Dwtlion

Posted on Facebook this morning by a TA: Starting on Thursday, September 26, 2024, Oceania is introducing Oceania Cruises Your World Upgrade Advantage — an exclusive cruise upgrade bidding program for select Oceania Cruises guests. Eligible booked guests will receive an email invitation with a personalized link to the bidding platform, where you can place bids to upgrade your suite. The new Oceania Cruises Your World Upgrade Advantage program will begin with the October 30, 2024 sailing on Vista, and will continue to roll out on a continuing basis. The program typically begins from 110 days prior to sailing and closes at one day prior to sailing for booked guests who are paid-in-full.

A person who has been in charge of social gatherings on both Regent and Oceania told me that R has more gatherings because drinks are included in the fare, whereas on O, drinks may or may not be included. O's new fare structure may complicate this further at the solo gatherings. The O host has the drinks in their budget- more gatherings=more cost. Budget/cost is not an issue on R. I agree that R has gatherings almost every night, whereas O's gatherings are few and far between. As a solo, I wish O would up their game.

If a cruise line did that, they quickly would have zero TA's selling the cruise line.

I will be spending 24 days doing a transatlantic next year. As usual I am planning on spending some time in the casino but do not want carry a roll of $100 bills in my travels to the ship. What are my options for obtaining Casino cash: cashing checks; using a credit card (fee?); or can I establish a line of credit like I have done on other Cruise Lines. Seabourn's website has little or no information regarding the casino. TIA

Just called Seabourn to check on a cruise since the website is trash. Agent said he can't help since the whole booking engine is down. He answers the phone but can't do anything to help potential or actual travelers. Unbelievable!

Memo to self: hide liquor on the next to last night.

There is a valid reason for the low/short chairs in many of O’s public spaces. The shorter the chair, the lower the center of gravity; hence the less chance of the chair/occupant falling over in rough weather. I personally hate the low chairs in Horizon, but it’s a fact of life for O.

If the pool attendant reserves the chairs, the GM needs to be informed. Pool boys have no authority to do this-period.

Inernet updated to Starlink?

I wish someone would explain to me why a 7-day cruise is worth the same as a 24-day cruise under Oceania's program. Makes no sense. But 25 days is worth 2 credits. That 1 day becomes really important with the Oceania Club.

I agree.

While not important to most, those of us who will be traveling solo would like to know who the Social Hostess and Ass't cruise Director are on board.

Amen!

If you look at the air flights from Vancouver, you will see it is almost impossible to get a flight to the U.S. on the day you arrive. Most flights leave early in the AM-can't disembark & get to airport in time. I personally have this issue next month.

I believe the Vista lounge/theater is in the front of the ship where there are 4 elevators. There are 2 elevators aft that only go as low as deck 6.

I have a late fall '25 TA scheduled on Seabourn that was originally scheduled to end in Barbados, About 6 weeks ago they changed the itinerary to end in San Juan. I guess they learned the issues with Barbados.

Today I thought I would check the O website to see how the bookings are coming on a cruise I have booked starting May 1,2025 (22 days Miami to London). Lo and behold the website says every category for this cruise is now waitlisted. I also checked a longer Cruise on Vista leaving on the same date and that was also waitlisted. If these two cruises are really waitlisted, it sets a record for Oceania which frankly I don't believe. Personally I smell a charter on the Miami-Lisbon leg, but so far, I have been unable to uncover one using my trusty search engine. Given Oceana's well-deserved reputation of waiting to the last minute to inform booked passengers of cruise cancellations and major itinerary changes, I would like to find out ASAP so I can book an alternative. My TA is attempting to gather some information (nothing yet), but I would be curious if anybody on the blog knows (no speculation please) what is happening to this itinerary.

I do not know of any 42"+ flat screen that has speakers in the front.

Having been on Vista, I believe the issue is both the TV and the lack of insulation between the walls. The speakers on the TV are located in the back of the TV- just like your big flat screen TV at home. This cause's the sound to bounce off the common wall before entering the room.

Only if you pay 200%. If you get a special offer reduced fare (25% supplement), you will only receive days sailed-not double.

If the question involves port docking or tendering, I ask reception. They generally can answer these questions. I have found destination services is generally clueless on almost any question-including O's tours!

Frequent Oceania single cruiser looking at returning to Seabourn. How does Seabourn treat singles-anything special? Pre dinner gatherings? Group[ dinners once in a while? Searched this board, but no info I could find. TIA

Put your phone in airplane mode and then select wi-fi calling and you will pay nothing. Did this all over Europe this Fall on Vista.

On Vista in September with the prestige package the max was $18 per drink. However, there were exceptions. When no Bulliet available, Woodford Reserve was offered under the package.

Interested if anyone has comments/review on Regent's other pre/post cruise tour "Tokyo and Hakone" that is also offered on Japan cruises. Would welcome your comments.