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@Rainbow3fe Neither my wife nor I are HUGE drinkers either. When we are on a cruise, we do drink a bit more because we have a designed driver, or sorts in the form of the Captain. I have cruised a lot in 44 years. I am NOT used to nicer cruise brands like Oceania. I usually cruise in the "Ship-Within-A-Ship" areas on NCL, Celebrity and MSC. Our cruise length is usually only 7 days vs. the 10 day our Oceania Cruise will be. What my wife and I usually do on the Mainstream Cruise Brands like NCL we take the Unlimited Drink Package Perk which still cost $300.00 that they call tips. Not really free at all or a perk. We then upgrade to the Unlimited PLUS perk that is yet another $300.00 per person for nicer brands of spirits and wines. So to us, the $600.00 is kind of less then what would would usually pay for a 7 day cruise. After our first Oceania Cruise, if we go on another one, we may change our approach. The choice to buy the Prestige package was base on past experience. To that note. Part of my reasoning makes no sense at all. Early on in our cruise vacation life, there were "No" drink packages offer except for bottles of wine. On one trip, we had to many drinks and the bill we got at the end of the cruise was a mortgage payment. That happened decades ago. Yet I never forgot it. The truth for my wife and I is, by doing this $600 per guest Unlimited drink package we know we are over paying a lot. I consider it a convenience charge not to EVER have the bill at the end of the cruise. Is it a value based on how much we drink, absolutely NOT. We are over paying without a question. Again, we might change that in the future. Part of the game I pay with myself when I book a cruise with a upper end cruise brand like Oceania or NCL/Celebrity/MSC is to make it as "All-Inclusive" a trip as possible. Based on that approach, it is never really as economical as it could have been. I am a bit unique in that strategy and most everyone disagrees with my choice. For me, for what ever reason, having the trip, Drink Packages, Excursions, Cooking Classes, Gratuities and other items pre-paid makes me feel kind of like a "Rock Star". I know it is all a façade but it works for me. Hope that makes sense. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I am portly, true; but not a whale. LOL Let's just enjoy our research, cruise and vacation. That is the most important thing.

I get your feelings. I am sorry I brought it up. I don't want to hijack this thread. I really don't want to create negativity. I had NO idea it was unique or special. Sorry to the board for even bring it up. My bad. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@MEFIowa I have written about this before. For what ever reason, about two months ago, I got a phone call from Oceania Riviera Guest Services. Unexpected yet welcomed. They asked me if I had an food requirements. They said they needed to know well in advance due to supply chain issues. I said, "NO". They asked if I would have any other requests. I said yes, could they send me some pictures of the new reno for PH suites, they did. Then they said, if you need anything else, please let us know. I gave them the dates, times and restaurants I wanted on our sailing. 15 minutes later, it was on my online account confirmed. I am new to Oceania. I thought this was normal until I posted it and found out it was unusual. I simply did not look a gift horse in the month. Now some responded when I posted about the phone call received that I got this because I post so much on CruiseCritic.com. I did not know I posted so much but ok, I will take it. One less thing to worry about. I hope I answered your question. Cruise well, enjoy every moment, I look forward to meeting you on the Cruise.

@FLConnie I have learned to be very clear and specific with my response to questions on Oceania. First be clear I have NEVER sailed Oceania before. Second, I am booked on a Oceania Cruise for November 9, 2023 with two PH3 Penthouses. One for my wife and me. The other for our best friends. When I did my research on the drink program I asked a lot of question on this board. My cruise had only one out of three choices for the perk. At first, I was going to get the Drink program for two which was Beer and Wine for lunch and dinner and upgrade on the ship. I found out it was about the same as just booking the Prestige Unlimited package upfront before you cruise. My cruise is 10 days, the Prestige package was $600.00 per guest. I also found out that when you upgrade onboard, you lose the % off of some the Special Meal Offerings. Logically, I determined. Just buy the Prestige package now if you want it. Get the $600.00 OBC as your perk. Pay the extra now via my credit card and be done with it. This gets me the % off and the Prestige Drink Package. Seemed logical to me. So I did not upgrade from the perk, I simple bought it up front. Sorry for the miscommunication. That was my logic. On another completely different note, I was able to get all of my Restaurant Reservations (four specialty restaurants, four reservations) now for a cruise that is in November 2023. I thought you could not do that until you were paid in full and closer to the cruise. No clue why I was called so early by the Riviera Guest Services to be able to have access to that nice pre-cruise opportunity. I hope I answered your questions. Cruise well and enjoy every moment

Not boring at all. Just call your TA or if you booked directly with NCL call them. Tell them the situation and ask for the adjustment. No need to lose your deposit if you don't have too. That would be the worst case. Saving money is simply saving money. Good for you for doing your due Diligence. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Charles4515 My pleasure. I wish it was next week but it is November 9, 2023.

