Ridiculous Deposit Request

[Woofbite]

Just tried to book an $11,000 Oceanic cruise through TA for August 2022.  Cruise was fully booked but was offered waitlist.  Fine - except when TA called to list, Oceanic said deposit of $1,500 was required.  That seemed alwfully high for a simple waitlist but ldokay we decided to accept. 

TA called back to confirm and was told Oops!,  cruise is sold as one cruise but is actually back to back cruises so waitlist deposit would be $3,000. 

Neither TA nor I could believe that amount so he called to get a different agent.  Apparently the $3,000 is correct.  No deal.

Sounds like a company desperate for cash to me.

No way I would loan Oceanic $3,000 for over a year for nothing more than a position on a waitlist.

 

 

 

[Noxequifans]

We encountered the wait list/deposit situation. It was a result of pent up demand which resulted in larger wait lists. Made sense. 

[Flatbush Flyer]

9 minutes ago, Woofbite said:

Just tried to book an $11,000 Oceanic cruise through TA for August 2022.  Cruise was fully booked but was offered waitlist.  Fine - except when TA called to list, Oceanic said deposit of $1,500 was required.  That seemed alwfully high for a simple waitlist but ldokay we decided to accept. 

TA called back to confirm and was told Oops!,  cruise is sold as one cruise but is actually back to back cruises so waitlist deposit would be $3,000. 

Neither TA nor I could believe that amount so he called to get a different agent.  Apparently the $3,000 is correct.  No deal.

Sounds like a company desperate for cash to me.

No way I would loan Oceanic $3,000 for over a year for nothing more than a position on a waitlist.

 

 

 

Gimme a break.

Read the O T&Cs and Ticket Contract. They clearly state (and have always stated) the different deposit amounts (and penalty details), which are dependent on length of cruise and type (e.g., single segment, “extended journey” [multi-segment marketed as a single cruise with one booking number], or “custom cruise” [multi-segment not marketed as a single cruise but combined and issued a single booking number].

Any TA who sells a significant number of O cruises should know this (as well as the differing details of O perks associated with each type).

 

Of course, if you want to minimize deposits, it’s always best to book onboard (which right now is a moot point).

 

In any case, whatever the amount, it’s a deposit. And O is exemplary when it comes to fulfilling its responsibilities for promised refund policies. 

[KS&JW]

You can get on a waitlist without a deposit.  However, those who put down a deposit have priority over those who do not put any money down so the odds are not very good to actually getting a cabin if you don't have any money in the game.  

And the cruise line is Oceania not Oceanic.

[mauibabes]

The Oceania normal deposit is $750 per person per cruise. Since you were booking two cruises, the $3000 was the correct deposit amount.  Your effort to Waitlist with a deposit in place is the correct move because you would be on their “Priority” waitlist versus a no deposit waitlist and you will see what position you are in in the specific category. Your TA  was not as knowledgeable about Oceania procedures as he/she could be.  Just call back and book one person on the B2B cruise, the Waitlist deposit will be $1500. Also, get on the list for the maximum  four stateroom categories to improve your chances. When you receive the contact from Oceania that you have a room, then add the second person and their $1500 deposit. Easy peezy 

 

As mentioned by Flatbush, when you are on board, always book a future cruise because the deposit will only be $250 pp and you can change cruise itineraries one time.

Good luck and enjoy your Transatlantic cruise 👍🚢🥂

 

Gerry

[Flatbush Flyer]

2 minutes ago, mauibabes said:

The Oceania normal deposit is $750 per person per cruise. Since you were booking two cruises, the $3000 was the correct deposit amount.  Your effort to Waitlist with a deposit in place is the correct move because you would be on their “Priority” waitlist versus a no deposit waitlist and you will see what position you are in in the specific category. Your TA  was not as knowledgeable about Oceania procedures as he/she could be.  Just call back and book one person on the B2B cruise, the Waitlist deposit will be $1500. Also, get on the list for the maximum  four stateroom categories to improve your chances. When you receive the contact from Oceania that you have a room, then add the second person and their $1500 deposit. Easy peezy 

 

As mentioned by Flatbush, when you are on board, always book a future cruise because the deposit will only be $250 pp and you can change cruise itineraries one time.

