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This is a very interesting topic. My wife and I are cruising on Oceania in Nov 2023. The cruise leaves from Athens, Greece and ends in Barcelona, Spain. We are going with friends. My wife and my ticket are DIY, using Delta Airline Miles/Points for Business Class (Delta One) international and First Class domestic. Our friends are taking the Oceania Coach Flights. Both Couples are doing the "Pre-Cruise Hotel" in Athens, Greece through Oceania. I WANT to book our friends direct with Delta however they are afraid to do so if the Cruise Gets Canceled or they have to cancel before full payment. The competitive fares are non-cancelable or changeable. That is my situation. My questions is when you book the Pre-Cruise Hotel and Airfare with Oceania, can I assume logically they flight comes in coordinated with the Hotel Stay? Second question is, has anyone else done this and the flight came in so late that the hotel stay was somewhat of a waste? Any assistance would be appreciated. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Call them

@Robroy Thank you for your kind words. As you can see from other posts, I was off on somethings and the kind folks one the Oceania board correct me. This helps any new brand guest with strategy. My original choice for this "Once in a Lifetime" cruising experience was Regent. Our best friends are joining us so I had to be very careful with the over all budget which makes Regent not an option. I can clearly see what Regent was one of your best experiences. I also want to add, my go to cruises have been the VIP area's on Mainstream Cruise Brands like NCL, MSC, and Celebrity. The cost cutting even in these area's on those brands along with increased fares made them a consideration but not the best choice. Sad. I wish all brands would understand that if they want to increase prices to hold quality please feel free to do so. To decrease quality and still increase fares is not acceptable. You are the targeted audience I was going for with my op-ed. Folks looking for a change, having a hard time gaining information and willing to do some due diligences to gain the experience that is realistic to their specific needs. Glad to assist. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Where as my wife LOVES Asian. On the Tuscan Grille, thank you for endorsing it. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@LHT28 I am honored you took the time to comment on my post and once again; you helped me with the most important thing a new brand guest can have. The ability to make realistic expectations. The policy on gaining more specialty restaurant reservation makes complete sense. Your response also supports that when I do make my choices, the first night of embarkment will not be one of the days I request. When I board, I will attempt an additional reservation for one of the four places for that first night. I will find out what everyone wants but regardless of obtaining that new reservation, my gut tells me "The Grand Dining Room" will also be a nice choice. Thank you again for taking the time. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Thank you for sharing. I thought there was a cigar lounge but I must have been mistaken. I will simply skip cigars for this voyage. I appreciate your comment. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Disclaimer This is NOT a simple or short post or op-ed. It is my story, outlining an experience with a conclusion of why my wife, friends and I chose Oceania Cruises. My writing style is long and detailed, and I am not everyone’s reading style taste. My spelling and grammar are not the best, but I try to make that up with somewhat of an entertaining story that makes sense for a good cross section of cruise clients. You have been forewarned, lol. Op-Ed Topics: History of the Decision History with Oceania First Cruise As Covid-19 Seem to Die Down Second Cruise As Covid-19 Seem to Die Down Leveraging Past Cruise Experiences Have to Haves Nice to Haves Willing to Leave Out Questions Asked and Answered Conclusion History of the Decision: The cruising industry has taken some wild rides over the past few decades. Life has not always been smooth sailing. However, nothing has been as devastating as Covid-19 for the industry. All major companies have had to take huge losses and borrow endless amounts of money. Some iconic brands like Crystal Cruises are no more, and mainstream brands have had to sell older ships. Recently cost-cutting measures and price increases have been the order of the day. The social media emotional focused information on cruising the last few years ranged from disbelief, anger, sadness, excitement, and joy. Topics would come up like; “should I take Future Cruise Credits (FCC) or a full cash refund.” Speculations that we would never get our money back because the industry was going bankrupt. Political arguments and hate talk started happening on a social media blog site for cruising. The moderators warned postings that were pollical would be shut down. People were angry, frustrated, and confused. Finally cruising started up again. It was a very slow transition of one ship at a time. It was not as smooth as we cruise lovers might have wanted but it did happen. The notion of changes started to take place on things from Buffets, Masking, Testing, Hygiene, and Vaccinations Status. You never knew if you got on a ship if you had to wear a mask or not; so, this led to more anger and disappointment. Yet again slowly things started to ease up when the guests started to feel safe again. You may ask, how did the three (3) previous paragraphs relate to the headline topic. The answer is simply it was my personal experience during this time which when you read this op-ed might seem like your own. My family and I had five (5) cruise cancellations and rebooking. I personally got good at rebooking. I used to book two (2) cruises at a time hoping one would stay in the books. I was afraid and should have been, that the prices of fares would go up and it would make my FCC worth far less than the original cash I paid. Finally, a feeling of hope in mid-2021. For the first time, we all had hope and prices were initially reasonable. Add to this some premium-plus and luxury lines were reasonably priced teasing new clients to come aboard. I am a sucker for a great deal claiming to enhance my cruise vacation experience. History with Oceania: I originally had Oceania Booked for a 10-day Mediterranean Cruise on the Marina in October 2020. The folks we were going with were older, so out of caution, they just cancelled the cruise, so we did as well. Oceania sent us back our deposits within 10 days. I was shocked and impressed by how quickly they did that. I was also very disappointed to miss this “Once-In-A-Lifetime-Experience”. I did a lot of research before we chose Oceania. That time invested was now a waste. We also got a four-category upgrade on the cruise which gave both couples a Penthouse and all the amenities that brings. I figured that was a rare situation and thought it would NEVER happen again. My advice is, “Never say Never!”