New to Oceana

[pmjnh]

Hello and Happy New Year!

 

We are thinking about taking our first Oceana cruise aboard the Regatta. Please tell me the pros and cons that you have experienced with this line. The idea of a small ship is very appealing.

 

How are they as far as flexibility with booking included airfare the day before the cruise as opposed to the day of the cruise?

 

I cannot find the info on recommended gratuities onboard. what are their guidelines?

 

We are thinking about taking the OBC for the OLife . Do they allow use of the OBC for excursions, beverages (like a glass of wine with dinner-we are not big drinkers) and /or gratuities?

 

Thank you!

Edited January 1, 2018 by pmjnh

[YoHoHo]

I'll let others respond to pros and cons

How are they as far as flexibility with booking included airfare the day before the cruise as opposed to the day of the cruise?

If you do not purchase a Deviation (currently still $175 pp I believe) they will fly you to arrive on embarkation day. Unless your routing really cannot do that. In the air terms somewhere there is wording that if an over night hotel is required the cost of that is on you. If you purchase a deviation then you can fly in day(s) before and or out days(s) after and from nearby cities. In fact from not nearby cities too but there would be a surcharge. Many discussions on Deviations and I suggest you run a search on CC for that or it can take over your thread and your topic will not help anyone trying to find deviation info.

 

\Enjoy your first cruise on O

 

I cannot find the info on recommended gratuities onboard. what are their guidelines?

On O's web site at the very bottom of the page is a link to FAQs;

Under "Onboard "topic:

What is your gratuity policy?

How much you choose to tip is a personal matter and completely at your discretion. For your convenience, the following gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account.

 

 

 

• For guests occupying staterooms, gratuities of $16.00 per guest, per day will be added.
  
• For guests occupying Penthouse, Oceania, Vista or Owner's Suites where Butler Service is provided, gratuities of $23.00 per guest, per day will be added.
  
• In addition, an 18% service gratuity is automatically added to all beverage purchases, spa services and dinner at La Reserve. Naturally, guests may adjust gratuities while on board the vessel at their sole discretion.
  

[Ken the cruiser]

We are thinking about taking the OBC for the OLife . Do they allow use of the OBC for excursions, beverages (like a glass of wine with dinner-we are not big drinkers) and /or gratuities?

The OBC is nonrefundable and can be used on all the items you mentioned. Since we like going on excursions, we usually pick the OLife excursion option and prebook the most expensive ones before we embark, which usually run around $160-200 per person, making it a better deal for us.

 

For example, let's say they will give you 6 OLife excursions or $600 OBC. The six most expensive excursions you want to prebook might total $960-$1,200 whereas you only get $600 with the OBC option.

 

In addition if you choose the Your World Collection excursion deal where you get 25% off all excursions you prebook, those "free" OLife excursions are included in the minimum count requirement to get the YWC deal.

 

For example if there is a minimum purchase requirement of 5 excursions to get the YWC deal, you will only have to buy 2 additional ones, preferably the cheaper ones, before you can get the 25% off.

 

However, the one catch is that you have to prebook all of your excursions at least 2 weeks prior to the cruise as they don't offer the YWC deal when you book onboard.

 

Hope this helps.

[Classiccruiser777]

Find a TA that will include gratuities as well as add some additional OBC. Search for Oceania Crusies Connoisseur Club. The TAs that come up are typically those that can really sweeten your deal.

[Tansy Mews]

Be careful when you read reviews of Oceania cruise line (correct spelling). If you searched for Oceana (your spelling), you will find the P&O ship.

https://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=302

[pmjnh]

Be careful when you read reviews of Oceania cruise line (correct spelling). If you searched for Oceana (your spelling), you will find the P&O ship.

https://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=302

 

 

Thank you, I totally missed that spelling. I appreciate you pointing that out!

[Tansy Mews]

We get more value from the “free” oLife excursions rather than the OBC. More dollars plus the OBC can’t be used for excursions until you are onboard. Plus as mentioned, you lose whatever is left over. When they say 6 excursions, that usually means 3 per person. No six each.

 

You can change your mind. Just choose one oLife perk and then take your time to consider your choice. That’s what I did.

[Mylisa]

We like the OBC. It can be used for your gratuity at the end of the cruise as well. We’re not much for drinking so the drink package has little appeal. We also like to do smaller private tours with a few couples that we get together from Roll Call on this bulletin Board. The ship excursions are very pricey.

 

The reason we have gone with Oceania lately is because you can’t beat their itineraries hands down. They also have the smaller ship sizes that we prefer.

 

The specialty restaurants are included except for the one mentioned above. There is a pecking order as to when, how many and whom can make the reservations in these restaurants before boarding depending on what category cabin you purchase.

[Earl Rosebery]

You can always arrange your own flights to suit. If so, you will get a credit

[Tansy Mews]

Your TA can find out how much O will give you in lieu of flights.

 

It is a calculation of best value. The cost can be oLife fare. Or oLife fare minus air allowance. Or oLife plus air deviation fee. It depends on whether you have points you can use or whether it is a pricey flight. And you can do one option going and another for coming home if you want to go in early but come right home after the trip.

 

For our upcoming trip we took the Air allowance because we wanted to extra days on both ends. Since it is Europe, we can get reasonable fares - cheaper than adding in the air deviation cost per ticket.

 

For South America we did sir deviation.

 

Or of course “cruise only”. That one didnt look like a good choice for me.

[pmjnh]

Thanks for all the advice. Debating the 14 n Alaska vs a 21 n Alaska on another line