If you are New to Oceania.

[AMHuntFerry]

55 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

Though I do chuckle at "free gratuities". At least as opposed to "PPG". As I learned a long time ago, TANSTAAFL.

 

So, with "TAs" you tend to get what you paid for. Someone over the past 24 hours mentioned on one of the O threads something about saving $7500 on a single O cruise. That's what my wife and I paid in total for our upcoming 2 10-night cruises (actually a bit more than our $7296)! Spend tens of thousands of dollars and they'll treat you like royalty. Not unlike a casino. But tell a TA, "I'd like a sale fare, cruise only, no excursions, no airfare" and you'll hear...crickets. At least I did, the one time I tried. Doubt you'd hear anything about "free gratuities"?

You just don't get it. My TA is very responsive and I get the same deals as you PLUS perks from my TA AND she'll bust her butt if I'm in trouble (yes, I have her cell number and the backup TA's number). I also booked the Extraordinary Sale weeks before you were aware of it (even though I posted about it when I saw it). Keep wasting money if you want but please stop misleading people.

Edited September 1, 2023 by AMHuntFerry

[Ray4Fun]

Ok, I see what you mean. Maybe I join in? 🙂. FYI: South America, If you're doing a port in Ushuaia , Look up Pria Tours. The Penguins Island tour is a lifetime experience. HAL now charges 20 USD corkage fee just to walk one or two onboard. Our TA is also terrific. Not so sure with discounts without me asking,, so we monitor. Seems most cruise lines are doing the nickel and dime now a days. 

 

What about those O things you do when you get onboard? Whats special? Run to eat at?  Get a drink at? Speak to? DO x? 🙂. We are booked for 25, yes a long way away. Special trip for us. 

[LHT28]

5 minutes ago, Ray4Fun said:

What about those O things you do when you get onboard? Whats special? Run to eat at?  Get a drink at? Speak to? DO x? 🙂. We are booked for 25, yes a long way away. Special trip for us. 

We usually have lunch before boarding   so we hit Barristas  for coffee  while waiting  for out cabin if not ready when  we board

If cabin is ready we drop our bag put stuff in the safe  then head  up for coffee

 

Waves & The Terrace are usually the only venus open for lunch on boarding day

If you have not  been on O before  you may want to explore the ship

make spa appts 

upgrade the beverage package if you drink

 

enjoy

 

[AMHuntFerry]

10 minutes ago, Ray4Fun said:

What about those O things you do when you get onboard? Whats special? Run to eat at?  Get a drink at? Speak to? DO x? 🙂. We are booked for 25, yes a long way away. Special trip for us. 

Apparently I follow LHT28 around...Terrace then Baristas then room (with a stop at the spa to grab the fitness class schedule...I promise I'll actually go to one on my next cruise!). Baristas has little brown cakes that I can never get the name quite right (not cannoli, not cannelini...canele'! yay google).

We love our pets, but our choices for home decor are limited by their destructive nature (to be truthful, delicate objects are not safe around the spouse either), so we really appreciate the quality furnishings on O ships (and the cleanliness)...the lighting especially...I look at all the crystals and wonder how many of the staff spend their entire day cleaning lighting fixtures.

[BSR]

5 hours ago, LHT28 said:

We usually have lunch before boarding   so we hit Barristas  for coffee  while waiting  for out cabin if not ready when  we board

If cabin is ready we drop our bag put stuff in the safe  then head  up for coffee

 

Waves & The Terrace are usually the only venus open for lunch on boarding day

If you have not  been on O before  you may want to explore the ship

make spa appts 

upgrade the beverage package if you drink

 

enjoy

 

First time sailing on O and we will be in a suite.  Can we drop off our carry on luggage before heading to lunch? 

[LHT28]

1 minute ago, BSR said:

First time sailing on O and we will be in a suite.  Can we drop off our carry on luggage before heading to lunch? 

Top suites  (OS OC VS)   are usually ready  by boarding time  so probably  OK  to do that

 

[BSR]

2 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Top suites  (OS OC VS)   are usually ready  by boarding time  so probably  OK  to do that

 

Thanks for the quick reply.  You mentioned only Terrace and Waves are open for lunch.  The GDR isn't open on embark day?

[LHT28]

5 minutes ago, BSR said:

 The GDR isn't open on embark day?

NO 

 

[Snaefell3]

7 hours ago, Vineyard View said:

I understand after reading that a few times, but it [PPG] is not available to all as in the ability to bring alcohol on board facts. 

It's part of the "OCAPP" (Oceania Cruises Amenity Partnership Program) perks.

• Oceania-funded, and available through many, but not all, TAs.

• Often disallowed on special deals.  The more special, the more likely "not combinable".

• Replaced with ShipBoard Credit for silver+ loyalty customers (who already get that perk).

