Flatbush Flyer

And, in most cases, ship’s tour takers have priority (though the staff may mix some others (with time specific tender tix) in with the O tour takers.

The luggage tags are sent with the “blue book” cruise planner (which is no longer blue).

Worth noting that the “7 bottle” program (approx $40/bottle plus tip) is gone. The list to choose from on each cruise was mostly USD retail at home in the $10+\- range except for the occasional “loss leader” worth $20+\- USD. O finally figured out that savvy folks were only buying multiple bottles of the “loss leaders.” If your embark port is a good spot for wine buys, BYOB and pay the $25 corkage then replenish your supply at appropriate ports along your itinerary.

I disagree with that strategy. Very often, the best of the excursions (not unlike the cooking classes on the O ships) will be booked full far in advance.

Actually, if your tips are paid by O Club or by your TA (most often using OCAPP funding from Oceania), they’ll appear as a total debit, followed by a total credit, at some point during the cruise.

True! So many former Celebrity cruisers never look back.

Of course, that could change tomorrow.

We’re in SF and get double duty out of cruises from/to the eastern seaboard (in fact, doing a 3 week SF-NY cruise this summer on Oceania). We always add several land days in NY to Broadway Binge and eat our way across The City. That said, we do whatever we can to avoid Florida ports like Miami since “there’s just no there there.”

As aforementioned, the “default” (no formal organization M&G has long been post-muster (historically) or during Happy Hour (currently since no muster) on embarkation day in Horizons - starboard side across from the bar. Of course, if someone volunteers to “organize,” it can be as formal as the official O request pre-cruise or as simple as a notice here on CC and a mention to the O Club Ambassador or Exec Concierge (or better still, the GM if you are well acquainted). Any one of them can also “round up the usual suspects.” As for the Captain’s Welcome, it is not always the day after embarkation. In recent years, the focus appears to have been put on the first sea day (if there is one early on in the itinerary) or the earliest day with the earliest cruise away time. BTW, I’m basing these observations on personal experience of 2-3 multisegment O cruises each year and conversations with those GMs et al. with whom I am familiar.

The ship that will do our 6 Galapagos days, Isabella II, is 40 passengers and is a “local” company for which I’ve seen only great reviews. The 11 land days (mostly Belmond hotels) will include Lima/Miraflores, Cusco, 2 days at Machu Picchu, Quito and Guayaquil. We know Lima and always enjoy returning there. Aah! - Pisco Sours!

FWIW: we had M&Gs on Marina pre-Christmas and Regatta post-Christmas. The groups were large enough that O was contacted for a dedicated space. Officers attended. In the past, we’ve also had some M&Gs where, depending on the GM for that cruise and who was arranging the event, comp hors d’oeuvres were served. As for your situation, it’s my understanding that Vista has an event space associated with the Culinary Center. Perhaps the $9/pp is the rental cost (and hopefully gets you some edibles). If not, you could always pick a public space, not go through O and hope for no conflicting use. After all, that’s often the case on the existing ships. BTW: for as long as I can remember, the default CC M&G has been post muster/pre-restaurants opening and they’ve been held on the starboard side of Horizons across from the bar.

We’ve got 10 yr PRC visas. However, they were issued pre-Covid and all of those have been “suspended.” So, unless that changes, we will have to reapply for our trip next February.

It’s also a PRC requirement right now.

The Pacific is huge enough that a desirable annual calendar could be worked out. As for Marina in the Pacific years ago, it was the right idea - just a bit premature. In any case, we can agree to disagree. But, while we’re doing that, take a peek at United Airlines’ current Pacific expansion.

