PhD-iva

Wow! Thx! It looks like you’re having a great time! I appreciate the advice! I plan to be better prepared this time, thx!

Am booked on a cruise with 3 days “cruising the Antartica peninsula.” Am worried that I’ll be cold while o/s on deck. Should I bring my LLBean down coat that kept me warm all winter hiking across campus in Connecticut? I left it at home while on my Alaska cruise and missed some good stuff when I went back to my stateroom to warm up. Thx!

Do share all the juicy details with us! 😛

I don’t think I have ever made a complete booking online, as I travel solo and I need the help of my TA to get everything booked correctly. But, if someone reserves/books online and uses their credit card to make the required deposit, then haven’t they already paid the deposit prior to receiving any invoice? My question was asking whether the booking process clearly identifies the non-refundable deposit……Or, is there a “cooling off” period?

Hmmm. I hope the website (somewhere) clearly states the cancellation policy when doing an online booking. If the first time you see/read this information on your invoice, it’s already too late? Is there a cooling off period during which you can change your mind (i.e., cancel)? If you spoke with someone and asked for a courtesy hold, fine. Read the (courtesy hold) invoice. But, if you pulled the trigger already……..? OUCH!

Ikelmay, which itinerary are you booked? I’m on the February 2, 2024 Voyager out of BsAs. We have a rollcall, I hope you will join us!

I have tried several times to do a mock booking for one passenger. It always seems to give me twice the fare price. So, I don’t think that it always works to be able to check online. Best to work with a knowledgeable TA.

Oceania does not have a best price guarantee, unless booked on board. Yes sometimes you can have your (non booked onboard) cruise re-priced. Sometimes you can’t. It never hurts to ask.

A bit disingenuous. Anyone who has only paid a deposit is not past final payment date which is 6 to 8 weeks or more before the cruise. This is an apples to Oranges comparison.

“Something more active than Regent” ??? YOU MUST NOT HAVE MET BOOGIE &KASHIA! I had read about B&K on CC, and when I was on Mariner I LOVED HER! (and he’s pretty good too!) I don’t care about ports or itineraries. I just IMG_7577.mov want to cruise w Boogie & Kashia!

I haven’t heard of “Value Fare” before. Any more info on this?

I have Verizon. You have to opt into their international calling plan. Then you are charged $10 a day when you use data or text or calling outside of the US. I think Mexico and Canada is five dollars a day. It does add up.

Simply More, which is Oceania‘s new marketing strategy. Currently all new cruise fares include wine and beer at lunch and dinner in dining venues, and an amount of money that can only be spent on Oceania excursions. It was supposed to simplify their Olife. Not sure whether or not it is simpler to understand.

I would think you will have the opportunity for some extra resys. It helps to be flexible as to sharing with others, and flexible on dining times. Ask early and often! Others will have good strategies on how to make your requests known (go to the speciality restaurant as it opens for dinner and ask if they have any openings/cancellations; there’s a desk specifically for requesting dining reservations, look in Currents for the time they are open and ask for any openings….) And I usually find the GDR is also quite good, especially if you’re not in a hurry…..

And, they are much more expensive than an Oceania cruise!

Off the top of my head, expedition cruises (Hurtigruten is one example) are much smaller ships that comply with recent legislation regarding which ships can sail bellow a certain latitude close to Antartica. Pax might be able to use an RIB (rigid inflatable boat, maybe?) to actually land on Antartica. Others who know more about this topic will be able to provide more details…..

On many itineraries, yes there are bridge lessons targeted to beginners and separately to intermediate players. The more sea days an itinerary has, the more likely it will have sponsored lessons. On most ships, one can “sign up” for a bridge game with other players. If there’s a card room, there’s probably a sign-up sheet…..

My “drive-by” itinerary does not go to any of these ports. It is not an expedition cruise……

OP please let us know on which ship you are sailing. Responses can be more specific, thx!

Oh yes, there are activities even on port days, maybe just not as many as on a sea day. With O’s pax profile, many will stay on board from time to time. Perhaps to take a break from long excursions or perhaps to skip a port they’ve previously visited. The spa will have some good specials if you’re so inclined, although the prices have gone up quite a bit!

I just don’t get the allure of a “drive by.” Okay, maybe if its an expedition cruise, landing on shore (which I have no desire to do) but what’s the point of 3 days sailing way, far away off the coast of Antartica? My Regent Voyager itinerary has 3 sea days “cruising the Antartica peninsula“. What’s the point?

Oh yes, many sea day activities. I generally play bridge and go to bridge lessons, so I’m not the best resource on other options. Trivia comes to mind, and not just on sea days….. You’ll get some good responses soon! Enjoy your cruise!

You will get some good responses to your question from experienced O cruisers. I’ll just jump in and say that you will get better, more customized response if you can include more information: the date of your sailing, how many days and your state room category. To summarize, the shorter your itinerary, the less opportunity there is for everyone to get their minimum number of reservations and therefore less openings for you to sneak in an extra resy. The higher your statement category, the more pull you have when you make a request, and of course, if there are fewer pax sailing on your itinerary, then there is less demand for the specialties and more room for you. Also, embarkation day tends to have less demand for the specialty restaurants, so see if you can pick up an extra reservation as soon as you get on board. Enjoy your cruise!

I think the staff will have no trouble handling who has a drinks package and who doesn’t. In the beginning, you’ll be showing some servers your room card, but they have good memories and the word spreads. This is their industry and they are very good at it..

I like to wait a day or two before pulling the trigger if I decide to upgrade my drinks package. Probably on the first full day or soon thereafter there will be the Captain’s welcome party and an open bar. Also, there are events early in the cruise for repeaters. Both of these are free drink opportunities. Also, I believe embarkation day is counted as a full day for the drinks package, although you might not get on board until the afternoon.