Just to let you know we have had so many requests for Oceania and Seabourn that Linda, Susan and Julie will book these for you. We are not going to be adding these lines to our web at this time just booking them for current clients.

That's great! Before RSSC finally scheduled a British Isles cruise, I was looking at some other lines and wishing you (meaning B&K) booked them.

Ngaire, that's great! I'm very intrigued by Oceania. I know it's not all inclusive and the cabins are quite a bit smaller, but still it looks like they have lovely ships.

That is wonderful news.
Oceania has really got our interest.
They have such interesting itinaries way different from other cruise lines.
Now if they would only get away from the tipping policy.

Ngaire...we might book Seabourn, especially if we can book with you. We are 7 days short of our Free 14 day cruise....just have to fine an easy 7 days sailing to hit the mark!

Doesn't Oceania Ships cruise at very high speeds to shorten the time in between ports?

Chip I love your new signature picture. What a great group of people!!

Susan, Linda and Julie will be the experts on these two lines. In fact they have a meeting with Oceania on Wednesday. I am sticking with RSSC and South Africa/NZ and the Galapagos and letting the others handle these two lines. They will post any responses you need.

Great news, as Alan and I have been considering Oceania for some time now. We really like their itineraries, most of which are 2 week cruises. They offer many terrific specials, too, which are a real added incentive for us.

How wonderful to be able to now book Oceania and Seabourn with B&K.

I guess I'm a naysayer on this one, since neither line is for us. Oceania is totally non-smoking, so that kills it right away. Seabourn doesn't really have balconies( those French balconies are like why bother), so that kills them for us, since we use our balcony quite a bit. Both lines are good lines; just not for us. I know you're trying to meet everyone's desires, Ngaire, but I sure hope all of this diversification doesn't detract from the RSSC expertise. Your group at B&K is fantastic and I hope they don't get spread too thin re RSSC.

Dont worry Doug, I am personally only doing RSSC and we are not going into these lines in any major way. Just booking them for current clients that want to go on these lines.

As for the Galapagos, N.Z and Africa these are all handled by Ker & Downey so it is like a ONE tour operator situation. Not as diversified as it first appears. Think of Ker and Downey as RSSC, and each destination as a different ship.

Ok, we have to chime in. Christina and I decide on a cruise based primarily on the itinerary ! Looking at what RSSC has to offer so far for 2006 we are not impressed. I might add that we are impressed with RSSC as a cruise line but that can only go so far.
We belive it's the whole package;price,itinerary,and of course the cruise line !!!! So we are glad to see that B&K has decided to book other lines mainly because we just like you guys(Linda) !! We did find a cruise on Oceania-May 21,2006-Barcelona/Lisbon. This is quite a departure from the usual itinerary of most of the cruises we have seen and is why we are booking this cruise. We hope you can get a good package from Oceania,and we can all benefit. Mahalo, John & Christina

Wish we had known sooner that we could book Seabourn with B&K but we didn't and so have booked with another agent. The cruise is instead of the Navigator Nov. 8th one to FP LAX to LAX. We decided that the activities would not be for us (diving, swimming, sunning, etc.) and so we cancelled that one. I will miss Marsha & George. The Seabourn cruise is from Cairo to Singapore - 47 days!! We'd better like that line, right? Clyde isn't too happy with no balconies and also the agent we used so let's hope all works out okay. It may be our first and last experience with Seabourn!

Thanks Ngaire, that is good to know. We really enjoyed Seabourn and would do it again, even without "real" balconies. The hard part is finding one that we can squeeze in between our already booked SS and RSSC cruises!!!! What a great problem to have! :D

We're glad to see the addition. Both lines have their good points. We think your customers will be happy to have them in your choice list.

We were on the Renaissance R4 in Tahiti, and that ship is now part of Oceania. We had a mini-suite with verandah, and our big complaint was the bathroom was small, just like on Princess or Carnival. The public areas were quite nice, and we liked the alternative Italian restaurant.

We were on the Seabourn Sun, formerly Royal Viking Sun, now the Prinsendam, so we can't really comment on the other Seabourn ships, but would love to sail on them.

We agree, the French balconies are not the best, but it does let more natural light into the cabin, and by leaving the door open at night you can hear the wonderful sound of the ocean.

As much as we love RSSC, we don't always like their itineraries, so having more choices is good for us.

I agree that this is good news for B and K clients! Thanks Ngaire for offering this service to us.

Chip, specifications for Oceania ships are 18 knots. Specifications for the Diamond are 12.5 knots. Specifications for the Mariner, Voyager, and Navigator are 20 knots.

Doug, Oceania ships are not entirely non-smoking ships. However, there are only two areas where passengers can smoke. First, there is an area in the Horizon's lounge, and second there is an area on the Pool Deck. Passengers are not permitted to smoke in their staterooms or on their verandas or in any public areas except for the two designated areas listed above.

Bob and Frances, you are correct. All three Oceania ships are former Renaissance ships and are identical. The first two ships were refurbished in the past two years. The third ship is currently being refurbished and will begin in Asia in November of this year.

Oceania may not be for everyone because they do not offer any 7 day cruises. Most cruises are 10-14 days with some longer.

According to their Director of Sales when schedules are first released they offer 2 for 1 discounts and free air for a limited time. After the initial offering the prices and cost of air rise based on demand.

Hope this helps answer some of the questions.

Susan may sail Oceania in the near future to "check it out". What is interesting is their group policies which do offer some nice benefits for bona fide groups. So if Susan likes the ship enough I have suggested she sets up a group cruise sometime in 2006. We will have to wait and see what she thinks about the ships.

The basic cabins are small, the upper level cabins about the same size as the Voyager and then some larger cabins as well. Be interesting to see what she thinks.

