Vineyard View

Oceania has our information. When I am researching, looking at a ‘pretend booking’ to see cabin availability, I always ‘continue as a guest” at the bottom. It doesn’t trigger a call or email. I made the mistake of saving one last week. Sure enough, the same agent, whom I spoken with in the past, and knows we have an agent, reached out to us. Since I saved it as a guest, he only had my email apparently as I didn’t get a call. I think screenshots work better moving forward. And yes, Oceania, Viking, HAL top the list of mailings, followed by SB, SS, Atlas…….etc

Agree. We have used our TA for years. She goes above and beyond. Her firm offers cash back, which we sincerely appreciate, but SHE is the reason we stick with the firm. I do not know if they are part of any elite O clubs. I do know how hard she has worked for us. Most of the time, trips go fairly smoothly from a TA relationship standpoint…..but when there are issues, that is when a really good agent can make a big impact.

Well, I was curious…and yep…poof. I went onto google and nope, nada under the search. If it is consortium, it seems like one could google it.

Aren’t you also able to transfer to a different cruise without being charged the $150/pp penalty one time?

Thank you both. So basically, all is the same in terms of numbers of reservations in specialty restaurants PH and below. However, your butler (which we have never had…we never felt we would see the added value for the cost on some lines, tbh) can be helpful. This thread has given me a lot to think about…..

This thread finally cleared up the pricing questions I had around the 4 category upgrade sale. It’s very convoluting to someone not familiar with how it’s ‘played’. One would think initially that you could book any cabin category ‘x’, and potentially move UP to four categories at the cabin ‘x’ pricing. I requested a quote from our TA and we played phone tag yesterday as I was mostly not available. She stated in her email that the real ‘bargain’ is exactly what is being discussed here. That said, it may be at a higher cost than we or others want to elevate to. But it does have my attention now that I understand it. I sincerely appreciate OP starting this thread, so thank you. One question. Do PH receive an additional number of specialty restaurant reservations?

So to understand, the therapy spa ‘pool’ on the. Ariana is basically a hot tub? Maybe not temp, but size? Thank you for mentioning this, and for answering my question. I appreciate it.

Viking has always done the same thing with regards to specialty restaurant reservations (no butlers), so does HAL, and probably others. We did not see that with Seabourn.

If someone wishes to be able to use the forward spa deck/therapy pool area, and they are not in concierge or above, what is the fee? Is it per day for only the days you want to use it, or a flat rate for the entire cruise length?

Hospital At Sea…..that’s priceless! Right up there with NoNo’s!

So the restricted ship numbers/sizes in Dubrovnik are not having much of an impact? Such a beautiful place when not so crowded. Surprised at April crowds. While my comment on small ports not being a bonus for all, it was one of the things we enjoyed at almost every one of them. we thought about Plitvice lakes, so good to know it was worth it. We just don’t take excursions and that’s a treck private.

We always eat in port. On our own 99% of the time (no excursions). For us, that is pretty non-negotiable. A must do part of the experience….I have noticed a couple of lines we have sailed taking on fresh produce, local wines, different ingredients to be used on board. Not sure why the “nono’s” can just say no to the spices and let others enjoy a recipe as it was intended to be. Or….offer a little of both…..meals without herbs/spices in one section, and another that offers more authenticity…..I know, it wouldn’t stay that simple.

We have taken both land and sea trips over the years in Europe. Such different experiences. We enjoy both. We always arrive early, stay over, or both. One thing we have noticed is the impact of the mega ships in some of the ports. We have visited so many of them, and so glad that so many we visited when 2500 pax ships were considered big! We are torn next year between cruising, followed by some land time. Or just land time. I have encountered many who are feeling the same. Spend time in ‘non-port’ areas without the large cruise passenger daily influx. I agree that the train system is so incredibly convenient in Europe. The bags just feel heavier than they used to! I don’t see us giving up sailing/cruising….but one of these days, great trains or not, those suitcases may be a deciding factor! Thank you again for sharing your beautiful Father/Daughter story.

Total truth. But at least say something. Total silence on a skipped port is really obscure to me.

So….are others looking at both land and sea….sea only….land only….or combinations of the two in the next couple of years?

One of the biggest joys in travel.

The ESS may very well have been a ‘one and done’. I it was great. I didn’t follow Oceania much before that, but there certainly hasn’t been anything close since….wave season probably closest but medically couldn’t book them. So that leaves us with what we have now, and who knows if any better, in the near future. You clearly were able to secure unbelievable pricing and upgrades.

This helps a whole lot! Thank you. The dots are all connecting. This summary is perfect.

That would be the piece I would find very frustrating. If a port is skipped, it seems to me that an explanation on why is not at all unreasonable to expect.

Thank you. I did not realize this. But I do read often of re-pricing for better sales and I don’t think they were all originally booked while onboard.

We are earnestly pondering between a cruise, or a land trip next year. We’ve pretty much done the ‘shop and often ship home’ items enough - but it was fun and we enjoy them, our family enjoys some, and we are good with that piece. What a wonderful chapter of memories you created with your daughter…..she will always treasure that time together as well. If you took out the shopping, which was part of the fun, your cost formula might swing a bit in your comparison! Ha! When we are currently discussing land trip ideas, we would target 3 home bases for a two week period - for the same reasons you point out. It was a lot easier to schlep bags on and off trains in the past. Land travel provides such a different experience than cruising….and we sincerely love both…..we’ve tried crunching the numbers on current land travel cost…..I think it can be done in lovely hotels, with various dining and wine experiences, for the same - maybe a little less -than current balcony cruise prices, but the two experiences are so different. Without doubt though, cruise is the easiest from a packing/moving standpoint. Harters, your Cyprus trip sounds intriguing. It would be nice to be at an all inclusive and have so much history to explore. Let us know how that is!

We had booked u dear the Extraordinary Saving last year for a sailing later this month. It was great pricing. Unfortunately we had to cancel due to medical. Now looking for next year. Thank you - I don’t see anything about low price guarantee on this sale, so it might not be available to re-price. IDK.

ORC…..in all my following on Oceania, you are truly one of the masters of figuring out the sales…. So please help me here in understanding….. I will say that there is savings compared to the most recent ‘sale’ for the itinerary we are finally considering…..I didn’t screenshot wave season pricing but memory says it was more attractive. Memorial Day, etc coming up….understanding no crystal ball ….jist not understanding historically Oceania pricing.

I am reading a lot about the lack of spices….control from Miami…..no opportunities to choose local produce/proteins from local ports…..pretty disappointing to read. Where/on whom, do you recommend that people look to sail to avoid the No no’s? I am not being snarky, but honestly curious.

Was this the wave season/January/February sale? Not being overly familiar with Oceania and their sales, I just don’t know what to think of the current one. It’s not a big savings, yet is this typically one of their more aggressive sales?