Jayne E

1 minute ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

The three cruise lines (Regent, NCL and Oceania) comprising the partnership in NCL Holding are mostly independent entities, particularly when it comes to their maritime operations decisions.

A lesson in the corporate structure is meaningless …… most are aware NCLH comprises independent corporate entities ….. what we’re discussing is extremely poor customer service by one of the entities….nothing more. 

10 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

if one of you tests positive within 2 weeks of embarkation, you can receive a full refund. Other than that, read the numerous posts explaining how reasonable requests for cruise transfers (rather than FCCs) often are granted by O.

FWIW: It’s amazing how many folks either don’t read their Ticket Contract or follow the O website SailSafe updates.

Obviously they will not have Covid in two weeks as they have it now. Neither will I unfortunately.  You’ve posted several times about people not reading the Ticket Contract and/or Oceania SailSafe updates.  We read it….our TA makes mention of it before making deposit. We’re a pretty savvy group!  That does nothing to explain why NCL Ticket Contract and Peace of Mind policy is being amended with cancellation allowed and O’s has not. 

2 hours ago, Hinda said:

Well we are in Miami ready to get on the ship.  Oceania refused to let us move to a later date or give us FCC.  Oceania shame on you.  We will try to be careful and do our best to enjoy the cruise. Today is my 80th Birthday

 

Hinda and Bill

Happy Birthday and wishing you a good time.  
Very disappointed in Oceania. Guess the NCL passengers are more important for retention. 

20 minutes ago, ak1004 said:

Honestly, I'm not sure why people expect Oceania (or any cruise line) to provide any refunds of FCCs. They are running a business, and if someone decides they are too scared to cruise right now, it's their decision.

Those who wish to cancel are not all doing so only due to fear but due to a cruise filled with closed ports and additional sea days that in no way resembles what was booked. Add to that the outbreaks on most recent cruises.  A very boring and expensive experience being quarantined in a ship cabin. 
Apparently Viking, Celebrity, Royal Carib, Carnival and others agree as they were quick to adjust the cancellation policy in response to the new Omicron variant. Not Oceania or Regent.  Oceania Riviera lost 3 ports and added 3 sea days and opened the bar for 2 days. I guess they figure if you get boozed up enough you won’t realize you’re really on an inexpensive “crossing” cruise 🤣

3 hours ago, Jancruz said:

Not true..

Never has been ...they try to keep them very separate

Jan

Obviously they keep them very separate BUT very unfair. Numerous holding companies have multiple corporations under its umbrella but work to maintain fairness throughout. 
This Covid situation does not have a cruise line preference and Oceania should not have a passenger preference….but they do!
Njhorseman is spot on with his response! The dramatic policy divergence is a shock!

1 hour ago, RCD1952 said:

If I were booked on the January 4 Riviera cruise, I would not be happy that Oceania didn't get someone in the office to address the disparity between NCL's Peace of Mind cancellation policy and the Tough Luck policy that presently exists with Oceania.  There are passengers making their way to Miami right now.  

Well said!  Oceania Tough Luck policy…..coupled with thousands of cancelled flights.

19 minutes ago, ak1004 said:

I believe O extended the final period to 60 days before cruising. Most current booking were made during Covid, people knew the risks, so I'm not sure why O would issue refunds. They do offer refunds in case you test positive within 14 days of the cruise date, which I think is very fair. 

 

The current wave is no worse than the previous ones in terms of deaths and hospitalization rates. Nothing has changed.

Oceania extended final payment to 60 day on very few cruises.

i was booked on Grand Voyage on May 29. Final payment due Dec. 30. Oceania would not budge….payment required 5 months prior. Cancelled cruise last week.

Just makes no sense whatsoever that Oceania is not following the cancellation policy of the parent company. 
Covid is now breaking out on O ships and all they are doing is keeping ships at sea when they are turned away from ports and opening the bars.
CDC advises no cruising due to worsening of cases and O is forcing paid in full passengers to go or forfeit their cost.  What are they waiting for?
 

6 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

There are CC guidelines against 'cruise line bashing' and also 'bickering' – take a time-out guys.

Agree….need to include name calling…..please see definition of “curmudgeon”. 
 

Just now, shepherd really said:

Good for you, but since the situation has changed dramatically since I booked and paid for my cruise the onus should be on Oceania to adjust its policies as other cruise lines have.

 

Their 70% of repeat customers on these cruises are being treated poorly, that will have consequences for them long term.  

Agree! With changing situation should come changing policy!

1 hour ago, espmass said:

Just spoke to our TA who was supposed to cruise this weekend out of Miami on Norwegian.  He postponed and told me Norwegian is allowing pax to postpone but they are not advertising this.  If Norwegian is allowing this perhaps Oceania will at some point?  We feel the same as what you said in that we aren't afraid of a mild illness but we don't want to spend thousands and end up quarantined in  a cabin.  We also just go to beaches and do not take ship excursions.  Let's hope for the best as we have several weeks to go.

Not advertising it?  Pretty underhanded!  Possibility your friend was accommodated because he’s a TA and brings in business?

