cruisr

Waiting for Crystal cheerleaders to weigh in on this.  IMHO Crystal does not want to spend the dollars which would guarantee the transit if they can avoid it.  I get it, its a financial decision.  That being said the way they are handling it is poor form.  Transiting the PC is a bucket list for some and substituting a typical Caribbean cruise and a shorter duration at that does not cut it.  I feel very bad for the OP.  I also think its bad that the reservation department did not know about this when questioned.  They are the first contact TAs or guests have with Crystal and it doesn’t exactly give a positive impression that they were not advised.  They should have been briefed.  If the supervisor knew then front line should have been told.

22 minutes ago, WayneLaR said:

I've shared this before.  I always follow the advice my father gave me "a man (or woman!) can never be overdressed, but he can definitely be under-dressed". 

 

That advice has always served me well over the years. 

Then I know I will never see you in a baseball cap at dinner in Polo which is what I witnessed on the Riviera last month.

My TA sent this to me.

https://gageplatprod1stor1.blob.core.windows.net/portal/26/AssetLibrary/Document/49a03316-cb19-454d-bed1-db64325167e8.pdf

They do have multiple excursions and on the cruise I am looking at there is no way I will be able to use my shore excursion credit. I don’t see me going on excursions i have no interest in just to use the credit I am curious if it can be used for other things (spa treatments, gratuities, drinks, etc).

No trivia?  That’s sad.

There have been so many “shills” as in influencers and TAs posting on their IG stories and blogs and praising Explora to the sky that it makes me skeptical of the product.  I will give it a good 90 days of real guests reviews before I consider it.

It really doesn’t matter the bus size what matters is the amount of people coughing.  

It makes me sad that people think nothing about asking for a rebate, cashback, PPG or any other form of cutting into their TA’s hard earned commissions.  My best friend is my TA and I respect her hard work, insights, recommendations and being there for me and her other clients when things go pear shaped. She is there 24/7 and all clients have her cell and she is always availability.  My husband was a lawyer.  Nobody, ever, ever asked him for a rebate on his fees.  He earned them.  My brother in law is an MD.  Nobody has ever asked him for a rebate on his well earned fees.  I do blame travel agents who started rebating on cruises in order to get business after airlines stopped paying commission.  They did set the precedent to give money back in some form and unfortunately once you go down that path it is hard to turn around.

I know there are many “hobbyists” TAs there but there are many, like my friend, who is a professional and earned and should keep her commission

Feel free to flame away.

Avoid tour buses and the concierge lounges.  Too many people in each and poor circulation.  Don’t play trivia without a mask and don’t wait in the lounge as people were crammed in there waiting for their tours/tenders etc.   Get out of the lifts is someone is coughing and hope you fellow passengers are more considerate than the lot on July 19.

1 hour ago, InsGuy3 said:

Per the bottom of the Spa Price List.

"All fees are quoted in EUR and include gratuities. Prices are subject to change without prior notice. 01.06.2023"

Thanks. I was so shocked at the prices I didn’t read all the way to the bottom

2 hours ago, Badin said:

Sorry you have Covid. 🤮

Does Oceania have hand sanitizing stations available?  Do they post prevention information such as cover your cough, wear a mask if you are feeling ill, wash your hands? 

Hope your case is mild....

Yup, people just ignored those common sense rules.  

7 hours ago, Momnipotent said:

Exam, blood work, IV antiviral and antibiotic, meds. 

Wow, I am sorry you got covid but the way people were hacking on the July 19 I am not the least bit surprised.  I am shocked about the charges.  I don’t understand the antibiotic meds as they do no work against viruses unless they were give  for a bacterial infection in addition to covid.  Will Medicare reimburse you as it could be described as an emergency treatment.  Blood work seems odd, too.  

49 minutes ago, Momnipotent said:

Ugh, we were on that leg and stayed on for the next leg. We are currently quarantined in our cabin because now we have covid. Fully vaxxed and avoided covid until now. That first leg we couldn't believe how much coughing, rudeness and poorly dressed passengers there were. We kept referring to it as the Wild West. Very upset that O isn't doing more to keep passengers healthy. Spent $50k on this cruise and now stuck in our cabin for 5 days. At least the Medical Center squeezed $5k out of us. 

Can you explain what the 5k charge was for?  I read somewhere else that another passenger was charged that also.  Why and for what?  

I get a great manicure for $25.00.  Haircut $50.00

Can anybody answer my question above:  are tip’s included in these prices or is it additional?

Wow and add in an additional approximately 10% when converted to USD.  Are tips included in these ridiculous prices at least?  €120 for a manicure?  Crazy.

