chloemonkey

Do they have palapas or cabanas available on the beach?

My TA is an Oceania agent who as recently as this afternoon told me that "La Reserve" should absolutely be available to book online as we are within 75 days out.....so go figure. And I am not sure how I would assemble 8 passengers who want the same menu...to book Privee? I am just so over the people handling the reservations at Oceania not knowing what is going on.....as I was also told that the website was not offering shore excursion options for the private island Great Stirrup Key/Cay? as all shore excursions are handled by "third party vendors" and apparently there were none available for this port.......Yet I KNOW that this is one of NCL's private islands....and why would they not offer the Villas. cabanas etc? Just disappointing..... Thanks for your input though....and maybe it will be better to wait until onboard.....Appreciate all of your help...

So.....I am confused.....NO "La Reserve" on VIsta....but there ARE two of the original three La Reserve options being offered as "Privee?"....and if so, where online do you book these? As I have been told by two Oceania agents that they "La Reserve is available to book 75 days out for Vista Suite passengers..." SO CONFUSING! lol.... First world problems for certain....but I just wish that I had a better idea of what exactly is happening on this front....as I HATE to wait until onboard and prefer to have it all handled pre cruise....

Thanks for all the opinions! lol.....I handled the three issues with a phone call....and for the record all Le Reserve are now only being booked "onboard".....(thanks guys for letting me know this already!)...... Booked my Prestige Beverage Package....and both hubby and my Prepaid gratuities..... And I DO understand the reluctance to not prepay these items....but I just HATE all of the things that need to be handled once onboard - as I just then want to be on vacation. Also, to pay these things helps make my onboard final bill a "bit" more palatable as my casino charges make ALL of the other invoices look minute! lol! Thanks for all of your input....and by the way, while on the phone with Oceania, I managed to book yet another cruise! Only wish these agents that you reach at Oceania were a bit more friendly.....as I truly do HATE having to call in....which should NOT be the case when you are spending additional tens of thousands of dollars......but that has been my experience for the past couple of years.....sad......

Thanks so much! How about the prepaid gratuities?

Trying to complete some purchases for upcoming VISTA cruise.....and am not able to find where to book the Le Reserve dinners and to pre-pay gratuities.....I managed to get my hubby's in my cart a while back....wanted to add my beverage package and these other items too....but cannot find what tab they are under. If no one answers this, I will just call Oceania tomorrow....but wanted to go ahead and get this out of the way tonight.... Thanks! Debby

I can relate....and we always take out the trip insurance. Also - as a side note, we too had to cancel a cruise due to my diagnosis of inoperable Stage IV cancer.....this was five years ago! And after treatment and major surgery....I remain "NED" or "no evidence of disease".....and we have taken 5 cruises since then. So wishing you similar results! Hang in there....

I am trying not to think about a cruise with no Jacques......as it is surely one of our top choices when onboard. And of course we will try Ember....but it seems too close to a combination of a steak house (Polo) and the buffet grill that so many seem to think is haute cuisine.....trying to keep an open mind...but am already missing my Escargot, that salad with the poached egg?.....truly first world problems right? Happy to sail on Oceania no matter what...but do feel that we will miss Jacques. Of course it doesn't help that both he and his lovely daughter were on our last sailing two months ago!

From my experience, the answer is "NO"...you cannot do a survey after disembarking from your cruise. II personally find this to be ridiculous as I hate to take time out from my vacation to answer a survey on my cruise experience. I also find it embarrassing as I HAVE done the "halfway" through online surveys and have been embarrassed to have various personnel contact me to try to explain/rectify my issues...... If there was something truly important and timely, of course I would welcome the contact from hotel directors, etc....but what usually occurs has been that I receive phone messages stating that these "important" department heads will seek me out that coming evening....and NOTHING ever happens! lol.... Again, my cruises with Oceania have been pretty much problem free....which is why I would love the opportunity to just give my input for small changes or adjustments....that would make the experience even better. But this could be better accomplished after I am back at home....rather than the "grandstanding" by various department heads that posture in order to possible satisfy the higher ups scrutiny? And then do nothing......

We were on the same cruise as well as the one before and the total number of shore excursion participants on "regular" excursions was always well above this number. We always try to do the OE ones to ensure a smaller group of participants and did so on these two cruises BUT 80% of them were cancelled due to "lack of interest" as per Oceania. However, I do agree with the childish nature of most of the Oceania excursions along with the feeling of being "herded" like small children. At one point I even voiced my upset with the guide as we were given a total of 10 minutes to choose to either shop or use the restrooms! lol.... The shore excursions of Oceania are in desperate need of change.....and we had much more enjoyable times on the ones where we had previously planned for private tours/guides/drivers etc. We even did better at some of the 20+ ports just getting off of the ship and hiring someone at the dock!

Just off a month on the Riviera a week ago and we had a few female wine servers.

