Azamara Zigs While Oceania and Regent Zag – Airfare No Longer Included in Price

Goldring Travel March 2, 2009

Azamara Cruises, which is the more upscale line operated by Celebrity and similar in many respects to Oceania, has decided to unbundle air from its pricing. According to Dondra Ritzenthaler, Celebrity’s senior vice president of sales, more than half of their guests have opted to take the air credit and book their own air. Personally,

Oceania Cruises – Ship Inspection of the Regatta Made Me Smile…Really.

Goldring Travel February 26, 2009

I flew down to Miami yesterday to do a ship inspection of the Oceania Regatta; one of three virtually identical ships operated by Oceania Cruise Lines. I was not really expecting it to be very interesting – from an inspection point of view – since I had previously inspected the Azamara Journey…which is a sistership

First Hand Account of The “Cheeky” Pirate Incident Involving Oceania Nautica

Goldring Travel January 22, 2009

Back on December 2, 2008 I wrote about my displeasure with the hype surrounding the pirate incident involving the Oceania Nautica. It is not that piracy in the Gulf of Aden is not a serious issue – it is, but rather that the media prostituted the incident to sell papers and clicks and commercials instead

Oceania Cruises – Comfortable In Its Own Skin

Goldring Travel January 21, 2009

I haven’t written much about Oceania Cruises. I guess, in part, is because its new sister (Regent) has so preoccupied my thoughts. Oceania is a solid performing cruise line that consistently does what it does well and without pretense of being something it is not. Oceania is not, and does not pretend to be, a

Regent Seas Seas Cruises Will Reduce, And Keep, Its Fleet At Three

Goldring Travel January 11, 2009

Regent has confirmed that its new ship is now further from reality than it had been. Granted with the present economy it is not surprising (and, to be sure, may well make some good economic sense), but there was so much “talk” about it by Regent that its now discussing the mothballing of the ship

Oceania Cruises “Historic Price Reductions” – Some Incredible Deals!

Goldring Travel January 5, 2009

On the heels of its sister company, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, shaking things up with reduced fares and inclusive shore excursions, Oceania Cruises has selected dozens of cruises where it has slashed its prices, reduced the 3rd and 4th passenger fares and added free air. Rather than list them, I have attached flyers setting forth

Postings on Cruise Message Boards and Blogs: The Difference Between Constructive Opinion and Personal Attacks

Goldring Travel January 1, 2009

I have received a number of requests to comment on the post of someone (“Admiral Horatio Nelson” who says he is a former Regent Seven Seas Cruises employee) on Cruise Critic and Luxury Cruise Talk that were pulled. I had said that I would post something, so here it is… As many of you know

Piracy and Cruise Ships – Reality vs. Hype

Goldring Travel December 2, 2008

This afternoon I walked out of a meeting in New York City with a fellow superyacht industry person discussing the now normal issues of what is the happening in world markets and BAM, it hit me in the face: A giant electronic ticker tape announcing the pirate attack on the Oceania Nautica…which happened three days

Use Caution and Common Sense When Booking Your Cruise

Goldring Travel November 11, 2008

Folks, let’s face it. There are a number of travel agency business models that just aren’t working in our new economy. I found out that last evening that one of the largest online agencies has effectively closed up shop with millions of dollars of debt and a number of cash paying clients (even luxury clients)

Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Announce End to Fuel Supplements

Goldring Travel November 4, 2008

“Effective November 10, 2008, fuel supplement charges will be eliminated from all Regent Seven Seas Cruises voyages departing in 2010. In addition, the company has established specific guidelines under which the fuel supplement may be reimbursed to guests sailing on voyages departing in 2009. “For voyages departing in 2009, the company will continue to apply

Windstar’s Wind Surf – Caribbean – January 2014

Goldring Travel Blog – Making Waves

Cruise & Travel News, Reviews, Opinions, Deals & More