I think they have some interesting ports and love the 14 day cruises - the two areas for smoking would be no problem for me but Tony wants to smoke on his balcony - soooooo not for us - Joanna

Thats okay JoAnna besides I want you on RSSC with Ken and I.

These two lines wont be for everyone. However, I think it is sensible to offer these two lines for those that want them. As I have always said, different strokes for different folks. They both have open seating dining and you know how I feel about that.

Seabourn I have sailed and there are some nice points but overall I still prefer RSSC.

Oceania I have not sailed whether I ever go on this line remains to be seen.

Meanwhile I am eagerly anticipating my upcoming cruises on RSSC - roll out that rack of lamb and dover sole. I am on my way. Phillipe will be our hotel director on PIP and I really am looking forward to seeing him again. He is wonderful.

Jean, I am devastated that you and Clyde won't be going to Tahiti with us! This is terrible news. I shall have to anesthetize myself with something. Maybe an extra Cosmo. :(

Marna Lou....they're dropping like flies, first Liz and now Jean. Hope you'll hang in there!

Great news. We'd like to try Oceania some time. Susan - long review when you get back, please. With my work schedule the way it is right now, I'm going to be living vicariously through others as far as vacation is concerned. :)

Can't wait to read all the posts from PIP. You are all going to have such an amazing time. Enjoy every second!

Kathy

Ngaire, thanks for giving us more choices.

Margo, it's still on!

Ngaire, Too bad we didn't know sooner. We are booked on Oceania, Insignia 9/22 Barcelona to Istanbul. Haven't found anyone else doing this cruise. But, we relly like the itinerary and you know how long I have wanted to visit Istanbul!

No problem Judy, at the time you booked we were not doing Oceania anyway. It was the girls that really wanted to do this. Have a wonderful time.

Judy and John,
We will look forward to your review.

Not true Doug. they just have "designated" areas on the ship where you can smoke ( cigs, cigars )...

P.S. since I have cruised on them 4 times since they became Oceania and MANY when they were Ren.. if anyone has q's ask away. Many of you know we love their gorgeous ships.. so this is great news Ngaire. When we go to Europe, just going for 7 days ( for a cruise ala Radisson, to us is not enough)..their itineraries are usually 10 to 14 (ish) days.

Hi all,

We've been on 2 Oceania cruises, both with dear Claudia, so I'd be happy to add my POV as well. However, I've not cruised w/ RSSC (yet) so can't compare the two.

Ngaire - you wrote, "they both have open seating and you know how I feel about that". Since I don't know you well, how DO you feel about open seating. Like or dislike? DH and I prefer it.

Jim B - What is it about Oceania's tipping policy that you don't like? We think it's terrific.

CJ

CJ, Ngaire loves the open seating...like all of us I imagine.

I'm not familiar with Oceania at all but personally love the longer cruises over the short ones. I guess the limited smoking areas (not on your own balcony) is a deal breaker for me too. (My husband quit almost 5 months ago. Though I've cut way down, I still indulge so a "smoking allowed balcony" is important to me).

Marcie,

Ok thanks. I can't understand why anyone would *not* prefer open seating, but didn't want to rush to any assumptions.

So far the reason we haven't been on RSSC are the shorter itineraries, though I guess if we found a pre or post cruise city we wanted to spend a good amount of time in, we would book it. As it is, we usually spend about 2-3 pre-cruise days visiting a city before embarking. I was invited to a lunch on an RSSC ship when it was docked in NY a few months ago so I got to have a look around. The cabins are plain looking but large, and the public area's were kind of plain, almost dreary. A friend was with me, who's never been on any cruise ship in her life (but is a real 5 star traveler) said it looked like "a typical 3 star hotel". Don't ask me *which* ship....sorry, but I don't recall. The lunch they served was wonderful.

If not being allowed to smoke on your balcony is a deal breaker for you, then yes, avoid Oceania, you wouldn't be happy. The policy is very strict about the two area's that people can smoke in.

CJ

As I mentioned in a post somewhere towards the top of this thread, we will, at some point, book an Oceania cruise. Their itineraries/length of cruises are great. The ships are small and intimate. We've received endless promos on some pretty terrific specials. Oceania has open seating, which is a must. Not being smokers, tight restrictions on smoking areas is the clincher.

Hopefully, there is an Oceania cruise on the horizon for us in the very near future. So glad that we can now book with B&K, our TA of choice, of course!

Hi CJ.

I only want to sail on ships that have open seating. Only way to cruise.

The tipping policy JimB was referring to is that he and many of the RSSC faithful prefer the completely no tipping policy that RSSC offers. I do wish Oceania would go this way but I doubt that will happen.

All cruise lines have their pros and cons nothing is perfect. We all make choices and no one is wrong or right just doing what they prefer.

I am sailing on Oceania's Regatta June 8 to June 22 from Stockholm to London so I will have firsthand information to offer after that. Actually Claudia's positive reviews have spurred me to sail with them.

As far as tipping, they are like many lines and automatically add gratuities to your onboard account. It is $11.50 per guest per day. An additional $3.50 per day is added for Penthouse Suites and above which include butler service. If you do not agree with the amount, they have an interactive television so that you can change the amount without having to interface with anyone except the tv. I like that idea.

Martha: Haven't been on the board lately so didn't see your post! I'm sorry, too, we won't be sailing with you but the chance to try Seabourn came up and we wanted to try it and it just so happened to be at the same time as FP. But there will be MUSH!! We will try to stay active and healthy so we'll be fit for that wonderful time with everybody. (You know, time IS running out for both of us :(

Jean, Jean, Jean -

There is a huge difference between time running and time running out. I am sure that you don't need to include "out". See you on MUSH.

Cheers, Fred