MRGACRUZR

On 9/30/2023 at 10:01 AM, Vineyard View said:

I don’t know anything about half  being used for excursions. I was just saying that of the total excursion credit, half of the total amount was under me, and half under my husband. I was told it could only be used for excursions. The ability to use for a cabana is new news to me. I am interested in how that rolls out, because if you can use some for a cabana, then it has turned into an OBC, which I was told could not occur. 

So, I need to put some context to the the word "cabana" in my original post. It's the Cabanas on Great Stirrup Cay and they are listed as shore excursions. Unfortunately, by tge time I finished fooling with tge Iceania Elite Rep and his supervisor, all the cabanas were taken.

Our first Oceania cruise will be on Vista in March '24. I have seen a few references to "signing up for a boarding time" and people getting up at midnight on a certain day to try and get a "good boarding time". I can't find anything on the O website about competition for boarding time. Can someone explain this or refer me to somewhere to be educated. Thanks.

9 hours ago, Vineyard View said:

We had $1,000 excursion credit. When booking excursions, it was $500/ea. I didn’t have an issue with that as we would take excursions together. I used it up in two excursions as we are not inclined to take them. I don’t think you are able to use it for reserving a cabana, only excursions. Maybe I am misunderstanding. 

You can use it to reserve a cabana but, you can only use one person's portion of the suite total.  You will probably have to call because the system can't handle the nuances of the new Simply More.

7 hours ago, AMHuntFerry said:

Did you call O? Sometimes the online cart is finicky (and not in a good way), so if you haven't called you may be able to get what you want. Since it's a new system and everyone is learning the ropes (i.e., you may get an answer from a rep that is incorrect), it may help to call again (and again) or ask for a supervisor. If you are working with a TA, have them go to bat for you.

Actually they called me after i emailed my rep about the cart being weird. I put the excursion in my cart. It said it was in my cart but when i went to the cart it said i had nothing in my cart. It appears this new Simply More has got them confused too. The O rep I'd been dealing with was explaining it to me with the supervisor in the background explaining it to him. There are so many "gotchas" in this program.

On 8/18/2023 at 1:27 PM, zteamtwo said:

I think I figured out the way that Oceania handles the $800 excursion allowance (or any higher amount).  This is under the new "Simply More" booking procedure.  You can go ahead and book excursions well before your sailing and when you look at an excursion, it will show 2 prices.  One is the regular price and the other is a 25% discount price.  When you book, then Oceania will automatically charge you the higher price.  THEN, once you get to 4 excursions, the computer should charge you the lower price for each excursion.  The game they are playing is "let's give the *****,  $800 excursion credits and make it mandatory to select at least 4 excursions".  The hope is you will go way over $800, even with the lower price and then you will owe money!!!!

 

***** ( fill-in any word you want!!)

AND......despite it being advertised and listed as $800 per stateroom, it can only be spent as $400 per passenger, not combinable to purchase a single priced excursion that covers multiple passengers. As a new O cruiser, I'm finding their advertising to be extremely deceptive. It took me 2 days to locate the fine print to qualify the free Champsigne, wine and beer as only available at lunch and dinner. I feel like I need to keep my hand on my wallet as I navigate our initial experience with Oceania.

On 9/20/2023 at 10:37 PM, LHT28 said:

This explains the amount of Excursion credit  per cabin

 

simply MORE: Shore excursion credit amounts vary by voyage length

7-9 Days: $600 Per Stateroom

10-13 Days: $800 Per Stateroom

14-18 Days: $1,000 Per Stateroom

19-24 Days: $1,200 Per Stateroom

25-30 Days: $1,400 Per Stateroom

31-35 Days: $1,600 Per Stateroom

Here's the interesting part. Say your per cabin is 800. You can't spend the 800 on a single price excursion, such as a cabana. They will only allow you to use 400. When buying excursions, instead of being per cabin, it's really 400 each, not combinable. Crazy

On 9/25/2023 at 2:46 PM, auldlassie said:

I forgot to add that the rear extended balconies on deck 7 have 2 chairs and a dining table, two loungers and a side table, all with plenty of room to be moved around to catch the sun. 

Thanks for the info. It's as I suspected. I actually found 2 videos of the Prnthouse suites. One showed the aft cabins on seven with the large balconies and loungers and the other of a standard PH balcony. I posted the videos but ended up with a warning. I didn't think about posting a video that was made by a travel agency as being a violation but, by the rules, it clearly was.

21 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Did they tell you the difference between  PH 1 & PH2  ?

For the most part, othervthan the PH2s on deck 7, it's location.

They are deeper but not wider. 

So, it turns out the O Elite representative was wrong, no loungers on PH1 on 11. However, the PH2s at the rear of deck 7 do have loungers.