Good luck and enjoy your Transatlantic cruise 👍🚢🥂

 

Gerry

I know some folks consider it “splitting hairs” but, there is no such thing as a B2B (back to back) cruise in the O vernacular. Multi-segment (consecutive) cruises are either “extended journeys” or “combination cruises.”

Where the specificity is most important relates to associated O Club perks, fare discounts, etc. In some cases, two very similar multi-segment cruises with one scheduled in month A as “extended journey” and the other in month B NOT an “extended journey” (rather a “custom cruise”) can have vastly different “bottom lines.”

And BTW, although the website still uses the archaic term “grand voyages” (instead of “extended journeys”), that booking type no longer exists (it was primarily >2 segments and/or VERY long cruises and had a few extra perks). 

[marieps]

48 minutes ago, KS&JW said:

And the cruise line is Oceania not Oceanic.

Oceanic is an airline.  The one whose jet crashed on a creepy island in the TV show "Lost."

[GrammieK]

Oceanic was also the name of a ship in the now defunct Home Lines fleet. 

[Nymich]

2 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

I know some folks consider it “splitting hairs” but, there is no such thing as a B2B (back to back) cruise in the O vernacular. Multi-segment (consecutive) cruises are either “extended journeys” or “combination cruises.”

 

Lol when I went on Riviera two in a row MANY Oceania employees on and off the ship kept calling it a back to back. Even at security where they moved us to the front of the line asking us if we were "back to back?" Things change call it what you want it's your money!

 As for the deposit we were not on a wait list but booked and had to put down $1500 for each leg pre pandemic.

[Flatbush Flyer]

10 minutes ago, Nymich said:

Lol when I went on Riviera two in a row MANY Oceania employees on and off the ship kept calling it a back to back. Even at security where they moved us to the front of the line asking us if we were "back to back?" Things change call it what you want it's your money!

 As for the deposit we were not on a wait list but booked and had to put down $1500 for each leg pre pandemic.

No - actually it’s everyone’s  money. There have been quite a number of threads here on CC about the types of multi-segment cruises and booking the correct way could mean 4 figures in total $ savings due to picking the correct version of the same basic itinerary (offered within weeks of each other). 

[LHT28]

FWIW  Oceania  advertises on their Website  as  GRAND VOYAGES

 

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/cruise-finder#marketing_region=grandvoyages&sort=featured:desc&page=1&pageSize=10

 

Call it what you want it is  all marketing

[Flatbush Flyer]

3 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

FWIW  Oceania  advertises on their Website  as  GRAND VOYAGES

 

Call it what you want it is  all marketing

 

Reread my post. Like several other O website items, it’s an artifact term that never got changed when O started requiring that multi-segments no longer be booked separately. 
Again, more than just marketing, the devil (or, in this case, the money is in the detail.

[edgee]

I am booked on this itinerary which shows up as a 17 day cruise, but is really a combination of a 10 day and 7 day cruise. I paid the larger deposit. My TA has prepaid gratuities for the 7 day portion but not the 10 day one. I can tell you that Oceania is very very fast refunding your deposit should you wish to cancel. I recently cancelled a S.A. cruise and refund happened within 72 hours. 

[Robjame]

We booked “3 consecutive legs” (b2b2b any way you slice it). Oceania bundled them, backed out the air charges except the first and last, and gave us a combining discount. 
We are given credit for 3 cruises and were assured that, for our part,  we could back out of any leg(s) before FP. Seemed fair enough.

We did have to pay the deposit for 3 cruises and now have deposits of $12000 for these and other cruises - not completely happy about that but of course Oceania needs to know you are serious.

 

OP - If it were for waitlisted cabins I would ask my TA to find out our position on the various wait lists, and make my decision based on that. As you, I would not be happy but how else could Oceania protect itself from frivolous reservations?

