Vallesan

Actually I’ve never found even a ‘1 walker’ tour suitable! Now we have SM we choose a ‘private 1/2 day’ if available. If not we just think of it as ‘part of the price’ and just don’t fret about it.

@lorimay take a look at the ‘Live from Vista’ thread. Hank is in Santorini today. This might be the most useful answer for you!

Do you really think people feel that ‘entitled’ that they think everything should be dumbed down to the lowest level? I can’t believe that people would be that selfish. I have mobility issues and apart from not inconveniencing others, I wouldn’t dream of putting myself in danger by taking a 3 walker trip or even some of the 1 walker stuff, which isn’t really suitable for the less than able bodied! It just wouldn’t occur to me to take these trips. Maybe people don’t read the tour descriptions or possibly they think they are fitter than they really are. Or maybe, as you say, some people do just feel ‘entitled’. Sad really.

Looks like you may have hit the nail on the head! Just wondering how long it will be before the pent up urge to travel and the cruise credits run their course because then we will see the ‘true’ pricing of cruising!

Why bother eating if the food contains none of the above!! I must admit I do like ‘flavour’ and ‘spice’ but I don’t recall the total lack of these in general on Oceania. Maybe my choices haven’t been foods that demand a high level of NoNos! I don’t expect the food in Red Ginger to be ‘real Asian’ food nor Jaques to be ‘real French’ fare. But I do expect some seasoning. I can’t say that I’ve ever found the food as ‘bland’ as you say but then, a little like ‘recollections’, ‘tastes may vary’!

I agree. We had a similar experience last June with Silversea. However apart from that we really didn’t feel that that was enough to make Silversea ‘luxury’ compared with other similar lines. Of course you also have to take into account that Oceania is ‘premium’ line not a ‘luxury’ line. For us Seabourn really is the line that goes above and beyond. But everyone to their own as it really is ‘subjective’.

Thank goodness we have ‘choices’! Life would be so boring if we all liked the same thing.

There are some amazing upmarket all-inclusive resorts in Greece and I’m sure in Cyprus too. We have a problem in that most ‘resorts’ are ‘spread out’ and having walking problems a small, compact ship suits better. Looks like we will still have to pay the ‘premium’ for the small ship experience!

Red Ginger…. well for us the ‘miso glazed sea bass ‘ is just too sweet. I agree that the food verges on bland although we have enjoyed the duck and watermelon salad in the past. I think we eat there knowing it’s not ‘authentic’ it’s just a change from the GDR.

Our first trip was 1979 and visited several times after that. BUT … sailing into Valletta really is a highlight. I actually can’t think of a nicer port to sail into apart from maybe Mahon, Saigon, Klong Toey …. oh there are so many I just love arriving in port!

Waves is also on the starboard side of the ship next to the Terrace so much more movement!

I’ve never been in that position only 100% penalty so can’t answer that. I do know that’s what Seabourn do.

Maybe it’s different in the UK but we didn’t pay for the port fees separately either. We were also in the 100% penalty level and they just ‘appeared’ as a refund on my credit card without any notification. I couldn’t even tell you if the amount was right or wrong as they were never specified! I do know that Seabourn take out the port fees and refund on the basis of the fare only but then they specify the port fees and taxes separately.

We have never had taxes refunded for missed ports from Oceania but our travel insurance does give cover for missed ports. We have claimed several times. Oceania do refund port taxes if you cancel a cruise.

We’ve stayed in 8049, 8044 and 8042 on various R ships and have never been disturbed from above. 8049 seems to be just under the ‘wall’ where the Terrace and Waves meet but my guess is that anything further aft could be noisy. As a matter of interest 8044 and 42 are both very close to lifts/stairwell and we have never been disturbed by them either.

Thank you!

BTW any chance of your agent in ‘code’ ?

I did miss the pre-cruise documentation and whilst the new version is more generic the luggage labels are nice. It just put a smile on my face when it arrived in the post. However, I do agree about the constant barrage of brochures and sales booklets.

You don’t say how soon your cruise is? I think your TA is right about asking for the shipboard credit to be applied retroactively however if it was me I would be inclined to speak to Oceania prior to your cruise. I think they might adjust your account to include the beverage package and gratuities. 3. I think there would be an 18% charge on spa treatments as the spa is independent … I think! 4. As far as I know you can’t use SBC for the casino. 6. I don’t think you can use it against a future cruise. SBC can be used for all the others.

Yes so true ! After all we are on ‘holiday’!

I also agree. It would be sad if the policy became more restrictive because people are abusing the current ‘liberal’ system. Just wondering how you know who is drinking ‘within’ the rules! Do they have different types of glasses in the dining room?

It is!

Our TA only deals with cruise companies and only does cruise line flights. I always book my own anyway. But for cruise without flight you might find they come out tops. We recently had to cancel a cruise within 48hrs to get just a 90% cancellation fee. Rang on a Sunday, Monday was the deadline. Monday cruise cancelled, cancellation invoice Tuesday and also a refund from the cruise line appeared immediately. Very impressed! So many companies are great when you book but not so great when you need to change or cancel!

Not really. As I have said anyone having a poor experience, anywhere, is not going to repeat it when their are so many choices. Please don’t take this so personally. Maybe we could just stop the ‘nit picking’ and move on. In general I’ve found your posts interesting and informative. Let’s not spoil things.

Thank you! Yes it can happen anywhere, I agree. I do understand the nature of tipping in the US and on that we did tip the very pleasant lady who served us that evening. But, quite frankly tipping somebody who ‘just happened to work there’, who didn’t even pour a glass of water was one step too far! I’m sure most people would agree with that.