Musings from an O Newbie - Best Purchase you ever scored onboard!

[cindilouwho]

Ok - I thought this was the best thing I ever bought - yes I admit I am a shopaholic - but this was the best score onboard ever and I have been on 85 cruises!

 

In the first months of AZ sailings, I booked a European cruise. As they were just beginning to present their Bon Voyage Gift offering on line - I happened upon this major score!

 

Cost $235 - Just Because Package

 

Includes a bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne, a bottle of premium wine, a fresh fruit basket, a flavorful celebration cake to enjoy, two 100% Egyptian cotton bathrobes, a $100 onboard certificate, and two certificates for dining in our specialty restaurant, Aqualina.

 

The bathrobes are Frette - They were so heavy I had to buy an extra bag to fit them in. I travel solo - so they are BOTH mine, mine, mine!!! I took this cruise 5 years ago and I have used the robes for my nightly bath every day since then and they look as good as the day I brought them home. They are egyptian cotton with piping and I figure they sell for $150.00 each.

 

I was in a CC suite so no use for the specialty restaurants - gave them to friends. The cake was sooooo yummy - we had it served at dinner with all my new CC friends!

 

I also had a $1200.00 onboard credit that couldn't use up so I bought a beautiful Michelle diamond watch for $900.00 with the credit. I also won $300.00 in the casino....I LOVED THAT CRUISE!!!!!

 

OK folks - BEAT THAT!

[Hawaiidan]

Did you board at Bullhead city or Yuma....

 

The main thing is that your happy with what you bought... cost is really not a realistic comparison...personal satisfaction is and if your thrilled then who can come close..... no one

 

If it were dollar based:rolleyes:, then by not buying anything you save 100%.

 

Seriously, my agent gives me no onboard credits, he takes that amount off the gross price so that I don't have to spend in order to save.

 

( I hate coupons or deals that require you to spend to save and it involves spending more in every situation.)

[cindilouwho]

Did you board at Bullhead city or Yuma....

 

The main thing is that your happy with what you bought... cost is really not a realistic comparison...personal satisfaction is and if your thrilled then who can come close..... no one

 

If it were dollar based:rolleyes:, then by not buying anything you save 100%.

 

Seriously, my agent gives me no onboard credits, he takes that amount off the gross price so that I don't have to spend in order to save.

 

( I hate coupons or deals that require you to spend to save and it involves spending more in every situation.)

 

C'mon now ---- just trying to start some good old fashioned conversation .... no need to be a name calling party pooper.

 

And your dollar based analysis does not actually fly. I received 2 fine quality items whose value exceeded the cost of the package by conservatively $80.00. I used these items for 5 years and at this rate will never need to replace them...Although I would not have spent $150.00 on a robe in the first place, I probably would have purchased cheapie ones at Costco which I would have had to replace 5 times over to date. Ever notice those nice blouses/tee shirts you buy now all end up with little holes around the belly button after 2 or 3 washes? Yeah - so the value is definately there.

 

I drank a bottle of $60.00 wine that I would have bought onboard anyway and a champagne worth $45.00 which I shared with my friends on sailaway (value: priceless).

 

I got back $100.00 in credits off the bat. Which I used to make $300.00 in the casino. ($200.00 profit on investment)

 

The cake and the cheese platter were listed at retail price under Bon Voyage gifts for a value of $75.00 total. I would probably never bought these for myself but there you go - shared the cheese and cakes with my new friends --value: priceless.

 

So here's the thing, my financially-minded friend - I had an amazing time onboard. Made great friends for life and got a great deal on things that I was already going to purchase for the most part. We ate cake, cheese and shared good wine and bubbly and I got to feel good about my investment.

 

I got a very fair price on my cruise (actually amazing) and the $1200.00 was from Azamara not my agent. I am looking at my beautiful watch which I wear almost every day and have been enjoying this wonderful purchase which, but for the leftover $900.00, I would never have spent on a watch. The other $300.00 went to Spa treatments which made me feel ENORMOUSLY good as I love to have them and are my special treats.

 

So while you are busy hating coupons and any "deals" that require you to spend to save ... I am just busy enjoying the fruits of my labors!

 

It's all just relative....I really didn't start the thread to attract any personal critiscism ...thought this would be a fun question to throw out there on a lazy Friday afternoon!!!!!

[computerworks]

My...a lot of "$" in that post.

