sunlover12

18 minutes ago, EJL2023 said:

Since we are talking about specialty restaurants.  Question for anyone, we’ve never been on one of the R ships before and have an upcoming one on Sirena in a Penthouse Suite. Are you able to do Order/Dine in from the Specialty Restaurants? Or is that option only limited to the Owners and Vista Suites? 

Yes, you can order in from the specialties.  We were on Sirena last year in a PH and had dinner from one of the specialty restaurants in our cabin. It was wonderful.  Another thing worth noting is if you are on the beverage plan, you can also order your wine/beer to be brought to the cabin.  I ordered 2 glasses of wine and the butler brought both at the same time. 

@Redtravel As I recall, the number that is used for log-in is your Oceania Club number which is on your stateroom card. With all the issues about the online survey being reported, I'm curious now how it's going to go on my cruise next month. I didn't have any trouble with it last time but that was last November.

FWIW, I have always completed the online survey and have not had any significant problems with it. I do it on my iPad and it's a little cumbersome but it didn't take much time, including comments I wrote. I agree, however, that it should be made available to us after the cruise.  It's more efficient for Oceania to do the electronic survey (it goes to Miami immediately) as opposed to a paper version.  Now I just wish I would win the OBC as I always have a balance on my account.

I am American and I agree it's a common practice here to clear tables too quickly. All for the sake of turning tables over. I don't like lingering over a long dinner either but taking my plate away, without asking, while I am still chewing and still have a bit of food on it is unacceptable. It happened to me recently at a popular lakeside restaurant in the Midwest. It was ridiculous.  The other 2 people in my group were finished but that doesn't mean that I am. It was so obvious they were trying to get us out of there as quickly as possible.  I will not be going back to that restaurant. 

We've been on 3 cruises post-Covid.  We both got Covid only one time and it was from the last cruise which was on a RC mega-ship in the Caribbean in January. We didn't do any shore excursions. The vast majority of passengers and crew were not wearing masks. Good chance it was from the elevators which is hard to avoid on a ship with 17 decks.  Luckily it was a mild case with mostly just fatigue and no coughing or sneezing.  The other 2 cruises were on O's R ships. 

On my upcoming Nautica cruise I will be wearing a mask when I am in the elevators. The R ships are easier to get around on without taking the elevator.  I use the stairs often.  

I've used Viator once (last year in Barcelona) and it wasn't good. One of the worst tours I've ever been on. They are an intermediary and you don't know what you're going to get. Their prices are good but cheaper doesn't mean better. I agree that you should book directly with the tour provider if possible. 

I know that I shouldn't judge based on one tour but this was my experience. 

19 hours ago, PhD-iva said:

I don’t believe this is accurate. When I purchased my FCC, I was told I can ask for a refund. If you let it expire, then yes, you lose the money. If you ask for a refund before expiration, I was told there will be no trouble to receive a refund.

One thing to keep in mind when asking for a refund of a FCC, I believe you will have to pay back the credit you received on the cruise where you purchased the FCC. 

8 hours ago, Snaefell3 said:

Did you mail to Irving, TX or Philadelphia, PA?

Philadelphia

I didn't use expedited service.  Mailed Priority mail and received my new passport in 7 weeks.  This was in February-March of this year so it was before the big backlog they're having now. 

The website that shows application status was still showing "in process" so I was surprised when I received it in the mail as soon as I did. 

12 hours ago, DurangoWino said:

We booked a cruise only trip on Vista for Dec 1st Miami to Miami in A-1 for just over $3000/person.  New fare for same level is now over $3700.  So that’s over $1400 more for two people.  For this cruise we will not do excursions and just pay as we go for drinks.  Future cruises for us will have excursions that we will take so the extra cost of Simply More may not seem so unreasonable, but if you were someone that books your own excursions - or does not do excursions, plus is a non-drinker this is a pretty stiff bump in the cost of your cruise.

 

Hopefully O’s management will see enough of a drop in bookings that they will allow the choice of cruise only and Simply More.

I agree that’s a big jump but not all cruises’ prices went up that much. My 2024 11-day cruise in an PH2 increased $300/person. 

I don’t foresee O going back to the old pricing of cruise only. Included drinks and excursion credit is here to stay. The percentage of cruisers who post on CC is small so we can’t gauge what we read here. Most cruisers won’t have a problem with paying a little more for beer and wine with meals. Some won’t even notice the difference. 
 

Just My Opinion, of course. 

8 minutes ago, susiesan said:

I use United.com almost daily on an iMac using Safari browser and I have no trouble accessing the award booking calendar. I have no trouble booking awards with Safari.

 It's because of the age of my MacBookPro.  Safari is getting to be a problem.

1 hour ago, jazznruby said:

 

I know we've hijacked the topic, sorry, but one question if I could...since I think I've read that you use United a lot...or maybe exclusively...have you or anyone else here had recent issues ( like for months, not just the last week) with united.com? When doing a search, I can get to the first page, but that's it. Long pause, then error that says 'unable to complete request, please call'. Continuously. Matter of fact, the only way I've been able to get past the error message is through Google flights. The other issue is that when I know I've chosen aircraft with PE (777-300, which is great btw), United site doesn't show that as an option. Any clue?

 

Have used different browsers, different times of the day etc. No luck.

I use united.com quite a bit and haven't had trouble.  In recent months it no longer works using Safari so I use Google Chrome now.

