Have you heard?  Oceania is changing what it includes in its fares at the end of September.  I’ve put more details below, but if you’ve been contemplating booking an Oceania cruise, I don’t envision you’ll get a better deal than you can in the next few weeks.  Starting October 1, the beverage package, and shore excursion credit will disappear, so you might want to place a hold by the end of the month to make sure you get these goodies. 

We can also get you an additional 5% off their best price on verandas and suites.  This isn’t available on direct bookings, or anywhere else.  Our long-time relationship with them is paying off for our clients.  

Here are the details:

Oceania is sunsetting its “Simply MORE” fare structure at the end of this month.  Here’s what Simply MORE includes:

• Beer, wine, and champagne with lunch & dinner
• A shore excursion credit (amount depends on the length of cruise)
• Specialty Dining
• High Speed Wifi

What’s going away?

• The beverage package.  You’ll pay restaurant prices for all your drinks on bookings made after September 30.
• The shore excursion credit.

What’s staying the same?

• You’ll still have included specialty dining.  “The Finest Cuisine at Sea” is core to Oceania’s brand, so I don’t see anything happening here.
• You’ll still have free Starlink Wifi on every ship. 

WHY are they making this change?

• Oceania has said that they are reacting to client feedback.

Will the price go down as a result of fewer inclusions?

• I suppose anything is possible, but demand for travel products still outstrips supply… so I wouldn’t count on prices going down. 
• Oceania raises its prices every quarter, with the next increase scheduled for October 1^st.  Perhaps the increase will be more modest as a result of these fare changes. 

My opinion:

• My impression was they introduced Simply MORE fifteen months ago to better compete with Viking Ocean by offering similar inclusions, on a comparable sized small ship.
• I suspect the strategy worked a bit too well, and began to cut into sales at Regent, which is owned by the same parent company as Oceania.
• By removing these inclusions, it makes them more competitively aligned with Celebrity, Holland America, and Princess (none of which are owned by Oceania’s parent).
• I think this is a strategic error for Oceania, but it does present a great opportunity for YOU, if you’re ready to book between now and September 30.

What if I have an EXISTING Oceania Booking?

• Nothing changes.  If you booked with the Simply MORE inclusions those will be honored regardless of when you sail.  This change is dependent on WHEN YOU BOOK, not when you sail.

The RECAP: What you’ll get if you book by September 30:

• Beer, wine, and champagne with meals.
• A shore excursion credit varying from $200 – $400 per person depending on the length of your itinerary. 
• 5% off Oceania’s best price on their website in Veranda cabins and above (this is only available through our agency). 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

If you’re new to Oceania, or you’re a Celebrity, Holland America, or Princess traveller looking to try a small ship, here’s an article we posted a few months ago with more details on the brand:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/oceania-private-sale-time-to-try-a-small-ship/

Here’s a few Oceania examples:

Alaska from Vancouver to Seattle departing June 17 for 9-days

• Visit Ketchikan, Juneau, Haines, Tracy Arm, Wrangell, Victoria
• Verandas from $4299.  Includes tips, $200 pp shore excursion credit

Australia / New Zealand from Auckland to Sydney departing February 24 for 14-days

• Visit Rotorua, Gisbourn, Napier, Picton, Christchurch, Dunedin, Milford Sound, Tasmania, Melbourne (overnight)
• Fares from $6299 with a $400 shore-ex credit

Panama Canal from LA to Miami departing January 24 for 16-days

• Visit Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, full daylight transit of the canal, Cartagena, Cayman Islands
• Verandas from $7399 with tips included and a $400 shore-ex credit.

JAPAN from Hong Kong to Tokyo departing January 27 for 18-days

• Visit Hong Kong (overnight), Taiwan (2 stops), Ishigaki, Okinawa, Shanghai (overnight), Nagasaki, Busan, Hiroshima, Kochi, Kyoto (overnight), Nagoya, Tokyo (overnight)
• Fares from $6199 with a $400 shore-ex credit.

