DJP31

3 hours ago, EJL2023 said:

And I would much prefer the jeans instead of the two women who arrived in the GDR on Vista in leggings, matching graphic t-shirt and baseball caps on our cruise in May.

That would do my head in. TBH I struggle to understand why anyone wears a baseball cap inside anyway. Happy to be educated as to the logic 🙂

1 hour ago, 1985rz1 said:

But not sure what you mean by full price, since all restaurants are included in the cruise price.

As I put in the post, these related to European hotels, not O cruises.

@FetaCheese thoroughly enjoying the updates, thanks for taking the time to pen them. 
 

How have you felt O deal with your wife’s allergy?  My wife is gluten free (intolerant) and sometimes it can be drama just getting GF bread. On occasion we’ve been told the dish can be modified by which they mean removing the food containing gluten. She ends up with half a dish at full price!
 

I must stress the above are not experiences with O -  two separate incidences at top notch European hotels that spring to mind. 

@ORV @mauibabes @redraider1966  many thanks for the Islandwings recommendation, I've sent an enquiry form to Michelle. I'm 100% for it, not sure about my wife, she's not keen on small planes!

The wealth of knowledge on this board is amazing.

I'm enjoying reading the @FetaCheese thread, my wife and I will be on the 7 day Alaskan cruise this time next year. The original was scuppered by CV-19 and the dates since haven't worked for us. It's also our first ever proper cruise so much to learn.

Something I have noticed is the lack of any float/seaplane excursions, which were availble last time. Are they casualties of Covid or has the slightly modified itinerary of VCR/Ketchican/Sitka/Haines/Wrangell got anything to do with it? None of the excursions listed offer anything aerial, except zip wiring!

Having never done this before I'm nervous of leaving the comfort of Oceania arranged trips, but don't want to miss out if I could find an acceptable alternative. Any thoughts from you seasoned campaigners?

Final question if I may - I assume a trip across to Vancouver Island would be highly recommended whilst in the area?

Thank you all very much for taking the time to reply. Some very good points made but the positives of keeping the booking firmly outweigh the negatives, so we’ll stick with it.

Having first had this booked for September 20 and dates not being convenient since, I really hope this time it comes off. I’m a long time lurker and really looking forward to being able to properly visualise and experience all that I’ve read about the Oceania / Regatta offering.

We were supposed to be on our maiden cruise, heading to Alaska, when CV-19 stepped in. One unsuccessful attempt later we are now booked on a Seattle/Seattle trip. I've just been advised it's now Vancouver/Vancouver and Juneau has been dropped, with stops at Haines and Wrangell instead.

Do you experienced travellers with Alaskan experience think this is a big deal or nothing to be concerned about? 

It sort of feels like the trip is doomed but I'm probably over reacting!

TIA

12 minutes ago, IWantToLiveOverTheSea said:

I forget - was the volcano on the island of La Palma?

Yes.

On 12/23/2021 at 7:03 PM, susiesan said:

My sailing goes to the Canary Islands, and the continuing volcano eruptions is another factor that could cause this cruise itinerary to be modified. I f I don't go to the Canary islands then I won't accept a revised itinerary. 

I appreciate it's only one part of the very complicated scenario that is travel at the moment, but the volcano is now "offically" quiet. I was in Tenerife earlier this month whilst it was still active and it had no impact outside of La Palma itself. 

7 hours ago, LHT28 said:

Cases will fit under your bed

 Not sure what you are packing but might  be good idea to reassess  your packing

 

We have done 30+ days with a 26" case each with temps from 30C to below 0C

JMO

That’s impressive and we will definitely have to be more clinical than we normally are. It’ll be helpful to have the laundry service as that’ll enable us to recycle stuff we’ve worn earlier in the trip. 

Really helpful comments from others too, I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in a hotel where under the bed is an option, so it never crossed my mind. 

3 minutes ago, basor said:

We stow our suitcases under our bed - and they are the large ones

Thank you, I hadn't considered that as an option 😅

I'm a real newbie to this and am getting twitchy about luggage space. We have a week split between Vancouver and Seattle before picking up the Regatta, for the 7 Alaska cruise in June '22, and have the Conceirge veranda cabin.

