Just got my documents from Oceania…

[Stockjock]

As mentioned previously, I’ll be taking my girlfriend on an upcoming cruise for her 60th birthday. She’s put up with me for 10 years, and it’s a milestone birthday, so I figured why not?

 

This will be our first cruise on Oceania. We’re not entirely sure what to expect. I’m concerned that it might be a little boring for her, but there’s only one way to find out.

 

Just got the documents and I do like how they do this. It’s kind of old school, but that’s probably a good thing. I guess my only really minor gripe would be that they give me pre-printed luggage tags and they don’t give them to her. I’m not talking about the tag itself, but the cardboard insert that goes into the tag. But other than that, I think it’s well done. 

 

I guess I make my specialty reservations next weekend, so this should be interesting. I hope she likes it, but if she doesn’t, the price is right for her, since I’m paying for it, lol.

 

I wasn’t going to do the drink package, but I’m thinking about adding it. I booked under O Life and stripped everything out, but by the time I futz with bringing wine onboard and paying corkage charges, I don’t know maybe it’s better just to go with the drink package. I do have about $550 OBC that I could put towards it, so if anyone has any thoughts on that, let me know. 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 07:38 PM by Stockjock

[MEFIowa]

You should make your specialty restaurant reservations as soon as you can. Don't delay or delay any longer. IF you can make them, do it. Be advised that you will most likely find "better times" available if you share a table.

 

Do note that you can bring beer and hard liquor on board, as well as wine. I do this at embarkation and in ports. But drink any beer or hard liquor in your cabin. And you're aware of the corkage fee to drink your own wine in their restaurants.

 

Looks like you're on Sirena. Just spent 22 nights on her in the Baltic, a B2B, in an inside F and a big C. What cabin level are you in? (The bathrooms can be smallish and people often complain about the showers.)

 

READ your CURRENTS each night, the daily "newspaper", that tells you what all will happen, when and where.

[goletans]

My advice exactly.

[Stockjock]

5 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

You should make your specialty restaurant reservations as soon as you can. Don't delay or delay any longer. IF you can make them, do it. Be advised that you will most likely find "better times" available if you share a table.

 

Do note that you can bring beer and hard liquor on board, as well as wine. I do this at embarkation and in ports. But drink any beer or hard liquor in your cabin. And you're aware of the corkage fee to drink your own wine in their restaurants.

 

Looks like you're on Sirena. Just spent 22 nights on her in the Baltic, a B2B, in an inside F and a big C. What cabin level are you in? (The bathrooms can be smallish and people often complain about the showers.)

 

READ your CURRENTS each night, the daily "newspaper", that tells you what all will happen, when and where.

We're in one of the larger C1 oceanview cabins in the front of the ship.  There was about an $800+ price differential from the C1 to the veranda, so I figured C1 would be "good enough", and I liked the larger size of the cabin.

[MEFIowa]

1 minute ago, Stockjock said:

We're in one of the larger C1 oceanview cabins in the front of the ship.  There was about an $800+ price differential from the C1 to the veranda, so I figured C1 would be "good enough", and I liked the larger size of the cabin.

We were in 7055 (F) and 7006 ( big C1). The 4 big C1s are fantastic. So much extra room that I could just open my luggage and leave it mostly open laying on the floor.

 

The launderette (6 washers & 6 dryers, free) is on deck 7, aft. Opens around 0700. Free laundry detergent. We were on vacation for 30 days, including the 22 nights on Sirena, so we did a lot of laundry on Sirena.

[sitraveler]

Your girlfriend will probably get her own package.  My brother got his a day after I got mine. 

[MEFIowa]

And one "small" thing, pun intended... The pool is small, more for walking around rather than swimming. (We didn't use it or the hot tubs near it on our recent Baltic cruise, though we did when we were on her in the E. Carib 11/2022.)

[AMHuntFerry]

@Stockjock It looks like we're on the same cruise! We booked in August since the spouse was needing a vacation to look forward to...should be fun! We usually avoid the 7-dayers since they tend to be a bit more "lively" than we like, but hopefully this means there will be some energy to keep your GF entertained.

I also expect she'll get her luggage tags soon.

WRT the drink package, there is the fiscal reason and the I-don't-want-to-think-about-it reason. If you just want to get what you want when you want it whether it's a "deal" or not, the package is the way to go (although it doesn't include high end things like high-year scotch or the tasting events). If you want to run the numbers, the package price includes the 20% grats; there is happy hour (2 of the same drink for the price of 1) at ~5-6pm and ~10:30-11:30 pm in Horizons and/or Martinis; most drinks are around $12-$14 plus 20% grat.; there is at least one evening (Capt.'s party on I would 99% bet on the first sea day, day 2 in this case) when drinks will be free at the party and at Horizons/Martinis; you can buy the package on day 3 if that makes more sense for you (e.g., you won't be sitting by the pool downing 2+ tropical drinks on day 1 and 2).

