pacheco18

Does anyone with Insignia gym experience have any idea if it might be possible to borrow a yoga mat from the gym on occasion? Thanks, Debbie

Ignore the testy responses.

O is very accommodating

My guess is that they would allow to borrow a mat.

NCL used to have a small ship, Crown, that did a Bermuda from NYC during the season that spent one night in Hamilton, St George, and Dock Yard. Maybe they will put one of the R ships on that run. Regardless if some find this port boring the ships that call there sail full and get good prices for their cabins.

Here's why the ships sail full

1. it is a relatively cheap cruise

2. no or cheap air fare involved (ships sail from NY largely)

3. 7 days - so people with limited vacation time can do it

4. gets them out of the awful heat and humidity of the summer on the east coast

5. maybe they golf.

6. most of the time is spent on the ship.

They sure do not go there for the cultural experience or fabulous things to do or see.

 

If I was Larry P, I would junk the Azamazing Evenings and return the internet and laundry

Unfortunately, you are not Larry P. I would have done the same a long time ago.

There is nothing upscale about busloads of people traveling to an event that may or may not be any good.

NCL CEO Kevin Sheehan is talking about Oceania and Regent ships cruising to St. George's and Hamilton Bermuda.

 

http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20140911/NEWS04/140919935

YUCK

BORING unless you are a golfer.

We had a two day stop on our transatlantic and I could not figure out why anyone other than a golfer would want to go there.

Bad news already.

Did you go to the evening event on your cruise? i know you said you wouldn't, but was wondering if you changed your mind once onboard or not.

No -- and I was glad I skipped it from the reports I got.

Not going to the one on my cruise this month either and neither are the friends we are traveling with. Does not sound appealing at all and given the track record, Id rather stay on board and enjoy the ship or stay out late in town and be with the locals.

The Azamazing evenings were never a selling point for me.

Agree totally....and I prefer no children, if possible. Just the fact that they are allowed into the Haven would be a deal breaker for me. Also, I prefer a more subtle and luxurious decor....just my opinion

Re the kids

I too prefer no kids -- but it is fairly easy to select an itinerary where kids are unlikely to be present. You are going to find kids even on Oceania on some summer itineraries, Alaska and Caribbean cruises and during holidays (alas).

we are not as formal as "up there". More beach! LOL

 

Regarding this Chase Card..I got it, but there is a hitch for me. They gave me a $30,000 limit which doesn't comfortably cover when I pay off a cruise. I am currently using it for "eating out". I don't expect them to raise the limit when it is new, but I am seriously considering applying for one in my husband's name and then that would cover everything.

 

We use an Amex Centurion and it is good to know you have unlimited credit, but I agree that they are far behind in the benefits department.

You can call them and ask for higher limit.

If you have another card issued by Chase they can move around the limits -- reduce the limit on one and raise the Sapphire limit.

My husband and I each have the card. That is the best solution. We charge the trips half on mine and half on his.

Your Amex card is worthless in this arena.

I also suggest the United Explorer card. Same coverage.

A credit limit higher than 40k won't do you any good, since the max benefit is 20k per person per trip.

That's why the Explorer Card together with the Sapphire is the best route to take.

For those who cannot get a high enough credit limit, one option is to pay for part of your cruise a month early so that the final payment is divided into two pay periods and you stay within the limit.

IMO this is a huge benefit

Now you can all find out how much better and cheaper it is to take small private tours. No big bus, no having to wait for 20 women to use the bathroom, choose your itinerary, choose your guide, no chance of cancellation because of lack of participation, stop when you want, access small streets that busses cannot access, have an intimate experience with a local guide. I wouldn't take a ship's tour if it were FREE.

Sorry, Pacheco18, but it is NOT true on EVERY ship! It is definitely not true on Seabourn, as you will discover on your upcoming cruise. And it was NOT true on either Silversea or Crystal the last time I cruised those lines. The only differences are in suite size but no special amenities are included for higher priced accommodations.

You pay more for a better location on Seabourn. I found that out. Otherwise why would a V6 cost more than a V1?

If you did not get more for your money why would anyone pay more?

Sounds like you have not been in an executive or concierge lounge, because if you took advantage of the benefits, you might feel differently. The ability to run down to a lounge in the morning and get a continental breakfast; talk to the concierge to make specialty restaurant reservations or solve an issue is invaluable.

Your idea of a "class system" is no different than booking a porthole or a suite. The cabins are different in size and amenities. Is this a class system? NO! If you are inclined to pay more- you get more!

Put your Regent Pom poms away and recognize that different lines offer different options. I personally don't even look at a Regent as I don't want to pay for substandard tours on a crowded bus as a part of my cruise fare. Plus I generally use FF points and book my own air.

I'm with you 100%

I believe that Jan and I are both in California - although some might argue that Southern California is (or should be) a different state (or even different world) from Northern California :D

We should see the same things.

I would definitely argue that. LOL

I can disagree. I sail Concierge class for that very reason (as well as Spa Terrace access). The lounge is a convenient coffee shop, and i would miss it.

Pointing to it as a "class" distinction is trivial. :p

 

 

 

That is totally false by my experience. If not having to show a card to get a drink is what constitutes "true luxury," then I am saving quite a bundle. :cool:

Of course it's false

Such posts are utterly misleading.

I found the lounges on the O class ships very convenient and a nice perk.

This issue of "showing your card" is utter nonsense.

