dszrew

36 minutes ago, Livin Life said:

I’m on this sailing, and I am renting a car for the day.  This way I can deal with my luggage plus tour independently around the Island for the day.  My cost is about $75.

 

is there car rental at the pier or farther away (walk, bus, Uber to the rental)?

6 hours ago, YourWorldWithBill said:

Thanks for your really informative, objective review. We thought the food on Viking was excellent, and on HAL sometimes passable and occasionally really good, so we're hoping for better on O. But we also focus more on destination and price, and we found the Neptune suites on HAL comparable in price to a lesser cabin on O. So on our November cruise on Riviera, the food might be the factor that keeps us with O or moves us back to HAL.

We have only done HAL once this spring. We thought the MDR food was good. We also cruised with relatives so if it took a while to eat we didn't even notice. Buffet area was unimpressive--often we'd roam and shrug our shoulders. Most everything we got there was cold (if it was supposed to be hot). Terrace cafe is far above HAL buffet, and the options for fresh grilled lobster or steak can't be beat.

4 hours ago, QuestionEverything said:

OP, thank you for your review. 

The loss of ports is a Big issue - were you given any explanation for why?

Weather. "Gale force swells" was common. In one port, we delayed leaving by 3 hrs or so because of weather. It didn't seem that bad, but I guess they didn't want a rogue wind to blow us back into the dock. There was a break in the rain and we took off. Once we got into the fjord it was calm. Someone said the captain seems cautious. 

I think the Nuuk cancellation was justified. I wonder too if they cancel a port not because the weather is bad right now but because the weather might get bad before they leave port?

1 hour ago, LHT28 said:

Not sure if you were in a top suite why you did not get  2 internet accounts  it is part of the suite  perks?

 

Thanks for the review

 

Only one shared connection. Ph1-ph3 I think. If you go higher you might get 2? 

26 minutes ago, babydrum said:

Thanks for your review. You said they cancelled 4 ports and only replaced one, were you given at least 24 hours notice?  Also, how many ports were there total in your original booking?

30 day cruise, about 22 ports? 2 ports were canceled one morning with the replacement the following day. North Cape canceled as we got there in the morning. Nuuk canceled the afternoon before.

It's been a few weeks now since our 30 days on Riviera through Scandinavia and Greenland/Iceland. We had cruised mostly Celebrity in the past, and upgraded to O pre-pandemic to try a bit more upscale and potentially better food and service. We do three things on a ship: sleep, eat, and get off to see ports. We've had a version of this cruise booked for 4 years, and finally was able to get onboard.

Positives:

• I was immediately impressed with the crew. Well trained to greet you in the hallway, as you got off and on the ship, and it seemed many genuinely wanted to be there and were happy with their work (not so much on our HAL cruise a few months back). 
• I thought the ship in good repair and pleasant . 
• PH2 was a nice size. Comfortable beds, liked the room for table and chairs. 
• We didn't know what to do with a butler so much, but his main job was to keep our fridge stocked with sugar-free soda. He excelled in this. Very good cabin stewards, again very friendly. 
• We started to really take advantage of having the butler bring us what we wanted from the specialty restaraunts (see more below). 
• Ordered from the room service menu a few times. Limited selection but we liked the quality of the food that arrived. Kind of odd you have to talk to a butler for room service. I really liked the cheese plate, that became my preference as a warm up to dinner. (their pre-dinner canapes weren't really that good and often cold)
• We had OLife shore excursions (8 of them each). They were all as expected, even though a few were a pretty basic city tour. I'm starting to dislike the hassle (and worry) of planning my own things for every port, and also to the point where I can't be as adventuresome as I used to be (although I still try). Most of the bus tours had enough open seats my wife and I could take our own rows. We ended up taking 7 shore excursions through O (more on that below). All our O excursions were on the first half of the trip mostly in Norway.
• I probably had a Reuben sandwich about 8 times in the 30 days--lots of meat, especially when you ask for extra!
• Service in specialty restaraunts was great. Best items: lobster mac & cheese in Polo, my wife liked the tempura sole in Ginger. Jacques was a bit too French for us, but did like the mushroom lobster. 
• Overall food quality was above average. Nice quality rib eye (not prime, but still good). Yes, lobster is frozen as I've seen them dump many still stuck together out of a bag. Still, had no problem with it. 
• Ice cream was good. Henry Slocombe ice cream mostly wasn't our thing except fudge fernet and peanut butter. Although often they'd be out of both when they were on the menu! Terrace often did not serve the flavor they said they would. Mostly had chocolate ice cream, but dulce de leche and a few other flavors were good (not really a sorbet person).

