jonthomas

Thank you for your answer. Good to know that O gave a good result without having to pay for deviation. Of course I don't expect that in every case. I'm saying this to head off anyone else from reminding me of this fact.

Yeah, Ive been at this long enough to know that, but still prefer to do some things myself and hate it when I am prohibited from doing so.

Will try and avoid the TA, but may be difficult. Yes, did you pay deviation fee to get your requested flights? That certainly would make a difference.

Sorry for omitting important info, November 10, 11

If everyone agreed with you, no one would ask or comment about anything as everyone will have a variety of variables that will be unlike anyone else's. The topic says "experience with O air". You don't want ANYONE to comment because everyone's circumstances will be different. Perhaps when this topic was first posted, you needed to say that this is a nuisance topic and no opinions can be valuable. I value it and I'm looking forward to hearing the opinions of others as the OP requested.

I have already detailed that to book my own prem econ, would cost us more than 3 times as much than using O air...not going to happen.. Let me be the judge of what I get out of other people's experiences.

Anyone stay anywhere nicer than continental palacette, with breakfast, good location and paying around 145 US?

Let me simplify my request. Those soon flying with O, could you please comment if you were able to get good flights, using the new rule, coming a couple of days earlier and no longer paying deviation.

Did you speak with O directly or did your agent have to do it. In any case that gives me hope.

thank you .... here are some details... O only wants 749 with prem econ pp US, but we are at Os mercy how we will get there.. if we do it on our own, there is one stop in Montreal on the way to Barcelona and non stop from MIA to Toronto. but it is a whopping 2538pp US... it is a no brainer.. I will try and see if we can get O to give us the air canada flight to Montreal, stop over for 3 hours and then onto Bcn. it is not much more than some of the other flights so maybe they will oblige us with it... yes will let all of you know how it works out, we are still 7 months out and I understand that we may approach O at about 2 months, hope I can talk to them directly, rather than through an agent.

Thank you for correcting me. Non stop rather than direct. We have a very good rate with O, including premium economy. If we do it ourselves it will be at least double that. I hear your advice to do it ourselves and have control over the stops and the times, but is it worth paying double for that control? That is the dilemma. The flight is for November, from Toronto to Barcelona. There is no direct flight.

Just wondering if O will give us direct flights. If they are available and similar costs to those with stopovers. If anyone has any experience with that. It is still early, the new policy just recently came into effect.

Just got off the Viking, two ports itin...will never sail V again....all probably know why, but if you still want reasons, I will be happy to oblige.

Will be interesting to see what kind of flights people get with O, now that going in a day or two earlier has no deviation cost.

Thank you for the pic, it says it all..

Very hard not to compare when it is like night and day...just off a Viking, awful food, awful lectures, powdered orange juice, etc....we have recently done 3 O cruises....so still fresh in our memories...so how do you avoid comparisons, unless you are a simpleton....

Those that have done O, understand what I mean by incentives....the rest probably wouldn't appreciate them as on this V ship, people prefer ro do nothing but drink all day. Sail an O ship, then you can make an informed decision or criticism. If you like to sail with a large family on a large ship, with kids, definitely stay away from O. I can't value criticisms of O from those who have never sailed on one of their ships.

Last day on Viking star...roof was open...wonderful, now closed, no reason...found a small cool area where to read, aircond, nowhere outdoors to do that... Area off infinity pool is the only other outdoor area to be able to do that....it is packed as a result and almost in full sun.... So glad it is our last day, the last time I said that, we were on a celebrity ship...had we not found Oceania, we would travel differently.

Disappointing to hear about the food...food is our number one reason for sailing O.

Plenty of veg dishes...I don't eat shelfish...no lobster, no shrimp... When we did 3 O cruises this year, I complained that there was too much sea food...having spent almost 2 weeks on a Viking ship, I will now be overjoyed to be back on an O ship again. The only good thing about V ship, is that I have lost weight instead of putting on 10 pounds on O....yes the food is that good, but you wouldn't know it until you try another line.

Food is the most important issue for us. This sailing on Viking has reaffirmed for us that O is our line of choice.

Participating in activities is highly encouraged on O, you get to meet people, and form connections... Usually there is an excellent Brunch and on some sailings we even experienced a Carnival on deck. We have experienced none of these on V. Os loyalty program is the best at sea. With over 50 cruises on Celeb, we have nothing to show for it. With 5 on O, you get OBC, with 10, prep gratuities and more Obcs, with 15, included deviation and more obcs and your 20th cruise if free. I didn't mention how grand our stateroom was on the refitted Riviera, in January.... And didn't mention so much more. Just hope that things stay the same on O and that the world stays safe enough for those of us that enjoy travel, to be able to continue to do so.

Reasons why we will be sailing on O.... We left Celebrity after they divided the main dining room in half....those in suites and everyone else...for us in a regular balcony, the food in main dining room and buffet became very low quality and taste. Prices for suites are higher than a balcony on O. O has very few kids, there is nothing for them to do. The food is so much better than Viking, Celebrity or Azamara...all lines we have tried. Lectures on O were wonderful... To be continued...

We have done over 50 cruises with C, almost at zenith level... Right now on Viking, last 2 days...will never sail it again...we are using up covid credits.... While waiting for the V cruise, we sailed 3 O cruises, marina, 2 on Riviera....reg balcony.... Now as long as O does not change, we will not sail any other line.... I have also spread that message these 2 weeks on V and I'm sure many will be sailing with O. I will be giving all my reasons in a couple of hours...