LakeSideKen

On the homepage on O's website, on the menu bar across the top, click on "value." On the page that then comes up, there are links on the left side, one of which is "beverage packages."

I have nothing to add about an upgrade of your beverage package but, at the risk of belaboring the obvious, I suggest you consider an "upgrade" of your travel agent.

I think it's trailer trash tacky, but obviously I'm in a small minority.

Paula, I'm not sure what you are looking for, but a huge and convenient place to possibly buy is: Total Wine, 1139 5th St., Miami Beach 33139, on the 3rd level of the Fifth & Alton Center. Huge, as in its website says they have 8,000 kinds of wine. Convenient, as in it is between most of the Miami Beach hotels and the cruise port.

People care whether others might think of them as a "newbie cruiser"??? Learn something new here every day.

If you "have to chance it," so be it. But be aware there is a possible hole in your back-up flights plan. If your booked SW flight is seriously delayed or cancelled, yes, you can STANDBY for the later SW flights, but if those later SW flights are fully booked you won't get on, i.e., SW will not displace any ticketed passenger on the later flights to make room for a STANDBY.

Live a Little: Since you always cancel auto gratuities, I suggest you skip Oceania and stick with Cunard.

Yes, on O cruises I've given unused OBC to the employee tip pool a couple times, which is every time I have had unused and nonrefundable OBC, most recently about a year ago. Why do you ask? Has something changed making this no longer possible?

I'd rather take a taxi to the airport and give my unused OBC to the employee tip pool.

If just age differences created a "drastic disappointment" on HAL, I fear you would have the same reaction to the equally-advanced average age on O. On the other hand, I think I am fairly typical of the O passengers I have met, and I would be happy to share a drink, a meal and a conversation with you, if you could forgive me for being a little north of 70.

An announcement will be made on the ship's public address system.

People go on cruises to watch movies in their cabins? Learn something new every day.

You want to know the location of your muster station before your cruise because... ???

I suggest you ask on Trip Advisor's Munich forum about your plans to have a rental car there. I am 95+% sure the locals will tell you about the agony of driving in the inner city on crowded narrow streets with unfamiliar street signs. Parking, if you can find it, will probably be 10-15 euros a day at your hotel, 2-4 euros an hour in a garage, or 20-30 euros a day in a garage. For your one day touring Munich, a car is absolutely the worst way to do it.

If you are going to drive in Munich's inner city, your car must have a "Umweltplakette" (emissions sticker). If your rented car doesn't have it, you will have to buy one.

I am 90+% sure locals will recommend that you go to Salzburg by train. There is a discounted ticket for this trip called a Bayern ticket, which I think would be 30 euros for your whole family round trip (perhaps less because children under 15 might get an even deeper discount). The Bayern ticket is also good for all public transport in Munich: S-Bahn, U-Bahn (metro), trams and city buses.

I think you might be much happier with a rental car just on the day you go to Switzerland.