I have to show my card at the Four Seasons and the Ritz Carlton. DUH

Have to respectfully disagree. The one area where Oceania crosses the line into being a "class" system is their "Concierge" and "Executive" lounge. IMO, these are areas that would not be missed if they were removed. Luxury cruise lines do not have separate areas for passengers so this is not "true on EVERY ship". We have stayed in all suite levels on Regent -- the benefits we received were not "visible". There are no areas forbidden to passengers in lower class cabins.

 

Still feel that there is no reason to change the way NCL, Oceania or Regent currently operate their ships. Simply want to acknowledge the differences. I am trying to learn as much as I can about NCL and am reading posts by their passengers. By the same token, I feel it is important to present both Oceania and Regent honestly. There is also the issue of presenting room cards to bartenders for drinks that can cause them to treat passengers differently but I have no proof that that is the case.

What is TRUE on EVERY ship is that if you pay more you get more.

Pay more on O you can get hot room service breakfast, access to CC lounge, better location on the ship, pay more and you get to the Exec lounge and get a butler, pay more and you get 6 bottles of booze in your suite. You get more when you pay more -- everywhere. That is not a class system. Anyone who wishes can get the most if they want to pay the most.

And no, you have no proof of any of what you say.

We never had anyone ask for us to identify ourselves while attending our AzAmazing evening so how can anyone be charged for not showing up?? :confused:

Interesting. Probably just a deterrent to having a huge number of no shows. Sad if they are lying to passengers though. I imagine people have more honor than that and would alert the cruise line if they are not going to attend.

I am a little confused. My mileage plus explorer card comes with the one-time passes. I think the one that lets you in to all the lounges cost $400/year and is called something with the word club on the card ??

You are confusing two different benefits.

Your Explorer card gives you two complimentary passes to the UNITED LOUNGE. It does not give you United Lounge membership.

That has nothing to do with the Lounge Pass program that gives you access to generic lounges all over the world. Give United a call.

The specialty restaurants on O are a crap shoot.

Any of the them can offer a great, so-so or awful experience depending on the cruise, the chef at the time and what you order. My experience has been all over the place. However, I tend to find that when, e.g., Toscana is good on a particular cruise, it is good throughout that cruise.

I have also found that there is no unanimity among passengers when it comes to the specialties. On our last cruise on Nautica, a bunch of us had to keep sending back food (which is not our custom) -- steaks undercooked or overcooked. We talked to the Exec Chef about this. Others said their food was perfectly prepared every time. Go figure.

Different states offer different policies.

We will not all see what others see available

They proudly refer to it as a ship within a ship.

it is indeed "first class" -- idea is to separate folks in the Haven from the masses. A clever strategy to attract luxury cruisers. It is working.

Yes, A1 and above get a hot breakfast menu for room service, boarding and room ready on boarding is based on room class and when and how many speciality restaurant reservations are made is based on room type. Compared to say Crystal it is two class system.

 

 

 

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That's not a class system -- you pay more you get more. That is true on EVERY ship.

But EVERYONE eats in the same restaurants, goes to the same shows, has access to the same events and activities and is treated equally (some in lower cabins better than some in suites).

Delta says one way award tickets (at half RT prices) will begin availability 1/1/2015 and promises there will be more low mileage award availability then also. We shall see.

I know

But I have NO miles left -- too late. LOL

NOTHING is free on Oceania

You are paying for everything

It's either included or it's not.

In the case of the air it is INCLUDED and you can opt out and get a credit

FREE?? ROTFL

We just did exactly the same thing. AmEx is seriously behind in the benefits race, I think. Ours was a Delta-branded AmEx. In addition to the miles and the bonus miles, it will help me stay at least Gold next year, but the changes coming after the first of the year would likely drop me to Silver after that even with the card. Not worth it anymore....it's been a steady drop from Diamond to Platinum this year (and almost never upgraded, even so). Cashed in almost all my miles for 2 business class tix to China next spring (I've been to Asia twice in coach for work, and I don't want to do that again for vacation). My loyalty to any one airline is no more.

Too funny

I was a loyal Delta flyer (Diamond and MM). Miles became unusable at some point, with few low mileage tickets and no one ways. I used to have a Delta Reserve card to get the MQMS but I got rid of it in favor of Amex Platinum. I too used the last of our Delta miles for 2 bus class tickets RT China. Done with Delta.

The Amex Platinum is better than the Reserve card and I got it with 100000 bonus point offer. They have recently lost and added some perks and I will evaluate its worth going forward.

Sapphire right now is the best. We both have them. Best benefits for us.

Unlimited internet is my alcohol package.

If they give it to me as part of a promotion, fine (they did so on my January Cape Town to Singapore saying).

If it is not included, I buy it with my OBC.

It is a requirement for us, just as the Prestige Drink Package is for others.

We each have our own poison. LOL

Do you mind me asking what Heath insurance plan? I have a blue cross, blue shield plan and my DH has BCBS in addition to Medicare. We both have Medjet Assist. We just got our sapphire preferred for the trip cancellation insurance and cancelled AMEX platinum. Thanks.

HeAlth plans offered are different state by state and by age. U should go on squaremouth.com and see what is available to u in your state and at ur age

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Personally I would love to try The HAVEN -- especially for a TA -- where I crave more activities and good entertainment.

I have heard fabulous things about it.

I will keep looking for the right opportunity.