1985rz1

I think an issue that Oceania (and perhaps other lines) is trying to deal with is that many folks book cruises far in advance as place holders and wait until the last minute to cancel. That make it harder to fill those last minute cancellations, unless there is a large waitlist. I may be in the minority, but I don't think that Oceania's new schedule is unreasonable...if one is serious about the cruise. In an emergency, insurance, including inexpensive annual insurance, would cover the early cost easily.

I though it would be worthwhile to put Oceania's new cancellation schedule in perspective, i.e., compare it to other similar lines. I'm quoting Lyn because her post has Oceania's new cancellation schedule for comparison. This way folks can decide for themselves if Oceania's new schedule is out of line. The sailings below are ones we have booked. Seabourn Cruise beginning July 17, 2023 Cancellation period began on March 18, 2023: deposit of $2000 pp or $4000 total (4 months/120 days in advance) Final payment due on April 17, 2023 (3 months/90 days in advance) (We had to cancel this one) Viking Cruise beginning July 13, 2025 Penalty period begins immediately upon booking April 10, 2023: deposit of $100 pp or $200 total Cancellation schedule begins March 16, 2025 at 20% (4 months/120 days in advance) Final payment due on June 12, 2024 (13 months in advance) Note: we have a second cruise booked with same instant cancellation period, but because of the other trip we have a 6-month- in-advance final payment due date Regent Cruise beginning April 20, 2021 Penalty period began immediately upon booking March 6, 2019: $100 pp or $200 total (deposit was $4,262) Cancellation schedule began on November 20, 2021 at 15% (5 months/150 days in advance) Final payment due on November 20, 2021 (5 months/150 days in advance) Azamara Cruise beginning January 21, 2024 Penalty period began immediately upon booking April 22, 2021: $75 pp or $150 total (deposit was $2200). Cancellation schedule began on September 23, 2023 at 25% (4 months/120 days in advance) Final payment due on September 23, 2023 (4 months/120 days in advance)

Yes, that's what we've done: insure the initial deposit then up the insurance as more and non-refundable costs are added.

Oceania is simply making cookies for the pax that think they are on a party ship...no taste.

As @LHT28 posted, the evening one is 5 to 6 pm, not 6 to 7 pm.

I think what @Jayne E meant was that the credit will be built into the price, so we will be paying for the excursions, whether we take them or not. So it's like being forced to take them if we want our money's worth.

Maybe the target audience is not North Americans...and maybe some North Americans would like to have a sit down respite from the other cuisines.

Yes, that was what I thought...so, was the stayover longer than 3 days at the departure city or was it a requested stayover breaking up the flights because the flight connections were bad and involved separate ticketing? Or was it a stayover prior to returning from the cruise? Does the 3 day grace period apply to departure stayovers?

You need to provide more information if you want us to understand the full picture. Did you request a flight deviation. If one doesn't take the standard flights that O has contracted, one pays the difference.

That's a question for a TA.

Yes, the $30 pp pd refers to the amount needed to upgrade from the standard package.

Yep, we're in the balcony lovers group ☺️.

It would be interesting to have a similar comparisons with O's R ships, which are about 680 pax, closer to SB, if you can find similar itineraries.

That's the question. Currently, the Travel Agencies and Travel Agents who attended the Webinar on the introduction of SimplyMore say that "as of now," there is no option to opt out of SimplyMore in the same way we could opt out of OLife.

I believe that $30 pp pd is for the full alcohol package anytime, as in the current prestige package. But the included wines are the same for both packages at this time.

I don't know if you an Oceania specialist as a TA, but we do. She takes care of all our special requests.

I'm interested in any responses, because I think the rating if itineraries is subjective. My own biases are toward smaller less frequented ports (often with limited excursions but interesting local opportinities), others might prefer the more classic ports (with grand cities and cultural events). What do you look for?

Isn't the bottom line that corporations make changes to improve competitiveness with the intent of increasing the number of its clients, improving profits, and enhancing return on investments? In doing so they are aware they will lose some of its current passenger base, but are betting that the changes will more than compensate for that with increased bookings from a different demographic. It's called a business plan. Only the future will tell if they win or lose the bet.

I think the excursion credit is per stateroom, not per person.

OK, this is pure speculation, but I'm guessing tha O used the webinar to leak out the Simply More program to see the reactions from TAs and pax, mostly TAs. I don’t expect any major changes, but there could be minor tweaks if the TA blowback is strong. Just stirring the pot 👿.

No, I never said they were the TAs' interpretations. That was your characterization. I said I was not quoting a document fro O, but posting the notes from a TA that agreed with what was posted by 2 other TAs. Sorry if you misunderstood.

I think the OP is asking about the shape of the foam pillow. Do you know if that shape is available?

We booked our 2025 cruises on the new ships with the $25 pp deposit, one with 1 year and one with 6 months payment dates.

I think that @basor and @cruisemom42 comments are spot on. But it seems some folks want to expand the interpretation to include spirits, which is not what is meant. Perhaps I misunderstood those folks.

The problem is that: .... with over 30 alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices for lunch and dinner. is not compatible with: ...Comparable to what you think of now as House Select Beverage Package.