Marketing and on board charges

[English Tim]

We have just returned from our first O cruise on Riviera. We were shocked at how expensive the drinks, shore ex and spa treatments were. The hard sell in the spa is a pain but to be expected. I had a $180 massage using OBC, but twice they tried to get me to book further treatments.

 

We did or own trips, with generally great success, though I did book a rental car at the wrong port on one occasion which was frustrating at the time.

 

We had a wonderful cruise, but are completely put off by the constant barrage of marketing emails,despite being assure on more than one occasion, that we were removed from the list. They must have multiple lists and are now blocked.

[iandjm]

Hi,

 

Were you onboard 16 - 26 October? We were on that cruise.

 

Really enjoyed our first experience of Oceania. The dining and service was great, although we did find several drinks / food orders forgotten. Waves grill was so civilised too. Loved it.

 

Overall a great cruise, with great ports.

 

I did find tour costs almost insultingly expensive, espacially given that they were the same tours offered on other cruise lines for half the cost. My favourite was the kind offer of a coach transfer to Barcelona airport for $89. We paid 40 euros for 3 of us in a private taxi!

 

Ian

[Paulchili]

Hi,

 

Were you onboard 16 - 26 October? We were on that cruise.

 

Really enjoyed our first experience of Oceania. The dining and service was great, although we did find several drinks / food orders forgotten. Waves grill was so civilised too. Loved it.

 

Overall a great cruise, with great ports.

 

I did find tour costs almost insultingly expensive, espacially given that they were the same tours offered on other cruise lines for half the cost. My favourite was the kind offer of a coach transfer to Barcelona airport for $89. We paid 40 euros for 3 of us in a private taxi!

 

Ian

 

Glad that you enjoyed your first Oceania cruise.

If you follow these boards, you will find that Oceania cruisers are very familiar with the high cost of shore excursions, pre/post cruise hotels and transfers and most of them avoid these (if they wish).

Many plan ahead with private transfers and tours - perhaps you can do that as well in the future if you cruise with them again.

Cheers.

[chrismch]

I've cruised on several cruise lines and have read the notes from cruisers on each of them. I have yet to find ANYONE who doesn't think the excursions and spa fees aren't expensive.

[roothy123]

Well, some of us, at least some of the lucky ones, have shipboard credit to use due to our loyalty status and/or use of a good travel agent. That makes it easier to book excursions despite the high price.

 

Generally, though, we prefer to arrange or make our own adventures. In many of the ports, car rental and driving are easy (assuming you book at the correct port!) and private tours (whether totally private or shared with a small group of fellow cruisers) are available. Ship-arranged excursions are certainly convenient, but no, they're not cheap, especially on Oceania!

 

I agree that the spa treatments are expensive, but they do seem pretty popular, so I guess plenty of people feel they're worthwhile! I'm just not a spa person, so I've never tried one - or been treated to a hard sell afterwards!

 

We may be the only twosome on the planet to walk off an Oceania cruise with no balance due, but I can assure you it IS possible, despite drink, spa and excursion prices. And quite honestly, last month I found what they were charging for a domestic beer was no more than what I pay at a bar or restaurant where I live. I don't know how much a beer costs on other cruise ships, but Oceania's price certainly seemed reasonable.

Edited October 31, 2016 by roothy123

[Iamthesea]

Is there currently a thread discussing the cost of the alcoholic drink package versus the cost of drinks (beer included?)

 

On our last Oceania cruise, we paid for the alcoholic package ahead of time. Trying to decide what to do for our upcoming 7 day cruise. We are not big drinkers, but DH likes not having to sign for a drink with the package.

[Noxequifans]

We did fine some favorable pricing of these services. Specifically, on one of our Asia cruises we found the several pre-cruise excursions in Beijing reasonable and excellent. And when I have a (men's) haircut at the spa it is cheaper than at home.

 

While I agree the pricing in general is high there are trade offs - no cost for the specialty restaurants, outstanding food, etc.

[ORV]

Well, some of us, at least some of the lucky ones, have shipboard credit to use due to our loyalty status and/or use of a good travel agent. That makes it easier to book excursions despite the high price.

 

Generally, though, we prefer to arrange or make our own adventures. In many of the ports, car rental and driving are easy (assuming you book at the correct port!) and private tours (whether totally private or shared with a small group of fellow cruisers) are available. Ship-arranged excursions are certainly convenient, but no, they're not cheap, especially on Oceania!

 

I agree that the spa treatments are expensive, but they do seem pretty popular, so I guess plenty of people feel they're worthwhile! I'm just not a spa person, so I've never tried one - or been treated to a hard sell afterwards!

