Air Deviation

[al468]

We are taking the Nautica cruise in November from Istanbul to Cape Town and had wanted to stay on in Africa for another month. When our TA checked with Oceania we were told that the maximum we could extend our trip and stay with the Oceania included airfare was 15 days. We were also told we had to fly back from Cape Town. The only option we have would be to accept the $1000 per person credit for the air fare. This is not a very good option because there is no way we can get air from Vancouver to Istanbul and Cape Town to Vancouver for $1000. When we have requested deviations from other cruise lines we have been allowed 30 days to extend. This is what our TA thought it would be too, she is a cruise specialist and was surprised at Oceania's restrictions. Has anybody else had a similar experience? Is this what Oceania always does?

[Mura]

We are taking the Nautica cruise in November from Istanbul to Cape Town and had wanted to stay on in Africa for another month. When our TA checked with Oceania we were told that the maximum we could extend our trip and stay with the Oceania included airfare was 15 days. We were also told we had to fly back from Cape Town. The only option we have would be to accept the $1000 per person credit for the air fare. This is not a very good option because there is no way we can get air from Vancouver to Istanbul and Cape Town to Vancouver for $1000. When we have requested deviations from other cruise lines we have been allowed 30 days to extend. This is what our TA thought it would be too, she is a cruise specialist and was surprised at Oceania's restrictions. Has anybody else had a similar experience? Is this what Oceania always does?

 

I'm surprised. We usually do our own but we have used O's air on one or two occasions. I do not recall any time restriction, although we've never asked for as much as a month. (This could be an airline restriction after all.)

 

But I do know that IN THE PAST there was on deviation fee for delaying your flight from the same airport (which was $75 for quite a while, I'm not sure if that's still the fee) and $150 if you changed airports.

 

Again, a lot of this can depend on their deal with the airline in question. It may not be Oceania's restrictions.

[al468]

My problems with Oceania are even worse than I thought they are insisting that I have to use the same airline all the way so I have to put up with an 9 hour layover in Heathrow airport. Now I know why just about everyone who wants to do something other than take the cruise and fly home opts for purchasing their own airfare. This just seems to be another case of Buyer Beware.

[JimandStan]

My problems with Oceania are even worse than I thought they are insisting that I have to use the same airline all the way so I have to put up with an 9 hour layover in Heathrow airport. Now I know why just about everyone who wants to do something other than take the cruise and fly home opts for purchasing their own airfare. This just seems to be another case of Buyer Beware.

 

First of all, Oceania does not insist that you do anything, because they give you options at every step of the way:

 

If you prefer not to use their air arrangements, you may sail with Oceania on a Cruise Only basis, and plan your own flights,

 

Or, if you prefer to let Oceania do the legwork, but dont like the flights that they choose, you may pay the air deviation fee, which will allow you to choose the flights that suit your schedule.

 

Of course, if the flights that you pick are more expensive than Oceanias' method of getting you there, you may be asked to pick up the difference in fares.

 

This is the fine print:

 

Airline schedules will be available 90-days prior to the departure date and final air schedules will be ticketed approximately 21-days prior to the departure date. If you would like to customize your air arrangements, Oceania Cruises can accept Air Deviation requests 270-days prior to departure. The Air Deviation Department will process your request within 2 business days. By requesting a flight deviation, you accept Oceania Cruises policy that if the specific flights and dates requested are available and there is no fare differential, flights will be confirmed. The non-refundable Air Deviation Fee of $100.00 per guest will be automatically added and charged to the credit card on file. Any fare differential above Oceania Cruises standard airfare for Guest(s’) chosen air itinerary will be the Guest(s’) responsibility. An air deviation may include specific air carriers, flights, dates and cities. Air deviations are only available to those guests who have booked flights with Oceania Cruises. Air schedules may not be changed within 45-days of departure.

Special requests, including class of service upgrades, specific carriers and routing are at the discretion of Oceania Cruises. Upgrades apply to International flights and may not apply to U.S. domestic or intra-continental flights within North America, Europe, South America, Asia or Africa. In making these arrangements, Oceania Cruises acts only as an agent to the guest(s') behalf, and does not operate, control, or supervise any airlines and will not be responsible for carriers failing to meet schedules whether or not air tickets were issued by Oceania Cruises

 

Hope this helped-

[Sharicruz]

Air itineraries are no longer done 90 days prior to sailing. They are now done 75 days prior to sailing.

 

Shari

Sharicruz

[happy cruzer]

So you can still cancel the cruise air at final payment time without any penalty, right?

[JimandStan]

So you can still cancel the cruise air at final payment time without any penalty, right?

 

 

Yes

[LAexNY]

My problems with Oceania are even worse than I thought they are insisting that I have to use the same airline all the way so I have to put up with an 9 hour layover in Heathrow airport. Now I know why just about everyone who wants to do something other than take the cruise and fly home opts for purchasing their own airfare. This just seems to be another case of Buyer Beware.

 

 

I got an air deviation with different airlines outbound and inbound and no additional charge beyond the $100 fee.

[YoHoHo]

So you can still cancel the cruise air at final payment time without any penalty, right?

 

I wondered if that cruise air included an accepted deviation request the $100 pp fee would be lost if cruise air was cancelled being as they did do the work. Had not really thought about the addtional airfare cost, if any.

 

I had assumed the deviation fee was charged to the CC when the request was confirmed but I see that last time it was just added to my invoice from O to be included in the final payment amount.

 

We will be using O's air. While we are still narrowing down our pre-cruise plans, I was thinking of perhaps flying into a city other than where we initially board so we can tour around a bit first.

 

The OP indicates O wants them to fly out of the disembarkation city (but not sure what the reason is (no flights available from alternate city from an airline within their alliance for example), mura reports at one time a different city could be had for an additional fee, and the quotation cited by JimandStan states that a different city can be had with a deviation.

 

I think its time to check with my TA.

[LHT28]

I wondered if that cruise air included an accepted deviation request the $100 pp fee would be lost if cruise air was cancelled being as they did do the work. Had not really thought about the addtional airfare cost, if any.

 

 

I think its time to check with my TA.

I believe the fee is lost if you cancel the cruise air once you accept the deviation

 

Your TA should be able to answer your questions or at least find out for you

 

Lyn

[Sharicruz]

Once the deviation is accepted, the $100 per person air deviation fee is non-refundable.

 

Shari

Sharicruz