Now Now that you mention going ashore.....that is probably why WE also never took advantage! Old age and memory fades are "REAL! Thanks for that input.

Good to know! As we have been on 8-10 B2B's.....and always book Vista Suites.....so not sure how we missed this on so many opportunities.....will def inquire next week.

Not sure if I missed something....but I was under the impression that the Dining Room was not open for lunch on embarkation day? And maybe the cabin stewards are the one to "place" these letters/menus in the cabins? As I cannot imagine a Butler wanting to start out on such a sour note.....?

The Majestic is beautiful! Stayed there 3-4 times....

Now.....how to figure out how to lose this 20 pounds that I was CERTAIN would be off before this trip....

Thanks all! One more thing OFF of my list! LOVE you Cruise Critic experts!

Sadly, I have had to rely on one of my grown daughters to handle the cell phone photos to be uploaded for our online check ins - for past cruises......I have taken the photos and have them on my iPhone.....but cannot figure out how to access the site on Oceania to get them to! Even the agent at Oceania was confused as my computer would not allow that page to be loaded.... Any ideas? or just wait to we get to the ship? As I know in the past that even though we HAD done this before.....they STILL took additional photos for security purposes during the on site check in.... Thanks!

But that will not work for tips for shore excursion guides, driver's etc......

Again....thanks to you all!

Since yesterday, when I log on to the Oceania site.......my upcoming cruise does NOT appear. So I am wondering what the time frame is for this to occur? As our next cruise departs September 26th.....and up until 36 hours ago I was re-doing dinner reservation details and making more shore excursion bookings..... Just not sure why the trip does not eve appear on my Oceania home page? As the only trip showing is our March 2024 one..... Again....need the help of you experts! Thankful in advance..... Debby

Not sure about Oceania but on NCL where we have had up to 6 Haven Suites.......I have often gone to the Purser and had the gratuities placed on the onboard accounts....so this would pretty much be the same as using your credit card.....worth looking into as with 6 Suites, that involved more cash than I often had LEFT after gambling for a couple of weeks! lol....and the ability of adding gratuities to the shipboard accounts also enabled us to designate to whom these amounts were going.....i.e. Butler, Cabin Steward, Cabin Steward assistant......

Bless you for this info...I will be at it again tomorrow to find a private transfer.....it should be ok....and thanks SO much for taking the time!

Just found that out....I am SO far behind arranging this trip this time around.....lost my father and between that and continuing to care for my mom who is is assisted living...despite handling OUR business "stuff".....all of this has just gotten away from me..... The beginning of the problems started when my flight arrangements started being "changed" numerous times from the airlines! And lately I have found little to NO help or good options with Am Ex Platinum travel.....so I've not been organized at all for this trip.....shore excursions "sold out".....it's just the way it is and I keep telling myself maybe we will just enjoy the Vista Suite more this trip! HOPEFULLY our jacuzzi is still on the deck! lol.... Thank you all for your great insights so far....and any other ideas would be appreciated! OH! One more near disaster.....I called in late June to inquire as to deadlines for hotel bookings thru Oceania and the gal told me "30 days in advance"....which of course I recently found out is NOT the case! So had to make those arrangements on my own....it just goes to show you that you seem to have to keep "copius notes" on each and every conversation that you have with these Oceania representatives....which I have not been doing as I figure that everyone knows their job? That's my rant for the day......any other car/limo options for transport to Rome airport will be welcomed! I have reached out to a couple.... You guys rock!

I do know the "two initial" person that you are referring to and would rather find another option as she has now lost TWO of our reservations over the past 1 1/2 years.....in addition to smaller details.that have dropped out of our reservations and planning. Her latest response was "I am sorry...not much more that I can say or do".....at which point this having been TWO cruises that we lost our bookings for.....I did not feel the need to continue to enlist her assistance. But thanks anyway.....I just feel that CAS has truly left those of us who are willing to spend WAY more money on cruise fares have been left in the dust so to speak.....as at least with NCL there were more lucrative perks/discounts AND you always had a host that you could rely on. Since switching to Oceania and Regent booking.....we have NOT enjoyed anywhere NEAR the discounts/comps....and then were left with an agent who was not even competent enough to not lose our reservations/deposits..... We have enjoyed Oceania - despite not enjoying any real discounts let alone customer service....and as now my land based hotel (Wynn Hotel) has begun to coordinate with a cruise line or two....it may be time to "jump ship!" so to speak....never thought that I would say that....as we were loyal NCL (Haven) for 30+ cruises......then Oceania/Regent for the past 4 years +.... Thanks for your response...and hope that you have better luck with our "two initial" friend going forward.....and for the record? WHO in the world is in the position to name their OWN replacement? I can only wonder if the powers that be know what is truly going on here? And how many Oceania/Regent passengers have been left hanging?