AMA WATERWAYS FREE GRATUITIES

Our friends at AMA Waterways often give us extra goodies, that we can layer on top of their existing promotions.  For all the cruises that follow, we can get you FREE pre-paid gratuities, and a $150 per person on board credit.  If you want to travel in the next 6 months with AMA contact us for special offers. 

2024 Christmas Markets on the Rhine departing December 19 or 21 for 7-nights

• Visit Christmas Markets in Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Rudesheim, Ludwigshafen, Strasbourg, Breisach, and Basel.  
• Fares from $3923

Tulip Cruise round-trip Amsterdam for 7-nights

• Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Kampen, Bruinisse, Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Kinderdijk
• March 19 from $3185
• March 30 from $3539

Danube from Bavaria to Budapest for 7-nights

• Visit Vilshofen, Passau, Linz, Wachau Valley (scenic Cruising), Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest (overnight).
• Depart March 26 from $2880

Rhine River from Amsterdam to Basel for 7-nights

• Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Dusseldorf, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Ludwignshafen, Strasbourg, Breisach, Basel
• March 19 from $3339.  Other departures dates available. 

AMA has a strong focus on the culinary experience, and they give you a choice of several shore exclusions (all included in the fare) at each port of call. 

TAUCK LAND CRUISES

Canadian Rockies and Glacier NP round-trip from Calgary for 10-days

• Visit Calgary, Waterton NP, Glacier NP, Banff, Kootenay NP, Morraine Lake, drive the Icefields Parkway, Jasper
• 2025 departures: June through September from $7990

Ken Burns Journey from New York to Washington for 12-days

• New York (dinner at ONE World Observatory, Walking tour of Manhattan, 911 memorial, Central Park), Valley Forge NP, Philadelphia (early access to Museum of American Revolution, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell), Amish Country in Lancaster, Gettysburg National Military Park, Harper’s Ferry, Charlottesville, Jefferson’s Monticello, Richmond, Williamsburg, George Washington’s Estate, Washington DC (National Mall, Early Access to National Archives to see Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights)
• Departures March through October from $6990

CUNARD CLOSE-IN SAILINGS

If you’re looking for a last-minute getaway between now and the end of the year, CUNARD has a handful of space left of some interesting itineraries:

Norway & Northern Lights departing round trip from London November 1, for 12-nights

• Visit Bergen, Tromso (overnight), Trondheim, Alesund, Stavanger
• Verandas from $2727.  Suites from $9147

Portugal & Spain departing round-trip from London on November 17 for 14-nights

• Visit Seville, Cartagena, Valencia, Malaga (for Granada), Gibraltar, Lisbon
• Fares from $4824 for a 500 square foot Penthouse on the brand new QUEEN ANNE

Go Christmas Shopping in London departing New York on December 3 for 7-nights

• Travel to the UK on the classic ocean liner QUEEN MARY 2.  If you have time you can travel both to AND from London by ship, with some days for shopping in between
• Fares from $3486 for Princess Suite

Caribbean Getaway round-trip New York departing December 21 for 13-nights

• Visit Philipsburg, St. Maarten, Rouseau, Dominica, Castries, St. Lucia, Barbados, Brasseterre, St. Kitts
• Balcony fares from $2599.  Suites fares from $9498

In Case You Missed It:

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS: https://pamperedcruiser.com/galapagos-islands-destination-focus/

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE in the Travel Biz: https://pamperedcruiser.com/do-you-want-to-deal-with-artificial-intelligence-or-a-real-person/ 

Recently booked a Viking Cruise?

Viking makes it really easy to book direct, either online, by phone, or on board.  Our clients worry that if they book on-line (or on board), that they’re cutting us out, but if you let us know after you’ve booked, then we can still help you with your reservation.

We’ll check over your reservation to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal, and we will also add some onboard credits that are not available on direct bookings.

We can add at least $100 per person onboard credit to any direct Viking reservation made in the last 60 days.

There is never a situation where you’ll get a better deal by booking directly with Viking (or any other cruise line).

If you recently booked a Viking Cruise, please let us know as soon as possible.

Have something to say about this?

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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley