golfguyhhi

It will be. O marks up the price more than 100%. Do Google search for private cars/drivers Trieste to Venice airport. Review and choose. You'll save a lot.

SellaVee, Did you know that if you hover your curser over a poster's ID, a dialog opens, and it contains, in the lower right corner, the word 'ignore'. If you click on that word, you will be forwarded to a part of CruiseCritic that allows you to choose that poster and add them to a list of posters whose posts will no longer show up for you. I have 3 posters so far that I will never see again. Try it -- it's fun!!!

ORV, The O rep my TA works with isn't sure if SM for 20th cruise includes everything that SM includes because he hasn't handled one yet. Agrees he doesn't know how they would strip out anything that's part of the basic package, but "just doesn't know".. BUT, and there's always a BUT, I did find out I can't switch to SM because the whole ship is waitlisted. We booked an Owners, because that's what 10 of our 19 cruises have been, and we felt that's what we'd be given for #20. Not only are all 6 Owners (Insignia) booked, but so is the whole ship. Maybe we can be a test case when we get to #40 in a few (?) years. Oh, well.

Flyer, I think sunshine said they have already made final payment, which I think has more bearing on the ability to make a change that may impact the cost of the cruise. I'm in the middle of trying to make a change to SM on a cruise that has not gotten to final payment. I'll let you know how that goes.

Orv, Why would you think that? Cruise Only is Cruise Only. SM seems to be agreed to by everyone as having 2 flavors, Full and Cruise Only. Why do you think there might be a secret third flavor that we don't know about?

red Our cruise is 16 days. Our TA contacted O in March after we completed our 19th cruise, and more than the required 180-day minimum notice window, of our intent to name our December cruise as our Milestone. O responded that we were indeed qualified for our 20th (already booked a year+ before), and for the TA to come back to them (O) about a month before PIF date (Aug 1) so O could prepare a final invoice to reflect what was still owed (2 pro-rated days, port charges and taxes). Notified TA by e-mail Saturday to first make the conversion of the cruise to SM. Upon receipt of evidence of that change, then contact O as requested in March to give them a heads-up about finalizing details of the 20th. Don't expect part 1 of this to take place before Wednesday due to the long weekend. Part 2 should be accomplished before the end of next week. How long it takes O to do their calculations is unknowable, but anticipate it will be done before August 1. Well before Aug 1. Just checked the O website for the 20th cruise description and it says it will be booked as 'cruise only'. so I'm confident we'll have all the SM inclusions to enjoy on our cruise.

Bob, I am converting my 20th cruise to SimplyMore. Then I am telling O that it is my 20th cruise. I doubt they are going to then tell me they are retracting parts of the cruise (beverage and shoreX allowance) that are actually included in the cruise description. That would be like saying I could not make specialty restaurant reservations, or even eat in the specialties. The cruise content description for Cruise Only for SM cruises only drops out air. Nothing else. That's why I doubt that what your Ambassador has told you will turn out to be true. Considering how this SM thing has been sprung on everyone, I think some details are still to be ironed out.

Our 20th cruise is this December and I've just told our TA to convert it to SimplyMORE so the beverage package is included and I don't have to purchase it separately. Will also be able to take an expensive car and driver excursion somewhere along the cruise. And all for free. For me, SimplyMore worked out perfectly for the 20th milestone/complementary cruise.

ORV, In 19 O cruises, we've only taken about a half dozen O excursions. However, I will very likely be doing exactly as you have described here -- no crowded busses, no mobility issues, no one who shouldn't be on the excursion, and no one waiting for that one in every crowd that just had to do a little more shopping and didn't think it was any big deal to be late. Just me and DW and driver - as close to DIY as possible.

FF, Well, in fact, when O offers "Ultimate OLife" (which I've gotten twice) means you do get all 3, at no increase to the OLife price. Sorry, it seems like I'm arguing, and I don't to have it appear that way. And, while I am a committed O cruiser, I don't consider myself a cheerleader.

FF, You know that the cost to O for the wine/beer/sparkling wine that can be consumed in the House Select Package, versus what they charge for it means that not charging for it has only a blip on the bottom line, offset by marketing material.

And for that, I apologize in advance.

Flyer, My point, exactly. If you choose OLife now, the price difference from Cruise Only is the same, no matter which OLife amenity you choose, so the price MUST already include enough to cover any (and I believe that means excursions and beverage) of the 3 that might be picked. What's not included is the OBC option, as that's really just a short term loan from you to O, which is paid back on board through your use of the OBC. That's why it is no longer offered in SimplyMORE SimplyMORE reduces the choice to SimplyMore with air, or SimplyMORE without air. You've mentioned before (I believe is was you) that you can calculate the air credit by adding half the OLife OBC amount to the Cruise Only amount and then subtract that amount from OLife with air. The difference is the air credit, and that's why I think the SimplyMore price difference will be so small. Look at janecambridge's post that her booked cruise will up 200 GBP per person on Monday.

