Any hope/tips for sold out cruises?

[dbh62ark]

Due to a job change late last year, we were unable to book our 2010 vacation too far in advance. We want to sail the 8/29/2010 Black Sea cruise (Istanbul to Athens), but it's waitlisted.

 

We have sailed Oceania once before (Insignia) but don't know exactly how their bookings work. Is it possible that a cruise agency has group space on this sailing? I know that has happened on other cruise lines, but we don't know how Oceania works.

 

Any tips/advice would be appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Donna

dahillark @ yahoo.com

http://www.facebook.com/dbhark

[dbh62ark]

P.S. I know there is a similar sailing in 2011, and we might take advantage of that but are just trying to check out our options.

[LHT28]

Call your TA and waitlist if you can

There are usually some people that cancel before final payment or even afterwards

 

Lyn

[dbh62ark]

Thanks, Lyn. I think we're going to want to finalize our plans before that time, but maybe someone else will have some other info for this sailing.

 

Donna

[amer_can]

Wait list doesn't cost you anything..Just get on it. We wanted to change staterooms on a sold out cruise,(May 10-24) and last week we were upgraded because someone backed out...Ypu can never tell.. Get a TA and get going on it.. Good luck!!!

[capecodder2]

Aside from emergency health or whatever reasons that cause last-minute cancellations, many occur at the date of final payment when folks have put down a deposit but find they cannot cruise that date and don't want to lose their deposit. If you are wait-listed, you get the space if and when your "number" comes up on the list. If that is too close for you, then perhaps next year would be best. Whenever you can cruise Oceania, you have the best.

[patseacruiser]

Waitlist as many categories as you would be comfortable taking. I have waitlisted on lines from interior to suite and as soon as one opened I got an email. If it opens though you have to be prepared to book immediately. If you don't call them right away you will lose it by that evening. And I have had openings up to a few days from sailing.

[hondorner]

However, my understanding is that if you waitlist with a deposit, you have a much better chance of clearing the waitlist than someone without a deposit. I've never experienced it myself, because I usually book the first day the bookings are open. I learned that on my very first Oceania cruise, when I booked only 6 months before sailing, and had to pay more than the early booked guests, plus had very little choice of cabin.

[Druke I]

We have a confirmed cabin on our Marina sailing, 11-24-11, Rome to Miami, under deposit.

 

We are waitlisted for two other cabin categories on that sailing, and do hope we might move to one of them, which we think would be preferable.

 

Barring that, we do have a cabin confirmed.

[dbh62ark]

Thank you all for your advice and for taking the time to post it. We love Oceania and hope to make this sailing.

 

Donna

[roothy123]

Just to let you know: We were waitlisted for an Oceania cruise (to the Med, inside cabin) a couple years ago, and we DID get to go! We were so happy! Good luck!

[carolmacey]

I thought I had something, but I think it was for 2011. Sorry and good luck.