[Flatbush Flyer]

47 minutes ago, Robjame said:

We booked “3 consecutive legs” (b2b2b any way you slice it). Oceania bundled them, backed out the air charges except the first and last, and gave us a combining discount. 
We are given credit for 3 cruises and were assured that, for our part,  we could back out of any leg(s) before FP. Seemed fair enough.

We did have to pay the deposit for 3 cruises and now have deposits of $12000 for these and other cruises - not completely happy about that but of course Oceania needs to know you are serious.

 

OP - If it were for waitlisted cabins I would ask my TA to find out our position on the various wait lists, and make my decision based on that. As you, I would not be happy but how else could Oceania protect itself from frivolous reservations?

It’s called a “custom cruise.”

[mauibabes]

Robjamie,  Are you sure about being credited for three cruises? I do not know the individual  cruise lengths but our October 18 Istanbul to Miami cruise is a total of 46 days which should count for four cruise credits. The total trip is made up of three 10 day segments and a 16 day TA segment. The hiccup is we booked them as 20 day and 26 day Grand Voyages with air eliminated in the middle, same room but we have to Disembark in Monte Carlo and Embark for the next voyage. The 20 day is one credit and the 26 day is two credits.  We booked the trips at different times, picked up Istanbul after another cruise cancellation, but cost wise it was most advantageous to book them as two GV’s as they were listed on the O website. I know, not correct terminology. 🤪We had not been aware of the “custom cruise” title that Flatbush referenced.  Glad your booking is earning you the three cruise credits.

Most important, happy sailing. 😁🚢🥂

Bonnie and Gerry

[Robjame]

1 hour ago, mauibabes said:

Are you sure about being credited for three cruises?

Perhaps, as Flatbush Flyer has said, it is a combined cruise. We put the 3 legs together and they, or any part of them,  did not exist as a GV or combined.

[Flatbush Flyer]

1 minute ago, Robjame said:

Perhaps, as Flatbush Flyer has said, it is a combined cruise. We put the 3 legs together and they, or any part of them,  did not exist as a GV or combined.

In the actual booking terminology, there is no such thing as a “Grand Voyage” despite the artifact title on the website category.
Once again: Published multi-segment cruises are “extended journeys.” Unpublished multi-segment cruises are “custom cruises.” Next time you are onboard an O ship, ask the O Club Ambassador. 
And again (yet again), the different types affect the calculations of fare, perks, etc. And, IMO, it’s very important to know the difference since it means $/value in your pocket.

[Flatbush Flyer]

1 hour ago, mauibabes said:

Robjamie,  Are you sure about being credited for three cruises? I do not know the individual  cruise lengths but our October 18 Istanbul to Miami cruise is a total of 46 days which should count for four cruise credits. The total trip is made up of three 10 day segments and a 16 day TA segment. The hiccup is we booked them as 20 day and 26 day Grand Voyages with air eliminated in the middle, same room but we have to Disembark in Monte Carlo and Embark for the next voyage. The 20 day is one credit and the 26 day is two credits.  We booked the trips at different times, picked up Istanbul after another cruise cancellation, but cost wise it was most advantageous to book them as two GV’s as they were listed on the O website. I know, not correct terminology. 🤪We had not been aware of the “custom cruise” title that Flatbush referenced.  Glad your booking is earning you the three cruise credits.

Most important, happy sailing. 😁🚢🥂

Bonnie and Gerry

Though your total trip is 46 days, three cruise credits is correct because (apparently), you’ve booked two “extended journeys” of 20 (1 credit) days and 26 (2 credit) days. I’m assuming you also have a separate booking number for each of the two “extended journeys.” 
Would it have been better had you been able to book them together as a “custom cruise” and then get an additional 5% fare discount and 1 more credit???

 

NOT NECESSARILY. First off, multi-segments only get one type of fare discounts and “extended journeys” already have the fare discount built in (often better than 5%). So combining them would get zip extra discount (and, as aforementioned, you cannot make 2 extended journeys into a custom cruise). As for the lost cruise credit (despite a total 46 days itinerary), remember that, with two separate “extended journeys,” you double your overall O Club perks (e.g., if Platinum, you’d get $1k SBC instead of $500, double spa credits, etc.) because you’re booked on two cruises.

