ec6393

I have booked a number of O excursions on cruises that we have taken. We have never taken a "package" that O offers. IMHO the prices are "crazy" just as the hotels (even with transportation included) are that O partners with in various ports. We prefer to leave the ship at the time we want to venture off & at explore at our own pace. The guides we've been with walk at a very reasonable pace, especially for absorbing the surroundings.

If the port is within walking distance of the town/city and we've never been to it before, we will explore it on our own. However, for various reasons not everyone is comfortable exploring on their own. We do sign up for O's excursions if transportation to a place we want to go to is either not available or getting to it from the port is not convenient or possible.

With all that said, I think the packages are very good for passengers who don't want or don't have the time to do research on options getting to places and checking out the "must sees". It's much more relaxing going on O's excursions when you are picked up at the ship, driven to your place of interest, given a tour, & then driven back to the ship.

Lastly, I have never had a problem financially with the payments for tours or use of cruise credits.

There's no "right way" that fits all. Each to his own.

16 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

@ec6393 I have no idea. Ask Oceania.  If you just booked it, have Travel Agent take over the booking.  Sorry, I just don't know the exact answer.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

Thank you.

We have taken 6 or 7 cruises on Oceania & I have never had any kind of problem logging into their website.

I hit "manage my account", enter the booking number, and I connect very easily to the cruise.

I can then book shore excursions & decide if we want to go on one of O's. We usually book one if it goes from"here to there" & public transportation isn't available or if I can't find an agency that goes to wherever the O tour goes.

Also a consideration is that if the place we want to visit is somewhat far away I will book a tour knowing the ship will wait for an O booked tour should it run late, but not for a privately booked tour.

I got carried away 🤭 (& somewhat off the subject) but the point is.....I've never had a problem logging into my account when dealing with Oceania.

We booked directly with O. I'm wondering since your TA gave you complimentary gratuities, do you have any knowledge IF the O agent would/could do the same?

 O is saving $ that is not going to a TA by my booking directly with them.

Thanks

On 2/6/2024 at 1:01 AM, giustot said:

For  those who can't read the article, I think I can gift it.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/01/travel/cruise-travel-insurance.html?unlocked_article_code=1.TU0.tPU0.zI9u-awVA_vq&bgrp=a&smid=url-share

 

Thank you very much.

On 2/18/2023 at 9:06 PM, bennybear said:

We enjoyed a lovely tour by M tours to our lady of the rocks and Perast followed by a scenic  drive and independent lunch in Budva.    We had gorgeous views of Kotor.  

Love these pictures.

Thanks

27 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

As the old saying goes: “We need to talk” (about your misconceptions).

First- as regards TAs: Remember that you and I (and everyone else in this thread) don’t amount to more than a rounding error in O’s daily bottom line. The right, high volume O selling TA, however, may book $ millions in a single week. So, while you’re on hold waiting for an O phone rep (who works for and is paid/controlled by O), that TA might get your “issue”!fixed with a quick speed dial to the O regional sales manager.

 

Next, are you sure you’re looking at the real O website? Right on the home page, it shows the Extraordinary Savings promo.

 

And, as regards those invoice terms like the brochure “cruise fare,” no one pays that fare - ever. And pretty much everyone gets the “early booking bonus.” The real savings come from “book onboard” and special sales discounts ( to which you add the O Club perks and, separately, your TA perks like commission sharing. 

For example, one of my current bookings has a book onboard discount plus the extraordinary savings discount plus O Club perks and a hefty rebate check from the TA.

 

Do the research and find a good O savvy TA. 

 

 

We did need to talk & I appreciate all your info. 😀

Thank you.

13 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

As the old saying goes: “We need to talk” (about your misconceptions).

First- as regards TAs: Remember that you and I (and everyone else in this thread) don’t amount to more than a rounding error in O’s daily bottom line. The right, high volume O selling TA, however, may book $ millions in a single week. So, while you’re on hold waiting for an O phone rep (who works for and is paid/controlled by O), that TA might get your “issue”!fixed with a quick speed dial to the O regional sales manager.

