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@Cruzin64647 My Pleasure. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@FetaCheese That was a good idea on the Translator. I will keep posting and hope to do some live posts on the ship. Thank you for asking. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@mauibabes Yes, this is one of those things you can't control. I knew that one or more of our ports would be missed. This board establishes that as an expectation. I have managed my guest expectations on that. The moment this conflict happened, I figured Turkey would be that port. This is an adventure so anything is better then going to St. Thomas for the 30th time. Thank you for taking the time to reach out. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Girr Hello, I am this Author of this Crazy Long Stream. I wanted to comment. The reason why I post almost exclusively on CruiseCritic.com is because most members allow for different opinions. Especially on concepts like "A Ship-With-A-Ship" VIP sections like the NCL Haven and Celebrity Retreat. This includes type of Suite or Stateroom. When I have posted on another Social Media Site, I am trolled and ridiculed for my choices. Here on CruiseCritic.com, folks might not agree however they are always very kind with the responses. The Owners Suite or larger upper end suites on cruise ships are very special. As I indicated a few posts back, I stayed with my family of four in the NCL Joy H2 Haven Deluxe Owners Suite. It was for all involved the best cruise of our lives. Part of it was we all simply got along which is unique in my family. I too love the larger suites. My wife especially likes a larger suites although she gets on my case when they are fancy. I also have to kind of hide the cost so she does not get mad at me. We both have come up from humble beginnings and that is a hard experience to forget. There nothing wrong with Inside Staterooms or upper end larger suites. All of our goals should simply be to have the best enhanced experience we can. Life is too short. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

My cruise is less then 30 days away. I created my Journey Document which is over 50 pages. From this my wife and I hosted a dinner with our best friends who are joining us for this cruise. Because the attention span of my wife and friends is like a NAT, I also created a 30 minute YouTube video. Let's say we all had a few drinks prior to putting on the video. Some of us had one to many. Somehow a Old Movie was put on the TV pre-YouTube Cruise Video. It was Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein. Paused that Oscar Winning movie to put on the Cruise Video. I hope all of you reading this learn from my experience. It took one hour to get through 10 minutes then I gave up and just sent them the link. I was so frustrated, all I wanted was some confirmations. I got a few as you will see below. When I get frustrated, I start doing tequila shots. I was very happy about 15 minutes later. All I wanted was a few understandings. They were: Confirm timeframes for Air Transportation. A week later after this dinner, I was ask when we were leaving and coming back. LOL. I asked our friends if they wanted to upgrade their long haul flights. This was the 50th time I asked the same question. I got the same answer yet again, "NO". My wife and I used all our Delta Skymiles for Delta One Business Class, and I did not want to feel guilty. I will get over it. We only have less then a day at most ports, you can only do one or two attractions at most. Once chosen, we can book admission online to eliminate lines. The answers I got was, "You Choose". How to handle Jetlag. I traveled every year to Europe and created an approach to get on the time zone quickly. All I wanted to do was share it and gain agreement. Hard to do with my three guest talking all ever each other so I just gave up. Dinner Pre-Cruise in Athens, Greece has been booked for months. It is on the Highest Mountain overlooking Athens. All of a sudden, my wife is worried about steps when you take the cable car to the top. This was the only 100% agreement we got in this meeting. We all agree, "Just Do It." Finally, I am happy to report that everyone got their covid boosters, updated their passports, provided the cruise line and airline with necessary information, has travel insurance and has paid in full which is Oceania Cruise Favorite part. For all my fellow planners. Don't stop thinking through your trips. Just know, very few folks even the ones you love and joining you will take anything seriously until the day before. Except buying new clothes of course. I knew all this, from past cruises so none of it was a shock. I guest the reason why I do it is to feel a little bit more in control especially when so far away from home. If I miss something that is within my control, I want to make the decision. Simple concept. This will be my last post on this topic. My next post will be a "Semi-Live" blog while on our cruise. I will start that blog on November 7, 2023 with the flights, hotels and actual cruise. Thank everyone for reading this topic and I hope you will watch for the blog when published. