Flatbush Flyer

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.

We use the combo of O Life excursions plus YWYW on pretty much every O cruise. We’re using it right now as I write this on two Marina segments from BCN-FCO-MIA.

Not enough info. Most importantly, since you said “we,” I assume you’re talking about double occupancy. Here’s my understanding: How did you “book” them? Online or by calling O or by having your TA do it? (Always do your own math and then call O to compare numbers and book). Also, “3 free excursions?” They are normally provided “per cabin” in even numbers (based on double occupancy) but are meant to be split evenly. So, was your perk actually 6 per cabin (ergo, 3 per person)? That said, the minimum tours required for YWYW is also per person. So, if the YWYW minimum was 4 tours, and “you” (the cabin) have 6 O Life tours, “you” the cabin would need to book TWO additional tours. However, that would have to be done as ONE PER PERSON in addition to the 3 per person from O Life. You EACH need to have four tours to qualify. One person cannot have 5 tours while the other only has three. And from your post, it looks like you added a fourth and fifth for yourself while your shipmate added nothing. Whether that’s the case or not, you’ll need to call O for any changes involving dropping something already booked.

Your approach (and points about a specifically desired itinerary) are valid. And when Antarctica is on our radar, we will opt for an expedition ship. However, for now, we have zero interest in that location. And, fortunately, Oceania adds new/interesting small ports each year. So, we have yet to not find something of interest to us. Happy cruising.

There are multiple Marina threads spanning the segments that start tomorrow (10/18) through December 4 which have Athens in the mix. One of the others said that s/he contacted O and was told that the ship requirement is still in place pending review. S/he found that “outrageous.” Here below is a copy of my reply (We’re on Marina until December and, obviously, we don’t want infected persons joining unchecked along the way.). What is “outrageous” is the removal of required pier-side testing and masks for both crew and passengers. Required vaccination and boosters is not enough, particularly with the newest Omicron variants. Sadly, I am betting that O will continue to see numerous onboard Covid cases including a winter surge of cases not unlike last January when they first loosened some of their Covid restrictions. What many people are erroneously doing is not looking at the building evidence of the long term impact of Covid. Not getting “too sick” because your eventual infection was offset by vaccination doesn’t stop the potential for long term consequences. Follow the science.

Multitudes of folks like us, who tried mass market (and other) cruise lines and found them lacking in so many ways eventually have discovered a premium line that consistently “ticks all the boxes” (particularly itineraries, quality of food and service, and comfortable accommodations). Importantly, our (and their) “preferred” line does so at a “value laden” price with very few disappointments over many years. This is no different than land travelers who strongly favor a particular location - enough so that they buy a vacation home there. Of course, both land and sea travelers with “preferred” cruise lines, hotels, etc can (and do) keep things fresh, new and exciting in ways that allow greater exploration of locations visited - in part because, at the end of each day, they return home to a familiar and welcoming “home away from home.” If anyone is “amazed,” it would be us. We explore the world with a combination of land, sea and air travel that allows us to focus our attention on new location adventures by providing trusted/consistent/preferred services to get us where we need to go and keep us nourished, cared for and entertained in ways we truly enjoy. From our point of view on travel, it makes little sense to hop from one cruise line to another just because it is (or may be) different than the last one. And, BTW, it has nothing to do with “brand loyalty” When any of our “preferred” supportive travel services (e.g., United Air Lines, Intercontinental Hotel Group or Oceania Cruises) starts to consistently disappoint us, we’ll look elsewhere.

And don’t forget the other premium/luxury fare inclusions beyond the array of food options, e.g., - minimally, internet, beverages and usually one or more other perks like SBC, tours, booze….. and my personal favorite - DIY air credit.

Oceania’s claim to fame is its being recognized for having the “finest cuisine at sea.” And that includes no extra charge for its various dining venues (comprising the Grand Dining Room, Terrace Café, Waves and several specialty restaurants (two on the “R” ships and four on the “O” ships). And, of course, there is no charge for Room Service. Note as well that, beyond a pre-cruise scheduling allotment of specialty reservations, you can dine at the specialties as often as you want (no added charge) on a space available basis. One final item: Unlike mass market lines, where you find yourself paying for “better quality” food in their specialty restaurants, all Oceania dining venues are included in your basic fare and have quality offerings with the only real difference between/among them being the menu focus and ambiance of the space.

Check with a local dive shop.

“Look the other way?” Why? O makes it very clear that it’s okay to bring personal booze aboard. Just follow the rules.

PLEASE do not disturb natural features. Most importantly, it’s the tiny “hitchhikers” you can’t see that can be devastating to a region in your chime country that has a large agricultural economy.

As any O regular will tell you, their personal booze policy is extremely liberal. Even though the website has a CYA statement about 6 wine bottle limit, THAT is not “enforced.” Depending on the itinerary, we will often bring a case at embarkation and try to replenish at appropriate spots enroute. You can also bring your favorite spirits with you as long as you understand the very simple rules of “no personal spirits outside the cabin and wine is okay as long as you pay the corkage fee of $25 per bottle for any wine poured from it and consumed in any dining venue or public space.” There are the occasional cheapskates who do what you’re asking about. Fortunately, cabin glassware is distinctively different from what is used in the bars and restaurants (and easily identifiable by F&B folks). Most of the maitre d’s and bar staff who recognize someone violating the rule will tactfully have a private conversation with the offender. In addition, there are occasional reminders of the personal booze policy in the daily Currents. An even more specific statement appears in the FAQs on the O website: ….Guests are welcome to enjoy their wine in the comfort and privacy of their stateroom or suite, or, if they prefer, may enjoy their wine in one of the ship’s dining rooms. Any wine consumed in the dining room or a public area will be subject to a corkage fee of $25.00 per bottle. So, please do comply with the very simple and clear rules.

Correct me if I’m wrong but I distinctly remember that O, at least years ago, did not allow dogs claimed by their owners to be “service” animals except on a case-by-case consideration of a formal request with evidence that the animal in question was truly a bona fide “service” animal. I also seem to remember some ADA legal challenge regarding ships embarking from the US.

Perhaps most importantly, check with your cruise line as to whether “service dogs” are prohibited. Some lines do prohibit them - particularly on itineraries embarking outside the U.S.

California is calling to you……

Headed all the way to Sydney and not staying a few days? In any case, the flight your looking at is too early. You could always ask Delta if they’d let you change to a code shared partner flight leaving later. But, you’d be “on the hook” for any fare differential. Best plan? Stay a couple of nights and enjoy Sydney.

On Cruise Critic? Over the several years I’ve used CC, there’s not been a messaging function.

The best example: There was an absolute government “requirement” for YF vaccination for French Guiana - since we were going to Devil’s Island. This was on an Oceania Amazon cruise with other scheduled S.A. countries, at least, “highly recommending” vaccination. I’ll always remember that once we got to French Guiana, we were never asked about the Card by anyone. We also did an Indian Ocean cruise on Oceania that started in Cape Town and hit several East Coast Africa ports before heading East toward Asia. No one (ship or port) ever asked to see our WHO cards.