Mura

I suppose you can ask for a deviation just to see what they give you, but if everyone starts doing that I can see a rule change in the offing. Because the department doesn't exist to do each passenger's work.

Secondly, are you asking for the deviation in order to arrive in time to board the ship or are you telling them you're coming in a day or more earlier?

Let's say you do the latter. You get the information as to what airlines they would use and what it would cost. (And maybe only one.)

But Oceania doesn't have a contract with every airline, and even with those that it does -- you can't always upgrade with miles (if you had that in mind, maybe you didn't). So you could certainly find out what they would charge for a particular flight ... but not just ANY flight.

For me, it isn't worth it ... but it sounds like you like the idea. You have to do what you want to do!

It still doesn't save you the trouble of doing your own research if you aren't sure you would want to do.

And if you would literally ask for the deviation on the day you should be leaving for the ship, I wonder if Oceania could even sell it. Because a deviation is supposed to be for an earlier day, not THE day.

Mura

It seems to me that on the few occasions when we used their air, we did not use their transfers (well, we've never used their transfers) -- but we were responsible for our own luggage retrieval.

I would double check on that if I were you!

Mura

I certainly cannot speak for your upcoming cruise, but I think all the cooking demos I've attended on various ships have been scheduled for 11 am.

Mura

If you're in one of the top suites (we were in an OC) the TV was pre-loaded with tons of movies.

Mura

I've not tried this myself (mainly because we go in 2-3 days early and not one, so we'd never consider O's hotel packages) ...

But I believe people have pointed out that if you take the hotel package for one night you have no deviation fee and transfers to the hotel/ship. I may be missing the finer points here since we ourselves haven't done this, but this is what I have gathered.

Also, while the hotel package prices used to be per person, nowadays there are at least some that are per room. Which is another consideration.

Mura

When I'm asked "what is the best area" in London or New York -- or indeed in any major city -- my answer is there isn't one. It depends on what you think you'll be doing most, but in NY or London there's also easy public transportation.

We usually like to stay in South Kent but in June we'll be at Marriott's St. Ermin's Hotel.

Mura

We used to be able to deposit our leftover traveler's checks at our local HSBC branch (where we have an account). HSBC has just announced that they will no longer accept traveler's checks for deposit from ordinary consumers. I gathered from the notice that businesses will be able to do so ... just not ordinary folk.

Now that I think of it I don't think the notice addressed the issue of cashing traveler's checks ... but if they do continue doing so, my bet is it won't be for long.

Mura

Jan,

Will he happy to join you for such a meal in RG in May. Our two times there we didn't have people who wanted to "share" and so we continued not to be really happy there.

But I'm always game to try again!

Mura

My guess - which could be completely off-base -- is going back to the early days when you really didn't need a key to enter either lounge. My recollection is that in October 2011 we didn't need a key to go into the Executive Lounge but by this November we did. (Again, my memory could be "off".)

So I'm also guessing that people who weren't "supposed" to have access were using the lounges, and therefore the system was switched to requiring your room key for entry. I do think I recall some posts to this effect.

Any other ideas?

Mura

We were in an OC on Marina in Nov/Dec and we got the NY Times and WSJ delivered to our room each day. I won't say how legible it was (!) because the reduction in print size makes it difficult reading for older eyes. But at least we had them. I'm guessing that PH occupants don't get the benefit, but maybe I'm wrong. Our butler delivered the papers each day.

We also had benefit of the unlimited internet access -- I don't know that I'll have that in the future! But the regular price was discounted to about $21/day and then we got an additional 10% off because we were silver so it seemed worth around $17/day.

Once I saw how slow the internet service was even when in port (although our butler had told us they were having particular problems that day), I switched over to unlimited from the 200 minute package and was glad that I did!

Also, we were on a TA and so I was pretty sure that service would be slow while in the middle of the ocean. On a port intensive cruise I'd probably opt for the 200 minute option.

Mura

When Euros first came into play we would get travelers checks payable in Euros but even then we couldn't always use them. At hotel chains, not problem. But at gas stations and smaller restaurants, they didn't want to take them.

Now, this was back in 2002.

More recently we just go to an ATM and get the local currency. If we're in a place where dollars are accepted, we will use them -- but you need to make sure.

We tend to use private guides and they will make it clear if they want dollars or their own currency. Just don't assume that dollars are accepted everywhere, because they are not.

When we did the Black Sea in the summer of 2012 most of our guides wanted to be paid in dollars. In Brazil this fall/winter, some wanted dollars, some wanted local currency.

You say you'll be on an "islands" cruise ... which would make me think that U.S. dollars would be welcome. Although I'm not sure about WHICH islands you are talking about!

