MEFIowa

Yes, so if you are on board NOW or in the very near future, BOOK... I booked a 2024 Baltic cruise the moment that opened up recently. And then changed rooms with a Memorial Day sale upgrade. I did NOT wait until my Sirena cruise in 11/22 to book.

What you're saying makes no sense in an inflationary period, where prices are rising over time, not falling. I did NOT wait. So, the list price of my room on that 11/22 Sirena cruise was $2599. I paid $2399 while on board Riviera in December 2021. With only $500 down. I won't pay any more than that. IF there is a sale price, I'll get the sale price. Didn't go on sale for the first 2 public sales of 2022. But I keep my eye open. IIRC the list price rose to $2699 at the end of December 2021 and then rose another $100 to $2799 around April 1st, 2022. So not only did I save $200 by booking when I did, but now the price increases have added $200 to those trying to book today. SO, waiting likely means losing money. Future prices will be higher than current prices which are higher than past prices.

What, I booked a specific cruise while on Riviera in 12/21--on Sirena, 11-18-28/22-- and got the contractual paperwork, for my specific room, so NO price increases. My price is locked in unless they offer some sale price that is lower. This cruise was NOT put on sale either with the Presidents' Day or Memorial Day sales. But I will keep my eye out

Which 12/21 Riviera cruise were you on? I read that the Riviera cruise after ours had serious COVID issues, which our 12/13-23/21 cruise did not have. The cruising world got really weird in late Dec & Jan.

I was on Riviera 12/13-23/21 (W. Caribbean). Have to STRONGLY disagree here about Paul Baya. For example, he was at our Veterans Get Together early on the cruise. I think we had about 30 veterans. By the end of the meeting, he personally addressed us each by name by memorization, in the exact order of our own presentations to the group. Every time I saw him during the cruise he'd personally acknowledge me. I even talked with him once about getting our two oldest veterans together, since one of the sons wondered who the other oldest one was. I believe he did get them together. And during the mid-cruise survey I mentioned that we didn't have any presentations on the ports or areas we visited. That night he personally called me. I wasn't in but he left a detailed message about accessing the library of related presentations that were in the video library accessible on the TV. The only time I used the phone was to listen to his voice mail! Of course, I thanked him in person the next day after I watched 2 of the videos. Now we only had 719 passengers. But Paul was out and about and accessible. Always friendly. And always looking out for the passengers.

Wife and I are back in 11/22 as well (Sirena). But as I did in 12/21 (Riviera), I'd more likely book on board. To get the discount, reduced deposit, etc. That will come with the contractual paperwork the O agents on board will hand you.

I saw that, too, and kept in mind the recent price increases I've seen on various cruises. I booked a B2 Veranda on an 11/22 Sirena cruise to the E. Caribbean while on Riviera in 12/21. Saved the $200, lower deposit, etc. But IIRC on 1/1/22 the published fare went up $100 and then around 4/12/22 it rose another $100. So that $2599 B2 which I booked at $2399 is now showing a published fare of $2799. It didn't go on sale for either the Presidents' Day or Memorial Day sales.

They were seemingly rather heavy smokers on Riviera 12/13-23/21 and my wife smokes. So I routinely talked to nearly all of the senior officers in the evening at the smoking area by Horizons where they'd congregate to smoke. (They didn't smoke down on the pool deck outside smoking area.)

I say let those who want to write them, write them and those who don't, don't. And we can decide if we'll read them. And as someone who took a 12/21 cruise, I do think they were quite interesting and often informative during the COVID restart in late 2021 and early 2022.

So do we. Booked an 11/22 on Sirena while on Riviera and have since booked BTB Med cruises on Riviera in Oct-Nov 2023 plus a Baltic cruise on her in late 2024.

I only deal with real numbers. So not sure where you get your starting figure, since I don't know what cruise you're talking about or how you arrived. So, I guess we'd start by seeing how much we paid for the cruise to begin with and the cost of getting there. Then add in all that we pay for on the cruise. But it always has to be apples to apples. And that would mean identical excursions (but then we might not like each other's choices?). And I'm starting from the discounted sales price of the cruise (e.g., the recent Memorial Day sale), always a sales price. So my B4 Veranda for the 11/9-19/23 10-day Med Cruise on Riviera is $2249. Today that B4 is going for $2899. And my recent 12/21 A4 on Riviera was $2099 (Presidents' Day sale 2021). The identical cruise on her in 2/23 for the same room is $3999.

