les221b Posted January 2, 2011 #1 Share Posted January 2, 2011 I just finished an Oceania cruise, and there were two changes in policy regarding big-O points, which you may not be aware of. Admittedly, big-O points are not something which will be a deal-breaker in deciding which cruise line to use, but still, this was a disappointment. First, if you have some such points earned on a previous cruise (perhaps not enough for the prize you wanted, and you hope to combine them with points on an up-coming cruise, forget it. Beginning January 1st, points are to be cruise specific. That is, any such points will be valid only for the cruise on which such points were earned. Second, unless you REALLY enjoy ring-toss or shuffleboard or some other time-killer, don't bother playing unless you're skilled enough to take either first, second or third place. In the past, 3 points were awarded for first place, 2 points for second place and 1 point was given to everyone else who participated. Now points are awarded only to the top three players. Everyone else gets nothing. In comparison to everything else it's not a major downgrade, but it is a downgrade and is not worthy of Oceania. Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LAexNY Posted January 3, 2011 #2 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Shocking! We're thinking of cancelling all our future cruises!:mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orchestrapal Posted January 3, 2011 #3 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Someone has too much time on their hands if this is their biggest worry!!;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBVols Posted January 3, 2011 #4 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Who cares! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted January 3, 2011 #5 Share Posted January 3, 2011 What are BIG O points :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted January 3, 2011 #6 Share Posted January 3, 2011 This is, indeed, tragic news. LOL Actually my friend and I collect (and share) Big O points for trivia. We'll be wearing our pink O hats that we won on the last cruise on our upcoming cruise Jan 15 in SE Asia. (i.e. unless we decide to cancel because of the new points policy). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted January 3, 2011 #7 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Les, I happen to agree with you. It is not a deal breaker or a major catastrophe, just an unnecessary disappointment. In the past we have gotten some nice little "souvenirs" for our big O points (baseball caps, t-shirts, bag, book marks, key chains, luggage tags and the like). It's not so much about the items themselves as they are of little value and were usually given away to kids, but we had a lot fun collecting them by participating in activities like trivia, golf, etc. CD Leslie Jon (?sp) was particularly generous with the points and everyone loved that. It's all in good fun. I really don't see the need to be stingy about these (especially not accepting points from prior cruises - that shows loyalty). If O has good reasons for doing so, I would like to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddcruiser Posted January 3, 2011 #8 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I always knew that even if our team didn't win that day, cleaning up the trivia paper and pencils got you one point. It was the overall generosity that made trivia, golf, and silly games so much fun. And generosity is an important commodity. Ddcruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susiesan Posted January 3, 2011 #9 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I'm a trivia freak and will rush back to the ship to play every day. I have t shirts I won on our one and only O cruise 5 years ago that I still wear. I love cruise c*#p! On our 3 Azamara cruises they were extremely generous with the points for trivia. I won multiples of every thing they had as prizes. I kept one of each and gave the rest back. Having those points or prizes makes it all that much more competitive. I was so hoping for another O t shirt..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy cruzer Posted January 3, 2011 #10 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Thanks for posting Les. On our trivia team last cruise, there was an O regular cruiser who had discovered those two policy changes. Every member of our team thought it was very misguided policy. 1) If you care enough to hold the points to bring on your next cruise to use, it shows that they matter to you. Seems like O would love this kind of dedicated repeat cruiser and keep them happy. 2) The prizes are basically FREE advertising of the best kind - word of mouth. Gotta love a past passenger wearing or carrying you name and logo, all for about ten bucks each. Just seems like penny pinching that is very short sighted. PS Am I the only one getting tired of posters who love to put others down because their info doesn't matter to them or is unimportant in their view? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted January 3, 2011 #11 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Am I the only one getting tired of posters who love to put others down because their info doesn't matter to them or is unimportant in their view? It really does not matter if you are the only one or not. Any HONEST post is a good post. And how is your criticism of what you label "put down" posts any different from what you yourself are criticizing?? Live and let live. These boards are for everyone to express their honest points of view. We don't need the "post police" passing judgment on what anyone has to say. Disregard what you don't like and allow the rest of us to judge for ourselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted January 3, 2011 #12 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Maybe people are hoarding the points for their next cruise which in some cases my be 1 a year. I did not even think to carry them home & bring them on the next cruise If we do not have enough for some trinket then we give them to someone else to use If we want a logo t-shirt we just buy one We very seldom play games on the ship it is not why we go Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toranut97 Posted January 3, 2011 #13 Share Posted January 3, 2011 On our last cruise they were short on merchandise when the time came to "cash in" the points. This was the first time I had ever participated in trivia and I was looking forward to snagging a souvenir -- which I was fortunate enough to do -- but jeez, there were people seething in that line when they saw how few items were available! I respect that this matters to a bunch of folks. On the other hand, if they are going to use the points system, have the gifties available for folks at the end. I was afraid we were going to see a mutiny!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MightyQuinn Posted January 3, 2011 #14 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Well I'm sitting on 23 Big O points, thanks in part to a generous fellow cruiser who couldn't be bothered to cash them in & gave them away. But I did earn a handful of points myself at the Country Fair by stuffing pillowcases in record time! The new policy of use 'em or lose 'em is certainly not a deal breaker, but it would be nice if Oceania extended a grace period for redemption of previously acquired points rather than going to immediate expiry as of January 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tropicalkerry2002 Posted January 3, 2011 #15 Share Posted January 3, 2011 hear, hear!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ORV Posted January 3, 2011 #16 Share Posted January 3, 2011 It really does not matter if you are the only one or not.Any HONEST post is a good post. And how is your criticism of what you label "put down" posts any different from what you yourself are criticizing?? Live and let live. These boards are for everyone to express their honest points of view. We don't need the "post police" passing judgment on what anyone has to say. Disregard what you don't like and allow the rest of us to judge for ourselves. Also much of what some people consider a "putdown" is more another poster's attempt at humor. I have noticed on some of the CC boards tolerance for humor is in short supply. Makes you wonder just how tight some people are wound. Seems they need to go on a cruise and relax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CintiPam Posted January 4, 2011 #17 Share Posted January 4, 2011 The new policy of use 'em or lose 'em is certainly not a deal breaker, but it would be nice if Oceania extended a grace period for redemption of previously acquired points rather than going to immediate expiry as of January 1. Good suggestion; from your mouth/computer to FDR's ears! After reading this thread lazy me actually made a special trip upstairs just to check how many O points, if any, I still had. I vaguely recalled that I cashed out my points as much as I could on my 2010 cruise in order to obtain that excellent O tote zippered tote bag which I filled with souvenir purchases and used as my carry-on luggage on the flight home! Fortunately, I can report that I only have six left, so I will not have to cancel my June cruise!;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted January 4, 2011 #18 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Fortunately, I can report that I only have six left, so I will not have to cancel my June cruise!;) We,OTOH, just may have to cancel as we have way more than 6 big O points :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TERRIER1 Posted January 5, 2011 #19 Share Posted January 5, 2011 I couldn't resist so I went upstairs and looked in my journal where I kept all cards, receipts,mementoes (ie. crap) of my cruises and lo and behold I found 6 big O points. Must be the magic number. I can use them as bookmarks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted January 5, 2011 #20 Share Posted January 5, 2011 I can use them as bookmarks. Put them up for sale on Ebay. People will buy anything. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitraveler Posted January 5, 2011 #21 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Bookmarks are $2.99 on board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DOJO466 Posted January 5, 2011 #22 Share Posted January 5, 2011 I have 2, bookmark it now is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoHoHo Posted January 5, 2011 #23 Share Posted January 5, 2011 I couldn't resist so I went upstairs and looked in my journal where I kept all cards, receipts,mementoes (ie. crap) of my cruises and lo and behold I found 6 big O points. Must be the magic number. I can use them as bookmarks. Sounds like we have similar memento collections! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billie5 Posted January 6, 2011 #24 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I completely agree with you, Pacheco. Some posters are quick to condemn anyone who states or implies his disagreement with an OP. Of course, if you happen to be siding with the cruise line, then you have to tolerate posters whose favorite argument seems to be to call you a cheerleader. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuAnn Posted January 6, 2011 #25 Share Posted January 6, 2011 We,OTOH, just may have to cancel as we have way more than 6 big O points :D Say it isn't so!!!:D Do you all like to play Trivia? Kenneth and I are Trivia "hounds" and love to play...maybe we can get up a team on the T/A? LuAnn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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