osandomir

2 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

osandomir:

“We probably won’t ever get to that level of loyalty if it actually exists….”

 

???

 

It certainly does exist!

Aware of this. What I meant IF it exists in the future when we can reach that level theoretically. Not that we’re after that type of exclusivity anyway.

We probably won’t ever get to that level of loyalty if it actually exists. What’s interesting, over all of our cruises I have never witnessed the tendering line to be interrupted to let someone to be escorted onto the empty tender. Just out of curiosity, how it would work on the way back from the shore? And to be clear, while I wouldn’t be comfortable to use it at all not that I'm opposed to this perk to be offered to someone who has sailed with Oceania so many times or even booked in the top suites.

2 hours ago, slw207693 said:

As someone who achieved President’s level earlier this year, it does exist.  When ever there was a tender port, the Head Butler, (who was not assigned to our cabin) would go and get tender tickets from the Destinations team in the lounge and met us down where you disembarked to get on the tender.   Once we were on the tender, Destintions would resume the operation of calling tour numbers.   If we had a private tour scheduled in a port,  he made sure our assigned Butler walked us off the ship.   

Did you mean that the tender operation was interrupted until you were accommodated on the tender?

We like cruising and have several cruises planned looking forward. That’s why I’m always interested to read what most people are posting on this boards. But some times I find it very difficult to understand something that doesn’t make any sense. Especially, when it comes from the posters who have no plans to cruise with Oceania in the future.

1 hour ago, clo said:

Now take a deep breath. LOL.

 

I thing this is more about demographics than O but obviously you're one of those people 🙂

 

We love to travel and the main reason is to hang out with the locals. Being on a huge ship with all Americans isn't my idea of ideal. And I didn't even mention the dearth of children. 'Course we don't usually begin our travels from the US but rather from another continent. So I don't usually have to fear too many 'muricans.'

 

Well, I feel that I just need to leave it as is. I probably shouldn’t mention anything to you at the first place.

42 minutes ago, clo said:

We did a Norwegian coastal cruise a few years ago. Their smallest ship, 100 pax, and only two other Americans. Loved it. Tons of things to talk about and very experienced travelers.

I’ve noticed that you told us that already multiple times. Do you realize that it’s an Oceania cruise line board after all? Most people aren’t looking for the repeated information about the other lines. Also majority probably are Americans so I’m not sure why you would need to emphasise that you were the only Americans somewhere.

5 hours ago, lilybug said:

Does anyone know if there is an O bus from Southampton to Gatwick?  

We sailed to Southampton in May. There was O transfer to Gatwick if I remember correctly.

I think it’s also two categories of cruisers over here. One category cruise for the experience on the ships with large bathrooms and spacious cabins. The other while also appreciate luxury features that small cruise ships can offer put the cruise destinations and ability to visit some interesting ports and faraway places first. Everything else including bathrooms is the second.

48 minutes ago, PJsArtFun said:

Oceania actually told me I have to get it from my TA. 🤦‍♀️ So I’m just waiting for her to get back to me. Thanks!

That seems strange to me because I have done it many times before. No need to wait for TA. Maybe you can try different representative one more time.

3 minutes ago, johnannag said:

Thanks for the response! Overall, did you have a good time in japan?

We’ve been in Japan twice on the cruise and had an amazing time there. When we sailed from Tokyo we spent several days in the city prior to embarkation. It wasn’t difficult to plan and manage our stay there. We have another cruise in February next year that will start in Tokyo. This time we plan to fly into Osaka instead spend some time there using trains for day trips to surrounding cities. Even we went on the O excursion to Kyoto before we’d like to spend couple of days there again and then use Shinkansen train from Kyoto to Tokyo later.

My advice is if you are able to extend your stay in Tokyo just do it. You will not regret it because one day excursion will not be enough for such a big and interesting city. And then you’ll probably be able to use train to transfer to the port of Yokohama.

11 minutes ago, PJsArtFun said:

Thanks, I don’t have this… but I think my TA is still learning about the intricacies of SM. The shorex link she sent me to browse through was from a 3rd-party they typically recommend, not the cruise line. I’ll ask if she has one from Oceania that she can send.

Even if you booked through the TA you can call Oceania yourself and they will email you a current shore excursions PDF for your cruise.

1 hour ago, johnannag said:

Greetings!

 

To those that have taken Oceania excursions in Tokyo in the last year, what was the method of transportation between Yokohama port and Tokyo? We'd like to experience the train system with someone who knows what they're doing, rather than a tour bus in a busy city.

