janecambridge

3 hours ago, pinotlover said:

BA even makes Business Class passengers pay to pick seats. AA status doesn’t help.

yep,  we are business and we were charged . 

Oceania booked us on Virgin from Heathrow to Miami in December and British Airways from Rio de Janeiro back to Heathrow.  We were told we could not choose our seats until flights were ticketed. That turned out to be partly true. Good old Virgin not only allowed us straight away to book our seats in Premium, it was also free. BA made us wait until ticketed by which time the best seats had gone and charged us £91 to choose what was left. 

Apologies should read ‘next year’. 

On 10/15/2022 at 4:46 AM, exlandlubber said:

Thank you all for your contributions.  One of the best parts of sailing on the Explorer is that regardless of the weather, we have a wonderful ship for a cruise.

One more question if I may: we have the option of sailing Vancouver to Seward on 9/3 or in reverse on 9/11, which of course would end on the 18th.  Any pros/cons to one direction or the other? Also, the hotel that’s used for the pre-cruise in Vancouver is the Fairmont which is great. Any idea as to what’s used in Seward? That might be a factor in determining our direction if everything else is equal.

As always, thank you so much for your very helpful comments!

Vancouver hotel on cruise in August this year:  2 nights at the Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver, Deluxe Harbour room, B&B Basis

I wouldnt mind an offer like that except the cabin number/placement would be of concern. I’m very ‘picky’ which cabin we have. 

Speak to the maitre de and I’m sure there can be something sorted for your wife.

On 9/25/2022 at 7:04 PM, Jlhalldc said:

We have friends who swear by these temporary tub handles. Use them on every cruise.

https://a.co/d/ajAMUgF

 

Great idea, OR use the facecloths. Wet them,squeeze them and lay across top of tub.Nice grippage! 

On 9/16/2022 at 5:18 PM, Techno123 said:

Well if the airlines won't help you in business class, think of us poor Brits - Regent only provide us with cattle class. 

Cattle class for us Brits. Rather unfair when others get transatlantic business!! 

Great pics. We have our first Alaskan cruise on Explorer end of August. This has reignited our excitement. May I ask the best assortment of clothing to take for this time of year.? I read no jeans as it’s wet!! 

We have booked Toscana on our first night of 21 day cruise as we can’t wait to sit down and enjoy the beautiful light fresh pasta. Miss this speciality. Can’t speak for other countries but here in UK, it is very hard to find a good Italian. 

2 hours ago, LHT28 said:

 

This option is not always offered  in all markets   more so in the UK market

Not offered on all cruises  

you just got lucky with the timing of an offer & when you wanted to cruise

JMO

True..It also does not include the top suites for Ultimate.

We have booked Explorer cabin 912 for Alaska. Any problems? Looks like nice balcony. 

In December we will be giving Marina a big hug as we embark. Tried a Silverseas cruise this year and never again. Can’t beat Oceania. 
After the hug, straight to cabin,then up top for a cocktail. With prestige package, if I don’t like the cocktail (which is rare) I can always get another. 
Then off to Terrace cafe with a big anticipatory smile. 

9 hours ago, BklynBorn47 said:

Deck 7 over the theater (noise from late night shows??)

Now must look at the Riviera deck plan to see if that will be OK or if we should change to a higher level.
39 days in a long time to be in a cabin we don't like.  

 

 

im sure someone can help you out better than I with Oceania particularly, but we were over a theatre on Cunard. Didn’t think it would be problem as we were likely to be in a bar or in the theatre at showtime. But……. they rehearsed all afternoon too. It was exhausting every day! 

On 8/19/2022 at 5:26 PM, Racdan said:

Our next cruise is on 13th October 13th to 24th October Lisbon to Rome, we booked this cruise the end of July when it offered just O Life where we picked the on board credit, the following week it was offering Ultimate O life with all three offers, I contacted my TA to see if she could get us the Ultimate offer, she has been trying repeatedly by e-mail and telephone and cannot get an answer for us, I am now going to go direct to them, I know they are not keen to speak to customers when they use a TA but I feel customer service are dragging their feet, this will be our 5th cruise with them and not impressed with customer service.