 

Next, are you sure you’re looking at the real O website? Right on the home page, it shows the Extraordinary Savings promo.

 

And, as regards those invoice terms like the brochure “cruise fare,” no one pays that fare - ever. And pretty much everyone gets the “early booking bonus.” The real savings come from “book onboard” and special sales discounts ( to which you add the O Club perks and, separately, your TA perks like commission sharing. 

For example, one of my current bookings has a book onboard discount plus the extraordinary savings discount plus O Club perks and a hefty rebate check from the TA.

 

Do the research and find a good O savvy TA. 

 

 

You are a wealth of knowledge. I figured people got discounts & that no one paid the listed price....which is crazy. However, for example, I don't know what is considered "early booking."

I suppose O decides that, along with "bonus discount" depending on how full the ship is getting. ???

After my husband & I were on our own (kids flew the nest) we always rented a car and drove around areas of Europe each summer for a couple of weeks. When we were in Sicily my husband got gout & since he had never had it before we didn't know what it was. I won't bore you with the details, but after that we started cruising because if we had a medical problem (& one never knows when one might appear) there would be a physician aboard....at least part of the time.

Needless to say, we've never looked back as far as renting a car & traveling on our own (although we loved doing that). Wonder if age (or my husband's driving 😉) has anything to do with liking the switch to cruising?

39 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

Yes, call “O”. Not ever cruise has this sale. Mine did. Large savings.

Will do. Thx.

30 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

I am surprised you do not see the Sale listed  on O website   it  is a large  ad right there  near the top of the page

OMG! Yes it is there in plain can't miss sight.

I didn't see it because I went right to "plan a cruise" & expected to see it there.

Can you tell I'm new at this?

Next time I will have to read the not so "fine small print."  🤦‍♀️🙄

Thank you very much.

This is all very interesting!

I always book directly with O, because I figure if I ever have an issue I can deal with an O rep rather than going through a middle person (TA). That's just me.

With all this communication regarding the sales, I thought I would go on the O site. Although we happen to have 2 cruises purchased this summer (usually we just take 1), there was no banner saying anything about an extraordinary sale. We've taken a cruise every year (not during Covid) & I've never seen anything about a "sale."

However, I book quite a few months in advance (usually about 8 or 9, never 1 year away).

I always get an "early booking" savings (which is 1/2 off the listed cruise fare), as well as a "bonus discount" which might be another 12ish%.

Question: Do those of you who book early (thus the "early booking discount") & the "bonus discount"  get a 3rd discount if you see that your cruise is now on sale for less than the original listed "cruise fare?"

Thanks.

Perfect.

Thanks a lot.

Much appreciated information.

Now I know how to do a "search" on CC. 👍👏😉

I will have to figure out how to search the Oceania & port sites.

Thank you for your suggestions. They are very good ones.

How do you find information on Oceania European cruise ports?

Thank you.

This is fantastic!!!! You did a fabulous job, and we really appreciate all this information! 👍👏👏👏👏

Thank you.

On 1/22/2023 at 4:01 PM, JoCruzer said:

 

Adelaide Aus................Tram right at port goes to centre city, no shuttle ...Dec 2019

Agios Nikolaos ............Don't need a shuttle as dock near town centre ......update 2020

Airlie Beach (Aust.) .....Tender, then $5AUD pp each way shuttle

Akaroa NZ ................... Tender of centre of town. ...... Dec 2019

Alanya (Turkey) ............Taxis take you to the top of the hill .   ... update 2020

Albany West Aus ..........Shuttle to town centre ...........Dec 2019

Alesund ........................ Dock at town so no shuttle

Alexandria .................... Shuttle to city square

Alicante Sp ....................free shuttle .............update 2022

Amalfi .......................... No need for shuttle

Antigua...........................dock in town ..no shuttle

Antofagasta ................. Free shuttle to town

Antwerp ....................... Dock in town - no shuttle needed ... Aug 2017

Aqaba ........................... Shuttle

Arrecife (Canary Is.)......free shuttle .............................per Currents 2014

Ashdod Israel ..............  Shuttle to Seal Mall ... April/June  2022

Athens (Port of Pireus)...Shuttle to outside port area in Pireus - need tour to Athens (2022)

Bangkok ....................... Free shuttle to town

Bar Harbour ................. Dock at town so no shuttle

Barcelona .................... Free shuttle to town (worldTrade Centre)

Basseterre, St. Kitts ..... Dock at town so no shuttle

Belfast .......................... Free shuttle to town (near City Hall)

Bermuda (Hamilton)....... dock in town ..no shuttle

Bilbao ............................Free shuttle to town

Bordeaux (city) ............ Dock at town so no shuttle

Bordeaux (Le Verdon) .... shore excursion required

Brisbane (Aus) ............. Free shuttle to town

Bozcaada, Turkey........... tender port, and small city.  No shuttle needed .... April 2022

Broome (Australia)........ Free shuttle to town

Bruges (Zeebruge) ......... free shuttle to port gates ... August 2017

Burnie Tas Aus...............Shuttle to Makers Workshop (meet guides/taxis) and to town......update 2020

Buenes Aires ................. Free shuttle to town / Plaza Hotel .......... update 2020

Cadiz ........................... Dock at town so no shuttle.  Need transport to Seville

Cairns Aus ................... Dock at town so no shuttle

Callao (Lima) ............... Free shuttle to town

Canary Islands .............Shuttle to terminal then walk ................ update 2020

Capetown..................NO shuttle - walk or  cab. (E berth, Terminal, Duncan Rd  Jan 2019

Casablanca .............. Free shuttle to town

Castries, St Lucia ...... Dock at town so no shuttle

Chania (Hania), Crete (Greece)  - shuttle to city center

Civitavecchia(for Rome).. Free shuttle to Civitavecchia

Cobh..................... Dock at town so no shuttle

Colombo, .............. Free from ship to Port Gate 1. (local taxis available there) Jan 2019

Concarneau .............. Dock at town so no shuttle

Copenhagen .............. Free shuttle to town – however reports of it being difficult see post 301

Coquimbo ................ Free shuttle to town

Corfu ......................... Free shuttle to town

Corner Brook ............ Dock at town so no shuttle

Crete..........................Shuttle ................update 2020

Dar es Salaam...........Free shuttle from pier to Hyatt Regency in City Center.   Long walk from ship to exit gate.  There are several gates which may be confusing. Very busy working port  (Jan 2019)

Darwin Aus ............... Free shuttle to town

Dubai .........................Free shuttle from the port to the Dubai Mall

Dublin ...................... Free shuttle to town (kildare St/Merrion Square) ... Aug 2017

Dubrovnick .............. Free shuttle to town

Dunedin NZ .............. Free shuttle to town

East London, SA ........... Free shuttle from pier to the Hemingsway Mall (Jan 2019)

Edinburgh (Leith) .......No shuttle - Closest port to town but still a distance to city centre 

Eden Aus ................... Tender then shuttle but only short walk

Ephesus ..........Quite a drive from Kusadasi - best done by a tour ...........update 2020

Esmeraldas ............. shuttle to  Playa de las Palmas (docked / itinerary said tender) Mar 2019

Exmouth (Aus) ........... Free shuttle to town

Flam Norway............... No shuttle needed - dock in town July 2018

Fremantle/Perth ........unsure, nearby ferry dock, train station very close to dock..... update Dec 2019

Geirange ................... No shuttle needed - Dock at town 

Geraldton West Aus ...Shuttle .................Update Dec 2019

Gisbourne NZ ............ Free shuttle to town but short walk

Gothenburg ................ Shuttle to City Hall

Great Stirrup Cay (Bahamas) - tender used to get to island. No shuttle needed. 

