AMHuntFerry

Good question! Some of the itineraries already have prepaid grats if booked via a TA belonging to a TA consortium, so there are multiple scenarios where customers already get this perk.

It looks like you've just missed the window for an expedited renewal via mail or acceptance facility. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast.html However, you can still get one at a passport agency or center starting soon: (in part - see link above) "Urgent Travel Service: Schedule an appointment if you are traveling internationally within 14 calendar days or need a foreign visa within 28 calendar days. Call 1-877-487-2778 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, Mondays through Fridays. Our appointment line for Urgent Travel Service is closed on weekends and federal holidays."

In my experience, 6 months is a pretty standard (although I won't say universal) requirement any time a U.S. citizen travels outside the US (and non-citizens visiting the US). I can't remember how many times I've run to check our passports to make sure we don't need a renewal before a trip. Passport renewals are relatively cheap compared to other aspects of travel, so we try to renew during travel dry-spells, not just before they are due. I can't remember turn-around time, but the expedited renewal might get turned around in time (fingers crossed for you!).

😅🤣 Pre-edit I had "An indoor cruise-only cruise..." 🤪

An indoor cruise-only cabin (per person) is $2999 for the 14 day Jan 11th sailing, $5899 for the 16 day Jan 25th sailing, and $5199 for the 14 day Feb 10th sailing, so my guess is price difference is a large factor.

Hi Maria, I think you may really enjoy the interior design of the Oceania ships. For the most part, each public space has its own design, plus the variety of artwork (wall art, sculptures, lighting, even the bases of table lamps) is amazing and unique to each ship. I am far from an art expert, but you could literally spend the entire cruise admiring the artwork that is EVERYWHERE. It's also useful for identifying which floor you are on when using stairs (e.g., "when going up the forward staircase, get off after the green abstract painting" 🙃 I get turned around a lot when decor is uniform! ).

yessirree! We liked walking through the (shady!) animal display on Harvest Caye. I'm always leery of live-animal displays since they can be exploiting the wildlife; I don't know where on the conservation-exploitation spectrum this display lies, but the enclosures seemed well done (e.g., large and faux-natural environment).

"Interesting" is a good assessment. Personally I'd welcome the switch to Taiwan even if the airfare cost difference was higher (hopefully balanced by the 20% cruise refund and/or travel insurance).

Tendering was not available last December due to wind, so I can't give first hand experience. We are not into the private island experience or sunning on a beach, so had booked a kayaking shorex in hopes of spotting some sealife. If you are a "wanderer", you can walk to a lighthouse (not the one with the zipline) and old cemetery. I can't post the link to the site where I found great info, but if you google "Unusual things to do on Great Stirrup Cay" you should get a hit.

I dug out my beverage package doc from a recent sailing. The Prestige Select package drinks come from the Bar Menu and Martinis Menu ONLY (minus some higher end scotch/whisky). Also, "All packages exclude wine by the bottle and all specialty restaurant spirits (scotch/whiskies, liquors, and sakes)" (almost had to dig out the magnifier to read the fine print!). Since your friends will have a fully paid Prestige Select package, they will have the option to purchase bottles from the Wine List (not all wines) with a 15% discount. They also get a 20% discount on La Reserve by Wine Spectator wine pairing dinners. These discounts are not available if the Prestige Select package is the result of upgrading the O-Life beverage package (i.e., your case).

Oceania culinary staff typically do a lunch BBQ on the island.

Cold drinks off the top of my head...sodas like Coke and Sprite, seltzer water, tonic water, still water. The coffee machine is espresso based (caff and decaf)...latte, cappucino, I think Americano, plain ol' espresso.

They also have a variety of Twinings tea (caffeinated and herbal). I liked using the computers since I tend to avoid screens during vacation, but like to check in with out pet/house sitter.

The following topic has a schematic and link. They were not remodeled, just repurposed.

I haven't thoroughly gone through every 2025 itinerary, but the Riviera sailings seem sparse in 2025. Is she due for a primping at the salon?

The one on the website is wrong. See post #9 for the correct schematic.

It's only available onboard from the ambassador. It makes it so much easier to see what is where and when!

The solos on the R-ships used to be E category and are now S category. The price doesn't show online unless you do a dummy booking and change the number of passengers to 1. If you just want an estimate without the dummy booking, the price will often be halfway between the D and F category price.

This is where one of those nifty "show all itineraries" charts that they have onboard with months in columns and the ships in rows. But here we go: Nautica in 2025 Jan 8 for 18 days is LA->Hawaii->Papeete (in transoceanic section p. 61). Then Nautica has four 10-day itineraries running around Tahiti (until Feb. 35th, JK, March 7) which gets you to the "Grand Voyage" itineraries.

I just received the new brochure in the mail. Regatta will spend most of this time in Australia and New Zealand before swooping up through quite a few SE Asia ports on the way to Tokyo. If anyone has questions about a specific month/ship/etc., I am happy to look it up.

Please let me amend my "comfortable for two people" comment...only if not tall...my 6'5" brother would probably hang over the edge even if he slept diagonally and alone.

We were the last couple to (officially) occupy 6030 on Regatta and the beds are the same as before. I measured out of curiosity but can't find my notes (how useful...sarcasm font); I seem to remember the bed was shorter and slightly wider than standard full size...definitely bigger than a twin though...comfortable for two people as long as the pets aren't also traveling.

Oceania does not refund port taxes/fees, just shorex booked through them.

If you look at a full view photo of the R-ships (https://www.oceaniacruises.com/ships) you will see large round windows on decks 6, 7, and 8 (forward). On deck 4 you will see mostly square windows. On deck 3 you will see tiny round windows; these are the portholes in the D-category cabins. The C1 and C2 category cabins either have the square windows or the large round windows. I hope that helps. You can see the size of the large round window by viewing the vista-suite photos (https://www.oceaniacruises.com/ships/sirena/suites-and-staterooms)

Bummer! Are there other itineraries (with availability) that would be an acceptable substitute? Your TA (or you) could contact O and suggest a similar deal (OBC and adjustment) on your preferred substitute. If they say no, then cancel (or try again). Good luck!