@Charles4515 I read your comments and had to think what the best way was to respond. My comment of being a self proclaimed expert on the NCL Haven was based on the previous comments and posts from those that had never cruise in the Haven before. It was to establish myself as someone with experience. The use of expert for anyone other than a member of the actual cruise brand is a stretch so I fully understand your comment. My article written five years ago on CruiseCritic.com called "The Secrets of the NCL Haven VIP Experience" was very popular and it was updated in 2021. The second version was a popular as the first. Things change over time which we all who love cruising have come to understand. I have been interviewed on the subject for some pod casts and an article done on cruise. This again does not make me an expert but does make me knowledgeable on the subject. You are a 10,000 + member with CruiseCritic.com which is why I elaborated with some clarity. Thank you for taking the time to comments on my past post. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I am a strategic planner. I had an Excel with all those brands plus some. I love doing that kind of research and being retired I now have the time. The Haven and Retreat was way over priced to a point where I simply would not consider it. Also, I had been on most of the ships and the shows were all the same. Please understand, I have zero expectations for the shows on Oceania. My eyes are wide open. Yet, knowing the good and the bad reported by others on Oceania, it was hands down the best choice for my situation. Glad I did the Excel. Good question but hard to answer so allow me to answer it this way. Never go on NCL Haven on one of their smaller ships because they don't include the Haven restaurant or bar. My choice of ship for the Haven would be Encore, Bliss or Joy. The best way to learn and enjoy the Haven is to look at prices for 7-day voyages and catch one that is a per guest price of between $2,200 to $2,800 per person. If you are "Lucky" enough to be in a nice non-Haven Stateroom, where it is NOT a filled ship due to time sailing which would never be a holiday, attempt to do the upgrade bid program to gain a bargain. Never a guarantee but if you want the cruise anyways, a nice treat if it happens. I am not a fan of MSC so that would not be my choice. I am a fan of NCL and Celebrity. However like with NCL the larger ships; with Celebrity the newer ships. The Older ships Retreats are retrofits and nice but not the full experience. I find the Entertainment on NCL better than Celebrity. I find the Food better on Celebrity than NCL. The Belly Flop contests are the same on both, EXCELENT, LOL. Sorry, I had to go there. Hope that assist you. Before I let you go. Paying full retail for the current prices for any of these VIP Area's on Mainstream Cruise brands is insane right now. That will change as all the FCC, are all used up. Wait for the opportunities like I did with the Oceania Labor Day four category upgrade and the most recent sale by Oceania. I feel like I hit the lottery on those to promotions. Hope that helps you and others. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@PaulMCO Thank you. Cruise Well and enjoy every moment

@ak1004 and @njhorseman, I have enjoy the debate. Entertaining to say the least. @ak1004 You have completely missed the point and so I do not come across as being confrontational, I would like to explain. I am known as one of the "Experts of Sorts" on the "Ship-Within-A-Ship" concept. Best known for writing op-eds and traveling in the NCL Haven. I have also cruised Celebrity Retreat and MSC Yachts club. Yet right now, I could not be happier to cruise for my first time on Oceania Cruises. The question is why would someone who loves that Big Ship, VIP area's be so happy to cruise a small ship in a Premium-Plus / Luxury ship category? The answer which has been given many time by many cruisers. Higher level of personalized service to all guests not just the ones in the VIP areas; higher quality of dining/food throughout the entire ship; Less children and families traveling; Older clientele that many emphasis is not doing as many Tequila shots as possible (I drink, sometimes to much and enjoy drinking just not to excess); Ports of call and itinerary based on where I want to go on my next vacation; the ability to have a drink package where my spouse is not forced to have it or pay for it; a ship that was recently dry docked; are a few reasons. Yet and I want to make this crystal clear, I still love personally the big ship experience. At my age, 66, I still love the huge water slides, go cart racing, Lasor tag, belly flop contests, crazy pool activities and lots more only available on those big main stream ships. Yet when I have enough of the big crowds, lines and just want to be pampered, I simply go back to the small area for the so called VIP's. Does it cost a LOT more and sometimes more than going on a similar trip on Viking, Oceania and others, YES. Since it is a big ship, do I board first, dis-embark first, at ports special elevators in the area to take me off the ship first and on the