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Cruzin64647 Here is a reason which was mine. Remember, to each their own. I was booked in a Haven Two Bedroom Family Villa for my 42 Wedding Anniversary. I was taking my two adult children. To spare everyone a long post, I was cancelled four times due to covid. We started on the Pearl, rebooked the Encore three times and ended up on the Joy. When I took my "THEN" % off, Bonus FCC, and the fact that the Haven H2 Deluxe Owners Suite on the Joy was way less money then the two bedroom on the Encore, I booked it. My family and I enjoyed that experience however at the end, my conclusion was clear. As nice as the Suite was, and it was nice, unless I got it the way I did or did a "NCL Bid" upgrade at a reasonable price, I would never do it again. It was one hell of an experience though. My adult children are now completely spoiled. Side note, My next cruise is a 10-day Mediterranean Cruise on NCL Sister brand, Oceania. We leave in less then 30 days. We booked the trip over a year ago, was able to gain two really great promotional sales, and ended up with what is called a "Vista" Suite. It is about the same size as the H2 Owners Suite on the Encore, Joy, and Bliss. Again, leveraging all the incentives, catching some great sales and staying on top of details we booked this cruise at even less by a far margin then current H2 Owners Suites. My point is, sometime you can catch a deal on some of these huge suite. For me it is sport, I can afford a little more but not full retail. Everyone needs to do what is right for them knowing what they enjoy on a cruise. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I have an idea for you, which I am sure you might have thought about. I recently did my first Solo cruise. Before I do anything, I study the options, rules and how it all works. I choose a ship with NCL that did not have Solo cabins in the hope they would drop the need for me to pay twice. With a few tries, I found a club balcony suite, where the rate was $800.00 for a seven day cruise on the NCL Joy with NCL's Free at Sea. Best of both worlds. It took some investigation, it does not happen all the time. I had a great time. Just a thought. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Zach1213 Here is when folks learn the lesson on flying in the night before and staying in a Hotel. They almost or actually miss the cruise. Only takes once. This ALMOST happened to me decades ago. I was lucky. All this said, I have heard some of the most creative excuses for not coming in the day before. Then, when they miss the ship, it is everyone else fault. On the balcony stateroom, to each his own. I have had a balcony for decades now. I also have done the VIP suites on NCL/Haven, Celebrity/Retreat, MSC/Yacht Club and Oceania in a Vista Suite. I go on less cruises so I treat myself to what I consider a nicer experience. This is my choice, as is the choice to do an inside cabin. As long as I am not criticized for my choice, I say we all do what works for us. Thank you so much for posting. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I have found this thread to be highly informative and Helpful. Here is my situation as of this morning. My cruise is 29 days away. This means that the penalty for all booked on the ship is now 100%. Our group of two staterooms has one PH3 Guarantee not assigned. The ship shows all stateroom except "one" completely waitlisted. The one that is open is a "Oceania Suite". The ship is the Riviera on a 10 day Mediterranean cruise leaving November 9, 2023. It is clear from the posts on this thread, that the Guarantee will clear about one week prior to the departure up to the actual departure day of the 9th. This cruise had a Four Category Upgrade and the Extraordinary Sales Event that could be used as the same time providing a value to all that booked (Double Dip). The cruise really was not part of the "SimplyMore" program. Therefore true Cruise Only staterooms were available. Using other Oceania cruises, with Guarantee's as a benchmark, the odds are that a PH3 will become available and that is what my guest joining will be assigned. The likely hood of a PH2 or PH1 is possible but unlikely. There are many opinions written on each PH category all of which make sense. The possibility of an Oceania, Vista or Owners Suite upgrade is close to a zero possibility unless one asks Oceania for a "Paid Guest" upgrade offer and even then it would be close to impossible and improbable. As I have learned, with a filled ship, someone always cancels in the last 30 days. A number of reason with the outcome of a cancellation. Oceania and other brands are experts in selling every single stateroom and have many methods shared in this thread on how they do it. My thoughts at this point not knowing the actual stateroom is, I am glad we did the Guarantee because it was based on the "Four Category" upgrade. All that was left at the time at the lowest rate was in a PH3 Guarantee. If actual staterooms were available, since the guarantee does not provide a discount, I would in the future choose a actual cabin vs. the Guarantee. Just less to think about. My reasons when assigned might change my mind but the waiting to the last minute is just not me. This has been a learning process which I have enjoyed. Everyone's actual results and opinions have made so much sense. I will do one final post when the stateroom clears just to tie a ribbon on the topic for me. Thank you everyone for helping a new Oceania Guest learn from your experiences. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