3 hours ago, sunnies said:

We were also on this cruise and the previous leg. The cruise from Reykjavik to Oslo was different from any other of our many Oceania cruises in terms of passengers. Some left their manners behind, for many the dress code was not country club casual and bus tours were a cough fest with few sick passengers wearing a mask to stop the spread of germs. I commented to management that a note could be put in Currents advising the wearing of masks on bus tours if you have a cough. 

Yes, the dress code was totally ignored to the point that a man in Polo Grill had on a baseball cap all through dinner.  Tee shirts in Jacques.  I expect casual at the buffet but was really surprised to see beyond casual in the “fine dining venues”.  
 

People seem to have lost all sense of societal norms and really don’t care about anyone but themselves.  Others dining attire is not going to make me sick (though I may cringe inwardly) but coughing on me and spreading germs certainly may.

I feel bad for locals in the more remote ports that we went to.  I hope none of the motorcoach drivers or guides caught anything from the coughing Riviera guests. 

Of course this can be a PSA for any ship or any cruiseline and since we disembarked the Riviera today I have been inspired to write this.

My DH and I have been on a lot of cruises since mid 2021.  I like to think of myself as a considerate person.  I just experienced a cough fest cruise.  Started out ok on July 21 but as the cruise progressed, so did the coughing.  Hardly anyone wore masks, even though the sneezing and coughing increased.  It could be colds, flu, covid, I don’t know.  The thing I do know it is common courtesy to cover one’s mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing, especially in a lift.  A balled fist, lamely placed in the region of the mouth/nose is not covering.  On the close quarters of tour motorcoaches, please cover your mouth and nose.  My Mum always told me this starting as a child.  Its not hard to do.
 

For whatever reason we found the group of passengers on this cruise especially rude and inconsiderate of their fellow passengers.  incidents of being pushed and shoved as people jostled to get the attention of a buffet server.  Credit where due, the servers would usually, say, “This person was before you”.  People apparently have forgotten the words, please, thank you and pardon me.  Overhearing a table next to us in Red Ginger, a man said to his lovely server, “ Get me another beer”.  No please, just a demand.  The wait staff are not servants and one should ask for something with a please and a thank you.

In any case, again this can happen anywhere but it just seemed the % of inconsiderate and downright rude and entitled people were pretty high on this cruise.

I do hope nobody contracted Covid, a cold or the flu due to the cough fest cruise.  Actually saw more masks during disembarkation today then ever before.

At least that is something as the coughing in the transfer to OSL was non stop.  My DH and I just kept shaking our heads.

Healthy and safe cruising to all.  

@Host Dan  My ipad is being wonky.  Can you please combine the two new topics I posted.  No idea why they posted, twice.

For your reading pleasure.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66264226

This will be interesting

For your reading pleasure.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66264226

This will be interesting

53 minutes ago, happy cruising said:

Thank you cruisr - I was asking because there’s a huge sign up bonus for ink preferred now and their web site says 3X for travel purchases. I already have a chase reserve card. 

My sincere apologies.  That must be a new addition since I got mine,  As it is a business card I would call them and check if they will cover cruises.  That sign up offer with only an 8k spend is very good.

In my reading it seems that classes re limited to 15 people and one needs to sign up. I am in a category with Noon boarding. Where do I go to sign up as soon as I board.  Does anyone one sign up for all classes or can one sign up for those of most interest.

Turkish Air is a nightmare for anything.Horrid planes and service I only fly them in Business.  I now avoid them like the plague.  The best thing about TK is the best Business Lounge (not for arrivals) in IST.  Great food and service whilst waiting for your flights. I know longer fly them.

Ink Business Preferred does not offer multipliers for travel.  You will receive 1 point per dollar spent.  You can later redeem them for travel and get a 25% bonus if booked thru the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.  So if you spend 10,000. You earn 10000 points.  When you want to redeem you will get a value of 12500. Points to use against your purchase
 

The better card is Chase Sapphire Reserve.  You receive 3 points per dollar which can then be redeemed for a 50% bonus when redeeming for travel on the Chase UR portal.

If you spend 10,000. You earn 30,000 Ultimate reward points worth 45,000 for redemptions.

If you have multiple cards which earn Ultimate rewards you can transfer between them.

It has a higher AF but you do receive a $300.00 travel credit every year.

Chase does not have the same benefits among their cards.  Business and personal differ as do benefits/earnings in categories 

Air Canada non stop from LHR to Toronto and then a connecting flight to Newfoundland on Air Canada.  Shortest flight time and connection currently. Approx 13 hours total.