Oceana-advice please

[dinkydimps]

:) My wife and I have booked on Oceana May 2010 Western Med (25th wed anniv) and we have never cruised before. Would appreciate any tips or advice eg how much to tip, excursions, wine packages? etc.

Thanks.:D

[Murlis]

tips are £3 per person per night between the waiters, and £3 pppn for the cabin steward, you don't need to bring towels, they are provided. don't forget to visit the hidden bit of deck on A&B deck where you can be alone together in the romantic moonlight. forget wine packages, but don't buy the bland house wine, it is good before dinner but not during dinner. the P&O special award winning brand is brilliant, so tasty and perfect for the food, do not be afraid to ask for the bottle back the next evening if you do not finish it and do not be afraid to try different wines (free if you don't like it) as they will just rebottle them as use them for 'by the glass' wine. the coffee in the bars is very strong, good for me but not some people so order a cappuccino or therebouts. excursions are the best we have had so far on a cruise, but the prices can be quite large. look at some ports online first to see if you can walk into the city (most of the time there is a free shuttle bus) and do not be afraid to bring alcohol on board, they do not really care!

[dinkydimps]

Thanks Murlis help much appreciated.;)

[LibraLass41]

We started cruising for our Silver Wedding Anniversary, our first ship was Arcadia, but one tip I can give you, is to make the cruise extra special and book the 'de-luxe Occasion package' for about £140 you get:

 

A bottle of champagne, box belgian chocs and flowers on arrival in your cabin

 

A champagne breakfast delivered to your cabin on your WA.

 

A 50min visit to the spa for a facial

 

A 50min massage at the spa (these two visits worth £50 each alone)

 

a Portrait professional photo (good idea is to choose a formal night one)

 

 

This really made the cruise extra-romantic, and we were also invite to a private Captains cocktail party which may of been because they saw it was our Silver Wedding Anniversary by package ordered against our cabins.

 

 

That cruise was supposed to be a 'one off cruise of a lifetime to celebrate our special anniversary' but within 5 days we booked another one, we both loved it so much, and this year will be doing cruise no's 7 and 8 (all since 2006) :)

[LibraLass41]

Here is a photo of the de-luxe occasion package:

 

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/AuroraPartyCruiseSueV/VeniceCruiseMay2008#5205163464627540546

[Noblemount]

Just one point regarding Dining/ Tipping.You do not say if you are on Club Dining or Freedom Dining.If you are on 'Freedom' dining tips for the waiters in your Dining Room are automatically charged to your on board Account.You can of course cancel or change the amount if you so wish.This would require you to contact the Reception immediatley you arrive on Board.Tips to your Cabin steward are at your discretion and are normally given personally to your Steward on the last night of your Cruise.Details of the recommeded amount to Tip will be found in your cabin as will a few envelopes.A lot of people get a little uptight about Tips it is entirely at your discretion who you tip and how much.I will say however your Cabin Steward if he/she is anything like the ones we have had over 20/30 Cruises earn every penny as do The Waiters. I do hope you enjoy your 'First' have a great time .If I can offer any more help please let me know . We have been on Oceana a number of times

[feebee_71]

Unlike the amounts mentioned by Murlis for tipping the recommended amounts are £1:60 pppn (passengers over 12 years) for waiters and £1:50pppn for cabin stewards.

 

This comes to approximately £42 for a couple for cabin stewards on a 14 night cruise and £45 for waiters for the same period. Children are not charged for tips.

 

If you are Freedom Dining then the £1:60 per person will be added to your cabin account as a lump sum at some point during the cruise. This is because on Freedom Dining you will find you may sit in a different part of the restaurant each night and so may not be served by the same team more than once during the cruise. If on club dining then you are left to give the tips to the waiters as well as the cabin steward.

 

Feebee_71 :)

[Juliewulie]

Hi feebee, do you know whether you can avoid paying when booking the holiday and just tip as you go along. We've had occasions where we've tipped head waiters who we never even met during the whole cruise. We prefer to tip for good service rather than as a matter of course. There are 8 of us going and we're paying for everyone as a 25th anniversary celebration but would like to avoid the cost at the beginning.

[BrianI]

Julie,

The normal procedure on P&O is that a couple of envelopes are left in your cabin towards the end of the cruise, one for your cabin stewards and one for your restaurant waiters. You put whatever cash you deem appropriate in them and give it to them on the last night.

The exception is if you are on Freedom dining, then £1.60 per person per day is added to your account.

Bar waiters receive a commission on the amount of drinks sold but unlike the American cruise ships, no extra charge is added to your account. You may, however, give them a tip towards the end of the crusie if there is anyone special. You will find that there are also boxes put out in the self service towards the end of the cruise for optional tips.

Brian