1985rz1

Although we wouldn't wear any type of jeans in the MDR or specialties (personal preference), we avoid jeans as casual attire because they are heavy and take a lot of time to dry, when we do laundry.

No, we never felt more crowded on the O Class. Space per passenger feels the same to us...may a bit more in the O class than the R-class.

Over all the O ships are larger than R ships (roughly 1250 vs 680 pax), and in addition to what LHT28 listed, O-ships have 4 specialty restaurants compared to 2 on the R ships. To us the vibe is similar and the feel is just in overall size and size of the staterooms.. The operation is the same. We sail both, and also go for the itinerary.

Instead of your TA, why not talk to an insurance broker like InsureMyTrip or the Insurance Store, who can walk you through the options for various policies and help you determine your needs and best options.

Your better tell that to Oceania: Itinerary = Anchor Port DAY PORT ARRIVE DEPART Mar 20 Mon Oranjestad, Aruba Embark 1 PM 9 PM Mar 21 Tue Willemstad, Curacao 6 AM 1 PM Mar 22 Wed St. George's, Grenada 2 PM 9 PM Mar 23 Thu Bridgetown, Barbados 9 AM 5 PM Mar 24 Fri Cruising the Atlantic Ocean Mar 25 Sat Cruising the Atlantic Ocean Mar 26 Sun Cruising the Atlantic Ocean Mar 27 Mon Cruising the Atlantic Ocean Mar 28 Tue Cruising the Atlantic Ocean Mar 29 Wed Cruising the Atlantic Ocean Mar 30 Thu Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain 9 AM 11 PM Mar 31 Fri Santa Cruz de La Palma, Spain 8 AM 4 PM Apr 1 Sat Funchal (Madeira), Portugal 9 AM 6 PM Apr 2 Sun Cruising the Atlantic Ocean Apr 3 Mon Lisbon, Portugal Disembark 8 AM Also from the Oceania Web site: "Distinguished by its colorful Dutch colonial architecture, Oranjestad is the capital of Aruba, first settled in 1796. Named as a tribute to the Dutch king William of Orange, the city today attracts tourists searching for duty-free bargains and strolling around the beautiful streets."

Just ketchup, and if that is not available, then catsup. 😁

Oceania's web site undergoes maintenance on weekends, so your cruise information may be flawed and functions often don'twork.. Try again on Monday, when they should be fully restored. If not, then call your TA

Did you ask for the charges to be posted in US $, rather than the local currency. When converted to dollars in a foreign country, you pay a premium on the exchange rate. Sometimes local companies add their own fee for using a card. If your card was charged in local currency, your statement should show the exchange rate the US bank or card used.

Yes, and being cheap is not the only criteria on which to base one's decisions.

I know how to compare ship excursions with port options and have done both. Both have been ranged in quality. I chose what works for us.

That wasn't the point. I was only giving an example of how to compare the various OLife options. Don’t read any more into it.

Bear with me. Say the OLife SBC is benefit is $400 pp, or 4 free excursions pp, or the basic drink package. For that benefit, you pay an additional $400 pp above the cruise only fare. So for SBC, you pay $400 for $400 in non-refundable SBC.. A convenience for some, but not a deal. Or, you pay $400 for 4 excursions, for which you can chose 4 excursions with a value of up to $199 each, for a total of up to $796. That seems to be a deal. As for the drink package, only you can judge whether or not you drink enough at meals to justify it. Some can and some can't. You need to price that out according to you own drinking habits.

I agree with you. O's drink prices are in line with prices paid in mid and upscale restaurants in urban (not necessarily a big city) areas. Compared to a big city, they are quite reasonable. A single gin on the rocks in a hotel bar in Toronto was CDN $23 plus tip during our last visit.

Oceania does not break out port fees as a separate cost, as they are included in the cruise fare, whether they increase or decrease. So they do not refund them. Other lines that refund them list them separately

I assume you know that adding them to your reservation uses their reservation.

Yes. At least one TA in the US has access to it and has advertised on line.

No, the tip is not included in the drink price if individually purchased. It is added on. It's now 20%.

Maybe the F&B Director is managing as best he/she can with supply chain issues.

I think the point is that in either case you have to give the server your card. So there is really no difference other that putting an "X" on the receipt when you card is returned...not much of a convenience advantage.

Our drink of choice is gin on the rocks and our go to gins are Tanqueray and Bombay Sapphire. We each usually have a maximum of 2 doubles before dinner, so at $11/single x 1.2 (20% gratuity), our daily bar bill is typically $52.80, each. Even if we were to go with Henricks as a splurge ($14 x 1.2 = 16.80), our 2 doubles would be $67.20 per day. Neither would exceed the premium Package cost of $69.95 per day. Since we typically go to Happy Hour and enjoy the Captain's and Return Guests parties, we don't even come close and can enjoy a beer and a glass of wine with lunch/dinner without going into package territory. OK, we're cheap dates, but the point is that it depends on how much you drink and what the costs of your drinks are as to whether the premium package makes sense. And for us, no package makes sense. Other than not having a bar bill on you onboard account which is automatically charged to your account at the end of the cruise, I don't really see the convenience factor as particularly advantages, since you have to give them you card to sign or, if you have a package, to register your stateroom number (at least they are supposed to do that to get their gratuity credit).

You need their booking number and there will be an option to add them. They don't have to do anything (maybe be paid in full), but your booking them with you will use one of their on online advance reservations.

A bit more expensive: 20% gratuity ins the new norm.

Yes. The OLife beverage package is the Select package. Here's the link to the packages: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/value#value-packages

Later than the PHs and the upper suites, but earlier than standard veranda and below.

@spryder On the topic of bath tubs, not all are going to be replaced with showers only. Here's the list of those staterooms retaining bathtubs if Marina's referb is like Riviera's: