Oceania price protection- WOW!

[BEAV]

Beav, no doubt all you say is true, given you are a veteran here and me a novice. I never checked back on the 'offending post' after maybe week, all I know is that when I have seen a Travel Company name mentioned, it did not disappear that quickly, i.e. probably lingered in system for a few days, so that is where I was wondering just 'how serious' this was. Obviously, it is.

 

Back to the drawing board!:)

 

How fast the "offending" post(s) get removed just depends upon how often a moderator or host happens by, notices it, and takes action. So, yes, I have no doubt many a thread has remained live for a number of days before getting edited.

 

If anyone wonders why Cruise Critic has such rules, I can only assume it's to protect the agencies who pay to advertise on this site. A few weeks ago, there was a thread on another cruise line board here where someone asked for referrals to on-line agencies where you can view cruise actual stateroom availability. A fellow poster posted a link to such an agency. Anyone viewing the thread could have gone to that agency's website, and in turn made a booking with them. In essence, that agency has been given free advertising here on Cruise Critic. In the meantime, there are travel agencies paying to advertise on this website, so it's no wonder Cruise Critic takes the stand they do. I know if I were paying to advertise on this website, I'd be pretty ticked if my competitor was getting free advertising on the message boards.

[BEAV]

To the best of my knowledge, if you read the passenger ticket contract (6th paragraph of Item 4. Carrier's Discretion), you'll see that Oceania has to honor the price if they extend the length of the cruise. I'm not an attorney but I'm pretty sure this would have happened no matter who the TA, or if self-booked, since I believe Jan emphasized in the post that was deleted that these were not CANCELLATIONS of cruises but CHANGES to the itinerary. Perhaps if Oceania had cancelled the cruise outright and created a brand new cruise in its place, the price would not have been honored, but based on information that I believe was included in Jan's deleted post, this was not the case for this cruise. I could be wrong because I can't verify my recollection because the post is gone! :)

 

I think you hit the nail on the head, Trece. However, I'm also sure Petoonya is justified in her zeal for her TA! ;) If we could only have such cordial relationships with insurance, phone and utility companies!

[Rat]

Hey Beav, I see that you're posting here. Do I hear a Oceania cruise in the foreseeable future? :p Have a great New Year! :D

[Petoonya]

Well not quite so sure I have all the information that a TA would have at his/her fingers tips. But it was my understanding that my original cruise was cancelled and not changed.

 

The original departure date was 4/3/2007- now it is 3/25/2007. The original port of departure was Barbados. Now it's Rio. This is a fairly drastic change- not just a few added ports.

 

I dunno if all this stuff makes a bit of difference, I am just very appreciative of what seems like a heck of a holiday gift. I am almost afraid of touting it too much for fear Oceania will take it back.....!

[rykersdad]

Have YOU been Crystalized ???

 

 

Is this advertising??? ONly kidding, don't flame me... I wish I had been crystalized... I can only dream about a Crystal Cruise, ah but there's time yet (I hope!)

[BEAV]

Have YOU been Crystalized ???

 

 

Is this advertising??? ONly kidding, don't flame me... I wish I had been crystalized... I can only dream about a Crystal Cruise, ah but there's time yet (I hope!)

 

LOL! Good point, rykersdad! Keep the faith...if BEAV can sail Crystal...anyone can. :D

 

The original departure date was 4/3/2007- now it is 3/25/2007. The original port of departure was Barbados. Now it's Rio. This is a fairly drastic change- not just a few added ports

 

That's incredible, Petoonya. Are you saying Oceania is also flying you to Rio for no additional cost than to Barbados? In our case on NCL, the origin & destination cities remained the same, they just kept lengthening the cruise with added port stops.

 

Do I hear a Oceania cruise in the foreseeable future?

 

I sure hope so, Rat. Man wasn't meant to live by alone......;)

[Petoonya]

Shhhhhh Beav.

[BEAV]

Shhhhhh Beav.

