OCEANIA CRUISES HAS DONE THE PASSENGERS OF RIVIERA AND NAUTICA VERY TERRIBLE IN CHANGING CRUISES FOR iSTANBUL TO DABAI

[jazznruby]

9 hours ago, Harry Lake said:

Curious if "PLUS 2" is required to go on O also?

Not required. Just looking forward to the next four through 4/25,  as I am. ☺️

[PhD-iva]

10 hours ago, Subub said:

Oceania should have handled the Middle East tragedy as they did COVID, where they greatly altered  our 77 day cruise in 2022, due to closed countries, and offered three options:  1) A Full Cash Refund, 2) A FCC worth 125% of the original cruise, with no limitations, 3) Sail and receive a 25% Cash Refund.  With over 240 Cruise Nights on Oceania we HAD considered them our Go-To Cruise Line, their on-ship staff being great.  BUUUUTTTT,  Corporate has totally mishandled the Middle East cruises on the Riviera and Nautica ships.  While I understand that they need to get both ships into the Pacific for the Winter, 2024 Season, their twice on again, off again restrictive FCC has shown how desperate they are, thereby causing a PR debacle, which will sting for many years to come, if they survive it, instead of following their COVID strategy and "doing the right thing".

Forcing concerned clients to resort to their Credit Card Companies, the Media, Government Agencies, Social Media, etc. for resolution does not paint a pretty picture of a company that I would be willing to do business with. RIP Oceania.

With the exception of your last sentence, I agree w your sentiments if not your specific recommendations.
Have been trying to find replacement options for my next O cruise. But, since I reserve when itins open and need good solo pricing, its not easy to find replacements. Seabourn’s website is hopeless, silversea’s itins haven’t called to me, and I won’t pay in full 12 months in advance so Viking is out.
Regent is the closest to what I’m looking for, but its still an NCL brand. And, they didn’t do so great either on their response (25% FCC w limitations).

Edited November 30, 2023 by PhD-iva
Edit

[cruisemom42]

2 hours ago, PhD-iva said:

With the exception of your last sentence, I agree w your sentiments if not your specific recommendations.
Have been trying to find replacement options for my next O cruise. But, since I reserve when itins open and need good solo pricing, its not easy to find replacements. Seabourn’s website is hopeless, silversea’s itins haven’t called to me, and I won’t pay in full 12 months in advance so Viking is out.
Regent is the closest to what I’m looking for, but it’s still an NCL brand. And, they didn’t do so great either on their response (25% FCC w limitations).

It’s a conundrum. But if sailing O carries risks, you can at least take steps to insure your trip to cover your ‘investment’ via separate insurance. That and cross your fingers. Not very appealing….

[susiesan]

2 hours ago, PhD-iva said:

With the exception of your last sentence, I agree w your sentiments if not your specific recommendations.
Have been trying to find replacement options for my next O cruise. But, since I reserve when itins open and need good solo pricing, its not easy to find replacements. Seabourn’s website is hopeless, silversea’s itins haven’t called to me, and I won’t pay in full 12 months in advance so Viking is out.
Regent is the closest to what I’m looking for, but its still an NCL brand. And, they didn’t do so great either on their response (25% FCC w limitations).

Have you ever been on a safari? OAT has a lot of solo and women tours/safaris where they don't charge a single supplement. 

[PhD-iva]

4 hours ago, susiesan said:

Have you ever been on a safari? OAT has a lot of solo and women tours/safaris where they don't charge a single supplement. 

Thanks for the good thought. I met 2 friends on a recent cruise and in 2025 or 2026 they want to do a Cape Town to Doha cruise on Regent, so I will save up my pennies for that pricey cruise.
Other than that, I have no interest in going to Africa. I lived in West Africa in my youth, and I kind of don’t want to replace those memories.

[golferpcc]

On 11/18/2023 at 1:03 AM, Nuka said:

Call your State's Attorney if you live in the US.  Good luck

Federal Maitime commission won't help as the ship started out of US waters, ship is not registered in USA and neither is Oceania. 

[Damicom]

5 hours ago, golferpcc said:

Federal Maitime commission won't help as the ship started out of US waters, ship is not registered in USA and neither is Oceania. 

Why would an Attorney General get involved with a cruise ship that had to change its itinerary because of a war?

