JKrise

13 hours ago, ak1004 said:

 

This post is probably the best summary of the last 20 pages of this crazy thread..

 

When we started looking at SS, I was a bit concerned about paying for other people's drinks. We ended up booking 3 SS cruises because the itinerary and the price was right even including drinks. I ended up paying for other people's drinks, but the amount of black caviar that I consumed probably exceeded several drink packages. Other people were paying for my black caviar because some don't like it, and many just didn't know that they can have anywhere anytime, unlimited.

 

I looked at Windstar. Looks very nice, we might consider it. They don't included drinks (positive for me), but they also don't include Wi-Fi and charge $35/day for it. Gratuities are also not included, while for many O regulars they are already included as part of the loyalty program. So for many people this would be an extra $50/day that has to be added to the cruise price. Yes, I noticed that some sailings say "all inclusive" (drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities for presumably the same price), but we all know there are no free lunches (and no free drinks, free excursions or free Wi-Fi despite O trying to convince us otherwise for the last 20 years).. 

 

So maybe we (non drinkers) should be less obsessed with paying for other people's drinks and more obsessed with the overall value? Things like the overall ship experience, service, food, itineraries, cabins etc. are more important than the extra $50/day. If we want the small ship experience, we are inevitably going to pay for something we don't use, no matter which line we select.

Well stated.

From a corporate PoV, with the Simply More structure, the product differentiation between Oceania and Regent just became blurred.  Oceania maybe seen as under cutting their sister corporation- Regent.

6 hours ago, julia said:

Why is everyone SO bent out of shape with the "inclusion" of beer and wine??   The cost to the cruise line for alcohol is MINIMAL!  It's not the $12-$15 drinks that are "included"... it's pennies on the dollar for what they pay wholesale.  FREE? No, nothing is free.  It's "included".  Get over it or move on.  

Lets be tolerant of different Points of View.

For instance I don't like the fact that I now have to pay for "Free Alcohol" when I do not drink.

The Oceania 'Cruise Only' fare offered a wonderful product at a great price that accommodated others like myself. 

Ah....who knows, maybe the 'Simple More' can be backed out of the price as a 'Credit' if you ask for it.

1 hour ago, pinotlover said:

To me it’s an obsession!

 

Which Islamic Airlines are you flying so you don’t pay for anyone’s alcohol? I flew Turkish Airlines BC on my recent Vista cruise. They were tremendous and served great adult beverages! Teatotallers didn’t get a no alcohol discount. They just didn’t imbibe. It’s part of the fare. Starting 7/1 with SM , it’s all part of the O fare. OLife is gone. Moving on may take people on different paths, but we’ll all be moving on regardless.

Wow....thanks for setting me straight.

Now I know I am on the right path.

2 hours ago, pinotlover said:

If you’re obsessed with this drinks issue….

PinotLover, Well you missed the point, there are some of who like the Oceania product who CANNOT DRINK, but now are forced to purchase an alcohol package.  

BTW,  It is not an ‘obsession’ as you stated, it’s a necessity.  
 

I am confused.

1) Is the cruise only fare still available?

2) If not, why would any company make customers who do not drink alcohol pay for a drinks package? (yes, we who do not drink, but like the Oceania product, are out there)

I was wondering the same thing.

On 5/31/2022 at 11:43 PM, Flatbush Flyer said:

They still make Pepsi?😳

 

Pepsi? Why.....just why?😬

I can confirm - 'No' is correct.

Its funny how many people are afraid to be alone with themselves and their own thoughts.

Think of it as a time of self-reflection, meditation, personal growth and achieving inner peace.

Time - Its what you make of it.

Brentwood Bay; Very good presentation of the data and analysis. 

So if I read correctly, the single cruise credit is a non-factor/not a deal maker/breaker.

The real savings (cash in wallet) is found by subtracting the cruise fare difference ($600) from the additional obc ($1750); thus $1750-$600 = $1150 (pp) or $2300 for two.

"So, if you are suggesting that you have two distinct Oceania invoices, each with its own  booking number (upper left hand corner) and different Oceania cruise number (right upper side of the O invoice) for adjacent 7 day segments, someone screwed up."

Not suggesting, stating this is what we bought and received.

Because of this thread, I checked with Oceania and TA yesterday; our B2B (NYC-Bermuda-NYC-Bermuda-NY) 7day/7day purchase it is considered two distinct and separate voyages and will be awarded two credits. BTW - Both Oceania and TA stated this is not considered a 'Custom Cruise'. 

Thanks for the info.  Another thing to consider when I retire and DW and I start going on longer cruises with Oceania.

Wife an I are new (1 one cruise on Oceania) to Oceania.  We liked the product so much we booked a B2B from NYC to Bermuda (each leg is 7 days).  Am I understanding from this discussion that the whole B2B will be treated as 1 cruise credit?

Each leg has its own booking #.

Thanks in advance.

On 4/28/2020 at 10:55 PM, Paulchili said:

There was a time when there was such a thing as loyal O cruiser - as old as he/she may have been. Times have changed - these days there are more ex-Princesss, X, HAL etc cruisers coming over to O - a whole new younger crowd.

I am 57 and DW is 51, one O cruise under our belt and we are hooked.  Good bye to RCL and CCL. Guess we just out grew them.

10 hours ago, susiesan said:

Now they have taken to calling on the phone trolling for business. I was poking around on the web site and later I got a phone call at home asking if I needed any help booking a cruise. I told them I already had one booked and was woking with a TA. Kind of creepy, they are spying on me.