Below expectations:

• Missed 4 ports with 1 substitution. I won't comment on whether this was justified or not, just disappointing, especially missing our ATV trip at the North Cape--one of the main reasons for booking this cruise. 
• Limited and unpredictable meal times. Often we'd get back onboard after 2pm in port. Only thing open then is Waves (until 4) or room service. Terrace cafe hours were 12-2, although sometimes they'd open at 11:30 and other times stay open past 2. We didn't know how to predict it. Great when they had the extended hours (unless you just got on when 3 other O tours ended at the same time).
• Service in the main dining room was mostly sloooooow. We often skip appetizer and might only do main + dessert = still an experience over 90 minutes (well over 90 minutes for a lunch!). Gave up after our third try. 
• As we gave up on MDR, we spent more time in Terrace cafe for dinner. I like that most things on the MDR menu are also served there, albiet under heat lamps. However, Terrace became a very frustrating part of our cruise, and I vacation to avoid frustrations. People would line up at 11:45 for lunch. There would soon be no open tables. If you came in later, it would be impossible to tell if a table were empty. Often they would clear off the tables or leave a few dishes and not reset the service. Wait staff were just as confused as we were. A few times had to specifically push aside the dirty dishes (not mine!) or the dirty tablecloth that wasn't changed. I would eat rib eye every night as it looks better than many things they serve, but there was often a long line to order and a large group of people waiting for their orders. Wish they would give you a number and bring out your food like Waves did. Terrace seemed understaffed, and sometimes it took patience to get someone's attention, and then remind the server who really was next. Some nights Terrace would almost be empty, and others it would be packed. Seems the staff couldn't predict it any better than I could. Sometimes it seemed as if the managers were doing more clearing of plates than the staff, and other times they were absent (and maybe that's when service dropped?). 
• If you get the OLife excursions (or whatever they call it now), if a port is skipped and your excursion is canceled, all you can do is book something else. Our first skipped port day I scrambled to cancel a private tour and replace it with an O tour just to use the excursion. Later in the day they did decide to give $100 credit for each missed excursion. However, later in the cruise they went back to the old policy, unless perhaps you were lucky enough to talk to one specific person at the destination desk. In the end we did get one credit for one missed excursion. That should just be O policy--if the excursion is canceled, you get $100 room credit. AND, why not let us apply that $100 to a more expensive excursion?
• On the second half of the cruise we were in small ports with few excursions available. I overheard many complain that they got the "included" excursions, but then there was nothing available, or mostly nothing that was interesting that the credit could be used for. There seemed to be many first-time O travelers, and they didn't understand how the excursions worked. In the end, O began running as many as 5 or more of some excursions in these ports. That also meant the experience for some was poor. Heard many comments that their guides told them nothing, or they left halfway through, etc. These were mostly in Greenland ports where there were not established tour companies. 
• While the food quality was good, we ended up having a hard time finding something we wanted (except for ice cream and any chocolate dessert). I overheard one person describe it as "bland". Menus mostly repeated after 15 days (not unexpected). While we originally cruised O for better food, we've now determined that cruising for food is a poor choice for us. Part of it is trying to eat healthier (even on vacation), part is the food wasn't overly exciting. Asia, Mexican, ethnic, and even Pizza were pretty bland. 
• Towards the end of the cruise we warned our butler we were going to order more from the specialty restaraunts in our cabin. I didn't necessarily ever feel comfortable doing that, but at least we could find something we liked and avoid the frustration of the possible crowds and the long waits.
• Internet was the worst. In port, you might as well just turn your phone on. 2am in the morning seemed to be the best time, although that was still painfully slow. Overheard one gentleman tell me he had paid for 2 connections, which just gave them 2 connections that neither of them could use (btw, suites should automatically come with 2 connections, not just 1). Much of the internet problem was the location at the top of the world--either in the open sea with no satellite overhead or in port with the fjords blocking the line of sight to the signal?). I did still manage to buy a car from the middle of the ocean--a first for me!