Since the price of the OLife amenities house select beverage package and the shore excursions is already included in the base fare we're all paying now, the only variable is the OLife On Board Credit amount. I predict the price increase, if any, will be equal to one half of the OLife OBC amount, or $300 to $400 per (most) cruise. Once SimplyMORE is activated, the only choice will be SimplyMORE with air, or Cruise Only (AKA SimplyMORE without air). The price difference will be the air credit. I have 7 O cruises booked and will be booking more as soon as the new itineraries are released this fall.

No survey? Go to Reception and ask for one. You have things you need to include on yours. Also, ask at Reception to speak with the Head Butler about your Butler issue. If you can't get the Head Butler, speak to the GM. Remember, you are being charged a gratuity for the Butler on a daily basis, you need not offer an additional one at the end of the cruise if you feel you have not received service above the minimum. Even though it may feel more effort than you want to expend at the end of the cruise, be sure to complete the on-line survey. Be honest, and specific, in the Butler portion of the survey. This one goes directly to Home Office.

Terri, Is the CD Margaret Lynn Scoggins?

I doubt there will be much of any change in the fares. All the 'O Life' amenities are already priced into the current fares. In fact, I'll wager the new fare will be equal to the difference between today's 'O Life without air' and 'Cruise Only". (Several posters have explained how to calculate that amount) Oceania has a very good idea how many people choosing O Life will take each of the 3 amenities and will have priced those costs into the current fare. Oceania routinely raises prices every quarter, and they make no secret of it. I think they will be making a big deal about adding benefits while changing rates only slightly, if at all.

Jan, I think the confusion is that the phrase "Cruise Only" used to mean something different than it is going to be under "SimplyMORE". The new 'Cruise Only" simply means no air included.so a discount to the price equal to the air credit. And by the way, haven't we all been paying for the benefits included in the O Life offerings? Oceania has included those costs in the pricing, since it has no way of knowing which O Life amenity a cruiser will choose, and no additional money over and above the O Life pricing is collected. Even if you elect 'Cruise Only' the biggest discount is the air credit. The reduction for not taking O Life is equal to 50% of the O Life OBC amount. I doubt that the new "SimplyMORE" will result in the huge fare increases the various Cassandras are predicting. Remember, Oceania pays wholesale for the wine and other spirits, as well as for the shore excursions. The accounting types have calculated the costs and what needs to be collected to pay for those costs, plus make a profit for O, regardless of what options you choose when you book.

No excuse for the oafish response of the hushed party, but the piano player in Martini's is background bar music, not a concert. Hushed, attentive silence is not required (nor, in my view, is it expected).

This thread should be required reading for anyone contemplating booking a cruise with SilverSeas. I will point to it whenever anyone asks me why I've only cruised once on SS and never gone back.

A 9:30 arrival could be a problem. Check-in doesn't begin until 11 AM. In the past they haven't allowed people upstairs to the waiting lounge until after 10 AM. Nowhere to sit outside the terminal. Worse if it's raining.

Moms, We've disembarked O cruises in Miami a dozen times. We only fly Delta and have easily made our 10:15 AM flight every time. Delta has curbside check in -- use it (and don't forget to tip). Delta only has a few flights a day and terminal H is small -- means short lines at TSA pre-check. You will have no problem making your noon flight. Even if there is a delay getting off the ship. Here's an additional tip: when you step off the ship's gangway (presuming you are at Terminal J) turn right and go down the steps to the luggage claim area. Passport control is fast and the line for cabs is always short with empties rolling in as fast as the full ones roll out. The big delay complaints recently have to do with the number of people using the elevator. The airport is a quick 15-20 minutes away. We've never gotten to the airport after 9 AM - always before.

Nolan left Viking in mid-cruise in the Philippines, then joined and left Silver Seas while cruising had been halted. He is now working in the mortgage industry and living (very happily) in Johnson City, Tennessee, where he now has full custody of his daughter. We sailed with Nolan (and his then-fiancée, Elle Adda) several times. He was our favorite CD and we certainly miss him. We've been in touch with him since he left the industry -- which is how we know he is very happy.

Thanks everybody!!! Have 2 sea day Sundays on Splendor on the T/A in a week, and am now quite looking forward them.

If you've been on board an RSSC ship over the last few weeks, has the sea day Sunday brunch been happening?