Had the same thing happen to me.  Was polite and told the caller/rep that they might want to stop this pracite as it really is 'Creepy' (Yes...used the 'Creepy' word.) and it really is beneath a copy like Oceania to enage in such a practice, deminishing Oceania brand value.  FWIW...The rep agreed.

18 hours ago, laserboi said:

.....After requesting a refund we were recently informed that Oceania has REFUSED the request, but will instead hold our full payment as a credit toward a future cruise.  In addition we were also informed that when we book the subsequent cruise we would be required to leave an addition amount of money as a deposit! 

You accepted the terms when you canceled.

Reading the fully story, your didn't do full dilegence, seek guidance from the company prior to canceling, have insurance and were quick to pull the trigger on canceling the cruise.  A cautious wait and see approach is always good. Look, in the end, you are getting a FCC. The company is not stealing your money. You made the choice to cancel under the terms in place at the time.  Chillax, research another cruise and wait for prices to drop (and they will).

DW and I are wondering what to expect on board.

We are not big alcohol drinkers.

Drinking water is our thing.

We understand they are reducing plastic bottle use and waste.

Are you issued a refillable Vero bottle when boarding?

Are the bottles refillable around the ship during the day?

Are you given clean bottles upon request?

Do you only get one refill in a bottle a day?

Totally confused on the process.

Thanks for the answers in advance.

Given the current quality of the platinum loyalty gift,  and/or coupled with the company selling your loyalty perks via FTTF, thus diluting your value to CCL, do you regret having a future cruise booked with CCL?

Will you book a future cruise with CCL or move on to another line?

Honestly, these two factors have left DW and I feeling under appreciated as a long term loyal returning customer.

Guessing that the cost of new customer acquisition has dropped so significantly CCL is willing to wave good bye to a loyal customer base.

Those are our thoughts.

Just curious to hear from others.

Regarding my opinion of the Horizon......

We unfortunately took a B2B cruise on the Horizon. Look, we are not demanding passengers, but if we could have gotten off the ship on after the first leg and gotten out money for the second leg returned we would have left the ship...and we are at the Platinum Loyalty Level With Carnival. This experience was THAT BAD.

The salad bar at the buffet was the worst. Minimal selections, and pre-made salads that were drowned in mayo or oil. Never seen anything like that on any other ship...seriously..it was a joke.

The Sky-Cycle was down (AGAIN) for the entire second leg.

Witnessed a crew member scolding passengers at the sky-cycle on the first leg. The passenger wasn't doing anything wrong other than asking questions in a polite manner. But this one female crew member just got testy/nasty and childlike with her responses.

(This provides a glimpse into Crew member selection standards and behavior expectations.)

We watched an officer scold another employee in front of other passengers at the elevators for nothing more than missing to mop a small section of the floor. I am talking a real dressing down that was embarrassing for the crew member and other passengers.

(This provides a glimpse into ships officer corp selection, standards, training and leadership ability).

The food in the main dining room that was brought to the table was wrong and/or incomplete at least three times (maybe four). (This provides a glimpse into the ships operation management ability).

The spa staff was a joke. They could care less if a sale/appointment was made. No greetings of the day when passing through. The staff was actually more engaged in their phones, doing their own nails or makeup, or sitting reading a book. (This provides a glimpse into accountability, training and holding to standards of quality).

Next comes the gym. In the evening from 4:30-8:00PM, seems like the entire crew descends on the passenger gym to use the equipment leaving very little for paying passengers to use. There is a small hard-floored area on the port side of the gym with a mirror in front of it. DW and I watch one lady who we discovered was a part-time zumba instructor practicing her routines in the evening. Enter a group of female crew members/dancers and give the lady the stare-down/group of mean girl treatment.

(This provides a glimpse into accountability, training, standards of behaviors expected by crew members, ships lack of leadership by officer corp).

What the heck!!!

The crew has their own gym on board and rehearsal times. A paying passenger should not have to deal with stare down/group intimidation by crew members.

Guys Pig and Anchor is a joke. The worst food at lunch. Famous biscuits were another more that lightly buttered hot dog buns. (Again, providing a glimpse into maintaining standards of quality).

On the second leg we finally realized that Carnival had made a huge ship...pack more state rooms in it and **DID NOT** add any more commom area passenger flow space. The result is the common floors on the 4th and 5th decks are always overly crowded.

Hands down...Never again on Horizon.

On ‎3‎/‎4‎/‎2018 at 12:06 AM, florisdekort said:

If you want your children to have truly valuable, local, real experiences you should take them on land trips, not Disney cruises.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I couldn't agree more.

Additionally, make sure they have time to earn (get a job and save, do household tasks and save their allowance) for their own spending cash. Souvenirs tend to be a much more valuable memory when earned through ones own work. 

I still have items I saved for when I was 14 baling hay for 0.05 a bale. To me their perceived value far surpasses their monetary value. Was a great lesson taught to me by my parents. If you want something bad enough...work for it and save for it. Set me up good for life.

17 hours ago, Mura said:

Does the OP want a particular brand? 

Yes, DW prefers Dasani bottled water.

DW and I w?ill be on Insignia in Nov.

Does any one know the brand of bottle water offered on board Insignia?

Thanks in advance.

Does anyone know the bar prices for mixed drink and/or shot prices on Insiginia?.

I wear mine every cruise during formal night.

Semper Paratus !!

23 hours ago, kevinkingmd said:

I was just there. Two ships: Mariner and Empress.  No sign of limited access except at Thrill Water Park (which is pay to play anyway).  In fact, I was surprised how roomy the island felt with 6000 guests ashore.

Good to know.

Thanks for the update.