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bob brown
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Posts posted by bob brown
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11 hours ago, bob brown said:
Interesting…I am in the same situation. My milestone cruise is already booked for this December, and wonder if It would make any difference in the total cost if I changed it from “cruise only” to “simply more” (if that’s even allowable on a free cruise)? The difference might be in the not included port taxes and fees, if those went up along with the fare increase.🤔
Got the answer later today from the O Club Ambassador…
On the free cruise, one cannot receive O Life, or even Simply More perks, even though the latter is now included for full fare paying passengers…
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2 hours ago, golfguyhhi said:
Our 20th cruise is this December and I've just told our TA to convert it to SimplyMORE so the beverage package is included and I don't have to purchase it separately. Will also be able to take an expensive car and driver excursion somewhere along the cruise. And all for free.
For me, SimplyMore worked out perfectly for the 20th milestone/complementary cruise.
Interesting…I am in the same situation. My milestone cruise is already booked for this December, and wonder if It would make any difference in the total cost if I changed it from “cruise only” to “simply more” (if that’s even allowable on a free cruise)? The difference might be in the not included port taxes and fees, if those went up along with the fare increase.🤔
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3 hours ago, Globalfish said:
On August 15, 2022 I made a $500 deposit on a 14-day Great Lakes cruise on the Ocean Voyager for August 10, 2024 beginning and ending in Chicago. I was notified by an AQV reservations agent on March 28, 2023 that the cruise was cancelled because the Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator will not be operating next year. No reason was given so the news in this thread that these two vessels are being sold is extremely interesting. The AQV reservations agent told me it will take 60 days to receive a refund. When I still hadn’t received the refund after that time, I called AQV on May 30 and spoke to a different reservations agent, who told me it can take up to 90 days for the refund and that it was processed on March 28, 2023. 90 days came and went and I still haven’t received a refund. So I just called my credit card company and upon investigation they credited my account accordingly. Good luck to any of you in a similar situation with a cancelled AQV Great Lakes cruise.
So…they’ve known this since at least March 28th, and still (July 1st), they have not officially notified me…
Doesn’t instil much confidence in the viability of this company…🤔🙄.
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2 minutes ago, Rainbow3fe said:
We love Oceania. I doubt there is another cruiseline that would make us happy. Unless we spent double and went to Regent.
We "experimented" with lower priced lines in higher categories. We didn't enjoy Princess nor Celebrity. Too many things to explain here.
We know Oceania costs more but why eat at McDonald's if I blessedly can afford Le Cirque.
Just saying🦋❤️🌊🌻😎
Granted that Oceania holds a unique niche that measures “just right”, on most things for most of the people on this board. But if it is just food you are comparing, the lower fares would allow you to select a specialty restaurant on the lower priced lines every night. IMHO, NCL’s “Cagney’s Steakhouse” is at least as good as Polo…🤷♂️
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2 hours ago, jonthomas said:
for those of us that do not drink any alcoholic beverages nor do ships tours, this is seen as a real blow...
granted, there may not be many of us....
so we will pay more for those that will enjoy the drinks and the tours...nothing new about that...
as for me, not fretting too much....have 10 O cruises booked into May of 2025 and hope that I can keep things as they are....of course if there is a sale, to rebook and benefit from it, will have to rebook and book with the new O ...so that will not be an option...
bottom line...as long as food is still the best we can do and the ambiance stays as it was, we will be happy....
Or, you can switch to a cruise line with lower fares, and “a la carte” pricing, paying extra only for those things of value to you, and not “subsidising” those that are not…
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6 hours ago, Jancruz said:
No we will be on Insignia December 29 to January 14 through Panama Canal
We will also be on Regatta April 20 for 11 days..
Jancruz1
Bon Voyage!🙂
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On 6/27/2023 at 5:12 AM, pinotlover said:
Trivia might be fun if they block out all internet services in the Lounge and disallow the use of all portable electronic equipment.
We stopped playing years ago, because we were playing for fun. We could never compete with those blatantly cheating for big O points!
We have had two different CD’s on our ATW cruise, and both (with humour), emphasise that using electronic devices will not be tolerated.
So far, it has not been a problem, and all of the players (as many as 21 teams of up to 8!), seem to really enjoy it…
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On 6/23/2023 at 4:50 AM, American Queen Voyages said:
Hi there! What sailing in September 204 were you booked on? We are disappointed to hear that you were not made aware of the cancellation at an earlier date.
On 6/23/2023 at 11:36 AM, bob brown said:September 28 - October 10, Ocean Voyager, Chicago to Montreal…
What I am disappointed in, is that after promptly answering your inquiry, I have heard nothing further from you.
Further, my travel agent reached out to your office, and after almost a week, also has not received a reply to his inquiry…🙁
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7 hours ago, Hambagahle said:
I disagree. I have been on both lines and in suites on Regent (Seven Seas Aft was my favourite). But I find the suites on Oceania to be better looked after (though hopefully Regent has caught up with that) and we loved the ones we have had - on Riviera the Owners Suite, Vista suite and Oceania suites. All top notch. Food is great and since as a rule we don't take excursions (though we are happy to drink!) Oceania's current pricing suits us. But it is to change in two days time...we have to see what they offer.
I can’t fairly judge, as I haven’t been on Regent yet. I can only compare the online brochures where the lowest to highest cabins on each line are shown. Regent doesn’t have anything less than a large balcony (no insides or ocean views), and their largest and most lavish suites are simply “over the top”.