Overall, we enjoyed the cruise, especially the destinations and having 30 full days to relax and enjoy being together. While frustrating, the "crowding" we experienced at times would not prevent us from sailing O again. However, we chose O and paid a premium for the food, which we are finding is less important to us. We have one more O cruise coming up, but in the future we will probably choose more on price than on reputation of food (destination is always the first choice of who we sail with). Our opinions, for what they're worth. 

On 4/24/2023 at 4:08 PM, mauibabes said:

@Gangway

IMHO, if you can move up to a Riviera Penthouse for what you already have spent for your current booking, GRAB IT.   The benefits of the PH are very nice and Riviera is beautiful and you are out no more $. 
Again, JMHO, 

Mauibabes

Had a 30 day grand cruise booked, past final payment. Both legs of the 30 day cruise worked out to half of what I paid. I suggested that an upgrade from B3 to PH2 would be acceptable to me, or if not, some obc. 

Through my TA, O originally said No. Possibly because the grand cruise is not considered the same as the two segments b2b. I called O directly and asked for an upgrade, and got "I'll ask the revenue department for you as a courtesy." My TA pushed some more and finally got us the upgrade to the PH2. 

I know some have been getting full credit for the far difference, but how do you spend $12k in obc? I also think just the room upgrade is a good compromise, even though I still paid about $6k more than if I could have booked today. I'm satisfied.

On 4/20/2023 at 11:53 AM, Wynterwynd said:

It never hurts to ask…I almost didn’t bother since the website showed a slightly higher price than what I paid, but if they are sending out sales (via print), then it seems to me they owe a little something to those who are loyal/interested/comment on social media/etc

I asked my TA to express my disappointment if they refused to consider anything.  I included a screen print of the brochure pricing.  She got back to me within 48 hours with what I considered to be a more than reasonable resolution (all SBC, but in an amount equal to what the difference in pricing was).  While we lost the other included items, the new SBC more than makes up for that.

Good luck!

checking with my TA after a week of requesting, and despite what I booked being $12,500 less now, nothing is forthcoming from O. I even suggested just upgrading me to a PH or something, which would still leave me paying $6000 more than current pricing. TA isn't done yet, but no positive outcome for me (yet).

On 4/19/2023 at 8:32 AM, Wynterwynd said:

The dreaded mailed brochure with the “extraordinary savings” came this past weekend and our July cruise along the coast of Norway showed our PHP cabin at HALF of the price that we paid.  Our cruise is fully paid for and included a generous ship board credit from our TA and prepaid gratuities from Oceania…but still.  I contacted our TA and asked her to see what she could do (noting that the on-line pricing for our level cabin was $100 more than what we paid; the huge discount was only in the brochure).

The result is a shipboard credit equal to the difference (but losing the other ‘perks’).  I’m happy with that as I realize they didn’t really have to do anything.  Now we’ll book every excursion and schedule massages and I’ll drink like a fish (hubby doesn’t drink) and we’ll still have $$ left, lol.  And maybe that remainder can go toward additional gratuities if the service is as good as it’s been on past Oceania cruises.  Spread the joy!

Thanks to this thread for giving me the impetus to at least look into what the options might be.

I have a 30 day cruise currently priced at half of what I paid, but post final payment. My TA suggested this, and after getting the quotes for new pricing, I sent that information back to him, but they have yet to check (I'm certain). This gave me a bit of something I can push back with to see if they'll put in the effort to make the call. 

Have a 30 day grand cruise booked. both legs on the sale. IF I could rebook it would save $12,000, but we are past final payment date. TA told me they wouldn't match, but they'd see if we could get an upgrade or some other perk. not holding my breath at all, either on O or the TA putting much effort into it...