11 hours ago, jazznruby said:

Since you've already upgraded to a PH1, and a larger balcony is important to you, why not go for either 7124 or 7127? Aft facing, huge wraparound balcony, and more than enough room for loungers.  (Unless, of course, they were taken on your particular sailing, or you'd just prefer to be on an upper deck.) Can't wait to experience 7127 late next year!

That was our first choice but, both are already booked, as are all PH1s on 7.

We are planning our first Oceania cruise after about 65 other cruises, mostly Windstar and Viking recently. We had booked a PH3 but after talking to an O specialist, we switched to a PH1 (11072) cabin at the rear of deck 11 because he said it had a much larger balcony. I asked if it had lounger chairs and he said it did. I guess Vista is too new with too few reviews and I can't find any verifying information. Has anyone sailed in suites 11068 to 11081 that could provide some information on the balconies on these suites. Thanks.

On 2/20/2023 at 6:28 PM, Nearpost345 said:

Has anyone stayed in this suite or any of other new suites on deck three? I’m interested in any reports.

Thank you. 
I should add that tendering is not expected on our upcoming cruise.

We just got back from the March 29th sailing of the Legend. We were in SP 308. Here are the facts pertaining to 308.

1. On the deck plan there is a little white wheelchair symbol next to 308. Must be a misprint. There are no "accessible" modifications. Standard suite, bed and bathroom.

2. On the deck plan there is a note that says the queen size bed is NOT able to be twins. Also not true. It is, in 308, the usual 2 twins with required hump in the middle. Standard  new "Star Suite" furniture. It had a cozy/comfy feel despite being the same size as the other suites.

3. Fortunately we only had one tender day. The deck plan shows the tender loading station next to 308. For that day, it was very intrusive. The loaded tender was right necpxt to our three windows, right at eye level.

4. AC is important to me, especially after being lucky enough to sail on the Pride and Legend, post stretch, in the Caribbean and no AC. SP 308 was the best AC ever on any of our WS cruises.

I would definitely sail in an SP again. In fact, if the AC is consistently strong down there, I prefer the SP category.

We were on the March 29th cruise. We were in an SP. Best AC ever on a motor yacht. They do seem plagued with AC problems. Elevators functioning fine. Quite a few little things like fruits, veggies and alcohol were in poor supply or running out before halfway through the cruise. All minor stuff.

On a bright note, after no internet for 4 or five days, pretty sure Starlink was activated. The internet service was outstanding from about day 4 forward.

On 3/4/2023 at 12:20 AM, crilski said:

Marinaro44 - I agree OBC should be able to be used when booking excursions online.  You can also use Royal, Celebrity, Azamara, and Oceania OBC to book online ahead of your cruise.  Silly me - I thought maybe I needed to do it via phone call.  Person was kind of rude.  Nope - I told them I would do my best to book everything independent.  He told me to 'have a nice day'.  Kicker - an excursion I tried to book - normally is $75.  I can't, due to the deal they have with Windstar.  To book via Windstar - for the same excursion - $179. 

Learning something new . . . . 

We've had a similar situation but, we were there first. We booked a Segway tour if the Dickyards in Antigua. A few weeks later the company cancelked on us because the ship contracted with them for the tour. $40 tour now $149 and sold out! Go figure. 

34 minutes ago, Suzannetara said:

We are first time Windstar guests and wondering what terminal the Legend will be leaving from on the 29th of March. 
Help!

You should have recvd an email a few days ago about the pier change. If you're using a TA, perhaps they'll get around to sharing, if they have the email.

We look forward to welcoming you on Star Legend’s upcoming voyage.

 

The port authority in Miami has updated the detail of the docking location to be at MIAMI CRUISE TERMINAL E, instead of the previously stated more generic Miami cruise terminal.  If you have planned to arrange independent transportation, please make sure you ask to be dropped off at MIAMI CRUISE TERMINAL E, as Miami has multiple cruise terminals. We have included the pier address below. If you decide to park at the terminal, it is suggested to park in the area of terminal C. The walking distance from Terminal C to E is approximately .6 miles. If you have purchased a transfer from Windstar, you will be driven to this location for embarkation. Transfers can be purchased up to 7 days prior to sailing.

 

Pier Address:

MIAMI CRUISE TERMINAL E

1265 S American Way, Miami, FL 33132

 

If you have any questions or need further information, please contact your Travel Advisor or Windstar’s Vacation Planning Department at 1-800-258-7245. Our hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 9am - 9pm, Saturday, 9am - 7:30pm, and Sunday, 10am – 6:30pm Eastern Time.

 

We look forward to welcoming you on board.

 

Windstar Cruises – Guest Services

Has anyone any experience to share regarding Windstar's private car/van tour of Saint Barts? Been to St.Barts alot but never left the waterfront shopping area. Is it worth it to get out from here and see anything unique for the Caribbean? Any info at all is appreciated. Thanks

On 11/19/2022 at 10:10 PM, molemaui said:

I was told the amount given in compensation was based on cruise fare paid AND degree of effect from lack of A/C. (How do they figure that out?)