RACDAN UK

Our Christmas cruise has just released the Ultimate offer.Plus up to 15% off. Because we are pre booked, Oceania suite we cannot get it.The top 3 suites, apparently sell well so they don’t offer it to them.Penthouse are on waiting list, but the offer is open to them.This has made us pretty grumpy.Its not the financial side, but the suite-ist attitude.We have paid a lot of money...Saga will always transfer any offers to passengers already booked on their cruises.

Good luck.

Be aware that if you choose drink package as you O Life choice, then add $20 to upgrade, you cannot get 20% off La Reserve. That offer is only open to people who purchase the whole prestige package. 
We always choose drink package and upgrade when embarking. 2 drinks outside of meals, costs more than $20 a day. 

Recently in an English pub, we witnessed people asking for vegan food. But when I asked the barman how many asked for vegan beer, he said none! No one in his 2 years there has asked for vegan alcohol!! 

I would imagine a  cruise company would be aware of the unvaccinated and liberty to enter a port or not.A refusal  to enter a port can happen with a ship load of vaccinated.

When you say no covid problems, does that mean no covid? On Seabourn it didn't affect us (until my flight home when I fell ill), because all covid cases were on deck 5. I have no idea of numbers and I don't know how anyone can find out the definite numbers of affected and how sick they are.I saw ambulances at 3 different ports around the Canaries.

I too am vaccinated as much as possible-not yet 4th one due to my age.Will I be refused, as not fully vaccinated? .My husband has been vaccinated and he too has never had covid.

Surely fully vaccinated asymptomatic passengers are more of a danger than the unvaxed who show early symptoms.They can be isolated sooner....

I do not see any difference in having an unvaccinated passenger at my table than a vaccinated.The virus doesn't fly around and pick the unvaccinated above the vaccinated.Yes the unvaxed may get more sick that won't affect the transmission.At least they get symptoms that will hopefully get them testing, unlike vaxed who think its just a cold...Worse are the people we saw on a recent so-called luxury Seabourn ship.All vaccinated.Coughing and spluttering everywhere, no mask, no hand cleansing.I spent two years around unvaxed friends and family and never caught covid.Cruise with vaccinated and tested positive on return home in April within 24 hours.

Do people seriously think the unvaxed are the only carriers? 

6 hours ago, PhD-iva said:

If there’s a waitlist, that means no one can book it. 

yes they can if one becomes available, up until it says ‘closed’. 
Also there were PH1 cabins available at start of offer. 
Penthouse cabins that have been booked already, can request they get the offer on their cabin. 
(see#27 for example). 

38 minutes ago, ORV said:

Usually in the details. Probably because your category is not available. Understand your frustration though. 

Penthouse  is on waitlist too but they get the offer. 

Yes I’m UK. 

‘Super suites are never included in Ultimate offers. The top 3 suite categories have additional amenities provided. The OS OC VS sell themselves and do not need additional amenities or price reduction to sell ! ‘
 

I’m not sure there are many amenities extra on penthouse  to OC. Then those  that are extra have certainly been paid for by the passenger. Working out the offers, a penthouse for two cost virtually the same as OC for one now. 
 

You can go to special offers. It’s on now until end August 

On 8/2/2022 at 4:57 PM, Flatbush Flyer said:

Please let us know the outcome.

So far nowhere. I spoke directly to Oceania and my TA did too. Basically the deal is for PH (which are waitlist as we are!) and below. We feel quite angry that the excursions we pay for will be free for most others. We did not get any obc from Oceania on booking just the O life drinks package. 
Our TA is going to speak to her rep today.  
Why would an offer of such good value not be available to everyone. Never had this with other companies. Oceania is/was our favourite cruise line . 

46 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Please let us know the outcome.

Will  do .