Greenock ................ ..No shuttle needed - Dock at town  (15-20 minute walk to train to Glasgow)

Haifa .........................shuttle to port entrance only (April 2022) 

Halifax ................. ....No shuttle needed - Dock at town 

Halifax pier 31  shuttle  to Pier 22 pavillion  April 2019

Hamburg ................. Shuttle provided by Port to City Hall ....Aug 2017
Harvest Caye........... ferry to mainland *not* operating for independents when there Mar 2019

Havana, Cuba ............ Dock in city. walk off on main street.... April 2017.

Helsinki ................... Free shuttle to town/ Shuttle from Westport to terminal near Market Square

Hobart (aus) ............ Dock at town so no shuttle ... Sep 2017

Holyhead ................ Free shuttle to town (really to end of dock) ... Aug 2017

Invergordon ............. Dock at town so no shuttle .... August 2017

Kirkwall (Shetlands Is) .......Shuttle to visitors centre Castle St .... update 2017

Koper ...................... Dock at town so no shuttle

Kotor ....................... Dock at town so no shuttle

Kristiansand ............ Walking distance to town ...(South coast Norway)  August 2017

Kristiansund.............No shuttle - dock in town (West coast of Norway) July 2018

Kusadasi (for Ephesus) - no shuttle, shopping available nearby in city. April 22

La Coruna ............... Dock at town so no shuttle

Langkawi.................Free shuttle  from pier to Cenang Duty free Mall Jan 2019

La Rochelle ............. Free shuttle to town

Le Havre (for Paris) .... Free shuttle to town (Le Havre) .... August 2017

Le Verdon ................. Free shuttle to town (Soulacsur Mer)

Lerwick .................... Dock at town so no shuttle

Lima - .......................Free shuttle to Marriott at Larcomar (Miraflores neighborhood) Mar 2019

Lisbon .................... Free shuttle to town (or dock in town)

Liverpool ............... Dock at town so no shuttle ... August 2017

Livorno ................... Free shuttle to town

Londonderry Nth Ire .....Shuttle to visitors centre in town..........update 2019

Male, Maldives.........tender port.... guides waiting + pick up tours there. Walk in town Jan 2019

Mahe, Seychelles........no shuttle . Jan 2019

Malaga ....................Shuttle ..............update 2022

Manta Ecuador ...... shuttle to main square (longish walk); will drop you at port gate Mar 2109

Maputo, ...................Free shuttle from pier to City Center (feima market) Jan 2019

Marseille ............... Free shuttle to town (fort Saint John)

Melbourne Vic Aus ...Tram 109 is 5-10 min walk from port, buy ticket at convenience store, no shuttle.       Trams within City Centre free, no shuttle ...... update Dec 2019

Messina (Italy) - ship docks at City Center; no shuttle needed. 
Miami .................... Free shuttle to Bayside Marketplace (*not* as an embarkation day)  Mar 2019 

Mitilini.....................This is tender port near town centre....... update 2020

Monte Carlo ............. Dock at town so no shuttle

Murmansk ................ Need to book a tour either O or private for visa

Muscat ..................... Free shuttle to the Souk

Mykonos.....................No shuttle needed, dock in town ...update 2020

Napier NZ.....................shuttle to ISite info centre on Marine Parade .... update Dec 2019

Nassau, Bahamas ..........dock in town

New York .................. no shuttle (Manhattan cruise terminal) Mar 2019

Newcastle .................. Free shuttle to nearest metro station (limited timing)

Nosy be, Madagascar...Free shuttle  (tender port) from pier to Town Center Market Jan 2019

Oporto ........................ Free shuttle to town

Oslo ............................. Dock in town so no shuttle .... Aug 2017

Paphos, Cyprus ......... ?no shuttle.  About 10 minutes walk to shops etc April 2022

Palma de Mallorca........ Free shuttle to town (cathedral)

