ShopperfiendTO

Very glad that it worked out for you in the end, as you had previously expressed your frustration in this thread:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2046643&highlight=land+discoveries+january+2014

 

However, you posted in this thread in October 2013 as well (post #16), when the bru-hah-hah started and was (painfully but) ultimately cleared up, so it was unfortunate that the thread/issue didn't stay on your radar:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1934556

I think you miss the entire point!

 

Oh, I think I got your point...

 

We recently did a cruise on the Insignia from Istanbul to Venice. Our impression was that there was a lot of pork and shellfish on the dinner menu in the GDR, and very little lamb and veal. As we do not eat pork and shellfish, this somewhat limited the choices for us, unless we opted for a plain old steak or salmon, which are always available.

 

So I went back through the menus, and reviewed the Main Courses, plus the Taste of Red Ginger and Jacques.

 

20 dishes included shellfish

15 fish

15 vegetarian

13 beef

11 pork

11 poultry

4 veal

3 lamb.

 

I think this is quite surprising, as many Mediterranean cuisines feature a lot of lamb, and this was a Med cruise.

 

Ok. So we boarded the Insignia in Istanbul. We were docked in the magnificent setting of the Bosphorus, with a backdrop of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi. Stunning! We naturally chose to eat on the Terrace. So this is the beginning of an amazing cruise in the Med and Adriatic.

 

So to set the scene for the cruise, what is the focus of the menu? Was it Turkish food? Greek food? Italian food? No, believe it or not it was Mexican! Now, I happen to like Mexican food, but not as I am about to set out on an adventure in Turkey, Greece, the Balkans and Italy! Talk about being tone deaf. What a missed opportunity :(

 

Oceania is a small company with only five small ships. Surely they can customize menus depending on itinerary? I can understand Carnival with 20 something mega-ships being oblivious to local cuisines. But the entire fleet of R ships can fit comfortably in a mega-cruiseship, with space for an O ship as well!!

 

Come on Oceania, a premium line can and should do better!!

 

There are enough delicious choices on board for people who do not eat pork or shellfish, themed cuisine or otherwise.

Here are the *projected* dates for the new Italian menus:

Azamara Quest - September 15, 2014

Azamara Journey - October 18, 2014

 

*projected means just that.

 

Thank you for providing the quick update.:)

Ok. So we boarded the Insignia in Istanbul. We were docked in the magnificent setting of the Bosphorus, with a backdrop of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi. Stunning! We naturally chose to eat on the Terrace. So this is the beginning of an amazing cruise in the Med and Adriatic.

 

So to set the scene for the cruise, what is the focus of the menu? Was it Turkish food? Greek food? Italian food? No, believe it or not it was Mexican! Now, I happen to like Mexican food, but not as I am about to set out on an adventure in Turkey, Greece, the Balkans and Italy! Talk about being tone deaf. What a missed opportunity :(

 

Oceania is a small company with only five small ships. Surely they can customize menus depending on itinerary? I can understand Carnival with 20 something mega-ships being oblivious to local cuisines. But the entire fleet of R ships can fit comfortably in a mega-cruiseship, with space for an O ship as well!!

 

Come on Oceania, a premium line can and should do better!!

 

So would you be OK if it was a shellfish-themed Turkish cuisine in Istanbul and pork-themed in Greece, the Balkans and Italy?

I was very disappointed at first.

 

Now I see they're keeping the original menu; AND adding interesting new items on alternate days.

 

The best of both worlds. This is a good move. Please let us know the alternating schedule as soon as possible.

 

Unless I misread the information in the link, I don't think it will be what you state.

 

The blog seems to suggest the current Aqualina menu and a different Italian-based menu, which flips every five days. It's one or the other, not Aqualina plus add-ons offered every other day (this is how I read the part of your post I bolded).

Does anyone know from which cruise this change will be implemented?

[quote name='hypercafe']The more I think about it the better I like it. We are platinum with NCL. Would love to see a cross reference like RCI has.[/QUOTE]

Why do people think that there will be cross-branding/referencing (I assume you mean perks, like Platinum on NCL = Platinum on O without ever taking 1 O cruise)?

Oceania and Regent are owned by the same company yet, as I understand it, are separately run with no cross-branding/referencing between them.