We never change money on the ship because we do much better using our debit card (NOT a credit card) where the bank does not charge a foreign conversion fee.

Mura

On our first Marina cruise we were way up front on Deck 10 ... had to take the staircase to the lounge, but it was close to our suite. We mostly used it to set up the Meet & Greet (with the concierge established there) but on one or two occasions did check out some noshes when we'd missed a meal.

On our November cruise (BCN-Rio) we were as aft as you can get on the same deck and I did check the Lounge out more, but it was a really long walk. (Much shorter distance from our Deck 10 forward cabin on the earlier cruise). Again, I mostly used it to coordinate with the concierge for setting up the M&G but there were occasions when I hadn't wanted food during real lunch times so the sandwiches, etc., were handy.

But I could live without the lounge if I had to.

Mura

There have been booked cruises where we received multiple offers to switch (or to add on the cruise before or after). We have only accepted one of these offers to switch because it as TOO enticing.

But we've more than once or twice received additional offers, especially if it was an option to add on the cruise before or after.

I do think it depends on how the cruises before or after have sold ...

In the case where we switched the cruise, it was because they had seriously oversold the cruise and so they needed people to move.

On another occasion -- back in Jan-Feb '05 -- we were on the Auckland-Sydney cruise. Originally we'd been booked for the B2B which would have ended up in Bangkok. We decided not to do the B2B, so only did the first leg. But MANY people booked on the first cruise were being offered very enticing offers to cancel the second leg.

For most of those people (if not all) they had booked their own air, so it didn't matter how enticing O's offer was ... they just couldn't take advantage of it.

You really have to consider if you want to take the offer. If you don't, then don't.

Mura

I haven't read the rules religiously, but think the above is correct.

We usually do our own air and plan on going in at least one day early (but usually more like 2-3 days). We have on occasion used the deviation, which has always worked out well.

Clearly, the real problem is that if you miss the ship you have to catch it. That hasn't happened to us, but I've spoken to some people where it HAS happened ... and at least one of those parties was very unhappy with the service they received. This happened about 8 years ago and so I don't remember the details, but as I recall there were flight cancellations in Southern California and the people involved did not catch the ship until Oslo ... which was about day 3 of the cruise. (Had they paid for a deviation? I don't recall that either. Since they were calling Oceania for help, and weren't happy with the response, perhaps not.)

On our first O cruise, we were leaving from Costa Rica going through the Canal. It was winter time and some people could not get there in time and the ship HAD to leave or miss its slot going through the Canal. I never did learn just when those people managed to catch the ship.

So these things can happen ... But normally, they don't.

When we have done a deviation, it's been for at least 2-3 days,maybe even 4. We also do our own hotel reservations.

Now, if you book the hotel package for one day in advance, which includes the deviation fare and transfer to the ship/hotel ... that can be worth it.

Looking at your last sentence, I'm not quite sure how to answer ...

Mura

You certainly can take the shared table option as Jim/Stan suggests, but on our two most recent cruises (one on Regatta, one on Marina) we had no problem reserving a table for the two of us and then adding our friends when they were eligible.

But even if you couldn't get a table for four (or six) at that time, they don't "sell" all the tables. So you should be able to get a reservation for all of you on the day you board ... especially if you have a butler who can do the work.

Mura

If the market tour option had been available when we were there, I'd have jumped at that chance. Yes indeed. But of course that is more recent, and you need to be on Riviera or Marina to take advantage of it. (At least, I THINK you do.)

Our first visit to Tangier was on Renaissance in October 1999 and on that occasion we just negotiated with a cab driver. He gave us a good tour, but yes, there was the obligatory shopping stop!

Mura

Well ...

We haven't taken the pre- or post-cruise hotels. I do believe (from what I have read here) that with the hotel booking you DO get the free transfer.

(Feel free to correct me, you guys who have done this.)

However, I'm not sure what benefit there is to take the hotel benefit if it is for more than one day. If you come in the day before, using O's hotels, it can become cost effective because even though the hotel is vastly overpriced, if you add in the transfer fees, it becomes worth it. But if you want to go in earlier than one day ahead, as far as I can tell it is NOT cost effective. (Another note: it used to be that the ship hotel prices were per person, not per room. But more recently I have seem SOME rates that are per room. You need to read carefully.)

You *can* book the same hotels on your own for much less money. It does depend on how you want to handle it.

We have never booked the Oceania hotel package just because of the price. We tend to do in 2-3 days ahead, and stay 2-3 days behind ... and it seems to me in that case that we wouldn't get the benefit of a transfer.

Normally we just catch a cab from the airport to our hotel (or to the port). On occasion we've hooked up with people on our roll call and joined up for a transfer with them. Always MUCH cheaper than the O transfer.

