ORV

1 hour ago, ak1004 said:

Personally I find O crowd very sophisticated and intelligent.

Apparently, we haven't met. 🤡

Leslie Jon has also retired. 

19 minutes ago, Twiga said:

We were at Heathrow in June and gate numbers were not posted until 50 minutes or so before the flight.  However, the American Airlines app notified me of our gate in terminal 3 at 11:46 a.m. for our 2:45 p.m. departure. The gate was not posted on the departure board until 1:35 p.m.  The gate number that American Airlines told me was correct.  Of course this may not always be correct, but we were at the gate early, before the crowd.

It's been a few years since I've been there but if I remember right, I couldn't check my luggage until 2 hours (maybe 3) before the flight. Not much chance to go to a lounge or have time to sit down and have lunch. By the time you went through security and then to your gate it was time to board. 

4 hours ago, osandomir said:

I can’t imagine my husband checking my charges on our cruise ship’s account or elsewhere, if it’s matter. But probably for someone who is much more financially concerned it sounds normal.

We only have one account, ours. We used to have separate checking etc. but somewhere along the line that just didn't matter anymore. Now it's just us.

Let me edit this to say that we have multiple credit cards, some in my name, some in hers, but that's only to work the system, not to keep anything separate. 

4 hours ago, MEFIowa said:

Really, so you don't look at the same TV monitor when you check your individual accounts during the cruise? You tell him to turn his back or leave the room? And please STOP pretending that you have one joint account. You don't. You get your own separate statements! So, couples can do what they want. (You might study the statistics on couples and finances. Those who have shared accounts, those who have individual accounts, those who have a mix of both. This is 2024. Not 1954. So wide variety of practices in regard to finances and financial activities.)

Oh my. 

How many times do we have to do this?

It's what the founder of the company said it is. 

1 hour ago, Thought2go said:

I know you are detailed oriented- but are you sure about the hard liquor part??

In this instance he is definitely correct. I've brought on anything I want for 15 years. Let me stress this. THEY DON'T CARE!

3 hours ago, Thought2go said:

Hey those drifts could certainly pile up!! Plus it was always a fun time to put pots on the roof and collect the snow to make snow cream-a southern version of icecream.

Had that as a kid, throw in a little vanilla flavoring, heavy cream, stir it up and you're good to go. 

38 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

Though during the cruise IF you go to the TV menu and look at your statement, you'll be seeing YOUR statement and HER/HIS statement, two different statements, tied to how each is using their own World Card. You don't see just one statement tied to your room. It is good to keep in mind that IF you want to, you can use the World Cards in a way that works best for you as a couple so you feel comfortable each day with your then current statement.

If that works for you fine. I do know how the system works. It’s always balanced out, no matter who uses their card wherever. 

14 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

It’ll take awhile for us to get past the “ I walked three miles to school in 3 feet of snow, uphill both ways “ crowd. We’re just barely past all those Renaissance lovers who really care which current ship was R1or R2! 🙄 That line has been defunct for 23 years! 😂. 
 

Really time to concentrate on the current product. Doesn’t matter how much you loved that 1958 Mercury, they don’t make it anymore. Things change.

Did we have the same Dad? I never did understand how there was ever 3 ft of snow in Mississippi. 

1 hour ago, MEFIowa said:

Our theory is go for the airfare and cabin in our budget that lets us do the most before, during and after the cruise. We cruise to really see and do fun things in fantastic places.

 

So, we'd rather save a lot on our cabin to spend 3 nights each before and after the cruise in some wonderful city (e.g., Venice & Barcelona last year) and do some amazing private excursions (to Ephesus & Rome). We've got 3 nights in London and 3 nights in Copenhagen for our upcoming Sirena cruise in the Baltic.

 

And that budget has to include any expenditures on board, too, like drinks. (We bring our own alcohol on board.)

You do understand there are many Oceania customers that can do all that and stay in an upper suite and not give the cost a second thought? Not me of course, but there are plenty of them. I say more power to them. 

I believe we are starting to make an easy situation confusing.
 

In over 15 years and over 30 cruises on O we’ve always used whichever card was convenient. It always works out and balances out in the end. Don’t over think it. 

We always take a few ear plugs just in case. Rarely have had to use them, but those few times we did they are invaluable. 

