AMHuntFerry

There are cruises (>=18days) where PH get more reservations than A-cat and below on the larger ships. On the smaller ships PH and A-cat get the same, but more than B-cat and below >=8 day cruises. It sounds like those don't describe the cruise you're interested in, but I just want to make it clear to other readers.

From September 2023:

We booked the O-Miami tour, but it was cancelled due to lack of interest, so have a back up plan.

I'm on Regatta in a few weeks. We're not really champagne drinkers, but I may have one at some point and will try to spy the label on any bottles in my vicinity to report status in June.

There is no discount on O for guaranteed vs. chosen cabin. "Worst" case is you get upgraded again 🙂 Book it! If you have buyer's remorse before the sale ends you can get the A1 (or 2 or 3 or B4, etc.)

@vipro Here is a photo of the opposite side of Vista that show the 10002 (couldn't find 10003 but probably the same) balcony area really well: Ref: https://thepointsguy.com/reviews/oceania-vista-cruise-ship/

There is usually not a huge difference between PH3 and PH2, so I'm guessing that you are considering a cruise that is part of the upgrade sale (prices on the O website already include the sale discount/upgrade). I'd say "jump at the chance" if it's in your price-zone since the PH3 being part of an upgrade sale is less common (than OV through A-cat), and the non-sale difference between A1 and PH3 is significant. As for PH3 vs. PH2, the only difference is usually location. If ship movement is not an issue for you then there is little point in booking a PH2.

Here are the T&Cs from a September FCC. I have not cancelled, but would do as ak100 did and not take the risk. This is the only downside I can see with an FCC.

Same in Alaska...even if you can find a tour operator when the cruise ships descend, they aren't going to be any cheaper. Even then, an alumni group may steal your Hubbard Glacier small boat up close tour (grrr!).

Yes. Also, I assume I can use my shipboard credit for excursions after the SM credit is used for the required number of excursions. Is that correct? Sometimes. It depends on the source of the OBC (e.g., my O-Club OBC can be used, but the OBC I received due to a price drop cannot be used) And I will get the discounted price for them, right? Yes. If you qualify for the 25% discount, all subsequently booked shorex should be discounted (except, I believe, "executive cars" or whatever they are calling the car/driver combo). And can I make changes to the excursions booked with SM credit, once I board, assuming there are slots open and I'm within the CX period? No...the cancellation deadline is in your shorex pdf (embarkation if the whiskey has not altered my memory 😉 ).

They are rare enough that I find them entertaining rather than annoying. In fact, they are at risk of being trolled if one of us is feeling crusty.

Yah, sometimes it makes no sense. We were on a 7 day CA coastal right after another 7-day CA coastal in fall 2022...the first one had the discount, the second one did not. I've noticed the same with SM...sometimes yes, sometimes no (but only for 7, and maybe 8, day cruises).

I have the same issue with possibly not wanting to commit within the deadline. My solution is to purchase an FCC since they are fully refundable if cancelled within 1 year (after that you lose your deposit...eek!). If a cruise is booked with the FCC, you still get a one-time itinerary change at no cost. As for lines, just fill out the form to purchase an FCC and drop it off at the desk...no need to wait in line (you can also do this when booking a specific cruise and have no questions). The only reason to stand in line is if you actually want to discuss something.

Check your shorex pdf. The YWC 25% discount for O-Life cruises should still be listed unless you are on a 7-day cruise which occasionally does not offer the discount (which also applies to SM...you can tell which cruises don't have discounts because "N/A" shows up in that column on the website).

Here's a link to where I found the trail pdf (along with dining, etc.). We also had coffee at near Cows' Bay with a silly name (Cowpuccino...be sure to go in the bathroom to view a fun celebrity photo). Near the pond at the turn around of the "turn left" trail there was a restaurant that we were thinking of trying, but it was not open at the time we went by. https://visitprincerupert.com/discover-prince-rupert/visitor-guides/

Yay!!! We missed his acclaimed solo show on both of our cruises last year. Third time's (soon!) a charm?

When you get off the ship, turn left. There is a nice (mostly...have to take a sidewalk to get to the trailhead) waterside trail. On the way back you can reverse or walk through neighborhoods. I think there is also a path if you turn right. There is also a hidden garden with WWII history that is very close to the pier. Both of these are on the map they give out at the pier.

These were the prices last June. If you are on a longer voyage (in September a 12 night had it), there may be a "laundry special" of 1 bag (20 items) for ~$25.

You may find this post by @Sthrngary useful:

Additionally, the price showing on the O website already includes the upgrade (notice that the insides and lowest OV are all the same price), so that is the sale price (it was more before the sale).

I concur with the no loud music comments. I would prefer no piped-in music (i.e., only live music) since any one who wants music has probably heard of this new invention called ear buds with a cell phone (even us cell phone haters have them). Now to the sale: It is UP TO 4 cats, so inside (F, G) bumps up to OV, OV (C, D) bumps up to veranda, veranda (B) bumps up to concierge veranda (A), and if you're lucky there is sometimes a bump from concierge veranda to the lowest PH (PH3 or 4 depending on ship). If a better sale comes along later (and you don't have the buy onboard price guaranty), you can often get the better price if it is before final payment IF there is availability in your category. You/your TA may have to cancel and rebook if O won't give you the new price, and if this happens you need to account for any applicable penalties (at least $150 per person, then more as embarkation gets closer).

My first "tester" (translate as cheap) cruise was out of Miami right after the pandemic-restart. Most of the people were from the US east coast, so I attributed it to an east coast aversion to "hot"...maybe not deserved. I have enjoyed almost everything (now that I've learned not to get the lamb "curry"...more like lamb with gravy, and the like). On my first cruise I was a bit disappointed (being spoiled with some high quality, farm-to-table chefs locally) until I realized my local restaurants aren't serving hundreds/thousands in a couple of hours. I think a better comparison is a large, upscale wedding or a swanky fundraiser where you get a choice of more than beef, chicken, fish, or vegetarian.

There is a lot of food that I loved/enjoyed and I'll post when it pops into my mind later. At home I rarely eat desserts (maybe banana bread at a coffee ship which I call "cake for breakfast"), but on O I am a dessert glutton...sticking to "fancy" stuff and skipping the cookies or other things that I make/buy better at home. I will make a general recommendation of non-dessert food though. If you like hot-spicy Indian, Mexican, Sichuan/SE Asian, etc., do not eat it on O as you will most likely be disappointed (the exception was a soup in the GDR (I think it was Tom Yum?) that actually may have had a chili waved near it in the kitchen...not as spicy as I like, but the hottest I've experienced on O. That said, it you avoid hot-spicy cuisines because teary eyes are not your thing, you might like these dishes on O.

I've never had a drink package (last cruise was September before SM kicked in and parties/happy hour are more than enough for us), but based on how O typically works I would bet that gratuities are added to the discounted bottles of wine (added before or after discount? @mauibabes?).

I agree with ORV. When I have received "free gratuities" from my TA's consortium, they have shown up as a credit that offsets the cabin-based gratuities. Drinks still had gratuities (note that I've never had a package in the past).