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Having been a Delta Air Lines focused travel blogger for well over a decade I have first hand seen the reprehensible and disgusting destruction of the value of their reward points that I call SkyPennies. I use that term because that is what Delta points have become as most awards yield about 1 cent each in value.
That is, unless you can get opportunities to eke out better value, that is, much more than 1 cent per SkyPenny like my recent round trip to Alaska in 1st class for a cruise.
Another sweet opportunity, at the time of posting anyway, is the current Oceania Skymiles auctions offering for a 10 day cruise in the Mediterranean starting in Greece and ending in Spain visiting some amazing ports (or the other way round)! A balcony room for two is well north of $7,000 so you can see the value of the four auctions below!
Clearly the ending bids will not be anywhere near the current cheapest bid is just 106,000 miles as you see above and that is an opportunity this is to burn your Delta points for HUGE value! So let’s look at the offer. (<-link to both auctions)
This Oceania Cruise package includes:
-
- A ten (10)-day cruise for two (2) guests in a double occupancy Veranda Stateroom (BX) aboard the Oceania Riviera for the Italian Artistry & Turkish Icons Cruise, departing from Athens, Greece and returning to Barcelona, Spain with ports of call in:
- Kavala, Greece
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Messina, Italy
- Naples, Italy
- Rome, Italy
- Florence, Italy
- Provence, France
- A ten (10)-day cruise for two (2) guests in a double occupancy Veranda Stateroom (BX) aboard the Oceania Riviera for the Italian Artistry & Turkish Icons Cruise, departing from Athens, Greece and returning to Barcelona, Spain with ports of call in:
*Departure Date: Thursday, November 9 [or 19], 2023
*Return Date: Sunday, November 19 [or 29], 2023
This voyage includes:
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- Double occupancy luxury Veranda Stateroom accommodations with Tranquility bed and Bulgari toiletries
- All meals, including 24-hour room service on board and access to up to six (6) dining establishments onboard
- All non-alcoholic beverages on board, including specialty coffees and teas
- Wi-Fi
- Access to onboard spa, pool, and fitness facilities
- Onboard entertainment
Featuring an overnight in Istanbul, this fabulous voyage of discovery brings the ancient world to life through ornate mosques, historic temples and fascinating ruins, which pair perfectly with Renaissance masterpieces and poetic Provence.
Stunning Riviera was designed to be distinctive and special in so many ways. Featuring the magnificent Lalique Grand Staircase and designer touches throughout the entire ship, Riviera showcases rich residential design and furnishings.
The one on the 9th departs from Greece and the one on the 19th departs from Spain ending in Greece.
Do note the auction ends TODAY July 20th and folks do bid last minute on these so you will want to be live at the end if you really want to win (also bidding at the end extends the auction for a little while longer).
It seems, from reading the T&C in the auction, all taxes and normally high port fees and such ARE included so depending on the bids this could be a very good deal for a balcony cabin in what looks like an amazing cruise.
What is NOT included is the daily per-person tips for workers on the ship so it will add $18 per person per day on top of your winning bid in Skymiles. Also notice that this does NOT include adult beverages and without a daily plan that can be very expensive if you have a number of drinks per day. Airfare is NOT covered as part of the auction so you will have to get yourself to and from departure city of Rome and the port is about an hour away, that is, departing Civitavecchia and then home from Istanbul Turkey.
You will want to arrive at least 1 day early to the departure port as the ship will leave without you if you do not make it to the ship in time!
I would love to book this but have burned up all my Delta points this year (maybe time to get some more?)! Are you bidding on any of these amazing voyages with your Skypennies? – René
UPDATE: Someone good a very good deal an great value for their Delta points:
card_name: bonus_miles_full
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Is the bid for a cabin -I.e. the points cover two people?
@Peggy Mueller – The bid is total for two people in the cabin that is you are NOT paying 2x the points the one bid covers you both.
I see you have to provide the travelers’ info by 7/25, but wondering if it would be possible to change one of the travelers later on if one of the original travelers end up not being able to go?
@chris – Not sure. I would not risk that.
We are going on our first ever Oceania cruise soon but used $$$ for it..