Look at what's happening at Azamara...:eek:

Not sure why you think that the onboard cuisine should be reflective of where the cruise is sailing? The restaurants have set menus regardless of where on earth they are, except for maybe a daily special? There is a variety in the GDR, but it is still from a generally set menu that just rotates through the cruise (if you go on the World Cruise, I am pretty certain you will be getting the same menu in the GDR a couple of times whether you're in the Pacific or Atlantic Ocean).

 

I think a lot of people who want to sample authentic local cuisine would prefer to sample the local cuisine at the locality rather than on board?

 

Also, why would you say a lot of pork when it is in the lower half of the list?

 

It certainly seems that there are plenty of options available to you if you don't like shellfish and pork?:confused:

I guess people should walk around with a sign saying how much they spent on the cruise so the crew will bow down |& give them special treatment :rolleyes:

 

Who really cares it is your choice to spent the $$$ just as it is other people's choice not to spend $$$

 

Yes, also don't forget to ask for the time machine if it turns out you spend a lot more during the course of the cruise so that when it turns out your final bill is really large, you can then be warped back in time to get your full special treatment you deserved like the person who pre-paid everything.;)

 

So someone who goes to a restaurant once and drops $500 for a dinner for two should be treated better than a long time customer who's been eating there for years who spends "only" $150 each time. Loyalty means something and it isn't just $ spent for one transaction.

 

Perhaps other cruiselines have better appreciation models that are more to your liking, like Cunard - no need to even see the riff-raff frequent but low-paying cruisers there. :rolleyes:.

Some of the airlines are now basing their "frequent flier" status on the basis of dollars spent rather than number of miles flown. Should Oceania (and other cruise lines) do the same? Generally speaking, we spend 30K or more for each voyage but find that others who have spent 1/10t of that have a higher status because of the sheer number of trips. Is this fair?

 

I'd be interested to see how many cruisers paid $3k ("1/10th" of your 30k) total for their 5 or more cruises to be at a higher status than you.

And what about the people that book large suites--highest price, but nothing extra.

Rick

 

I may be wrong, but your free cruise will be in the same cabin category that you mostly sailed on, so there is most definitely something "extra" when you book large suites (provided it is the type you mostly book).

No, Oceania does not have the best loyalty program. Seabourn rewards you with a free 7-day cruise after you have sailed 140 days which can be attained with only 10 14-day cruises or even sooner if you sail longer cruises. (Seabourn also rewards those that sail 250 days a free 14-day cruise.)

 

I may be wrong, but O's free cruise is for the average cruise length of your previous 19 (or 20:D) cruises, so the free 7-day cruise is about the same as O's (if you took 19 7-day cruises, you would have sailed "only" 133 days to get the free 7-day cruise on O).

 

The free 14-day cruise after 250 days on Seabourn is definitely better than O's plan, and in this circumstance, Seabourn's does reward loyalty (because you need "only" another 110 days instead of another 140 days and you get a 14-day cruise instead of another 7-day cruise).

This is very entertaining and trite. 41 posts over nothing.

 

It's not trite to the (admittedly likely very few) cruisers who will have paid for 38 cruises on O who will be surprised to know that their next one is not the free as they may have thought.

 

People ... no where in the Club Benefits does it say after 19 cruises credits you get the 20th cruise free

The OP assumed (wrongly) that every 19 cruises credits you get a FREE cruise

It is there in black & white what the number of credits are need to obtain a FREE cruise

OP also assumed wrongly that the free cruise added to the amount of credits for the next benefit level

 

There is no subterfuge going on it is the way some interpret the rules

 

I agree

Let's move on

 

Did you read OP's post #4?:

 

I have correspondence that says take 19 cruises and get the 20th free. Pay for 19 more and get the next cruise free. 19 + 19 is still 38. Further, I have correspondence that says after your free cruise oceania continue the count from 21 which would again be consistent with their policy. They simply do not practice what they preach.

 

So it's not OP's interpretation; it's OP's acceptance of an interpretation that was provided by O. It does not appear that O knows the black and white either based on the communications O gave OP.

 

I will never get to 38 cruises (maybe if I win the lottery :D) so this doesn't affect me at all, but it doesn't mean that the OP's observation should be dismissed.

Why don't we put this to rest already? We sail on a cruise line that gives us perks for loyalty and perks for just sailing. When I tell people we are going to get a free cruise they just look at me bewildered. Our friends who sail exclusively on Princess (25x) get an upgrade I think and free laundry!!! I'll take the prepaid gratuities, the air deviation, the spa, and the OBC in lieu of free laundry and maybe an upgrade. When I get to 39 cruises I'll worry about the"40th!" As has been said previously, you can't count the free cruise in your next 20 the same way you can't count "free" miles to be included in your miles to be used. Can't happen. I think enough has been said about this topic and if the OP has such a problem, why not take it up directly with the management of Oceania? They will be the ones who decide what passengers get. And then he can report back to us with an answer. Arlene;)

 

OP isn't complaining about not counting the free cruise.

