Robjame

There are some interesting business factors that don’t really make sense. We are on a two segment cruise, with two booking numbers. Each is treated as separate cruise by Oceania. Online check in for the second segment is when we are on board for the first segment. Doesn’t make sense even to require a second online check in. Our “blue” book for the second segment will arrive at home when we are on the ship. The usefulness of these books can be debated but we really enjoy and treasure them. Doesn’t make sense.

I have readable messages there about online check in times.

I don’t know how soon your cruise will be. Approximately 3 weeks from your cruise, if your TA has shared your address with Oceania, you will be receiving your “blue” book. (No longer blue but rather a folder of books). One of the handsome books is excursions - very nicely laid out by port.

21 days prior to your embarkation day - January 3.

OLife is the Basic package - wine and beer at lunch and dinner in restaurants only. ‘Yes you can upgrade for $20 per person per day. Upgrade can only be done on the ship but does not necessarily have to be done first day. either package includes the 20% gratuitity. $20 - about one glass of champagne including tip.

I get that. But as I am finding with Oceania - it all depends. In reality when you do the math, prepaid gratuities doesn’t amount to much.

Just got off the phone with our TA who has been fighting on our behalf to get the Black Friday free gratuities for one part of our upcoming cruise. She was told that because we have a bundled cruise - a B2B cruise of more than one segment - we are ineligible. Is that a common experience? If we were taking just the one seven day cruise, we would qualify. seems odd.

How is the update of the Riviera coming? Will they be ready for the December 7 cruise? Changes? Deletions?

I think the photo you take at home (selfie) is to get past security and is never intended to be used as your cruise photo. Now whether or not security looks at it……….. I suppose it might count for something in case of disputes, like your EX appearing and claiming it is she who is meant to be on the cruise. Being asked for your passport multiple times is like being at the hospital for a procedure and being asked your name and birthdate several times. I am never sure if that is a competence test, an IQ test or whether they really want to know for the 5th time. I do know that answering, “the same as I gave two minutes ago” doesn’t pass or even raise a smile.

Here is a YouTube video of what your stateroom will be like. It is 7009 but same room across the hall.

Interesting. We are across the hall from you in 7009 on that same cruise, IMO you have one of the two best staterooms on the ship. We would not accept a free upgrade unless it were to a Penthouse suite. Be sure to check the roll call for this Voyage. There is an informal meet and greet planned for embarkation day. You should be able to make specialty dining reservations now as well.

The information about how to do this, along with the requirement to have a passport current to six months after the disembarkation date is all there on your Online Registratation form. It was there when you originally added your passport information as well.

A dead budgie😮. I thought it was a Norwegian Blue😀. I don't know about a parrot, looks more like a parakeet Proving on CC it is possible to stir up controversy about anything. LOL 😂

When there are 7 posts in a row by the same person, it is a pretty good indication that all has been said that needs to be said. ‘’this thread is dead, deceased, it lives no more and is not simply pining for the fjords.

Same menu

Or try another TA - we were given prepaid gratuities by our TA. Google Oceania ambassador or Oceania expert and see what you come up with. May I ask what country you live in? There are two types of incentives - those provided by Oceania and those provided by your TA and their agency. Ask for the TA/Agency incentives.

Deck 8 is completely staterooms on Vista - - if noise is your concern, it doesn’t get any better than that. None of us have seen Vista yet, but study the deck plans. Staterooms 8004 to 8011 inclusive, appear to be very interesting. If these plans are accurate, these staterooms appear to have extended, extended balconies and a few even have extended, extended, extended balconies.

Sorry Jazznruby - just checked once more and it is 8006 or 8007 that are the extended, extended extended balconies.

Yours is a legit question. We were booked on the Vista maiden voyage until it was cancelled. We studied the Vista deck plans and came to the same conclusion you did. ‘However, if you check deck 8 there appears to be some double extended balconies forward only. We couldn’t figure what they would be other than that so booked 8010 (8011 same on port side). One thing I would recommend if you want one of the two-sided open balconies is choose one of the suites open aft (8010 or 8011). The aft suites open forward act as a funnel for the wind making them useless while moving. You are correct that they are no longer B3, Oceania getting wise and making them A3.

So happy you have mellowed your position on Oceania. Cruise Lines are all about individual preferences and you might enjoy NCL for a cheaper price . Who knows? ‘Good Luck.

Susie - you stated on other platforms, “Due to Oceania's refusal to work with me, this will be my last cruise with them. Oceania was my favorite cruise line, not anymore.” I am curious if this is still your intention or, after some reflection, you have softened your position and rethought your declaration.

Margaret Thatcher believed “There’s no such thing as entitlement unless someone has first met an obligation.” In reading this thread, I am still trying to find what obligation has been met. Until then I find Oceania blameless in this unfortunate oversight.

Two things surprise me about this thread. 1. Anyone who has flown or travelled out of the country knows the 6 month rule. Airlines follow it. 2. Why your TA didn’t catch this - one of the first conversations we have with ours when we book as well as being on hers and Oceania’s documentation.

Norma - you have my sympathy - it sounds like you are going to have an absolutely miserable time this Christmas. I would like to help you out by going in your place and putting up with these cheap Oceania gamers.

When you access Booked Cruises on the Oceania website and go to Manage This Booking, you have a choice of tabs. Select Other Options and then Culinary Classes (not the easiest website to navigate!) You will see a blue button on the right Shop for Culinary Classes. The dates will populate and you can go through them. Not a class for every day. ‘Now if it is a culinary excursion - try Shore excursions. There is a selector button that allows you to filter by Wine and Food Tours.