Jayne E

Just because we’re in the 70’s doesn’t mean that we don’t like a lot of music that our children and grandchildren listen to. We’re not trapped in a time warp. Peggy Lee is even before my time….how about some hip hop mixed in?

The OLife Ultimate is a less expensive O sale option as compared to the 2-3 category upgrades previously offered by O. Getting a PH3 for cost of A1 far better than 3 OLife amenities. Agree cruise lines are still suffering the shutdown, however, they need to give passengers what they booked. We need to make an informed decision when we travel.

Ok. However, how about transparency. Why haven’t I ever heard “accommodate operational needs” in the last 16 years cruising only O? Why so many cancelled ports across all O ships last several months. It’s not an occasional change.

Yes, we’re on same Tokyo cruise. Definitely interested in private excursions We have 21 days on Riviera in May and Vista in November. We’ll also bail Tokyo if cuts continue. Last month on Riviera, Puerta Plata was cancelled due to “anticipated” windy weather. The wind never materialized, however staff told us that the 3 prior cruises also missed that port.

I arranged groups of 6-8 several times. In Viet Nam the guide stayed with us 5 days and we left the ship and I booked hotel for overnight in Hanoi. I arranged a guide for Cairo and we left ship in Alexandria and overnighted in Cairo hotel. Also private guide for 3 days in St. Petersburg as you did. We just booked O to Tokyo next year and this is the first time we took OLife. We think O’s tours are short and underwhelming but these port changes leave us no alternative.

Does anyone remember when every Oceania mailing and internet advertisements stated “OCEANIA HAS EARLY PORT ARRIVALS AND LATE DEPARTURES” I have old itinerary cover pages. 7 AM - 7 PM was the norm in most ports. Ship was docked when you woke up and you were dining when it departed. Is it possible that all these sudden changes are making more people book ship excursions? Recently I haven’t seen much Roll Call activity. Used to be when someone posted a tour, if you didn’t move quickly, it was booked. Now it’s difficult to get a group together. JMO

Thanks for update. Seems like quite a lot of reduced time so far. Hope you’re getting to see what you had planned and times haven’t been too problematic. I’m going to see what happens with remainder of O’s Japan ports this year.

Is anyone aware of name and address of an authority that governs cruise lines? Might be time to make complaints???

So sorry, about reduced port times and failure to timely advise passengers. Seems like O is on a mission to do this on all their cruises. Could you advise your reduced hours? We're booked on Riviera 12 day Japan next year. Not looking good. The hours needed to fly there and back may be more than the hours in port. 🙂

If you read the number of posts stating that they won't be cruising O unless changes are made, they will find alternatives. We have our 20th free cruise shortly and if we see these problems continuing to arise on all the O ships, it will be our last. We don't care for sea days, but extra sea days seem to be what O is adding to many cruises (numerous excuses). Can just as well pay far less for a crossing if you're going to spend a lot of time at sea. That includes arriving later and leaving earlier.....that's more "sea time".

Correct. However, it is only open in the evening. I had surely thought it would be open during lunch. Seemed more fitting for pizza at lunch. With all the wonderful gourmet food items for dinner, can’t imagine having pizza.

O’s Customer Service doesn’t respond. Sorry Sophie, but communication on these boards at least let’s you know “it’s not you” and these situations have become pervasive. My TA let her person at O know that many of her clients are very upset about recent changes, cancellations and port time changes. She had over 16 cancellations for the June 2024 17 day Riviera that had Croatia ports and Venice changed to a sea day, Izmir & Istanbul. She received no explanation. TA’s doing a lot of booking & cancelling for which they receive nothing for their time.

Can the cheerleaders explain away spending time making numerous visits and waiting on line at DS? Attempting to connect to internet for information not being provided by O? Two hours sitting in Lounge at 7 AM for no reason? We have cruised only O since 2007….I am a cheerleader too! However, the various situations arising lately are not “isolated” and are extremely disappointing. I’m not a complainer…..just want a cruise that’s a semblance of what I booked.

Arising at 6 AM for excursions that O knew were not to be makes no sense. There’s a sudden change….people should be notified asap. Worried about waking up a few people early for an announcement??? Most O cruisers are up very, very earlier….those who make it to 8 AM are the minority. I do, but would have no issue with being awakened for fellow passengers being advised of the cancelled port. What about calling cabins directly? Placing cancellation notices under cabin door? Decision making not good.

We’re also on next year April cruise to Japan. We’re on Riviera for 21 days with 2 sea days in May. How it goes will determine if we go forward with O to Japan.

So sorry......typo....it was our August 2022 on Riviera that had the changes with Croatia ports cancelled. Now our June 2024 had all Croatia ports cancelled.

So are the “tides” changing in one week? Probably not. Yes, Le Verdon was not misleading….just underwhelming, especially compared to Bordeaux Port. Can we all agree that recently there have been numerous itinerary, port and time changes? Weve been cruising only Oceania since 2007….have encountered an isolated situation occasionally but nothing like our recent and upcoming cruises. Not limited to a particular region…..changes are across all.

Sorry, your comparison doesn’t work in this case as Bordeaux has a beautiful port located in the heart of the city. Paris, London, Rome, Florence do not….reason for long drives to visit. The Oceania 2 day stop in Bordeaux is wonderful. Le Verdon is not.

Way too many shortened port times, cancelled ports and an entire itinerary cancelled! 14 day cruise on Riviera, December 2024, Southern/Eastern Carib cancelled and replaced with 12 days Western Carib. $250 SBC offered for “inconvenience”. We cancelled! August 2023 Riviera, all Croatia ports cancelled and replaced with 2 stops in Igoumenitsa and 2 other unknown Greek ports….notified after final payment. Last week notified that Venice (expected Trieste) and Croatia ports cancelled. Replaced with a sea day, Izmir & Istanbul. $250 SBC offered for “inconvenience”. We cancelled! This May is our free 20th cruise. We will then monitor these boards regarding cancelled ports, shortened times, etc. with regard to continue cruising with Oceania. A shame, as food and service is still excellent. However, management is messing up the product. PS: Don’t advertise Le Verdon as Bordeaux. The Bordeaux port is in the heart of Bordeaux and was a wonderful overnight. Le Verdon is an isolated port with not much to see at all. Two hours each way to Bordeaux.

Agree….also good for O. On our August 2022 cruise out of Rome, 42 people with O air didn’t make the ship and when they caught up with ship at next port, many had no luggage. Big expense for O. They’re quite aware of cancelled flights and strikes and now probably would prefer passengers arrange flights 1-3 days early.

You like to toss about your “chair hog” description. Get a good book and stop watching how long everyone’s lunch and/or bathroom and/or swim time takes. I completely agree 2 hours away too long and yes, one couple holding 4 loungers unacceptable. However, your harsh label of me for wanting a lunch and bathroom break is mean spirited.

And you can keep telling yourself that…..

Should have no problem. Yes, prior promotions eliminated. I received the current promotion of $600 OBC on an already booked cruise, but my TA’s grats of $250 OBC from O was removed. Still an extra $350 OBC

Getting up for lunch should not be a lounge loss. Same as getting up for the bathroom!! And shouldn’t have to make lunch “quick”. Some have lunch in MDR and can easily take an hour. As long as you’re at the pool for the day, should be your lounge. It’s those who go off for an excursion and return hours later that are unfair to fellow passengers, not someone who needs to “get up” for a good reason.