Jayne E

1 minute ago, as3369 said:

Maybe some guests discovered that the cabins were not remodeled.  From reading these forums it seems like ONLY the PH suites were refurbished.

  

Be aware that many PH3 cabins still have a tub and old bathroom. We booked one and then realized this and cancelled. 

Hijacking topic????

Article from The Points Guys!

They know this is a big price increase disguised as benefit enhancement. 
Read in The Points Guy: https://apple.news/AoKgqJerPTbemICrr8Z9V_Q

2 minutes ago, Woofa said:

I have a question.  In truth this does not affect us at all with only 1 cruise so far.  I am getting the idea over the last few pages that people are saying the new program will be a  major issue for high loyalty level customers taking long cruises because they believe instead of free gratuities they will get $250 per stateroom.  Please forgive me if I missed this but I read the changes at included gratuities for all guests on any length cruise then on top the loyalty levels get the additional $250 per stateroom.  So in fact those customers actually gain the $250.

And I know it has been mentioned in this thread that it is possible, some TA's like ours who included gratuities on most cruises (we recently found out not all as our Thanksgiving Marina cruise is not covered,) might be able to substitute a different perk.

Can someone clarify?  

I am booked with SM for a B2B Riviera for 18/14 days.  I am presently receiving $800 excursion credit for each cruise, total of $1,600 and the lesser drink package.

If this cruise is booked "after" 9/30, the drink package is gone and the $1,600 excursion credits will be replaced with $250 SBC for each cruise, a total of $500.

So....there is an immediate loss of $1,100 benefits without adding in the drink package. This is not insignificant.

Last May our B2B SM received $2,000 total excursion credit, plus drinks.

You can easily see the difference.

5 minutes ago, ICT lineman said:

My initial thought was that those of us with the pre-paid gratuities Loyalty perk should receive daily $ x number of days. Penthouse+ @ $36/day, other cabins @ $32/day.

 

Our shortest Oceania cruise was 10-days to Cuba with two at 38-days.

 

A blanket $250 SBC is not a ‘reward’ to Loyal passengers.

$250 is an insult to long time O cruisers. This change is targeting new cruisers and even they are getting short changed….just not that much. 

21 minutes ago, Harters said:

Please don't presume what I might be feeling , without having a shred of evidence to support your opinion. 

It is disappointing that, only a few moths on before the change can have even had a chance to succeed with the public, it is being withdrawn. And, yes, I am peeved that O's offer to me appears to be pay the same price for Simply Less. 

Excellent reply. Quite pompous to presume what others are feeling.  
The 3 pricing/amenities changes in approx. a year, with each resulting in Simply Less is not “hurtful” but rather poor management decisions, especially for loyal customers taking long cruises. A wash for newbies on 12 day or less cruises.
We do not cruise O based on loyalty program, however it is a factor when pricing other lines. Our 14 day free cruise was a very enjoyable perk….won’t be surprised if O raises requirement.  Have already reduced value of $150 spa credit for a massage several times. 

New “Included Perks” list Vero sparkling or flat water. Looks like no longer offering Pellegrino or Perrier? Another cut back….albeit small.

SM for 16 days last April was $1,000 excursion credit. SM for 17 days 7/2025 and for 18 days 1/2026 now $800. A $200 loss…albeit small.
Amount of SM excursion credit was reduced $200 on all cruises a few months after initial SM roll out. SM increased costs $800+ per cabin and no a la carte  pricing.

We’re Platinum level and TA also paid grats, so O would give $250 SBC. We gain nothing with O’s new $250 SBC perk for loyalty level.

Therefore, this new policy has us paying SM prices and losing excursion credit and drink package. Equivalent of $1,000 cost increase.

And our favorite B3 cabins were recently raised to an A2 at a cost of approx. $100 per day.

We have 6 more booked, but will compare SB and SS for future.

2 minutes ago, MisterBill99 said:

 

 

We've been to other private islands, and they always have multiple sections/lines at the buffet with identical food. It's to get as many people served as possible.  We'll also be there in December and I will check out the buffet before deciding whether to head back to the ship.

