Newbie to Oceania

[maximus217]

We were previously booked to take our London to London cruise next year from another cruise company, but after further research, we found out that Oceania will be better suited for us. So we cancelled our deposit from the other cruise company and instead booked the Royals and Vikings in Oceania Marina next year.

 

In preparation of our cruise, we have some questions to the Oceania community:

 

1. We are currently booked in PH2 (midship) due to its location. We did not choose PH1 because the pool is above the PH1 even though PH1 is also midship. Are there any other differences between PH1 and PH2?

 

2. Can you add gratuity to the total cruise fare?

 

3. Can you add the prestige select (beverage package) to the total cruise fare?

 

4. What is the price to dine at La Reserve by Wine Spectator? When can you make the reservation?

 

5. What is the quality of the shore excursions?

 

6. For dining reservation, we are allowed 1 reservations at each restaurant. Since we have two rooms booked, are we allowed up to 2 reservations at each restaurant? Can you add another party to your group when making a reservation? Instead of 2 people make it 3 or 4?

 

Thank you and sorry if these questions were asked before.

[LHT28]

We were previously booked to take our London to London cruise next year from another cruise company, but after further research, we found out that Oceania will be better suited for us. So we cancelled our deposit from the other cruise company and instead booked the Royals and Vikings in Oceania Marina next year.

 

In preparation of our cruise, we have some questions to the Oceania community:

 

1. We are currently booked in PH2 (midship) due to its location. We did not choose PH1 because the pool is above the PH1 even though PH1 is also midship. Are there any other differences between PH1 and PH2?

Location location location

2. Can you add gratuity to the total cruise fare?

Yes but if you shop around you might find a TA that will include them for you ;)

 

3. Can you add the prestige select (beverage package) to the total cruise fare?

yes

4. What is the price to dine at La Reserve by Wine Spectator? When can you make the reservation?

 

 

 

6. For dining reservation, we are allowed 1 reservations at each restaurant. Since we have two rooms booked, are we allowed up to 2 reservations at each restaurant? Can you add another party to your group when making a reservation? Instead of 2 people make it 3 or 4?

 

Thank you and sorry if these questions were asked before.

 

You are allowed 1 reservation per cabin

If you want to dine with friends just say NO to Sharing when you go to book your slot & add guests ..have their booking number & surname ready

 

Others will comment further

[Mura]

The prices for the three menus vary. The most expensive is the Connoisseur, I recall that. If you go to Oceania's website you can find the three menus with the charges for each. They don't necessarily offer each one on each cruise, however.

 

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/experience/dining/la-reserve/

Look to the right hand margin and you will see a link to the sample menus.

 

I believe you can book as soon as you find it at your "Already Booked" section. I don't recall a limitation as there is for booking the standard specialty restaurants ... You will pay for it when you book. If you have to cancel, your fee will be refunded. (It depends, of course, on WHEN you cancel. If you are already on board it will probably be credited to your shipboard account.)

 

And they do have a time by which you need to cancel ... I think a day or two before the dinner is scheduled.

[StanandJim]

We are currently booked in PH2 (midship) due to its location. We did not choose PH1 because the pool is above the PH1 even though PH1 is also midship. Are there any other differences between PH1 and PH2?

 

Absolutely no differences beyond location.

2. Can you add gratuity to the total cruise fare?

Not as such, but there is an Auto-Gratuity which will be assessed against your onboard account as a daily charge, so if you wanted to send yourself the gift of a Credit for a corresponding amount, you could arrange things so that the transaction was a wash on debarkation day

Can you add the prestige select (beverage package) to the total cruise fare?

Again, you may not add it to the FARE, but you may order and pay for it as an Option in advance of the Cruise

What is the price to dine at La Reserve by Wine Spectator? When can you make the reservation?

The Price that you pay in La Reserve is dependent on the Menu which is being served on the night on which you visit. There are three menu options, which may be seen here:

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/experience/dining/la-reserve/

Reservations open as soon as it is announced on the Oceania website that the venue will be open on a given evening (unlike the other Restaurants on the ship, La Reserve will be dark on some nights). Sign onto the Site with your booking # (the Already Booked section) in order to see which nights those are.

Payment in full is required at the time when your reservation is made.

 

What is the quality of the shore excursions?

 

The quality of the excursions can vary from Fair to very good, with the caveat that the ship must cater to a larger rather than smaller group situation and therefore their typical transport is a Bus rather than a car or van.

Private Tours are vastly more popular on Oceania cruises than on other lines, because their content may be more easily customized, and their costs are invariably less expensive

 

For dining reservation, we are allowed 1 reservations at each restaurant. Since we have two rooms booked, are we allowed up to 2 reservations at each restaurant? Can you add another party to your group when making a reservation? Instead of 2 people make it 3 or 4?

 

LOL, ALL OF US have tried that dodge at one time or another, but it just does not work. Here is why:

 

Specialty Dining Reservations are assigned and held by individual passenger booking number. Therefore, if I invite you join me in a Restaurant where I have pre reserved, I would need to know your booking # in order to add your name to my table, and that use would, in turn, count as your guaranteed Reservation.