Couple on this board leaving 1/4 getting no cooperation from Oceania.  I asked for shorter payment window than 5 months and was told to pay or cancel, despite several hundred empty cabins. 
 

7 hours ago, Hinda said:

It has been over a week since my original post and things have gotten worse.  The CDC has recommended no cruising even if vaccinated.   I know there are cases on the Riviera at this time.  OCEANIA do something for your loyal customers........

Hinda

They should be allowing cancellations with FCC for ALL customers. 
We cruised on Riviera 12/3/21 and not one case of Covid. No masks and no restrictions This is no longer the case. Infection rate expanding daily. 
We just cancelled 17 day cruise as O held to payment 5 months prior.  Friends scheduled on other cruise lines have 7 day window to cancel….Oceania is completely ignoring the current infection rate. 
We’re scheduled for Caribbean O cruise 2/7 and wish we weren’t. We’re not worried about health effects of getting Covid. We don’t want to get it and spend thousands to quarantine in a ship cabin OR be restricted to O excursion to leave ship. We’ve been to the ports numerous times and just go to beaches. O’s beach excursions are about 3 hours including transportation, are overpriced and you’re back on board early afternoon. 
 

3 minutes ago, susiesan said:

Agree. If I don't make this particular cruise in 2022 I will do it in 2023. My sailing goes to the Canary Islands, and the continuing volcano eruptions is another factor that could cause this cruise itinerary to be modified. I f I don't go to the Canary islands then I won't accept a revised itinerary. 

 

Why do you have to make final payment 5 months out?

I booked this as a 17 day Grand Voyage cruise.  Can also be booked as a 7 & 10 day cruise.  Cruises of 17 days require FP 5 months in advance.....under present conditions, 5 months is a "lifetime".

We are also booked on Marina end of August, Mediterranean, which is presently also 5 months.  May have to cancel that also unless O makes any payment changes.  Seems they are only picking a handful of cruises and reducing payment from 90 to 60 days.

On 12/21/2021 at 11:11 AM, Flatbush Flyer said:

Pardon my directness but, it is really ridiculous to think that Covid things will be any different between January and March 2022.

Take (and enjoy) your cruise.

Your directness pardoned, however, it is not at all ridiculous to think Covid with be different from January to March.  In South Africa where Omicron originated, it has taken 25 days from initial outbreak to peak and now noticeably down.  The medical community believes United States should peak by early/mid January and reduced by February.  Why would anyone want to cruise Jan. 4 if they could move to March?  Unfortunately O cannot accommodate one couple's request without setting a precedent for all.

2 hours ago, susiesan said:

Jayne, one of the things I may do if O doesn't move the final pay date to 30 days or offer the ability to cancel on short notice for a FCC like other lines do, I will cancel the cruise at 60 days and keep all my airline and hotel reservations. Then if things are looking up on short notice I can just rebook the cruise at the last minute. I know that my sailing is very very lightly sold.

 

My cruise is entirely in Spain and there is now an outdoor mask mandate for the whole country. bad enough to have to wear a mask while on a ship but to have to wear one walking around outside is a definite deal killer.

We are doing the exact same thing.  We also have many ports in Spain. Keeping air, which is fully refundable.

Our cruise has over 136 available cabins.  The cancellation have been growing each day.  I have a PH3 at an A1 price, so will lose that cabin but not worth booking anything with Final Payment 5 months out. 

As to the post advising me to call Oceania.....I've spoken with Supervisor last week and again yesterday and my TA has also requested shorter Final Payment window or to make payment with availability to cancel for FCC should there be multiple itinerary changes.  The response is a strong "NO"!

Yesterday, Royal Carib returned to Ft. Lauderdale with 55 Covid cases.  They bypassed Aruba and Curacao and returned to Florida a day early.  This is the 3rd ship in 10 days out of Florida with dozens of Covid cases.

These cruises are not what passengers paid for.  I sympathize with the cruise lines....not their fault....but many passengers cannot afford to chalk this up to a bad vacation and book again.

4 hours ago, espmass said:

Since your post shows you are in Boynton Beach,  hope you don't mind a personal question.  We are staying in Boynton for a week prior to the 2/7 cruise.  Is driving into Miami on a Monday morning and trying to find the port lot difficult if we aren't familiar with Miami?  Or are we best off driving to Miami 2/6  and staying at a hotel with a park and cruise deal and a shuttle to the port.  Thanks so much.

I have a driver take us. Takes about 75 minutes as there’s always some traffic. You should leave after rush hour. No earlier than 10 AM.  Oceania is Terminal J and parking is across from the terminal.  Road Signs are good but using Waze or Apple Car Play better. 

On 12/21/2021 at 12:27 PM, susiesan said:

I am beginning to think this way also. I am having doubts that any of the early Europe cruises in April and May are going to happen on any cruise line. Many EU countries have already banned UK citizens from going there, Americans may be next on the list. Just today Israel banned all travel from the US to Israel.