Paris - see Le Havre

Patmos..............Dock in town - no shuttle needed .... update 2020

Perth see Fremantle

Phillip Is Vic Aus.........long tender ride in, shuttle to beach /boardwalk, limited car hire/taxis....Dec 2019

Phuket, Thailand........no shuttle Jan 2019

Picton NZ .................... Dock at town so no shuttle

Pireus (Port for Athens)...Shuttle to outside port in Pireus, need tour to Athens (2022)

Pisco ......................... Free shuttle to town

Port Arthur Tas Aus ..... Tender in to PA Penal Settlement - (no real town so a guess) no shuttle needed updated 2022

Port Elizabeth,  South Africa....Free shuttle from pier to the Boardwalk jan 2019

Port Klang................... Shuttle to Bukit Tinggi Mall. Break from 11:45 - 1:30.  Jan 19

Portofini ................... No need for shuttle
Puerto Limon........... no shuttle, tours by the local taxis & shops on the pier, walk to town Mar 2019

Portland ................... Free shuttle to town

Praislin, Seychelles....no shuttle
Praislin, .............. .......no shuttle . Jan 2019
Roatan ...................... no shuttle, Oceania docks in Coxen Hole, many port shops etc Mar 2019

Roatan  can also dock at Mahogany Bay resort port

Rhodes ....................... Dock in town. no shuttle - longish walk to port gates. .April 2022

Richards Bay............... Free shuttle from pier to Boardwalk Mall.  (Jan 2019)

Rio .............. Free shuttle to town

Rome ........................(see Civitavecchia)

Safaga,Egypt .............. a shuttle to downtown

Saint John NB ........... Dock at town so no shuttle

Salalah, Oman ............ shuttle to the Souk

Salaverry............. shuttle to Trujillo/or shuttle to port gate - private tours. Tours in Trujillo  Mar 2019

San Sebastion de la Gomera ...........None needed ........ update 2020

Santa Cruz De Teneriffe ........Shuttle to terminal ....................update 2019
Santo Tomas, ...... - no shuttle, tours in the terminal,  walk into town Mar 2019

Santos ......................... Free shuttle to town -  about 6 yrs ago no shuttle to San Paulus

Skagan Denmark............free shuttle to town July 2018

Singapore.......................no shuttle Jan 2019

Sorrento ...................... Free shuttle to town

Split ............................. Dock at town so no shuttle

Stavanger ....................dock in town July 2018

St Barts ..................... tender to town..no shuttle

St. Lucia ................... Castries: Dock at town so no shuttle.

Pointe Seraphine: .....walking distance (500 metres) or harbour water taxi to main area town.

St Malo ...................... Dock at town so no shuttle

St Jean De Luz .......... Dock at town so no shuttle

St Petersburg .............. Need to book a tour - either O or private for visa

Sydney N.S. ................. Dock at town so no shuttle

Sydney Cove/ Circular Quay Aus ...... Free shuttle to Darling Harbour centre ..... 2018

Sydney White Bay dock Aus ...turnaround day .  no shuttles, taxis available ..... Dec 2019

Tallinn ........................ Free shuttle to gates of old lower town (main road outside city wall)

Tauranga /Rororua.....disembarkation ?? shuttle ..............Dec 2019

Trapani, Sicily ..........  no shuttle; docked very near downtown June 2022

Valencia ..................... Free shuttle to town

Valletta ..................... Dock below town. Take an elevator up for €1-€2 . Free to go back. update April 2022

Venice ....................... Free shuttle to town

Warnemunde............ walk to town or train (short walk from port) to Rostock July 2018

Wellington NZ............free shuttle to several places city centre ...... Dec 2019

Zakynthos, Greece ....tender port, no shuttle, smallish island. Walk to small town 2022

Zanzibar................... Free shuttle from pier to Kelele Square (Jan 2019)

Zeebruge (for Bruges).... Shuttle to port gates ... Aug 2017

Edited July 28, 2022 by HilsTas

I read on one post that it's just as easy to walk (which isn't that long) instead of waiting in line for the people mover.