daydreamer62

SM stands for Simply More. It's the promotion tht been running for SM cruises booked after July 1 2023. You get an amount of credit to be used solely for excursions as well as wine beer and champagne at lunch and dinner and a few other benefits

I also booked mine pretty soon after paying the deposit on my cruise (8 months before sailing date) and had no problem using all the funds offered and then some. I thought the excursion descriptions were very detailed compared to other lines and I was encouraged to book more than I was going to originally. Friends who booked later than us on the same cruise managed to get all but one of the ones I had booked. I'm not sure if the demand for excursions in our cruise is lower because it's a segment nearing the end of the world cruise but there was a lot of variety in the offered excursions and only one was sold out.

Possibly so, but what I was told, admittedly in a marketing presentation, was that they spend the most per passenger on food. That's not a subjective statement but doesn't make a good tag line! My main issue is that it's sad that this board probably puts more prospective passengers off trying Oceania. Had I read here before booking I probably would have thought much harder (though I booked primarily for the itinerary), I have friends who did choose to sail with Azamara with a similar itinerary.. they read here first.. Not sure if that made a difference with their decision because the Azamara cruise was quite a bit cheaper and had more availability. I hadn't seen that cruise when I booked but reading both boards gives pause for thought. It does have a much more positive tone there and I know there have been major changes with that line .. Anyway I fully intend to have an excellent time and I will post about it after to help others after me

Yes I guess positive people attract other positive people and the opposite it probably true. I'm travelling with 2 other couples neither of whom have cruised at all ( my husband and I have but only on Princess once and Viking once) and we are pretty positive people so I'm sure we will have a great time!

Yes I pay little attention in general individual reviews for restaurants and look more at the global tone of the reviews which is kind of what I'm pointing out here. I'm going to stick with comparing to the Viking board because I imagine it's a similar level in regards to the type of cruise, but I've looked at the Regent boards, Windstar boards and those of the bigger ships too and it seems that this board really stands out in its tone . If you look at the other boards there are quite a few pinned 'helpful' posts at the top. Here, just the one shuttle post(which has been really helpful for me) . Then in those other boards there are one or two complaint type posts on the first few pages but apart from that is av pretty positive helpful tone. I'm not looking for ra-ra cheerleader type posts all the time but some balance would be appreciated. I am feeling a mixture of dismay that I didn't check here before I booked and hope that the reality isn't as portrayed by tone here.

I do too.

I guess that could be a part of it. Change is hard for some, but the SM posts are only a part of the negativity. If you read these boards literally you could be forgiven for thinking the food is inedible ( I've read that exact word numerous times) the other passengers are single mindedly rude and selfish. The wines by the glass offered inferior, excursions a waste of time. On the other boards there are posts with descriptions of excursions, little complaint about the one or 2 provided wines, (which I know from experience aren't exactly in general gold medal quality either. It just seems like the people on this boards are more positive or more keen to portray the positive. I'm really interested in why that could be.

No not yet. I'm booked to sail from Barcelona to Southampton in June on Insignia. It's a sector of the world cruise that's currently sailing. Interestingly, lots of posts from Vikings 2 world cruises but pretty much silence from Oceanias and the roll call which covers all the segments also went silent after the initial boarding. I've seen a few posts on Facebook but just the one (thankfully complimentary post) here. It's interesting comparing this board to the likes of Vikings board which I assume is the closest match to Oceania. I know that this site like much of social media is where people like to rant and complain and 'strut their stuff 'but why is it so much more negative on this board in particular I wonder.

I've been checking out boards here on CC for several other lines and the Oceania boards definitely seem more negative in tone than the others. I,too was wondering why that is. There are certainly some complaining posts on the other boards here and there but far more helpful info type posts and sharing and 'live' posts but on the Oceania boards the tone seems overwhelmingly negative with the is highlight style post. It's a pity. Especially for those of us yet to sail.

No I'm not a chef thank goodness!! .. I teach cooking technology in steam ovens and other advanced technology European appliances for users and staff

That's a deal! If we are ever in Seattle I'll look you up ( my son has been several times as he has a friend living working there) I'll welcome someone else cooking as that's what l do for a job so a meal I don't have to cook is always welcome . Another reason I love to travel. .. Time off cooking (which I still love doing so I can't complain too much! )

Ah yes then I definitely did quote the wrong post! My apologies!

I never saw an option for cruise only offered by Oceania in New Zealand. That's not too say that it wasnt at some time but I hadn't seen it in any advertising here or when I was quoted prices.

Possibly so. If so I'm sorry . There are many insultingly toned posts in this thread .

