kirtihk

Hmm, if that is absolute not true how come did I experienced it about 15 years ago? Did it occur to me on a different planet? Also why do people write everything so forceful and in a harsh way these days?

yes, we almost always make tough choices.

They typically don't talk if a discussion is in regard of a financial aspect. They must be able to talk directly to a customer about concerns and issues, and if they refuse I always ask them to transfer me to their supervisor (at that level they at least listen to one's whole "story" first).

Of course, you cannot prove it now. Just call and be persistent (why would you ask for that cabin if you really don't need it; it would be very unusual for a person who needs it and asked about it to change their mind later asking to assign a regular cabin; it would occur if, for example, you broke your leg, but then you most likely still wouldn't request such a cabin 2 years ahead of your cruise) and mentioned the agent's name, too (most likely they have that person's name anyway associated with your booking).

Since an Oceania agent d (not a personal travel agent) did it without your consent, I would contact the cruise line for a complimentary upgrade, because unless you request the accessible cabin and other cabins are available in the same category, the agent may not book an accessible cabin, because they are specifically reserved for people who need them (it's just a mistake).

I don't know why he booked handicap cabin without your request (unless only that cabin was available at a time of booking), and what he meant by "don't worry".

If you are not requesting a handicap cabin, don't book it., and there will be no issue for you.

If someone booked the same cruise and needs handicap cabin, and it's not available, the cruise line would automatically (without contacting) assign to a person (who currently has that cabin and didn't request it to be handicap) a different cabin of the same category (even if a newly assigned cabin is located in an undesirable position of the ship) or higher (similar to guaranteed cabin category) - it's in fine print. That's what my travel agent warned me on a few occasions within last 24 years. So, there is no "need" to feel guilty.

Yes, it absolutely is! We’ve been cruise for 25 years, and the sauna is one of major reasons we cruise! I’m not joking! Everyone is different! To me, missing sauna for entire cruise is so much more important than missing a particular brand of vodka or champagne (even though I drink a lot (15-20 drinks per day) on the we cruise, too, and I also prefer good brands). And, by the way, sauna is included in a cruise fare, too - so when I pay for a product that includes what I need and then the item is unexpectedly gone, of course, I don’t like it! We learn (at least on vacation) not to complain no matter what - every minute of absorbing good energy counts!

If you stand just to look at each station to decide what to take then you would stand again in those stations that you decided to take food from then you would spend close to the entire lunch time for such a procedure each cruise day! And you would end up eating cold food, too. Not worth it, not at all. Better go to sauna and release some toxins instead.

That happens with any cruise line for any product, and complains don't fly: for us a sauna on a cruise is very important (going there every day and multiple times on sea days); a few years ago, we booked a Royal Caribbean cruise, and after embarkation we decided to go to a sauna - imagine our surprise - we are looking, looking and cannot locate it (we were on the same ship 2 years prior). We asked where sauna is. The answer was - "Do you see the wall? The sauna was behind where the wall is. After refurbishing, we don't have it anymore." Should we complain at that point ("Please put it back NOW, so we will enjoy it")?

It's so funny! I purposely removed the end of your statement, because this whole thread is absolutely comical! As I previously wrote (referring to a lack of some vodka complains) - "all of them are made from the same stool" (in all its senses) or chip.

"They are all made from the same stool" - that's a Russian expression I grew up with in Leningrad (I left USSR in 1991) which is almost true for most vodkas.

Oh, that’s nice to getting this kind of personal promotions from cruise lines for dedicated cruisers! That’s the way it actually should be to make more sense to stay loyal. Also, I think it makes sense to always sell a cruise with a higher discount at the beginning of when a cruise goes to booking (like Ponant does it - they always start with 30% discount, and upon cabins are sold out, they gradually reduce the discount to 25%, then 20% until no discount). That makes earlier booking so much more attractive which is an opposite what the majority of cruise lines do - sell at deep discount left over cabins a few weeks prior to selling when people who already paid final payment before that time stuck with paying more (sometime a lot more) just for giving deposits to cruise lines 2-3 years ahead of cruise (with luxury cruise lines it’s 15-25% of a cruise fare that expensive to begin with). We booked Ponant twice (both times 2.5 years before cruise, and we enjoyed 30% discount!).

It’s $20 now fir balcony and below, not $18 (unless booking occurred prior to January 1st and gratuities are pre-paid). https://cruiseradio.net/norwegian-cruise-line-gratuities-increase-2023/

Are you saying this promotion is for anyone? When I called Seabourn 2 weeks ago about something else, and brought this topic, too, they told me that this promotion is still for book-on-board only. Otherwise, everyone (who is planning a Seabourn cruise) would do it - it's obvious to book with this gigantic (35%) saving (in my case it's $10,000 for a cabin; and, yet, might be even doubled-quadrupled saving based on a cabin category and itinerary)!

That's why I mentioned Celebrity, and my statement was even in regard of a regular Suite, not Edge Villa. Also, I always compare per day fare (that way it's more accurate and easier evolution of a cruise line selection).

Agree - we had the 16-day "Christmas on the Canal" Panama December 20, 2022 cruise. Was it the same orchestra (a super energetic leader (wearing glasses and using a white towel all night during his 11 pm performance - I think his name is Wesley) and charismatic guitarist Yevgeniy)?

Actually, these days we should always expect great services and great experiences with some other non-luxury cruise lines (like Celebrity) for the same reason (after business class air credit and included excursions (say $150 per person per tour) the Reagent cruise fare is similar to others - $500- $700 per day for most itineraries).

Those are actually built in price. The Regent price without air and shore excursions (which is available as "a savings of up to" on its website right above Suite Category pricing; for example, for the Singapore to Hong Kong cruise it is $6,500 pp price reduction for 14-day February 2025, and a starting price with air is $17,699 pp; included excursions in 9 port of calls are total worth around $1,500 pp) is what is comparable with a Celebrity Retreat starting price.

Veranda is also non-refundable (refundable typically is extra $600 for 10-day cruise but then it will include tip/wi-fi/drinks but automatically add another $900). In the end, with the same extra and refundable, Veranda is just around $200 less total for 10-day cruise vs the least expensive Aqua! And Aqua includes Thermal Suite that is around $400 value (including 20% tips) per person for 10-day if booked as a package for 2 people! So, upon that consideration, Aqua is $200 less expensive than Veranda, and Aqua also has Blue restaurant vs regular (main) one.

My original reply was to tomcruiser1234 who stated - "We somehow got a Celebrity Suite for 10 nights at $6,800 total".

Ponant is nice! We've been on 2 cruises with them - Le Soleal (the sistership class) - 12-day Easter Island to Tahiti (March 2020 - it became a Pandemic cruise with no stops after Easter Island) and Le Bougainville (the explorer class - the smallest ship we've cruised with - 184 people only) - 13 day France/Italy/Greece/Turkey. A special French touch everywhere on the ship...

It doesn't matter whether you use or not! That's my point: - say, you pay the same $600 per person per day on Celebrity (which, by the way, also includes unlimited drink that you pay for being included in that $600) vs Seabourn - as I originally wrote - if a price is very similar, what's difference whether you drink or not and what you don't eat.

No idea. It makes sense to try something new for the same or similar price especially if it offers a potentially overall better experience. There is nothing to lose. How much "worse" it might be?! Sticking with the "routine" limits one's horizon, mind, and vision.