mauibabes

I can definitely agree with you, Broken down for 3 months is BAD but we have no idea what is wrong and why they can not get the parts or the proper staff from the elevator company aboard to make the necessary repairs. It is definitely a Bummer and requires all the guests to plan ahead or leave for the restaurants a little earlier since there is only one operating Aft elevator. I will go with inconvenient for sure but it won’t take long on every cruise segment for the guests to know of the problem and become a bit more flexible in dealing with it. Thanks to the past cruisers for making this issue known. 
Mauibabes 

We will be on Marina in November so the elevator issue will probably not be resolved. Glad we are booked toward the front elevators so it will not be an issue for us but I can see where it will bothers those Aft. Now I just have to remember to never walk to the Aft elevators to go for meals. I guess we will just get in more “Steps”, what a great weight management program 👍🤪🛳️🤙 Weight Watchers beware. 

Mauibabes

@cindivan

Yes you can book another guest to join you for dinner in a specialty. When you make the reservation you will just need your friends Booking number.  You can do it on line, or have your TA assist you or just call Oceania Reservations. 
Enjoy,

Mauibabes

My guess is you are in UK, correct?  If so, it is a different ball game than most of us experience in the US. Some cruisers like Harters can answer your questions better. Good luck.

Mauibabes

Call O, to my knowledge it can not be done via the website. 
Mauibabes

Absolutely, always fun to get a little info about the guests aboard and the drinks and appetizers are free.  If you don’t want the standard drinks 🍷🥂🍹, ask a server for something from the bar 🙏👍. There are normally one or more of these parties on all O cruises and you continue to make new friends. 
Enjoy,

Mauibabes

@santrah

Especially in Red Ginger we will often order a specific main dish but also do typical “Family” style with a few plates to share among our table mates. Must have the Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass but there will always be the Rack of Lamb and Teriyaki Beef (Filet) and other delectables on the table. Absolutely must have the Watermelon and Duck Salad. DW is not an Asian food eater but will definitely order them.  
Ember takes a lot of raps but we had some excellent meals there so 👍 with LHT28 and a desert or two are wonderful. CC posts are valuable but I prefer to form my own options, test what looks good to me and move on. After all, if is My World, My Way.

Just Enjoy,

Mauibabes

So you are enjoying your experience, GREAT. I would hope you have made a trip to the O Club Ambassador’s office and booked a future cruise, somewhere, anywhere. This is a Must Do because if the reduced deposit, On Board Discount, SBC included on this trip or the future cruise. Do not let this opportunity pass because you a swap cruises one time without accruing any cancellation fees. 
You did not mention any Specialty dining stops, hopefully you got into Toscana and had some fabulous lasagne or any of the wonderful pastas or Dover Sole or …

Enjoy the rest of your trip.

Mauibabes

@mozfoz

You have received a lot of good info from other posters with numerous cruises under their belts, a little cuisine humor 😇.  OK, it would be helpful to know which ship you are on because the number of restaurant options double as well as the number of tables also increase. If you will share a 6 top, you might be able to get an earlier seating but if only a 4 top is acceptable, then the queue at the Reservation Desk on Deck 5 is your first stop on Embarkation Day. Lastly, while the cuisine is very good it is alway subjective and very high expectations are rarely met so you are better off if you dial it back a little. Also, since your first Specialty experience will set the tone, pick accordingly and ask the posters for some specific restaurant menu recommendations. Lots of great menu items but everyone has their favorites. 
Enjoy your Oceania experience.

Mauibabes

If you book enough to meet the Your World 25% Discount minimum, you may find the overall price of excursions on O not to be excessive.  Personally we try to meet the Discount quality and add private tours for the rest of the port calls, that way we bring the overall cost way down. We did a 30 day TA from Southampton to Iceland to NYC and toured every port and had the cost per excursion down under an average of $80 each. I have to admit, it was Pre Covid so everything has changed since then. Discount minimums still work though and we will see what comes October 1. 
Mauibabes

They are doing a Nov. 4-14, 2024 Rome to BCN with us but not the Allura cruise, at least not yet.  Perhaps waiting on that decision till next year. We will definitely get in contact with you when we are heading your way. 
Mauibabes

In my experience it is when the Port Security decides it is. They give the approval to the ship staff to release the passengers. Normally it has started at 8:00 and done by 9:00ish. Our worst experience, we were held up by port security in Miami and disembarkation did not start until 9:30. Depending where you are disembarking, domestic or international, it can be different everywhere. 
If you are trying to make flight arrangements, definitely book after noon, especially if flying internationally. Don’t add unnecessary anxiety to your travel days. 
Mauibabes

@aussietwo

That definitely sounds like a very special itinerary, except we are doing the trip you took on the Vista Inaugural, Montreal to Miami with a bunch of friends into mid November on an Allura Inaugural cruise. We will keep a look out for a way to get “Down Under” again. 
Mauibabes, Bonnie and Gerry. 

