Vineyard View

Hiltner, can’t you just use the SM excursion credit for small (16 people or less) excursions that Oceania offers and therefore use up your credit? I am asking because I honestly don’t care about a further discount I book a lot of excursions, because I will not do that. I would like to use my SM credit for possible small excursions as we are same as you -not ship excursions people. I asked this on another thread so not trying to repeat, but the answer may help here. So for example, if I have $1,000 credit, and I find 1-2 excursions that are more private that sound like they could be great options, and this covers them or most of them financially, then I would view this as positive.

Thank you. I appreciate this. I reached out to our TA. She confirmed that she quoted this price to us. It did save an unexpected amount of money over our originally booked same cruise price done the day prior to the SM initiation.

Thank you we did do that and were able to view excursions. Strange that we can’t see the same when logged in so I appreciate this. What would be really helpful would be know what they are charging. We will have a SM credit, but without understanding what that value is against the small group excursions would be helpful. Maybe some who are experienced with these would be able to offer up a general expected price pp range. I am sure that it varies based on the port, but would a max 16 person excursion typically be $300, $400, etc? Those smaller excursions would be of value to us, so we are trying to determine how to set expectations.

We had to jump through that process a few years ago. It was definitely some hoops to go through (including traveling to a consulate), and if I remember correctly, not an inexpensive visa. Hopefully technology has caught up with it now.

Airlines are able to restrict people from future flights on their planes…..so maybe there is a lesson there that cruise lines are able to use. Sounds appropriate with this person.

Apparently, this is also the first scheduled cruise coming out of dry dock. Which makes me a little nervous. Or maybe FF it hasn’t been loaded with SM. IDK. And yes, it is the Barcelona to Rome. I would think that if I am logged into my account I could at least view the excursions, so EJL2023 I don’t understand but thank you for letting me know. I will dig into this later today. Thanks for your responses.

Nothing displays. No excursions whatsoever. That is what is perplexing. My TA is trying to obtain them from Oceania, but so far no luck. For now, I simply want to view what is offered in a couple of ports. I will follow your advice and call O directly for assistance. I appreciate your response. Thank you.

Thank you Hank. What a pain. It’s too bad they don’t limit number of pax like Dubrovnik does now. So, the water taxis to Oia….are they operating with passengers only to Oia and do not bring pax back to port? It would seem like this should be return option, but what do I know.

We are booked on a sailing beginning May 18, 2024. Under our account when I sign in, it shows our shore excursion credits and states that you can book shore excursions up to 365 days ahead. When I click onto shore excursions, it states that ‘due to excursions restrictions you cannot shop at a this time’. This same response has been occurring since our booking. Is this typical?

We are also trying to figure out Santorini if we stay with the itinerary we are on. It includes a high count of ship pax that day as well. We aren’t ship excursions people and often do what you suggest. Is the regional bus frequent and direct, or multiple stops? Approximately how long does it take? Do you know if cabs are available and if that makes sense? Thank you.

Sure hoping Marina’s refurbishment stays on what appears to be the new rescheduled date with first sailing in May 2024.

We are not ship excursions people. Not at all. On our first Seabourn recently we decided to chance booking two due to remote ports with little attraction to stay locally. Both were dismal. No better than Viking, which are no better than mass cruise lines in our opinion. We said, once again, no more. it would be nice to have options that are not too price exorbitant, but truly offer a step up. Somewhere near what one gets when booking private small group tours.

Well that is a good answer. Thank you!

Thank you for clarifying. This goes back to my earlier question - why not roll the 20% for drinks into the price per if the crew members serving see none of it? Answer, goes to O’s ( or any other line who does this) bottom line. But, again, their company, their rules. Simple or not. Regarding tee totalers on small ships. We sure didn’t notice that on the 450 pax Seabourn ship we recently sailed on. Maybe it was an anomaly, but I have to say, alcohol was free flowing. In the majority of tables, venues, it was a nice atmosphere without the craziness of large ships and party crazy alcohol crowds. So IDK. Can’t yet comment on O.

Thank you for all the responses. What prompted me to start this thread was looking at port schedules, and discovering those where it looks to be overbooked with ships. In Santorini for example all the ships are there for the entire day. I have noticed Viking’s ‘quiet season’ but have never taken a deep dive. Maybe I should. Thanks for that prompt. ‘This thread has me rethinking travel time a little bit for this itinerary. Another itinerary we like on another line, while pricier, is a month earlier to more off the beaten track ports with only two ports sharing any ship port time (Dubrovnik and Kotor - which we’ve been to) but not to the degree of sharing numbers of ships on this itinerary.

True on “luxury”, at least on SB. On Viking (premium) if you don’t purchase the package, and you purchase drinks we were not taxed - that was before we started buying the package. And as you said, their company, their rules, simply more or not, it is what it is

Maybe. But when we are on the other Premium/Lux lines we have settled with, we don’t feel that way. I also don’t read that others do either. IDK. I just find it less simple when O is trying to be simply more.

Wow. This all sounds like such a frustrating set up that the officials in Santorini have taken no control over. After reading these threads it just seems sad that these many ships are allowed in a day. It doesn’t really sound like it’s set up for a port that you look back on and say “what a great day that was” - instead I hear “the lines were really bad and it was so crowded, etc…”. Kind of takes the excitement right out of visiting Santorini. At least unless it’s winter months. Maybe then. I am glad that you all have posted your experience though. It helps set realistic expectations.

I wish I could tell you. It was a long while back (2014) we were in Kusadasi - if that is what you are asking b2dave?

Thank you. It wasn’t clear. I was asking specifically about alcohol tips, and why they can’t make it simple and include them in the prices per drink/glass.

We booked concierge. I like the reservations advantage and location. I thought the terrace was a bigger advantage than it sounds. I don’t think the difference in price on our particular itinerary was all that different so we figured it would be worth it. This is all good to know for the future.

So the 20% just goes to Oceania’s bottom line? Nothing goes to the staff from the tips?

US could learn a lot of things. Bit as far as tipping - Why Oceania mandates tipping of alcohol on board instead of just pricing drinks to include that is beyond me TBH.

Well that’s really good to know as well. I thought I viewed pictures where there was a shaded area. If not, that is indeed a big difference.

It seems to me that if they are “simplifying” sailing on them, why would they not just set the alcohol prices to include the tip? If you are going to be charged 20% regardless, just roll that into a new price list. If it is about the bartenders and servers getting tips, then just tip them out of the total collected. I don’t get the “premium” message in that whole piece.