[Vineyard View]

Thank you for that clarification. I appreciate understanding. We have a great TA….she jumps through hoops for us. Generally we receive a designated discount, plus rebate back. Sometimes OBC as well. This time it did not include OBC. I suppose I could waive the rebate for gratuities paid….but I haven’t broached that with her. Maybe this designation is in addition to the above with these agencies. IdK. 

[MSEm]

No corkage fee on Viking.  You can bring your wine on board Viking.  If needed, they will put the bottle on ice during you dinner. It's fun to find a great bottle or bottles of wine we purchase before boarding and then enjoy with a meal or on our balcony.

[rbtan]

On 8/31/2023 at 12:58 PM, MEFIowa said:

There is NO Concierge lounge on the smaller R-class ships. Unlike on the larger O-class ships. Having been in an A4 Riviera and in a B2 Sirena, and going to cruise B2B on Riviera later this year in first and A3 and then a B3, we think "YMMV" depending upon the price. Was just "worth" it off the Extraordinary Savings Sale (cruise only) to do it on the first 10 nights, but we didn't see the need to spend the extra money to do it for the 2nd 10 nights. (And unless there is a great sale in the future, our 20 nights B2B on Sirena in the Baltic in later 2024 will NOT be Concierge.)

 

Concierge lounge on the O-class ship has someone there with limited hours. A place to get some finger food, check out a travel book, get something to drink. I wouldn't say it's overly unique, but I did enjoy it on Riviera more than my wife.

 

And ONLY Riviera has the larger therapy pool on the spa deck. Not on Marina. And not on the smaller R-class ships.

 

Though "free" has its own meaning. See the "cruise only" fares. Then compare prices to see what is "free". Given how the cruise prices seem to have significantly increased with the "SM" program, I'm NOT seeing anything I'd consider "free". The prices in the new brochure for the Labor Day Sale were horrible compared to earlier sales, which I could book "cruise only".

So you enjoyed the lounge more than you enjoyed your wife? LOL!

[EJL2023]

42 minutes ago, MSEm said:

No corkage fee on Viking.  You can bring your wine on board Viking.  If needed, they will put the bottle on ice during you dinner. It's fun to find a great bottle or bottles of wine we purchase before boarding and then enjoy with a meal or on our balcony.

I wonder if Oceania will go this route once all onboard are under SM.  Would kind of make sense, since they will be getting the extra revenue from including the house select in the base cruise package, perhaps allowing those to drink their own, especially in restaurants would cut down on their actual expenses since not all would  be drinking the Oceania provided and already paid for drinks.  

[Vineyard View]

53 minutes ago, EJL2023 said:

I wonder if Oceania will go this route once all onboard are under SM.  Would kind of make sense, since they will be getting the extra revenue from including the house select in the base cruise package, perhaps allowing those to drink their own, especially in restaurants would cut down on their actual expenses since not all would  be drinking the Oceania provided and already paid for drinks.  

That is probably just too logical! 😆

[MEFIowa]

23 hours ago, AMHuntFerry said:

You just don't get it. My TA is very responsive and I get the same deals as you PLUS perks from my TA AND she'll bust her butt if I'm in trouble (yes, I have her cell number and the backup TA's number). I also booked the Extraordinary Sale weeks before you were aware of it (even though I posted about it when I saw it). Keep wasting money if you want but please stop misleading people.

I do get it. YOU spend thousands & thousands of dollars and you get treated well. That's the way the world works. Whether with TAs or casinos. BUT trust me, I have contacted a couple of respected TAs but they do NOT want your business if it doesn't involve a lot of money annually. Try a TA with cruise only, on sale, no airfare, no excursions, no alcohol. Stripped down cruise where all they do is book the cruise on sale.

 

I'm not "wasting money". My cruise-only fares save me a fortune as we book our own airfare and excursions and bring our own alcohol on board. Your TA did NOT get you that ESS. That was O's sale.

 

Stop pretending that the only way to go to "save money" is thru a TA. Smart travelers willing to spend some time and effort these days can save a fortune.

 

And I've done the individualized build-your-own specialized tour. Two weeks and 2000 KM in Paraguay in Apr-May 2022. Worked with a US-based Paraguay-specific tour operator and we spent a couple months planning my bucket-list trip day by day, hour by hour, KM by KM, destination by destination. Yet, even with that, did my own airfare, insurance, currency exchange, etc.

[basor]

1 minute ago, MEFIowa said:

I do get it. YOU spend thousands & thousands of dollars and you get treated well. That's the way the world works. Whether with TAs or casinos. BUT trust me, I have contacted a couple of respected TAs but they do NOT want your business if it doesn't involve a lot of money annually. Try a TA with cruise only, on sale, no airfare, no excursions, no alcohol. Stripped down cruise where all they do is book the cruise on sale.

 

I'm not "wasting money". My cruise-only fares save me a fortune as we book our own airfare and excursions and bring our own alcohol on board. Your TA did NOT get you that ESS. That was O's sale.