Ditto Ros,

Change can be tough, especially for us “mature” adults. O Life lasted 7 years but was deemed too difficult for some to select one of three options or even Cruise Only. Simply more was short lived, because it was a different approach and again not easy enough. Come October 1, a new roll out and it won’t be well accepted either. Change is tough 😇. Everyone will have to take a breath and make their decisions about itineraries and costs. We, like you, really like our Oceania family, staff and guests. We have met so many wonderful people from all over the world and you can’t just make a spreadsheet entry to value those friendships when deciding to sail or not. 
 

We missed meeting you in Miami after your October Vista trip with Bruce and Marilyn. Maybe on a future cruise we will connect. We have some booked on Riviera and Marina and Allura. Stay well and we all know we are blessed. 
Mauibabes

@EJL2023 I would resubmit with a note as I said previously, your October sailings should reflect the Shareholder Credit as mine shows under Gift Orders, under Promotional Amenities. I just checked again. 
Mauibabes

Already have credits on our Statements for both of our November cruises.  If MIA, try resubmitting your request and including a statement it is a resubmission due to it not appearing on your booking statement. If you have a TA, get them working on it 👍. 

Already have credits on our Statements for both of our November cruises.  If MIA, try resubmitting your request and including a statement it is a resubmission due to it not appearing on your booking statement. If you have a TA, get them working on it 👍. 

@golfguyhhi Love your trip planning, we have a mere 4 on the books, waiting for a good look at 2026 itineraries. Here is another suggestion, we “parked” about $1500 in the market buying 100 shares of NCLH. Your average 18 day trips would earn you $250 per trip more in SBC as a Shareholder so that means another $2500. Wish O gave SBC to Military Vets but so far only NCL and Regent of the 3. 
Mauibabes

@terrydtx Ah, SOOO wrong! Niagara is at best a 6-7 while Iguazu is probably a 9.  No comparison and we saw them within 3 months of one another. We did it as a part of an O Pre Tour. Still have not seen Victoria Falls yet to compare, thinking it is the 10. If you are that close, you must see them, especially if it happens to be entering the wet season. 

Mauibabes

@terrydtx we did it as a part of a day tour after disembarking using a Tours By Locals guide. We had 8 of us and bags too as he dropped us at the airport late afternoon. Sounds like a great plan. Once you get to BA, if you can add the days, don’t miss a trip to  the Falls. We flew in and out of there with a night in the Park. 

@terrydtx

We did the similar Marina cruise in January 2023 in the revers direction and adding some extra days. Hope you can add the wine country, a trip through the interestingly painted houses of Valparaiso and absolutely you have to get to Iguazu Falls, a MAJOR highlight. 
Enjoy that great cruise itinerary.

Mauibabes

Who or what are NoNos?  Need a re-education 

Mauibabes

@durberville

Here is a little tid bit for an O Newby. IMHO you will love your cruise and have a wonderful time. sM has value with the Wine and Beer and Excursions included and probably more value than waiting until after October 1 for the Free Gratuities Program. Here is a plan, you are eligible to book a future cruise on any O ship up to 30 days prior to sailing and it is considered an On Board booking and you are within that window right now. Your Deposit is only $250 pp. You would receive at least $100 in SBC to use on your upcoming October 4 cruise or on your future cruise. You will also be able to get a Discount of at least $100 pp when booking a Veranda level stateroom, more the higher up the room chain you go. You will also be able to change your mind one time and use that On Board Booking discount on a totally different cruise. 
 

If you have seen a cruise that interests you and you want to take advantage of the SM value and it works for you, this is how you do it. 
Good luck and enjoy your cruise and know that Oceania newby’s rarely ever walk away from O because it is quite superior to any mass market line and is also superior to others in the Premium and Ultra Premium categories. Again, JMHO and I say this with 15+ years of experience sailing on Oceania. 
Mauibabes

If you like your hot chocolate made with milk, you could order a pot of Hot Milk with some HC Packets, or get some from Baristas or TC.  If you like water based, just order a pot of hot water like for tea and add your packets. 
Enjoy,

Mauibabes

Absolutely correct, Gratuities are currently NOT included in your cruise fare in the US but watch for the O release tomorrow and you may just see Gratuities included October 1. If you were at the Silver O Loyalty Club level, you would already be receiving Free Gratuities so you will receive $250 additional SBC. 
Mauibabes