. First Cruise As Covid-19 Seem to Die Down: Finally, a cruising happened, and I wanted to cruise badly. My first cruise was a first timer on Crystal Cruise (Went out of business and has recently been purchased). They had a 7-day cruise in the Bahama’s. It was priced less than what I was used to when cruising the NCL Haven. The loyal long-term Crystal Guests on social media were kind and open to new people it would seem, and my questions were answered online within a few minutes. I rolled the dice on Crystal. It would seem all the cards were looking perfect, and we even got a complementary upgrade from the upgrade fairy. Then 8-days before this cruise, my wife got Covid-19. I had to cancel, and my penalty was 50% of my cruise fare. Luckily, this was the first cruise out of 25 cruises that I purchased Cruise Travel Insurance. All my losses were in my checking account in 15 business days. I would rather be lucky than smart any day of the year. We booked for the next month, and my wife was fine. I called this cruise on Crystal Cruises, a Premium-Plus/Luxury Cruise, a “Luxury Cruise Test Drive”. 7-days, out and back to/from Miami, and itinerary was the Bahamas vs. Europe, small ship vs. mega ship, known for dining and personalized service. I wanted to see what I had been missing all these years. “Watch out for what you ask for, you just might get it.” Just not the result you were looking for when you began. Here are some comparisons to what I had enjoyed in the past: · Dining/Food: The dining was much better and exceeded our expectations. · Service Received: Personalized Service was WAY better than I have ever expected it to be, especially if you had a butler. Our butler was heads and tails better than anyone before. · Bars/Lounges: Drinks and Bar services was outstanding. No more waiting for drinks that tasted watered down. Every drink was just as it was supposed to be. The service was personalized and consistent. · Ship Capacity: The capacity was 25%, which on a ship that holds 900 is not much. I thought this would make this experience even better. Almost like a personal yacht. I was wrong, it was horrible. There was no energy. The ship was empty. Most of who were on the ship were the most loyal of Crystal brand loyal guests. I found a few of them to have a horrible attitude of entitlement. Like the brand owed them something or they were a major stockholder in the brand. Open and loud complaints made my wife and I feel uncomfortable. · Bad Time Of The Year: With five (5) ports we only went to two (2) ports, and they were empty. Even in those ports, our excursions were cancelled yet other ships went on that same excursion, the same day. All my wife wanted to do was “swim with the pigs”. It was, as you can expect, cancelled. Crystal refunded the cancelled excursion immediately to my suite account. The disappointment was still there. · Music On Board: Live music or otherwise during the day was somewhat limited. At the pool, it was one (1) hour per day and the volume was so low you could hardly hear it. It was also a DJ doing Sinatra Music. There were only six (6) people at the pool so getting a lounge chair was no issue for the first time in my cruising life. Yet a long-time Crystal brand couple told the DJ the music was too loud. One hour per day, Sinatra tunes and the music was too loud by the only pool. · Entertainment: The entertainment was hit or miss but those loyal Crystal brand guests would sit in the first three (3) rows and howl like it was a Rolling Stones Live Concert. My wife sat in the back so we could leave if the show was not good. We left almost every show which we never do on NCL ships. Disappointing but gave us a huge difference between large and small ships for the future. This allowed us to set realistic expectations for smaller ships in the future. Conclusion: We love some things and hate others. What we loved was not enough to make up for what we hated. A cruise ship for my wife and I must have a level of energy which cannot be found with 25% capacity. That is the exact opposite of what you might think. The cruise was boring. However, it also set the bar higher for Dining/Food and Personalized Service in the future. Second Cruise As Covid-19 Seem to Die Down: The second cruise was finally taken with my family of five (5) at the end of November 2021. The week after Thanksgiving which was done strategically on purpose to have less children on board. This cruise was the replacement for the family vacation that was cancelled five (5) times. We were on the NCL Joy, the second week it cruised after Covid-19. The ship had 50% capacity. We used all the FCC and discounts from other cancelled cruises to book a “Stateroom of a Lifetime.” We got the NCL Haven Deluxe Owners Suite. 1,500 SF, two bedrooms and three baths. Only two on board and we had one of them. My children had never stayed in NCL Haven so it would be their first experience in the “Ship-Within-A-Ship” experience. My adult daughter was upset because she wanted her own stateroom with her partner with a small balcony. The Haven VIP experience was not her focus at all, yet she knew nothing about it. NCL best values is the 3-5 guest if they can fit into your suite, go for a small fee or just taxes. It was less to get to the Haven VIP area and the Owner Suite than two separate staterooms with balconies taking the discounts provided. During this cruise I went all out. We also got the NCL Premium Plus Beverage Package which at the time made a huge positive difference. More on this a bit later when comparing drink packages. So, what did I learn: · Stateroom Size: This stateroom/Haven Owners Suite was huge. It was so big we found extra storage we did not even know we had when we were leaving. The balcony was so big, the private area only accessible from the Master Bedroom was never used. What I learned was this room was nice, but in most cases wasted space. The fare I got was a lucky move. The other Owner Suite was being sold for thousands of dollars more for our cruise date as it became close to departure. So was it worth the money at normal retail, not in my opinion. This was a “do it once and be done.” · Shows: Outstanding and no issue in gaining a great seat. You still needed reservations, but it was no big deal. Some of the best shows I have ever seen on the sea. Yet, missed some shows because we were tired from the day. I not that now to be brought back up later. · Food/Dining: In the Haven Restaurant which is private for only Haven Suite Guests. It was good, excellent service, limited menu that never changed and, in many cases, better than the Specialty Restaurants. The issue was it took forever to eat a meal. Any meal from Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner. The specialty restaurants were hit or miss with of venues disappointing whereas before covid-19, they were very good. A great example of disappointments was the French Restaurant. · Drinks/Bar: I noticed that the best bar on the ship was in the private Haven Area. They had everything I wanted and loved. Everything was made fresh, and the drinks were a new level of better than any other bar on the ship. Let us remind ourselves of something. The ship held over 4,000 guests with just 200 in the Haven VIP area. · Suite Amenities: This was the only suite onboard that provided complementary soft drinks and three bottles of spirits. When you arrived, they had French Champagne vs. sparkling wine. It also had a 24/7 butler which has been hit or miss on previous voyages. This time it was a butler that was just, OK. · Drink Packages: The fare came with a drink package that was NOT really free. It costs you 20% of the retail price used for giving the crew tips. The perk drink package did not include fresh juices, bottled water, specialty coffee’s (Haven Guest got specialty