Your prior cruises did it right.  Hopefully O has made changes, as some actually had to leave the line due to heat.

3 hours ago, MisterBill99 said:

 

Perhaps, but it's also nice to have a beach you can visit without having to pay for someone to take you there, and get food that you don't have to pay extra for, and drinks that are included. The customer pays for port fees (although Oceania never charged for them separately, you can be sure they were being passed onto the customer). Seems odd that there would be a one-hour wait to get food given how few people are on the O ships. I've never waited that long on a ship with many more people. 

 

Maybe the issue is the average age of O guests and lack of interest in a beach day. In our case, it will be at the end of a 12-night cruise, so a welcome relaxing day.

We are of "average age" and still go to beaches all over the world on our O cruises. It's not an old age thing, just a no cost low end cruise stop.

First time, one very long line in sun. When you finally got to buffet, there were two areas with same choices at each.  Second area empty as no one knew it existed. Maybe it's been rearranged with a line for each area.

Just saying our experience, as someone asked. Will be there December and spend some beach time and return for lunch.  Enjoy your cruise!!

We’ve been to these O private islands and IMO they are nothing more than an economic excuse not to stop at a nicer island.  No port fees and all money spent goes to O. 
Long lines, up to 1 hour at times, for a lousy selection of food.  No umbrellas and hard plastic loungers. Need to go early to find tree shade. There’s a reason most stay on ship after 1st visit.

The beach and water are nice however.

Photo displayed of verandah cabin for Marina (when you’re in O website booking) is of the totally refurbished Riviera. On Deck Layout, also displays Riviera with “limited” tub cabins. This should be corrected. It is false and misleading, especially to new O cruisers. 

4 minutes ago, Eloise4Ever said:

 

Thank you for your clarity and brevity. 

 

I'm really surprised that there isn't more protest about this issue though. Especially since O's tendency to skip ports or shorten port times seems to coincide with the introduction of Simply More. It's not a great look for a cruise line to be blatantly profiteering from their customers by reducing shore excursion expenses while at the same time disappointing customers by missing or shortening ports. Double whammy!

We go back with O when they specifically advertised “longest port times” and they delivered.  Arrivals at 7-8 AM and departures 6-8 P.M.  Never arrived at 1 P.M. or departed at 2 P.M.!  Obviously they no longer mention port times as a reason to book!

9 hours ago, JRIH said:

We have had excursions cancelled in the past and the prices never changed on the remaining ones.

Hopefully, this policy doesn’t change. I used to be able to use both $150 spa certificates. Last cruise in November told no longer. Spouse has no spa interest, so loss of $150 loyalty amenity. 

It appears to be a theft of service with a definite dollar amount? You contract and pay for a specific tour with promised $$ credits and wind up with total loss of credits due to O failing to provide tour or replacement. They’re keeping passengers’ money. 

2 hours ago, IWantToLiveOverTheSea said:

Jayne, I've been looking for information on dock location (there are numerous ones for Saigon) for our early Feb. cruise.  All indications are that it will be Hiep Phuoc, but I know the port assigns the location & things can change.  So I was wondering if, on your last time to HCMC, the port change was from Hiep Phuoc to another, farther port, or if there was a total change in the city.  Also, were you on one of the larger Oceania (or other cruise line) ships or one of the smaller ones? I know for sure that a smaller Oceania ship recently visited Hiep Phuoc, but I'm on Riviera, which is a bit larger/deeper than the small ships. And from what I've read, when a ship is docked at Hiep Phuoc, a shuttle is often provided (no charge or minor charge, depending upon cruise line, to the area around the Saigon Opera House.  But of course, we will all likely have to wait until we're on our cruise to determine what and where we'll dock. 

It was 2015 and we were on Nautica. Had a private guide tour. O made last minute port change….all I remember was a 2 hour drive and a long but enjoyable day. 

49 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

SM is merely a price increase. That’s all. People need to get past the other fantasies. Whether you drink or not, the price went up. Whether you desire to, or not, to take a ship shore excursions it doesn’t matter, the price went up. SM was a price increase and not a particularly well disguised one. 