Relying on my MBA, I keep in mind that there is no such thing as a free lunch and there are choices & opportunity costs. So... I bring on board my 6 bottles of wine. That I paid pittance for but enjoy. And I buy beer, wine and hard liquor in ports at the least expensive places and bring them back on board. Plus I book my excursions in advance direct with the excursion. And I'll find good airfare on my own, with no shortage of sites willing to help me do that constantly searching. I bet that when I compare what I actually spent for the things you're paying for, I'm spending less. Wanna bet? I think I paid less than $60 for all my wine, beer, and hard liquor on my 12/13-23/21 cruise. And I drank every night. Plus, I brought some back home. But then I paid $1 for a beer & $5 for small bottle of rum in Belize City. And less than $10 for Cana and Tequila in Mexico.

Wife and I were on Riviera 12/13-23/21, W. Caribbean. IIRC, we had about 719 passengers and 779 crew. We were pampered if we wanted to be. But you did pay attention to the signs that said, for example, when the concierge would be in the Concierge Lounge.

What exactly is "too good to be true"? The OLife choices are essentially pre-paying in advance to get what you paid for at an inflated price. What, for example, does the beverage package actually get you? They aren't giving you FREE drinks. Or FREE excursions. When you see how much it costs you and what you get, I'll stick to "Cruise Only" fare at sales prices (e.g., Presidents' or Memorial).

From the 12/13-23/21 Riviera cruise in the W. Caribbean, rather laid back, limited and sedate. Keep in mind what is "night life". Thus, our comic did two shows. The first, 12/16, was at 1730! The second, 12/20, was at 2130. Wife and I went to the 2nd. But I was curious about the 1st so I waited outside the doors at 1830 that evening. A mad rush to get to the restaurants that open at 1830.

In Belize City wife and I enjoyed Martha's Cafe in December 2021 (off Oceania Riviera). It is vegan/vegetarian, but has a nice view, is close, and the staff were friendly. We enjoyed the lunch and beers on a hot Sunday midday. Martha's Cafe - Harbour View Boutique Hotel & Yoga Retreat, Belize (harbourviewbelize.com)

The Sale was just a simple one for wife & I on our 11/9-19/2023 Riviera cruise, turning a C Deluxe Outside into a B4 Veranda for the same $2249. [The B1-2-3 were then all priced together at $2,899.] So saved us $650 per to get the Veranda upgrade.

Wife and I found the food outstanding on our 10-day 12/21 cruise on Riviera. No complaints from us for any of the restaurants, whether breakfast, lunch or dinner. Delicious. I fell in love with Waves in the AM and the Terrace Cafe in the PM (eating under the stars outside aft).

Was on Riviera 12/13-23/21 and I cannot remember the pool music. At all. Didn't notice it or pay attention to it. A bit like the unobtrusive display screen that showed data. So I found it so unobtrusive that I was enjoying my time in the pool and around the pool, swimming, lounging, reading, etc. Nor did the Waves restaurant or bar bug me. Nor the outdoor smoking area. Etc. Found the pool area relaxing.

Wife and I did our first cruise on Riviera in 12/21 (10 days W. Caribbean). We loved it so much we booked an E. Caribbean for 11/22 on Sirena while on Riviera. But since then we've booked future 2023 (Oct, Med) and 2024 (Sept, Baltic) cruises on Riviera. The pricing seems comparable for O and R class vessels IF you pay careful attention to the sailing dates, and try to go a bit off peak. Peak season pricing is high.

I think you mean the TERRACE Cafe, aft, which can include dining under the stars, as my wife and I did many nights on our Riviera cruise (12/23-23/21, W. Caribbean). Timing made all the difference between your cruise and ours. We had no masking, few COVID worries, met the captain and his senior staff in the smoking area near Horizons (my wife smokes), and had an all around great time. Made all the ports but the silly private island in the Bahamas which was cancelled due to high waves prohibiting tendering.

Wife and I booked the 9/2024 Baltic cruise on Sirena. Figure things will be settled by then.

How did you travel? Our 10/2023 cruise that was to start in Venice has been changed to start in Trieste instead. Wife found some train trip there and back which we are considering.

Spent 14 amazing days in Paraguay from 4/19-5/3, 2022! And 7 nights in Asuncion. Had an absolutely amazing time both driving around the city and walking all over the historic old downtown section, including a 0500 walk 13 blocks from my Hotel Palmaroga (fantastic!) to Plaza Italia. Loved walking Palma and Estrella streets that were right off my hotel. Estrella takes you to the Ko'ape Bar Mirador in Loma San Jeronima. I sat at the same table and chair as Ms Fox did talking with the co-owers of the bar! So much to see and do in this Mother of Cities that turns 500 in a few years.

For all Tours Paraguayan, see Trico Tours! I just spent 14 days in country on an amazing bucket-list vacation of a lifetime in Paraguay. Exceeded my wildest expectations. They have one for the Falls.