You speak my language!! Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@bluestar1 First the answer to your question. Yes, heavy cream. My wife and I had every intention to be on Keto, while in our Haven Suite. It was no issue at all. Second, well, I lasted until desert, the first night in the Haven Restaurant. It was the chocolates Cake that got me. My wife made it two days. The good news is we both went back on Keto, lost even more weight and about to go on our first Mediterranean Cruise in November 2023. We worked hard to be at our fighting weight so bread, potato's and rice are in my future. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I am the OP and you got me exactly correct, thank you. I am new to Oceania however not new to cruising nor NCL as a company. I wrote for years extensively on the NCL Blog focused on the "Secrets of the NCL Haven VIP Luxury Experience". It was a "Ship-Within-A-Ship" and I loved it then and now. Best of both worlds but not the best for ALL cruise vacations. The Haven and Celebrity Retreat blogs/threads or anything else folk want to call them always talk about how friends not in these VIP areas, really cannot dine with their guest joining them unless the guest is also in the area. As a Frequent Haven Guest, the negative comments by the other guest about the Haven Area, Restaurant, Bars, private sundecks and pools were both rude and sometimes hateful. The premium for these VIP area was three to four times the fare the other passengers were paying but that seem not to matter. That was the "Classes" I was talking about and I was looking to be on a brand where it was not that way. My OP-ED focused on the benefit to me, my guest and family that once you left your stateroom on Oceania, everyone was treated the same. I like that concept and it was one of the reason's I choose Oceania. One of many. Now onto some other comments I read not by you but by others. The more you pay for your stateroom on Oceania, the more amenities you receive. That is absolutely true. Those amenities are "Mostly" while in your stateroom. I say "Mostly" because if I did not, my response would be picked apart instead of understanding my point which was a complement to Oceania. A few exceptions like early boarding or your stateroom being ready first. Also for Oceania, Vista and Owners Suites, you can have on a ten day cruise like I am soon to be on, two nights per specialty restaurant for a total of 8 out of 10 nights while on the Riviera. For Penthouse and above you can order Suite service from those same specialty restaurants. Does that establish a "Class" system, only in your suite "Mostly". My point was in making this a topic was, "Here are some reason's I choose to move from NCL Haven to Oceania Cruises. Here are the differences that I see, read about and saw on video's". Moving from your favorite brand is not always easy. It takes a leap of faith sometimes. Now do I expect some of area's I disliked on other brands on Oceania, yes. My understanding is even on Oceania Cruises, "Chair Hogs" are alive and well. Even on Oceania, every meal is not the "Finest Cuisine at Sea". Even on Oceania, crew team members have a bad day from time to time. Even on Oceania ports are missed for reasons that no once can justify or determine. When we choose a brand change, it does not mean the world will be a better place. It means we are stepping out for a different and hopefully enhanced cruising experience. It is my opinion, that is why there are so many new folks booked and cruising on Oceania recently. Just my guess. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Daniel A I am still thinking it through. Of course it would be a FL departure because most of the folks on this threat can make it there easily. I will look at the cruises after I came back from my Med Cruise next month. Sorry about your flights. I booked using all of my saved Delta Skymiles for Business Class, and booked my friends in coach on the same flights with Domestics First Class. Flying to Europe is no fun at all. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Flatbush Flyer You are correct on both. The point of the comment was it is included. Where with my experience in the past on Mainstream Cruise lines, it was extra. The comment was made based on my personal approach, not everyone. I rate Luxury based on better luxury then I have had before. If I had a butler and they were average to below average. Then I have a butler that is more attentive. That to me is an enhancement and luxury. However only based on my personal experiences. Everyone is different. I agree with your basic statement however, with all the reviews I have read, video's i have watched and folks that are more credible then others providing that information; I temper it all as relative to the person. Years ago I would day dream about a cruise or new brand. Dreams are perfect Cruises are not. Now I temper everything I see and here to manage expectations. Expect less and hopefully you receive more. Same, I looked at all the brands before I made the decision. The cost per day got even better when a few sales happened during the process. Thanks for such a thoughtful and clear response. