the price were right for us.... 

First, when you book a Sept 2024 cruise in May 2022 you get to WATCH every sale and every promotion. I'm STILL watching to see if the cruise will go on sale again (rebooked it once in Oct 2022 on sale).

The downside to SM is exactly that: THE PRICE. Which essentially rose by $800 PP. As many have said, in general, SM worked as a global price increase for the O brand.

We haven't booked anything in 2025. Not seeing the "value" given the increased price. BUT we still watch all the sales. IF the right cruise involving E. Africa and Madagascar & surrounding area in the Indian Ocean went on a great sale....

15 hours ago, EJL2023 said:

Honestly I’m not sure why people try to compare prices from 2022 to 2024. 

We can compare these prices because O released 2024 cruises early in 2022. I booked a Sept 9, 2024 Sirena cruise in the Baltic on May 7, 2022. Then you can watch all the sales, SM, etc. I'm STILL HOPING there might be another sale for this cruise. (In Oct 2022 rebooked it on sale from the original G to a big C1 on Deck 7.)

12 minutes ago, Yesimapirate said:

I understand your perspective.  But I'm personally ok with it as everything is more expensive and ships are full.  I expect to pay more now. Im also ok with them trying to make a price increase more palpable but wrapping it in a marketing exercise.   But I also get what other people aren't....

It was fascinating that O allowed 2024 bookings in early 2022. They didn't make that mistake for 2025 or 2026. So I could literally watch and compare a September 2024 booking made in early 2022 over time. We booked it cruise-only. Watched prices change due to sales and general price increases. As well as the impact of SM. We stayed cruise only under the 2022 booking.

11 minutes ago, Yesimapirate said:

I. I'm totally fine with Simply More.  Is it the best thing ever?  No but it's tolerable and I don't see a ton of difference between my upcoming Simply More and O Life bookings.... 

Having made cruise-only bookings pre-SM and post-SM, and comparing my two upcoming cruises, one SM & the other not, the "difference" for the same cruise & cabin made pre-versus post-SM was about an $800 price increase. That's a "lot of difference". Cash up front increase.

16 minutes ago, Vallesan said:

We were also 60 days pre cruise. I’m an early riser and just after 6am UK time I got tables for 2 @7.30pm in all the specialities. We don’t have a problem dining with others but I have found that 90% of the time (9 cruises) tables for 2 were available. 

What A, PH and above cabins can get and do, their success rate, has NOTHING to do with the failure rate for G-B cabins. The cabin level makes a huge difference, since the majority of cruisers are G-B.

Looks like this is the Apr-May 2024 "sale":

"This valuable offer is available on 33 destination-immersive sailings... The offer is available for reservations made between April 1, 2024, and May 31, 2024"

Not much of a sale. Certainly not when compared to the Extraordinary Savings Sale that was going on last year during this time.

58 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

... When asked why they didn’t she replied “Management is concerned that would turn the ships into Ghost Ships by 7:30 or so, which would be a huge turnoff for other passengers. People don’t want to eat in large near empty venues.” 

Though I think the reality for so many G-B cabin cruisers is that many don't even eat in the specialty restaurants if they want a 2-top before 8 pm. O makes it impossible to set up the reservations in advance. Saw this on our 20-night B2B in Oct-Nov on Riviera. First 10 nights in an A3. No problem getting "decent time" for 2 top. BUT when we tried for our B3, all we could get were mainly 8:30 or 9 pm times. Weirdly, they asked us to change the 9 pm time to 8:30. I quickly saw why, just at the 8:30 time. We and about 2 other couples were the only people who showed up at 8:30 or after. We rushed our dinner to get out by 9:30 since it was emptying fast between 8:30 and 9 and mostly empty after 9 pm. We learned to tell the server upfront: "We're ready to order, we do NOT want any bread and NO dessert." We'd sailed on Riviera 12/2021 (A4) and Sirena 11/2022 (B2) so we "knew" the menus and what we wanted.

11 minutes ago, yogagal47 said:

... Are wine and beer extra? ...The Oceania website does not really make it clear what they include in the cruise only fares....

First, under SM you get their approved beer and/or wine at LUNCH or DINNER.

Second, you get FREE coffee, tea, juice, soda pop, still & sparkling water, smoothies, milk shakes/malts, etc. The usual traditional non-alcoholic daily beverages.

Third, you can BRING your own BEER, HARD LIQUOR and WINE on board at embarkation and in ports. You can drink your own beer and hard liquor in your cabin. And pay a $25 corkage fee to drink your own win in their restaurants.

(We sailed 10 nights on Sirena 11/2022 and loved it. B2 cabin. We've got 22 more nights on Sirena booked for Aug-Sept, F and C cabins.) 

3 hours ago, EJL2023 said:

... Unless of course you are able to find some amazing sale on your cruise and when booked it was not discounted.  