Edited Sunday at 09:04 PM by AMHuntFerry

[ORV]

Just got my documents also for a Dec cruise and there are two inserts with my name and two with my wife's name. Did you get 2 or 4 inserts? 

 

The problem with a drink package is that I drink too much. Oh wait, I drink too much either way. LOL. I kind of like the Simply More plan, I'm fine with the wine & beer at lunch and dinner and supplementing that with a drink in the room, Captain's Party, Repeaters Party, an upgraded wine when dining with officers or FCC, and an occasional 2 4 1 in Martinis at Happy Hour. 

[Stockjock]

39 minutes ago, ORV said:

Just got my documents also for a Dec cruise and there are two inserts with my name and two with my wife's name. Did you get 2 or 4 inserts? 

 

The problem with a drink package is that I drink too much. Oh wait, I drink too much either way. LOL. I kind of like the Simply More plan, I'm fine with the wine & beer at lunch and dinner and supplementing that with a drink in the room, Captain's Party, Repeaters Party, an upgraded wine when dining with officers or FCC, and an occasional 2 4 1 in Martinis at Happy Hour. 

1 insert w/my name only.  So far, she hasn't received anything.

[FetaCheese]

23 minutes ago, Stockjock said:

1 insert w/my name only.  So far, she hasn't received anything.

@Stockjock

Curious, does your res include both pax?

[Stockjock]

3 minutes ago, FetaCheese said:

@Stockjock

Curious, does your res include both pax?

No, we live separately.  So far, she has not received anything at her address.

 

[Stockjock]

Since I'll be booking the specialty restaurants next weekend, are there any particularly good or bad days to do this?  I think I read that it was best to skip the first night, although I wasn't entirely sure as to why.

[ronrick1943]

2 hours ago, Stockjock said:

Since I'll be booking the specialty restaurants next weekend, are there any particularly good or bad days to do this?  I think I read that it was best to skip the first night, although I wasn't entirely sure as to why.

Sea days are a little busy--so you should make them asap.

[AMHuntFerry]

3 hours ago, Stockjock said:

Since I'll be booking the specialty restaurants next weekend, are there any particularly good or bad days to do this?  I think I read that it was best to skip the first night, although I wasn't entirely sure as to why.

The advice goes along the lines of "it's easy to pick up an extra specialty rez on the 1st night so don't use an advance rez." However, it's a 7-day cruise and it's wait-listed so reservations are going to be on the difficult (to be picky) end of the spectrum even if you are a late (8:00+) diner (which may be OK since you will be on a PT eating schedule) and willing to share. I agree with ronrick that sea days are often the hardest to obtain. Normally we are just as happy to eat in the GDR (or Terrace if there is a good "chef's night"). We do not follow the don't-book-the-first-night rule since we like to start off the cruise in a specialty and don't usually care about getting additional nights.

[PoppyVelvet]

We are on Insignia soon. The pack arrived a few weeks ago and had two pre-printed tags each in it. 

[islabahia]

Our documents came Friday with 2 sets of luggage tags (2 for hubby and 2 for me).

 

I was so excited and it was a great way to take a break from Hurricane Milton cleanup. 😀

[ORV]

18 hours ago, Stockjock said:

1 insert w/my name only.  So far, she hasn't received anything.

I have one sheet with 4 inserts. You only have enough inserts for 1 bag?

[1985rz1]

17 hours ago, Stockjock said:

No, we live separately.  So far, she has not received anything at her address.

 

Do you each have separate booking numbers, or are you both on the same booking number?

 

Both of us are on the same booking number and our advance packets had always had 2 printed paper tags each.

[Cruzin Terri]

Just make some copies and insert them in the luggage tag.  

Not a big deal.

Terri

[FetaCheese]

@Stockjock

Are you on the 19 NOV 2025 Sirena ?  Have not seen you on Roll Call, but Roll call is really not well attended.  Thanks

[Stockjock]

15 minutes ago, FetaCheese said:

@Stockjock

Are you on the 19 NOV 2025 Sirena ?  Have not seen you on Roll Call, but Roll call is really not well attended.  Thanks

No, it's in December.

[Stockjock]

4 hours ago, 1985rz1 said:

Do you each have separate booking numbers, or are you both on the same booking number?

 

Both of us are on the same booking number and our advance packets had always had 2 printed paper tags each.

Same booking number, but different addresses.

[Stockjock]

Another question, in the MDR are there some evenings that are "Gala" or special?  When we cruise elsewhere, I try not to book specialty restaurants on the formal or gala nights, as I don't want to miss the better than usual food there.

[FetaCheese]

5 minutes ago, Stockjock said:

Another question, in the MDR are there some evenings that are "Gala" or special?  When we cruise elsewhere, I try not to book specialty restaurants on the formal or gala nights, as I don't want to miss the better than usual food there.

No formal or gala nights, but night prior to last night ( back in the day on other cruise lines, used to be called Captain's Farewell), they may have an upgraded menu.

Edited Monday at 10:03 PM by FetaCheese