Booked First Oceania Cruise

[espmass]

Booked our first Oceania cruise.  Not until February but just wanted to say how excited we are.  Long time cruisers but not on Oceania.  Busy reading every bit of information on the boards that we can find.

 

[mauibabes]

Lots of beneficial reading and virtually any question will be answered on these posts. There are MANY Oceania veterans on line so don’t hesitate to ask anything.  Hopefully your TA knows Oceania well and can be of help too.  
Welcome aboard Oceania.

[LGW59]

1 hour ago, espmass said:

Booked our first Oceania cruise.  Not until February but just wanted to say how excited we are.  Long time cruisers but not on Oceania.  Busy reading every bit of information on the boards that we can find.

 

Woot woot!  I’m in the same “boat” as you.  I actually stumbled upon Oceania, so glad I did! I’ve got an Alaska 2023 currently booked on Regatta.  I’ve also two booked on Celebrity for 2022, Scandinavia/Russia and a TA.  Am working with my great Oceania cruise planner as we speak, to assist with something similar on Oceania for one or both of those cruises.  The vibe of positivity on Oceania CC compared to Celebrity, is worlds of maturity apart.  Full disclosure, I include myself in some of that.

[PhD-iva]

2 hours ago, LGW59 said:

 The vibe of positivity on Oceania CC compared to Celebrity, is worlds of maturity apart.  Full disclosure, I include myself in some of that.

+1!

As an ex celebrity cruiser, I stopped browsing the celebrity forum because there were so many trolls and people who would attack you with negative comments. Both Oceania and the Regent boards, as well as boards for other luxury cruise lines, have a different vibe entirely. You will not be disappointed on your cruise!

[ToxM]

Another ex Celeb cruiser here. You are about to find your new home!

[DENIE]

espmass.....same here!  Past Celebrity cruiser, and just booked our first Oceania cruise for June 2022.  I think we may not look back after that!  The people on this forum have been very helpful and kind!

[espmass]

We are soon to be ex Princess and Celebrity cruisers as I'm sure once we experience Oceania we will never go back.  We also have a Princess cruise booked for this December although who knows whether or not it will go.  We are actually considering switching it also to an Oceania cruise to have the experience even sooner.

[Noxequifans]

Welcome to the new Oceania cruisers! After you complete your trips,  please share your impressions with us. 

[LHT28]

After our 1st Oceania cruise  back in 2004   we tried  Princess & NCL     we never went back.

 

 We did  a couple of Themed Charter cruises on HAL  but it was for the Music venues

 

Tried a Luxury line

It is now  Oceania  all the way 

👍

 

Hope you enjoy Oceania  as much as the rest of us here

Lyn

[marieps]

16 hours ago, LGW59 said:

  The vibe of positivity on Oceania CC compared to Celebrity, is worlds of maturity apart.  Full disclosure, I include myself in some of that.

I'm on each board frequently as well.  There are far fewer "experts" here IMHO.  I echo your "full disclosure" about myself.    We did our first O as a TP on Regatta and booked two more.  Sadly our TA on Sirena got cancelled last month so we have to switch to =X= Silhouette.  Riviera in February.  Still expect to convert to O more fully in coming years.

Edited June 17, 2021 by marieps

[Muushka]

We are not quite Celebrity Xpats.  We finally made it to Elite + and suddenly start trying other cruise lines, go figure.  I think I will always be on the lookout for a Celebrity deal, but their suite prices are not compatible with our price-point. 

We look forward to our first Oceania cruise!  MSC Yachtclub next year.

[mauibabes]

@muushka

Famous last words of any X Pat,  😁 We traveled with died in the wool Princess Commodores and we then tried X Aqua Class with them while we had already joined the Oceania Cruise family. Our Commodore’s now only sail Oceania with or without us but have seen the “Value” light. I have no idea what amenities your Elite + status provides but more than likely booking in a Concierge level balcony will earn you comparable amenities and a good Travel Agent can take care of the rest. The TA can get you more amenities and Ship credit, etc. and that will be from sailing #1. Be selective in Stateroom selection for the accommodations that are right for you and your need for the creature comforts. We are sure Oceania will meet your cruise expectations will make the transition from X easy. 

One important thing, just get started with O and ENJOY. Also, when on that first trip, DEFINITELY book one or more future cruises as the Oceania Club Ambassador on board will have some great discount enticements for you, most importantly cheap Deposits ($250pp). Pay attention to the Vista Itinerary release date, September sometime, and definitely look at the Oceanianext.com website. A 1200 Passenger new ship for early 2023 and the video shares the vision of a ship that is quite special, luxurious and inviting.  
Welcome aboard 🚢🙏👍🍷🍽🥂

Bonnie and Gerry 

[1985rz1]

26 minutes ago, mauibabes said:

@muushka

Famous last words of any X Pat,  😁 We traveled with died in the wool Princess Commodores and we then tried X Aqua Class with them while we had already joined the Oceania Cruise family.