You have to monitor each and every O sale. The "cabin-upgrade" sales can be amazing for C-B-A cabins, and rarer for the PHs. In 2023 around Apr-May there was the absolutely rock-bottom low price Extraordinary Savings Sale. All depends on knowing the sales and being flexible to cruise on one that is offered.

20 hours ago, Mrs f. said:

I know there is someone on the ship who can help set up Meet &Greet but I forget who...?

See the Cruise Director or Assistant CD.

I set up a Veterans' Meet & Greet with CD Dottie on Sirena 11/2022. When I boarded Riviera 10/30/23 I asked the Asst CD if there was going to be one and he said there would. Already set up. On both legs of our B2B.

14 hours ago, pinotlover said:

For us, part of the traveling experience is trying and exploring the vast array of authentic local cuisine, along with the wines or beers, we find along the way. Heavy emphasis on authentic. 🙄Along with the people that rarely get off the ship, the number of people that will only eat ship food never ceases to amaze me. Vastly different strokes for different folks. 

Yet time isn't fungible like money... So when you get say 8 hours in a port, your time is limited.

For us, we're doing excursions and walking ports extensively. So, when we ported in Kotor, we're off the ship first thing and climbing the narrow steps up to the top to see the view from the St. John's Fortress. And when we came back down we walked the walled city and then hit some local stores to buy local beer, hard liquor and wine. I think we had to be back at 2:30 PM for a 3 pm departure.

We only had a partial day to get to and from Rome off of Riviera. We met the driver at the gangplank as the first two off the ship in November. And we were back by 4:30 pm (drivers have to worry about rush hour traffic). We SKIPPED the lunch they wanted us to have, so that we could explore the Pyramid of Cestius and the Protestant Cemetary that were near the restaurant. I won't forget that Pyramid or the graves. I'd struggle today to even remember what I ate, if we had had lunch, but the pictures I took at the cemetery are priceless: "The English poets John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley are buried there." [And we toured the Colosseum, Vatican, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Pantheon!]

1 hour ago, Mrs f. said:

If embarkation is 5pm, what time does Oceania want everyone on board?....

Pulled out my last 3 currents for Day 1 (Embarkation):

Athens 11/9/23: All aboard: 4:30 pm. Departure: 5 pm (Riviera)

Trieste 10/30/23: All aboard: 6:30 pm. Departure: 7 pm (Riviera)

Miami 11/18/22: All aboard: 4:30 pm. Departure: 5 pm (Sirena)

This is the same 30 minutes I've seen on every O cruise in every port since our first on Riviera 12/2021. 

17 hours ago, clo said:

... I find out so much about an area and the people through their food. And frequently really have fun with those locals....

I've found that sitting down for a meal hardly compares to actually walking around and engaging locals in the neighborhood.

In Istanbul last Nov for 15TL (about 55 cents) we took the #38 bus 4 miles to the old walls of Constantinople. Then we walked back about 2.5 miles along a wonderful neighborhood route in Rick Steves' guide. We were the only tourists out. As we saw sights and stopped into shops.

In Puerto Plata in Nov 2022 I walked about a mile deep into the barrior. Into shops and along neighborhood streets. A young girl popped her head out of a house as I walked by. I don't Spanish but she started counting in English. So I counted back in Spanish. We both could count to 8. Her grandmother came out and invited me in. I shook the girl's hand. And we laughed.

In Paraguay in Apr-May 2022 I would get up at 0445 and go walking around the cities I was staying at. Met a young man herding cattle on his motorcycle in Humaita. And in very broken Spanish I'd ask to take pictures of families sitting outside drinking their morning mate. In Asuncion walked out to the Paraguay River and sat amongst some fishermen watching them cast. Listened to a drunk sleep it off in Plaza Italia at 0515 under the Italian flag-colored lights.

1 hour ago, clo said:

And eat the local food

On that we'll have to mostly disagree. The food is already paid for on the ship and we all know we paid for it. And I explore the places I visit. I don't have time for much food. Maybe a small bite or drink of something unique. I'm busy going places and seeing things and meeting people. (I bring back my fav hard liquor in my checked bag. To drink later.)

15 hours ago, riversights said:

This will be our first sail of the Baltic region.  We are wondering if onboard shops will feature regional products....

We'll be on Sirena in the Baltic Aug-Sept 2024. Expect to do such shopping in port or at a stop on an excursion. Off the ship. But avoid the obvious tourist trap shops right near the cruise terminals. That's part of the joy of cruising, get off the ship, walk around, and meet the locals where they shop.

Of course, a key is what exactly are you looking to buy? Find the store that sells that.

