jrandjr

23 hours ago, LHT28 said:

The bottom line 

if you have a cruise(s) already booked   check the new SM price  against what your current  amount  is (bottom line)

Then see what you will gain/lose by switching

 

 If the difference is minimal  then it may be worth  switching

 Only you can decide what works best  for your needs/wants

 

YMMV

 

 

 

Wish it were that simple. Ship Board Credits, Promo's and Onboard booking credits have to be thrown into your calculations. 

Enjoy reading everyone's views on O. As cruisers working on 55th, the size, cuisine and staff has us working on our 10th O cruise since the Pandemic ending. Due to O's loyalty program, this means no more gratuities (so thankful). We've booked 10 more through 2025 while on-board to take advantage of low DP and extra OBC.

Most of the observations are spot on except we find O Excursions work for us for two big reasons: We won't be left if we're late for any reason and on extended Cruises we always take Your World (25% discount) and use OBC to offset even more cost. 

Goodbye Celebrity, RCCL and NCL and those expensive lines listed is this thread. 

12 hours ago, Gracie115 said:

 

We will be on the new Celebrity Apex in October in suite class and therefore eating in Luminae.  We've always found it excellent, but this will be 1st cruise with them since 2019 so hopefully the quality will still be there.  I do agree that Celebrity MDR has taken several steps back in recent years, but Luminae kept us going back.  We are looking forward to this cruise but also looking forward to next year's Oceania cruise, our first one.

We were at the highest loyalty level with Celebrity but found them to start slipping before Covid.  We ate most night in blue because Luminae was just not the same as previous sailings. Could have been the cook on those ships (couldn't put a finger on it). Since August 2021 its been Oceania or Crystal (Sadly) & a couple of HAL.

9 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Did you get a non-stop price quote and, if so, was it better than DIY.

Cannot get non-stop from Daytona using my preferred airline.

2 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Nonstops on your preferred airline? FF points earned? Seat assignments at time of booking? Ability to offset cost with some FF points (plus your cash)?

One stop on preferred airline with FF earned each instance. Picked seats shortly after booking. No offset. 

On 7/21/2022 at 5:59 PM, Flatbush Flyer said:

As I’ve said many times, do NOT use O bizclass. There’s no credit for the coach tix that are part of the fare base needed to get an upgrade quote. In essence, you’re paying for two tix per person (the total of which is not that good for O Contract flights which are seldom non-stop and often have inconvenient connections). And, if you choose deviation, you then have to pay fare differences from what they proposed as well as the deviation fee (unless you have higher O Club status).

 

Take the air credit and DIY bizclass.

Respectfully disagree! We have compared and always gotten great prices for biz class with O. We also have many air points but using O air works best. 

We are sad this portion of the cruise ends tomorrow and will bring staying on board for the next. We've enjoyed everything about the cruise.

However, I agree with Cat regarding the officers onboard. I've never seen officers so unfriendly as these. They won't rain on my parade.

1 hour ago, MEFIowa said:

Amazing how much difference 6 weeks has made. We had 719 passengers and about 780 crew on Riviera 12/13-23/21 going to W. Caribbean. Wonder if your seriously reduced number of passengers is due to cancellations and no shows. Can't imagine how empty she would be at that count. Seemed on the cusp of empty but nicely so at 719. Just enough people in most places at any given time to remind you of others without ever feeling crowded or having to wait in line.

It just feels safe with 462 right now. Getting on Marina after this one and hope to have a safe number as well. These 3 days have been fantastic.

Someone actually ratted him out to the CD after he took it off just before lights dimmed. CD walked to the front, made the mask announcement again and looked his way as he slid the mask over his noise. 

I'm feeling very comfortable on O more so than I was Crystal when they said nothing. One leader actually said they were not the mask police and he was quareentined shortly thereafter.

We are currently onboard and everything has gone very well. Plenty pool deck slots for a great sunny day.

Happy hour was festive thanks to our pianist. Maybe another waiter would have helped the guys running around but they did great.

Fantastic dinner at Red Ginger with the Spicey Duck Watermelon salad & Miso Glazed Sea Bass being the stars for us.

The evening show was a introduction to all the entertainers and program directors. Looked fully staffed to us.

The only down side is the 1% who refuse to adhere to mask wearing in the louge. He finally put it on after realizing he was the subject of stiff glares. Lol! 

There will be a few that don't realize the mask was left at their table when getting up for seconds but are very apologetic when accosted.

All in all a great day!

3 minutes ago, Kate-AHF said:

 

I'm not sure i understand.  If there are PH's available on the next leg, why wouldn't you be able to purchase it onboard now - and just move your things with the help of your butler?

It's complicated with ship stateroom reduction and quareentines I was told. I'm hopeful once on board I'll be successful. Packing for extra days anyway.

1 hour ago, LHT28 said:

go talk to the purser

That's the plan immediately when we board. Currently wait listed but will let them know our desire right away.

Asked my O TA if its possible to trade (PH) with passengers wishing to cancel their 7 Feb cruise so we can stay onboard after our 28 Jan cruise. Met with a resounding "No, it doesn't work that". Pity, as we would love to stay onboard.