coffee regardless of drink package), energy drinks, bottle wine of any kind, and all drinks had to be $15.00 or less. Celebrity Cruises’ drink plan is much better. In addition, the drink prices were inflated. If you wanted premium spirits and all wines by the glass regardless of cost; plus, those exceptions above, you had to upgrade your drink package. The upgrade was fair for this trip but NOT so a mere 8 months later. · Personalized Service: In the Haven area it was very nice. Not over the top, just very nice. When you left the Haven, it was average to below average. Made you want to simply say in the Haven area. If that is the case, just go on a smaller ship with the entire ship providing the same personalized services as the Haven. Sound familiar? · Nickle and Diming: Seemed every announcement was about a way the ship could make some more money. The spa did not make it clear that the tip was added automatically into the very expensive price. The announcements for Bingo or other games like that were constant. It was hard to walk by the stores without someone reaching out attempting to sell what they had. Even in the specialty restaurants, if you wanted a Crab Cake starter it was additional. Luxury Suite, Luxury Area, Private Dining Room, and Nickle and Dining all the time. Took some of the Class and Luxury out of the cruise. Conclusion: Larger ship, more people with lots more energy and excitement. The consistency of food, drink and personalized service was hit or miss. That said, it was one of the best cruises of my life. The reason was simple, I have my entire family with us. Cruising with your spouse and with your entire family makes a difference positive difference. Our next cruise will be with our best friends. Leveraging Past Cruising Experiences: Just for a moment, consider that you had a similar experience to mine. You could list on a piece of paper what you loved, liked, disliked, and hated. Realistically you knew you could NOT have everything, so you asked yourself, “what were you willing to give up”? The list became, Have to Haves, Nice to Have, and Willing to Live Without. Have to Have: · Enhanced Food and Dining Experience: Not just variety, but also service, ambience, food quality and presentation. How about a brand that claims the best food at sea experience and their social media realistically for the most part supports that claim. Oceania makes the cut. · Specialty Restaurants: No extra charge and reservations priority was based on stateroom category. A few guaranteed reservations (one per specialty restaurant for a total of four) and others potential reservations that are space available. Add in if the restaurant is booked, you can still have it served in your suite if you have a Penthouse or above. No items on the menu that have an extra charge like on NCL. Oceania makes the cut. · Drink Programs: With an exclusive ship in a Premium-Plus or Luxury category, with a port/itinerary intensive agenda, with an older crowd (55 and above); drinking to excess is NOT the priority. Most folks on this kind of cruise want an occasional cocktail before dinner at a nice bar/lounge. Oceania had a happy hour each day which has “two for one drink”. Some folks want to have a nice glass of wine at dinner which is one of the three perks most guest can select from. This was a very popular option again provided by Oceania. Then there are those that want an open bar of beer, wine, and spirits anytime they want them. Therefore, Oceania is a brand that does not include a beverage package in the original fare, yet you can choose it as your optional perk (Beer and Wine at meals only). A brand that can provide this without a forty (40) page manual on the rules would be a nice change from mainstream cruise brands. Every drink is made of fresh ingredients with care by a great bartender. Oceania makes the cut. · A Coffee House: Crystal Cruises had a coffee lounge with snacks. The specialty coffee was over the top and much better than any Starbucks on recent NCL ships that had a cost unless you upgraded your drink package. The coffee house snacks were super nice and great quality. It was always complementary which included fresh juices. NCL did not have this as part of your fare. Crystal did have this complementary. Oceania does have this as part of its fare. Oceania makes the cut. · Stateroom with a Balcony: The balcony needs to be comfortable but not oversized. Two (2) guests in the room and a space that is comfortable for those two (2) guests. The furniture is another story. It should also be comfortable, which is not always the case. The stateroom on Oceania even in the Penthouse, has only one sink in the bathroom. I found that to be a bit different, however not critical. My hopes are with the drydocking on the Riviera this may change. Either way, Oceania makes the cut. · Social Media: Access to past cruisers who can answer questions as they came up. The fact these loyal clients are warm to newcomers is very important. It is also important that not every post shares that their brand is perfect. Another words, the past guests are realistic so a new client’s expectations can be realistic. Oceania makes the cut. Nice to Have: · Smaller Ship: When choosing the Mediterranean, you want as much time at a port as possible. The larger ships can’t park near most ports, so they must use tenders more often. I personally hate tenders. A smaller ship is less likely to need to have to tender. The smaller ship has less space and less guests. Crystal Cruises taught me that the size of the ship is in direct proportion to the number of guests. It did not feel smaller, and it always felt less crowded. The ship was smaller, but you just can’t tell the difference. Sure, no water slides or go-cart tracks, however those were more of a novelty. Oceania makes the cut. · Enrichment Programs: We are more than willing to trade some huge expensive production shows and entertainment for educational activities. My wife and I love to cook together at home. We love learning new ways to make a lovely dish. Cooking classes, even if I must pay for them, is something I would look forward to. Special Guest Speakers in a field would be interesting and yes, I could give up the belly flop contest for being mentally stimulated. We all realize, not all well-informed speakers will be excellent speakers. Oceania made the cut. · Afternoon Tea: I had afternoon tea on another ship brand. It was a very relaxing and nice experience. I have also read some of the most recent reviews about the newer experiences of afternoon tea in Oceania. This is a “nice to have” and we most likely not see the flaws some of the most loyal Oceania Guest have seen. The reason is obvious. We have no reference point. I was the only one of the four (4) traveling guest to partake of an afternoon tea and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The one thing that is clear is the experience will simply be different. Not good or bad, just different. Oceania made the cut. · Stocked Mini-Fridge: Such a little thing but so frustrating on mainstream brands. The two and only times we had a filled mini fridge of complementary soft drinks was when we had the NCL Haven Deluxe Owners Suite and the Penthouse Suite on Crystal. Oceania provides soft drinks in the Mini-Fridge that are complementary, however that does not include beer, wine, and spirits. The main reason for this is those items are a choice or upgrade option. That limitation is just fine. I love