Certainly, the R ships will eventually succumb to the ravages of mechanical old age. But, I wouldn’t count them out just yet. Nor would I count out a passenger demographic more defined by travel style and preference than by age alone. And, if anything, the next step for O should be an Expedition Ship. As simply put as it can be (at least for the next decade), O’s best direction will be anchor (hub) points in the Atlantic and Pacific and a currently sized A/O/R fleet to which will be added an Expedition component. BTW, as regards the blossoming ocean expedition business, look at the current expansion of the small/expedition ship offering being done by the higher end (primarily land focused) Tour businesses most premium/luxury cruisers could name in a second (but I doubt I would be allowed to name here). These premium/luxury Tour outfits are increasing their small ship chartering offerings using marine outfits like Ponant and Silverseas. …. Which reminds me of a question I need to ask all O regulars reading this: Has anyone cruised on Isabella II in the Galápogos? We just deposited a land/sea trip for a bucket list Galápagos/Machu Picchu “expedition.”

Not what I am talking about. Look at pre-post your cruise. The ship will concentrate a period of time in Asia but come from and return to Europe. I’m talking about an O ship home based in the Pacific and serving it’s four main marine quadrants (hemispherically) year ‘round. The only question that would remain is would there be a hub (like MIA in the Atlantic). Though not a given, my money then would be on L.A. because of the strength of the US cruising market.

Of course, this current set of brochures and promos (ultimate O Life, “ESS” and comp land stay) are all designed to fill the ships for the remainder of 2023 and then close a difficult Covid chapter for O in the history of the cruise industry. The addition of two Allura class ships to the O fleet (and their expected emphasis on the shorter “milk run” cruises favored by mass market lines) will allow O to focus its R ship efforts on a mix of more unusual/exotic mult-segment options that can be far more profitable with increased pricing tied to an emphasis on ultimate O Life as the regular deal. And the only way that O would shoot itself in the foot would be if it eliminated the “cruise only” fare and “air credit” options that have long served as a distinguishing characteristic of the cruise industry’s “premium” segment (the definition of which began with O two decades ago). BTW, I predict that, when the dust settles, we’ll see a lot more of Marina on the Pacific Rim.

Sounds like a plan! That said, I’ve got to ask: It appears that you’re from NorCal. If you’re after the “exotic island paradise” cruise adventure, why would you choose the Caribbean over Polynesia (particularly if you’d possibly want to add a land stay of a few days post cruise)? Now that United has multiple, reasonably priced, non-stop SFO-PPT flights per week, you might want to look at what, IMO, would be the far more interesting and enjoyable Pacific adventure.

Unless the legal folks at RCCL are clueless (which I doubt), OP would never get a correspondence from them stating a governmental requirement (true or not) without it also having a disclaimer (within the message itself and/or within the T&Cs and/or ticket contract) clearly stating that it is the passenger who is ultimately responsible for acquiring the CORRECT information and fulfilling the CORRECT requirements for visas, testing, etc. The legal language would continue with a statement to the effect that RCCL (or any cruise line) bears no responsibility for the accuracy of any information not associated with the cruise line’s provision of the cruise experience itself. Ergo, if a governmental authority then denies you entry into the country or the cruise line is required by that authority to deny you boarding because you do not have the required documentation, it’s not the cruise line’s problem.

You really need to read your cruise’s T&Cs and Ticket Contract regarding O’s liability limits and exclusions in regards to contracted operations on and/or for its cruise ships.

Depending on your first port of entry into Vietnam: If you are an American citizen, you may be qualified for an E-Visa, which is not a very complicated process (that can be completed online).

O’s mantra is “no double dipping.” For example, folks who book onboard would have to give up that discount to get “ultimate O Life.” BTW, I like “Retro” because you know it’s a retroactive adjustment to an existing booking.

Very surprised to hear that. Of course, the biggest unknown is: if someone is given the exception of a Retro being applied to a different future cruise, will it make that future cruise ineligible for any “as yet unknown” sale and/or will it be transferable to yet another cruise if the person cancels.

“Too many cooks spoil the broth.” That said, if all goes FUBAR once onboard, are you prepared to do all the long distance communications to straighten things out?

“Ain’t gonna happen.” “Retro $” related to the ESS are only for the specific cruise in question. It’s stated in the correspondence sent to the TA regarding the sale adjustment. In addition, you may remember that O stopped issuing Future Cruise Certificates months ago as part of the overall attempt to get a “fresh start” in 2024.