 

If you have a few hundred bucks left when on the Marina, you can pick up a shirt at the gift shop. :p

[hypercafe]

On our Rivera trip a few weeks ago my wife found the very nice white ceramic watch on the first night in the onboard shop. Was told it was the very latest in fashion, ect. The only drawback was it was 17k. I was taken to see it all during the trip and figured I was done for, well on the last night the sales girl produced a look a like that she had Forgot About. Well my wife liked it and it was only 600$. Best money I ever spent!

[cindilouwho]

My...a lot of "$" in that post.

 

If you have a few hundred bucks left when on the Marina, you can pick up a shirt at the gift shop. :p

 

I have no onboard credit this time. Like Hawaiidan, I get the best deal I can.

 

Thanks for the warnings....I can assure you there will be NO SHOPPING on the ship for this gal at those rates. If ain't half off, it ain't on sale. ;)

[Louby-Lou]

Hi Cindi

 

Funny! I too like a bargain and I think you got one there for $235.

 

The best I've got on O was a half price pair of shorts but I need to lose 10lbs for them to fit :eek:. I thought they LOOKED my size...... Maybe I should buy a new mirror!!

 

Lou

[cindilouwho]

On our Rivera trip a few weeks ago my wife found the very nice white ceramic watch on the first night in the onboard shop. Was told it was the very latest in fashion, ect. The only drawback was it was 17k. I was taken to see it all during the trip and figured I was done for, well on the last night the sales girl produced a look a like that she had Forgot About. Well my wife liked it and it was only 600$. Best money I ever spent!

 

Sounds to me like you got a deal at 95% off!!!! My kind of deal! ;)

 

It's funny how we see something we like for a crazy price and think that we can't live without it....17K on a watch is way over my comfort zone. But then when something comes along for $600.00 - what a deal. I remember the days when spending $100.00 on a watch was too much! :o

 

I was in Louis Vuitton the other day....my daughter wanted a cross body bag for her 30th birthday. The whole family chipped in to buy it for her (all 65 of us LOL) - $1300.00. :eek: I remember on my 50th, my brother and his wife bought me a Louis --- $2500. I REALLY needed to get my windows replaced in my house and that bag would have paid for the back half of the second storey. It's all a matter of personal value. I still have the bag and it took me an extra year to get the whole house refitted with the windows. Time went by and I have both. Patience is a virtue ..... unfortunately it was "best served cold" as I put up with the leaky windows for another cold Canada winter. LOL Unfortunately the Louis didn't keep me too warm.

[cindilouwho]

Hi Cindi

 

Funny! I too like a bargain and I think you got one there for $235.

 

The best I've got on O was a half price pair of shorts but I need to lose 10lbs for them to fit :eek:. I thought they LOOKED my size...... Maybe I should buy a new mirror!!

 

Lou

 

LOL LOU!!!

 

I have just dropped almost 60 pounds and am ready to make my "debut" cruise. I just got a hold of a new diet and I wanted to use it to drop 10 more before the cruise so that my whole wardrobe doesn't have to be "CLOTHING EXPANDABLE"!!!!! I need the wiggle room.

 

Seems to be working - down 4 pounds in 4 days - even I can't believe it ... and I am eating more than I ever did in my life. It just hit the market. Called the Fast Metabolism Diet.

 

Glad to hear that another "shopper" thinks I got a deal!!!

[orchestrapal]

Did you board at Bullhead city or Yuma....

 

The main thing is that your happy with what you bought... cost is really not a realistic comparison...personal satisfaction is and if your thrilled then who can come close..... no one

If it were dollar based:rolleyes:, then by not buying anything you save 100%.

Seriously, my agent gives me no on-board credits, he takes that amount off the gross price so that I don't have to spend in order to save.

 

( I hate coupons or deals that require you to spend to save and it involves spending more in every situation.)

 

So true!

The credits we get are for being frequent cruisers on O and then go for rock bottom price in the best suite we can get. Most bargains bough on ship can be gotten for much better prices on land.;)

[pacheco18]

Cindilou

 

From one fellow shop a holic to another

 

There are no bargains on Oceania BUT from time to time they bring on jewelry designers with their own unique merchandise

 

On my Marina TA we fell in love with the work of a designer who married vintage jewelry with modern looks (PJ Bundy) -- actually working with pieces of vintage necklaces etc (think Myriam Haskell, Chanel) and turning those pieces into delicious, bold works of art. I bought several necklaces and earrings and remain in touch with the designer. Every time I wear one of her pieces I get many inquiries. These pieces were pricy but were worth every penny.

