ak1004

Couldn't agree more. After our first cruise with Crystal in 2019 we booked 4 more, and the main reason was that the entry level cabins were significantly cheaper than SS or SB. I really hope it stays this way with the new Crystal, otherwise it will not really be competitive. We don't care much about the cabin size, but if we can book a 300+ sqft cabin on a 5 years ship for the same price as 210 sqft cabin on a 25 years old ship, the choice is pretty obvious.

Everyone is different. As you mentioned, for us the cabin is a place to shower and sleep, so we couldn't care less about a veranda. On our last SS cruise we booked OV and were upgraded to veranda, used it mostly to dry the swimsuits.. And yes, everyone is treated the same on Crystal, as on all luxury/premium lines.

Totally understandable, thank you! For me, the real issue is to see if the air prices for May 2024 are similar to what SS offers. If they are, I probably won't even wait for them to offer flights and book my own. But the big risk of not booking with air now is that prices jump and I will have to pay much more. Sometimes some specific dates have higher prices, especially in points. So the ability to lock the price with SS booking without risk and being able to cancel it without penalty is very attractive to me. Thank you everyone, this was very helpful!!

Thank you very much, this is what I was looking for!! So just to clarify - the air cancellation schedule applies to both parts of the air, the air credit (economy) and the business class upgrade, correct? So if the cruise price D2D is for example $10,000, air credit $1,000 and business upgrade $4,000, then the initial booking can be for $14,000 and then up to 90 days before the cruise, it can be adjusted to $9,000?

I completely agree with you. I also like to be in control, and many times I can also book with points. The only issue is as others mentioned, if the prices in 2024 are much higher? What if I book with bus air now, and when prices are released for 2024, if I see that I can book at similar prices or with points, I remove the air? Any downside to this (except obviously slightly higher deposit)?

does anyone know if SS have contracts with Air Canada and I can request Air Canada flights?

Do they offer the flights before the final payment?

and if we do it and don’t like the flights that they offer, or can find better prices on our own, can we get it removed? Both bus air and $1,150 air credit?

Ironically, on those specific sailings, Oceania is actually more expensive when you consider all inclusions. I know usually this is not the case.

I'm wondering if this could be some kind of glitch? But I assume once the booking is done, they cannot change the price?

I need advice about our upcoming cruise in 2024. We usually fly business class and arrive 2 nights before the cruise. So the options are: 1. Book d2d, take $1,150 CAD air credit and book our own flights. 2. Book d2d and upgrade to business class for $2,800 CAD. So the total cost would be almost $4,000 CAD. There are still no prices for 2024, but similar flights in 2023 (same month) are around the same price. Plus if we book through SS and fly earlier, we also pay deviation fee, correct? How much is it? Reading all the issues with flights, we tend to take the air credit. I'm aware that we also lose the transfers, but we will be travelling with another couple and share the transfer cost. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Can you please advise what's the prices in USD for the May 6 cruise for the cheapest category (Vista)?

Yes! And those are the original times, not reduced yet.

Here are two itineraries, one Oceania, one SS. Guess which one is which. Sails the same month.

So it isn’t an error? They honoured those prices? The D2D are great prices!

Just checked few random Mediterranean itineraries: And for D2D, air credit of $1,150 CAD is offered, so it actually becomes cheaper than P2P. Anyone can explain this phenomenon?

Great news! Any estimate when it will be available on the Riviera?

We sailed on Cunard twice. Mediocre food and service, but excellent entertainment and enrichment program. If I book it again, would probably book a suite which is supposed to be much better.

I'm curious which line has 1/5 the price and longer port times?

I would be very interested to see your findings. We would love to try Regent, but it is more expensive even when compared to SS and SB each time I check, and I'm not sure if I can justify their pricing. This is for 9-12 nights sailings, the math might be different for longer sailings.

I just checked our booking from Dec.2021, and those 2 ports were tendered.

Sorry, I'm confused. Aren't all those amenities included in all O cruises anyway, even in standard cabins?

After sailing on Crystal and SS, I don't know what makes them more luxury than Oceania. The fact that they are all inclusive? Maybe, but some people actually prefer to pay la carte. Yes, the cabins are larger on SS, and there is a butler in every cabin. But food is better on O in our opinion. Service comparable. I believe the perception is based mostly on those lines being all inclusive.

We sailed on the Regatta at almost full capacity in September 2022, and didn't notice any corners being cut. Food and service were as good as before Covid. Don't believe everything you read. Oceania on its worst day is still better than Celebrity on its best day.

Which lines (except Azamara) have longer port times than Oceania after the reductions?