Hawaiidan

21 hours ago, Islander500 said:

 Hi all, 

We've decided to cancel a cruise in Europe and replace it with one to NE/Canada this fall.  After looking at the options, focusing on dates alone, I noted that the itineraries are slightly different & we don't have much time to analyze the differences before our deadline to make the change. 

So I'm hoping some experienced Oceania cruisers will help us!  :

Looking at the NYC-Montreal or Montreal-NYC routes between mid-Sept and the end of October, 2022. 

Most stops are the same but some itineraries stop in Boston and Bar Harbor, while others stop in Portland, Shelburne, and Corner Brook. 

There's another one that visits Bermuda skipping New England, and another that starts in Montreal-Miami.           

 

Looking for any advice, whether it be the time to book or the specific itinerary, from those who have sailed these. Any advice will be appreciated.

Thank you so much! 

 

 

 

              

Having visited the region several times, I will say Id take a cruise that hits Portland and Bahamas.  Bar harbor is way too touristy  and difficult to get around     That said the region is far better to see via land as cruise ships have to  keep well off shore due to the rugged shore and reefs.   Too prices for the fall color  end of sept to  October  are way more $$$$$    And it does get darn cold and rainy end of sept too..  ( remember its frost... freezing temp that make  the fall colors)     Portland is outstanding for seafood and  lobster   better than Bar Harbor...    Newport better than Boston....   Thats my take..  others can disagree.    Best Lobster and prices at Portlands Port Hole.... 2 lobsters corn  taters and  roll...$25! 

54 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

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. 

Fine..... my entire point was grab whatever cruises you want for the next several years NOW, waiting a day, a week a month can and will expose you to a better than average chance of one or more price increases, supplements and God knows what.   Putting  off  a purchase now will be rolling loaded dice.

   You know the price today on what you buy today.,.tomorrow and beyond is  all risk   at least for the next several years.     So as Dirty Harry said " are you feeling lucky" 

18 hours ago, MEFIowa said:

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 understand your desire to get a obc and reduced deposit..... but honestly   you run a huge risk of  getting hit  in 6 months , with several price increases. that negate any financial gain you might get.  I'd think this long and hard 

As to an increase.....look around you.... inflation running wild, for everything here. 

The cost of fuel  alone up almost 50% and climbing with no relief in sight or plan to stop it.    Ask yourself ,what are the chances that a business, any business, is  going to have to make substantial increaser  if it wants to stay  alive? 

As others have said, if you have any, even remote, Idea of doing any travel in the future years.... book and lock it in now.     Like at a blackjack table and the dealer is showing an ace...  you buy insurance. ....   Well O has told you they are holding an  ace !!!

 Same with airfare too.    I have seen in the past 4 months fares   go up  on my trip to Europe business   $2500 pp!    Glad I bought 10 months ago.

12 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Seriously ?

You need to travel more.

can not afford it anymore with airfare up 50% this year....My ticket this summer just went up $3000 pp !

  Glad you can

9 hours ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

That may be your opinion.  Better than Qatar's Q-Suites?  Better than ANA?

No.? Yes.. I flew ANA. bricks.. my back still is hurting .    Qatar  is a different animal  I mean yes, it is over the top  I just mean in normal airlines people  in the US are likely to use Polaris and its ground services, in my experience are the best ....

2 hours ago, ORV said:

Not at all, you might be told no, but a Butler with clout could make it happen for you. 

I guess, amigo, I have never had that problem.; always been able to get something, its not that important to me on a ship with 5-6 placed to feed each night...........I ain't that picky or wound that tight that not getting everything I want is going to change my life.......

21 hours ago, ORV said:

Have you ever asked them to?

Why when it takes the same effort to  call the butler to have him call for reservations that you could have done already abd then call you back,,,     Saves 3 phone calls.........  Come on is that not silly ??? 

50 minutes ago, cruisr said:

The problem with the European sailings is that the air from the US to Europe for the summer is insane.  If you use frequent flyer points I am seeing redemption rates of way over 150,000 points for a one way business class ticket.   I am looking at a number of dates and cabin availability is wide open.   I would imagine a sale in the EU and UK would produce more bookings as the air is not as huge an issue re price.

I bookd air for $  LAX-AMS-LIS_LAX  11 months ago for 3450pp     Checked today same flights same days..$6150 !  to 11,350  pp!!!   FF miles have pretty much been consistent as   155,000 each way  and as hight as 225,000 each way !         O air is un changed...  and for coach/ econ + ( which intl is  a joke) is the  only.

3 hours ago, GICNJC said:

OLife Ultimate was occasionally being offered on specific cruises prior to Covid breaking out.

 

Our original Baltic cruise, cancelled twice due to Covid was virtually sold out.  Our replacement embarking on Jul 21 started out with many wait list categories.  That dropped dramatically when the war broke out and St. Petersburg port was dropped.  Today only 3 categories are sold out, the two inside and the Owners Suite.  This despite offers since January of OLife Ultimate and 4 category upgrade special limited sales.  I suspect the ship will be at most 50% capacity.