 

J&T

We did our own things in Tokyo and Japan and often used trains for transportation. It’s actually not that difficult to figure it out how to use them. So maybe someone gives you more exact answers but I’m pretty sure that O excursions use buses as a form of transportation between Yokohama and Tokyo. They most likely will include a panoramic bus tour throughout the city as well.

3 hours ago, goletans said:

First time I noticed this privilege on O's website: VIP SHORE EXCURSION CHECK-IN

It's also in the 2025 Collection Brochure.

I seriously doubt that it exists as we've ever only seen one line in the lounge to get excursion tickets. I'll check into this on our August cruise.

Not that we have ever felt like we’d need to use this benefit while checking in for an excursion in the lounge. Everyone gets into the same bus anyway. We value some other loyalty benefits that’s much more useful.

7 hours ago, mauibabes said:

@thebsinmiss

Probably much too late for Ravenna but when we were there we took the tour to the Ferrari Museum. 🙏😇 loved it and thanks to DW for tolerating my day drooling on those cars.  It was very special if someone is into cars. 
Mauibabes

 

We visited this museum when we were on the road trip in Italy. My husband enjoyed it greatly. I agree that it’s a must for the car enthusiasts.

17 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

Weird how people extol bread and rolls, which means they aren't eating something that is a lot more expensive (like meat or seafood).

Sometimes people just choose to eat what they like and aren’t trying to squeeze the last bit of everything that’s available for the money they have spent.

11 minutes ago, Vertygo said:

I can not imagine the desperation those people had to attempt their journey, much less spending 20 days at sea crammed into a small vessel. And, I’m glad Insignia was able to rescue some & give them good medical care.

Politics aside, it’s inhumane to not do what you can for those suffering.

Makes me appreciate even more the ability to board Vista in a few weeks, following my Business Class flight.

There but for the grace of God…..

It’s hard for me to understand how any human being who is fortunate to be able to cruise in the middle of the sea would prefer those PEOPLE to be left behind so they wouldn’t affect the enjoyment of someone’s vacation.

1 hour ago, Vineyard View said:

Yes. I just looked yesterday for flights next May. Over 1mm miles. 
I was shocked. Last year we were incredulous at the over 400k it took to fly RT VCE. The year prior it was 195k. Staggering increases during the same travel months year over year to similar areas. 
‘Flyer talk recommended we look outside of our preferred airport….which I have done in the past, but absolutely will start doing next week when the window opens up to book. We may end up throwing a dart on the board and doing a land trip based on this nonsense. 

@Vineyard View I have also seen these ridiculous prices a lot lately. But in my experience if I'm persistent and have some patience and luck it’s still possible to find BIZ saver awards using major airlines currencies. And if one is willing to pay high taxes some airlines release more reasonable award spaces to Europe which is still much better deal than revenue tickets. I just noticed that airlines not necessarily open these awards when the schedule is opened but more likely within several coming weeks or even months.

26 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

My assumption is that the any "O" air program sucks as it has for about twenty years.  O is not alone as many cruise lines have lousy or no air program.  In fairness to O, they are in the cruise business and not the air business.  And based on our recent Vista cruise, they do a pretty good job with the cruise business :).

 

Hank

No assumptions here. But we need to keep in mind that just because their air program didn’t work for you or myself it was acceptable for many other people who for different reasons didn’t want to make their own flights arrangements. That’s why many will be very interested in the new program and in the improvements it may bring.

28 minutes ago, JYDCruise said:

Wow.

 

And perhaps you shouldn't presume to speak for other people about seeing all of the menus. Perhaps I'm not an O regular, but even for land based restaurants with which I'm familiar, I check the menu before going to see what's currently offered. I could be going on my 50th cruise on a given line, and I'd still research the menus if available. Just because you, singular, don't "need or want that" doesn't mean that others don't . . . and if such offends you, you're not required to look at them.

Also, probably there are more newcomers on this board than “regulars” who are interested in all different details on the O website and here on CC before making their reservations.

55 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

Getting a bit off topic, but finding the best international fares has become anything but routine.  I assume that "yield management" programs have become more complex (we now are in the era of AI) but the old rules do not seem to work.  We have an August booking, round trip, to Dubrovnik.  Booked a "back up" flight about 8 months ago using the Seabourn booking engine with their Flexair option.  This locked us in on our chosen flights and price, but we did not need to pay until about 60 days prior to the flights, and could cancel (no penalty) at any time.  Our air deal was not good (in terms of price) but we did choose our desired flights.  