having water, juices, and soda available for the entire cruise. Oceania makes the cut. Willing to Leave Out: · Entertainment: Both my wife and I loved the entertainment on the larger NCL ships. They usually had a Broadway type show like “Kinky Boots” and a dance or variety show. The quality was excellent compared to other shows on other ships. Those larger ships of 4,000 plus guests have the space and resources to have this kind of show. We fully understand that the evening large production shows will not compare to the shows we have come to be used to. Our expectations are low, yet we hope to be surprised yet doubt that will happen. · Late Night Entertainment: I am smiling while I am writing this one. The older my wife and I get, the more we go to sleep early. The days of a midnight show, or the midnight buffet (remember those) are long gone. Instead, a night cap about 09:00 PM and maybe the 09:30 PM main shows might be all she wrote. We are more than willing to trade those high-end shows for a piano playing smooth jazz in a lounge. Therefore, not a loss for us like not having a vegan restaurant is for a steak lover. It just doesn't matter as it relates to our needs. · Great Internet: At home, we are all chained to the Wi-Fi and internet. Whether emails, text, social media are all a big part of our lives. Decades ago, the Internet used to be either unavailable or super expensive to have on a ship. In my research it seems Oceania has horrible, inconsistant Wi-Fi internet. This includes retrofit/recently drydocked ships like the Riviera. We would love to have better internet however also appreciate we know upfront; it would be bad. Our expectations of the Wi-Fi Internet are extremely low. That makes them have realistic expectations. I will make this fact clear to all joining our group on this cruise. · Mega Ship Activities: Gone are the water slides, go-cart tracks, Lasor Tag, and Virtual Reality Areas. Gone are the Mr. Sexy Legs competition, Belly Flops, and the “Not So Newlywed Games”. In are Gin, Bridge, Very Competitive Trivia Games, and Enrichment Activities. That is different, and completely OK. The best part is we know the rules to activities on this kind of cruising experience from the get-go. Creating realistic expectations is so very important with vacations like this. Questions Asked and Answered: Those that know my vacation preparation style also know that it has been flawed in the past. Three (3) years of waiting for a cruise you booked makes visualizing the perfect cruise an unhealthy habit. Then since you re-lived this perfect experience in your head so many times, it is anticlimactic and even disappointing when it happens. I am extremely guilty of that mindset and learned from my past mistakes. I no longer use my thoughts to go through every aspect of my upcoming cruise vacation experiences before they happen. Instead, all I want to know are simple high hard ones. Some of my list will make you laugh but they are the things that make a difference to us. 1. When can I book my four (4) guaranteed Specialty Restaurant reservations? a. Answer: Based on being in a Penthouse, 75 days to 7 days prior to boarding if the cruise is paid in full. 2. When is the best time to request additional specialty reservations when on board? a. Answer: The moment you get on-board. The challenge is which one of the restaurants do we want to have those extra meals at. We have no reference other than social media reviews. Also, not everyone loves red meat like I do. Not every love Asian like my wife does. To please everyone will take a vote. Voting for something you have never experienced is not the best move and we all accept that. 3. Where is the coffee shop located as it relates to my stateroom? a. Answer: I will obviously use the deck plan on the Oceania website. This becomes a priority after boarding, making additional specialty restaurant reservations and determining physically where our stateroom is located. Taking a tour of a new ship is a highlight for me. 4. Where is the cigar lounge located on the ship? a. Answer: The same approach as the location of the Coffee Shop. On this small room, I am not expecting much. Just glad to have a place to have my cigar and not disturb others. 5. When are the docking and departures for each port and are they tendered? a. Answer: This is located on my Microsoft Excel Calendar Page-at-a-Glance. Clearly posted on the Oceania Website. This also gives us a framework for doing our own excursions. 6. When does the main show start at night so making restaurant reservations times makes sense? a. Answer: 09:30 PM seems to be a consensus from social media. 7. Where can my wife get a Jigsaw puzzle which she is addicted to? a. Answer: The Library. I hope she is engaged with her friends and myself so we can finally skip the Jigsaw puzzling. This might be too much to ask of her, LOL. 8. Where will my favorite lounge/bar be located? a. Answer: This is trial and error. I am an expert on this. Or I am more than willing to be the team that finds the best place. My hopes are a nice atmosphere, piano or smooth jazz band, very comfortable seating for four. 9. How should my wife and I handle obtaining the Premier Wine, Beer, and Spirits package? a. Answer: The first choice was to take the Drink Package as one of three perks. Then upgrade once we got on the ship. It seems although not confirmed that Oceania changed to pricing/method for the upgrade at the first day of this year. We decided to simply choose the Premier Wine, Beer and Spirits Drink Package now so making the decision quick and easy. 10. When to choose the Cooking Classes we want to take? a. Answer: I will book them within the next month. It was made clear these event book up. The worst case is we cancel them within the policy deadlines. Pricing and Value: Prior to booking our first Oceania Cruise cancelled three years ago, I did an Excel Comparison leveraging other brands and cabin categories. This helped with my past experiences with the NCL Haven, Celebrity Retreat, MSC Yacht Club, Crystal Cruise (coming back soon) and also cabins outside these brands upper levels. I did this process again recently and the task was NOT the easiest “Page-At-A-Glance” I have ever done. Every cruise brand prices out differently. Every stateroom category might have different amenities, policies, or rules. Each of the brand marketing teams really confuse you with how they share the information. Then we added Premium-Plus/Luxury Brands. Initially we added ultra-luxury brands like Regent Seven Seas and Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Those brands were eliminated for initial investment alone. The creation of this excel is my way of taking a deep dive into what different brands provide and don’t provide. You would think capturing this information could be just a well-designed google search and you would be wrong. There is nothing easy about this due diligence. Yet it is ultra-rewarding and interesting when completed. The results might just surprise you; I know it did me. Here is some information I obtained, and you can make your own determination. Worst case it helps you on your due diligence. Oceania Riviera: November 9, 2023 – 10 Days · Penthouse (PH3): $7,398.00—No Air--per couple; $8,656.00—No Air/Unlim WiFi/Complementary Specialty Restaurants/Gratuities/PLUS Pre-Cruise Hotel in Athens; $10,656.00—With Coach Restricted Air/Transfers. · Thoughts: Additional costs will be excursions. This ship has just