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@justhappy My pleasure. I have seen some GREAT bargains and will consider it in the future. My older sister has never cruised and I will take her next. She has a budget so I will pay the difference. Everyone deserves to take a nice cruise once in a lifetime. Funny, the prices for the new ships in Europe are really good. I looked at them a year ago and it was way to high. So I booked the sister company Oceania for that port intensive trip. My next quest, which I will work on beginning of next year is a Haven Trip, at the right price, with NCL coming to the table. How knows, maybe they will give the us a kind of thank you here on CruiseCritic.com let us all enjoy one cruise together. I am not holding my breath though. Funny, I don't think I am pass on the Vibe. I have enjoyed that area so much more then the Haven Sundecks. I think it is the two hot tubs and a bar right there. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@justhappy LOL, I will give you credit for that name from this point forward. I agree, raising prices and lowering amenities is not the way for great brands to go. That is why we the consumer have choices. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Gracie115 The shift in cruising which I have unofficially observed is folks being unhappy with their past brands. You just said it and I feel somewhat the same way. As you read this Oceania Blog, you will read past Oceania client wanting to move on. When the industry closed down, needed loans to open back up, had to find ways to improve profits to pay those new loans, we all knew things would change. With luxury clients, when you find your brand, for the most part you stay loyal. Then you see changes that made it your brand that now are gone or less so. Depending on what it is, you consider moving to another brand. Your move will be an adventure. It might be GREAT and you might miss where you were previously. This kind of movement creates people like you and I. We have no framework of the Oceania Brand other then what we read, learn and uncover. We compare it to what we used to consider was our standard. My standard was the NCL Haven, the Celebrity Retreat and or the MSC Yacht Club. Who knows, we might go on our respective cruises in November and December and realize our previous brand was still better. We might book another Oceania Cruise or consider another brand other then those. All that really matters is we have an enhanced experience and enjoy our vacation. Sometimes it is simply time to try something new. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Your needs, your wants, your money. Let us know where you land.

@justhappy Thanks for your comment. Things they are a changing. I have done Club Balcony Suites with the Vibe. I call that Haven Lite. I usually added in the "Free at Sea PLUS". I enjoyed it very much. However, it did not compare to the Haven Experience for me. If was good, it was a value, it was different. The point of my post was I can clearly see why some were disappointed with their butler experience. I hope NCL will hear our thoughts. I also look for a opportunity to stay in the Haven. Those opportunities although rare, do exist. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

From time to time, I am reminded on Social Media that my opinion is NOT based on actual experience on the Oceania Brand. Yet, when I write a post, I always keep that in mind. I can talk about my pre-cruise experience because that is reality to me. I can talk about what I read from a standpoint of learning more about the brand and potential experience. The real reason I engage with this Oceania Blog is the same reason I did previously on other brand blogs. I have a goal to enhance my cruise vacation experience for my family and the guest that join us. Yet always have "Realistic Expectations". Just like rating a restaurant or entre item, it is all relative to what you have experienced in the past. Enhancing your next cruise experience is the same situation. What works for me, may not work for you. Yet we both want the same outcome of enhancement. When I was looking at other brands, I had a list of things I liked and did not like about past cruising experience. Not one of them was crazy important by itself however they did make a positive and negative effect overall. Then I started looking a brands. Fun exercise and not as easy as one might think. Cruise marketing departments make everything sound perfect. The folks that actually go on the cruise, bring in the reality. Here “some yet not all” area’s I wanted to improve: Soft Drinks in the Stateroom: For whatever reason, I thought cruise brands should simply provide sodas and waters in your