I believe that some 777 aircraft do not have premium economy. If the flight you are looking at has it, it will be listed as an option on the page that shows fares. Some of United's 777 aircraft only offer business, economy plus, and economy. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

2 hours ago, JKrise said:

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)

 

A big reason is because they're going for a younger clientele who are more likely to drink. Younger than baby boomers. It's the trend in cruise travel and it's not going away. I was on a river cruise last year where all drinks (including cocktails), all the time (not just mealtime) were included. The cruise line surveyed their clients and that's what they wanted. I'm happy with the change. I'll get my money's worth on wine and now they won't have to swipe my card when I'm having my meal.

JMO, of course.

The cruise I have booked for 2024 increased $400 per person.  For reference, this is an 11-day cruise on Nautica in a PH2.  All cabin categories are showing to be available. If I change to Simply More, I will take advantage of the wine with lunch and dinner and get my money's worth on that.  Additionally I'll get a $400 credit on shore excursions. Seems like a pretty good deal for me however I understand the disappointment of those who don't drink or take the ship's shore excursions. 

As was mentioned, the increase in price is going to be related to the demand of the particular cruise.  What I don't like about the marketing of Simply More is the use of the word "free".  It's deceptive because we all know that nothing is "free". 

5 minutes ago, susiesan said:

Are you still going to bring extra wine now that it will be included with simply more? is it going to be worth the hassle?

The majority of the wine we have packed in our luggage has been returning home from California. Don't know yet if we'll still bring a bottle or 2 on cruises. We drink it in our cabin, not the dining room.  It's not a hassle at all. 

I'm wondering if the wine that will be served at meals will be from any wine from the list that is served by the glass. Or will it just be a choice of whatever red or white they're serving that day.  If so, the servers would walk around with the bottles which shouldn't be hard to keep up with demand. 

16 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Many years ago on a business trip to California, someone had wine in their luggage. Bottles broke enroute, and when my checked bag appeared it was soaked in white wine (better than red, I guess, but still all of the clothes had to be cleaned/washed).

 

I wouldn't be tempted to risk that at the beginning of a trip. Maybe at the end.... 😉

We often travel with bottles of wine in our checked luggage. We’ll usually pack bubble wrap around it but sometimes just clothes. The key is to have enough items in the luggage so that they’re not moving around. We go to California 3 times a year and always bring wine home.  We’ll also take a bottle or 2 of our favorite wine on the cruise. Been doing this for 15 years and have never had one bottle break. 

8 hours ago, Sujormik said:

 

And we’ve been wondering why they need our cards at the end of a meal? They know our name and room number and what package we have, it’s sort of awkward to have to pull out cards!

They have to physically swipe your card in the machine.  The process is more than just a matter of knowing your name and cabin number.  I place my card on the table and have not found it to be awkward.

YMMV

@Woofa  Yes, the musical trivia in Martinis is fun.  The trivia in the lounge is the one I avoid.

Yes, you can do that.

On 6/27/2023 at 10:12 AM, pinotlover said:

Trivia might be fun if they block out all internet services in the Lounge and disallow the use of all portable electronic equipment. 
 

We stopped playing years ago, because we were playing for fun. We could never compete with those blatantly cheating for big O points! 

+1

I love trivia but I don't play it on Oceania. The intensity and competiveness of it doesn't make it fun at all.

4 hours ago, Redtravel said:

Please teach your crew English. The buffet crew smiles nicely, but many don’t understand what you want.  There have been too many times that I asked for something and was handed something else.  

Not everyone speaks English and that is okay. Simply point to what you want and they will gladly serve it to you. I’ve never had a problem with it. 

6 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

So are you saying because they are part of an Alumni group  they would never behave badly or nit pick ??

 

People are people  & may when in a group of their peers  may do/say things  they would not on a one to one with other pax

 JMO

 

FYI  we have seen some of these "Mature " alumni   so drunk they had to have a wheelchair  to get them from the bar to their cabin

 

No, I did not say that. I’m saying that lumping any group all together to the point of not wanting them onboard your cruise (as some people on this board have implied) is a gross and unfair generalization. Bad behavior can come from anywhere. Being part of one particular group has nothing to do with it. 

I have no skin in the game but, IMO,  the "Alumni Clubber" gets a bad rap. In most cases, undeservedly.  They bring A LOT of revenue to Oceania and they're not going away.  Like I have said before on this board, the alumni groups I have met onboard are courteous, friendly, and mature.  I have never heard any of them nit-picking at little details nor saying they will not cruise Oceania again.  That last Rivieria cruise sounds like an exception, not the norm.  Some people like to complain and it has absolutely nothing to do with being part of a group

. 

If you don't want to take a chance on alumni groups being onboard your Oceania cruise, then pick another cruise line.  

3 hours ago, cohner said:

Just got off the Riverara.  Half the ship for alumni college groups.  They are loud and I will try to never travel on any ship that has a large affinity group.  The take up a lot of the specialty restaurants and they are not a friendly group to mingle with.  They want to be with their group.  

Sorry to hear that but that has not been my experience at all.  I've been on several Oceania cruises with alumni groups and they have been courteous, friendly and not loud.  They are well-traveled and highly educated as are many of Oceania passengers. They will have a private reception in Horizons one evening but other than that they're not taking up the specialty restaurants because they are not allowed more reservations than anyone else. 

There is no way to know in advance if your next cruise will have alumni groups onboard but if it does happen, your experience is likely to be different.  

2 hours ago, cohner said:

i booked Lisbon to Paris on June 14 on the Nautica.  If anyone is on that send please post so we can talk about doing some private excursions.  For example in Bilbo i want to go in the museum and they don't seem to have one off the ship that does that.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/323-nautica-roll-calls/

You'll get a better response if you post this to your Roll Call. It looks like one has started for your cruise.