 

We may be the only twosome on the planet to walk off an Oceania cruise with no balance due, but I can assure you it IS possible, despite drink, spa and excursion prices. And quite honestly, last month I found what they were charging for a domestic beer was no more than what I pay at a bar or restaurant where I live. I don't know how much a beer costs on other cruise ships, but Oceania's price certainly seemed reasonable.

 

I can guarantee you that you aren't the only ones getting off the ship with no balance due. Quite a few Oceania regulars wind up buying things in the boutique or jewelry store to use up that OBC. Also quite a few are getting complimentary spa treatments. At the repeaters party pay attention to how many have more than 15 cruises. On my cruises it's always more than I expect.

[LHT28]

Is there currently a thread discussing the cost of the alcoholic drink package versus the cost of drinks (beer included?)

 

On our last Oceania cruise, we paid for the alcoholic package ahead of time. Trying to decide what to do for our upcoming 7 day cruise. We are not big drinkers, but DH likes not having to sign for a drink with the package.

Check out the Preisman's blog with bar menus with pricing it will give you a comparison to what you drink in a day to the Package deal

http://www.thepreismans.com/riviera16_menus.htm#main_bar

[Paulchili]

I can guarantee you that you aren't the only ones getting off the ship with no balance due. Quite a few Oceania regulars wind up buying things in the boutique or jewelry store to use up that OBC. Also quite a few are getting complimentary spa treatments. At the repeaters party pay attention to how many have more than 15 cruises. On my cruises it's always more than I expect.

 

+1 - we often buy things in the boutiques/jewelry store to spend the OBC

Never mind over 15 cruises - more like 20+ cruises is fairly common now.

We know 3 couples that have over 50 cruises - there certainly could be more by now :D

[English Tim]

Hi,

 

Were you onboard 16 - 26 October? We were on that cruise.

 

Ian

 

Indeed we were and with $800 obc we upgraded our included basic drinks package, paid our grats, had a massage and at end of cruises they owed us $3.

 

I certainly don't think the very limited extra stuff the butler does is worth the extra $7 pppd.

 

We would cruise O again if the price and package were right.

 

Next cruise will be our first on Crystal, after that who knows?

[roothy123]

Yeah, we're "only" silver but even so, I ended up in the store on this past cruise. I was hoping to use the credit on excursions, but I like planning my own, plus an O excursion I was interested in fell through, so booking excursions ended up being more difficult than I expected.

 

I have to say that I AM glad that cruise ships offer excursions (expensive or not) as we've been to a couple of places where there was nothing to book on our own - not even a cab at the pier or car rental in town. For example, when we were in Havre Saint Pierre (Quebec province), absolutely nothing was available to independent travelers because tours stopped in September. (Believe me, I looked long and hard.) A boat tour I wanted there was $149 from Oceania, so off I went. A crisis was averted and a shipboard credit balance went down!

[Caroldoll]

It costs more than that in Newport Beach.

 

Facials are less on Oceania for us too. I always have one on a cruise. The spa is good.

[bitob]

I think the spa is overpriced. It is a good way to spend nonrefundable obc

 

As for shorex -- that's why roll calls on o cruises tend to be far busier than those of other lines. Many Oceania regulars only book private excursions and the find people to share with on the roll call

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Iamthesea]

Check out the Preisman's blog with bar menus with pricing it will give you a comparison to what you drink in a day to the Package deal

http://www.thepreismans.com/riviera16_menus.htm#main_bar

 

Thank you. I did not realize that they had taken another Oceania cruise recently. I assume the package prices have not changed?

[LHT28]

Thank you. I did not realize that they had taken another Oceania cruise recently. I assume the package prices have not changed?

Their cruise was in March

I do not think the package deal has changed since your last cruise

[jo-b]

Currently on Riviera and the boutiques are jam packed with people desperate to spend OBC! and we have had a number of late departures and in Monte Carlo the shops didn't open as we sailed at 11pm.

 

This was a cruise offered with free internet and two of the other choices not one, so lots of people have OBC and a drinks package and the shops have very little stock left!

 

Regarding the marketing we have actually had a call from an Oceania agent in Firt Lauderdale whilst on the cruise about a cruise we had looked at online, and booked onboard already!!

Edited November 1, 2016 by jo-b

[roothy123]

Hope these questions aren't too far off topic, but:

 

For those who use the spa, I'm curious, as I've never used the spa: If I wait until a couple days before the end of the cruise, am I likely to be able to get an appointment early morning or late afternoon (on a port day) in the spa for a basic massage? What about for a hair cut or manicure or something like that? Also, do they have basic skin care products I could purchase?

 

What about if I have shipboard credit and want to buy a transfer to the airport? I know they need to have advance notice on that, but just wanted to verify that shipboard credit could be used. I'm weighing advantages of taking shipboard credit for O Life versus choosing the excursions.