For a fortnight away we'd have 4 cases, making reasonable use of BA's business class allowance. Do I need to radically rethink things? It's our first cruise (delayed from 06/20) and I really don't want to make any rookie mistakes if I can avoid them. A quick google gave me a couple of utube videos and the cabins looked tiny (compared to what we usually have on terra firma).

Advice from you seasoned experts will be gratefully received. 

Our first ever cruise was supposed to be this June to Alaska. The dates for ‘21 don’t work for us so delighted to be able to book for June ‘22 this morning. The price is the same which is a nice surprise.

It’s been interesting reading  all you experienced cruisers post your thoughts on what’s been happening and your views on the future of cruising. I’ve nothing of any value to add as I haven’t actually managed a cruise yet!
 

1 hour ago, ABoatNerd said:

Paulchili.

You are right. The CC issues a temp credit to ones card while the investigation proceeds. My card company has given the cruise line 45 days. If the cruise line provides me with my refund within that time frame, it is posted to my card. If they do not, then the credit card company makes the refund permanent.

 

During this process the refund is temporary and should not be touched in ones account. 

 

The card company saw my TA's email to me indicating "over 90 days" and they indicated that is not acceptable.

 

This process gives the cruise line a chance to do right by the consumer, but in the end if they fail, the CC pays.

Where I am confused is that the entry on my CC is to the TA, not O. Funds are in the TA’s Trust a/c before being passed to O.
 

Doesn’t the CC charge against the TA who will then be out of pocket until O pay them?

4 minutes ago, Paulchili said:

Does the crew count into the 500? After all, some of them can disembark just like the passengers.

Yes, crew are included in the 500.

According to O’s t&c’s if they cancel the refund will be paid within 14 days.

b) Pre-departure cancellation
Occasionally, it may be necessary to cancel confirmed holiday arrangements. In the event we are prevented from performing your contracted holiday arrangements as a result of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances (see clause 10) and we notify you of this as soon as reasonably possible, we have the right to terminate your contract. In this situation, we will refund all monies you have paid to us within 14 days of the date we inform you of the cancellation but will have no further or other liability to you including in respect of compensation or any costs or expenses you incur or have incurred.

I am in the UK so don’t know whether that makes any difference. I’m also hugely inexperienced in cruising. In fact Regatta on 18th June to Alaska would have been our first proper cruise, so if I have the wrong end of the stick I apologise.

7 minutes ago, eldaradoe said:

exactly....."don't worry be happy."...

😂 A Bobby McFerrin classic. Saw him live in ‘89. Him, a bottle of water and a mic. The sounds and rhythms were amazing. 

2 hours ago, Lady Meer said:

Welcome to cruising and Cruise Critic.

 

Did your travel agent give you any advice about cash refunds if Oceania cancels nearer the cruise date? If not, I would ask 😉.

 

Lou

Thx, I’ve emailed Trailfinders but won’t hassle them, they’ll have lots more immediate issues to deal with. We were so looking forward to our first ‘proper’ cruise but c’est la vie and it’s a 1st world problem in the overall scheme of things.

3 minutes ago, Hawaiidan said:

Do not be too upset.....everyone is getting hit and we all need to be calm and patient with each other.  In the mean time head up to the Lake District...Miller Howe and hang at the lake stress free from the home counties.....

The Lakes are lovely I agree. I’m fine, I feel more for the locals, I’ve just come back from Tenerife and the economy there has been devastated. 

3 minutes ago, Hawaiidan said:

IT is  us law that a foreign port must be had if sailing between US ports....  so no can do if Canada closes the door.....

As I now know... and that must be the nail in the coffin. I’m a little surprised there’s nothing on the O website, early days perhaps but reading some of the comments here haven’t filled me with confidence on O’s customer relations. 

I’m in the UK and booked on the Regatta 15th June Seattle-Seattle. Our first cruise, 3 years in the planning and celebrating  our 30th wedding anniversary. 2021’s schedule doesn’t work for us, so 2022 maybe. Paid the final balance and already chosen and paid for the excursions. Nothing on the O website apart from 100% refund credit, which isn’t really a refund. Booked via Trailfinders so I’ll see what they say, wouldn’t have thought O have option but to cancel but I’m a newbie at this and some of the posts worry me...
 

What a global nightmare and disaster for everyone - especially those whose livelihoods depends on the tourist. 

I had wondered if they could skip the Canadian stop. Didn’t know about the foreign flag / foreign country rule.