 

FWIW, we have the same situation in autumn 2022 with four segments that we had to book as two “extended journeys.”
I’m pretty sure we have the same issue with only 3 credits (can’t remember how many days in each segment but the total is about upper 40s). But, the built-in “extended journey” fare discounts and double O Club Platinum perks make it worthwhile. (Note that, as an exercise, I did the math for every other combination of booking the four segments - from separately to all as one custom cruise [none of which could actually be done] and the bottom line of two separate “extended journeys” is the “best deal” anyway [for a Platinum O Club member].

 

And, once again, years ago, there actually was a booking category called “Grand Voyages” which covered mostly multi-segments of 3+ itineraries and had a few extra perks like free laundry. But, despite the use of the term on the web “find a cruise” section and in an occasional hard copy publication, that booking category no longer exists.
 

As far as actual bookings are concerned, all there is now are “single segments,” “extended journeys” and “custom cruises.” 

[floridatravelersforlife]

On 7/17/2021 at 11:33 AM, KS&JW said:

You can get on a waitlist without a deposit.  However, those who put down a deposit have priority over those who do not put any money down so the odds are not very good to actually getting a cabin if you don't have any money in the game.  

And the cruise line is Oceania not Oceanic.

Case in point, the Iceland cruise I am trying to join next year  has 12 waitlisters for a Vista Suite.  Luckily I am #1 for an OS  and I paid the $3K, 3 months after the cruise opened up.   Until, if ever, the herd stops clamoring to resume cruising, this over demand will continue.  

[mauibabes]

Flatbush, thanks for the clarifications. we worked the pricing options every possible way to make sure we got the most bang for the buck.  Our O Specialist is WONDERFUL.Yes, two separate booking numbers and you are right, two Platinum SBC perks.  Also have Shareholder SBC so there will be plenty of O 💵 available. Our last Riviera cruise the SBC paid for 2/3 of a Graham Denison print 😁🤪👍🙏, thank you Oceania.

Gerry

[Woofbite]

So, kill me for not being a great typist. 

I don't object to big deposit on cruises.  I do object to big deposits for nothing

more than a spot on a waitlist that may never clear.

As to one cruise or back to backs, the trip was listed as a single cruise until it

came time to pay the deposit when it suddenly became two and the waitlist

deposit doubled.

This was to be our first Oceania, (happy now?), cruise.  We will look for another company.

 

 

 

[Redtravel]

While ships are still not sailing, asking for double deposits is outrageous.  Oceania should be happy to take your potential booking with a reduced deposit.  Any booking is a plus for the cruise line.  Getting potential guests annoyed doesn’t work.  Those people will not post large amounts of money on a possible booking on a cruise line that hasn’t started sailing again, they will find another vacation option.  Good business sense says get a booking. Once people book, they usually take the cruise.  A smaller deposit would be a prudent move.

[Flatbush Flyer]

4 minutes ago, Redtravel said:

.... A smaller deposit would be a prudent move.

No it wouldn’t.

O is charging what it always charges for the type of cruise being booked. And, as current O future bookings clearly indicate, they’re not exactly hurting for bookings (with most 2022 and available early 2023 itineraries already booked full across the popular cabin categories. 
Please remember that cruise lines didn’t create Covid or the associated restrictions.

And, perhaps most importantly, if they have to cancel the cruise in question, the fare paid will be refunded.

[PhD-iva]

2 hours ago, Redtravel said:

While ships are still not sailing, asking for double deposits is outrageous.  Oceania should be happy to take your potential booking with a reduced deposit.  Any booking is a plus for the cruise line.  Getting potential guests annoyed doesn’t work.  Those people will not post large amounts of money on a possible booking on a cruise line that hasn’t started sailing again, they will find another vacation option.  Good business sense says get a booking. Once people book, they usually take the cruise.  A smaller deposit would be a prudent move.

You might be happier booking with another cruiseline. We’re happy to book w Oceania.

Enjoy your vacation!