alaskaca

15 hours ago, LHT28 said:

Some  travel agents   are paid a salary  or can also get  a commission or just  a commission

I am sure the O reps  might get the same deal or an incentive  for higher monthly sales  like car dealer/real estate agents etc..

 

Just like real estate agents you tell them the price you want to pay for  a house they show you ones way above your  limit ...WHY?   because they make more money

It is the way of the world

 

 to the OP  curious minds want to know

So if the O rep said yes they work on commission  do you then ask them how much they get?

Or  tell them you do not want to book with them because they may try to upsell you?

In the end it is your choice  to pay the higher price or stick to your budget

 

JMO

All valid points, Jan.

However, I'm still left wondering why after a couple of days with this thread, there has been no answer to a simple question do in-house agents receive a commission?  In fact there has been real push back as to why the the question was even asked.  Jancruz is someone that for me, is a valued contributor, I've enjoyed her insight for years on all things Oceania.  I believe she could answer this question easily.  Unless this is something that Oceania Cruise Lines does not want to be common knowledge, and that only leads me to asking why?   I can't speak for zoncom, but I don't give a fig about the how much, none of my business. 

Commissions and all other variations of addition remuneration are a fact of life.   I don't find them suspect if paid to an in-house Oceania agent or to one's own trusted travel agent.  When it comes to cruising, I share ToxM's philosophy, and that is due diligence.  I do a boatload of research before ever contacting my agent.  I prefer to know the answers to most of my questions before ever making the call or sending the email.

I've always assumed that the Oceania in-house agents receive a commission and it is most likely merit based.  So, why the secrecy?

7 hours ago, pinotlover said:

Ok, I’ll bite! How are the two of you compensated for the work you’re currently doing, or have done in the past? What hourly or monthly rates have you been paid? Where do the two of you go to church, synagogue, or whatever? Curious cruisers want to know who we’re cruising with! 
 

Is your compensation or religious affiliation any of our business? For many of us, compensation, which you asked about,  is a personal thing. It’s not anyone else’s business . 
 

I personally believe attempting to stick your nose into others personal affairs is far different from asking generic questions about cruising or cruising experiences.

 

What about company paid medical care, any paid vacation time, insurance benefits? Any other compensation questions you believe are important to you and think are your business?

Personal questions are something that an individual can either answer or not, and I have no argument with that. 
 

Zoncom asked if Oceania agents received commission. He evidently asked an individual, but in my opinion was coming here to see if others had an answer to what is Oceania’s company policy. So I don’t believe your argument of an individual pertains here Pinot. 
 

And I stand by point, the initial respond to the OP was rude and not helpful. 

8 hours ago, pinotlover said:

Why does it matter to you?

3 hours ago, Jancruz said:

Im with Pinot Lover why do you care???

Jancruz1

Geeze, two helpful answers😳, aren’t you glad you asked, zoncom😂 Didn’t know that asking a question on CC had to be accompanied by a reason for asking. 

I’ve wondered this myself, and if I must have an answer as to why, I guess simple curiosity. 

12 hours ago, Jancruz said:

This has NOT been announced by Oceania..lets wait and see!

Jancruz1

‘....wait and see’ is exactly the attitude we are currently taking. We remain hopeful that this cruise will happen and that Oceania will recover fully from this unprecedented time. 
 

4 hours ago, LHT28 said:

Do not believe it  is Oceania alone  that will require that option

 Just look at MSC &  other lines that are sailing in Europe at the moment

 

The ports  do not want  people wandering off the ships  either  in case  someone may be carrying the virus

That is the present situation  in Europe  but  no ships are sailing from US ports yet so who knows what will happen by next summer

JMO

Lyn, I agree.  This may be the way of doing business for the cruise lines for some time to come.  And while I can see why they are doing it, for us and the scope of our next cruise, we may want to rethink doing the cruise in 2021 and hold off until 2022.

We have had some excellent Oceania shore excursions in the past, so ship tours only would not be a deal breaker for us. 

The sticking point for us is not being able to leave the ship and walk around the port on our own. 

Totally understand the rational for Oceania's decision, but there are ports where we have been before and don't want an organized tour, nor to be guided around the port in a group. 

We have an extended trip booked for late July 2021.  It is my hope that if tours are still up in the air on how they will be conducted, Oceania will extend final payment until they can give passengers a solid answer to how tours/time off the ship will be handled.  

1 hour ago, LHT28 said:

Why not just ask the room steward to remove the items ?

You know Lyn, I considered that, but they are so busy that first day and it is so easy to put those items in the cases under the bed.  I always tell the room steward where those items are and it’s easy to put them back when I’m packing up. Works for us

We store our 28" cases under the bed, open.  I have found that the cabins come with a lot of 'stuff'....robe, slippers, sharps container, assorted bathroom sundries, shoe horn, clothes brush, booklets, etc.  These open suitcases makes a great place to store this 'stuff' and gives me more closet and drawer space🙂

16 minutes ago, BSR said:

Where does it say a free bottle of wine?  I only see the Champagne listed in the above amenities. 

On our cruises in 2018, 2019 and the one in 2020, if you ask your cabin steward to switch out the Champagne for a (in our case)  bottle of Merlot, they were happy to do it.  These cruises were on R class ships.

11 minutes ago, cloudchaser said:

We're booking first time on Oceania and wonder about the difference between a veranda and concierge level veranda.  Is the extra money worth the upgrade.  Your opinion will be appreciated.  

40 minutes ago, clo said:

I'm sincerely unclear how this relates to what I wrote about schools and cruise ships.

No disrespect, but it may be that a number of CC posters have blocked your posts and are unaware of of what you post. 

