Flatbush Flyer

FWIW: we’re onboard Marina now and are doing two simultaneous “extended journeys”: BCN-FCO and FCO-MIA. So, even though we only have one outbound SFO-FRA-BCN flight itinerary and one return MIA-SFO flight itinerary, we get air credit on each extended journey: That’s $900 per person total air credit for the outbound and $800 per person total air credit for the inbound. Taken together, that’s a $1700 per person air credit that would easily cover a multi-city coach fare. We take that credit and apply it to DIY bizclass tix on our preferred carrier and routing.

The Wine Bar (currently at the LaReserve space on Marina) on select nights is simply called “The Wine Bar.” Perhaps the “15th and Vine” names was from an earlier time when they were “testing” the concept (and names). As for what basic booze package wines-by-the-glass might be found on any menu other than the list found on many dining venue tables (including the Wine Bar menu I posted above), you’ll have to make that comparison once onboard.

Last night, we had an opportunity to check out the new Wine Bar evening now held occasionally in the La Reserve space on Marina and (I assume) Riviera. Hopefully, this will continue -particularly the “relatively” decent pricing - at least for some of the wines by the bottle. Among them (see the pic) was one of our favorite unassuming Sicilian whites: Donnafugata Anthìlia (Catarratto grapes). Back in California, it usually retails for just under $20. On the O Wine Bar menu, it’s $38. Yes, on a cruise ship - a wine markup of only 100%! In any case, the comp hors d’oeuvres are varied including charcuterie items and other small bites including scallops and lox. And, for those who want to try a flight of wines, there’s a reasonable selection of wines that are somewhat more attractive than what is found on the wine-by-the-glass menu. And the price for your choice of three servings is reasonable for the top group of wines (though the pricier group at the bottom of the menu is IMO quite the contrast. Note, however, that, since we no longer do the booze package, I can’t comment on how that translates for the Wine Bar (perhaps someone else will chime in). Bottom line: Worth a try.

“You get what you pay for.” (Well, sorta.) The problem with most mass market lines - particularly the “discount” ones - is that cheap cabin prices have little to do with “value” (or quality). In fact, by the time many mass market cruisers add things like beverages (pay for bottled water? Really?), decent food in the extra cost restaurants, booze, excursions, internet, gratuities, AIRFARE et al. (and don’t forget being bombarded by photogs, phony art auctions and “lectures” that are noting more than sales pitches), their final cost may far exceed what would’ve been the all (or mostly) inclusive fare on true premium lines (sorry folks, HAL, Princess and Celebrity may be among the best of the mass market but, they are not value laden “premium” contenders. Even the cruise lines admit it via their introduction of their “ship within a ship” options that can easily cost more than the real thing. If you want to avoid nickel-diming, thundering herds of thousands of passengers, prom nights, fast food for dinner, etc while adding true informative lectures by experts, daily live entertainment, outstanding crew and space ratios, exotic worldwide itineraries - in essence what mass market TV commercials suggest you’ll find (but don’t), you’re going to need to look at Premium (or even Luxury) cruise lines. Cheap and value are not the same thing.

The second display is the ONLY correct accounting of pre-purchased excursions. It is the “prepurchased shore excursions” PDF you can request be sent directly to you if you purchase the tours from an O rep on the phone (or via your TA if you have the TA do it- which I do not advise because even many “O seasoned” TAs haven’t got a clue about O Life strategies - particularly the tours). There is no way to display that PDF in your online account. In all honesty, the O website Cart and Account display for excursions is VERY glitchy. And the web item shown above could be mistaken for the display if you had chosen the “Passport” tours option (though the numbers are still incorrect). BTW, the PDF display above is for one person. The second person would have a similar listing on the PDF. I’m not sure if that web pic is for one or both people. Bottom line: That PDF rules for prepurchased tours. And once onboard, you can also request a “screen print” of what the Destination Services folks have whenever changes are made with cancellations/refunds etc (though posting of the changes do not occur immediately.

There’s no self-serve in Oceania food venues (pre-Covid, Covid, post-Covid). As with the quality of ingredients and preparation, food safety is paramount.

How is it difficult? Pick a line that offers pier-side testing -either at no cost or for a fee. Alternatively, get tested at your departure or arrival airport. OR purchase a home test and contact On-Point Testing for online proctoring of approved tests (proctoring reasonably priced at <$50). Still too stressed? Contact the concierge at your pre-cruise hotel and s/he will arrange a test for you.

Also, once someone includes you in their reservation (via having your booking number), only that person can delete you from that reservation. You can’t delete it from your account.

Sea days provide the most flexibility which is why they book full the fastest. Port days with the earliest departure are the next most popular. The least popular are forts and last nights of your cruise. Overnights in port are popular with some folks and unpopular with those who prefer to dine on land or do an O evening excursion.