 

OP is complaining that it takes 20 paid cruises to get the second free cruise when it took "only" 19 paid cruises to get the first one.

 

I agree that this thread should be put to rest but I do appreciate OP for making this rule (more) known to cruisers who may have understood otherwise.

Wow, one thing is for sure -- this is a first-world problem. If you don't know what I mean, search Youtube for "first-world problems weird al" and listen to the song!

 

When it comes down to it, this whole board's existence is all first-world problems... but it doesn't make the discussion any less meaningful.

 

OP is just pointing out how the loyalty program works that may not be what other cruisers understand it to be (as evidenced by previous posters).

I don't see any other logical way to view it. All tiers past the first one use the "pay for 20" policy; the first tier is the exception. Thus, Oceania should be praised for that incentive as a welcome to the program, rather than be accused of punishing.

 

That accusation is spurious because the policy is accurately described in their literature.

 

The accusation is sensationalistic but I do not believe it is spurious - OP isn't saying that O is lying (at least I don't get that impression), OP seems to be saying that O treats cruisers who have cruised less (relatively speaking, of course :rolleyes:) better than those who have cruised more.

 

It could be argued that someone who has paid for "only" 19 cruises is being treated better than someone who has paid for 39 cruises, but that doesn't factor in the other things that the 39er will likely receive.

I just wanted to clarify that when I wrote that OP's point is a valid one, I meant that the way it works is what OP is asserting.

 

I do not necessarily agree that O is punishing loyalty - I would think that cruisers who have paid for 39 cruises will be treated better (tangible or otherwise) than cruisers going on their first free cruise, in addition to the benefits from the new tier they've entered.

 

Hondorner spelled it out beautifully earlier (see post 21), but, whatever your reasoning, you chose to ignore him, so I'll try again.

 

Cruises 1 through 19 must be Paid in order to earn

Cruise 20 which is a FREE (i.e. REWARD) Cruise, and does not count toward Loyalty Benefits.

Cruises 21 through 40 then become the next 19 Paid Cruises, which in turn earn

Cruise 41 Which is a Free (i.e. REWARD) Cruise, and does not count toward Loyalty Benefits

....and so on-

 

It really is a very simple, transparent formula, which is completely fair across the board. :p

 

You're right that Hondorner laid it out well, but I don't think you understood it.:confused:

 

Hondorner (and Rallydave) see what OP is saying and OP is correct about needing 20 cruises instead of 19 to get the 2nd free cruise.

 

Everyone who thinks that the free cruise cycle is pay for 19, get 20th free is in for a surprise when getting ready for their 2nd free cruise, because this applies for only the first cycle. After that, it is pay for 20, get 21st free.

 

This is OP's point, and it is a valid one.

 

Although the policy is laid out in the literature, you have to think about it a bit to see it, which doesn't quite make it that transparent. Other past cruisers' views that they understand it to be "pay for 19, get 20th free" for all cycles also suggest that it is not that transparent.

 

Hondorner prefers to view that the "pay for 20, get 21st free" is the standard policy and that the first cycle's "pay for 19, get 20th free" is a bonus.

Hi Campolady,

 

You've made some recommendations for restaurants near the old town. Do you know of any that are near (south of) the railway station?

 

We've booked a hotel around there for the day we arrive and are looking for a good place to eat nearby in case we decide to eat out that night. It will depend on how we're dealing with the jet lag. :o

 

Many thanks!

Rio was fine for us (i.e., no extra time needed than the typical 3 hours for international departure), but not sure if anything's changed because of the World Cup and the preparations for the 2016 Olympics.

 

We flew out of Rio and connected through Sao Paolo. Now that was a disaster airport!

I think you got it a little "in reverse" - if that's the right expression. Our government (unlike the US gov. regarding Cuba ) is advising us not to travel to Turkey not because it wants to "punish" Turkey and its economy for whatever reasons (we still can freely buy cigars - and everything else from them ), but because the current "climate" in Turkey became actually dangerous for us. (just google the news about the freshly elected Erdogan, Israel and Jews - to get the picture)

 

...