 

What does surprise me however, that we are now 4 weeks out, no offers of up sales.  Pre Covid up sales usually began 5 to 6 weeks prior to sailing.

 

So looking forward to sailing, enjoying excellent food, and making new international friends again.

I would not suspect sales on  ships with 50-60% .... they need to make some $$$ and cutting profit/price is not a good thing. to do when participation is low.

On 6/16/2022 at 5:37 AM, Zach1213 said:

As someone who spends a ridiculous amount of time traveling in AA business class, I can assure you that's business class, not first. 

There aint no more first class its now  Business/first on most airlines or some  however it is as good or better    Only a few airlines have true first  LUFT and Swiss, SING,  .     UAL currently has the best rated  business/first....Polaris

Ok...    just a heads up on seat quaality  since so many are flying domestic in 737's  un most airlines.    Just took 5 flights od 1  t0 5 hours duration  and discovered to my chagrin  that  737 900  and 800's   firstt class seats are hard as bricks...  in fact  even coach seats on the new stuff is like sitting on concrete.    Older 300-400-600 and 700's models are way better.    The older the plane the better the seat so it pays to know your model !!   

  An  economy coach, not premium  coach seat, on a 757, 767, 777,  are all way more comfy than a first class in a 737-800/900 !!!     

My back is still killing me after 5 hours from anchorage to Denver !     Dont waste your $$$ on the FC  on newer planes.      However  spend it for Emb 175's, 787, 757  767 777 and A-320 and 319's!  

 Polaris is gold standard seating on any UA product.. buy, bargin or kill for one ...... see below.) 

11 hours ago, Stockjock said:

Since I'm with a "major Wall Street firm", I cannot comment on any specific stocks or securities.  But I think I can say that the 12-month low for NCLH appears to be $10.31.  So based upon what I see, it does not appear that the company reached the $9 level.  You might be thinking about CCL, which has a 12-month low of $8.70 per share.

Disclaimer: The preceding is not a recommendation for or against securities, an offer to buy or sell securities or a solicitation.

Thanks for the correction....  either way there was a lot of folks that bought in at 18-22-25 a share for a   100-250 a cruise.... and today got their butt handed to them .   A short sighted  poor investment for long term stability.    Wrong reason to invest in my book..... risk loosing thousands to make pennys.   

On 6/14/2022 at 6:29 PM, boykin said:

Considering booking on vista for Europe next year. We haven’t sailed on Oceania so was wondering what nightlife is like onboard especially if you don’t attend the nightly show.  

after 10+ cruises  I am wondering that too!!   Came to  the realization that You are the entertainment  for the most part after dining and conversations with other fellow passengers.     Its sort of the norm for the demographic to be quiet in the evenings after dinner...  It is not a live wire party ship... subtle and svery low key  is more the action.

19 hours ago, clairol said:

Really? This was not reveled to us. We were in an Oceania Suite last October and didn't know there was a tender fast-track... is this for PH and up? We are in a PH in October. I too would feel a bit uncomfortable but it would be good to know if we were faced with a time crunch!

 

I can't say we were wowed by our butler's performance. We barely asked for anything except a standing order of tea and pot de crème every night. We even only ordered breakfast in the suite once. Whenever we asked about specialty restaurants we were told to call ourselves. We did get a very detailed unnecessary tutorial on the smart TV. Admittedly, it was Riviera's first trip back...  and it probably depends on the luck of the draw.

Nope...  Had them 2 x...     same experience   seemed both silly to demand all sorts of stuff easily done by us.... A hold over from Victorian and feudal times.... Telling some one what  to do just because you could?????    I have been in  high level  positions in the past  and don't need to have subordinates to pander and   serve me.    That is not a need  is have.

I sail O because of its non class ambiance   A butler is not  in that keeping to me.

 In truth it seemed intrusive to cabing life...having this stranger stopping by with out warning..  No thank you  and rather disingenuous to  say the leasr.

On 5/25/2022 at 11:07 AM, oskidunker said:

I suspect if booked through travel agent you will not be able to view.  Anyway I looked at my online booking and there is no “ view credits  option. Stock is at a one year low so you can get 100 shares for about $1300.00. Even If it goes down 20% you would be about even with $250 onboard credit. I made a lot of money buying carnival stock but I would be surprised if rcl does that in the short term. Got in at about $13.20. Something to watch, anyway

If you bought at 130 a share.... you just lost $400+     as of Today  100 shares  going for $9 a share....  $900 !...      I would not look at getting payback  for many many years   unless you take 5-6 cruises a year and with inflation continuing for  2 or more years  minimum.....   Can you afford to even cruise ?   Air fare up almost 50%.....       

10 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Some folks may want to look a bit closer.
 