I guess the answer is you need to do your research ...

P.S. We haven't done the South Seas (other than an Auckland-Sydney cruise, if that counts here). Cabs in Papeete may be a whole 'nother ball of wax. If indeed -- do they exist?

Mura

Mike,

We are actually two who DO prefer the GDR. There have been cruises (on the "R" ships) where we never went to a specialty restaurant, but bear in mind on the smaller ships there are only two. (On Marina/Riviera we really like Jacques.) We've never been that enthused about Toscana (sorry, folks) and while we do like Polo, we wouldn't want to go there too often.

Again, it can depend on the length of your cruise -- the GDR menu seems to change every two weeks, but if you're on a long cruise, you're going to get repetition, just as you would in the specialty restaurants.

I have heard stories about disastrous meals in GDR -- but we've never encountered them. One frequent dinner companion told us about a horrendous dinner (as I recall more in terms of service than food quality, but I could be misremembering) which caused them to refuse ever to return.

I thought that was an extreme reaction since we'd had slow service on one or two occasions (but one of them was on Renaissance which probably no longer counts). But our meals have always been pleasing. My friends call me a gourmet cook (I don't) but I do think that if I had a really bad meal I wouldn't hesitate to say so.

Also, for us, a recent development is the ability to order from the specialty restaurants OR GDR to be served in your room. That wasn't always the case. But we've been taking advantage of that ability on recent cruises. (I think you have to be in PH or above for this perk.) If we are really tired after a day's tour it becomes very appealing to be able to have your butler bring your dinner to you in the room.

I sometimes wonder if many passengers just assume that the specialty restaurants are of course better, and therefore they prefer them to the GDR. Would we be as fond of the specialty restaurants if we had to pay for the privilege?

I do wonder!

So, if we're ever on a cruise together, we should go to the GDR together ...

Mura

It's hard to be unhappy in these wonderful suites!

Mura

Paul,

I'm not so sure that you're at the other end of the spectrum -- although you are as compared to US, but we're only one couple.

It seems to me from posts I've seen on CC that more people are averse to the GDR than are in favor of it. Of course it's hard to really judge since most passengers do not post here.

I find it interesting that some people disliked dinner in Terrace on Riviera ... we've only been on Marina (for two cruises) and like Terrace there very much. Of course, it often depends on whomever is in charge of the kitchen.

The last time we were on Regatta (about 16 months ago) someone mentioned that Terrace there had vastly improved when a new chef arrived.

Mura

You probably will get a lot of different answers to your question. We personally tend to do the GDR more than specialty restaurants. We DO like Jacques a lot, however, and we have more dinners in Terrace on the "O" ships than we do on the "R" ships.

But I've seen lots of comments from people who seem to dislike the GDR a lot.

We like it because of the variety of menus which change each day. The menus in the specialty restaurants are pretty much "set". And we've always had quite good service.

We also tend to prefer Polo to Toscana, and haven't been that impressed with Red Ginger (we've been there a whole two times). If you read through these various threads you'll find many people who feel the opposite.

It's hard to know what you yourself will prefer until you try them.

Mura

In November 2005 we used Abdelhamid Idrissi Kaitouni.

I can't vouch for him myself because I had a torn meniscus and chose to stay on board that day. But everyone else in our group (8 of us) thought he was excellent.

Try http://www.privateguide.com/tangiertour/ and

http://casablanca-privatetours.com/about-us.php.

Mura

He was on Marina November 20-December 8. Not sure if he's still there, however.

Mura

I am happy to hear that you preferred the interior layout Mura - that pretty much confirms my thoughts when looking at some pics Jim and Stan had posted (but which only included pics of the balcony in the Aft suites). Mura - given the choice would you go for the Aft suite again?

I would but my husband would prefer NOT to. But that was because we had some particularly rough weather the first couple of nights. Howard never gets seasick but because the motion was in both directions, he found it hard to sleep. He was blaming the aft location. But in talking to others who were more midships (in different categories of cabin) it seemed to have been pretty universal.

If I wanted an OC and only the aft location were available, I'd go for it and Howard probably would, too, but I think he'd prefer a Deck 12 suite.

As Jim/Stan always say about the aft location, the view is pretty fabulous watching the wake, and the deck is spacious. Not as spacious as the Vista or Owners, of course!

Mura

Aha! That confirms my impression. The deck for 11080 and 11083 is deeper and wraps around the corner. Not that the one shown is terrible ... and the inside (my opinion) is more spacious with the Deck 12 OCs.

It may well depend on where you think you might spend more time. I was out on our deck several times for reading ... and taking photos. But I spent more time inside, even though we had a warm weather cruise.

Mura