Cruseforme

14 minutes ago, ORV said:

I see there is no longer a price list link from the Oceania site. There is a menu of services link but no prices. Are we supposed to guess at it, or if we have to ask can't afford it?

 

I've got a price list from 2017. Does anyone have one more current? 

Link to Canyon Ranch, Oceania below.  Select ship, then go ALL the way to the bottom(last page).   https://www.canyonranch.com/at-sea/oceania/

IMHO, after living within 10 miles of CR in Tucson, and going there many times, they sold out last year to new owners and per friends, they seem to be real money hungry now.   Sad, used to be very good.   

To Hopkina:  I am sorry you had a really bad experience on your cruise.  Realizing that it is a major expenditure.    I am very surprised that your TA did not give you prior information regarding the ships tour prices, and set expectations.   It sounds like possibly Oceania is not a good fit, but what is your favorite cruiseline experience (and cruiseline), prior to sailing with Oceania?  This may have pre influenced your expectations.   I also understand the frustration of finding CruiseCritic after you came back, and not before, so you could have asked questions in this forum, if your TA did not fully understand Oceania.  Happy sailing on your cruiseline of choice in the future.  

8 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Crystal's lecturers are more dynamic? Interactive?

 

Or are you saying the Oceania lecturers are more scripted?  Rather than being knowledgeable and speaking "off script" as appropriate?

 

More detail, please. I'm considering trying both in 2021.

We found Oceania’s “lecturer’s” to be more scripted, they stand in front, read presentation, and walk off.   Now, that said, they brought in a fantastic docent/speaker for the Panama Canal crossing, and as other Cruiselines, brought in fabulous Naturalists for Amazon and Alaska cruises.     But ‘for the most part’, they seem to be College Professor’s.   Crystal’s speakers are ‘for the most part’, enrichment speakers, and subject matter experts.   YMMV, but we cruise both regularly, and have expectations for each one.    We enjoy cruising on both Oceania and Crystal.   I would not hesitate cruising on either one.  

2 hours ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

Without a doubt, best lecture/enrichment program has to go to Crystal.  Not just quality speakers, but both a wide variety AND a goodly number on their cruises.

 

For example, on a 20 day Regent cruise, there were TWO lecturers.  Not much diversity of subject matter and presentation (let's just say that one wore pretty thin after one or two lectures).  A similar Crystal itinerary had seven speakers. 

 

Another nice Crystal feature - they list the various entertainment and enrichment offerings for each cruise.  So you can see who will be the featured entertainers, the enrichment program, and if there is a special theme for the cruise.  They regularly do jazz cruises, Broadway cruises and food & wine sailings.

+1  Oceania lecturers/enrichment cannot hold a candle to Crystal’s.  Oceania’s are ok, but more like college type lectures, where professor stands in front of room and just “talks” to the presentation.    

You pre book your reservation in advance, online, or through your TA.

Specialty restaurant reservations may be made in advance in the Booked Cruises section of My Account on our website, or by phone, according to the schedule below, and may be changed up until 7 days prior to sailing. Reservations must be paid in full prior to making reservations. Reservations may also be made on board. Guests with priority embarkation privileges (Concierge and above) will have Priority Reservations from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm in Polo Grill. Guests in other staterooms can make their specialty restaurant reservations from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm.  
 

• Owner’s Suite, Vista Suite and Oceania Suite 
  Advance reservations may be made on the date final payment is due and has been received until 7 days prior to sailing, which varies between 90 and 150 days, depending on length of sailing. 
• Penthouse Suite 
  Reservations may be made 75-7 days prior to sailing, if the booking is paid in full.
• Concierge Level Veranda 
  Reservations may be made 60-7 days prior to sailing, if the booking is paid in full. 

Per the Oceania FAQ’s:

Insignia, Nautica, Regatta and Sirena 
Concierge Level Veranda and above 
Cruises 7 days or less: 1 reservation at each restaurant 
Cruises 8-17 days: 2 reservations at each restaurant 
Cruises 18 days or more: 3 reservations at each restaurant 

All other categories 
Cruises 17 days or less: 1 reservations at each restaurant 
Cruises 18 days or more: 2 reservations at each restaurant 

https://oceaniacruises.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005477653-How-many-dining-reservations-am-I-allowed-in-each-specialty-restaurant-

1 hour ago, newyorker123 said:

Call back and get a different agent.  Keep calling until you get someone to help you.

 

You do realize that this thread was from 2015 right?   

Wow, sorry to hear this.  This is exactly the opposite experience our “sailing buddies” had last month with us on the Regatta.   She has celiac disease, talked to the Special Needs dept before we left, met with the head chef on her requirements on the first day, received the next days menu the night before (each night)  to check off her desires, and received special items for desserts and tea items during the cruise.   In fact one night the pastry chef came out with 5 gluten free desserts just to sample, for the entire table.   I would personally meet with the head chef and pastry chef if I were you.   Something is drastically wrong with this picture.   She had awesome desserts and tea cakes which I did sample (because I wanted to compare with Crystal’s offerings).  Hmmmmm. 

If you haven’t already discovered it, there is an awesome forum called ...

