Flatbush Flyer

FWIW: a lot of folks do not understand that you don’t have to step foot on land to have “entered” a country.

No florists, art sales, photogs, retail booze sales, amusement park….

For the future: it would be easier for us here on CC to sleuth a similar issue if folks post a pic of the center group of numbers (fare, discounts, etc) on the invoice (just don’t show ID info at top). As for TAs, think twice about using those who need to use social media (or competition) websites to drum up business. Once you start cruising regularly on O, ask many other O regular passengers which TA they use. You’ll soon start hearing the same handful of companies (and they won’t include the Social Media gurus). More importantly, ask all TAs about their commission sharing policy. Those who have a stellar rep, understand O inside/out AND share commissions at 5-10% of the commissionable fare in your pocket should be your target.

Read my post #97 above.

Perhaps. But I always chuckle when I hear that someone’s TA is the “top.” If that was the case, you’d not be waiting this long for an answer. In any case, I wish you a good outcome.

Sounds like a plan. I suggest that, if you start doing a lot of O cruises, ask many fellow passengers which TA they use. After awhile, you’ll realize that your mostly hearing the same handful of US TAs from Americans.

BINGO! As I said, probably related to that previous upgrade and/or some other exclusion (actual or perceived by O staff). As for the delay in O response, your choice of TA can make a hell of a difference as can your O Club status (if you’re an “elite” O regular I.e., Platinum or above using an O “preferred partner” TA), you’d usually have your answer within several hours max. Perhaps not fair in one sense of the word. But, it works for me.

Not enough info. But, I’ll take a stab without it. If what you are saying is that your currently booked cruise is advertised on the list for the Extraordinary sale AND you do not have a book onboard price drop match guarantee AND you do not have any excluded perk associated with your current booking (e.g., TA OCAPP coverage of your gratuities) AND their is cabin availability in your currently booked cabin level AND you (or your TA) contact O for the current Sale price modification on the existing booking, AND your CC post statement that the online regular price is the same now for the same cabin class you originally purchased AND the “upgrade” you mention didn’t require a rebooking and didn’t add an additional cost, realize that it doesn’t apply to every cruise and is subject to being excluded for certain double dips) is $1000 more than the currently advertised (find it on the web price), something is definitely wrong. However, the more likely situation is that there is something going on with your original booking where the O accounting system is causing you cruise to be excluded (see the previous “ifs,” particularly as regards the “upgrade” you mentioned. Remember that most fare adjust refusals are related to “double dipping” and, since I hear you saying that the retail price is not unchanged (hmmm? hat upgrade still peaks my interest), there may be an “exclusion” at play OR whoever did the reprice for the sale made an error (incorrect Sale code, typo adding a digit, etc.) Final thought: Your TA could always do a mock booking and see what bottom line comes up. If it’s significantly lower, (including any cancel penalty and no negative impact on your O Life perks or air credit, et al., there’s your solution. BTW: I know something about numbers too: “buck stops here” responsibility for 9 figure university budgets. There’s always an explanation.

Not exactly rocket science….

If you’re considering the full “brochure” fare (not the O Life or cruise only fare) as the base fare, you don’t have much company. No one I know has ever cared what that fare is because it’s never charged. In one sense, it’s like a new automobile’s MSRP (when there were new cars aplenty). No one in their right mind would ever pay the MSRP. The only true measure of what percent savings exists is to compare the current sale price to the current non-sale published price for equivalent O Life or “cruise only” cabins. The “Extraordinary” brochure we recently received in the mail does just that. That said, there is the possible issue that, while O’s O Life/cruise only prices do regularly increase (often the website warns you that it will soon happen), there may be an occasional price jump just prior to a holiday sale. But, any O regular who follows O trends is well aware when that happens.

Once again (for anyone who does not understand): The website prices do not reflect the Extraordinary sale prices. Even the “sale” brochure doesn’t paint a complete picture of the sale discounting. However, excellent that you pressed the issue and got the SBC adjustment. As for owing anyone a “little something,” It all depends on with whom you are corresponding. And my experience is that, once you hit O Club Platinum status, most O employees will respect both your experience and knowledge regarding what is due to you in any kind of adjustment.

“….believe what O tells her.” OR what she tells you? Not all TAs are created equal. Moreover, though O will not discuss exact pricing (nor changes to that pricing) when you have a TA, they will talk with you about all sorts of other stuff regarding your cruise including selling you tours, booze packages, etc.

Just remember: Greece is a country while your ports have their own jurisdictions each, possibly, with its own requirements.

