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While we know that Oceania has no control over the weather and the political situations in the world; they do control how they respond. In addition to the changes made because of the Red Sea conflict, three other ports were missed because of weather or other reasons. The sea days are starting to increase significantly. If no more ports are missed, sea days will represent 42.8% versus 30% of the total itinerary. The reduction in ports visited is significant. And the time in many some ports old and new has been reduced making it difficult to have a decent experience. The message that we are receiving from Oceania's response is that loyal, high spending clients are not valued and that we can be replaced. We probably can but we expected better. At the very least we expected Oceania match the responses that Viking and Royal Caribbean made their clients affected by the same circumstances.

For the around the world passengers, the decision about what to offer was woefully insufficient given the drastic change. In the last 60 days alone, sea days increased from 18 to 32 (78%) to the point that sea days are now 53.3% of the itinerary. After a letter signed by 156 ATW passengers was sent to Carlos Ortega, Frank A. Del Rio and others; Oceania offered an FCC worth 5% of the fare. It was originally restricted to use only on the 2025 and 2026 ATW and/or their segments. Oceania removed that restriction at the time they offered the 5% FCC. A second letter will soon be sent because from the perspective of the number of ports and port hours, ATW passengers will have lost 13% of the expected experience of the cruise. We shall see if Oceania responds and if they do, what their response will be to their most loyal and highest spending clients. It should be said that both Viking and Royal Caribbean had to make similar changes for the same reason. Both made more appropriate adjustments and provided significantly more options.

In our case, the cancelled excursions were immediately credited to our onboard account. No additional action was required. If we booked a replacement, it was charged to our onboard account. The transactions were totally separate.

That's a relief? Because I have nothing booked under simply MORE, I could not determine if the discount packages were still available and I could not find the information in the FAQs. I am personally relieved because we will probably book at least one more cruise with Oceania and it will be under the simply MORE program. The excercise I have been going through comparing the programs has been for the purpose my planning. I want to maximize the value received based on the options available to me. I am sharing how the change in programs affects my wife and me as well as others under the same circumstance that being primarily people that do not buy beverage packages.

You got me wondering so I did a new comparison of two 10 day cruises from Athens to Istanbul on the Sirena. OLife 7 - 17 July 2023, 6 shore excursions - maximum value $1,194 A2 cabin - $5,849 simply More 14 - 24 October 2023 $800 shore excursion credit A2 cabin - $5,999 In order for the simply MORE $800 to pay for 6 shore excursions, the excursions would have to cost an average of $133.33 each. If shore excursions cost a more realistic average of $175 each, the simply MORE allowance is worth $250 less than the OLife shore excursion amenity. That is an additional 2% increase in cost on top of the 2% increase in the cost of the cabin. If you always buy a beverage package you are ahead by $549 ($799 drinks package minus $250 reduced shore excursion value). If you don't buy a beverage package, you have an additional 2% increase in cost over the 2.5% increase in cabin cost. While the amount may be small, in the long term percentages matter when compounded over several trips.

I said in the beginning that people that always buy a beverage package will come out ahead. The rest of us will not. The comparison is less to SBC than to the value of the shore excursion amenity under OLife. Its maximum value was almost double the SBC option. Certainly the numbers are smaller on shorter cruises but the percentage disadvantage remains. I can find on scenario under which I realize more value under simply MORE that OLife if I do not buy beverage packages. If you have an example of how you pay less under simply MORE than OLife, please share it. I also realize that everyone's situation is different. My post is about the affect that the new program has on those of us that do not buy beverage packages using my own personal experience as an example. If you visit the Roll Calls you will find quite a few people that previously booked "Cruise Only." NOTE: the examples and commentary I have made are comparing only the effects of Oceania's OLife program with its new simply MORE program. I am not comparing to any other cruise line. Not unexpectedly, simply MORE represents a significant increase in price and reduction in value to those of us that do not buy beverage packages. For those that to, simply MORE is a net positive.

I decided to start with the maximum because it is theoretically possible. But even if you use a reduced number, the result is OLife provided a higher benefit. It is just a matter of how much less. We are booked on the 2024 ATW which is why I chose it. We booked in March 2022, so OLife is our program. Our qualifying shore excursions have a value of $175 per excursion or $13,650 versus an allowance of $10,800 from simply MORE. The OLife advantage to us is a significant $2,850 or 26.64% more than the simply MORE program. Your mileage may vary but it will be greater under OLife than under simply MORE. The OLife program also offered a "Your World Collection" 25% discount on shore excursions booked above a fixed number. That number included the excursions booked using the free excursion amenity. There was also an "Unlimited Passport Collection" but that was only advantageous to us on our Alaskan cruise. For the 2024 ATW, the YWC 25% discount became available once we booked 6 shore excursions above our included number. There is no mention of those discount packages still existing under simply MORE. If they do not exist, then Oceania has implemented a significant increase in price on all booked excursions that previously would have been discounted.