[Iamthesea]

Their cruise was in March

I do not think the package deal has changed since your last cruise

 

Thanks! I think it would be best to buy a package for me, because when I do drink, I have mixed drinks or wine. DH drinks beer and wine, and an occasional Pina Colada.. He'd be better off buying by the drink, I think.:rolleyes:

 

Currently on Riviera and the boutiques are jam packed with people desperate to spend OBC! and we have had a number of late departures and in Monte Carlo the shops didn't open as we sailed at 11pm.

 

This was a cruise offered with free internet and two of the other choices not one, so lots of people have OBC and a drinks package and the shops have very little stock left!

 

Regarding the marketing we have actually had a call from an Oceania agent in Firt Lauderdale whilst on the cruise about a cruise we had looked at online, and booked onboard already!!

 

We will have 600 OBC and Free Internet. Plan to use the OBC for drinks, gratuities. Perhaps a massage for DH, and/or an excursion.

 

l but one of the ports are doable on our own, and we have been to all but Harvest Cay, Belize. Although we have been to Belize a couple of times with other cruiselines, we are not sure what is available there.

Edited November 1, 2016 by Iamthesea

[roothy123]

l but one of the ports are doable on our own, and we have been to all but Harvest Cay, Belize. Although we have been to Belize a couple of times with other cruiselines, we are not sure what is available there.

 

We haven't been to Harvest Cay, so I also don't know what's there. However, if it's like Belize City, you may want to take a ship's excursion. I don't typically do too many ship's excursions, but in Belize City, I did, and really enjoyed one of the excursions to Mayan ruins. But since you've been to Belize before, you probably already know that!

[LHT28]

Hope these questions aren't too far off topic, but:

 

For those who use the spa, I'm curious, as I've never used the spa: If I wait until a couple days before the end of the cruise, am I likely to be able to get an appointment early morning or late afternoon (on a port day) in the spa for a basic massage? What about for a hair cut or manicure or something like that? Also, do they have basic skin care products I could purchase?

 

What about if I have shipboard credit and want to buy a transfer to the airport? I know they need to have advance notice on that, but just wanted to verify that shipboard credit could be used. I'm weighing advantages of taking shipboard credit for O Life versus choosing the excursions.

It depends on how busy the spa is if you can get an appt ...book it ahead of time if you want to do a treatment the last day or so then you will be sure to get a time slot

I went the last full day to get my polish removed booked the appt the night before no ploblem

They do have products there to buy as well as the shops, they have some nice foot creams that I did not see in the main shops

[ORV]

Hope these questions aren't too far off topic, but:

 

For those who use the spa, I'm curious, as I've never used the spa: If I wait until a couple days before the end of the cruise, am I likely to be able to get an appointment early morning or late afternoon (on a port day) in the spa for a basic massage? What about for a hair cut or manicure or something like that? Also, do they have basic skin care products I could purchase?

 

What about if I have shipboard credit and want to buy a transfer to the airport? I know they need to have advance notice on that, but just wanted to verify that shipboard credit could be used. I'm weighing advantages of taking shipboard credit for O Life versus choosing the excursions.

 

As far as the OBC, it's generally good for anything except the casino.

[Iamthesea]

We haven't been to Harvest Cay, so I also don't know what's there. However, if it's like Belize City, you may want to take a ship's excursion. I don't typically do too many ship's excursions, but in Belize City, I did, and really enjoyed one of the excursions to Mayan ruins. But since you've been to Belize before, you probably already know that!

 

The first time, we were either docked or tender (been a long time) in Belieze City. Scary place. We had an excursion booked with the cruiseline to Bannister Island. Beautiful and fun day. The island is now privately owned and no longer a destination with cruiselines.

 

The second time we tendered into a private port area owned by RCCL. Kind of boring.

 

I looked up Harvest Cay. WOW! Privately owned, and currently being developed by NCL.

 

It may not even be ready when we cruise in February. Opening date is suppose to be this month. If it is open, it sounds like a nice relaxing beach day and no need for an excursion. If it is not open in time, I wonder where Oceania will take us???

[mjobtx]

There has been several posters mentioning the spa. I might have missed it but everyday the spa has some special. My wife and I have taken advantages of the reduced cost specials several times and there has always been availability.

[English Tim]

There has been several posters mentioning the spa. I might have missed it but everyday the spa has some special. My wife and I have taken advantages of the reduced cost specials several times and there has always been availability.

 

Most Europeans seem to thing even the spa specials are very expensive, whereas the Americans either don't want to admit it, or they are used to paying such high prices. My usual treatment at home costs about $40. Similar treatment on ship costs about 4 x as much!