From Graham's "class schedule":

Day 1 Open House/Meet

Day 2 Finding Inspiration

Day 4 How to Use Various Art Materials

Day 5 Fundamentals of Drawing: Perspective and Free Time to Continue Working On Your Works of Art

Day 7 Fundamentals of Drawing: Shading

Day 8 Palette Knife Techniques

Day 10 Finishing Touches and Art Exhibition of Guests Works 

On Riviera 10/30-11/9/2023 we had Graham Denison. He is a leading palette knife artist. (www.denisonart.com)

From the "Artist in Residence Profile":

"CREATE YOUR OWN MASTERPIECE

For budding artists, there is Artist Loft, where talented artists-in-residence offer step-by-step instruction. Under their watchful eye, you may paint with acrylics or watercolors, sketch or create collages. The courses change continually and are designed with every level in mind, so everyone from beginners to seasoned professionals will find the classes engaging and enriching."

2 hours ago, Travel Lady in CT said:

... I can't remember all the times and locations for events.

READ your CURRENTS each evening carefully. Study it. has all that information. Easy to carry on you, too. Or to refer to in your cabin the next day before you attend some event.

19 hours ago, Appropriate Bison said:

... We also missed the first port of call (Costa Maya, Mexico) due to high winds....

Having been to Costa Maya & Mahahual on Riviera 12/2021, you did NOT miss anything. A "fake" cruise town built in the late 1990s. Mainly a tourist trap of little real value. ("The area was generally undeveloped but has been growing rapidly since construction of a large pier to accommodate cruise ships. Costa Maya is also the name of a subdivision near the village of Mahahual."

47 minutes ago, edgee said:

... When booking your cruise on Vista then question of "Do you feel lucky?" comes to mind.

Though if Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan were on the job solving the noise problem...

“I know what you're thinking. Did he fire six shots or only five? Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I've kinda lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?”

So bizarre about Istanbul. We were there on 2 consecutive weekends overnight on Riviera on a B2B (Trieste to Athens and then Athens to Barcelona) in November 2023. So 4 days and 2 nights there. When we first arrived the massive Istanbul marathon was taking place that day. There were Palestinian protests near Hagia Sophia/Cistern area. And then in Dec the Turks arrest a couple hundred potential troublemakers. There was one other cruise ship both times.

Our guide's name was Gaia. She was fantastic. But then it was just her and the two of us in the various locations. The Vatican guards knew her. Just smiled, said "HI" to her and waved us thru.

We went thru I-Tours for the private driver and guide.

37 minutes ago, Twiga said:

I love your Steely Dan references, @Steelydad2021.  Very clever!  I would love to hear Steely Dan at the pool!

Though almost no one knows where their name came from. See William S. Burroughs's Naked Lunch.

We spent 3 nights in Venice before going to meet Riviera in Trieste on 10/30/23. We took the train for E15.50 from Venice to Trieste and did the Venice pass (for 72 hours for public transportation, esp. the Vaporetto (water taxis)). Riviera docked right downtown in Trieste, next to another cruise ship there. We took a short cab ride from the train station to the ship. This was part of a 20-night B2B on Riviera that would eventually end up in Barcelona, but we also did Rome.

To "make the most" of your cruise READ the CURRENTS each night. Study it thoroughly. It will detail what all is happening where and when on the ship the next day! And on embarkation day take the time to walk each deck, studying where things are and how to get around.

As for the "most of Venice", we lived on the water taxis. A blast just going from stop to stop. Had a great Rick Steves' guide to Venice and used it extensively as we walked to and from and around neighborhoods. We walked off the beaten path to find little local restaurants and grocery stores (for our own beer, hard liquor & wine). The highlight for us was St. Mark's Cathedral on a Sunday. If you go that day you can worship there (I'm not RC) for an hour (thinking liturgy was at 10:00 and noon). We did the noon. It doesn't open to the public until 2 pm (IIRC). So we had the cathedral "to ourselves" for about 30 minutes before it started and another 30 minutes afterwards. Just line up to the side door to the north (to the left as you face the front of the cathedral). We were in awe wandering around this amazing building!

And for Rome, again had a Rick Steves' guide but we took a private car from the port to Rome and back. Met right at the gangplank, first 2 off that am, as we ran to meet our driver waiting for us. We did the Trevi Fountain, Spanish steps, Vatican, Protestant cemetery & Pyramid of Cestius, and more as we drove and stopped to get out. Of course, the Colosseum blew us away. As did the Pantheon! We had a private guide who gets you in (skip the line) there and at the Vatican. She must've been good for they just waved her thru and said "Hi".

The one thing you learn quickly is that BATHROOMS can be an issue. Make sure to go before you go out and go where you find one. For example, there is a pay public toilet near the Illy Coffee shop to the west of the Doge's Palace along the canal. Our Venice pass had access to some museums and 7 public toilet stops! The coffee shop across from the Pantheon had toilets; we bought coffee to go and used them.