Flatbush Flyer

For us, it’s several types of local salsa made with fresh ingredients (almost all are local). Even the chips (and tortillas) are all small local outfits. No butter though- too gross and I’m pretty sure it’s a misdemeanor if you’re caught putting it on any kind of chip.

AMEN!

A six month ATW for $14K? LOL!

Let me guess: Pace Picante? 😳

The last thing O will ever do is to copycat a mainstream line like Viking - especially when it comes to food).

Again, there are different cookies in different venues. And it’s very easy to erroneously pick up a diet cookie in the Terrace Café. Try the regular Barista’s cookies and you’ll find what you’re looking for. That said, you should also ask to speak with the pastry chef next time you’re onboard.

There’s lots of authorities in the mix (beyond O, a country, a state or province and even a local municipality. If you read O’s T&Cs and Ticket Contract, you’ll seen the disclaimer that you are responsible for meeting ALL authoritative requirements.

O uses imported French butter in baking. Pasta is made with #1 Semolina.

Most importantly: “Pay a TA?” RIDICULOUS. The cruise line is already paying them for doing the cruise line’s work. And the best TAs would NEVER charge you a fee!!! In fact, my preferred TAs share their commissions in the form of a rebate or refundable SBC. Overnight stays at start (BCN) and finish (FCO)? Make that multiple land days to two of the best ports to visit for, at least, 3 days each. For insurance, use a travel broker like Insuremytrip.com (excellent) and get a comprehensive policy to dovetail with your normal health et al. insurance overage. Disregard any suggestions here regarding specific insurance companies since YOUR needs and preferences are all that matters.

Agreed. Caribbean is a waste of time, energy and money. Head to the Pacific (and even Indian) Ocean.

If you are sure you don’t want the booze or tours perks, there’s zero reason to take O Life. Instead, do Cruise Only w/wo air. Do the math: The difference in fare price is exactly the value of the SBC perk and that SBC Is non-refundable. It’s a “wash” but not in your favor due to being non-refundable.

At Tahiti, the Intercontinental is a far better property than the Hilton. And, if you’re an ICH FF, contact them beforehand if you want a day room at a reasonable cost.

See something? Say something!

If you choose a Premium line like Oceania, you also get a menu of inclusivity so you don’t need to pay for what you don’t want. Always do the bottom line math in cruise price comparisons (all required and optionally desired costs - even airfare or air credit) and you’ll find that the true value in the combo of quantity and quality on Premium lines is unbeatable.

Plus 1. Cookies in Terrace are mostly “sugar free.” Barista’s are regular and far better in taste.

Of course, the “opportunity” will most likely involve a price adjustment or rebooking to reflect the more expensive version for all three items.

FWIW: I have previously posted here (about a zillion times) that the O website’s excursions section (and particularly the “cart”) is very “glitchy” (as well as being unable to do all the necessary transactions, e.g., book two tours per person on the same day, cancel tours, etc). In addition, the updating of the web tour contents is on a different schedule than the “shore excursions” PDF updates. Plus what an O phone rep can see in his system (perhaps the most “accurate” source of them all since it determines what can/can’t be entered into a manual transaction) strongly suggests that it is most efficacious to always do your tour bookings over the phone. We all know how complicated can be the combination of O Life and YWYW. And recognizing that even some of the best TAs can get confused with it, I always recommend that folks find one of the better/long serving O phone reps and book direct. (BTW, get his/her direct contact info for future use) and always get a copy of the “prepurchased shore excursions” PDF!!!

Within a week of disembarkation, you’ll get a form to fill out regarding your plans (and any needs) for leaving. Along with that, you’ll possibly get a combo offering for tour(s) and transfers. Those continuing on a next segment will get their own form with “changeover” day tours listed.

See pic for what your script font looks like on an iPhone. Perhaps you could choose a more readable font(?).

Kimpton Palladian. Two blocks from Pike’s Place Market on the waterfront.

I use a broker that many folks here use: InsureMyTrip.com. I suggest that you contact them because picking the right insurance for your circumstances can be complicated. The licensed agent with whom you speak can help you get to a short list of possibles that address your needs and desires.

No need to get them back from O. Our cruise insurance choices usually include “missed port” coverage (amount varies from company to company). I just get a letter from Guest Services citing the situation and and submit a claim. BTW: the TA version of an O invoice includes a line item for “gov’t fees and taxes.”

There’s two sides to that port fees item. Are you not aware that if O chooses to cancel a port en route, some of the port related expenses may be non-refundable (e.g., tugs, longshoremen, port agents….)? And yet, if O is able to substitute another port, passengers are charged nothing for the new fees and taxes.

I’m only concerned about travel and hospitality providers with whom I regularly deal. Saves lots of wasted time and energy. As for understanding the bigger cruise picture, I guess I am somewhat fortunate enough that my professional life pre-retirement involved a portfolio that criss-crossed both the hospitality and maritime industry in broad strokes….. ……That said, when it comes to TAs who keep clients in the dark about the source of certain perks, the ones I’d recommend avoiding are those who go one step beyond and suggest that amenities regularly provided by the cruise line (to all passengers) or via their consortium are coming from their own pockets.

FWIW: Like “preferred partner” TAs, O also has some favorite consortia.