Yes you put that in nutshell but in doing so you are insulting others. I agree .We all have different priorities. What makes my priorities less valuable or important than yours? because you claim to drink good wine that you hunt out at cheap prices, but I who am happy to drink a cheaper but acceptable wine with a meal and take an occasional ship excursion ( that in my case are cheaper than private ones) am somehow ignorant? That's not a particularly sociable attitude . Just FYI I am somewhat of a wine buff. I like to purchase and drink great wine from all over the world. It doesn't and never will preclude me from drinking a drop of quaffing wine when I'm out or with friends who don't have my priorities. Could I buy a bottle of a quality wine and make them drink it? Sure but why? I'm there to enjoy their company and have fun not to give them a lesson in wine quality . My priorities are different to theirs not less than or more valuable than theirs . My priorities are not less than yours because I prefer not to be always locked in my cabin drinking my good wine by ourselves , but out enjoying the company of others and seeing the world from different viewpoints through others. I cruise rarely. Most of my holidays are independent self drive travel on the other side of the world to where I live, that require weeks of research. I'm taking a vacation from holiday planning on a cruise (to a degree.. I still plan and research a lot. ) Again as I've said I've looked at the value of the cruise with numerous lines vs independent travel and said for this trip this cruise presents exactly what I need. Maybe I'm the customer Oceania marketing is looking to attract? The one that was looking at Viking, looking a Silverseas, and others for similar length itineraries but looked at what deal fit best with my needs. I walked with my dollars to that deal. You can do the same with your dollars. Clearly you feel SM isn't giving you value for your priorities. Doesn't make mine wrong or yours right. We are just quite clearly different. And also FYI ,my cruise dropped in price when SM was released. It was in conjunction with a sale so I'm sure that has something to do with it but I'm better off financially as well, having booked under SM than I would have been booking a month earlier under OLife. Of course now it's not on sale and it's priced much higher than what it was on OLife or when I booked. Prices aren't static so you can't compare then with now. You can only look at the deal and judge if it's right for you personally.

It's great you got great deals on your private excursions however it's not always the case . For our upcoming cruise for instance I looked at a private tour in Gibraltar for6- 8 people The tour seems to have the identical itinerary to one of the ship excursions The quote came back Total price for 4 passengers 540 euros Total price for 6 passengers 660 euros Total price for 8 passengers 720 euros In$NZD 660 Euros is $1178 or $196 pp The retail price for the ship excursion was $NZ 191.00 less 25% =$143 25. That's also simple maths . This is just one example of several. Certainly some were cheaper to do privately and we still are able to take those ones of course. The SM option doesn't preclude us from doing so . Like a previous poster I also will be drinking a wine or 2 during the meal . The cost of my cruise of $NZ 6950 including gratuities valued at NZ$415 including the drinks with meals at a value of$69.90 US a day according to the website which totals $NZ1615 and including NZ$835 works out to a pretty reasonable deal of under $NZ300 A similar length cruise with viking would cost me $NZ1000 per day with no choice of included wine except the colour w and no choice in the included excursion . I suggest the marketing plan for Oceania are on fact onto a winner if they want to attract the likes of me. Because I booked with Oceania not viking (or any of the other large ship lines)

No you can just pay as you go for those if you wish

Thanks for that advice. I Will remember that, though I'm tossing up taking the prestige drinks package .. If so I'm not likely to have any left!

Well that will be great in the case of any cancellations

Yes I have that. It shows the full price of each, them the 25% discount off each . It totals each at that point . Then the grand total is shown with the SM credit is deducted from that grand total not which separate excursions are being accounted for by the credit

Thanks. Yes I do a lot of research before travelling especially in YouTube but haven't found a great deal pertinent to shore excursions in this area per se

I would think that sounds logical but I'm not sure logic plays much part. I've booked 7 excursions. I booked 3 first which used all my credit with an extra $100 cost paid by cc. Then I decided to book the minimum to get the 25% discount. That discount came off all 7 excursions and when I look at the invoice it just totalsc all the excursions, took off the credit and charged me the balance rather than state excursion 1,2 and 3 were 0 cost and 5,6 and 7 were paid by me.. so if one is cancelled I'm not sure how they will work out what portion is non refundable credit and what portion is a credit back to me..... It will be interesting to see..I hope that issue doesn't occur!!!

We have a 9 hour stop in Portimão on our June Oceania cruise. I have booked a half day excursion to Lagos and Caevoiero as both look delightful but I'm second guessing myself as I have booked more ship excursions on this cruise than I ever have before.We are a group of 6 . My husband and I are very experienced independent travellers but the other 4 people have not been to Europe before so they are relying on me as the ' camp mother '. Would we find it just as to spend the whole day in Portimão on our own maybe getting the ferry to Ferrugado or spend a couple of hours in Portimão and then the afternoon on the excursion to Lagos and Caevoiero

I got the discounted simply more price that is shown when you select the excursions (for my cruise I needed to book 7 to get the discount)

Yes I discovered you need to book them all at once if booking on the website for it to work correctly. I just called direct and had them credit the difference and they sent me a new pdf invoice with all the prices noted