Ohhh...I hope they haven't died in the wool. 

 

(Sorry, I couldn't help myself.  Guess I was itching to respond. 🥴 )

Edited June 17, 2021 by 1985rz1

[marieps]

2 hours ago, mauibabes said:

@muushka

Famous last words of any X Pat,  😁 We traveled with died in the wool Princess Commodores and we then tried X Aqua Class with them while we had already joined the Oceania Cruise family. Our Commodore’s now only sail Oceania with or without us but have seen the “Value” light. I have no idea what amenities your Elite + status provides but more than likely booking in a Concierge level balcony will earn you comparable amenities and a good Travel Agent can take care of the rest. The TA can get you more amenities and Ship credit, etc. and that will be from sailing #1. Be selective in Stateroom selection for the accommodations that are right for you and your need for the creature comforts. We are sure Oceania will meet your cruise expectations will make the transition from X easy. 

One important thing, just get started with O and ENJOY. Also, when on that first trip, DEFINITELY book one or more future cruises as the Oceania Club Ambassador on board will have some great discount enticements for you, most importantly cheap Deposits ($250pp). Pay attention to the Vista Itinerary release date, September sometime, and definitely look at the Oceanianext.com website. A 1200 Passenger new ship for early 2023 and the video shares the vision of a ship that is quite special, luxurious and inviting.  
Welcome aboard 🚢🙏👍🍷🍽🥂

Bonnie and Gerry 

E+ isn't a real biggie since =X= went to all inclusive pricing.  We hit that level and besides the laundry and the casino matches it's not that much.  I kinda like doing my own wash in the launderette, which =X= doesn't have.

[mauibabes]

AND, the laundromat is FREE! 😁 I usually get to handle the laundry for the unmentionables rather than send them out with the Room Steward to get our Free Bags of laundry. It is a great guest meeting place and you hear so many great stories. And ladies, there are a lot of men who are relegated to laundry duty.  Now ironing wrinkles, that can take a Pro so my wife takes over.  I do the menial work.

Gerry

 

[ORV]

I've said this before but worth saying again in this conversation. In the past 12 years I've primarily cruised Oceania & Celebrity. I have enjoyed every cruise on both, but I know what to expect from each and take each one for what it is. I do plan on cruising both in the future. If Celebrity prices keep going up I might reconsider. 

[mauibabes]

Careful ORV, ALL  O prices taking a jump July 1. Of course it would not drive us to Celebrity because I won’t ever go to bigger ships. R and O Class are our personal limit and we could never abandon our Oceania family.  We can not wait to get back aboard and see all the familiar faces and renew the friendships with the staff. We have been in contact with some of them and they too are chomping at the bit to be sailing again.  
Gerry

[Vineyard View]

Thank you for mentioning the price increase. Any idea what percentage is expected or normal for O?  

[mauibabes]

I will let you know in two weeks. 😂

Jancruz will be able to share the most accurate info based on her sources. Not sure whether a flat percentage across the board or specific to the regions served. 
I am guessing some people will be put off by the increases but you can not hemorrhage hundreds of Million$ without some level of price increase. 
🙏🚢👍

[LHT28]

2 hours ago, Vineyard View said:

Thank you for mentioning the price increase. Any idea what percentage is expected or normal for O?  

Some sailing never change  with the price increase  some will  but  who really knows

 I ti not an across the board increase

 

Just book now if there is a cruise you want   or wait & see

[Vineyard View]

Thanks much for your response. It may help get us off the fence!

Edited June 18, 2021 by Vineyard View

[pinotlover]

12 hours ago, LHT28 said:

Some sailing never change  with the price increase  some will  but  who really knows

 I ti not an across the board increase

 

Just book now if there is a cruise you want   or wait & see

Supply and demand. A lot of current pent up demand. Will it continue into 23 and 24? Additionally, we are yet to see the effects of scraping all those older ships versus newer ships coming on line. Supply may have taken a bigger hit than many of us think.

[PhD-iva]

I just put a deposit on Marina’s 29 June 2022 cruise Oslo to Norway. I got a B1 veranda, but am #3 on the waitlist for PH1. If the waitlist doesn’t clear before 1 July, am I going to have to pay the newly higher prices? 🥵

 Sigh!

[LHT28]

57 minutes ago, PhD-iva said:

. If the waitlist doesn’t clear before 1 July, am I going to have to pay the newly higher prices? 🥵

 Sigh!

Only if you clear the waitlist   before sailing 😉