Stepping it up~

[Leonid]

Nanowarts just might grow into to microwarts, or even miniwarts. Even worst, big warts!

[shoshona2]

Hi Jan,

 

After three cruises on Oceania in Concierge, we sailed on Crystal last November. It was a pleasure having water and/or Perrier in my refrigerator whenever I wanted it. I vote for free soft drinks and some free time on the internet.

 

Sheila

[hezzy]

We just went on our first Oceania cruise in a Penthouse. Loved the cruise and the room because of the larger space and the bathtub. I agree with other cruisers that there could be more of an effort for perks on those levels and above. I was really suprized that there was only one tote bag in the suite and not one for each paying passenger. A little cheezy that there weren't two because they are really cheap. Also, I agree with others that bottled water should be free (withing limits) and possibly some other drinks. It won't keep us from cruising Oceania again, but hopefully they will add some other perks for suites. I don't see a lot of incentive to book the more expensive rooms.

[hondorner]

Unlimited Diet Pepsi.

[12B@C]

And, if you're going to have someone go first, it might as well be those who pay more. Like the airlines boarding elites/F/C first.

 

As long as you are at it, why not go back to days of ocean travel in the twenties. Have first class on the top decks and don't allow the peons in the lower class have their fun on the bow or stern decks below. After all they don't pay as much as the elites.

[hondorner]

I guess I just don't get all the references to a class system. What kind of car do you drive? If you have one with an automatic transmission, does that make you a higher class than someone with a stick shift? Is it a class system to have power windows?

 

Ya' pays a leetle more, ya' gets a little more. That's the way the world goes 'round. Some folks do it for the puffery, but a lot of other folks do it because they perceive value.

 

I certainly don't resent suite folks their butler, and I have yet to meet one of them who looked down their nose at me because I didn't have a butler.

 

I have spent 41 nights on Oceania so far, and I have never perceived any sort of class system. Just the opposite -- where else can I dine with different folks -- of every so-called "class" -- at every meal?

 

Off of my soap box and back to the fun -- if every concierge cabin had a soft drink fountain dispenser (featuring Diet Pepsi, of course), I wouldn't need a mini-fridge. Do you know how much your suitcases weigh when you bring 3 cases (72 cans) of Diet Pepsi aboard for a 26 day cruise? Worse, when you run out near Devil's Island, it's tough to find replacements.

[Leonid]

Doesn't Cunard still embrace the "class system" for dinning? i.e., your cabin dictates where you dine.

Pepsi One rules!!!

[Rickey 88]

Cunard, and probably some other cruise lines, do still adhere to the "Class" system from the early part of the last century. (Remember the Titanic and the Steerage class being barred access to the top decks after hitting the iceberg?)

I'm not proposing doing away with the present Oceania system, even though previous posts have protested the "different colors" of the key cards as if that were some sort of demeaning class segregation. The different categories presently in use seem to work quite well, and I've never spoken with any other passengers who seem to think they're being treated differently due to the accommodations they have chosen

What I disagree with are those who feel that many "perks" HAVE to be included - with a long list of "I Wants" ranging from free drinks, free bottled water, free internet access, free cokes, free gratuities, and on and on and on.

There is NOTHING in this life of ours that is "FREE" - it all has to be paid for one way or another. These items either have to be paid as you receive them, or they have to be hidden and then included at the end of everyone's cruise and final fare. I can't believe that any reasonable person simply expects any cruise line to "give" such perks away!

Personally, I firmly believe in paying for whatever I order when I order it. Having seen too many situations of overindulgence on board other lines, I absolutely will resist any effort to include wines and cocktails in my fare. I refuse to pay for anybody's drinking but my own!!

OK, down off my soapbox......

:D

[merryecho]

Ricky- I don't understand-we are discussing O's concierge cabins, which are exactly the same as balcony cabins, but cost about $1,000 more because of the included perks. However, O has upgraded all cabins and service to the point that the only real perk left is a cotton tote bag. Thus the thread, what perks can O provide in concierge class to make it worth the extra $1,000.

 

I can understand your desire to keep free alcohol out of the hands of drunks, but I have never seen, or read on these boards, anything about drunks being a problem on O- it just doesn't seem to attract the big party types. As for "paying for others to drink" why is that different from paying for others to eat steak and lobster if I am a vegetarian? It all evens out in the end. And we are talking about having a complimentary bottle in your room- not ship-wide all inclusive drinks.

 

Hondonor- I couldn't agree more- some want the most luxurious experience possible and are willing to pay for it, some prefer to save their money and are happy in an inside room. Each to his own, and O does its best to accomodate us all. Clever idea about the pepsi fountain, I don't touch the stuff myself, but if it had a handle for cabernet too....

[digby]

Having sailed on O three times (OS,VS & PH) the only time we dined with an officer was when we had an OS. Don't see why any one in a cabin below those three should have that experience until all cruisers in the top three cabins are at least offered that experience. We pay the extra fare - let us enjoy the experience.

 

I have been in one PH and two OS, and have never had dinner with an officer. However, I have never cared to in the first place. Having dinner with the help never has been high on my list of things to do! LOL!

[12B@C]

I have been in one PH and two OS, and have never had dinner with an officer. However, I have never cared to in the first place. Having dinner with the help never has been high on my list of things to do! LOL!

Sort of my sentiment.