Actually a “double” price increase. First one adding SM and a couple of months later reducing the SM excursion credit amount $100 pp on all cruises. 
At least provide a future excursion credit or a shipboard credit when O can’t provide the excursion booked. 

12 hours ago, Cruzin Terri said:

Thanks FF for that invaluable info.  Last cruise we booked late and lost all of our credit for tours.

Terri

Can’t understand how O can charge for something they ultimately aren’t able to provide. Prior post stated O cancelled excursion last day, nothing else open and excursion credits forfeited. Very poor policy. 

2 hours ago, marshas123 said:

We will have 2 days in Saigon/HCMC on the Riviera starting 2/18/24 and 2 days in Saigon/HCMC on the Riviera starting 4/25/24.  (We fly home between for a month.)   

Where will we dock?

Will there be an Oceania shuttle from the dock to the city?

thanks,

Marsha

Hi Marsha,

Info presently is Hiep Phuong port - approx. 1 hr to downtown HCMC.

Last time there no shuttle and last minute port change resulting in 2 hours to HCMC.

see you in April.

Jayne

On 12/15/2023 at 2:20 PM, Gracie115 said:

We are booking same room on Allura in 2025.  Don’t think we will be returning to Celebrity for the foreseeable future.

We looked at cabin 11071 on Allura/Vista.  On O’s deck plan layout it appears that the “extended section” of the verandah does not go fully across to the end of the cabin width. 
Is this the case or is O’s deck plan drawing off?

thanks so much!

1 hour ago, basor said:

Interesting, when we were on Vista, there were heated loungers to the right when you came through the door that were in the shade.....since it is located at the very front of the ship, it is not conducive to having many areas with shade

Yes….4 hard stone heated loungers. Ok for a short stay.

could have designed a covered area similar to new cover on Terrace Cafe. 
If you love your skin, need to avoid this area until sundown
 

We were looking forward to the Spa Terrace on Vista last November. Unfortunately there is no shade whatsoever. The area is absolutely beautiful but only used by sun worshippers. 
we did use the hot tub at 5:00 P.M.when sun going down. 
could use a civet such as the one on Terrace Caffe. 

8 minutes ago, edgee said:

• Well one way they are "embracing change" is saying au revoir to Jacque and saying howdy to Ember the upscale Appleby's replacement on the Allura class ships...not a very popular move, IMHO.
• Also addition of enhanced evening Waves offerings now available on Riviera and Vista and Aquamor on Vista and soon on Marina are positive steps.

I’m sure they love people having pizza for dinner in Waves…..much less costly than steak or lobster. 
Ember is a sad replacement for Jacques. No aft elevator to deck 5 poor planning. 

….offering the elegant residential luxury for which Oceania Cruises is renowned.,

unless you’re in a below PH cabin where you can enjoy the luxury of 2012 😫

3 hours ago, edgee said:

Have you been on Vista and tried the Aquamor? I have, and feel it will be an excellent addition to Marina.. I will be on Marina for 25 nights next summer and am also disappointed that a complete cabin/bathroom renovation like was done to Riviera will not be happening. But not sure it was an either/or decision...that is I doubt that they are not fully redoing the cabins because they are installing the Aquamor restaurant.

I agree it's probably not an either/or.  I have been on Vista. We both didn't care for menu, other than tacos.  Reason I made a comparison, is that there is a prior post stating that O's reason for not redoing A & B cabins was a "time" issue.  If true, time being spent on adding Aquamar could have been put to better use in A & B cabins.  

Friends just returned from 1st O cruise on Vista.  Ambassador showed them the "new" Marina....they booked 21 days for 2025.  Now cancelling.

Refurbishment on Marina advertised for 2 years and extended once.

2 minutes ago, shank63 said:

We were on Riviera in October in a non concierge veranda and were thrilled with the refurbished bathroom.  We will be highly disappointed if the Marina refurbishment stops short of that step.

Spending $$ to add Aquamar Kitchen which is IMO unnecessary.  Putting it into cabin refurbishment would have been much more satisfying than another lunch venue. 
Maybe Mr. Ortega needs to be swamped with emails. I sent mine.