Read and follow the instructions. In addition, check the health requirements of every country, region and city where the ship will start/stop/end. Why? In most cases these days, appropriately reported results of bona fide self-tests are acceptable and they’re free (at least until May in the US). In addition, it’s a common sense practice to protect yourself and others. So, better safe than sorry. That said, checking ALL of the possible authorities is extremely important. Why? in our partial TransPacific from SYD this spring, neither O nor Australia required testing. But the State of New South Wales did require pre-cruise testing. As you might expect, there were lots of O embarkers who were surprised when asked for their test results. (and unhappy when the had to pay $90 pp for a pier-side test) There was, however, one humorous anecdote involving a post here on CC in our Roll Call: An Aussie informed us about the NSW test requirement to which someone replied: “That won’t affect us because we’re embarking in Sydney.” ROTFL!

Nice try at an explanation about what you’ve read. A few corrections: Historically, Oceania was a carefully conceived concept by FDR, Bob Binder et al. who saw a niche market for a la carte luxury serving mostly baby boomers. It works. Admittedly, other cruise lines saw the benefit and followed suit. Azamara then became O’s main competition for its niche. Viking, in a somewhat brazen move, started up in ocean cruising and self-promoted itself as “premium” prior to garnering any accolades (or even completing any cruises). As the “premium” wannabes increased, O had no other option than to add “ultra” to “premium” to maintain the identity it had earned - particularly when it comes to the food. IMO, based primarily on the reviews of fellow cruisers whose opinions I value, Viking is yet another mainstream line with a better than average package. But, it is no Oceania (nor even an Azamara, which, sadly, got dumped by RCCL and is now owned by Sycamore Partners, an outfit with zero cruise industry experience. Bottom line remains that O is in a class by itself - a product so successful that the NCL Holding consortium is peppered with leadership mostly gleaned from Oceania.

Yes, challenging at first. But, ultimately, it’s not “rocket science.” As for Viking, it may seem easier. But, then, you have to eat their food.

Comfort with the process is a reasonable consideration. But, when you fly intercontinentally a lot (which I have done for both work and play) you learn a lot that points you clearly to DIY.

IMO, what I see you saying is what I always say: Do the math! (to which I add: “find/read/understand the fine print.” Some O fare policies are a moving target. But, I think that’s partly because their pricing strategy is intentional promotion colored by a mix of confusing “howevers” (aka exclusions) subject to bending the rules as needed and subject to an accounting system that is not sophisticated enough to correct the confusion without manual manipulation by humans who themselves may (mis)understand the applicable policy. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to explain a confusing O policy to an O employee or to a TA (even an excellent one). Take, for example, the current “Extraordinary Savings Sale.” Regardless of what the useless “brochure price” may be, the real fares are significantly different - perhaps some of the best fare drops (from your original purchases) I’ve seen on O. But some of the exclusions for the deal are very confusing to anyone who hasn’t studied O policies carefully over the years (and that includes their own employees). For example, people who are getting a “no” to their request for a price adjustment in a previous booking involving a multisegment cruise with one of its segments now on sale are getting all sorts of different reasons why it’s a “no.” And many of the reasons are incorrect. In fact, even some of the correct reasons (exclusions) involve items that can be easily modified in the original booking in a way that removes the exclusion. The challenge for the affected passenger (and/or their TA) is knowing/understanding all of the snafu points in O policies and having the perseverance to tactfully escalate an issue until it gets to a management level at O where someone actually knows what is the problem and can/will fix it. (FWIW, I’m constantly adding O staff names ti my Rolodex [yes, I am that old]).

Very interesting observation. Of course, O has every right to change prices whenever (just read the T&Cs). And I don’t remember them ever citing a “percentage off” in a sale, which would then be somewhat deceptive or, at least, misleading. All that said, however, the bottom line is the bottom line. If the price to you is less than before, either you want it or you don’t.

For exact rates and to book the promo, you have to call. That brochure only shows one cabin level in each major category.

If you are within 30 days of your cruise’s embarkation date, you can book now and have it adjusted for the added book onboard perks once you board.

Of course, there’s no definitive answer. It’s often all a matter of personal preferences. But, AFAIAC, the embarkation port we try to avoid like the plague is Miami (and it has zip to do with the cruise itself). We just find that “there’s no there - there” (or pretty much anywhere else in South Florida). But, that is partly because our frame of reference is home on coastal California. I guess that, if I was trying to escape an unending winter onslaught elsewhere in the country, Miami might have some “escape appeal.” But there are just so many other desirable warm weather/beachfront (minus the stifling humidity et al.) locations worldwide that I’d rather start cruises from someplace where I can enjoy a pre/post-cruise land stay.

True but, even with cabin availability, there are some other prohibitors in the mix - some very very simple. For example, there are some (not all) O provided perks that get a “no promo” reply.

Still no reason for concern - it’s all designed to get back to “normal” by the start of 2024.

We do a lot of O cruises and would never use O air - particularly for biz class. Just too many negatives in relying on a third party for airfare. Use the search feature here on CC for a zillion threads on DIY for nonstops, bizclass et al.