Although I might not refer to the crew as "help', I find it much more interesting to talk to the officers on deck. A dinner conversation with them could be 'charming' but sometimes boring, while on the bridge it could be stimulating and a learning experience.

We have travelled several times on the Windstar fleet where they have 'an open bridge' policy; meaning while the ship is at sea you can visit the bridge and talk to the officer in charge. He or she will tell you how the ship works, about their navigation system, and sometimes (if they are not too busy) have a very personal one-to-one.

I wished O had that same idea for everyone (or do they?).

[orchestrapal]

:confused: The Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth 2 all have class distinctions. You get what you pay for both in accommodations and dining as well as facilities. I don't quite understand what is wrong with that.

In this world we are not all equal. We all have to enjoy whatever we can afford and those of us who can afford the top accomodations should not have any guilt about those who can't. Class distinction will always exist in some form weather it is housing or cruising.

[lahore]

Hi Digby - how's it going mate? How did things end up with your doggie? I couldn't agree more (sorry Jan, just don't agree on that one being fun). We were invited to the Cruise director's table for dinner on our last cruise and politely (I hope) declined - we had an early start in port then next morning and I couldn't think of anything worse quite frankly. Yeah, I'm a stalwart anti-social curmudgeon.

 

12B@C - agree too, we went on a bridge tour last cruise and it was fascinating and the captain and his crew were great conversationalists; and there was something to actually talk about. I don't think Oceania actually regularly do bridge tours, but we had complained bitterly about something as had quite a few others, so I think they were trying to settle us down a bit. It was a nice gesture.

[lahore]

What would I like to see on the conceirge deck that would make me happy? Billy Connolly, George Clooney, .....

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Just been studying the price differential. It's not out of line with the way stateroom prices in general go up by deck. I was just comparing some Regent Voyager fares for a 7-day cruise. Going up deck by deck thru the standard, identical, staterooms seems to cost $250-$300 per category, which usually means a higher deck. With most Oceania itineraries more like 12 days, this sounds like the same ballpark.

 

When we book, I'm going to try to persuade my husband to forgo the fridge so we can spend the money on excursions. Any other downside to a B cabin over an A?

[LHT28]

When we book, I'm going to try to persuade my husband to forgo the fridge so we can spend the money on excursions. Any other downside to a B cabin over an A?

 

You don't get a tote bag or 2 reservations for specialty dining & the bottle of champagne.

But we were able to get more seatings by being flexible with our dinner request times

Different shampoo etc...& the cashmere throw to use

The cabins are the same & the money you save will pay for the champagne if you want it;)

[Jancruz]

Just been studying the price differential. It's not out of line with the way stateroom prices in general go up by deck. I was just comparing some Regent Voyager fares for a 7-day cruise. Going up deck by deck thru the standard, identical, staterooms seems to cost $250-$300 per category, which usually means a higher deck. With most Oceania itineraries more like 12 days, this sounds like the same ballpark.

 

When we book, I'm going to try to persuade my husband to forgo the fridge so we can spend the money on excursions. Any other downside to a B cabin over an A?

 

Wendy, the difference between deck six and seven is the noise factor

jancruz1

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Wendy, the difference between deck six and seven is the noise factor

jancruz1

 

Care to elaborate, Jan?

[pondnana]

Wendy, the difference between deck six and seven is the noise factor

jancruz1

 

We have been on both 6 and 7 and have never had a noise problem on either one of them. For us the additional drawer space on 6 is more important than a frig.

Diana

[HawkeyeCruisr]

I think Jan might be referring to the fact that deck 6 is above the deck that has the dining room, casino and lounge. We were on the Regatta one year ago in 6082 - right above the dining room. We never heard ANY noise at all - not from below us or next to us or above us. You might want to avoid the forward area of deck 6 - right above the lounge, especially if you're early-to-bed people. Personally, I'll take that deck 6 location the next time I book Oceania!

[LHT28]

we were in 6084 on Regatta this year & the sound /vibration from the waves hitting the ship & prop noise kept me awake.

I usually sleep very well on the cruises but not this time

 

did not hear anything from the dining room

Going back to deck 4:)

[lcand1923]

We stayed on Deck 6 on our first O cruise and Deck 7 on our second. The main difference we found was this. Passengers tended to congregate in the hallways near the elevators on Deck 6. We started to joke between ourselves that people must have "run out of steam" after taking the stairs and decided they couldn't walk the last two decks up or down. Our cabin was near the elevators, so we had difficulty entering and leaving it. We also had some hallway noise. We decided to go with Deck 7 on the next cruise to see if we could avoid this problem. It worked.

 

Friends of ours on each of these cruises tried Deck 4 and Deck 7. They are returning to Deck 4 because they like being closer to the gangplank in the various ports. They said the noise level between the two decks is comparable.

[Druke I]

We've been on Deck Four thrice; twice Regatta and once Nautica, with another trip on Deck Four slated for Nautica next Jasnuary.

 

We were on Deck Six, of Pacific Princess, a sister in the R class of ships.

 

We've not had any noise issues on either deck.

 

Sis-in-law and her hubby were on Deck Six, Regatta, on our Baltic trip, and had anchor chain noise and thruster vibration issues, but they were far forward.

[Jancruz]

We have more complaints about noise in many cabins on deck 6 from below..deck 7 is between 2 passenger decks and we never have a complaint..

I always suggest deck 7..

Jancruz1

[Frede Sander]

Leonid.

Why is it so interesting to dine with the crew?????

just asking.

 

Fred