The top pic truly is the “real thing” (pre-Covid). We’ve seen the bottom one on Riviera this past January and now on Insignia. It is my understanding that there has been a necessary fleet-wide recipe change (hopefully only temporary).

 

Apparently, there is a world-wide shortage of poppy seeds and O has substituted in black sesame seeds in a failed attempt to fool multi-seed aficionados visually. Oh the horror!

 

 

Amigo...your entirely wound a bit to tight.............relax.... smell the roses..... take a drive  over to Richmond or Hunters Point.... to get a grip...........

7 hours ago, CanuckCruisers said:

Hawaiidan . . We just booked Carmine to take us through the Amalfi Coast!  Looks like a great tour!  Thanks for the suggestion!

your very welcome.......glad to know you got a good trip ahead....

16 hours ago, mexicobob said:

I am taking your (and Rick Steves) advice about this guy and planning on booking a tour with him. Thanks for the suggestion.

Happy to see you taking my slot...   I am doing Carmine  in Sept 23...  Your welcome

1 hour ago, oskidunker said:

You just need to go and not focus on what could go wrong. I have gone from not going if masks are required on planes or ships to not caring and unwilling to deny myself a vacation any longer.  They can do whatever they want. I will be there and have a good time. 

You have the enemy of TIME...  putting off something is no guarantee of ever getting to do it again. You could stay home and get the crud... get hit by a  truck or a metorite.....   Hows your crystal ball

2 hours ago, Stockjock said:

I think this is where I'm getting confused in part.  Because it seems that I can select O-Life and then choose airfare or not.  If I choose airfare, it's about $1,000 more, plus or minus ($500 per person).

So...

I can choose O-Life (extra $400 cost) and the air (extra $1,000 cost) for $1,400 "extra" to get those perks.  Then, I can fly on my own, if I can get the tickets for less than $1,000 for two and instead get the $1,000 in OBC, in addition to whatever I chose as the base O-Life benefit?

Or...

I can strip out all of those things and go with a base fare that is $1,400 cheaper, but doesn't include air or any perks.

I might be missing something.  This is a domestic sailing, fwiw, so I'd be flying SAN to MIA.

Most of us go for the cruise only  fare.   We use points, or stuff   to get free air or reduced cost.  We plan shore trips our selves.... getting custom private tours for 1/2 what the ship would charge. 

 Sailing To MIA  there are not a lot of spendy shore excursions and in many cases each port you will encounter throngs of people/offering tours for pennys on the dollar.     

  Overall, you have total control of your travel,  reduce your initial cash outlay,.  In fact by leverage of credit cards and their due date,  rather than spending X $$ 60 days before the cruise, you can shift it to 30-35 days AFTER the  cruise giving ,you 1/4 of a year of free money... an interest free loan!...  Heck, with a good CC you can rack up miles/points  to reduce future travel..  ( never spend $1  that you do not get $1.25 back in value)

AND You get to pick you flights on who and when at no additional charge.... 

 Be smart  be in control....  it cost you nothing 

1 hour ago, Stockjock said:

Okay, I think I've got it.

One of the YouTube cruise fellows acted as if O-Life was an amazing deal.  But it seems that unless I'm missing something, it's a wash, or close to one, under most circumstances.

I have an Amex Platinum, which I believe gives me $300 OBC plus a bottle of wine plus a wine tasting event.  And if I read it right, I can bring on a lot of wine (7 bottles?).  So I'm thinking I'd be better off stripping away everything to the base fare, buying cheap flights to MIA, bringing on my own wine, and using American Express OBC to fund some of the onboard expenses.

 

Correction..... you are not limited to 7 bottles of wine...... your are permitted to bring as much  wine, beer, liquor as you can carry.... not only at boarding  but in every port too!     Just respect the rule, to only drink it in your cabin    ( I have seen some take their coke can to the room  fill it with booze and bring it to the pool deck.....   dont't let that be you!

15 hours ago, AMHuntFerry said:

If the cruise only rate is, for example, $2500 per person so $5000 per cabin, and the O-Life SBC is $600 (but don't choose that one unless you want a lecture on economics 😉 )per cabin, than the total fare is $5600 per cabin. Sometimes numbers are just easier  🙂

Yes the numbers speak..... That $600.....   thats your $600....Aint no pot of gold that you get by booking a more expensive option......

Just an observation my mon once told me many a year ago... 

You can avoid criticism by saying nothing, doing nothing and being nothing....   

 To whit, I add that human nature, being  what it is,   If you gave  everyone $100 each...   1/3 would love you, 1/3 would  be confused and 1/3 would hate you.    People are a strange commodity and fickle and you can not meet everyone's reality.  ( right or wrong its their reality not yours)

21 hours ago, Cruzin Terri said:

You are welcome.  Just remember that things could change in a flash. So just because we experienced it one way, there is no guarantee it will continue as such.

All in all I have to give Oceania Nautica high marks for the care we received while in quarantine.

Terri