 

And yes.. we would like very much to have the other 75% back as a credit for a future cruise.. As I said - still hoping... :o

Miriam

 

Sorry, what I meant by the reference was that it was illegal for Americans to travel to Cuba. While highly discouraged by the Israeli government, it is not illegal for Israelis to travel to Turkey.

 

Thanks for clarifying what you were looking for. It seemed like a you were unhappy about getting only 25% of the taxes and port fees back but it looks like that was a secondary issue.

 

Good luck in resolving your situation.

ShopperfiendTO, I don't know why you think you will be slammed. You are just expressing your point of view.

 

I happen to disagree with you. Did you read post 19? Even if Miriam had thought to just take the cruise without getting off, Turkish Airlines has cancelled her flight and many others between Israel and Turkey leaving her no means to get to her port of embarkation.

 

Azamara should judge these situations on a case by case basis and on this occasion allow her to transfer her booking to another cruise.

 

I hope Mr Pimentel sees the merit of a goodwill gesture. Azamara shoreside could do with a few wins.

 

Thanks for the open mind. :)

 

Was airfare booked with ChoiceAir? If not, then that is yet another risk one takes in our travel planning, just like using a private guide on an excursion and getting stuck in a freak traffic jam (third party supplier doesn't get you to the ship on time, or in this case, at all).

 

But I agree that it is completely goodwill at this time and Az will have done nothing "wrong" or "unfair" if it decides to stand firm.

At the risk of getting slammed, I am curious what it is you're looking for, a refund of the taxes and port fees or a change/credit to another cruise?

 

If the former (and even then, I'm not sure about the port fees), certainly that sounds reasonable.

 

If the latter, then I think that's the risk you take with booking with a foreign travel provider and vacationing in a (relative) conflict zone. Your government is advising against non-essential travel, which means that you are legally allowed to travel there, it's just that your government really wishes you wouldn't (It isn't a full embargo like Cuba has been for Americans).

 

So you could go to Istanbul, board the ship, never leave it until disembarkation to go straight to the airport out of Turkey, limiting your stay in Turkey to be basically the transfers from airport to ship and back. But you decided that you didn't want to.

 

I fully concede that it wouldn't make it much of a cruise (assuming you booked it mainly for the ports) as it essentially becomes a cruise to nowhere (like a crossing), but it still is a cruise with full Azamara ship amenities at your disposal.

 

Sorry to hear about your situation and I know how much it bites to be out money, but I see both sides here. And you should get the full taxes (and hopefully port fees) back.

That's not just an O thing, I believe if you check around it is common lingo for this type of promotion.

I have sailed other lines in the past and been given free pre-paid gratuities as a promotion, and it has always been the daily room gratuity surcharge that is put on your bill, and has never included the gratuity on extra/optional charges you make onboard.

Possibly it is in the wording of "free pre-paid gratuities" that describes it. Your room gratuity charges are automatic and placed daily onto your account, in essence a given charge that will be levied on you, and the promotion is offering to pre-pay them for free for you. It would not be possible to pre-pay gratuities that are not a given, but merely a possibility and a thought.

As others have said, it just is. I have it as a perk on my next sailing, and am happy for it.

 

I think this is the closest to the answer that OP was looking for. The promotion is free pre-paid gratuities. It is the pre-paid gratuities that is free. The 18% bar gratuity is not pre-paid and logically cannot be pre-paid because you don't know who much you'll drink/pay.

I appreciate the circumstances are different for embarkation but it doesn't make sense for debarkation day.

 

Say you had booked a transfer to the airport on the day of debarkation because you had a flight (not included air) leaving that afternoon. Say you got to the airport and once there, the airline just finds out there's something wrong with the plane and the flight's cancelled for tomorrow. What did getting you to the airport on your scheduled flight have to do with the plane taking off that day? I am assuming that once O drops you off, you are on your own as to what actually happens with the flight back.

 

Thinking about it further, the requirement for embarkation day flight arrival may be because there is a possibility (however small) that you might not show up to the airport that day, whereas if you're on a flight, you most definitely will be or else they'll know what your other plans are if that flight is delayed etc. If you did the hotel-then-airport as planned, they would then need to know the details of your hotel stay just in case, in which case the work that may be needed would amount to a private hotel transfer anyway.

 

I think you were referencing my previous comment with the "just pick a flight time that you like". When I wrote my comment, it was not meant as a suggestion to lie but to think it through to figure out why the rule is what it is.