They're in Australia, so whatever they did doesn't apply to those of us in North America. 

43 minutes ago, boblerm said:

Have all of the bathtubs been removed from the PH1,2 and 3 categories on Marina?

I'm not sure there has been an accurate report on Marina, but on Riviera I believe the PH1 & PH2 categories were replaced, but not the PH3's. 

I'm with the posters that think people with experience in both situations should chime in. Having never been on a SWAS cruise I don't have an opinion here. On this subject and what the OP asked for information on I think the only valid opinions here are those that have been on both. 

2 minutes ago, lindaglenn said:

As part of the Simply more package we get a certain amount of money towards the excursions.  What is confusing me is when I look at the price of the excursions, there are 2 prices per example below.  If I book more excursions than I have in the allowance, do the additional excursions still come under the Simply More package prices? or are the additional tours charged the 'Tour Price".  Under O life, there was a 25% discount if you got a certain number of excursions, but my TA said that wasn't in affect for our tours on Marina.  I am thinking it is because the Simply more price is already a 25% discount.  Can someone who has booked on Simply more please try to explain this me?  Thanks!

As you already seem to be doing, I would question your TA's experience and knowledge of Oceania. 

1 hour ago, basor said:

I have not had to make a claim for any of my O cruises so can't comment.  I assume you would need to have proof that the cruise missed the port.  This is in addition to loss of pre-paid excursions.

 

TRAVEL INCONVENIENCE BENEFITS The Company will make a one-time payment to the Insured for one occurrence of each of the following Unforeseen events, per Trip. The maximum limit payable for all Travel Inconvenience benefits combined will not exceed the Inconvenience Benefit maximum limit shown in the Schedule or Declarations Page.

 

Cruise Diversion ($250) – the Insured’s cruise does not stop at a scheduled port of call due to Inclement Weather, a Terrorist Incident, a medical incident involving another passenger on the ship, or a Natural Disaster;

 

This is per person so you would receive $500.00 per couple...

Interesting, if I'm reading that right it's once per trip, so if you have 2 or more missed ports it would only cover one. That's certainly better than nothing. 

2 hours ago, basor said:

The Travel Guard Preferred Plan for many States reimburses a maximum of $250 per person for missing a port

Interesting, do you have to prove that you've had losses in that amount?

5 minutes ago, bradpole said:

Shorts are fine at tea.  The casual dress is one of the things we enjoy about Oceania, besides the wonderful food.  You can still have an excellent meal dressed casually….including shorts in the Terrace Cafe and afternoon tea.  

I never go to tea, other than maybe a time or two just to see what the snacks are. Team Trivia is usually at that time. I was sure I had seen a posted dress code in Currents for Tea, but that could have been years ago, it all runs together. 

1 hour ago, Jancruz said:

Calling yourself doesnt do it ...its not what you know it who you know..

Jancruz1

I know a couple of people, I've been amazed a few times. 

6 minutes ago, AMHuntFerry said:

Our last cruise had a refund due. The letter we received 2 days before debarkation gave three versions of non-cash refund...credit card, check, or via TA (we were sent a check); the form of the refund depended on whether it was a US-booking or non-US-booking. There was also the option to get a cash refund by going to the Reception desk before early-morning on debarkation day.

They’ve always let us get it the day before. 

50 minutes ago, shepherd really said:

You really trashed the place Orv, it was a dump when I boarded right after you 😁. 

 

Seriously, many of these complaints are in the category of "will you believe me or your lying eyes"?  I really don't know what some of the complainers are talking about. Marina was supposed to be refurbed last November. Was I disappointed that it wasn't before my cruise?  Yep, I even complained on CC about it.  

 

Guess what? My disappointment ended when I stepped aboard and saw she was looking just fine.  I was wrong, Mea culpa. 

 

 

I was wondering if you fell off the ship. Haven’t seen you post in a while. 

It's amazing how it could be falling apart after the redo, yet when I was on it in February, pre- redo, it seems fine. Or maybe I'm just not a complainer. 

3 hours ago, Harters said:

I had to Google to find out who that was. 

Seriously, well, this way to the egress John, come see the fabulous egress. 

3 minutes ago, clo said:

I have to believe that, at that time, unescorted women weren't allowed there, as an employee "cut me off at the pass."

No it was just you. 😜