 

[Jane110]

 

What I do have a particular problem with is very simple... it's the use of her advertising after her name. But I guess Laura allows that. I don't think a TA would need to directly request a person to email her, when her address is documented clearly below her name.

Some people may put credence to words or opinions from a known TA, and this could be construed as advertising for a particular product. JMHO.

 

Personally I wouldn't like it if a member here posted a lot about a cruiseline or a hotel and then didn't disclose to us that they were a TA and the name of the agency they were affiliated with.

 

If Jan gets customers because people like the info she gives out, so be it. She doesn't solicit nor does she withhold info when she hears that people book with other TA's. I wish we had more TA's here who could give us such insight into the other cruiselines.

 

I welcome getting info from someone who has an inside tract!

 

Petoonya - Enjoy your wondeful cruise!

 

Jane

[rykersdad]

I always ask a TA what they think... I value their responses, and follow up with my own investigation. I would never do anything on anyone's else's say so. I want the ability to blame myself for screwing up!!

I just don't like someone using a forum to advertise. If asked... no problem to post your reply, even if it includes your company(they were asked after all).

Just needed to set my comments straight. All info is valuable info in my eyes.

[sacway]

Hi Petoonya -

Long time no "see".

We are now are looking at Regatta. Should make our decision in a couple of days.

Just back from Lincoln City, sure is nice weather for Jan up there.

sacway

[tlmlb]

According to the rules of the board I am supposed to post that I am a TA hence the 2nd line

Jan

*****

 

then why not use

 

Jan

Travel Agent

[Petoonya]

Hello to you Sacway.

You hit the Oregon coast on just the right few days!

We had the proverbial 40 days and 40 nites of rain since early December- and then 3 days of amazingly clear sunshiney warmth- and now back to heavy rain and wind for the next 40-50 days again!

We LOVE the rain and overcast, but some Oregonians are hitting the ***** hard this winter. Glad you were here and enjoyed it- if you drive down Pacific Coast Hwy you drove right by my home.

 

Hope you go for Oceania- while X is terrific, the ships, service, dining and ambiance onboard the Oceania ships is extraordinary.

 

Best wishes.

Nancy

[ritarose]

Mike Brill-in your list of cruises taken, I note the above one. do you have recommendations for guides in Istanbul and Kusadasi?

 

thinking of Oct. 24 cruise.

 

thanks

 

Rita

[sacway]

Petoonya: This time I flew up to PDX & drove down; sometimes drive up I5 and cut over at Salem, have also cut over to the coast about Florence, as many times as I've gone, different routes for freshness.

 

Looking very seriously at the Regatta 12/21/06. DH likes the port-intensive itinerary, great food; pax mix matters, and is the casino quiet or active? How might you describe the range or overall demographic on Oceania in the Caribbean over the holidays? Pax similar to anything else, or much different?

[mike35]

Mike Brill-in your list of cruises taken, I note the above one. do you have recommendations for guides in Istanbul and Kusadasi?

 

thinking of Oct. 24 cruise.

 

thanks

 

Rita

 

After considerable research, we chose Nejat Incedogan (*****@yahoo.com). Nejat is exceptionally knowledgeable, and he accompanied us for 3 days in Istanbul and then met is at Kusadasi, where we toured Ephesus and the surrounding area. Another couple whom we met on this board accompanied us, and the four of us were extremely pleased with Nejat's services. He has become a lifelong friend as a result of our association.

 

Mike

[Petoonya]

Hello again Sacway.

 

I'm not a good one to answer about the demographic possibles on the holiday Oceania Caribbean cruise. It's been many years since we've done the Caribbean and it's never been over the holidays. Our only Oceania experience was a Med last summer and there are probably some differences I suspect. We walked thru the casino and thats about it, so again can't answer that one! You might want to pose the question separately. There were NO children on our Med cruise, but reading this board there were a number of children on this years hoilday cruises. Not the degree of unruliness as on the mass market lines, but if I remember correctly I have read there was some on the Oceania cruises too.