It puzzles me that that their service doesn’t seem to measure up to your expectations…but again, I haven’t been aboard Regent, and do have to agree with you that Oceania’s stewards are excellent.🙂
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1 hour ago, DeanoNorthPerth said:
Married by Ray Carr? That can only mean a marriage filled with laughter. Great choice!
Ray did most of the ceremony, but the Captain made the final official pronouncement.🙂
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6 hours ago, shepherd really said:
The finest cuisine at Costco, now we need a hot dog thread.
There’s no need for that…Oceania’s grilled hot dogs are just fine, as they are…😉
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On 6/25/2023 at 11:12 AM, cbb said:
We may cruise Christmas '23
On the Vista Dec 18 - 30?
Betsy and I are on that one…hope you join us!
Betsy says, hi!
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9 hours ago, Jancruz said:
o my God I cant believe its almost 4 years..
Congratulations to you both
Hi Jan!
Betsy says, hi!, too.🙂🙂
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Favorite memory on Oceania?
Easily this…July 9, 2019
Betsy and me on our wedding day aboard the Insignia…
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On 6/25/2023 at 11:12 AM, cbb said:
Francie,
I should have mentioned that on ATW16 we lost our beloved Don Horner (Hondorner for those of you who know) CD Andy Heath had a wonderful memorial service for him onboard.
We may cruise Christmas '23 and for sure we're sailing the summer 2024 and hope to be gone over 2 months. We're eagerly waiting for the July-Dec 2025 to be published.
We also had one for Don on our 2019 ATW cruise…
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Well, it happened!
As promised in a previous post, @zz19 delivered a package of Costco Chocolate Chunk cookies to me after he joined our ATW cruise in Tokyo (thanks again, Steve!).
Yesterday, during our brunch in the Grand Dining Room, I had the opportunity to give some to our Executive Chef, Farid, and he liked them. He said he would share with our pastry chef.
For dessert last night, I requested chocolate chip cookies, and the ones served were the best I have ever had on Oceania. If they were just a little moister, they would have been the equals of the Costco ones.
On our cruise, the quality has been up and down, but I am hoping against hope that they will continue to be better. If they remain as good as last night’s, I will be very pleased.😋
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8 hours ago, Hambagahle said:
I am beginning to wonder (out loud apparently!) if this is a move to upgrade Oceania to Regent's offerings and then to merge the two lines ???
I doubt that…Regent’s staterooms are at a higher level across the board than Oceania’s, from what I’ve read. And I agree with@Flatbush Flyer…why would NCLH want to exit a “niche” in the broad cruise market spectrum?
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13 hours ago, 1985rz1 said:
Under OLife, I think you paid the full price for an excursion that was not part of the included ones (typically exceeding $199) with no credit towards the higher priced excursion.
Our shorex price lists have a column for “supplemental” charge to be added to those already having O Life credit, for any tour priced over $199. The supplemental fee is not the full price for the more expensive tour, but it is more than the difference between $199. and the full price.
For example, if a tour charge is $209., the supplemental fee may be $69., not just $10.
I never could understand Oceania’s logic for that, and am glad that will disappear with Simply More.
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2 hours ago, basor said:
After 01JUL - the only option that you will have available to book is Simply More with or without Air...the shore excursion page will be exactly the same for either OLife or Simply More. If you are under Simply More, when you book excursions, your shore excursion OBC will be deducted from the cost and if you are under OLife (with shore excursion perk) your free excursions will be deducted. That being said, the shore excursion page has been very wonky before so it might take awhile for it to proceed correctly.
Could be more complicated, based on past charges…under 0 Life, if an excursion price exceeded your $199. per excursion allowance, you had to pay much more than the difference between that and the price, in order to “upgrade” to the higher priced excursion. Under the new plan, that is no longer the case under Simply More, your excursion credit is applied to whatever the price is.
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Our Oceania Club Ambassador, Cella, gave us aboard the Insignia on Monday, our future cruise presentation, and details (except fares, other than they would be rising), on the new Simply More program.
For those booked prior to July 1st, for cruises starting October 1st, we would have the option to change from current program, either cruise only or O Life, to the new program Simply More, at the price in effect when the change is made. Or we could keep what we have. Further, if we currently have O Life booked, we could change it to cruise only, but would have to do that quickly, before July 1st…
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22 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:
• Hapag Lloyd's Hanseatic Inspiration ship goes from Toronto to Duluth and back to Milwaukee in 14 days
Unless things have changed, I believe most of the passengers and crew on their voyages are German-speaking…I suppose they make bi-lingual or tri-lingual announcements on these voyages…
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21 hours ago, Cisterna said:
Viking Expedition ships operate the great lakes also
Thanks, I am aware of the other’s.
None of them offer exactly what AQV currently does, nor at their fares.
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23 hours ago, Hanoj said:
Any additional information leaks?
Our Oceania Club Ambassador, Cella, did our Future Cruise presentation yesterday, and went over the new program, highlighting the differences.
She confirmed that the included shipboard credit could only be applied for shorex, but could be applied to any excursion offered, regardless of price. They cannot be applied for pre or post cruise hotel stays, nor any enroute “overland” tours…
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3 minutes ago, AMHuntFerry said:
Is there a "hot water" button?
Yes. I zoomed in so you can see it better…
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Simply more's impact on current bookings?
in Oceania Cruises
Posted
Perhaps I should ask this on the Azamara forum, but I will try here…
I recall when Azamara was spun off from Celebrity, to expand parent RCCL’s market coverage. But why did they end up divesting it?
Subsequently, they acquired Silversea, but they are more like Regent’s niche.