EXACTLY! Air Conditioning should be included in the "All in" package😉

I wrote to them after the October 23rd Cruise to Hell. The immediate response was they're very busy and will get back to me in 10 to 20 days. So far, Crickets. That's the second out of six WS cruises with no AC for an unreasonable amount of time. Both on Star Pride. I've asked for a refund minus port fees and "all in" or a refund on my 14 day  January 14 Windsurf cruise. I don't want to have to wonder if AC is included in the cruise fare. I know "s*** happens" but they obviously never prepared or tested the AC before transition from the frozen north to the Caribbean. They never considered giving us the option of getting off and taking a FCC or pull in anywhere for repairs. I'm still aggrevared everytime I think about laying in bed sweating for an onbiard credit of $500. I'd like to see the sweatometer they used to "measure my discomfort".

On 11/20/2022 at 10:12 PM, molemaui said:

 

Your review is pretty much exactly how I would characterize my Boston/San Juan cruise three weeks ago. A really excellent cruise. 

You must have been one of tge lucky ones with Air Conditioning.

The last time we were on there (beginning of this month) they had diet Coke. They do run out of stuff but the diet coke supply seemed consistent. If they have a "pillow menu" I'm not aware of it. There are 4 pillows on the bed with varying degrees of "stuffing".

We were also assigned an accessible cabin. Smaller bed, one sink, modified shower etc. When we signed up for a guarantee, I thought the worst we would get would be forward on the bottom psngr deck. Nope, Accessible Room. We tried to make ourselves feel good about it for a couple of weeks. I finally called and they immediately moved us to a regular room in the same category. No problem. I was expecting to have to pay their $50 pp change penalty, at least. Most accommodating the land portion of WS has ever been.

11 minutes ago, CCWineLover said:

Use your common sense.  That worked well for us.  The app will tell you if you have errors.  Just review all answers again before hitting submit.  On ours it change 1 or 2 no dots to yes.  Same thing happened to several others on our cruise.  So just recheck.

I totally remember that section but, since it didn't apply, we just skipped over it. No oroblem.

16 hours ago, bafinegan said:

What about the very first section-guardian travel application number and the very next "slot", Unaccompanied Minor?  I attached the area of the form in question ( at the very top of the form)

Not sure why you're concerned with this part of the application. 

37 minutes ago, philw1776 said:

No
No email, no notice, just the date listed on my booking.
Dates & communications have been a fiasco for these cruises. 
I'm just getting into a happy place to go on my cruises. Iceland Saturday. Malta in September.

Aren't the dinner and tour countdown in MVJ, based on suite category? On the 6/15 Bermuda cruise, we were notified, by MVJ, that it was time to make our reservations.  But, 6/15 Bermuda was a free for all because of the short lead time.

14 minutes ago, mediawise said:

This is good info - but after reading the VeriFly info - I cannot see how Viking used this app.  It seems to only apply to airlines and needs specific info that is not relevant to cruising.  Do yoy have additional details to share?

 

Dear Viking Guest,

Thank you for booking your upcoming journey with Viking. As we prepare to welcome you on board, we want to advise you of a new component to the Viking Health & Safety Program.

As you know, all guests must be vaccinated prior to boarding our ships. As such, we will need to verify your COVID-19 vaccination status. To expedite the embarkation process, Viking has partnered with Daon Inc., an independent third-party vendor, to digitally pre-verify your vaccination status through their VeriFLY app.

Please note, some airlines are also using the VeriFLY app. The verification process is separate for each travel carrier. If you have completed the VeriFLY process for your airline, you will need to create a VeriFLY pass for Viking as well.

At least seven days prior to your departure, please follow the steps below to complete your vaccination verification through VeriFLY for your Viking voyage.

VeriFLY will provide Viking with confirmation of your vaccination status, which will be transferred to your booking record so you can quickly embark on the day of your cruise. While your VeriFLY pass will expedite your Viking embarkation, you may need to present proof of vaccination at other points during your trip. Please ensure you carry your original vaccination documentation while traveling.

If you have any questions regarding the VeriFLY process, please contact VeriFLY Customer Support at (833) 586-1605 or support@myverifly.com. Many questions may be answered at VeriFLY’s online Help Center, viewable here or accessible from within the app. Additional tips have been included below.

Please note, in addition to verifying your vaccination status through VeriFLY as outlined above, ten days prior to your embarkation you will be asked to complete a pre-boarding health survey. You will be notified by a separate email when the health survey becomes available and directed to myvikingjourney.com for completion.

We thank you for your cooperation and wish you a wonderful journey.

Sincerely,

Viking