1985rz1

I think this is a clear distinction of where apps may be most useful and where they are not.

The one we used on another line had marginal value. Cute and interesting, but nowhere essential. If one needs a digital portal, the TV in the room is more than sufficient. But that's just us as we don't want to have our lives tied to a phone.

Although I find some cruise apps, useful, I would prefer if lines would use the $$$ to continue to bringing the other experiences up to pre-covid level and reduce their the enormous debt that they accrued due to the Covid shut down. Targeted financial decisions are important, especially on non-mass market lines. Just give them time.

It is open to all guests for a fee. Concierge and above have the fee waived.

Just a few threads below, there is one of many threads about this issue. Page down to the topic "Alcohol Question." Posted Wednesday at 11:13 AM 1. The 6-bottle limit is not enforced unless you misbehave. 2. It's NOT OK to walk around with wine from your personal stash. It is for consumption in your stateroom only. 3. You are not limited to 1 bottle of gin, or any other spirits.. 4. You can take these items onboard at any port, if the country doesn't forbid it.

We are destined to disagree on this because our approach is to review itineraries early (because we're very selective about our stateroom) and if there is something that catches our interest, we get a quote. I guess we are focused more on itinerary than on price (within bounds 🙂). BTW, I thought your very balanced review of your Iceland/Greenland/Canada was excellent. Thanks.

I also understand your reluctance to call your TA or O (I never call O directly and their agents are frequently clueless). I don't remember if you're in the US or UK, so that could be a difference. I don't find it a clubby attitude, because, if I call it's because it's a serious consideration on our part, and I want to get an accurate pricing, including the perks she can provide. She remembers our preferences, allergies and requests...and our birthdays an anniversary. She neither urges me to or urges me not to complete the booking, as she thinks it's my money so it's my decision without an external pressure, but she will provide me with the information I want, no strings attached. She doesn't mind us mulling over possibilities, and she always does a booking hold to give us time to decide. We have declined many times, once we see the price and have a week to investigate more thoroughly. There is no attempt to manage our decisions. We feel we're in control and feel she works for us. She is also loyal as was evidenced when Azamara changed over to a new website and screwed up the client portal totally. She hung in there when it was nearly impossible to get anyone at Azamara on the phone, and got our reservation re-instated properly including our loyalty accounts. She was clearly frustrated with Azamara, but she said that was her job...to book and run interference for her clients. So it's a system that works for us, but it doesn't work for everyone.

TA dependent. I will call my TA to get pricing, which then includes the perks that she is able to provide. That way I have a full picture of the cost. As for special sale, I admit that she doesn't often call me about them in advance, since she many clients and she can't track every booking. But when I asked her to price out my 3 OLife bookings to see if SM made sense, she called me withing hours to tell me one qualified for the Summer Sale, which saved me $7,500. The other two did not make sense. so I kept them as OLife. Still she always reminds me about upcoming restaurant and excursion bookings, and sends me the pdf of excursions as soon as it's available. Then she will book excursions for me if I ask to make sure I get the right pricing. She does the same of other lines for me too.

Free gratuities are usually given as a perk from the TA, most likely through the TA's consortium. Call your TA and ask. Oceania connected TAs (not Oceania reps, if you book direct) typically give this.

Yep, a TA thing through its consortium.

What do you want to know? What experiences are you looking for, and what is important to you on a cruise?

Not always (my experience). Usually you can get 6 months if you already have another cruise on the books,

The baseline payment schedule is 12 months. If you have an existing booking, you can ask for 6 months if you are booking a second (my experience). Sometimes, the ask is refused (my experience).

1. The 6-bottle limit is not enforced unless you misbehave. 2. It's NOT OK to walk around with wine from your personal stash. It is for consumption in your stateroom only. See post #12, above. 3. You are not limited to 1 bottle of gin, or any other spirits.. 4. You can take these items onboard at any port, if the country doesn't forbid it.

Yes, and no. It's a subtle difference, but the online fares may be considered correct in the sense they are the "normal," non-sale price, and O wants the client to call either O or the TA to find out the sale price.

It really comes down to O's reserved right to ban and hold alcohol vs O's decision to not exercise that right, as long as folks behave in a responsible manner.

I pronounce it as "My Favorite Cruise Line," as in I just booked a new cruise with "My Favorite Cruise Line." ⚓🛳️.

4 different categories

Yesssssss! Sorta sound like a James Bond recipe for bacon: crisp, not burned. 😁

That's the way it should be: streaky and crisp 🥓 . But we're "Merkins." 😄

Not allowed under CC rules.

Would Pepin really support a resturant using his name to market dishes that he didn't approve?

Yes. I should have added in my post, no ads more than are on the website now.

I'm not sure which app you referring to. The one downloaded from the CC page on the web browser (not the link posted on this thread) goes directly to the CC forum site with no ads or any enticements to plan or book. Maybe it's an Android thing or a US thing, but the app is simply called Cruise Critic Community.

I downloaded it and it's not "My Kind of Cruise." It says its called the Cruise Critic Community. It goes directly to the Cruise Critic Board and looks just like the web version. No requirement to sign in separately or provide any additional information. I'm on Android. It can't be found on Google Play Store, but it says it downloaded from the Play Store.