Oceania Protocols announced 7/28/2021

[Laszlo]

On 7/31/2021 at 10:39 AM, gentlemancruiser said:

Final payment is due Sept 24th.   Deposit was paid last May.    The agent said the deposit is non refundable.  I could apply transfer it to another cruise, which I replied could be cancelled or changed again, nobody knows. 

I explained I was considered fully vaccinated by the Canadian government and it was Oceania policy which wasn't developed at the time of booking, so I want my $2000 back!  Don't change the rules in the middle of the game and expect everyone to be in compliance!!! 

 

I'm going to phone Miami on Monday and escalate it.      

Thats crazy, I never heard of a deposit being Non refundable. Hopefully that is not the case, because we are probably going to cancel our cruise for January

[Laszlo]

From my TA......   

Oceania is fully refundable until 120 days prior to sailing 

[LHT28]

38 minutes ago, Laszlo said:

From my TA......   

Oceania is fully refundable until 120 days prior to sailing 

On cruises 14 days or less

 https://oceaniacruises.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005306234-What-is-your-cancellation-and-refund-policy-

 

[Robjame]

Once again - you have contractual policy on page 2 of your Oceania Cruises statement. It outlines all applicable penalty dates.

 

If your TA did not forward the statement from Oceania - she is playing games. Find a new TA.

2 hours ago, Laszlo said:

Oceania is fully refundable until 120 days prior to sailing 

Different dates for different length cruises as LHT28 said above.

[mauibabes]

Just talked to my O Specialist to confirm the Penalty date.  Since our Riviera trips in October and November have 60 day Final Payments, all those normal penalty dates in past notifications collapse. 100% refund at 61 days, FP at 60 and then the penalties kick in. If you are covered by the Oceania TAP, you still have cancellation ability to weeks before sailing with a Full Refund.  
 

We will  just proceed as normal with our pre trip preparations and get a Covid test 72 hours before flying to Istanbul and then we will be tested at the Terminal as part of the Embarkation process. 
A new wrinkle will come if a Booster shot is rolled out. Do we  mix or don’t mix vaccines, when will it be available and when would we need to have booster vaccinations? We are sitting here about 75 days out and there are still many decisions to be made by others that impact out travel planning.  Bottom line, remain flexible and don’t get our knickers in a twist. JMHO 

Gerry

[samiam99]

 

Actually you can have mixed vaccines in some cases. Its on O web page so you can look up the particulars. 

[mauibabes]

Only US based sailings are restricted, foreign sailings allow for mixed vaccines on Oceania. 
when the CDC finally issues their proclamation on boosters, then we will know how to proceed. Since we started with Moderna, we will use a Moderna booster, IF there is one. The booster issue could easily force allowing mixed vaccinations. 
G

[Flatbush Flyer]

On 7/28/2021 at 7:19 PM, Clutj said:

Any guesses as to why culinary center has reduced capacity?  Never seemed crowded to me, not any more than any restaurant… 

The work stations are not as far apart as you may think and each one serves two people. Using every other station (and perhaps staggering the rows) makes a lot of preventative sense.

[Eloise4Ever]

On 7/31/2021 at 3:24 PM, LHT28 said:

really??

How long is your cruise ?

 You may not get the admin fee back  but it can be used at a later date

https://oceaniacruises.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005306234-What-is-your-cancellation-and-refund-policy-

 

Or were you using an FCC?

 

On 7/31/2021 at 4:15 PM, Robjame said:

Your full deposit is refundable up until the penalty phase of your reservation - for you August 24. August 24 - September 24 - $350 admin charge pp (CDN) which can be applied to a further cruise.

 

‘Exceptions would be if you paid with a cruise credit or if the cruise is a really long one. Lean on your TA.

 

Thanks folks, I am encouraged to see these statements. I have paid a deposit (no FCC) on a 10 night cruise which was due to sail from Venice in November. I interpreted the word "may" in the Oceania wording below to mean "is permitted" however my TA has advised me that it means Oceania "may" keep the Admin Fee or they "may" make an exception and allow it to be applied to a future cruise. If I am interpreting your posts correctly, it seems that it's custom and practice to convert the fee to an FCC.

 

 

[LHT28]

2 hours ago, Eloise4Ever said:

. If I am interpreting your posts correctly, it seems that it's custom and practice to convert the fee to an FCC.

 

Exactly

If you plan to cancel  do it before  the 120 day mark for  a full refund

See the link above in post # 53

[Eloise4Ever]

12 hours ago, LHT28 said:

Exactly

If you plan to cancel  do it before  the 120 day mark for  a full refund

See the link above in post # 53

 

Apologies, I didn't make myself clear. We are past the 120 day mark and I would be happy with the Admin Fee being converted to an FCC. The point I was trying to make is that my TA says that Oceania will not automatically do that and may decide to keep the fee. The posts I quoted in my post #59 seem to state that the Admin Fee is always converted to an FCC so I wanted to check on that.

[LHT28]

54 minutes ago, Eloise4Ever said:

 

Apologies, I didn't make myself clear. We are past the 120 day mark and I would be happy with the Admin Fee being converted to an FCC. The point I was trying to make is that my TA says that Oceania will not automatically do that and may decide to keep the fee. The posts I quoted in my post #59 seem to state that the Admin Fee is always converted to an FCC so I wanted to check on that.

sorry misunderstood your previous post

 We have usually cancelled before the 120 day  so maybe someone caught  in that window  can clarify

 

[pinotlover]

To get back on subject.

