pinotlover

The humorous story line will undoubtedly be how the Internet stops working as they approach and dock in Sydney. You know, just in time to give all the applause and accolades on the cruise summary! 😇

We flew in on United, which arrived late evening. We had arranged with our hotel to have a cab/car waiting for us and the bill added to our account. We skipped what was a rather long line at the airport ATM for a very small hotel upcharge. Got money the next morning at a bank atm. We stayed over In Papeete a couple of days after the cruise. Had the hotel do the same thing back to the airport. Then, except for a modest tip, we used all the remaining local currency in paying the hotel bill with the remaining tab put in the credit card. Worked easily.

What were they? Suspense!

The offers often go out when PH and above, which were previously waitlisted, become available. It’s their way to notify you of availability. The math is rather bizarre.

Additionally; Our OCA left a strong impression those wine dinners in Privee would primarily be private, invite only, events. Otherwise, it would be the shared $300 reservation fee, plus the cost of the paired meal. If a paired wine dinner is chosen, all in the group must take the dinner and it would have to be pre ordered. This means a group couldn’t walk in at 7:00 and say “ we want the Odyssey meal.” This makes sense.

With X being the local retail price of a shore excursions 2-3X - 25% > X. Choosing Oceania tours is always the most expensive option. One may prefer spending additional monies to take O shorex, for any number of reasons, but saving money isn’t one of them.

Don’t feign shock if that port call is cancelled either before or during the cruise.

The same with “ Jacques “.

Fwiw, If the current advertised DP dinner is what is actually being served, it is the same as our 2019 DP dinner in Feb 2019 on the Marina. We found the food, wines, and pairings at that dinner to be excellent. Now, as routinely demonstrated on Oceania ships, two different cooks can take the exact same recipe and create different tasting dishes. Therefore, it is impossible for me to comment on Robjames’s observations on his meal. A couple of items about the Dom Perignon program. First, the meals/dishes and pairings are totally designed by the Executive Chef at Dom Perignon . Oceania is supposed to prepare the courses as instructed. They have no leeway in the meal’s design. Second, to participate in the program, Oceania had to agree upon bringing a certified Sommelier aboard ship for the program. This was a wonderful blessing for many of us to have a fellow trained Somm aboard in lieu of the typically poorly trained wine stewards. Improvements with the onboard service were striking. I anxiously await our 2nd DP Dinner in March. Hopefully, it stands up to its predecessor.

It’s not correct. Those pairings were done by a joint effort of Oceania Miami corporate chefs and Wine Spectator. Jacque had nothing to do with it.

You’ll be lucky now to get one (1) round trip Biz Class ticket to OZ or Japan with only 300K miles.

As ORV said, we will be trying to use ff miles , but no guarantees. Last trip to OZ we could get ff tickets there, but not home. Then one way tickets back home were as expensive as a round trip ticket. Had to pay to put miles back in our bank, then buy a round trip ticket!

We are currently booked on the 2023 OZ circumnavigation on the Regatta. After our cruise ends Jan 25,2024 the ship goes on to NZ. What should be our expectations? Will we now have two sea days added to our cruise for de fouling? If this is a new known requirement, shouldn’t Oceania now tell us what our new itinerary will be? Will our 35 day cruise be cut to 33 to have this done in Sidney before our departure? What ports will be cut? Shouldn’t a new schedule be released well before final payment or any cancellation charges accrue? This task is no longer a secret. BC airfare to Sidney is extremely high, if I can’t use ff miles, not sure I want to spend the money if I don’t have answers.

I believe a RSSc ship is having the same issue per news reports.

I believe some are ignoring Captain Max’s comments that only 30% of the power generation goes to turning the screws. 70% goes to onboard ship operations such as a/c, hot water, laundry operations, kitchen operations, garbage compressor, electrical systems, water purification, etc. Sure, a bit can be saved by maximizing optimum operations of the screws, but the numbers are great. You should have heard the numbers he quoted for some of the ports for being docked per hour!!! One hour less in some of those ports is far more than any possible fuel savings in getting there.

How in the world would Oceania know if these changes will affect shore excursion operations? Oh! They mean their own! 🙄. Does this mean if we’re now signed up for an eight hour Oceania shore excursions it will either now be cancelled or just cut in time at the same price?

😂. In sincerity, I believe Room service will bring you the hamburger and up to two beers in that original delivery. Then you’ll have to call room service again for any further orders and go in the que for that order.

Deck 8 imo. You are on the same deck as most all of the OH and above. You are further away from the anchors and other noises. You’ll find on many Alaskan cruises the outdoors seating area of the Terrace is either closed or only lightly used because of inclement weather. Big difference from Carribe cruises.

It is effective at all dining venues. It is available for room service. However, I believe it is only available during normal dining hours.

Please let us know how it unfolds. Thanks! 🙏

Explain what happened with the Falklands, please. We have an all day tour to Volunteer Point booked.

Robjames; Part of the bartender story isn’t accurate. 1. All drinks come with the gratuity added. 2. All such gratuities are pooled. Therefore, it doesn’t matter whether one orders from a waiter or bartender. I do agree with the bartender on one issue and often repeated it. Cash tips on Oceania given to any employee are retained by that employee and not pooled. I also agree in essence with NJhorseman. All the funds, including gratuity, received by O are fungible. One shouldn’t compare how their favorite restaurant back homes operates to how Oceania does.

There are multiple destinations, including Embarkment ports, that are either wine or alcohol deserts, or the taxes so high they make Oceania prices look cheap. One is not going to a Baltic port and buy wine to bring aboard. The alcohol taxes plus VAT are outrageous! Same with other destinations. We bring wine abroad when we can. When we can’t, we pay the Oceania piper.

+1000!

I am a traveler, not a cruiser. I cruise for the ports, not to sit on a ship. If port times gets cut, on our upcoming cruise, and we are forced to eliminate tours or significantly shorten them, that will mean cancellation of three booking when we get home. Oceania can then truly become a fleet for those “ with the ship being the destination “ and those only wanting 2-4 hour shore visits. We’ll see how that works out for Oceania. FWIW, one sea day Captain Max gave a full rundown of ship operating costs. Fuel consumption drops only about 30% while the ship is in dock or anchorage. Most of the power generation goes to powering all ship functions not related to motoring. Time at dock is a huge cost. Shorter dock times = less costs. Per Cpt Max, for major ports, docking fees are higher than fuel costs if staying at sea. That reduction in fuel costs does not offset the port fees. Most every sea day is a bigger moneymaker over a port day.