basor

We had a cabin on Deck 12 - cabins on both sides and didn't hear a peep....and so close to everything!!!

No confusion at all on our Vista cruise - your cabin card has the indication of a beverage package if you have one....no different than pre SM when some Olife people chose the beverage package, some people purchased the Select package and some people purchased/upgraded to the prestige package. There is a 3 letter code on the bottom right corner of your card.....often the server would ask if we had a beverage package prior to our first drink. After a day or two, they knew we did and did not even ask...we just put our cards on the corner of our table so easy for the server to see and take if they needed.

Also important for learning all the upgrading and new options available to make our cruising experience even better than it has been...

Our experience on tendering on O is when you are ready to go ashore all of your party goes to the lounge (generally) and get your tender ticket. Only one person needs to actually get in line while others sit. If you are on an O excursion, there will be a time on your excursion ticket that tells you what time to be at the lounge to get your tender ticket for that specific excursion. We have never encountered a line with more than 20 people in line (and this was at the beginning of tendering when there are several shore excursions leaving at the same time). There are at lest 2-3 people handing out the tender tickets so the line goes very quickly. Once you have your tender ticket, you sit in the lounge until your tender ticket number is called. Then you head down to the tender and board, Usually an hour or two after the start of tendering, they announce open tendering and you no longer go to the lounge to get a ticket but just go down to the tenders and get on. This procedure keeps people from forming lines up the stairs waiting to get on a tender.....

It must be a UK thing because when I click on the links there is no mention of free gratuities With simply MORE*, our new valuable offer, enjoy 2 for 1 Cruise Fares, Free Roundtrip Airfare and Airport Transfers* plus: FREE $600 simply MORE Shore Excursion Credit FREE Champagne, Wine & More FREE Gourmet Specialty Dining FREE Unlimited

Gratuities are not included with SM - not sure where you got this idea....the change from OLife is that wine, beer and champagne are included during meals and you receive a certain amount of OBC to use for shore excursions, The only choice is to have SM with air or without....please post the marketing showing gratuities are included with all sailings on SM

nope - there are few places around the World that require cruise ships to add a VAT tax to any purchases that occur in their waters - Spain, Brazil come to mind.. we have had cruise staff remind us and suggest we wait a day or two to purchase something once we have left those areas.

That is on Princess not Oceania - ships are much smaller

we wait

No - the wine by the glass selection is the same for all beverage packages....it gives you alcoholic beverages any time from any bar, dining venue when open. There are a few upper end liquors that are not included

Not everyone's cruise price increased with the advent of SM... we had 3 cruises booked under OLife, 2 of the cruise prices went down by several hundred dollars per person and 1 went up $50.00 per person .

I believe they are onboard right now so I would say pretty recent. We were onboard , the last time, 2 months ago for 31 days B2B2B on Vista and brought a case of wine onboard at embarkation and liquor onboard at several ports.

I am speaking from 15 years experience sailing O and I have no idea where the person who posted this on cruise critic got their information....if you search you will find discussions on this ad naseum .

The ice cream area outside does close down with Waves and is not open in the evening when Waves changes into the pizzeria. The ice cream in Terrace is hand dipped too - often the same flavors as in Waves. I don't think I have seen ice cream anywhere on O that isn't hand dipped.

I believe that is correct but then ice cream is available in Terrace during evening hours

You can bring any form of alcohol onboard for consumption in your cabin . You may take your personal bottle of wine to a dining venue and pay $25.00 corkage fee.

There are few more perks for suites on O Complimentary laundry service – up to 3 bags per stateroom+ Priority 11 am ship embarkation with priority luggage delivery Exclusive card-only access to private Executive Lounge staffed by a dedicated Concierge featuring complimentary soft drinks, coffees and snacks throughout the day 24-hour Butler service Complimentary in-suite bar setup with 6 full-size bottles of premium spirits and wines from our suite beverage menu Complimentary welcome bottle of Champagne Fresh fruit basket replenished daily Priority online specialty restaurant reservations Unlimited access to Aquamar Spa Terrace Optional private in-suite embarkation day lunch from noon to 2 pm in Owner’s Suites Luxury bath amenities Choice of daily printed newspaper Complimentary Oceania Cruises logo tote bag and personalized stationery Cashmere lap blankets Choice of pillow from a luxurious selection Complimentary shoeshine service Complimentary pressing of garments upon embarkation++ In suite dining from the GDR or any of the specialty restaurants

The price is the same whether you upgrade before or onboard The $30.00 per person per day is for each day you have chosen to upgrade your package so if you upgrade on day 2 of a 7 day cruise than you would pay $30.00 per day for 6 days The $30.00 per person per day includes the gratuity so you will not pay anything additional once you have purchased the package.

that is correct

At this time, you must wait to upgrade until onboard. It is quick and easy - you go to Guest Services and they will charge your onboard account and give you a new card with the Prestige package noted.

Since everywhere except the specialty restaurants, meal time is open seating we have always been able to sit at a table for 2 when we desired. You may have to wait a bit if you come during the first hour of dinner in the GDR. The specially restaurants may be more difficult depending upon when you make your reservations. If you are unable to book a table for 2 when you reservations open, do not hesitate to speak with the dinner reservation person onboard to see if you can change.

From what I understand, Oceania was sued for "missing items" when items were removed from an unoccupied lounger ....I am sure their legal team had told them to not touch any item that does not belong to Oceania. I can't blame them

Agree with everything said except we also loved Aquamar - ate many lunch there. Liked the fact that we could customize their offerings to our liking! The avocado toast is addictive

Sorry - it could only be booked onboard but it was totally booked so only being able to book onboard wasn't killing it off

Barbara - our favorite loungers were outside the side doors into Barristas....in shade or sun, quick run inside to grad a bite to eat or drink from Barristas, bathrooms close and down the stars for Waves or Aquamar. But we don't need to be by the pool so doesn't work for everyone