Vineyard View

The first TA we had years back offered zip. We didn’t know the difference - until being on board and striking up conversations with fellow travelers. It took us a couple switches in agencies and reps, but the one we have is priceless! It’s not just about the financial incentives, it’s all the extra things that she does. Example. We had a phone appt last week at x time. It was about 20 min later I called. She texted me she was on the phone with an emergency and would call me. She did. She had a client stranded in LHR and was rescheduling them from a cancelled flight. They helped with a hotel for this client until the first flight out next AM. To me, (although I can find hotels etc) having that kind of resource is priceless. Just an example. She works incredibly hard for all her clients.

Agree about Kotor. We loved our day there earlier this year. No need whatsoever IMO to hire a guide. Tamorina is definitely worth going to. It is also a great place to wander and spend the day. If you have a chance take a walk uphill to the amphitheater. It’s a really good place to just sit for a bit and enjoy the energy and view.

Sorry. It was used previously and I agree. It can be confusing with abbreviations.

That very well could have been the outcome, but I wouldn’t have let this go lightly nor quietly. Disputing with my Cc would have been only one avenue I would have pursued. I applaud those who went to the NYT. As you say, it is inexcusable and indefensible- as well as completely unethical.

This still all goes back to the act of offering a FCC, rescinding it, and all the unethical events that have followed. Had that been me, damned straight I would dispute it on my CC.

Interesting. I wonder when the start date was with this. I don’t believe existing contracts can be impacted, but good to know. Thank you

Payment in full at 180 days?

I am so truly sorry for all of you affected by this. It simply is not right, and quite honestly unethical IMO.

I sincerely hope that we have an opportunity to see first hand the reason this occurred when those affected return from their travels. After how Oceania has handled this entire situation, or not handled it, I am not in the skeptical camp. I also highly doubt that the people banned give two hoots after the whole debacle. I seriously doubt that they would want to set foot on an NCL ship again after being offered FCC only to have it rescinded and all that followed.

If I am interpreting this correctly, what happened is that the SM included excursion credits are not available to use due to canceled ports. I think that is the reason it can’t be used, so the question is will Oceania allow for OBC instead? SM is such a new program, and since the excursions they booked are no longer available, I think it’s a fairly new situation that is occurring

I would dispute it with my credit card. At least Oceania then has to get involved in responding to them. I am so sorry that this is happening to you. Such a special anniversary- congratulations on fifty years!

Thank you. So that is the new policy as of 9/1. The invoice I received from July reads 181 days or more prior to departure 0% of full fare 180-91 days prior to departure $250 per person.

Very true. Let me rephrase. With the new cancellation policy, does the penalty at 181 days change to $500 pp.

Read that and wondered the same. The revised 2024 itineraries in this region must be top of mind to SB. This today throws yet another likely revision in planning itineraries. I was looking at 2025 itineraries in the Spring. Many still show Haifa, etc. I can only imagine all the behind the scenes going on to make all the needed changes. I wonder when we will start seeing the results of those changes.

I am still confused why they were charged $500 pp when the cancellation policy on the invoice that I had was $250 pp. Did that change 9/1 with the non refundable admin fee?

I thought doowobob stated $500. I didn’t catch that it was pp. our invoice said $250pp. Maybe that changed with new policy 9/1.

It’s on my invoice.

I just did. It was less than 181 days. Thank you. Has Oceania never allowed a deposit to be transferred to another cruise when it’s that far out? Just curious as I was able to before on a different line. It is good to know that this is the case.

If that’s the case, maybe it’s yet another argument to be weary. IDK

I agree with you on this specific thread. If the original deposit was in fact made known, up front, as to be non refundable. If that were the case, and I wanted to still sail with Oceania, I would try to see if it could be moved to a different sailing. If it was originally known to be non refundable, and OP just doesn’t want to sail again with them (because of treatment on other cruise where FCC was rescinded) then that is a hard point to argue. That said, had that happened to me, I would not want to sail with them. We had a bad experience with Viking’s air, and we sailed again with them. The rescinded FCC offer was just flat unethical of Oceania. On that part, we do have the full information, and it was in no way the right thing for Oceania to do.

Why would they have hit you with $500 at 175 days out?

That is one amazing TA that you have, covering you financially if Oceania did not! I have to wonder, on what grounds would NCL have reason to ban someone from speaking the truth about their treatment of passengers with rescinding their word. Wow. That’s completely unbelievable. I sincerely hope that with this latest shot across the bow by NCL, these people go back to USA to report this latest outcome. I would venture to say that NCL/Oceania needs some upper management house cleaning - big time.

My concern is with the current management in place with Oceania, and their recent responses - or non responses, to their passengers/customers. It concerns me how we might be treated should further escalation and port changes be required. For me, that’s not about punishing a cruise line. That is looking to do business with a company who does right by their customers and feeling comfortable that will occur. At this point, The current management team at Oceania has not, IMO, acted in good faith, nor convinced me that they will.

If you book a FCC on board with SB it is valid for 2 years. If you do not use it it’s fully refundable. You can also cancel it before the 2 years and get a full refund.

I agree with this. We sailed from Fusina this year on SB. While it was much closer to Venice proper than other current options, it was not ideal. You had to go to the cruise port, transfer via bus to Fusina, and once on board, there you were. It’s industrial so no wandering off and on. We were RT from there. When we disembarked, we went via the causeway to the old cruise terminal, then bus back via the causeway, to the overnight hotel near the airport, then public bus back via the causway to Venice for the last day. Causeway back to hotel made it a 4 causeway day! It was really strange being in that huge, empty cruise port. Since we had time before the trip to stay in Venice, it was okay. For people wanting to spend a port day in Venice, not so much. I guess it is even more difficult from other current options though.