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What did you enjoy more of the Viking shipboard experience? Like hearing the pluses of different cruise lines...

Do you have multiple excursions to choose from in each port and are they more than a walking or bus tour on Viking? From what I have read of various Viking forums, you need to pay extra for any more in depth excursions. For a 7 day cruise, each person receives $600.00 of credit which, if there are 5 ports would be $120.00 per port and you can decide which port to use it and which to DIY and then use on a more expensive excursion. I prefer to have a choice of excursions and where to use the money since we like to DIY many ports. That said, many prefer to DIY all ports and thus do not find value on Viking or the Simply More soon on Oceania.

Simply put - starting 01JUL 23 for sailings beginning 01OCT23 - all sailings will include wine, beer, champagne during meal time at any dining area, a $$$ credit (amount based upon length of cruise) to be used toward any shore excursions, 2 WIFI accounts per cabin plus all of the other inclusions already available onboard any O ship. The only option you will have when booking, is to use O's air, which includes transfers, or to decline the included air and transfers and receive a discount on the cost of your cruise. If you already have a cruise booked under O Life/cruise only or you book one prior to 01JUL23 , you will have the option of keeping your cruise as is or switching to the new program and paying the difference in pricing. At this time, the only unknown is what the new pricing will be. There is the possibility that O may tweak this, based upon response, prior to or after implementation of the new program. If I have forgotten something, I am sure someone will post the additional information.

So the information that was provided to the TA's in the webinar put on by O which included flyers (prepared by O) and details of the aspects of Simply More that were in print with bullet points, you consider the source not Oceania? The fact that every TA that has commented on this topic and other topics concerning Simply More have all stated the exact same information is interpretation and they all interpreted exactly the same.... The only information that has not been conveyed by O is the pricing for the cruises after Simply More takes effect. Not sure if your problem is you don't like the message and are hoping that it will be different when it take effect on 01JUL?

O isn't providing an excursion in every port, they are providing a $$$ credit to be used as you want on any shore excursion. You could use it all on one excursion or spread it out over several excursions.

I don't mean to be difficult but I just searched and could find no cruise that were diverted/itinerary changed and not going through the canal.. In the Viking forum there is an itinerary change to a sailing next October where they are not going to Cartagena. Please direct me to the link to the forums that specifically state that the itinerary is changed due to Panama Canal. Itinerary changes to port before or after transiting I don't believe have anything to do with the Canal.

We have enjoyed Arboleda Carmenere several times and on our last cruise - 31 days on Marina, we were able to enjoy it from day 1 to day 31...so not always true that it disappears instantly. The wine menu was posted so everyone can decide for themselves if they will find a wine/beer/champagne/port they can enjoy with the included drinks. Not everyone has such a refined palette that they can't enjoy a glass from the list.

Correct you have to move from Terrace to Waves in the afternoon and then wait between the closing of Waves and the opening of an evening dining venue and then move between evening dining venues until they all close! Don't forget to order a port to go at your last stop in the evening! Just kidding folks - don't get your knickers in an uproar! but you can have lunch in Terrace or MDR and go to Waves for a late afternoon snack and enjoy wine or beer or champagne at both..

Thanks for posting - this gives a clear idea of the offerings on the House Select package that will be the included alcohol package in Simply More..

With the House Select package (which is now what will be included in Simply More) you can order wine, beer or champagne at any venue serving food during meal times - this includes Terrace, Waves, Room Service, MDR and Specialty restaurants and on VISTA also includes Aquamar and Embers

With the House Select package (which is now what will be included in Simply More) you can order wine, beer or champagne at any venue serving food during meal times - this includes Terrace, Waves, Room Service, MDR and Specialty restaurants.

They are indicating that it is not like other cruise lines where you have a choice of 1 and sometimes 2 excursions to choose from but there is the group of excursions offered at each port and you can choose any of those and apply the credit....

Wine and beer are alcoholic drinks last I checked - just indicating that there will be lots of different choices of wine and beer not a limited menu

Take your glass of wine or beer out of the dining venue? I assume if you have not finished, you could carry it to the pool....since mixed drinks are not part of the included package, that is not relevant.

They are stating that you will have a choice of over 30 different wine, beers and non-alcoholic drinks during lunch and dinner and not just 2 rd, 2 whites and a champagne.....I also have this from from several different TAs that attended the webinar . The House Select Beverage package is now included for all and you can upgrade to the Prestige package for all liquors any time for $30.00 pp per day - sinple

Can you please share the link where cruise ships are being diverted from transiting the canal...TIA. I am unable to find any direct information on this. We are on the inaugural Panama Canal on Vista the beginning of NOV so I have been watching,

I agree but not everyone does.....we also DIY shore excursions and do a combo of own liquor and buying on board. Lately we have had more then enough OBC to cover our onboard spending so have walked away with a zero balance. It will be interesting to see how it pencils out after we know the new pricing. We have 1 2023 O cruise that is after 01OCT (unless our 29SEP cruise is sneaked in) and 3 cruises booked in 2024 - have printed off current pricing so will be able to compare. Checked Azamara, Viking, SS and SB for basically the same cruises and have their current pricing printed out - time will tell if we stick with O under the new program or move on to someone new. So far haven't found a loyalty program to match O's.

You would think so but many on this board talk about how they don't spend any extra money onboard - bring own liquor onboard and DIY all shore excursions and don't buy anything onboard. I would think that is the minority but never know.

Yes - I have brought flowers aboard O ships all over the world. I know it is not a problem out of Seattle as I have done exactly what you are planning. I believe the issue is that due to local restrictions, flowers and other food items, can not be taken off the ship. Enjoy your flowers!

I believe they are stating that the beverage package includes wine, beer and champagne with more than 30 alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices - meaning there is not just 2 red, 2 white and a champagne available (like others). If you want "spirits" and any time of day drinks, then you would upgrade just like on other cruise lines. We receive both a discount, OBC and a rebate on just about any cruise line we book with TA.... Shore excursions - you are correct that O now will have a shore excursion credit that can be used on any shore excursion offerings unlike Viking and others that has an "included" shore excursion for each port and you have no choice. Azamara does not include any type of shore excursion. After the 01JUL, everyone will know the new pricing for O with Simply More and can then compare to other cruise lines and make a choice as to what is best for them. It is good to have choices - O will lose some customers and gain some customers, only time will tell if it was the right financial decision for O.

So they do not offer cruise only either.....and their included beverage package is the same as Simply More included beverage package. Trying to understand the options for a smaller cruise experience. Any TA that is offering a rebate after sailing on Azanara offers the same for Oceania (at least in my experience).,,,so the difference is no shore excursions and paying for specialty restaurants

Port fees are not refunded in many ports if a ship fails to dock, the port keeps the money paid ....skipping ports is not a deliberate way to make money. also the average port fees are closer to $5.00 per head when we have had them refunded on other cruise lines due to a missed port (Alaska, Carib, Europe, etc.)

But on Azamara you do not have the option of cruise only....or has that recently changed where you can opt out of the included beverage package, etc.?

Azamara includes alcoholic beverages so you will need to cross them off your list...

Al booked cruises will have the choice of keeping their booking as is or changing to Simply More and paying any difference...so you will not be forced to do anything. It will be your choice.