Vallesan

I have no idea if the wording has changed since October either because our FCcs were prior to October too. But, if the wording hasn’t changed it should!

I agree. But … given some of the choices Oceania have made of late you start to wonder what their long term strategy is. Possibly the new CEO really is a broom that wants ‘sweep clean’ and put his own ‘stamp’ on things!

Thanks. Let’s see if that does actually happen!

If this is the case and prices increase to include gratuities, as a silver member, it may just make Seabourn and Silversea prices more attractive. That is unless Oceania compensate silver + members with maybe an increase in OBC.

There is no longer a ‘penalty free’ period for any cruises so Oceania really needs to be clear now that cancellation policy has changed. To be honest I found the FCC ‘s a waste of time. We have had two and both times we couldn’t combine with this offer or that offer. I think we should have done what you’ve done and just cancel them but we didn’t. I wouldn’t purchase one again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laSYNXGSq9M This link isn’t the one I was looking for but may just help.

I think the Ray might just be a better option. I think it may just be more scooter friendly which may be more important if you’re travelling solo. I’m guessing it will be a folding type travel scooter? I’ve not travelled on the Vista but have on the Riviera. I use a rollator or crutches and not all doors open automatically or have push buttons. I saw a ‘walk through’ video of the Nova and it looks really wheelchair/scooter friendly. I’ll try and find the link for you. Room size won’t be an issue on either ship. If I had to choose, apart from the price point, I would probably go for Silversea. The Nova is far more relaxed than the classic ships from what I hear. We sailed on the Dawn in the last summer and really enjoyed the service. It wasn’t stuffy and the formal nights were very mixed. Not sure they have formal on the Nova. Ask the same question on the Silversea page.

You probably will find it easier to get a table for 2 later in the evenings but….it may not be as leisurely as you hope for.There are likely to be very few diners and the crew may be eager to finish… not so leisurely?

Certainly was in my part of the world! But then I’m also in the North West. I remember it well!

BUT, you haven’t actually paid MORE? You didn’t answer apart from saying ‘would have cost more’ , but it hasn’t so I’m assuming it ‘didn’t’. Again I say to you, if Oceania isn’t for you anymore fine. Find another line that will give you better value. Oceania isn’t going to revert to OLife just to suit you!

Have you had to pay more for your booked cruises since the introduction of SimplyMore? Has SimplyMore actually cost you more in ‘cold, hard dollars’? Simple answer ….. yes or no!

Have the prices of your booked cruises gone up? If not then you have no problem. Just don’t book new cruises with Oceania. Find a new line with better value and you’ll be happy.

To go back to the original question of this thread … I can’t see any ‘downside’ to SM. I really don’t think people book a cruise because of just one aspect of the pricing. The only pricing now is under the SimplyMore pricing so it really doesn’t matter if prices are better or worse. It is what it is and at the end of the day, as with all cruise lines, it comes down to your personal priorities and the ‘bottom line’.There really is no point to your posts.

Well those ‘hard, real pounds’ are in my pocket not in Oceania’s! No you’re right SM did nothing it was the Summer Sale, that put the extra money back into my pocket. It wasn’t an OBC. SM was just a bonus!

Actually the service on Seabourn ships goes above and beyond. Your wishes are granted even before you realised that was what you wanted! Well not quite but that’s how it feels.

We changed a cruise from OLife to SM in the Summer Sale and the price was reduced by £1700. To me that was a decrease in price plus we got the benefits of SM. I don’t quite understand your point. If I have an extra £1700 in my pocket how is that not a saving?

Sorry misread your post! Looking at my Pre-Cruise savings letter it says: ….you may transfer your cruise date and deposit one time outside the 181 or more days prior to sailing, free of charge. Not sure how this will work now that there is no ‘penalty free’ time prior to sailing?

I think the $150 fee applies to all cruises booked from October 1st 2023. In the UK I have a booking made before October 23, for May 2024 with the following penalties: Cancelling prior to departure 181+ days. O% 180 - 91 £200 For a booking made recently for September 2024 the penalties are: Cancelling prior to departure 181 days or more £150 180 - 151 £500 150 - 91 50% of full fare. So quite a dramatic change. I can’t imagine thatenalties on cruises booked in other countries will vary. I would advise anyone who has booked a cruise since October 1st 2023 to check the cancellation details on their invoice carefully to avoid a nasty shock in the case of cancellation.

Hlitner and Waltershipman I’ve not sailed on the Vista but have sailed ‘R’ and ‘O’ class Oceania ships. We’ve also sailed Seabourn and Silversea. I agree with you both that SB passengers tend to be friendly, the staff go above and beyond and being ‘invited’ to dinner with crew members can be quite enjoyable. We loved Silversea as well but it was maybe slightly more ‘stuffy’, only a smidgeon, but we loved the butler and champagne and caviar on tap. Oceania is different. Firstly, Vista has double the number of passengers. The crew don’t interact in the same way as they do on SB. The general atmosphere is more relaxed. We’ve enjoyed all our Oceania cruises but they are ‘different’ to Silversea and Seabourn. Please go with an open mind and expect the experience to be ‘different’ but enjoyable, hopefully!

I agree with you wholeheartedly! SimplyMore is a fact of life. It is what it is and the only real comparison is the ‘bottom line’. There are a myriad of cruise lines to choose from so if SimplyMore is that offensive find a line that suits better.

Don’t panic! We have often had to take a shared table to get an earlier time and then, on several occasions, the other diners haven’t turned up so we have had a table for two. Although we don’t actually mind sharing. Also, when you get on board you can often change the times etc. people cancel. There’s a reservation desk where you can go can each morning and see what’s available in the various restaurants. The restaurants nearly always keep a few tables back for ‘emergencies’! As a last resort you can always check with the maitre’d as the restaurant opens to see if they have any earlier tables for that evening.

I agree! The pizzas are lovely but for me it’s a lunchtime thing. I wouldn’t eat pizza at home for ‘dinner’ so I’m certainly not eating it on a ship, any ship.

The cancellation policy in the UK, from the day of booking … 181 days or more prior to departure £150 pp 180-151 days prior to departure £500 pp. So in effect we would lose around $190 pp at todays exchange rate!

I’ve sailed on Nautica several times but haven’t sailed Celebrity so I can only give you my opionion of the ‘R’ class ships rather than a comparison. I like the ‘atmosphere’ of the smaller ships the staff get to know you and your preferences more easily. The veranda cabins are quite tight and the bathrooms tiny so we always take a PH on those ships whereas on the ‘O’ class we take a veranda. There are only two speciality restaurants on the Nautica, Polo Grill and Toscana whereas there are four on the ‘O’ ships and the Sirena sort of has three …. Red Ginger and Tuscan Steak, which is an amalgamation of Toscana and Polo. But of course all the ships have the GDR and waves as well. I wouldn't turn my nose up at any of the ships but to feel as though we are starting to favour the larger ships for the variety of eating venues. It really depends on what’s most important to you.

One other point is that there is a large overhang on deck 11 from the pool deck above. We always take deck 10 when possible. Only relevant if you like sun on your balcony