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9 hours ago, JJK2008 said:

This is one of those hot topics here on CC. Many on here are deeply loyal to their TA and become indignant if someone suggests NOT using a TA. Some prefer to let someone else (TA) do the work for them. Others like the "perks" they get from a TA. It's a personal choice. ALL cruise lines price fix their cruises. A TA cannot give you a lower price on a cruise. There are exceptions such as group rates that a TA can offer that will reduce the price but even group rates are fixed by the cruise line. As an incentive to book with them, TA's will offer OBC, bottle of wine, gratuities, etc. ALL of these "perks" are paid for by the TA coming out of their commission. Keep in mind the TA is the customer of the cruise line, YOU are a customer of the TA. If anything happens (and it does on occasion) you MUST go through the TA to resolve it, the cruise line will not even talk to you. Some TA's are really good and others, not so much. Personally, we have had two very bad experiences with different TA's and as such for many years now, we book directly with the cruise line. We have found the cruise lines VERY accommodating to work with us when we have had issues arise. For us the perks offered are not worth giving up control of the cruise WE are paying for. You have to decide if the perks offered by the TA are worth giving up control of your cruise. Enjoy your cruise.  

I have a great TA who offers a cash rebate in the form of a check I receive about 2 weeks before the cruise. In addition I receive onboard credit and gratuities covered on some cruises. All in all I get an average savings of 10% on each cruise. Agency has a great agent who handles my bookings plus a great customer service department open 7 days a week. Bottom line is I cannot see in effect paying 10% more for my cruise fare for "control" of the booking.

5 minutes ago, Syd58 said:

• I never said the overall products were the same; what I said was I’m surprised Celebrity offered Canapés for Retreat guests while Regent does not. Given that Regent is considered a luxury product, it IS quite surprising.

Just as Celebrity does, Regent tries to draw a distinction between between its "suite" class/butler level and "regular" cabins. This is Regent's way of doing it. Of course Regent does not do the "ship within a ship" concept...indeed they are far different products. We cruise in both Celebrity suites and Regent below concierge level cabins. Both meet our needs and we enjoy the contrast in the products.

On 9/13/2024 at 8:53 AM, Syd58 said:

Surprised at this. Celebrity offers Canapés for Retreat guests, and even a veranda cabin on Regent is much more expensive than Celebrity Retreat. 

Completely disagree with your comparison. Not anywhere near the same sort of product.

28 minutes ago, Classiccruiser777 said:

Marina, Riviera and Vista were all made in this century, since 2011, with another Allura-class to be delivered within a few years. 

Yes and my discussion started with my reference to Azamara which has only older ships similar to Oceania's R class ships. Nothing to do with Oceania O and A class ships which are obviously newer. 

55 minutes ago, mozfoz said:

Very much looking forward to our first Oceania cruise, with very high expectations on the food. And that may be a problem, as  I know our expectations  probably cannot be met. The first disappointment was realized this morning. As we are in an OV cabin, our ability to make reservation is 45 days before the sail date, while other categories are 60 or even 90 days out.  Knowing that, I was on my computer at 12;01 hoping to get a good dinner time for our table of 4. It took about 2 minutes to learn that there was no time before 8:00 at any of the specialty restaurants. I did get 2 reservations for 8:00 and 2 for 8:30. As we never eat that late, we probably will not get to eat at a specialty restaurant. Oh well, I am sure the other venues will be good. I know that people are paying 2-3 time what we are paying, but I would like if there was a more equitable way to distribute the availability of reservations times for all.  I know the brains at Oceania can figure out a system for a fair distribution of dinner times available,  so everyone can have at least one time of choice.

Speak with the reservations desk the minute you get on the ship. They hold back reservations to be offered in person upon embarkation. And if you are not satisfied check every morning with the person on duty there or call them from your cabin. With a little persistence you should be okay.

45 minutes ago, RELS said:

4 logins used to be a Silver perk. Then it went away, but those of us who were already Silver were grandfathered to keep the perk. Glad to hear they’re offering it again, even if anecdotally. 

Yes, still just an anecdote. The chart currently on website still shows the need to be Gold to get the 4 log ins for cabins below Concierge level.

On 9/9/2024 at 1:24 PM, welshfamily said:

We have two F1 superior cabins on hold on the spender. Good position deck 8. We have only been in concierge before on the older ships. We turned silver on the first day of our last cruise and always deviate therefore we do not think that concierge offers us anything worth paying extra for. Regent have been very honest and told us that getting hotels is proving very hit and miss as Regent only want smallish numbers. We will have a private transport to the ship.
However,

Can you swop the one Wi-Fi device from phone to iPad? 
Has anyone done this?
The cost of an extra device $29 per day. I would change our cabins to Concierge if this is not possible.

