What is included???

[capecodmommy]

I have never cruised with Oceania before, is everything that is included on the bigger, more well known lines, also included on this line ie: meals, transfers (if they are booking flights), on board entertainment? How pricey are the "extras"?

[LHT28]

It will be very similar to Carnival in amenities provided free of charge with a few exceptions

Check the FAQ or your TA

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/T_MainContentPage.aspx?PageUID=89f3a518-78a5-4b1b-af0d-8a6f236defa2&Secure=True

[Bruin Steve]

I have never cruised with Oceania before, is everything that is included on the bigger, more well known lines, also included on this line ie: meals, transfers (if they are booking flights), on board entertainment? How pricey are the "extras"?

 

Curiously, the transfers are NOT included...

 

I have the confirmation for my 2009 Nautica cruise in front of me right now...

$2950 pp cruise fare

$950 pp "noncommissionable air allowance"

$399 pp "noncommissionable fare"

$127 pp Transfers, airport to ship, ship to airport

$533.80 pp Insurance (optional)

$98 pp Visas, Turkey and Egypt

$98 pp Fuel surcharges

$364 pp Govt. Fees, Taxes, Security and Handling Charges

$479 pp Air related Taxes, Fuel surcharges and ticketing fee...

 

So, what shows initially on the website as $4299 pp (2 for 1, air included) actually comes out to $11,997.60 for two

 

Onboard, one plus is that there is no extra charge for specialty restaurants...

Tips, as suggested, are $12.50 per day, per person...

Shore excursions, of course, are extra...as are drinks, internet, etc.

No added charges for onboard entertainment...except the casino of course...

[Bruin Steve]

Oh, a little more...

 

Hotel packages through Oceania are outrageously overpriced...

Like $699 per person for one night in Venice (We booked our own hotel for 130 Euro per night total)...

Or like one night at the Conrad Istanbul for $449 per person (We booked this hotel on our own directly through Hilton for our pre-cruise on our Nautica Cruise summer before last for $113 per night!

 

Drinks onboard are a little more expensive than on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity...and they tack on an 18% tip rather than 15%...

[orchestrapal]

Steve: Your information is always so on point, however this time you are not comparing apples to apples.

O's hotel rates are astronomical compared to direct booking with the same hotel bu they do tend to use 5* hotels. Our experience with the Grand Bretagne in Athens was that the actual cost was less than half of the O cost and we ere upgraded to a suite but rate did not include transfers.

Of course on can always use cheaper hotels than they do and find great deals.:) :)

[Bruin Steve]

Steve: Your information is always so on point, however this time you are not comparing apples to apples.

O's hotel rates are astronomical compared to direct booking with the same hotel bu they do tend to use 5* hotels. Our experience with the Grand Bretagne in Athens was that the actual cost was less than half of the O cost and we ere upgraded to a suite but rate did not include transfers.

Of course on can always use cheaper hotels than they do and find great deals.:) :)

 

I'm not sure where you think I missed here...

The Venice comparison was definitely a different hotel with cheaper "rack rates", but still a nice hotel conveniently right next to San Marco--the Anastasia, compared to O's Gritti Palace...But the Istanbul hotel is apples-to-apples to a point...It's the Conrad either way...The almost $800 we saved is more than enough to cover the cost of a taxi from the airport and to the ship...

 

I also think they're overpriced compared to other cruise line's hotel packages...We used Celebrity's hotel packages in Venice and Barcelona in 2003 and in Vancouver in 2004...I always compare the hotel cost versus the same hotel if I book it myself and also versus alternate hotels I can find on my own...I will typically only look at the better hotels, typically four or five stars...because of the larger selection pool, you can always find better hotel deals on your own--and not always because you're willing to downgrade the class...

 

And I do factor in the value of the ground transportation...

 

I am willing to pay a small premium to have everything arranged under one umbrella by the cruise line...which is why I often go with Celebrity's packages...But Oceania's are outrageous by any measure...

[lovecruisingtoo]

Steve,

 

As I am sure you are aware, you managed to book a VERY LOW price at the Hilton. If you look at their rates, most days START at 250 Euros. This equates to about $400 plus taxes.

 

You make it sound like the $113 is the normal price per night. IT IS NOT.

[Bruin Steve]

Steve,

 

As I am sure you are aware, you managed to book a VERY LOW price at the Hilton. If you look at their rates, most days START at 250 Euros. This equates to about $400 plus taxes.

 

You make it sound like the $113 is the normal price per night. IT IS NOT.

 

I am very good at finding good rates...