[Damicom]

On 11/29/2023 at 7:14 PM, Subub said:

Oceania should have handled the Middle East tragedy as they did COVID, where they greatly altered  our 77 day cruise in 2022, due to closed countries, and offered three options:  1) A Full Cash Refund, 2) A FCC worth 125% of the original cruise, with no limitations, 3) Sail and receive a 25% Cash Refund.  With over 240 Cruise Nights on Oceania we HAD considered them our Go-To Cruise Line, their on-ship staff being great.  BUUUUTTTT,  Corporate has totally mishandled the Middle East cruises on the Riviera and Nautica ships.  While I understand that they need to get both ships into the Pacific for the Winter, 2024 Season, their twice on again, off again restrictive FCC has shown how desperate they are, thereby causing a PR debacle, which will sting for many years to come, if they survive it, instead of following their COVID strategy and "doing the right thing".

Forcing concerned clients to resort to their Credit Card Companies, the Media, Government Agencies, Social Media, etc. for resolution does not paint a pretty picture of a company that I would be willing to do business with. RIP Oceania.

Honestly, this whole thing has become exhausting. RIP Oceania? You really wish them dead because you’re upset about your cruise? You must know they didn’t start a war in the Middle East simply to inconvenience you. If you know anything at all about the Middle East, you’d know that it’s explosive and risky.  When you booked your cruise, every single communication they had with you reminded you of their cancellation policy and advised you to buy insurance.  You knew this. If you didn’t insure your trip, then you knowingly decided to take the risk. How does that make Oceania complicit? 
I’m scheduled to board the Riviera in Abu Dhabi December 29. I accept that it’s possible the ship won’t get there or I’ll decide it’s too risky to go. That’s why I have insurance and that’s why my husband and I agreed that our lives are worth more than the price of a cruise. If need be, we’ll walk away.  But wishing Oceania dead because you didn’t adequately protect yourself is just wrong and kind of awful. 

[Damicom]

On 11/30/2023 at 1:57 PM, PhD-iva said:

Thanks for the good thought. I met 2 friends on a recent cruise and in 2025 or 2026 they want to do a Cape Town to Doha cruise on Regent, so I will save up my pennies for that pricey cruise.
Other than that, I have no interest in going to Africa. I lived in West Africa in my youth, and I kind of don’t want to replace those memories.

OAT has wonderful trips all over the world. Take a look at their web page. You might like it. No single supplement. Mostly women traveling. Nice group feeling

[Harry Lake]

9 minutes ago, Damicom said:

they had with you reminded you of their cancellation policy and advised you to buy insurance.

Don't I remember that insurance doesn't cover "war" and Netanyahu declared "WAR." 

[Harry Lake]

9 minutes ago, Damicom said:

OAT

Two friends of ours have traveled with them a few times lately and liked them very much I'm going to be looking at them and other non-O companies. I don't like companies who choose to do the very wrong things.

[PhD-iva]

6 minutes ago, Damicom said:

OAT has wonderful trips all over the world. Take a look at their web page. You might like it. No single supplement. Mostly women traveling. Nice group feeling

They are getting some bad reviews on BBB. Might as well stick to the devil I know……

https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/profile/travel-agency/overseas-adventure-travel-0021-3848

[Twiga]

13 hours ago, Damicom said:

OAT has wonderful trips all over the world. Take a look at their web page. You might like it. No single supplement. Mostly women traveling. Nice group feeling

It is true that OAT's single travelers are mostly women, but there are many husband and wife couples, including my husband and me.  We love OAT!

[sanger727]

13 hours ago, PhD-iva said:

They are getting some bad reviews on BBB. Might as well stick to the devil I know……

https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/profile/travel-agency/overseas-adventure-travel-0021-3848

 

We had a wonderful tour recently with Alexander and Roberts. The tours are small, I think up to 12 people. But they will go if they have at least 4. That's what happened on our tour, me, my friend, and another couple were the only ones on the tour. We went to multiple cities and were met in every airport by a tour guide and escorted through. The tour was in Peru with machu picchu. The other couple was disabled and unable to explore machu picchu. At the last minute our guide was able to procure an extra guide. That way one stayed with the disabled couple and walked them through the flat areas and the other one took us on the full tour. I can't recommend them highly enough. 

Edited December 4, 2023 by sanger727

[Hlitner]

15 hours ago, Damicom said:

Why would an Attorney General get involved with a cruise ship that had to change its itinerary because of a war?

Funny thing is most other cruise lines are still going to Turkey and have no issues with future scheduled port calls in Turkey.  Guess the war only impacts “O.”  And Turkey is over 1000 miles from Israel.

[Subub]

On 12/3/2023 at 9:26 PM, Damicom said:

Honestly, this whole thing has become exhausting. RIP Oceania? You really wish them dead because you’re upset about your cruise? You must know they didn’t start a war in the Middle East simply to inconvenience you. If you know anything at all about the Middle East, you’d know that it’s explosive and risky.  When you booked your cruise, every single communication they had with you reminded you of their cancellation policy and advised you to buy insurance.  You knew this. If you didn’t insure your trip, then you knowingly decided to take the risk. How does that make Oceania complicit? 
I’m scheduled to board the Riviera in Abu Dhabi December 29. I accept that it’s possible the ship won’t get there or I’ll decide it’s too risky to go. That’s why I have insurance and that’s why my husband and I agreed that our lives are worth more than the price of a cruise. If need be, we’ll walk away.  But wishing Oceania dead because you didn’t adequately protect yourself is just wrong and kind of awful. 