been drydocked with a major facelift including staterooms and public areas. The Penthouse level is the equivalent of the NCL Haven or the Celebrity Retreat type suites. Like the Haven and Retreat, an Oceania Penthouse has a personal butler. In additions the mini fridge has complementary soft drinks, juices and water unlike mainstream cruise brands. Access to the Thermal Spa is complementary plus a privet sundeck as well as hot tub in front of the ship which is part of the Penthouse stateroom. Oceania gives you one of three perks. We chose the $600.00 on board credit which we used to purchase one of two Prestige Wine, Beer, and Spirits package. This Penthouse pricing was during a four (4) category upgrade sale for Labor Day which saved each couple more than $2,000.00 plus. NCL Breakaway: October 3, 2023 – 10 Days · Non-Haven Club Balcony Suite: $7,521.70—No Air--per couple; $8,031.70—No Air/Unlim WiFi/Two additional specialty Restaurants/Gratuities; $9,239.70—With Coach Restricted Air/Transfers. · Haven Spa Suite: $12,583.40—No Air--per couple; $13,163.40— No Air/Unlim WiFi/Two additional specialty Restaurants/Gratuities; $14,371.40—With Coach Restricted Air/Transfers. · Thoughts: None of these fares include a pre-cruise hotel. I have recently cruised on this ship. I was less than impressed with the ship, dining/bars, and personalized service in the Club Suites. The Haven was much better, however not worth the premium that was required to be a Haven Guest. The one positive was the Haven Spa Suite gave unlimited access to the indoor thermal spa area which if not in a spa suite would have been a premium. Even when staying in the Haven, the personalized service simply ends when you leave this premium Haven area to utilize the rest of the ship. NCL Viva: October 28, 2023 – 9 Days · Non-Haven Balcony Spa Suite: $8,266.00—No Air--per couple; $9,001.00—No Air/Unlim WiFi/Two additional specialty Restaurants/Gratuities; $10,209.00—With Coach Restricted Air/Transfers. · Standard Haven Suite: $14,968.70—No Air--per couple; $15,736.70— No Air/Unlim WiFi/Two additional specialty Restaurants/Gratuities; $16,944.70—With Coach Restricted Air/Transfers. · Thoughts: None of the fares include pre-cruise hotel. The Viva would be the newest NCL ship. This would be a nine (9) day cruise vs. a ten (10) day cruise. The Standard room still had thermal spa access however the Haven Suite did not. The Viva sister ship the NCL Prima is getting very good reviews. Even when staying in the Haven, the personalized service simply ends when you leave this premium area to utilize the rest of the ship. Celebrity Apex: October 23, 2023 – 10 days · Veranda Class Suite: $7,115.85—No Air--per couple; $7,504.85—No Air/Unlim WiFi/Two additional specialty Restaurants/Gratuities; $10,004.85—With Coach Restricted Air/Transfers. · Prime Concierge Class: $7,977.84—No Air--per couple; $8,366.84— No Air/Unlim WiFi/Two additional specialty Restaurants/Gratuities; $10,866.84—With Coach Restricted Air/Transfers. · Retreat Sky Suite: $12,263.85—No Air--per couple; $12,412.85— No Air/Unlim WiFi/Two additional specialty Restaurants/Gratuities; $14,912.85—With Coach Restricted Air/Transfers. · Thoughts: None of the fares include pre-cruise hotel. The Apex is one of the newer Celebrity Ships. None of the staterooms have the Thermal Spa but it can be purchased for an additional amount. Even when staying in the Retreat, the personalized service simply ends when you leave this premium area to utilize the rest of the ship. Conclusion: I also looked at Viking, Ritz-Carlton, and Regent Seven Seas. Viking was competitive but you would not have the same size accommodation nor butler. The Ritz-Carton was only 7 days with an investment of second highest. Regent was the highest investment to being both ultra-luxury and truly all-inclusive. This was before and especially after Business Class airfare and not in a Penthouse level so no butler. The conclusion was rather obvious that the best value in the areas I had as my Have to Haves and Nice to Haves; was by far Oceania Cruises. The Final Word: When I write a detailed op-ed like this one, it takes weeks. I read it and re-read it. I look for ways to make my points better. I enjoy the process yet never forget not everyone will agree with my findings and opinions. When I started posting on CruiseCritic.com, I would make a statement of fact and folks would challenge my facts. That is when I developed the detailed writing style. I make mistakes all the time so please feel free to challenge me if what I am saying contradicts with your knowledge or experience. My hope is I helped others especially the many posts that start with, “I am new to Oceania.” I will do just as detailed review after my cruise is completed. I no longer do a “Live” blog because it took away from my vacation experience. Now I handwrite notes. After I return, I am or add to my op-ed. From an obligation standpoint, I do a condensed version under the reviews for the brand and ship in CruiseCritic.com. Please comment, add to the information provided, call out flaws/mistakes so the information is accurate for all readers. Remember, this was written by someone who has NEVER cruised on Oceania. It is from my perspective only and is what gave me the confidence to book the cruise. I am no expert except for what I have had in the past and want in the future. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@RocketMan275 Thank you for calling out my Haven Lite Strategy. To the author of this posting, @disneydave Glad you are taking some young adults to the Haven. I love the Haven and the Vibe. I have done the Haven most of my NCL cruises on the larger ships. When not in the Haven, I won't even go on the ship without the Vibe. The question on the floor is should someone do the Vibe if they are also doing the Haven. The second consideration is if a actual bar is important to you vs. bar service in the sundeck. If you want a bar, the Vibe has a fantastic one. If drinking while sunning is not your thing, then the Vibe seems to be a waste of money. If you read this NCL blog, many say that because of NCL bidding process, the Haven is Always sold out. This means, the Haven Bar is always crowded and the Haven Sundeck is crowded as well. There is always a chair to be had but the chair is often not in a premier location. Take that also into consideration. Here is my position. If money was no options, I would get the Vibe and the Haven. I like the Vibe sundeck better than the Haven Sundeck and have gotten better service in the Vibe, PERIOD. However if money is an issue, the Vibe is very nice but not worth the investment if you have access to the Haven Sundeck with a hot tub (water feature). Your decision seems to be a hard one. If you really think about it, it is just a budget question and if having better service and a bar will make or break your vacation with your family. I did the NCL Joy, the week after thanksgiving in 2021. I had my wife and my two adult children with me. I also had a two bedroom Haven accommodations it was however the Owners Suite. We did not do the Vibe and if I was to do it again, we still would not have had the Vibe. Now remember, this is social media. Some folks will agree with my thoughts and others will disagree. I gave you my reasons so add it to what every one else is saying. Then, as my son says, "You do You". Cruise well and don't for get to have the Haven Bar make you a smoking drink. It is a show in itself. Enjoy.