Thank you.

 

We are silver. Some time around our cruise in March Silver status folks were granted 4 log ins per cabin regardless of category. We were shocked when thought our F2 cabin only gave us one connection and we signed in prepared to pay for second connection and got it at no charge. IT person told us she had just gotten a memo saying that Silver now gets four connections. We enjoyed it for our 16 night transatlantic. I cannot find anywhere that this granting of four connections for silver is published...can only relate my experience.

42 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

The point is that the combined cost of a MedEvac membership (like Emergency Assistance Plus) and a basic (lower cost) comprehensive travel insurance policy that meets the medical and trip insurance needs for your insurance profile, can cost significantly less than a higher end comprehensive policy with a high MedEvac limit.
Always do the math.😳 

Understand your point. I believe there is still a risk of need for evacuation from a ship (which is of course is not a hospital) that would not be covered by Medjet and would not be covered by a local military rescue team because ship is docked. Perhaps a belt and suspenders approach, but I always purchase coverage with high level of med evacuation coverage. Also, it is relatively cheap if purchased with low coverage limits on the cruise cost so pretty much self insure the trip cost...I can handle, but fully insure the cost of an expensive evacuation...a cost which I am not able to handle.

Not sure I understand your point. If you are stuck in a hospital in South Africa or Brisbane, for example, a medically necessary medical transfer/evacuation to a hospital near home in the U.S. still is an expensive cost for which one would need insurance coverage in the $100,000 or more range. Ten years ago Medjet took care of moving my wife in a private medical jet from a hospital in New York to a Washington DC hospital for which the cost would have been $20,000, even for that short inside the country distance.

On 9/4/2024 at 10:34 AM, kibutzer said:

Does anyone know who maybe the cruise director for Nov 3rd TA on Sirena? Also interested in GM and Food and Beverage director, love it when our cruising "family" are on board and we can reconnect. Thanks in advance

Will not be Dottie Kulasa. She rejoins Sirena from current vacation time on Nov. 19.

30 minutes ago, paf225 said:

The net result compared to what it was before SM is addition of gratuities and second Wifi device.

Correction. Second wi fi was introduced about the same time as SM. It was NOT part of SM, though.

Beginning Oct. 1 2023 every passenger had the benefit of 2nd wifi including those that had bookings under the old Olife program. 

Just now, carolina_yankee said:

Is that just for New York residents? My go-to offers it for a premium add-on as long as I purchase it within 15 or 30 days (can’t remember). It’s through USAA so the policies are crafted with the needs of military personnel in mind, but the anyone can be a policy from the actually insurer, Traveler’s Insured. 

Just applies to NY residents.

5 minutes ago, ngrund said:

we can buy CFAR insurance, it just has to be purchased from a carrier directly and has to be offered separate from the medical coverage. However, when I obtained a quote recently it was way more than I felt was appropriate. I can "self insure" the cost of my trip.

IME experience you can only buy CFAR from the cruise line directly, not from any insurance carrier. NYS insurance department claims reason it is not a risk based product, which is what insurance carriers are licensed to sell.

1 hour ago, ngrund said:

we just cannot purchase the cruise line policy offered at time of booking  (which in my opinion does not offer enough coverage for medical/evac anyway); we can buy policies from insurance carriers.

 

I get mine from Allianz. It is not cancel for any reason coverage, but I am more concerned with being covered in the event of medical issue or accident.

My complaint was that we cannot purchase the big box store coverage which is much lower priced than any other.

52 minutes ago, hcat said:

Our understanding is for  NY residents ( and a few other states) Cruiseline Ins can't be purchased with ur cruise booking but they have a co you can call. 

 

Once that law/rule came into play we just go thru Travel Insured which supplies an approved policy.... easily ordered by tel.  We get max med, , evac to US hosp, repatriation of remains.   Can't be perfect but try our best..We will bring ALL our credit cards along as well

 

I think Cruise Critic has an Ins thread..maybe there are  more ideas there

Of course NY residents have other alternatives they can purchase from insurance companies (except for "cancel for any reason coverage"). However a travel insurance premium as low as 1.5% of the cost of the trip which big box store offers is incredibly low. Least expensive coverage I have ever found from an insurance company exceeds 6%. 