stateroom. So many of the mainstream brands had these items as a “For Sale” item. Never made sense to me. It gave me the feeling I was being nickel and dimed whenever possible. I look to reduce that feeling if I can. Specialty Coffee: I love good coffee and on a vacation love specialty coffee. Some brands, even in their premium VIP sections charge for Specialty Coffee. Why not just charge more fare and include it. You are on vacation, a really nice barista should be part of the experience. Drink Programs: So many mainstream brands have a rule. If one person of legal age in the stateroom has an adult drinking package, all have too. With the addition of “SimplyMore”, everyone has the standard “Wine/Beer” at Lunch and Dinner. However, if you want to upgrade to the Prestige Unlimited Wine, Beer, and Spirits plan, one of the two people in the cabin can do it alone. You are not forced to have everyone upgrade. The downside is you have to present your stateroom card when ordering a drink. I can live with this. I know it might be petty but I also like if I have a drink package, I can have a drink delivered to my stateroom under the rules of the package I have. Other brands charge you for the drink even if you have a package. Specialty Restaurants Included in the Fare: My past experience was having specialty restaurants was an extra cost. Some brands would give you two specialty restaurants with their promotion. Others would not. I never quite understood that. Yet even when Oceania claims the specialty restaurants are included in the fare, space availability after the initial reservations (One reservation for each specialty restaurant on the ship) limits the guest. Unless they are in a Penthouse or higher category when your butler can serve you in-suite from those same specialty restaurants. To some, that brings the “Class” aspect of cruising back which so many really find distasteful. Still, I enjoy knowing the specialty restaurants are part of the fare. Spa Amenities: Things like sauna’s, steam rooms and heated tile lounge chairs usually are only available if you have an expensive spa treatment or pay extra for special daily access. Having these items are important to me and glad it comes with the fare. To some, this provides no value. Again, all relative. Personalized Treatment for Everyone: Remember, my experience is when in the VIP sections of a Mainstream Cruise Brand, the personalized service is far superior then when you leave the area. I craved a brand where once you left your stateroom, everyone was treated the same way. The expectation was not for folks to fall over backwards for me, just no complaints that things were different outside of the stateroom selected. My point in all this was these six plus items and a few more are important to enhancing MY experience. Therefore, I looked for brands that provided them. Then I drilled down on the brand to find the one brand I wanted to consider. My choice for my cruise in November 2023 was Oceania. After that cruise, I will evaluate the total experience and consider Oceania or open my future options to other brands. The one aspect of being new to a brand is you have no past experience of that brand to consider. That is why we new folks to the brand, ask questions and read the brand blogs. The more we research the better sense we gain of what could be expected. It is instantly clear, it will NOT be perfect, things will go wrong, it will NOT be the be all/end all “Best of the Best” experience. However, that is not how I started this post. My emphasis is enhancement based on my past personal experience, not anyone else’s. That is why when I read from the faithful that the dining used to be better in the past, I would not know. All I hope is it is better than my past on other brands. If it is and some of the other items are improvements, I book the brand again. The proof is in the pudding or as some have said so well, the “Oceania Cookies”. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@rattla I know @McGarrett5oh will address your question on a direct response. I am share some thoughts on my own. My career was based on the study of the "Luxury Client". What makes them tick. How are their needs different for other clients. Is it all about money or having lots of it. Is it all about something else. Something that is available with or without great wealth. What did these clients crave more than anything. It was a very interesting part of my career and one that was eye opening. The simple answer was surprisingly, "Time". Luxury clients valued time over money. Where I often say, my quest is to "Enhance my Cruising Experience". A true Luxury Client says, "My Cruising Experience will be Enhanced by the best use of my time." A GREAT butler will uncover what is the most important thing they can do to provide you with the experience you are looking for. My needs and your needs might be different so it takes more than a Tuxedo to be great as a Butler. If I pay a premium, for a suite, in a special exclusive area on a ship with a butler, I have different expectation focused on my maximum enjoyment of my time. Example, when I leave me suite, I want my stateroom cleaned. A good