 

We figured that we would eventually (using your 6–8-month rule) find a much better deal (either through Seabourn or on our own).  Not only did this not happen, but the prices on our flights continued to climb...right up to last week.  We are talking Business Class from the east coast (we looked at 5 airports) to Europe where there are plenty of flights and competition.  It did not matter.  Bottom line was that the booking we made (using the Seabourn air web site) 330 days in advance were the best prices!  Go figure.  

 

Last year we had a similar situation with flights to Japan.  Our early booking (about 330 days prior to the flights) were actually a very good deal (using British Air and JAL).  Later prices (on the lowest cost options) were nearly 50% higher.

 

Everything I have learned, through 50+ years of extensive travel, no longer seem to matter.  I have no problem finding the good cruise line fares, but when it comes to airlines it seems like deals are unpredictable...especially for Biz and FC.  Even using miles can be a real nightmare.  Just saw a post about some flights to Europe costing 100,000 miles!   On the other hand, we did see (today) there are some good off-season deals on Biz Class to Paris.  One never knows what they will find.

 

Hank

That’s true, the airfare is much less predictable now than it used to be. Both for revenue and award tickets reservations. But anyway I don’t think that Oceania base their airfare on the prices available for the general public. Rather they base it in relation to the contracts with several particular airlines they use in their air program.

24 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

 

So now, we look at the new posted policy and shake our head.  The post says the custom air option opens 270 days prior to prior to sailing.  That flies (pun intended) in face of the normal airline reservation system which opens 330 days in advance of a flight.  By having custom air use 270, anyone using custom air would be disadvantaged since reservations for specific flights would have been opened up to 2 months prior to when O would even look at the flight(s).  When booking international air (especially first, business and premium economy) timing can be very important.  I will tell you that the other cruise line companies (CCL and RCI) generally open-up their cruise/air reservations 330 days (this is generally based on the disembarkation date).  I should also mention that no other cruise line, with whom we deal, charges extra fees for their air programs (including custom air).

 

Hank

I agree with you that it looks very confusing at this point. I just don’t think one can find the best international air prices when airlines open their schedules if looking for the revenue air tickets, especially in BizClass. In our experience the best fares can be found somewhere between 8 to 6 months prior to flying. That’s more aligned with the Oceania custom air reservation window. That said, we’re yet to see how their new air program will play out.

7 minutes ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

The valuation of NZ points is the outlier.  And any comparison between the value of NZ points and other airlines is pointless, IMO.

 

 

…and you just did that comparison yourself in your post #73. But by the way your calculations are quite correct.

20 minutes ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

Here's the current "secret":  Many of the best deals for FF redemptions now are on AirFrance/KLM.  They have actively reduced award costs to boost engagement with their programs and the airlines using Flying Blue as the FF.  Base level for TATL business class starts at 50k one-way, with increased inventory.

 

 

I don’t think it’s much of a secret to many of FF points users. There are also some other loyalty programs that require less amount of miles for the comparable flights. The only consideration is if you need to cancel a redeposit fee will apply in most of the cases and your points will stay within the airline you choose to transfer your points to. So one needs to have a reasonable confidence that their miles will be useful for the future flights with the particular airline. In any case that greatly reduce the flexibility of the points.

25 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

1:1 points to dollars used to work well with multiple airlines. I can still transfer 1:1 points with several, but it is all about how many points the airlines charge you now. 

Yes, you can definitely transfer your points and miles at a rate 1:1 between many credit cards, hotels and airlines. But it’s nowhere in US the cost of one point is $1 so you can use one point against one dollar of the cost of your air ticket or hotel room. And this is how per Tranquility Base it works with Air New Zealand loyalty program.

25 minutes ago, Tranquility Base said:

Air New Zealand.

Obviously one's FF balance is not in the 10s or 100s of thousands.

It takes a different  amount of spend required to gain a far smaller number of points.

Each single point has more purchasing power than your system, but they are harder to get.

 

Similar principle but amounts and numbers differ.

One big advantage.....if the seat is available to purchase for cash,  and you have the points, that seat is for sale using points.

It also allows part points part cash for the purchase if required.

Thank you. I wasn’t familiar with the details of the Air New Zealand loyalty program. It looks similar how our credit card travel portal works except our points worth 50% more when booking through the CC portal. At the end it all depends on the way how you acquire those points and miles.