Flatbush Flyer

Interesting TidBit: We were at the Ferry Building (San Francisco) last week and stopped by the Humphry Slocombe shop for a scoop or two. Though not on the menu, I asked for some “Elvis: The Fat Years” only to find that it hasn’t been available to the general public for at least two years. Apparently, someone at O knows someone at Humphry.😳😎

Oops! Forgot the other important “ingredient.”

The glorious egg cream! Fox’s U-Bet Chocolate Syrup for authenticity along with seltzer (NOT club soda) and whole milk. The order in which you add ingredients depended a lot on which Brooklyn neighborhood. BTW: my first real summer job was working at Jentz Ice Cream Parlor at “the Junction” of Flatbush & Nostrand.

Call and ask for a copy of the “prepurchased shore ex PDF”- the one with all the math. Since you booked your tours direct, you are due that PDF. If the rep says no, call back until you get one that will send it to you.

The challenge is wading through their newbies and not-so-helpful phone reps until you connect with the cadre of long-serving experts who are the examplars of good customer service.

Sorry that the cost of your reminder to “avoid the O Cart for excursion purchases” is to be victimized by it.😳 Your post also serves as a reminder that, no matter how great your TA may be, it’s worth the time and effort to find a well-respected, long-term O phone rep for direct purchase of O excursions. They can work wonders at avoiding the web “fubars” and doing so faster than even the best TA. As I have mentioned previously: our Plan A is to initially book O cruises onboard or, if timing is not right, with our preferred O rep before transferring to our TA within the 14 day transfer window. We do this with the O phone rep because he gets credit for some of those bookings - well deserved since he always makes sure our tour purchases are problem free.

Details are unnecessary. Deano is a legitimate/trusted source of info on this particular issue. And, at the bottom line, all of our “casual observer” opinions won’t change anything. Ray has chosen to move on and O has lost (yes lost) its most popular cruise director.

Oh no!!! Now I’ve heard that Ray Carr is jumping ship for Explora Journeys. That will put a serious dent in my relationship with O. Senior needs to have a word or two with Junior about the preferences of the O regulars (who are still alive and kicking).

Those vials aren’t even a fraction of an ounce- maybe twice the five or six required drops. Just leave the boxes intact and pack them in checked luggage. If they get lost with misplaced bags, kits are readily found worldwide.

Haven’t seen the schedule but have been on an Alaska cruise with the kids’ club. As you said, well behaved. We’ve also seen kids on other, mostly summer, O cruises. Toddlers through teens, all well behaved. Even have seen at least one pre-teen on Insignia who was on a World Cruise (now that’s home schooling!) - perfect gentleman.

Put a zero after that 2 and you’ll be in the ball park.😎

Not just the ship… the needs of the port are a major factor as well.

Note that many airlines now have extended their dynamic pricing policies/practices to cover use of FF points for flights. Mileage charts are gone and your price in points can change on a daily basis (in both directions). One caveat about booking “early”: Some airlines have temporarily inflated points demands (and even tix prices) during the first 2-3 weeks after new schedule additions are posted - hoping to grab $/points from mostly business travelers before moving to full dynamic pricing.

Many more O cruises is what you are “missing.” We’ve averaged about 75 to 100 nights across multiple segments annually on O ships for enough years to have cruised with certain officers (and crew) over and over (and over) again. That’s translated to numerous invited dinners and a mix of both leisurely and professional conversations (often on sea days), where we’ve learned much about mutual interests and experiences. There’s about a handful of these O “officers/crew” with whom I correspond. Because we don’t see them regularly, I’d call them distant friends. But, they’re friends nonetheless. And we often check with each other to see what mutual future cruises will give us a chance to get together and share sea stories.

The limit on reservations only applies to those you can book prior to embarkation. Once you are onboard, you could possibly eat in specialties every night and at no added charge. All that takes is checking with the restaurant reservation desk on any given morning for a space available table that evening. Your best bet at getting added reservations is willingness to share tables and flexibility about dining go time. One important point though. Specialty restaurants on O are not like specialty restaurants on mass market ships (where you pay extra for better food). On O, all the food is “better” (ingredients and preparation). The difference in O dining venues is menu focus and ambiance of the dining venue.

There was a time when the “port” side of a ship meant just that- the side next to the port (the land). And that was because the “steering board” (steorbord in Old English and starboard now) was on the water side of the ship where it was most easy for right handed mariners to control and, thus, needed to be free facing to the open water.

I agree that Ray is the king of trivia. But, that’s just one aspect of who they are. Get them together and you might be surprised at the chemistry. Each is a bit irreverent but IMO- in a very delightful way.

If you don’t like Julie, you’d probably be in that group that didn’t care for Ray. Both of them have a huge following (as do Leslie and Dotty). What they all do share, however, is that they’re each uniques as opposed to the newer crew of “cookie cutter” place holders.

Julie James will have big shoes to fill as she rises to take over the “best O CD” slot. But she can do it. Nonetheless, Ray was the dean of O CDs and still the only CD in the world ever to receive honorary membership in the prestigious Friends of Johnny Tokyo.

Apparently, we haven’t met. 😎

If you are doing a connecting intercontinental flight, only one extra day pre-cruise will never be enough time for misplaced luggage to catch up with you. Likewise, it may be very difficult to get a same day rebook or ticket assignment for a missed connection. As a general rule, savvy travelers will always do a minimum 2 nights in the embark city and a minimum of at least 3 hours for connecting layovers. In addition, it’s always worthwhile to have multiple Plan Bs for your connecting flights.

If you read my follow-up post, I did mention that I’ve recently heard Junior use the “ee.” I’m not a happy camper! First they remove the poppy seeds from the multi-seeded rolls and then get rid of the ebi for sushi. And now, they may be sneaking in the “ee?” What’s next? Make Destination Services staff learn how to do their jobs?😳 Too much change!

It’s easy enough to find out how O’s founder, FDR (Senior), pronounces his baby’s name. There’s many videos on the web in which he can be clearly heard saying “oh she ahn na.” Same goes for other PR stuff we’ve seen over the years from O originals like Bob Binder, Leslie John…. That said, I do seem to remember hearing Junior recently add the “ee” in his pronunciation. Maybe it’s part of the numerous not-so-subtle O tweaks we’ve been seeing lately.

And, of course, that makes the most sense. Use one partner’s CC for the onboard account. Easier to confirm purchases against a single account printout. Also, set aside one high limit card (with no balance due) in case you have to cover an emergency medical bill.

O corporate folks call it “O she ahn na” - always have, always will.