 

We just returned from a delightful three week trip to Europe, including a two week cruise. Perhaps delightful except for the weather, but July has always been a rainy month.

 

Some Covid requirements are outside of the control of cruise lines and dictated by the countries. One example was a country mandatory Covid test preformed within 72 hours of boarding the ship. We went over a week early, so therefore had to arrange for a test preboarding. Not difficult to do, but an added burden.

 

The country you are in sets mask mandates, the ships must comply while in their waters. If the country mandates masks be worn aboard ship under X circumstances, then you wear masks. Simple, but not always pleasant.

 

Speaking of wearing masks, the rules are all over the place and every jurisdiction has its own rules. Expect to wear masks everywhere indoors and on public transport including tour buses. Period. Outside is a mismatch. Some outside high pedestrian areas, markets and busy pedestrian streets, often require masks. The areas are marked. Some counties you enter may require masks everywhere, while the next county doesn’t. Rules change daily, the tour guides tell you when you get there what the rules of the days are. Expect to carry your passport and Covid vaccination card everywhere.

 

There is no expectation, by the local population, that the mask requirements will change, or be dropped in 2021 or probably 2022. Don’t expect or predict much change in this area.Those are long masked days flying back and forth, especially with the airport layovers.

 

Despite all of this, we had a marvelous three weeks, but the military taught me years ago to “ roll with the punches “. I believe most other travelers with us had the same feelings. However, if all of these conditions and uncertainties are something you can’t handle, I suggest you cancel now and save yourself the anguish. Things aren’t going to change in the near future, accept it, and act accordingly. It’s not the cruise lines fault, nor the tour guides/operators fault. Every National and local bureaucrat gets their say. Sail or cancel, there are people on the waitlist wanting your spot. Anxiety is now your fault for refusing to make a decision when presented the fact.

[Hunding]

Thanks, pinotlover.

[PhD-iva]

13 minutes ago, Hunding said:

Thanks, pinotlover.

+1!

[mauibabes]

Pinot

What line and what countries? We have a lot of the Med and Aegean on our upcoming cruise but then everyday can change things. 
Thanks, 

Gerry

[Roccaforte]

“While in their waters”.  Are you saying that even after the ship has left port but still close to shore, passengers are required to wear a mask onboard?  Seems like bureaucratic overreach to me.

[Paulchili]

6 hours ago, Roccaforte said:

“While in their waters”.  Are you saying that even after the ship has left port but still close to shore, passengers are required to wear a mask onboard?  Seems like bureaucratic overreach to me.

Just remember that the borders of a country are NOT defined by its coastline -water and air space surrounding them belongs to them as well for a given distance.

[pinotlover]

17 hours ago, Roccaforte said:

“While in their waters”.  Are you saying that even after the ship has left port but still close to shore, passengers are required to wear a mask onboard?  Seems like bureaucratic overreach to me.

What I was specifically referring to is “ while tied up to the dock” on board, in side, activities require being masked per governmental regulations. Activities such as walking around inside the ship, sitting in Horizons or common areas not eating or drinking, attending enrichment lectures, playing Trivia, attending a show in the Lounge, cooking demonstrations, etc, etc. 

 

What the ship does at sea is one thing, what it must do at port is another. However, the line may choose not to have different protocols depending upon whether at dock or sea, and establish a single protocol, especially if that requirement is standard amount it’s ports. Hopefully that’s more clear now.

[Roccaforte]

That makes more sense.  However, I still don’t like the idea.  The ship feels like our own little world and outside interference and regulations are difficult to accept.  I guess we’ll all just have to follow Oceania’s rules.  If I eat and drink non-stop to avoid the mask issue I should be okay😎.

[Aloha 1]

3 hours ago, Roccaforte said:

That makes more sense.  However, I still don’t like the idea.  The ship feels like our own little world and outside interference and regulations are difficult to accept.  I guess we’ll all just have to follow Oceania’s rules.  If I eat and drink non-stop to avoid the mask issue I should be okay😎.

Ah, but your waistline may not be! 🙂

 

[libert1]

I like that idea.  Eat, drink, and eat some more!!!!!!!!

[cotto22]

13 hours ago, libert1 said:

I like that idea.  Eat, drink, and eat some more!!!!!!!!

Thinking back, I do spend a lot of time in public spaces eating and drinking. The only time I am not is when I am walking to and from someplace where I will be eating and drinking, lol.

 

[Harters]

2 hours ago, cotto22 said:

The only time I am not

Leaving aside the sleeping issue,  isn't there also the time wen you're thinking about where you might eat and drink and what you might eat and drink. Then, after you've eaten and drunk, isn't there also the time when you have to reflect on what you've eaten and drunk. So much to do, so little time

[Rrehfe4969@aol.com]

Oceania just sent august 29 th cruisers on marina an e mail advising that Russia is closed and itinerary will change and masks are required on ship at all times even outside unless eating or drinking and those cruisers can cancel up until 14 days before cruise but must use fcc on cruise sailing before dec 31 2022. More to come I am sure

 Richard