ship first, escorts to large shows, first in line for activates, priority reservations for sold out events/restaurants/ect. Do I like all those things plus more, YES. Did I pay dearly for them all, YES. Could I take many more cruises instead of just one in these Main Stream VIP areas for far less, YES. I pay dearly for the opportunity and NCL, Celebrity and MSC love folks like me because they make SO much more money on me/others like me then other guest on board. You are treated like a rock star when you are a portly over aged retired business many like myself. When I was younger cruising, I could not even afford a Ocean view. 40 years of work allows me in my next few years of life some luxury. Now do the other cruisers resent this VIP area's, yes. Do I understand their resentment, yes. Do I care, NO. The entire debate here is simple. I am no expert on Oceania yet I have chosen to go on it for what I believe will be the kind of experience I want in this stage of my life. After I cruise, I will comment on my experience. I did the same thing when I cruised on Crystal Cruise before they went bankrupt yet soon will be back. Until I cruise them, I could not talk with a focus on accuracy. That is the point. The debate is making statements that seem factual with no experience on the specific classification of area is an unfair representation. It is NOT segregations. It is the brands decision to have an area that 200 people out of 4500 can afford giving them a reason to cruise their brand. I have met many guest that hate the idea however the Haven and other area's are the first to sell out so if I was the cruise brand, I would have every single ship with this area because it is good business. If any client don't like it, don't book it. Simple as that. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@kylenyc You are commenting on Three words of a four paragraph post. My post was focus was IF a cruise line, and cruise line, raise prices, PLEASE DON'T reduce quality. You are obviously up set at the compensation of the Executives. Not my point, not my focus. I can't control how much any company pays anyone. I can control if the product and services cost more and I get less. I simply book some where else or don't cruise at all. Thank you for your comment. You would be better suited sending your feelings directly to NCL and the Executives in question. Let them know directly how you feel. High percentage chance you will have a reply. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I am a NCL Haven Fan. So much so that I wrote "Secrets of the NCL Haven VIP Experience" on CruiseCritic.com. I know the Haven and used to be provided and LOVED IT. Yet my most resent voyages have not been quite as great. WHY, because it was my Brand, my type of amenities, my type of suites. When the changed things to me it was a personal issue to some part of the experience I loved. Not all, just something. Yet the first time I went in the Haven, it blew my mind. WHY, I had nothing like it to compare it too. This is the "Potential" way I will feel about my upcoming cruise on Oceania. I have no reference other than what I have taken before. Allow me to add a lesson from my past. I not longer day dream about how great things are going to be on my next cruise. I used to do this all the time and it create the "Perfect" cruise in my head then I was disappoint even when things were good. Just things we learn after 30 cruise. So when folk share that the out door dinner grill does not have lobster every night I go, "Hell, they have lobster and steaks made to order, great". You see, I have not reference so it is my first time. This is why their are many brands, stateroom types, special amenities. So I was up for a change from the NCL Haven to Oceania. I hope that description makes sense. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Again and I don't want to be a broken record here. Every cruise line does things like what is being outlined. Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers "Free" Business Class Airfare. It is only Business class one the international leg. If you don't want the Airfare, you can get a discount on the fair. If you want to select your airfare brand or itinerary, there is a fee. Celebrity you can get all the so called All Inclusive items or without. This includes the VIP Section called the Retreat. NCL says they have Free at Sea that comes with a "FREE" drink package except you pay a couple of hundred dollars for tips. If you don't take the Free at Sea, it will cost less just like Oceania Cruise Only. This is an industry issue, not an Oceania Issue. This is a Marketing Issue, not a Oceania only issue. My thought is figuring out how things to get the best value like Excursions, there is a lot to know that is different than other brand. It would be wrong to make this an Oceania ONLY issue. We all have to ask ourselves why Oceania and other brands do these Marketing issues. The answer is, it works. It might not work for some of use, but it works over all. Just like when you get a massage at any cruise line spa, the tip is included but the bill shows a place for tip which those not informed think they have to add a tip. The issue is industry wide. I want to apologize the the author. We have hijacked you question. I hope earlier your question was answered by those that know because of their real experience. Yet this progression to this part of your topic does relate, just not what I think your original question was asking. Push comes to shove, if you are new like myself and others, you are much more educated now, because of your topic then we were before because or you. So thank you. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Psoque I am really not trying to be kind. Years ago, I was severely criticized for being very blunt on-line in social media. I changed my writing approach/style which got much better clarity and results. I don't think any company intentionally tries to be Misleading. They tend to come from a perspective a a company and often not the guest. My issue is simple clarity so any of us can make a informed business decision. I am really not being critical because as my post states, this kind of marketing is common in the industry. I personally know many people that simply love their experience on Oceania. That was one reason I am trying them for the first time. My hope as stated is maybe by posting how confusing some of there information is for me and others, they might clean it up a bit. Do I think my small request will be done, not really. But I had to say it anyway. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@HowardK Welcome back and you will be fine. Rule of thumb. I you are not in the Haven, if the weather is warm, attempt to book the Vibe if available. If you are not familiar, read up about it. If the weather is colder, consider the Thermal Spa if available. If available is because you did not disclose the ship you are on. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I don't mean to be negative here. When a new guest chooses Oceania like myself/others and many asking questions above, it shows some lack of clarity on the brand's standpoint. Most of the question seem to be about the drink packages, upgrades to drink packages, excursions perks, the discounting on quantities of excursions and sale pricing. The very kind past guest of Oceania Cruise on this CruiseCritic.com site show patients and understanding when teaching Newbies like myself how to navigate our new choice of cruise brands. Your efforts are noticed and appreciated. That said, it still can be a chalenge to fully understand the topic. Every cruise brand has similar area's of confusion. Most of the time it is the marketing department who is attempting to differentiate one brand from another. Yet it does very much frustrate those new to the brand. To take Olife or skip; to take Olife Ultimate when available or to skip; to up grade your drink package to the Prestige package on-board or to buy it upfront using OBC is provided; most recently for me at least it is the sale on selected voyages that you have to contact Oceania for accurate pricing because online pricing do not represent the sale; the list goes on. I love to research this kind of stuff personally but many new guest really don't or do not have the time. I asked my travel agent question who is one of the best and she is even confused. My hope is a representative from Oceania is reading these ports and will take action to simplify each offering to give new guest a better feeling of confidence. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Totally agreed. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@njhorseman Your last comment above to responding to a post is not uncommon. Many folks comment on the Haven, Retreat and Yacht Club based on a lack of full personal experience. The was confirmed with the words, "Your Little Haven" by the poster. I know for a fact, everything you said was accurate. Please making comments about cruise brands they have not traveled, class of suite they have never had the opportunity to stay in, are common place. As you know because we have addressed each other comments on the NCL board, we both have personal experience on sharing our NCL Haven Experience. Side note, I never and I mean never bring up the Haven on Reddit. You get attacked. Here is the bottom line. Whether Virgin, Viking, NCL Haven, Celebrity Retreat, MSC Yacht Club, Oceania or any other brand. Variety is the spice of life. When I read folk that don't like a brand or cabin class, there are 10 more that love it. What works for one, does not always work for all. Each cabin type, brand have their pros/cons. It is up to the guest to do their due diligence in making a selection based on lots of information especially when it is a brand new to them. The second obligation is to always have "Realistic Expectations" so you can have those expectation exceeded. I hope that makes sense. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Viking is in my opinion a Premium-Plus or Luxury (depending on who you talk to) brand. I am not surprised this area is open to all passengers. When you pay a little more than Main Stream, you deserve amenities like this. In my opinion. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Thanks to everyone on this stream and the author for posting it. My wife, friends and I will be on a Oceania Riviera 10 day cruise to the Mediterranean leaving from Athens on November 9, 2023. Returning on November 19, 2023 from Barcelona, Spain. Mid-Cruise we stop in Turkey with an over night. So you can see why this thread hold some priority to us personally. I have read every response, gone to the Turkey website to do my due diligence. My personal decision was to pay the $50 per person and get the eVisa's. Because I am the organizer in my family, I started. Than something very familiar happened to me and I got a smile on my face. When you apply for a eVisa for Turkey, you can only go forward 90 days. My cruise is a lot more than 90 days in the future. This immediately reminded me of my wife and my first cruise after covid. It was on Crystal Cruise to the Bahama's. They also needed you to apply for document prior to entering their ports. The debate back then was almost identical to this debate. You have to wait before you could apply and pay for this document (Had more to do with Covid testing than visa), the regulations were not rock solid clear. When push came to shove, it was a fast and easy process, the Cruise Brand was less than clear with their advice and always referred the guest to the County site. At the time and now, it was CruiseCritci.com members that took the time to help each other not the cruise brand. It was than and now the reason why I look at CruiseCritic.com every day to see what is important to my upcoming trips and handle it. I now have a reminder on my Outlook program to get everyone's eVisa whether we need them obsoletely or not. $100.00 per couple seems fair to have one less thing to worry about. Just my point of view at the juncture. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I read it and others. The main emphasis was it was not needed for cruise passengers. When I went to FAQ, it said it was $50 to $100. When I actually apply, I will report back the actual cost. Thank you for responding. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@LHT28 My pleasure to answer this for you. The Thermal Spa is an indoor area usually located in the ship Spa. It usually on Mainstream Cruises has a cost for day or the entire time you are on the ship. It usually is restricted to adults. The main attraction is a HUGE indoor water Spa that is similar to a very powerful jet hot tub. In addition it has Sauna, Steam and sometimes salt rooms. Add to this those lovely tile loungers that are heated. Those items are often found on Premium-Plus, Luxury and Ultra-Luxury ships at no cost. With the exception of that huge indoor hot tub. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

First thank you to the author for the question. Second, I am interested in this topic because I will be in Turkey for and overnight on our upcoming Oceania Cruise. Third, the moment I read the topic name and comments, I went online to research. I love CruiseCritic.com. Especially when you want to select a new cruise brand or go to places you have never gone before. Yet, we all should use caution when gaining information from a social media site. This is a perfect example. After going to links, reading articles and looking for a fail safe way to be over prepared; the clarity is not 100%. First what I have chosen to do. Since to gain a Turkey eVisa cost approximately $50.00 per guest, I am applying for it. Do I Absolutely need it, "NO". Most sources say for day trips to Turkey, cruise client are not really required. Yet the verbiage is not clear enough for me to feel 100% comfortable. So I weighed $50 to making a mistake that could effect my very expensive cruise. That is my decision and everyone has to make their own. Social media is not a source for accurate information on things this important. They should be a starting point for due diligence. Without this thread, I would not have drilled down on this subject, hence "Starting Point". To often we have our favorite bloggers, authors on social media that we trust. So we ask really important question. All I suggest is don't stop there. Double check. Just my two cents on this one and I give if for a situation that negatively effected me in the past. It left a memory trace which this post brought out. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Oceansaway17 I will definitely cruise NCL again. I am especially fond of the Haven. My favorite ship is the NCL Joy which I cruised three times. I recently cruise the Joy as a Solo in a Club Balcony Suite, The Breakaway in a Club Balcony Suite and on the Joy in the H2 Haven Deluxe Owners Suite with large balcony. My first cruise 44 years ago was my honeymoon on the SS Norway which was then call Norwegian which is now called NCL. My comments are always to assist all cruises to set "Realistic Expectations". When each one of us on CruiseCritic.com do that, folks seem to enjoy the cruise better. When we write everything is over the top GREAT or Over the Top BAD it is both no accurate or realistic. Hope that helps you understand my motive. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.