12 hours ago, catspaw1 said:

We have always bought the big box store trip insurance. Even if you don't buy the trip from them, you can get the insurance but it costs 1.5% of the trip more as long as you are a member. Your must call them as you can't do it online. they were cheaper than all other travel insurance with better coverage. We have not put in any claims however thankfully. have 3 more trips booked with them. You need to purchase within 21 days of initial payment for preexisting medical conditions to be covered. Hope this helps others!

Ah, sounds great except for those of us who live in NY State where policy cannot be sold.😡

55 minutes ago, Classiccruiser777 said:

What’s lacking? Well made ships have service lives of 40+ years. The R-class are midlife and new ships will run about $500 million. The customers foot that bill.

More like 30 years useful life for any kind of an upper premium or higher market ship. Crystal is trying for an exception to that rule and results are mixed. Oceania senior leadership has stated that R ships' complete renovation done between 3 and 5 years ago is the last. Perhaps Azamara will make theirs last longer...who knows? I find the ridulously small bathrooms below PH level and fewer specialty restaurants a deal breaker. Others disagree.

9 hours ago, CruisingWalter said:

And they are operating with only R-Class ships for now. 

And they may be operating with them well into the future. Owners have stated that newer ships will be part of Azamara only when current operations begin to show a profit.

16 minutes ago, hubofhockey said:

Our first Oceania cruise is on the Vista, but I have no problem with R class ships, but their useful lives have to be ticking down

I have spent 28 nights on Vista. It is a quirky ship..not my favorite Oceania ship. Sound barriers between cabins is nearly non existent. If you have quiet neighbors who rarely play their tv, you should be good. In two cruises we were not so lucky.  Bring along white noise apps on your phones or earplugs, just in case. 

36 minutes ago, cruiserchuck said:

 

The Azamara Pursuit, fka Renaissance 8, was completed and delivered to Renaissance Cruises early this century, in 2001.  I was scheduled to sail on it in December 2001.  Fortunately my credit card refunded the cruise fare after the bankruptcy, and I was able to book a similar cruise on Seabourn that arrived in Vietnam the exact same day, so my prepaid visa was still valid.  

Technically you are correct, then. Design and most construction occurred prior to Jan. 1, 2001 which was when century began, but either way, I stand by my general point. We have been loathe to cruise on them or Oceania's R class ships due to the ridiculously small size of bathrooms below PH level. Also, I enjoy playing in a casino in the evenings and that cannot happen on Azamara.

1 hour ago, CruisingWalter said:

 

I met Dondra, the Azamara CEO at an event last month. She's incredible down to earth and the vision she has laid out for that cruise line is awesome. Good things are coming from A. 🙂

Hard to get excited about a cruise line that operates with zero ships built in this century.

1 hour ago, ORV said:

Here’s the deal, the hardware was installed in May, it’s “supposed” to be operational in November. I hope so as we’re on in December for 20 days. 

Fits an unfortunate corporate pattern. We were on Regent Splendor in March. Several workmen boarded in Miami and installed Starlink during our transatlantic. Family member was on the same ship in August. Learned that Starlink will not be operational until at least October....although fully installed, waiting for contract with old internet carrier to expire. Understand same sorts of delays due to contracts are occurring on multiple Oceania and Regent ships.

22 minutes ago, basor said:

Whether under OLife, SM or new - if gratuities were included on a cruise due to an O promotion or from your TA, you received a $250.00OBC so nothing has changed......except as a Silver or above, you will still receive the $250.00OBC in addition to gratuities on every cruise...thus as a loyalty member, you receive $250.00OBC more than new cruisers or lower loyalty.

Your point seems to be that currently when gratuities were included Silver members receive $250 credit. Just because gratuity inclusion will now change from sometimes to all the time Silvers will now get the $250 credit all of the time, so really no big difference. Correct?

Many of us do not see it that way. I just came off of a 25 night cruise in PH category. I just gained Silver status and I enjoyed the additional value of gratuities worth about $1000 plus wine and beer with meals plus nearly $2000 in shore excursion credit. All of that goes away under the new program in exchange for $250 and cruise pricing remains the same. Not good.

8 hours ago, ak1004 said:

We also love the loyalty program with O, that would be hard to give up and gain what? Seems like nothing to be gained.

The above point is candidate for CC poorly timed comment of the decade award, given changes made < 48 hours after it was posted. 😂

Just now, itzfitz said:

Do the PH suites have larger shower with tubs removed like on Riviera?

Yes. Just disembarked PH on Marina 3 weeks ago. Beautifully redone. However, I have heard there are 8 PH3 cabins on Marina where they kept the old design with a bathtub and small shower. Someone posted on CC a few weeks ago that those cabin numbers are: 9138,9145,10002, 10003, 10005, 10008, 10010, and 10011.