redraider1966

Plus 1. We base our tip on the amount before taxes, being careful about the charge for any alcohol purchases. If the restaurant offers a "suggested" tip, presumably to make it easier on the customer to determine the appropriate amount, we look closely at the amount on which the "suggested" tip is based before accepting the "suggestion."

Just a quick question about converting your 20th cruise to SimplyMore. Is your cruise longer than 14 days, so that you will be liable for the prorated cost of the days beyond 14 and how would SimplyMore apply to those days? We're very curious as to how you will fare in your conversion quest as our intent is to make an already booked (pre-SimplyMore and booked on board) cruise in 2025 as our 20th and it is 22 days in duration. Many thx. in advance.

FWIW. We first contacted Overlord Tours in 9/2022 to book a tour for our 8/31/2023 call at Le Havre, and periodically checked back with them as the tour was not yet open. They were very responsive, giving us an update on how many expressions of interest they had received and noting that they needed a commitment of at least 8 pax to open the tour up. They got that minimum in mid-June and immediately opened the tour. They have a very good reputation and solid reviews. The tour that we've signed up for (Tour #9B) also includes stops in Bayeux (a likely brief lunch opportunity as well as a chance to view the famed tapestry) and a little time in Honfleur before returning to Le Havre.

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We too had no problem booking with him some years ago. I particularly enjoyed some back and forth on our respective favorite NHL teams (his is Toronto and mine is the Caps). Found him to be very businesslike as well.

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While on Insignia just after New Year's this year, they were running a promotion offering $300 OBC for an onboard booking and we booked a cruise. A few days later, while the time-sensitive promotion was still on, we purchased a Future Cruise Certificate and received the same $300 OBC benefit. We've since booked a cruise with the FCC and the $300 OBC is included.

Not sure what "reviews" y'all are reading that are Insignia-specific regarding food. I certainly concur with basor's response. More generally, we found the quality and variety of food in all the dining venues during our 12/28-1/15/2023 Panama Canal cruise to be up to what we've experienced on our 15 previous Oceania cruises on all six ships. As basor indicated, our cruise was the first leg of the ATW and one would expect Oceania not to want to disappoint the pax.

Inquiring minds want to know if FDR's participation on this panel still a "go," given that he's retiring as President and CEO of NCLH effective June 30, 2023? If not, hardly worth a candle to be posing potential Qs to him.

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Plus 1 re: Islandwings.com. My son and I had a great flightseeing trip to Misty Fjords from Ketchikan with Michele. Spectacular weather and views throughout the flight. Probably overstating the obvious, but go/no go for the flight is weather-dependent, not just in Ketchikan but also in Misty Fjords.

As I do not know to whom you will sending a letter directly, may I suggest that you address them to FDR and FDR Jr. My experience has been that bringing problems and concerns to the attention of CEOs, i.e., cutting thru the bureaucratic layers below, heightens the chances for a substantive response and some resolution.

We were on the same cruise as the OP. Certainly agree with the grades given, especially the enrichment speaker, although our experience with all the crew was very good, notably our cabin attendants, Jamaica and Rofik, and Terrace staff, Walter and Marina. We transited the Canal thru the old locks, but caught a glimpse of one of the new larger ones at the Miraflores Lock. I doubt cruise ships the size of Insignia will ever transit thru the new locks. The powers at be at the Panama Canal Company will likely save the new locks for larger ships to enhance their revenue stream.

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Plus 1. Many financial institutions do also. Since this is a hardy perennial thread, it might merit a "sticky" to alert CCers, since O doesn't post these regularly-occurring events on its website.

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On our aforementioned Amazon cruise on HAL's Prinsendam, we too were asked to conserve water and not to request that our stateroom's towel complement be changed on the customary daily basis.

We did an Amazon cruise on HAL's Prinsendam in 2009. Admittedly, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, but we can second this review of the Boi Bumba show in Parintins.

From experience, in doing your calculations of Oceania air vs. DIY, you need to factor in Oceania's $99 PP charge for outgoing and/and return flights from non-gateway cities such as San Antonio and/or Austin (we've lived in both over a 20 year period until a recent move closer to Houston, a gateway city).

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Cards were provided, but we were not required to sign and give them back to our cabin attendant on our very recent cruise on Insignia.

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Plus 1. Plus 1. Given the current security situation, I would not recommend any touring on my own. Stick with a ship's excursion or the recommended local company. They are excellent.