1985rz1

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:

This is not Oceania.

I would prefer the chaos of the muster drill rather than experience that chaos in a real emergency. Any little practice will help folks to know what to expect and how to react in a real emergency. An online demo doesn't provide that.

Having tried both concierge and PH, we now go for the PH. We prefer the extra room of the PH. We don't have an affinity for staring at the wake, and enjoy watching the coastlines when arriving and departing from the port, and the water passing by from the side balconies.

Good clarification, FF. But the subtly of "during the cruise on which you accrue your 20th cruise credit" as opposed to "after accruing 20 cruise credits" is sometimes lost in translation.

Tuxes not required, though some posters say they wear them.. The rules suggest a dark suit, but jackets and slacks seem to be Ok with a tie.

Both Seabourn and Silversea have formal nights.

Just remember that if you make reservations for your friends to join you, it uses one of their on line guaranteed reservations.

Guess we agree to disagree. It looked perfect to me. 🍕

And if it's not listed as a GV, he would get 2 booking numbers and 2 credits, and not be able to treat it as A GV...right Lyn?

Is that like liver and onions with red wine?

Sorry. There was no previous quote posted in the response, so it seemed to be on an island unknown. But then, I don't remember all the posts back 20 or so. Old person's memory....🙄. Guess I should be in hospice and gum my food.