CHANGE IS AS GOOD AS ?? 2011 WAS A GREAT CHANGE FOR US!! BE POSITIVE AND ENJOY LIFE

[aussietwo]

We are among the lucky ones who have been able to holiday whenever we choose wherever we choose.  Prior to Oceania we had spent holidays on land in 10 different overseas countries and 13 cruises with several other cruise companies and had set foot on every continent.   We were extremely pleased to find Cruise Critic as we really enjoyed planning tours with like minded people.  In 2011 we had our first cruise with Oceania on the Nautica to the Middle East through the Suez Canal.  We joined amazing private tours organised through cc.  Next adventure was to the Amazon which was the first time Oceania sailed there so we felt like explorers setting up tours there.  Wherever we cruised we enjoyed setting up tours with cc folk and as a result we literally have friends from all over the world.

 

in July 2016 O’Life was introduced.  I can remember people on the next cruise getting upset about missing out on the O’Life amenities and cancelling cruises they booked prior.  In Australia Cruise Only was not an option so we had to choose which O’Life amenity we wanted and we chose the tours.  The numbers of people posting on cc really dropped off and very few people organised tours which we missed.  Then last year O’Life changed to Simply More.  Now that has changed and we will be back to arranging private tours.  I am hoping the number of folk joining roll calls will increase to reflect the change.  
 

We have spent 416 days spread over all 7 of Oceania’s ships.  We have been on other Cruise lines when we have joined family bookings but we feel very much that we belong to the Oceania family.   Over the years I have organised many M&G and I am hoping that some of the many people we have met will drop in and do a post to say hello.    This thread is for positive posts and I hope a “happy reunion”. Other threads have provided the opportunity for people to express their negative thoughts about the current changes.  It is what it is.  Live life and be happy and the world will seem a much better place.  Cheers Ros🙂

[AMHuntFerry]

Hi Ros! It's been about a year since we said goodbye in the Long Beach airport where you were starting your travel to visit friends all over North America. We really enjoyed that Vancouver-Alaska-Long Beach cruise, especially starting off with the M&G you set up (and we got to meet O/CC rockstars!). We would have gone again this year to say farewell to Regatta on the Alaska route, but a family wedding conflicted. We hope you are well and enjoying your current travels - Richie and Kathleen

[FetaCheese]

Hello @aussietwo

Enjoyed meeting you on Regatta Alaska September 2023.  Thanks for arranging the Meet and Greet.  What a wonderful cruise it was.

Best regards to you and your husband.

[mauibabes]

Ditto Ros,

Change can be tough, especially for us “mature” adults. O Life lasted 7 years but was deemed too difficult for some to select one of three options or even Cruise Only. Simply more was short lived, because it was a different approach and again not easy enough. Come October 1, a new roll out and it won’t be well accepted either. Change is tough 😇. Everyone will have to take a breath and make their decisions about itineraries and costs. We, like you, really like our Oceania family, staff and guests. We have met so many wonderful people from all over the world and you can’t just make a spreadsheet entry to value those friendships when deciding to sail or not. 
 

We missed meeting you in Miami after your October Vista trip with Bruce and Marilyn. Maybe on a future cruise we will connect. We have some booked on Riviera and Marina and Allura. Stay well and we all know we are blessed. 
Mauibabes

[aussietwo]

8 hours ago, AMHuntFerry said:

Hi Ros! It's been about a year since we said goodbye in the Long Beach airport where you were starting your travel to visit friends all over North America. We really enjoyed that Vancouver-Alaska-Long Beach cruise, especially starting off with the M&G you set up (and we got to meet O/CC rockstars!). We would have gone again this year to say farewell to Regatta on the Alaska route, but a family wedding conflicted. We hope you are well and enjoying your current travels - Richie and Kathleen

G’Day Richie & Kathleen.  All went well with our trip over North America.  We visited friends at Incline in Nevada then on to Montana both very scenic.  We then flew to Montreal and cruised to Miami on the Vista.  Other friends met us when we were in port in New York.  Finally after disembarking we flew to Orange County to spend time with more friends there.  We were treated like royalty wherever we went.  All these folk met through cruising.  We have had the pleasure of showing several cc friends some of what Australia has to offer.  Cheers Ros🙂

[aussietwo]

On 9/8/2024 at 7:36 PM, FetaCheese said:

Hello @aussietwo

Enjoyed meeting you on Regatta Alaska September 2023.  Thanks for arranging the Meet and Greet.  What a wonderful cruise it was.

Best regards to you and your husband.

Hi   Fabulous Alaskan cruise this time last year.  Great to meet you both.  Cheers Ros🙂

[aussietwo]

6 hours ago, mauibabes said:

Ditto Ros,

Change can be tough, especially for us “mature” adults. O Life lasted 7 years but was deemed too difficult for some to select one of three options or even Cruise Only. Simply more was short lived, because it was a different approach and again not easy enough. Come October 1, a new roll out and it won’t be well accepted either. Change is tough 😇. Everyone will have to take a breath and make their decisions about itineraries and costs. We, like you, really like our Oceania family, staff and guests. We have met so many wonderful people from all over the world and you can’t just make a spreadsheet entry to value those friendships when deciding to sail or not. 
 