 

You may just have to give it a try to know if it is right for you- let me know if you book! :)

[lahore]

Hey tlmlb

 

Personally I can't abide using travel agents and forever bless the arrival of the itnernet which has enabled me to make free and informed decisions about where we go, how and at what price. That being said, I don't have anything against Jan - she is very blatant about what she does for a living (although why the board allows this I don't know - it seems to be a bit selective; the same occurs with tour guides in, for example, Costa Rica I found - some names are 'mentionable' and some are wiped instantly). Jan posts useful information here; personally I somethings think her bias shows through in flashing neon, but don't we always sift information based on where it is coming from?

[brian_uk]

I have finally read this thread andthere is one point you all seem to be missing.

 

There is absolutely NOTHING to prevent any other Agency doing the same as Jan.......they are all just too stupid and lack the initiative.

 

She does not appear to have the sole right to use her Agency name so good luck to her and I actually find some of her thoughts quite helpful.....not all.

 

Brian

[Trece]

Brian, Casting no aspersions on Jan, who has contributed a lot of wonderful information, as well as admittedly a lot of biased information, I'm just curious how you KNOW that other TAs are "stupid and lack initiative" when it could simply be that their posts and/or signatures are being pulled before your eyes see them? Do you have some way of knowing that every post ever submitted stays on the board, intact and in perpetuity? If this were true, we would not need moderators, right?

 

Also, some TAs may simply have a different value system. Not better, not worse, just different. I'm self-employed in a totally different field than travel, not even remotely related - but if a board like this existed for my profession and I posted, I know I personally would NOT include my business name in my post. I'm sure there are TAs who feel they can contribute without identifying themselves as a TA. This, to me, does not make them "stupid" and "lacking initiative."

 

While I understand your point, I don't think you have to insult other professionals to make it.

[brian_uk]

Trece

 

Just why does it bother you that much..............People pay millions to Google to promote their listing higher than their competitors and that is just good business and if I were an active TA and had something positive to offer on these boards I would not hesitate to add my Agency name.

Do you really believe that the Hosts are in collusion with anyone here and would pull an article....sounds to me like you read too many spy books.

 

Brian

[Phoenix cruiser]

One of the great features of CC boards is you can locate what you are looking for by the title of the Board and then the individual threads. I was amazed to see 40+ comments on Price Protection until I saw that this thread addresses TAs, Istanbul guides, the weather in Oregon, etc. My suggestion to all is to use the New Thread button. Thank you to all.

[Bustaty]

Thanks Phoenix Cruiser, gave me quite a chuckle.

 

I was sort of wondering how this thread got revived after a month of lying dormant.:)

[Trece]

Brian, I don't know why posting one time on the subject constitutes it "bothering" me - but what "bothered" me was the fact that you felt it necessary to insult a group of people in the course of making your point. Other TAs may have valid reasons for not wanting their business name to appear. It may not be an acceptable reason to you, but it's their choice, and it does not make them stupid or lacking initiative.

 

Discussing removal of posts, criteria for removing posts etc. is forbidden by the rules of this board (see Community Guidelines - Special Note Regarding Removal of Posts) so in order not to cause this thread to be removed, I'm sorry but I'm not going any further with it except that this is a moderated board and yes, things are removed, as stated. No spy novels involved.

 

Phoenix, you're absolutely right, new threads should be started. Also, roll calls are not supposed to be on this forum, to the best of my knowledge, and neither are "looking for tour share" posts, and name calling (e.g. "stupid") posts. Maybe everyone should be reviewing those community guidelines! :)

[emmalbrent]

She has helped me when I had questions. I e-mailed her personally. I have never met her or done business with her. But what a mess when our cruise on the REN went bankrup just 4 days before our R4 qruise.

 

We have a wonderful TA and personal friend, but Jan has a better insight into Oceana than our TA making phone calls to different reps. If it wasn't for Jan's knowledge, those of us using other TA's might not sail Oceana. Sure she is getting business for Oceana but not getting anything from it from people like us. Just be thankful for all these posts and knowledge that is shared.

 

Our TA would not use them again until a few months ago. One of their clients insisted on using Oceana and TA took a chance.