Whatever happened to..., and these are a lot of stories re:this.  You should repost this subject there for information.  

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/34-what-ever-happened-to/

I was on the Stella Solaris, part of the Sun Line during Christmas in 1975 in the Caribbean.  (They merged with Epirotiki). 

check the Oceania webpage. Oceania used to list their members of the Travel Agent consortium called Connoisseur Club as an option.   I would start there.   Experienced TA’s definitely offer a lot of insight to the specific line, and ships, and also can opt to share their commission with you as others have pointed out, by OBC and money back rebates.   

You can purchase a bon voyage gift for the cruisers by calling Oceania or their TA.  You will need to know their cabin and cruise date or booking number.   See this site:  

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/documents/bonvoyagegifts/26643/Bon-Voyage-Gifts.pdf

I am unable to help with your direct question, however, would this help?  

https://shop.travelscoot.com/us/accessories/foot-rest-support-plate.html

Actually, this question was asked 2 years ago, when this occurred on a cruise ship.  The cruise lawyer, and cruiseline in question answered that they will get the parents back onto the ship ASAP, however, it it at the parents cost.  It cost these parents $20k to get an emergency shuttle to the ship, and were reunited with their 2 children within hours. They were charged after the trip, and tried to get out of paying, but were unsuccessful .   

21 minutes ago, RJB said:

+  1

+1   I am blissfully “ignoring” until you folks “quote” them...then I gotta take a deep breath and count the months.    

If you are going to the GDR, shorts, T-shirt, sweats, leggings, jeans, etc are fine.   Think lunch inside a casual restaurant at home.  At the Terrace and Waves Grille,  they ask you to wear a bathing suit coverup over your suit, and no wet bathing suits which they may have a sign stating something like this at the entrance.  

Thank you for taking the time to review your cruise.   Have you looked into luxury escorted tour groups?   Something like Tauck, or Insight?   We have been on a Tauck several years ago, and it was as you described, smaller groups, better tours, more intimate.   YMMV.  

It’s under Forum Assistance, how to use these forums:

19 minutes ago, docmark said:

We have a NEW "poster" who is contributing HEAVILY to "tangentially" moving to a different topic ,picking on a word or phrase .Of course we have few "veterans'  who have been doing it for years !!

Yup, on multiple boards.   

Remember folks, 1) Report Offensive and other posts that are against CC policy, and 2). the Ignore is your friend for abusive and bullying posters.  

After having an absolute horrible pre cruise experience with Azamara, which we ended up finally getting our money all returned after they moved our cruise by one week for a charter (within 4 months of sailing date), without telling anyone for 1 month, we went to Regent, and didn’t really think they were worth it (folks seemed to enjoy bashing Oceania and lesser cruise lines, and food was just about the same...but in honesty, the cruise was being sold rock bottom price), so we went to Crystal.  We thoroughly enjoyed them.   We’ve been on on several cruises with them so far, and have plans for more next year.   We still enjoy Oceania, but like having choices.  I would tell you to shop around, and check itineraries for what you are interested in.   Only you can decide what line you like, and even then, what ship you enjoy.  

We pulled into Mahogany Bay last year.   Riviera.    There is a website that someone can add, that will tell you what ships are in port and where.  

10 minutes ago, clo said:

Oceania makes it very clear that, while they 'accept' children, there are absolutely no activities for them.  I love it 🙂

Actually, that’s not exactly true.   Oceania has an Alaska kids exploration program, and during the December Holidays there have been many children onboard, and we have seen a crew member assigned for a pseudo kids program.   Usually there are under 20 kids on board, but we were on the Riviera three years ago at Christmas, and there were about 50 kids onboard.   Most were very well behaved, some however, notsomuch.   

The problem with posting on the “general” forums, vs Oceania, Azamara or Luxury line forums, is that you are comparing apples and oranges.   Oceania and Azamara are premium plus lines, and as such are not part of the general mass mkt comparisons.   Terrace Cafe is  NOT your normal mass market buffet.   Normal buffets do not have a grill with made to order lobster tails, lamb chops and fish (yea it’s unlimited every night).   The stations on the Oceania ships, are just that...stations.  They serve you whatever you want, small, medium or large portion.   It’s fine, just don’t try to compare Buffet stories with the mass mkt general cruise lines...not the same.   In fact, most folks don’t get it. 

Not sure why they just canceled it, Regent canceled their stops to St Bart’s in April and May.   We were there last year on a Sunday and found all stores but 2 closed, and most taxi/tour operators shut down.   If you had a pre arranged tour with a local, you will need to advise them of the cancelation.  Unfortunately the cruise contract states they may substitute at any time, so if your heart is set on one itinerary, you may want to go there on a land trip, as these cancelations occur on cruises.   

Celebrity, I believe has a beverage pkg you can purchase which includes specialty coffees.   The premium plus lines (Azamara, Oceania), and the luxury lines (Regent, Crystal, Silversea, and seabourn) have included specialty coffees.   On Oceania, all soft drinks, and non alcoholic drinks (including specialty non alcoholic coffees) are included.   On the luxury lines, alcohol is also included in your fare.   Price them out...after including your beverage pkg, and air, sometimes the premium plus lines are comparable in price.