 

[Subub]

Carefully read your Cruise Insurance Policy.  I had one for my Oceania cruise, to address potential medical reasons, but it DOES NOT COVER WAR!  Now there are missiles and drone attacks throughout the area, as you sail through a war zone much larger than just Israel and Egypt, not what I signed up for when I booked the cruise.

The major change in itinerary IS very similar to the COVID issue in 2022 where there were also major itinerary changes due to closed countries.  Del Rio Jr. did not follow his father's correct lead of offering Cash Refunds or FCCs.  He suffers from second generation mishandling of a business, a very common occurrence.  As an Oceania Cruiser with over 240 nights we are sad to see them go, maybe they can bring Del Rio Sr. back to right the ship.

Good luck boarding in Abu Dhabi, they should have many Flack Jackets available from the cancellations.

[SATaxman]

We were scheduled to go on a company trip November 2025. The itinerary has been changed from Abu Dhabi, etc. to France, Italy, Spain. 23 months out. The corporation is showing a great deal of caution. The only crazy thing: we have our own O cruise in September 2025 to most of the same places. Oh well.

[dock]

Our July ‘24 , Turkish Ovation has not any of the ports changed as yet. 
It’s quite unsettling as cruises later in 2024 with Turkish ports have already been altered. 

 

I accept change is quite likely, but I do hope the decision is made before final payment. 
Anyone else  on the Athens- Istanbul  Vista cruise hear anything as yet? 
There’s been no updates on the roll call either. 
Thanks. 

[Vertygo]

2 hours ago, dock said:

Our July ‘24 , Turkish Ovation has not any of the ports changed as yet. 
It’s quite unsettling as cruises later in 2024 with Turkish ports have already been altered. 

 

I accept change is quite likely, but I do hope the decision is made before final payment. 
Anyone else  on the Athens- Istanbul  Vista cruise hear anything as yet? 
There’s been no updates on the roll call either. 
Thanks. 

Dock, I’m on the 8/2 Istanbul to Athens-no change yet. There was a post on our roll call from a person who booked this cruise while on-board last week & was told by the Ambassador it would likely be changed. I’m sure there is a lot of moving parts to change a port, but wish they’d get around to letting us know one way or another.

[dock]

@Vertygo, I agree. It’s just unsettling that they’d  revamp later cruises but not July. 
 

I’m just hoping that they make don’t changes after final payment when we have minimal recourse rather than now, when we have plenty of time to either stay the course or not. 
 

Personally I wouldn’t cancel, as the ship is partly our destination. I’m just not keen to spend 5 days floating around the Adriatic or Aegean with only Sea Days as we’re not looking for a laid  back cruise  after booking a port intensive one. 
 

We are willing to consider other Greek, Italian , Croatia ports , even though we’ve done most in the past. 
Thanks. 

[dock]

Until Jan ‘24, no penalties to worry about ,but 
thereafter we would like a minimal about but by April we would have to make a decision. 
 

Off course air and accomodation  has been booked so it’s getting stressful to make decision. 

[Vertygo]

29 minutes ago, dock said:
 

Off course air and accomodation  has been booked so it’s getting stressful to make decision. 

Mine as well. Part of O’s contract states they’ll provide transport if an embarkation or disembarkation port is changed. I’ve had several replies on a different post from people who’ve experienced that & am hoping I can keep my BC air I booked with cheap points & still see Istanbul for a few days. Right now it’s literally all up in the air.

[Damicom]

On 12/4/2023 at 8:47 AM, Hlitner said:

Funny thing is most other cruise lines are still going to Turkey and have no issues with future scheduled port calls in Turkey.  Guess the war only impacts “O.”  And Turkey is over 1000 miles from Israel.

The problem with Turkey has nothing to do with the war. It’s a new government that is very unfriendly towards Western tourism. Other line are canceling as well or will be canceling in the future unless Turkey has policy changes. I realize it’s become popular here to blame Oceania for pretty much everything that goes wrong in the world, but this is definitely not Oceania’s fault.

[Damicom]

On 12/3/2023 at 6:43 PM, PhD-iva said:

They are getting some bad reviews on BBB. Might as well stick to the devil I know……

https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/profile/travel-agency/overseas-adventure-travel-0021-3848

This surprises me. My experience has been excellent.