I would assume if you do B2B cruises you will get either the 4 category upgrade or a discount, but not both?

On 7/20/2022 at 6:08 PM, AMHuntFerry said:

I read it differently. As long as the two (or more) staterooms are on separate reservations, and the shares that are jointly held total at least 200 (or 100 * number of rooms), each room gets the applicable amount ($50-250) of credit.

I think that could be right.

If you have NCL stock, is there a bigger benefit for a grand cruise, like 2 months, compared to just what you normally get for over 14 nights?

6 minutes ago, bob brown said:

I believe you may be able to work around that, if you have two (or more) cabins booked, and have one shareholder 'booked' in each cabin.

I believe that would work, although the terms also stated that if shares were held jointly there would only be one credit per sailing. 

black falcon a few years back. buses into town for free.

On 7/19/2022 at 1:54 PM, mauibabes said:

Now you can go crazy from an investment standpoint and buy another 100 for your wife. Ride it up over $2600 to wherever you like and sell 100 to get your money back and maybe make some profit. 

"There can only be one credit per shareholder reservation on any one sailing" may exclude getting one for yourself and spouse?

was planning on getting trip insurance for our next cruise, but wondered about what happens if the cruise is cancelled, can I get a refund for the trip insurance? it seems Oceania would refund trip insurance if purchased through them? but what about a third party company? I've heard in some cases the insurance can be transferred to another trip but I'm not interested in that.

2 hours ago, Pennstatedj said:

send email to special_needs@celebrity.com to order distilled water and extension cord. I have done in Oct and Dec. If you forget you can just ask your cabin steward. I always send email just in case that do not have enough. That happens when capacity increases. 

doesn't the ship make distilled water from sea water?

Oceania will only step in anyway if insurance denies it

On 12/7/2021 at 8:01 AM, PhD-iva said:

I’m not sure this is correct. Based on what do you say this? I think insurance will only pay out if O declines to provide FCC/reimbursement.

 

Reading through the Oceania document, looks like they will reimburse you if you are denied boarding without this provision. However, for covering medical costs and helping you get home if you get covid during the cruise (or need to quarantine), there is this provision:

The cruise line will cover all costs incurred for treatment, quarantine, and transportation that are not covered by the guests’ travel insurance or should a claim be denied. We will also cover the same costs, that are not covered by the guests’ travel insurance or should a claim be denied, for identified close contacts if they are required to quarantine on board or are removed or denied re-boarding due to  being in close contact to a guest who tests positive.

On 12/5/2021 at 1:52 PM, Flatbush Flyer said:

Yes but recognize that “denied entry” in that FAQ means denied entry to the country of embarkation - not “to the ship.”  Part of the reason fo this item is to prevent folks from canceling the cruise and giving the reason  “due to Covid” without presenting some proof of an acceptable reason. In this “2 week” case, it would be due to denial of entry into the country (per the FAQ) and/or a positive Covid test within two weeks of embarkation (per the Ticket Contract).

 

too much legalize for me. I realize now I just need travel insurance that will cover covid-related issues like this rather than rely on Oceania. I would need it anyway to cover other health issues or family issues that might come up. Oceania will only step in anyway if insurance denies it, but if I have the insurance I'm OK either way.

On 12/1/2021 at 10:55 AM, Flatbush Flyer said:

What happens if you are denied embarkation due to a positive test at the pier (per the 11/24/21 FAQs update, a $99 option starting on 1/17/22) or within 72 hrs prior to embarkation (non-US start) or 48 hrs prior to embarkation (US start) is covered in your Ticket Contract:

 

f. Known or Suspected COVID-19 Case Before Boarding.
You agree that if at any time within 14 days prior to scheduled embarkation, You test positive for COVID-19, exhibit signs or symptoms of COVID-19, have had close contact with a person confirmed or suspected as having COVID-19, or We otherwise determine in Our sole discretion that You are unfit to board because of any communicable illness, We will deny You boarding. Under these circumstances, unless We determine that You have failed to comply with Our COVID-19 Policies and Procedures or this Ticket Contract, if You are denied boarding because of a known or suspected infection with COVID-19, You will be entitled to a future cruise credit equal in value to the amount You paid to Us as Cruise Fare, or if required by law, a refund equal in value to the amount You paid to Us as Cruise Fare, subject to Your providing verification satisfactory to Us of results of tests administered by providers other than those retained by Us. Under no circumstances shall We have any other liability for any compensation or other damages whatsoever, including but not limited to compensation for lodging or travel.

 

Finally: I’m not sure where the US Federal Maritime Commission is in their recent/current efforts to overhaul regulations governing cruise ship refunds et al.. But, I expect O will find itself required to issue refunds rather than FCCs (we shall see).

the updated sail safe document says:

If guests, members of their parties, and others traveling with them are denied entry due to a positive COVID-19 test within 2 weeks of their sail date, they will be entitled to either a refund or a Future Cruise Credit (“FCC”) for the amount paid.

it also appears the website information supersedes the ticket contract. I had thought based on the thread that there was a change in the language of allowing for a refund, but it still looks like a refund is an option in the event of testing positive for covid.

would travel insurance in this case allow for a refund? (probably not O insurance but third party insurance?)

On 11/6/2021 at 12:43 PM, LGW59 said:

Sounds like you are blaming O for the pandemic caused changes in various countries, it is what it is, make a decision but stop blaming O, I see this on so many other line boards on here.  It is not easy, but nothing in the past 19 months has been.  Good luck.

IMHO, if O were to grant a full cash refund for this cruise that is drastically changing at the last minute, it would solve the problem. I don't see people blaming O for Covid-related changes, but O is completely capable of allowing full cash refunds but chooses not to. They could restore good will by allowing the OP a full refund for the modified cruise. Not FCC, but full cash refund. 

When it comes our turn next summer, if our cruise is drastically changed, I would expect nothing less. I really have no use for a $30,000 FCC. I am watching this case, and if refunds are not allowed, then I'm less inclined to make final payment and risk O leaving me in a similar situation.

Might be old news for many, but was browsing through their policies, thinking it was just touting the cleanliness measures, but turns out to cover several situations where cancellation or cutting the cruise short is covered:

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/sites/default/files/2021-09/sailf-safe-health-program-v16.pdf

Highlights for me:

• Refund or FCC if positive test within 2 weeks of sailing

• If test to get off required or test to fly home, included by Oceania

• Cover covid treatment, quarantine, and trip home not covered by insurance or if denied

• Prorated refund or FCC if must quarantine or leave ship

When this all started they had an "assurance" program of if you booked a cruise by a certain date you could cancel up to x days before sailing if necessary. I never saw what replaced that. I like these policies--as long as they don't change. I've seen many other lines change their policies with little notice, claiming first to cover the covid testing, then not. No mention here of when the policies expire, and this is version 16 of the document. 

I'm hoping that after final payment the policy published at that time remains and will not be changed by Oceania.

5 hours ago, Bo1953 said:

Cancel all of your sailings and do not think about cruising until you read at their website(s) that they are doing it the way you believe it needs to be done, 'fairly' and no more guessing, for sure.

 

bon voyage

I have been persistent about booking new cruises, hoping to get a good deal as they scramble to fill ships. But I see the restart is not at all going as smoothly as we might have thought. And where they once had flexible and "assurance" policies, the cruises we booked under those policies have all been canceled and new policies evolve monthly and increase the risk. 

I'm not afraid of covid, even dying of it on a ship. If it happens, it happens. But it seems quite risky to me to test 2 days prior to my cruise, having been vaccinated and with no symptons, and come up positive. What might be no worse than a common cold could cancel a $25,000 cruise with potentially no flexibility for rebooking. Or, I make it on the ship, only to be "exposed", again without symptoms, and be put to shore at the next stop. It is unclear if even trip cancellation insurance would cover those cases. 

I often sail without trip insurance, but with the uncertainty, I am looking to leave cruising behind for a while. [As an aside, my wife and I have also started eating "healthier", and I'm not even sure I want to pay a lot of money for food we shouldn't eat!]