SnowBitte

just got home from dropping off brother and SIL. Apparently, they already checked in but knew nothing about the accident or delayed departure!

If you are with Oceania they want you off the boat by 0900. After all tips and evaluations are submitted you'd find staff losing energy. :)

We just returned from Turkey. We had Rock Valley arrange domestic flights, transfers, hotels and tours while in Cappadocia and Istanbul before a cruise. Everything went smoothly. The guides on our 3 full-day tours were great and we enjoyed the hotels. We only paid for airline tickets ahead. This was an enjoyable, stress-free way to see a lot in a few short days. I can recommend Rock Valley. They were very professional and accommodating.

Hello Rondelle girl - could you tell us which hotel you stayed at and how did you like it? We are planning to go in September 2014. Almost all the top rated hotels in Tripadvisor have some comments sprinkled through saying hotel staff only made the beds, not necessary cleaning the room. What was your experience? Thanks in advance for sharing your experience!

Ah, But if you Book the Hotel through Oceania, then you get both the hotel stay AND the Deviation. It can be a savings over doing the Deviation plus the hotel Ala Carte. :D :D

We booked Oceania's air and hotel in Oct 2013. Originally we had to pay air deviation by arriving a day early but I asked our TA to waive the fee since we are staying at their hotel. They did. What I like best was transportation was included. It was a Mercedes limo for us only. At the hotel we signed up for O's tour of Athens which included Acropolis and the museum. O also took care of the luggage which went straight to our cabin. The cost was about the same as if we booked the place on our own. The tour at $75/person was low for O. I like the convenience and the 5* hotel.

Travelcat..Air fare credits Oceania gives can and sometimes do go down closer to final payment ..so if the credit Oceania offers you at booking time is $1000 per person then at final payment several months away it can be $800 per person as an example..It is not unusual for this to happen

Jancruz1

Hmm...I have to check with my TA. My cabin mate is taking the credit, which is only $850 for our Sep cruise. Good to know.Thanks!

Sue

Sometimes it works out well sometimes not

For a TA cruise it would have cost us over $2500 so paying the deviation fee was a no brainer for us

 

You must evaluate your own requirements vs taking the air from Oceania

 

JMO

With our October cruise, our TA was able to waive the air deviation for us because we stayed at the Oceania precruise hotel in Athens. We don't pay air differentials. We didnt accept the first itinerary which was unacceptable because we'd have to catch a flight at 6 or 7am; or two stops before getting into destination. The next itinerary were usually much improved.

I'm surprised that our TA asked us to book air now for our Sep 2014 cruise already! I paid air deviation this time though.

Had to cancel this cruise in 2013.

Eagerly waiting for summer 2015 to open.

I made arrangements for small group private tours and the couples that went said all were great.

Will book again with the same companies.

Asking our TA to get group space so we can get Grats and other benefits.

Hi Nana4x - we booked the September Oceania Black Sea cruise. Could you share the private excursion information if you don't mind? My email is sjenne2001atyahoo dot com if you prefer to email me. Thanks in advance!

Sue