thebsinmiss

If all the cruise critic folks thing O is "big brother" (posts on sales calls from O after going on site) then wait until the figure out what info Goggle has on them !

Yes, there is another thread discussing the "blue envelopes" reappearance. No, there isn't anything else based on what three other couples and ourselves received for our June Riviera sailing. Nice luggage tags and the nice glossy PR piece on the Riviera. Nothing else

Search under luggage storage+miami on the internet. I see usebounce advertising 115 locations in miami at 8.00 per day (starting price) Also luggage hero is another option with locations all over the world (found on in Trieste italy) There is storage at the airport but I doubt you want to go there to drop luggage and then taxi back to where ever you plan on site seeing.

I'm guessing you might be looking at catching the 9:15 non stop train from Trieste to Venice. We are not going to roll the dice so we will take our time disembarking and then check our bags in a locker at the train station (or use one of the luggage storage services offered in Trieste) Catching the 1:30 direct train. Lots of extra time so we don't have to stress/rush combined with getting in to Venice mid afternoon and we can check in to our hotel right away. Enjoy your cruise

We looked at all the excursions and very few really appealed to us and most of the ports are easily self toured (dock very close to the city center, walkable and lots to see as we are first timers).

We have about 150.00 pperson in SM shore excursion credits remaining. My DW is interested in an excursion I have no desire to go on. Has anyone used their SM credits to pay for an excursion for someone else on the same cruise. Our friends are on the cruise and one of them is actually interested in the excursion but they don't have any credits left. We'd like to "treat" her to a free cruise using my remaining shore excursion credits from SM. I don't see a way to do it on line since the credits are linked to the individual. I do recall seeing a post about the shore excursions not checking "tickets" but the friend definitely won't pass for a 60+ year old man ! I'm guessing O won't allow it (more money in their pockets from unused credits) I will ask once we are on board or perhaps give our travel agent or O a call Comments ?

Set your phone up for wifi calling (look in settings) Alternately you could buy an esim like Airlo who sell local and regional data sim cards. They are easy to install if your phone is set up for esim's and the Europe regional card is $13.00 US for 3 GB good for 30 days and covers all your countries. You have to use wifi/computer calling as its strictly data. If you have Whats App on your phone that is VOIP and you would be good to go. The advantage of the data plan is you can use google maps/Waze etc in real time to navigate while walking cities Do NOT turn your cellular (regular voice calling ) connection on at sea as it might connect to the Satellite systems and there are posts about huge cellular bills if that happens.

Sorry to hear about the issues with the cruise but glad you enjoyed it overall. We are on the Riviera in June and I really hope they address any issue of unseasoned/under seasoned food before then. The reason we booked on Oceania again (and why our friends are joining us) is the food. If we wanted uninspired tasteless food aimed at catering to the lowest common denominator then we would have booked on one of the mega ships at a far lower price. I'm very concerned about this and hoping it is a one off and not a corporate mandated on going issue. Time will tell I guess

I know we can use shipboard credits for shore excursions and the FAQ says we can use it to book services at the spa once we are on board and underway (ie can't book before cruise) . We had an adjustment to our account due to a sale price shortly after booking and we have large shipboard credits on our account. We have already paid in full for our upgraded beverage package and prepaid our gratuities. My question is what else can we use it for 1) excursions - It clearly says we can use SBC for excursions but none of the remaining excursions appeal to us 2) premium bottles of wine ? DW might get a bottle or two at best 3) Under way spa treatments (read another post saying the spa attendants fought the use of ship board credits for a massage) 4) Casino credit ? the question was asked in another post but never answered. 5) merchandise at the various shops on board ? I believe they can be used in the shops but we really don't need any more jewelry, overpriced clothing etc..If it comes down to it we will spend it on gifts as they are non refundable at the end of the trip. 6) Future cruise booked on board ? We booked via a travel agent and when I asked about retroactively applying the shipboard credit to the paid for gratuities & drink package they did not think that was possible and recommended I ask once we are on board. Note that these are not shore excursion credits which we still have some remaining. Any help would be appreciated.

Perhaps someone else can comment with current experience on the specific ships as I can't do that. Both SS and O deliver very good/excellent products and services. We are looking forward to our June cruise on Riviera and I am going to try and avoid "looking" for how things may or may not have changed. Each trip is unique and thats the way we want it.

I really hope it doesn't become the norm like on the mega ships where some cruisers take it as a personal challenge to "beat the system" and drink their body weight in booze every day so they can justify in their minds what they paid for the drink package. The license in the elevators does not mean you can legally drink there !

Several years ago we did a silver seas cruise shortly after a cruise on the Marina. Our personal observations were - ship. Preferred Oceania as it was slightly larger but felt less crowded even though the passenger count was higher on O - staff Call it a wash. One thing we found is the butler service on SS was of little value to us and we rarely saw them/used them. Saw her on embarkation day and then the night before getting off. - food - definite win for O. More options and food seemed fresher for some reason - Entertainment - neither offered mega ship level entertainment (not expected to) but there seemed to be a bit more on O - Ports - seemed way easier/faster to get on/off SS vs O (driven by passenger numbers ?) If ports are basically the same and costs are similar I would pick Oceania

The butler is a nice add on but make sure that you will actually use their services on your cruise. We had a butler on our Silver Seas cruise and did not use the service very much which was our fault/omission. Use the forums to determine everything the butler can do for you and confirm in your mind that you will actually use those benefits and services. If the room size/bigger shower and hopefully a few more specialty dining reservations are worth the extra cost (in base fare and higher gratuities) then go for it and fill your "bucket" Enjoy the trip no matter which you choose.

No idea, best to ask Oceania directly. My "guess" is that if you booked it as a designated balcony suite that was NOT part of concierge then you would not benefit from the concierge designation. Cynically if they can't get more dollars from you they aren't going give you the concierge perks ! Either way enjoy your cruise

I would assume if you have booked a cabin and put a deposit down then they would have to honor the contracted price for that room. If you haven't put a deposit down or it is a new person booking now then the new pricing for that particular cabin would likely apply. I would expect basic contract law to apply (offer/acceptance/consideration ie $$) I would expect the terms of the contract buried in the O fine print very few people read fully (I didn't !) to be slanted in O's favor though