Oceania knows what percentage of its passengers buy beverage packages. Oceania also knows that beverage packages have an extremely high gross profit margin. They have little or no value to my wife and me. Oceania is making a calculated decision that they hope will increase their profit margins. There is nothing wrong with that. But simply MORE is a failed attempt at camouflaging a significant price increase for the ancillary elements of a cruise on top of the easily identifiable increases in cabin tariffs. I personally think they went too far too fast. OLife versus simply MORE shore excursion value comparison using 180-day 2024 and 2025 ATW cruises. ATW 2024 – OLife 78 shore excursions or $7,800 shipboard credit Maximum shore excursion value $15,522 ATW 2024 – simply MORE, $10,800 shore excursion credit (30% reduction compared to OLife) ATW 2025 – OLife 64 shore excursions or $6,400 shipboard credit Maximum shore excursion value $12,736 (18% reduction compared to 2024 ATW) ATW 2025 – simply MORE, $9,800 shore excursion credit (23% decrease compared to OLife) For shorter cruises, the reduction in value of the shore excursion amenity will be proportional. Whatever the amount, both the shore excursion credit and the beverage package are use it or lose it amenities. For some of us, there is a lot to lose. There will be some percentage of cruisers that will be very happy about simply MORE. They are the passengers that always purchase a “House Select” beverage package which costs $39.95 per day per person. On a 180-day cruise, the value of that amenity is $7,191 per person or $14,382 per cabin. That will more than offset the decrease in value of the previous shore excursion amenity. I don’t know what percentage of Oceania’s passengers purchase the “House Select” beverage package but Oceania does. In my opinion, Oceania knows that including the high gross margin “House Select” beverage package and reducing the value of the shore excursion amenity will be more advantageous to Oceania than OLife. For those of us that don’t drink or don’t buy beverage packages for a variety of reasons, the inclusion has no value. To sum up the differences between OLife and simply MORE: · Significantly reduced value of shore excursion amenity with simply MORE · No option for shipboard credit in lieu of shore excursions with simply MORE · Elimination of a cruise only option with simply MORE · Addition of the “House Select” beverage package with simply MORE

We took the shore excursion amenity and booked our shore excursions. They qualified for the Unlimited Passport Collection. We were given refunds for all canceled shore excursions. We had the option of replacing them. We replaced two of them but the transactions were debits and credits. We were credited for the ones we cancelled and debited for the ones we added. The transactions were not linked.

It works in your favor if you always buy the House Select Beverage Package but we don't. However, prior to simply MORE, Oceania reduced the shore excursion amentity so its value was more in line with the simply MORE value. But simply MORE is still less than the lowered OLife shore excursion amenity. Oceania is trying to disguise significant increases in price as benefits. For those of us that don't buy beverage packages, the disguise doesn't work.

That would be my concern. With simply MORE it is already a use it or lose it amenity. It just becomes less valuable if you can't use it because of cancelled ports and a credit for the cost of the booked and cancelled shore excursion is not issued. For us, the simply MORE program is a net negative.

Our issue with simply MORE is that it forces you to book Oceania shore excursions in order to use the allowance. However, you do have the flexibility to book OE, OS etc. excursions that were not available with the OLife shore excursion amentity. That said, the total value of the simply MORE amenity is less than the maximum total value of the OLife shore excursion amenity. We recently had three shore excursions cancelled on our Alaskan cruise. We were given refunds. I can't tell from the information available what will happen with simply MORE. Will Oceania issue a refund to your onboard account or will they force you to book another shore excursion in order to maximize the value of the amenity.

We feel the same way. The older I get, the less I am willing to schlepp luggage in and out of hotels, train stations, and trains every two or three days. Our stress level goes up and our enjoyment level goes down. If we take a land trip, we stay for at least a week in one location and sightsee by private guide from there.

It is and that is why we choose Oceania most of the time. Oceania's new program is creating an even bigger price to value gap than it did before. I realize that choices can't always be totally objective and equal on all points. But now, the decision has become more difficult because of Oceania devaluing its offer.

Taken in a vacuum, you are correct. Taken in the context of this thread and Oceania's latest program that greatly devalues the inclusions for many especially the non-drinkers among us; there is something new and for many of us worse. You are correct. Each of us has a decision to make after weighing the factors.