 

Stop pretending that the only way to go to "save money" is thru a TA. Smart travelers willing to spend some time and effort these days can save a fortune.

 

And I've done the individualized build-your-own specialized tour. Two weeks and 2000 KM in Paraguay in Apr-May 2022. Worked with a US-based Paraguay-specific tour operator and we spent a couple months planning my bucket-list trip day by day, hour by hour, KM by KM, destination by destination. Yet, even with that, did my own airfare, insurance, currency exchange, etc.

For a different perspective, we cruise once a year, do our own air, book verandah cabins and are not spending thousands and thousands of dollars a year with TA.  We do all of our own research and keep an eye on sales, and get our cruise repriced when possible,.  We have a TA happy to work with us and give us her TA/Consortium perks.....so it is possible to have it both ways and save $$$$

[Vineyard View]

18 minutes ago, basor said:

For a different perspective, we cruise once a year, do our own air, book verandah cabins and are not spending thousands and thousands of dollars a year with TA.  We do all of our own research and keep an eye on sales, and get our cruise repriced when possible,.  We have a TA happy to work with us and give us her TA/Consortium perks.....so it is possible to have it both ways and save $$$$

Same same. 

[1985rz1]

1 hour ago, basor said:

For a different perspective, we cruise once a year, do our own air, book verandah cabins and are not spending thousands and thousands of dollars a year with TA.  We do all of our own research and keep an eye on sales, and get our cruise repriced when possible,.  We have a TA happy to work with us and give us her TA/Consortium perks.....so it is possible to have it both ways and save $$$$

 

58 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

Same same. 

Some folks see only Black and White, and some folks think that TA perks can only be gotten if one books very expensive staterooms frequently, in spite of others' experiences to the contrary, based on one interaction with one or two duds of a TA who refused to book the stripped down fare.   There are good ones out there who care about their clients, regardless on how much they spend, even if they may be limited on their perks they can offer.  They still get a commission.

 

If some one does not see the value in using a good TA, then, he/she can chose not to use one, but he/she should stop trying to argue that there is no value to others unless they pay thousands and thousands of dollars annually for their booking .  It is simply not true. 

 

And it's not one or the other.  We benefit from doing our own research, booking our own flights, and using a TA for the cruise (which is all she does).

Edited September 2, 2023 by 1985rz1

[rbtan]

1 hour ago, MEFIowa said:

I do get it. YOU spend thousands & thousands of dollars and you get treated well. That's the way the world works. Whether with TAs or casinos. BUT trust me, I have contacted a couple of respected TAs but they do NOT want your business if it doesn't involve a lot of money annually. Try a TA with cruise only, on sale, no airfare, no excursions, no alcohol. Stripped down cruise where all they do is book the cruise on sale.

 

I'm not "wasting money". My cruise-only fares save me a fortune as we book our own airfare and excursions and bring our own alcohol on board. Your TA did NOT get you that ESS. That was O's sale.

 

Stop pretending that the only way to go to "save money" is thru a TA. Smart travelers willing to spend some time and effort these days can save a fortune.

 

And I've done the individualized build-your-own specialized tour. Two weeks and 2000 KM in Paraguay in Apr-May 2022. Worked with a US-based Paraguay-specific tour operator and we spent a couple months planning my bucket-list trip day by day, hour by hour, KM by KM, destination by destination. Yet, even with that, did my own airfare, insurance, currency exchange, etc.

We do both. We'll use a TA if we feel they can be helpful & do our own if we think we get a better deal. We always book our own hotel & flights.

[LHT28]

[ORV]

2 hours ago, 1985rz1 said:

If some one does not see the value in using a good TA, then, he/she can chose not to use one, but he/she should stop trying to argue that there is no value to others unless they pay thousands and thousands of dollars annually for their booking .  It is simply not true. 

This +1

[Ray4Fun]

Gosh, this read is way way toooo cool. 

[AMHuntFerry]

19 minutes ago, Ray4Fun said:

Gosh, this read is way way toooo cool. 

Please ask another question. We do way better with a specific question (as long as it's not tipping, clothing, or cookies...then all bets are off).

[Snaefell3]

Having a TA's cellphone number who can smooth your way out of an issue a day's travel outside Timbuktu can be priceless -- if you often explore the desert around Timbuktu.  😉

 

As for OCCAP perks, remember: they come out of O's pocket, not the TA's.

[basor]

43 minutes ago, Snaefell3 said:

Having a TA's cellphone number who can smooth your way out of an issue a day's travel outside Timbuktu can be priceless -- if you often explore the desert around Timbuktu.  😉

 

As for OCCAP perks, remember: they come out of O's pocket, not the TA's.

Does it matter whose pocket it comes out of as long as it is in my pocket?  My TA belongs to an agency or consortium that qualifies for the OCCAP perks so that puts the perks in my pocket.  If I booked direct those perks would still be in O's pocket..