Final payment for our May 29th 17 day cruise to Europe is next week…..5 months in advance.  Conditions in Europe are so unstable, together with arising virus variants, makes 5 months in advance for FP a financial and medical risk. We and our friends will have to cancel. Oceania should reinstate the cancellation options for FCC they previously had. 
 

Glad to hear recent Covid testing time was short. On 12/3 departure it took almost 2 hours. 
It was very orderly, just took time.  
Food and service excellent. New menu items added throughout and some items removed. 
Agree with a previous post that Caribbean cruises with 3-4 sea days should have better activities.  Bracelet weaving and needlepoint were two “activities”. I know we’re not the youngest cruisers but we’re still active enough for something more exciting than that! 

The band playing at the pool were very good….they should do two sets on sea days. 
Going to Caribbean again 2/7. However, going to cancel 17 day European cruise in May. Having to make Final Payment 5 months in advance is just too risky. Can always rebook closer to sail date….many cabins available. 

We’ve cruised Oceania to many exotic ports but still cruise to Caribbean 1-2 times yearly. 
We leave home and are on board in an hour. Northerners have a short plane ride and get out of the cold. It’s a wonderful vacation and you most certainly get the full Oceania experience. I do agree about not needing an excursion in St. Barts. If time permits, we taxi over to Pearl Beach, get lounges and have lunch. Shell Beach is near ship but as named, it’s all shells..,,bring water shoes.

5 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

Just guessing, Oceania doesn’t yet have a clue because Venice hasn’t decided. A lot of people flying by the seats of their pants right now. As I earlier posted, if your disposition isn’t to “ go with the flow or roll with the punches “, you’re best off staying home for the next year. Cancellation was a smart move it appears for you.

 

As to flights, we had a group of 22 on our cruise that got notification 2-3 days before disembarkment by Delta/Air France that their flights had been cancelled and they had been rebooked on new flights. Yep, 6:00 a.m. flights! Off the ship around 2:30! 
 

I’m willing to bet that in the 3-4 months leading up to our trip, our air itinerary changed 4-5 times going in each direction. Times, routing, None of it pretty. Nonetheless, we had a great time and glad we went. But, that’s just us.

All that matters is that you had a great time!

We were revisiting ports we had been to, and anticipated the change in mask policy and possibly port changes, so reluctantly cancelled before final payment. Will hopefully try again for December cruise out of Miami with no flights. 

6 hours ago, pinotlover said:

You obviously haven’t been flying much in the last year. Current airline schedules are wacky and prices can be abusive.

And 3+ hr wait or call back times to deal with cancelled/changed flights. Jet Blue however very cooperative regarding choosing different dates/times regardless of cost difference. 
can’t say same for O air….would have had to disembark after dinner for a 6:00 AM flight. Pay the $350 or get off at 2:00 AM. BTW, aren’t we entitled to our last breakfast….can’t miss a meal 🤣🤣🤣

1 hour ago, LHT28 said:

Jayne

 I think your TA is confused

 Maybe other lines require you to complete the cruise

 Our 15th cruise  we  did not pay the deviation fee & I chose  the flights/times I wanted

 

Maybe your TA can check with their Oceania rep

Unless things  have changed  in the past 2 yrs  ?

I was very insistent and TA spoke with air management several times.  They were adamant. Our TA is one of the largest booking agents of Oceania and not confused. Air reservation date was before 15th cruise (of course) and no free air deviation.  The date of air reservation must be after the 15th cruise. Needless to say, I found this very petty, as my SBC and Spa credits were already added to the cruise “before” sail date. All good, as we cancelled the cruise. I will say that O’s fares were better than booking airlines direct but scheduling any passenger for a 6:00 AM flight is “passenger abuse”!  😩

4 hours ago, LHT28 said:

to add to ORV's comment

you should be able to choose the times/flights you want  & see if O  can get them

Not true. Oceania and TA state you must have “completed” 15th cruise on the date your air is booked for free air deviation amenity. All other gold amenities are applied on the 15th cruise….not this one.  

Was booked on 26 day cruise disembarking Venice 10/16. Oceania put us on a flight departing Venice at 6 AM followed by a 6 hour layover in Paris.  If 1.5-2 hrs to airport, we’d have to leave ship before 2 AM!!  Worse, it’s our 15th cruise (1st time using O air) and they wanted to charge air deviation fee for changing this horrible flight. With so much uncertainty surrounding entire cruise, we cancelled. 🙁

6 hours ago, SEASwim said:

It's a bit shocking that actual representatives of the company would be so misinformed. Per the New York Times: "The ban applies to ships that are either heavier than 25,000 tons, longer than 180 meters (about 590 feet), taller than 35 meters (about 115 feet), or that employ more than a set amount of fuel in maneuvering."

 

All Oceania vessels exceed 25,000 tons.

Yes, Oceania reps extremely misinformed. Prior cruise cancelled and we booked 26 days Marina 9/2/21 having been told we had “Travelers Assurance” with 15 day window to cancel. Upon arranging final payment, told we didn’t. Canceled cruise yesterday.