butler is on that. To help them, sometimes I will give them my schedule which takes time create however I know it will enhance my experience. If the butler does not utilize the tool I provided, it makes me say, "Why even have this premium benefit if it is so standardized that personalized service is not part of it." The alternative is when I am in a regular stateroom, it seems every time I come back to the stateroom, the room steward is cleaning my room. I rarely have an issue with that because it is just the way it is. No premium paid so personalized service is not on the table. When the time spent creating assistance for your butler is not respected or utilized by that butler, you are disappointed. If every request, even the simple ones are a "NO", vs let me find a way to work this out for you, you are disappointed. If the butler is happy not to find ways to create personalized delight because they are just over worked, it is disappointment. That is when folks say, "We had a butler but rarely used them." What they should have said was, "We had a butler but they really did not uncovers ways to enhance our journey." Training helps however one would expect that a Butler, in a VIP area of a cruise line, would have had all the training needed to effectively do their job. So the need for training is an excuse to cut the brand some slack. If you pay the premium, you expect the service. Simple as that. This was my take and I still have faith that NCL and other brands can find a way to make the benefit of a real butler enhance their guest experience. I look forward to the day when the "Butler Letter" is completely unneeded. That would be a good day. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@McGarrett5oh Egin was on Crystal Cruises, not Oceania just as a clarification. I could not agree with you more on the Training issue. Also, it seems, even when a brand is in the same company, it is as if they don't talk or leverage each other. That is kind of a shame and not very efficient. On the technology, yep, a little bit of explanation can go a long, long way. A side note, on the Luxury and Ultra-Luxury lines/brands, the Butlers have less staterooms and most of their duties are focused on the guest. On NCL, Celebrity and other Mainstream Brands, the butlers have a lot more cabins and especially on day one are doing things outside the clients personalized needs. I hope we cruise together sometime soon, we both like the same things. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@McGarrett5oh You write and explain things so well. You were fair and balanced. Thank you for taking the time. The creation of the Butler Letter should never have been needed. Like most things, it just happened. It all started with several butlers, on Mainstream Cruise brand, in the VIP area's like the Haven and Retreat. The Butlers were all very nice but they were also Hit/Miss. My goal was to control the best I could to gain more hits. Everything in my cruising life focuses on enhancing my vacation experience. For me, the improvement was immediate. All I could ask for really, enhancement. THEN something happened that I rarely talk about. I went on a cruise in a smaller ship, in the Luxury Category in a Penthouse Suite with a butler. His name was Egin. It became instantly clear that the quality of crew members, personalized service, and enhanced experience was indeed possible. The service went from somewhat generic, to very personalized. I gave Egin a Butler Letter and he was initially confused. Instead of opening it and reading it, he smiled warmly at me while saying, "Mr. Gary, would it be alright if I share some of my services with you and how all the technology works in the suite?" "I would also like to make you a drink to enjoy during my presentation. Is that OK?" That is when I realized that their was a difference in quality for butlers. Remember, he had not even opened the Butler Letter yet. I sat down with my lovely bride, he got me a Vodka on the rocks and my wife a glass of white wine. I started to relax knowing I was in good hands. When his 15 minute presentation was over, he left. Five minutes later, a knock at the door. Egin had my letter open and said, "This is the first time in 15 years anyone has ever written a letter like this for me. It makes my job so much easier. There is no need to have provided a tip but it is very much appreciated. Here is a bottle of your favorite Vodka and a bottle of wine for your wife. Thank you for taking the time to communicate with me like this". That week was luxury at its best and mostly because of Egin. This experience changed the wording and reduced the complexity of future butler letters. My next cruise will be on Oceania Cruises, a sister brand to NCL. Oceania is Premium-Plus/Luxury as a category. I will report back on my experiences. Again, thank you so much for taking the time and doing your review so well. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Anyone that loves cruising, loves when a new brand enters the cruising space. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to create a new brand, in the Cruise Industry. Then add a world virus that affects all aspects of the industry from building, supply chains and recruiting. Virgin Cruises wanted to make cruising different. Some of their idea's were great others needed some evolutions. Yet many years ago, when I heard Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collections was entering the Ultra-Luxury Space, I was flat out excited. After all, it is the "Ritz". Iconic, well known and funded. At the time, I did what I always do, I did a deep dive. It was introduced, the ships had not even been built or close to built yet. The Leadership Team was in place, the business model was outlined, and the ships were designed pre-production. They wanted to attract those affluents guests that had never cruised before as their main client foundational base. Loyal Ritz Carlton Hotel guests vs. Ultra-Luxury Cruise enthusiasts. I was the latter so not their target market. At the time, the telephone representatives had a lovely accent, sounded professional at first glance. However, the email correspondence when you made an inquiry was generic pages. It was a bored marketing person that created pages of things that never quite locked into any part of the cruise experience clearly. The emails were addressed to someone other then me which showed a cut and paste approach. That was NOT a characteristic of Ritz the brand. I was not impressed. So I wrote the CEO, Mr. Douglas Prothero. To my surprise, Mr. Prothero's administrative assistant called me and arranged a telephone call with Mr. Prothero. After that call, I knew, Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection would be a great success. It would have growing pains for sure. Yet it would be a home run. I was so impressed with Mr. Prothero and his vision, experience and enthusiasm. I was not easy on him, I let him know my experience with the communication of his representatives was underwhelming. He handled it and me like a true professional. I have read most all the posts on CruiseCritic.com and other sites relating to the Ritz brand. It is starting to become very, very positive. They seem to be listening to the guests, handling the issues, realizing what is working and not. That is the sign of an iconic brand. So congratulations to the Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection, to all the guest that wanted to be some of the first, to those guest that make post/video's for the rest of us to learn from. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Wavedance Sorry this happened to you. It could have happened to me or anyone else. It is clear you have cruised many times before. The stories of the Cruise Brands Medical Cost are legendary. The Covid virus has made it even worse. That is why, no matter what we all do, getting sick or hurt on a cruise is a concern that needs to be planned to be resolve. This issue in excessive cost is not an Oceania Cruise exclusive situation as some have clearly outlined. It is an industry issue. Again, if you have ever cruised, you know this could happen to all of us. If you don't know, this posting/thread should make you aware of it now. I might of missed it but I did not see any reference to Cruise Travel Insurance from the author. My experience was my son got sick on an excursion recently. He could not fully take in air. We went to the ship hospital, he had some test and the cost for 90 minutes was just at $1,000.00. When the cruise was over, I sent in the receipt to the cruise insurance company and it was paid in 15 business days. In a different situations, 8 days prior to a cruise, my wife got covid. I was going to lose $4,500.00 in cancelations fees. I sent in the documentation and was fully reimbursed in 12 business days. Someone said that their cruise insurance needed some sort of pre-authorization prior to payment. That was not the case for my policy or insurance company. The bottom line is, all the cruise hospitals gives you is a very detailed bill. Then they charge your credit card on your account. The do not call the company because it is you or I that have to pay them. In my situations, what I did not do is blame the cruise line, the ship hospitals or the level of expense. I could have, maybe I should have because even though I had coverage, I was still frustrated. However, that would not get me whole financially. I have cruise for decades, it is what it is and we all knew the rules upfront. It made it a lot easier when I was made whole financially. The expense was not the issue as was the loss of part of our vacation. I know my opinion here will NOT be popular. It is always so much easier to blame a brand, regardless of the brand for these kinds of situation. Call the brand a ripoff, or unfair. It feels better to let out our emotions especially if the money is a complete loss to my pocket book, the cruise was negatively effected when this happens, and I felt completely out of control. None of this was caused by the brand, people get sick, hospitals charge to much and insurance is here for a reason. Again, I would not want this type of situation to happen to anyone. But we all know the rules to the game. Make sure you cover your bets if not now, in the future. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.