We missed meeting you in Miami after your October Vista trip with Bruce and Marilyn. Maybe on a future cruise we will connect. We have some booked on Riviera and Marina and Allura. Stay well and we all know we are blessed. 
Mauibabes

G’Day Gerry & Bonnie.  
We had originally booked on the cruise through the Panama Canal but after having had a cruise LA/Alaska/Tokyo cancelled, we decided to change to the Alaska cruise instead.  
 

Our next cruise is in November 2025 on the Riviera, Singapore to Sydney.  This cruise goes down the West Coast of Australia then along the South Coast including Tasmania then up the East Coast with lots of interesting Australian ports not often visited by Oceania.  It would be great if you could join us on that cruise.  It would be our pleasure to show you our wonderful country.  Cheers Ros & John 🙂🙂

[ORV]

Appreciate your positive attitude. 

[mauibabes]

@aussietwo

That definitely sounds like a very special itinerary, except we are doing the trip you took on the Vista Inaugural, Montreal to Miami with a bunch of friends into mid November on an Allura Inaugural cruise. We will keep a look out for a way to get “Down Under” again. 
Mauibabes, Bonnie and Gerry. 

[aussietwo]

Gerry are Bruce & Marilyn joining you on that Allura cruise.  Be sure to let me know if you come to Australia.  Cheers Ros🙂

[mauibabes]

They are doing a Nov. 4-14, 2024 Rome to BCN with us but not the Allura cruise, at least not yet.  Perhaps waiting on that decision till next year. We will definitely get in contact with you when we are heading your way. 
Mauibabes

[HilsTas]

Hey Ros!

 

Great positive vibes, thank you! 

 

I remember well us all running up that hill for the bus in Kristiansund when the ferry dropped us off at the wrong port 🤣 - lots of great and funny days thank you.  You are the very best tour organiser - how to best fill every minute of your time in port.  Never missed the ship yet.

 

best to you & John

 

Hilary xx

[SellaVee]

One of the things I have loved about an Oceania cruise is "meeting" people on the Roll Call and getting involved in private tours.  So many have been exceptional.  I have never done a ship's excursion on O.  I love private tours.

[aussietwo]

7 hours ago, HilsTas said:

Hey Ros!

 

Great positive vibes, thank you! 

 

I remember well us all running up that hill for the bus in Kristiansund when the ferry dropped us off at the wrong port 🤣 - lots of great and funny days thank you.  You are the very best tour organiser - how to best fill every minute of your time in port.  Never missed the ship yet.

 

best to you & John

 

Hilary xx

Hilary we had a lot of fun on the many private tours we did together.  Really enjoyed meeting you & John and Mike & Di.  We will be in Port Arthur & Hobart in April 2025 on a short cruise celebrating John’s BIG “O” (a surprise for him). Cheers Ros🙂

Edited September 10 by aussietwo

[HilsTas]

15 hours ago, aussietwo said:

Hilary we had a lot of fun on the many private tours we did together.  Really enjoyed meeting you & John and Mike & Di.  We will be in Port Arthur & Hobart in April 2025 on a short cruise celebrating John’s BIG “O” (a surprise for him). Cheers Ros🙂

A wonderful surprise!! Will be in touch x Hilary

[JDPCruisers]

On 9/8/2024 at 7:53 PM, mauibabes said:

Ditto Ros,

Change can be tough, especially for us “mature” adults. O Life lasted 7 years but was deemed too difficult for some to select one of three options or even Cruise Only. Simply more was short lived, because it was a different approach and again not easy enough. Come October 1, a new roll out and it won’t be well accepted either. Change is tough 😇. Everyone will have to take a breath and make their decisions about itineraries and costs. We, like you, really like our Oceania family, staff and guests. We have met so many wonderful people from all over the world and you can’t just make a spreadsheet entry to value those friendships when deciding to sail or not. 
 

We missed meeting you in Miami after your October Vista trip with Bruce and Marilyn. Maybe on a future cruise we will connect. We have some booked on Riviera and Marina and Allura. Stay well and we all know we are blessed. 
Mauibabes

Afraid I missed what the new roll-out on Oct1 involves? We will be new to Oceania in Jan/Feb on the Vista and very much looking forward to it.

[aussietwo]

On 9/12/2024 at 4:09 AM, JDPCruisers said:

Afraid I missed what the new roll-out on Oct1 involves? We will be new to Oceania in Jan/Feb on the Vista and very much looking forward to it.

As you are already booked there will be no change to your booking. Bookings made after Oct1 will include gratuities but excursion credit and wine/beer will not be included.  
 

I am sure you will love the Vista.  We thought it was lovely.  Cheers Ros🙂