17 hours ago, bob brown said:

I am booked on next year's "Northern Odyssey", from New York, 53 days to the Baltic via Greenland and Iceland, and return.

Today, we received an email from Oceania with some intinerary changes.   One of them, was substituting Boston for Bar Harbor.   I've been to both many times, so really don't care, either way.  But I was wondering if this would open up the possibility of us transiting the Cape Cod Canal enroute?   I have never been thru that, and it would be a big highlight, even if it was at night.   I know the Insignia has transited it before, but usually when calling also at Newport....

I so hope this is an option!!!   We sailed Regatta, October 2016,  NY to Montreal.  After a stop in Newport,  with the next day being Portland, ME the captain came on just before we left to say we had been given permission to transit via the Cape Cod Canal.  It rates up in my top 10 cruising memories. Fingers crossed to be able to experience this again.

1 minute ago, Daniel A said:

Does anybody have a bar menu with prices that could be posted?  It would help us decide if it would be worth paying an upgrade of $20/day or pay as you go.  We already have the basic package booked.

See post #3 from LHT28 above and follow the link she included.  Note that in our experience the quoted price is for a single shot.  If you want a double, double the price and then include the 18% gratuity. 

15 hours ago, BSR said:

Another question on the Regatta - is there shower curtains or glass doors?

The dreaded curtain is gone and they are now glass. 

32 minutes ago, Rumpymuffin said:

If the OP's intent was to identify an in group, he has succeeded. Shades of high school....

But we're no longer in high school, and that need then to look for others to feel validated or part of an in group, is no longer a part of who we are.

I find this thread interesting from the fact that it highlights some of the CC members that have been so valuable in sharing their cruising wisdom over the years , those that make you laugh out loud and those that you know you hope to meet some day.

I don't believe a popularity contest was FF intention.

34 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

OH! But if it would only save one life!!!

 

 

😇😇😇

And now there is no doubt, I’m laughing out loud😂😇

12 hours ago, pinotlover said:

To dangerous to open up restaurants, far to dangerous to open up any doctor offices with all those sick people! Stay hunkered my friends!

I'm laughing and then feeling maybe I shouldn't.  I have to believe this is your wry sense of humor?

3 hours ago, RJB said:

You interact with them, just like you do everyday at home and at work.  When you have a group of hundreds or more  not all are good.  And I  did not say bad.  There is always an in between. 

3 hours ago, ORV said:

What are you trying to say? Sounds quite judgemental. 

Then with that in mind,  I guess it would have been best for you to not have asked RJB to explain what he was trying to say, for you would no doubt get an opinion, which may have violated some of these site's rules.

So far the only rule I can see I've violated is taking this thread way off topic, so now back to Marina in Falmouth. 

1 hour ago, alaskaca said:

 

It sounded like an opinion to me.  And as far as I know, it is still okay express one.

50 minutes ago, ORV said:

Depends on the opinion, and there's a big difference between should and okay. We learn by example I guess. 

I  learn a lot by listening to other peoples opinions, whether I agree with them or not. 

However,  I'm not sure what you mean about "depends on the opinion'.  

1 hour ago, ORV said:

What are you trying to say? Sounds quite judgemental. 

It sounded like an opinion to me.  And as far as I know, it is still okay express one.

This morning all remaining cruises to Alaska had been given an availability designation of Wait Listed. 

This seems to be Oceania's first step when a cruise will no longer happen.  It is specific only to Alaska, as there are other August cruises that still are available. 

If Oceania follows their pattern,  formal cancellation should follow sometime the third week of June.

17 minutes ago, Redtravel said:

For several weeks, getting mail has been a real struggle. Some days, we get it. some days,  nothing.  Yesterday I looked for my mail after 6 pm and it still hadn’t shown up. I use the post office informed delivery so I know when it is worth walking to the mailbox.  Everything shows up eventually.  Even tracking packages coming has been spotty.  Packages eventually show up.  Placing email orders is a maybe.  Trying to get a grocery time slot from my local supermarket never happens. Leaving a phone voicemail is often ignored.  I know people are working from home or have been laid off.  Communicating has been a challenge. I live in NJ which continues to be a hot spot for the virus.  after several weeks of not getting any advertising or brochures, we got 2 cruise brochures this week...Oceania and Viking ocean. Has anyone in other parts of the country had similar experiences?  

In  already trying times , this must be a frustration you could do without. 

It will be interesting what others have to offer, but from my location in Michigan, a small community along the western shore of Lake Michigan, mail has not been a problem.  It is delivered pretty much at the same time, but the volume of mail has decreased, and I can remember only one or two Oceania/Regent brochures being delivered since early March.  Our local newspaper has also reduced its publication to five days a week and it is less that half of what it used to be in number of sections.

Online orders take longer is they go the USPS route, while UPS and Amazon are close to what they were, maybe lagging by a day or two if items are coming from the west coast.

We do our grocery shopping every week or so, so no experience with grocery delivery except what I hear from friends, and that can require waiting longer to secure a slot and delivery.

Wishing you continued health and safety.

15 hours ago, TrulyBlonde said:

I am not joking about this...This was what we encountered just getting to SG. 4 days of it. Not to discount the guy that died on board the 2nd night. I have seen the penguins and seals....thank goodness they had great wine and baguettes to keep me content 😉

Great shot and it sounds like a trip of a lifetime!!

On 4/13/2020 at 10:44 PM, LHT28 said:

You might get  an OBC for the difference  or an upgrade

Ask your TA

Your suggestion proved to be very good advice.  Thanks for your help!!

1 hour ago, Kate-AHF said:

Thank you Katie for posting that link.  I found his account, and the details of how things were handled in the return and repatriation of passengers very interesting.

+1