@renji For me it was a dream to finally go on a luxury brand. I knew that Regent was out of my budget by a lot. Crystal was just trying to get cruising again. There was so much to love and what really kind of disappointed me was the long-time loyal Crystal Cruisers on my sailing. Like every group, some were engaging and welcoming; others were not. It was uncomfortable to hear how some of the folks sailing were loudly complaining in the Main Dining Room. I thought the food there was outstanding and the service was even better. Yet one woman wanted everyone in the restaurant to know who Crystal was going down hill. The other issue was they only had a disc jockey at the pool for one hour a day. He played Sinatra Type songs. There were six people in the pool and one older woman told the guy the music was to loud. The shows were hit and miss. But the loyal folks were in the front row screaming like they were at a beetles concert. Then all my wife wanted to do was swim with the pigs. That port was cancelled. Most of the ports were cancelled for one reason or another contributing to the boredom. I don't blame Crystal for the ports. Just luck of the draw. I have watched a few video's on Cunard and see it as a ultra-luxury option. I promise to review the Oceania if you do the same for Cunard, DEAL? Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@minka34 No transfer however I don't think high status makes much of a difference on any cruise line. All cruise have their own pleasures and concerns. We just have to be flexibly sometimes. I said I was out and someone said, Sthrngary dropped the mic, LOL. I will respond to questions to me. I will live it to the others on CruiseCritic.com to answer the Haven and Premium Plus questions. Thank you for reaching out. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@dave7502 Thank you for asking. As it relates to Haven Like experiences you have the Celebrity Retreat; MSC Yacht Club; Royal has the Genie. Just like the Haven, they are all kind of a "Ship-within-a-ship" concept. Small boutique private area still providing access to the rest of a huge ship. I would look as similar Itineraries and cabin types so compare pricing. Each line plays games with pricing so you have to do your best to do an apple to apple comparison or as close as you can get. I am fully aware I did not answer your question as of yet. August 2021, I did a Crystal Cruise which would be a premium or more likely luxury segment. I immediately noticed that the entire ship was the Haven, Retreat or Yacht Club. The entire ship was the boutique area. Everyone once they left their stateroom were treated the same. I coined the term, "Haven on Steroids". I compare everything to the Haven because I love it so much. The food was significantly better at all venues, the personalized service as over the top, I never had to wait to be noticed by the bar tender who remembered my name and drink type. I felt special no where I went on board. The ship at the time was know for that however it was also at 25% capacity. The lack of cruisers was the down side. This cruise with so much to offer was boring to a max. This experience made me crave for upgraded dining experience which I have not been finding recently on my Mainstream Cruise Brands. It also showed me what a consistent level of personalized service was like for all passengers regardless of suite status. I never felt I was being nickeled or dimed which was a very welcomed difference. The spa sauna's, hot tubs, steam room was available to all. No extra fee for the Thermal Spa. The back of the ship was all public area vs. high end suites and you could smoke a cigar back there. The butler was so much better than any butler I had before it was not even a fair comparison. But yet again, I was bored. Crystal went bankrupt do to poor management and has been purchased by another company to be returning sometime this year. Now I wanted to recreate the whole ship being the Haven on Steroids. I wanted upgrading dining experience and I did not want to break the bank. I knew I had to lose the idea of water slides, Broadway shows, Lasor tag or go carts. I also did not want to break the bank and also finally cruise the Mediterranean. The choice as kind of easy, I choose Oceania which is still in the NCL family. When I compared at least 9 other brands, cabin times with similar agenda's; Oceania give the best value with the items I was looking for. The Retreat and Haven were substantially higher cost which to me was ridicules for port intensive cruises. So there was my choice. I went from Mainstream VIP to Premium-Plus/Luxury for the dining, service and much more port intensive itinerary. That should both answer your question and give you some of my reasoning based on my wants, needs, and motive. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Homeport5Thank you for asking. The update is my friend, took the book I wrote for him called a "Journey Document" and gave it to his lovely bride as a Christmas Present. She opened the bag it was in and started to cry. She read the front cover out to her family that said, "Merry Christmas Diane" with a summery of what was included. Than said, "Gary wrote this, right?" The next day she called my wife and made sure she was joining for this 10-day Mediterranean Cruise on Oceania. I, before this happened, was on the Delta Airlines site at 12:01 am when the dates came up to use my my saved points/miles to gain a Delta One Business Class flight, booked it not knowing if we would be going at all. The end is we are going, we have a four category upgrade to a Penthouse, Business Class Airfare with Delta and stay two days prior to the cruise in Athens, Greece. All went as planned which makes me extremally happy. Again thank you for asking. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Hello everyone. I would like to thank every single contributor this topic. It was a great honor to have assisted many of you with your decision to book the NCL Haven. My experiences have been great and when I like something, I both recommend it and write about it. My last two NCL cruise have been just OK. My last cruise was good yet would not have been so if not for the NCL Vibe Beach Club which made the cruise for us. I have felt and feel as if NCL is cutting back on everything from crew, drinks, entertainment and food quality which is some of the main reason why I have recommended them in the past. I dearly love the NCL Haven however the price increases makes it a DEAL BREAKER for me in the future. Because of that, I will be venturing into other brands and categories from this point forward with my cruise vacations. We all have a choice with our hard earned money. Everyone has different wants and needs. Thank you to everyone for your comments, kind words and support. I will no longer be able to answer your questions because other are now much better sources. It has been a joy and as always. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Thank you for the shout out. Glad you had a great time. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Well folks, that is NEW. It seems sharing how to get the most from The Premium Plus Beverage Package and the Haven has been noticed by NCL. I don't know if I should take this as a complement or a criticism. For those reading this comment and have not read my post before. I am the Author of the Secrets to the Haven and The Premium Plus Beverage package Op-Ed's. I am also very rarely negative on this or other social media sites. I am making an exception today with this post. I share this fact so I can make this statement. It is clear that NCL has been attempting to find ways to reduce costs which will increase profits. The copied quote by @erin21497 that "bottle of wine are limited to one at dinner and has to be consumed at the meal" is a "DEAL BREAKER" for me. My recent cruise experience not being able to find a decent Chardonnay on our last NCL Cruise was not the experience I have had in the past nor want in the future. I am extremely disappointed with NCL I know it does not make a difference nor should it to anyone out there. I am nobody and not famous. I personally will NO longer purchase or recommend the Premium Plus Beverage Program. As it relates to the NCL Haven, I will NO longer purchase or use the NCL Haven until the prices come down to be competitive. Therefore I will personally NO longer recommend the NCL Haven. I would like to thank NCL for the memories and will hope that as they make a profit to pay their debt that they will recognize we a client have options. We work hard for our money and are some times fickle. My future cruise will be with other brands including but not limited to NCL sister brands. I have everyone Cruises well and Enjoys Every moment. Life is to short.

I am with an old client friend this week. Cruising came up. He has cruised 35 times. His first cruise was the SS Norway. Small and funny world. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I am very new to Oceania. My cruise is 10 months away. I read post like these to gain information to make my upcoming 10 day cruise experience in the Mediterranean all it can be. I have cruise for decades and twice last year. I can confirm that drink packages have been an issue on NCL for the last two cruises. On to Oceania. Here is what I have learned on this CruiseCritic.com Oceania Blog. If you Take the Drink Package Perk: You can upgrade to the Prestige Drink package for $20.00 per day per passenger. You can only upgrade on the ship. If you do, you don't get all the benefits you would have gotten if you purchased the Prestige Package Pre-Cruise. What I understand now is that upgrading on the ship will cost as much or more than just buying it from the start. Solution: I will have my travel agent change my perk to OBC of $600.00. Use that plus $600.00 of my own to purchase the Prestige Drink Package from now. Simple solution to a complicated problem. Best Overall Perk: The Excursions. I also did the math on that and I see what everyone is saying. That said, I rarely use the Cruise Brands excisions and usually do my own. Especially in the Europe Countries we are traveling in. Accuracy from Oceania Telephone Reps: I originally attempted to book my cruise with one of the Oceania Telephone Reps. I felt that this person was a very good sales consultant but when I asked some complicated questions (Not my first Rodeo) they never got back with me. I then booked with my travel agent who answered all my questions quickly and before I would book. Also gave me the American Express Platinum Perks. My recent experience with the NCL Premium PLUS Beverage Package (This is the upgrade to the Perk Beverage Program) was bad. Every time I wanted something, the answer was Supply Chain. I simply figured that NCL the parent company for Oceania was looking to reduce costs and increase prices. We can all understand this when a cruise company lost so much money, they need a way to get back to even. All I ask is charge me more, don't confuse me and provide a quality product. Simple as that. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I have never cruised with Oceania however have cruised out of Miami more times than I can remember. Unlike going out of a port lets say in Europe, Miami is an easy one. A Uber or Cab ride is very reasonable if you want to leave to the port earlier then the bus will get you there. All I am saying is know that you know the Oceania Sign at baggage is your cue, also know you have a reasonable back up plan that is relatively easy. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Yes on both. I would call NCL or your travel agent to double check on the Vibe. Also, I would purchase the Thermal Spa if that is what you would prefer. Unless the temps are really cold, I prefer the Vibe. My strategy get on the ship first, get to the specific location usually a place like Headliners. Find it quick and you have to get on line for the possibility. If Vibe is booked go to the spa for the Thermal Spa. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Based on the time of year you are going, it is more than worth it. If it is to chilly, just go in one of the hot tubes while viewing. Lots of fun. Now for some negative comments which I rarely do. No lounge or bar on the ship is as good as the Haven Bar. I tried and failed. Everyone who has read my posts and my subsequent reviews. The Vibe Bar is very nice but the offerings are limited. Especially when you have a Premium Plus Beverage Package which I have done and until the supply chain issue is resolved, will not do in the future. It is my conclusion that after two cruises doing Haven Lite, one as a solo and one with my wife. I will take a break from NCL cruising for a while. The ships are short of supplies like certain spirits and wine. The restaurant quality and service are effected by supply chain, cost reduction leading to quality issues, and a completely filled ship. Even the Haven has had some issues with quality and over crowding especially in the Haven Bar and Sundeck. I feel like those that stayed away from cruising are back. Let this wave of guest go on their cruises and enjoy the postponed vacations they all missed during covid. I personally will shift to a smaller ship, in a Premium-Plus/Luxury/Ultra Luxury Brand during this transition. The older I get, the more I focus on personalized service, improved food quality, relaxing lounge experience and yes even the opportunity to dress up for dinner. Tastes change over time and after being spoiled by the Haven once to many times, I would prefer a elevated experience for the few cruises I have left. Just my two cents and I know I over answered your question. You can ask me anything and I will be happy to comment back honestly. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Got it, thank you. I have a separate list that was pulled from the Amenities off the website that I did not include. The list I posted was strictly from this specific topic/stream. GREAT clarification, Thank you. Another great clarification. I am an over easy person however in my decades of travel allows me to remember that MUSH. I disliked it then and know. Thank you. This is GREAT. It is what my wife loves most. I will add this to my list. Good call. OMG, Almond Croissants. If anyone reading this has gone on any NCL Haven cruises, the Almond Croissant they have is ONLY served in the Haven. They are to die for. When I cruised NCL not in the Haven, that was a huge disappointment. GREAT baked goods especially for breakfast is a passion. Thank you for taking the time to clarify some of my items and list. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I love, love, love this topic and the way everyone is sharing ideas. Not only does it give new cruisers to Oceania a starting point, it also shows the warmth of those that have previously cruised Oceania. I have not always found that the case when utilizing new cruise brands. So Bravo to all on this stream. I captured and summarized some but not all of what folks said. I listed it below from a standpoint of cruising in the Mediterranean, for 10-days, in November 2023 and in a Penthouse (PH3). Keep that in mind when reviewing the bullet points. Hope it helps: Food or Dining Related Hints: The hints below are for the suite we have selected which is a (PH3) Penthouse on the Oceania Riviera. Your stateroom may differ. Daily Menu’s: This can be found on your in-suite TV Screen. Priority Dining Reservations for Penthouse Suite: This is a 10-day cruise in the Mediterranean. There are four (4) Specialty Restaurants onboard the Riviera. We can make one guaranteed reservation for each of the four Specialty Restaurants 75-7 days in advance if our full fare has been paid. Specialty Dining: Make additional reservations for specialty restaurants the moment your get on the ship at the reservation desk. On embarkment day, we can make additional Polo Steakhouse reservations between 11:00 AM to 01:00 PM which is early embarkment for Penthouse level. Dining Special Events: “Taste of the World” samplers at lunch in the Grand Dining Room (Look for the date when on the ship). Coffee/Juice Breakfast Strategy: If you are a coffee drinker (I Am), before going to breakfast in the GDR or Terrace go to Barristas and get a REAL coffee or cappuccino and take it with you to breakfast. Same goes for the smoothies/fresh juices. Stop by Waves on your way to breakfast and get a fresh made smoothie or juice and take it with you also. Other Oceania Cruisers Food Favorites: Love RG and the Miso Glazed sea bass, Rack of Lamb and the Watermelon and Duck Salad. Jacques, Sea Bass in Puff Pastry for 2, AMAZING. If there is a Quartet offered for dessert, order it to get bite sized tastes. you must try the daily offerings of the Humphrey Slocumb ice cream, OUTSTANDING. Almond Croissants is a go to after ODing on Sticky Buns in the Terrace Cafe, The grilled lamb chops for breakfast. Great burgers and fare in Waves. Things to See and So On-Board: Self-Tour: There MAYBE a self-tour of all the artwork on the ship. Fun thing to do. Second Night: Captain’s welcome party with free drinks. In Suite: The Suite has umbrella, hairdryer, and wine opener. Laundry: Discover the laundry closest to your suite. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@estvil30 Welcome to this stream. If you have a Haven Suite, your butler will provide you with food anytime you want it, just ask. It is what they do regardless of the meal or time. The key here is if the Haven is open for a meal service. If they are not, an alternative source will be used. Always call your butler. Let me clarify something about after hours butlers. If might be late at night and you want some food delivered. You call your butler and if they are off, another butler will bring it. Very rarely will the normal room service person bring it but it can happen. Your room is a lovely place to have a Breakfast or Dinner meal. Lunch lunch is more rare however here is what some folks have done. Please remember, ONLY HAVEN GUEST. The guest is in lets say the Haven Sundeck, they want some food, they call from the wireless phone provided in the suite their butler to bring lets say the famous Haven Burger and Fries. It is delivered to the sundeck. A reference to tipping was given on another response. Tip your Butler at the beginning of the week, throughout the week OR at the end of the cruises. They are not on the normal gratuities program. How much your tip or when you tip is up to you. Just know, they depend on that tip. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

This was an extremely well written, thought out and worded review. You gave us the good, bad and awful. I know for a fact, this took time to write so everyone reading it needs to say thank you. It makes it very easy for me to enjoy your writing because you answers many questions about the Prima for me. I hope everyone who cruises the Prima and wants to know about the Haven Read this. Bravo. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@floatplan Now we are being somewhat hypothetical here however I really think it is a good exercise. I attempted, key word attempted to creates an apples-to-apples comparison. No matter how hard I tried, I knew it was difficult. I agree with you that the Oceania Penthouse is much more comparable to the Regent Concierge. The many difference was the Regent Concierge did not have a butler. Still, Regent was more expensive when you added to Oceania items that Regent provided. I really don't think that is in the debate. The issue is with all things considered, is it worth the premium to go on a truly all-inclusive Mediterranean Cruise Brand. Is the extra one pays enough of an improvement or enhancement to pay it. I am not going to answer that because it does not matter what I would do. All that matters is know what you will receive or not receive by doing your due diligence. Than make the decision based on your wants and needs. If over the five or so years of looking at this personal dilemma, I have drawn several questions I had to answer to make a conclusion. I personally have a limited number of years left to do vacations like this. Life is to short. Once the vacation is over, all we have are the memories. It that worth the premium. Can I even afford the higher premium of Regents to begin with. Will I even notice the difference or know what I am missing because I had never done it before. If I am disappointed in the cruise, will that soar me based on the investment I made. I have taken this question very seriously for quite some time. Not everyone looks at these types of decision like I do because everyone is different. For me, the process allows me to be ok with my decision. Hope all that make sense. Cruise well regardless of the brand or ship you decide on and enjoy every moment.