This cruise line now includes gratuities – but it’s not the bargain it appears to be

Wave goodbye to complimentary alcohol on Oceania Cruises voyages. The line is swapping free drinks and shore excursion credits for complimentary gratuities in the latest version of its inclusive package.

The new "Your World Included" package will launch on Oct. 1, 2024, for all new bookings set to depart on or after Jan. 1, 2025. This will replace the existing "Simply More" package, which features 2-for-1 cruise fares, shore excursion credits, and basic wine and alcoholic beverages during lunch and dinner. Similar to the current package, the new one will be available even with the most basic fares.

Along with gratuities for room stewards, butlers, and waitstaff, the new offering will provide dining at all specialty restaurants; nonalcoholic beverages like soda, juice, specialty coffee, and tea; still and sparkling bottled water; unlimited Wi-Fi; room service; gelato and artisan ice cream; group fitness classes; and laundry services (self-service for everyone except those in suite accommodations).

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Oceania states that the change was made in response to passenger feedback, which highlighted the importance of including valuable items for all cruisers, not just a select few.

"Unsurprisingly, our guests highly value our core offerings such as free specialty dining and complimentary WiFi; adding gratuities provides the most comprehensive range of amenities and benefits for our guests worldwide," said Frank A. Del Rio, president of Oceania Cruises, in a press release from the line.

According to the release, based on average costs for gratuities, Wi-Fi, nonalcoholic beverages, and specialty dining during a 10-day voyage, guests can expect amenities worth over $1,800 per cabin under the new package. While this may seem like a favorable exchange, it’s important to consider the value of what’s included in the current package.

The terms for Oceania's existing "Simply More" package indicate that the value assigned to the package's complimentary alcohol can reach up to $1,400 per person, with the shore excursion credit valued at up to $700 per person. These values fluctuate based on the length of the sailing; while those amounts might be limited to voyages longer than 10 days, the figures still illustrate a loss of value with the change.

When you compare that to the value of the gratuities replacing those benefits, the situation looks even less favorable. Currently, a fee of $18 per person, per day is added to guests' onboard accounts for gratuities. Guests in suites with butler service incur a fee of $23 per person, per day. Even at the higher rate, that totals $230 per person for a 10-day cruise. Thus, a benefit valued at $2,100 is being replaced with a perk worth only $230.

The update comes approximately a year after Oceania introduced "Simply More," which succeeded the previous package called "OLife Choice."

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