 

Take a look

http://pjbundycollection.com/PJ/Welcome.html

 

On my subsequent cruise on Nautica they had a different designer -- I would not have taken her stuff for free.

 

So -- maybe you will get lucky and PJ or someone like her will be on your cruise. SHe has been asked back.

[cindilouwho]

Cindilou

 

From one fellow shop a holic to another

 

There are no bargains on Oceania BUT from time to time they bring on jewelry designers with their own unique merchandise

 

On my Marina TA we fell in love with the work of a designer who married vintage jewelry with modern looks (PJ Bundy) -- actually working with pieces of vintage necklaces etc (think Myriam Haskell, Chanel) and turning those pieces into delicious, bold works of art. I bought several necklaces and earrings and remain in touch with the designer. Every time I wear one of her pieces I get many inquiries. These pieces were pricy but were worth every penny.

 

Take a look

http://pjbundycollection.com/PJ/Welcome.html

 

On my subsequent cruise on Nautica they had a different designer -- I would not have taken her stuff for free.

 

So -- maybe you will get lucky and PJ or someone like her will be on your cruise. SHe has been asked back.

 

Noted Laraine -- thanks for the tip!

[Hawaiidan]

C'mon now ---- just trying to start some good old fashioned conversation .... no need to be a name calling party pooper.

 

And your dollar based analysis does not actually fly. I received 2 fine quality items whose value exceeded the cost of the package by conservatively $80.00. I used these items for 5 years and at this rate will never need to replace them...Although I would not have spent $150.00 on a robe in the first place, I probably would have purchased cheapie ones at Costco which I would have had to replace 5 times over to date. Ever notice those nice blouses/tee shirts you buy now all end up with little holes around the belly button after 2 or 3 washes? Yeah - so the value is definately there.

 

I drank a bottle of $60.00 wine that I would have bought onboard anyway and a champagne worth $45.00 which I shared with my friends on sailaway (value: priceless).

 

I got back $100.00 in credits off the bat. Which I used to make $300.00 in the casino. ($200.00 profit on investment)

 

The cake and the cheese platter were listed at retail price under Bon Voyage gifts for a value of $75.00 total. I would probably never bought these for myself but there you go - shared the cheese and cakes with my new friends --value: priceless.

 

So here's the thing, my financially-minded friend - I had an amazing time onboard. Made great friends for life and got a great deal on things that I was already going to purchase for the most part. We ate cake, cheese and shared good wine and bubbly and I got to feel good about my investment.

 

I got a very fair price on my cruise (actually amazing) and the $1200.00 was from Azamara not my agent. I am looking at my beautiful watch which I wear almost every day and have been enjoying this wonderful purchase which, but for the leftover $900.00, I would never have spent on a watch. The other $300.00 went to Spa treatments which made me feel ENORMOUSLY good as I love to have them and are my special treats.

 

So while you are busy hating coupons and any "deals" that require you to spend to save ... I am just busy enjoying the fruits of my labors!

 

It's all just relative....I really didn't start the thread to attract any personal critiscism ...thought this would be a fun question to throw out there on a lazy Friday afternoon!!!!!

 

By no means was I being critical you....As I said being happy is the most important thing in the final analysis. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder..you for you ; me for me. That's all.

 

Value is subjective to each.... My distain for coupons and many special deals is that unless you really need it the value diminishes. Many times I see them seducing people into buying something they might not have. ( sales 101)

 

As for Arizona, you indicated you took a Arizona cruise I found that interesting and amusing

[A Knitter]

Noted Laraine -- thanks for the tip!

 

I would like to see Oceania bring her back. Awesome designer. She has done custom work for me following the cruise and I am still buying from her two years later :D:D

[cindilouwho]

As for Arizona, you indicated you took a Arizona cruise I found that interesting and amusing

 

Azamara Cruise.

 

Thanks for the clarification....I started the post just to start some friendly banter and didn't expect your take on my experience.

[Benita]

Oceania gave a great shipboard credit when they were in Alaska. I had prebooked my shore excursions, so they were already paid for and the gratuities were included. They had a representative from a jewelery designed named Nancy Phillips on board. They had a lovely chalcedony necklace for just about the same price as the credit, so it would up being free.

On a Black Sea cruise, Oceania was switching vendors, so everything was 70% off. Michael and I each bought the photojournalist vests that we still wear today.