Yes, the $113 rate at the Conrad was extraordinary--but it was directly through Hilton on their website by booking almost a year in advance...But, just to check out what a more "standard" rate might be and since my next cruise ending in Istanbul is still over a year away and the rates aren't up yet, I arbitrarily plugged in similar dates THIS July, only two months away...and was able to get it for $269 per night--and yes, that is IN US DOLLARS, NOT EUROS...still a far cry from $900... Even if you slice off $100 for ground transportation (which would be outrageous--we didn't spend half of that for a private car from the airport to the Conrad and a taxi from the Conrad to the ship), you'd still save over $500 doing it on your own...

 

Even your "$400" rate saves you over $400 off the Oceania hotel package...

 

Remember, we are talking $449 PER PERSON for one night...that's almost NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!

[shoshona2]

Hi Steve,

 

I fully agree with you -- we have been on three Oceania cruises and the pre-package was always "out of sight". We always book our own four or five star hotels -- to pay twice the amount for a hotel room is outrageous especially $900 for two for one night. We stayed at the Sheraton in Santiago (Celebrity's choice of hotels) on our own for $115. When we checked in, we were upgraded to a mini suite in the tower because we are Starwood members. We join ALL the hotel chain clubs and get all the perks. Last November, we stayed for free at the InterContinental in Rome using our points. The room was $500 a night. We are staying for free in Boston next Labor Day weekend -- the rate is $600 per night -- we are using points.

 

Sheila

[swifs]

I have always travelled to the port the day before a cruise is leaving. However on next year's Nautica sailing from Istanbul the ship doesn't actually leave until the day after boarding. We would prefer to use our extra vacation days at the end of the trip, in Athens, rather than arrive before the boarding date for the Nautica and book a hotel in Istanbul. Since we would go with Sheraton's Starwood vacation points either way, it is not the cost of the hotel that is at issue, more the number of vacation days. I was just wondering if anyone would comment on whether there is any reason to add an extra day to the front end under those circumstances.

[LHT28]

I was just wondering if anyone would comment on whether there is any reason to add an extra day to the front end under those circumstances.

 

I find flying to Europe I end up sleeping the most first day so having a hotel the day or 2 before (although a pricey nap) I can get adjusted to the time change & enjoy the cruise.

[jg2256]

SWIFS:

 

If you have never been to Istanbul you will regret not taking the extra day. There is just so much to see there and combined with flying in from the states you will be much better served by flying in a day early so you rest up a bit and have some real time in Istanbul. I spent a week there 5 years ago and still did not feel like I got to everything..

 

JG

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I agree with the previous poster. If you're favoring post-cruise in Athens over Istanbul because you know both places, then fine. But if you've not been to Istanbul, you may be disappointed that you don't have longer there--it's an amazing place.

[ChatKat in Ca.]

A day in Athens is more than enough. But a week in Istanbul is not enough. One of the favorite places that I have been and will definitely want to return to.

[merilynee]

I have never cruised with Oceania before, is everything that is included on the bigger, more well known lines, also included on this line ie: meals, transfers (if they are booking flights), on board entertainment? How pricey are the "extras"?

WE Have travelled with O before and 2 .specialty restaurants are free.Tips and transfers are not included.I

don't know the prices of the drinks as they allow you to bring your own wine on board. Their shore excursions we found to be quite expensive so usually do our own thing.I believe you will like this cruise line.The entertainment is next to nil so don't expect anything great.

[Acrusa]

We are sailing the Istanbul to Athens cruise this July to the black sea.

We took O pre cruise 3 day Istanbul Package.And we are leaving the day we disembark in Athens.We have been to Athens twice, 2 days might be ok if your not intending to do more in Athens. I mean if you want to take little cruises around the Islands.

With the ship in Istanbul for 2 days before sailing thats a total of 5 days hope we get it all in.

[billie5]

Just for a balanced view: I prefer a week in Athens to a day in Istanbul anytime.

 

I would not say that, however, to someone who had previously visited Athens and had never been to Istanbul. Nor to someone who had never been to a Moslem country and would probably find Istanbul more "exotic" or at least more different, from what they were used to. On the other hand, for a city to dwell in, to absorb the culture and its role in the heritage of ours, just to walk around, for me it is definitely Athens.

 

And as far as museum collections go, the National Archaeological in Athens has it hands down on the Topkapi. (Note I said collections -- the Topkapi building, as a palace built in the 1400's, is definitely of interest; the National in Athens was built as a museum in the late 1800's)

 

Bill

[LEJ]

What drinks are extra/not included besides wine and mixed drinks: ice tea; bottled water, soda?

[LHT28]

What drinks are extra/not included besides wine and mixed drinks: ice tea; bottled water, soda?

 

Included: coffee, tea, iced tea, lemonade, cranberry juice, orange juice (breakfast only) cappuccino, expresso, milkshakes, milk, tap water

 

Soda pop, bottled water, wine, beer, mixed drinks are extra

 

 

Ice cream is available from 11:30 to 4pm at Waves free of charge