THIS is exactly correct! And this is why it is so important to get a copy of the PrePurchased Shore Excursions PDF. It will show you which items would be next in line to be designated one of your O Life items if an original one is cancelled and/or replaced by an O life choice of higher cost (yet still <$200 retail).

True texting (e.g., SMS texts) requires cellular service (just like cellular voice at home). On many ships, satellite connection for cellular service is available. But, it is far more costly than WiFi (over which you can “instant message”). With WiFi you can use messaging apps like WhatsApp among “friends” who also have the App (and WiFi) or, if you have an iPhone you can instant message (iMessage) with any other iPhone owner when you both have cellular or WiFi internet. Bottom line: unless a ship has an intranet setup (ship-only communications) available for free or at a small cost, you will need WiFi or satellite based cellular service (while at sea) to communicate by “texting”/“instant messaging.”

Do a search here for one of my extensive discussions on O Life/YWYW strategies. And, as always, make sure you get a copy of the full math Prepurchased shore excursions PDF, which will come in handy should there be tour changes once you are onboard.

My understanding from a call to AT&T International Dept is that it’s a max of $100 per 30 days from first use of the $10/day Passport.

If you are O Club Platinum and the TA (or it’s consortium) “pays” your grats directly or by using OCAPP $, the O Club gives you $250/cabin SBC “in lieu.” If you don’t see it on your O invoice, it’s a mistake. Call TA or O direct if you booked direct to get it corrected.

I should’ve been more clear. I was trying to comment only about locked AT&T phones. Thanks for the clarification. Nonetheless, I still recommend the AT&T Daily Passport for those who can organize their cell needs.

Follow the science! Requiring masks, vaccination, boosters, and social distance has already shown to lessen transmission significantly. Each person denied boarding due to a positive pier-side or w/i 48 hr test is one less disease transmitter.

All I would add to this is to actually use the O rep to buy the tours. Their O network will display the latest status of tour stuff, which may not have yet made it to the web. Also, the rep can send you the “prepurchased shore excursions” PDF. It shows all the math in detail and is extremely helpful once you are onboard - should there be any changes in tours resulting in refunds for cancels and new charges for replacements.

TA provided SBC (other than OCAPP $ for gratuities, which TAs get as a pass through from O) does not usually appear on an O invoice nor in your online O account. You should then find it on a card on your cabin desk at embarkation. And, while your TA may purchase a perk for you (and it does appear on your O invoice), most often only O directly provided SBC (O Life and O Club $) appears on your web account (and will be used to pay for anything you put in the Cart).

AT&T has an “international” web site, which is where the $5 is mentioned. The first device starts the 24 hr clock and, if a second device on the same account then makes/receives call, text, data, it is served for the remainder of device 1’s 24 hr clock. Like you, we time when we’ll actually need cellular (like communicating with guides about pickup, etc) and plan to do other cellular during that 24 hr session.

A lot depends on destination. If you were headed to certain regions like NZ, Hawaii et al. They’d be subject to declaration/inspection.

Let’s hope not!

Sorry but “so wrong.” There is no added value to O Life SBC. The $ amount equals what you pause extra in the fare. Take the excursions and pick those closest to $199 that interest you. Add enough pay ones for 25% YWYW discount on those. That’s flexibility.

WRONG. An iphone with an AT&T network requires an AT&T SIM card. Several phone settings are specific to AT&T and a different SIM Card will affect phone performance -especially as regards call and text. AT&T has a “passport” feature. Call them and turn it on. There’s no charge unless you take your phone off Airplane Mode and actually use it for data, call, text, in which case you will incur a $10 charge (additional phone on your account is $5 if used) per 24 hour period. BTW, this is for land only! And turning on “wifi calling” is not what most folks think it is. When you turn it on, all it does is provide a connection to your carrier (or foreign partner) cellular service where you’ll still be billed. The other “wifi calling” is to use an APP like WhatsApp or iMessage/Face Time. BTW, if you’re on some ships (e.g., Oceania’s fleet), there is an AT&T satellite receiver which is convenient but expensive whether you buy the AT&T cruise package or make a single call.

SBC provided by O in your account will be used to pay for tours unless you opt to pay by CC. The YWYW cost is figured in the background (if you check the YWYW Box for each person) and the bottom line total is where the 25% discount is displayed. (You don’t see the discounted price for each tour in the cart summary (very annoying glitch). This is why it is best to call O And book tours direct along with getting a copy of the “prepurchased excursions” PDF math spreadsheet. That doc is important should you want to understand cost difference changes needed on the ship.

Nothing to “figure.” Hopefully, O has come to its senses about the wrong decision to loosen their own testing restrictions. When they did that at the beginning of 2022, they, soon after, had a surge in onboard cases.