Delta SkyMles are worth around 1 cent each (and why I call them Skypennies) after years of devaluations and the destruction of the award program. Anytime you can get more than that value you are coming out ahead. Delta also has a “SkyMiles Experiences” program that lets you bid on unique adventures spending your SkyMiles. These auctions are rarely, if ever, a good value as the bid prices compared to the cost to buy a similar experience are simply crazy.
That said, at least at the time of publication of this post, Delta is offering no less than 3 different fantastic Oceania Cruises and the opening prices at just 45,000 Skymiles is a great deal (sure to go up much higher but worth tracking).
The three choices offered are:
- Oceania cruises 18-day ‘Fjords, Vikings & castles’ voyage – August 5-23, 2023
- Oceania cruises 10-day ‘Italian Riviera & Greek coves’ voyage – August 6-16, 2023
- Oceania cruises 9-day ‘Cultural Crossroads’ voyage – August 16-25, 2023
For each sailing it does include the following as part of your bid price in Skymiles.
- 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
Do note the auction ends May 31st 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 auctions, all taxes and normally high port fees and such ARE included so depending on the bids this could be a good deal for a balcony cabin in what looks like very popular cruises.
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 port of departure for each of the above listed cruise.
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 LOVE LOVE to book any of these but my August this year is already fully booked up (rats)! Are you bidding on any of these amazing voyages with your Skypennies? – René
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Oceania, not Oceana.
@Max – I got it 🙂
With or without an “i” an amazing use of Skypennies!
Nonsense. You have to get there, then pay for everything extra. Try getting there with Skymiles fanboy. Duh.
So, points/miles-wise, how do you recommend we get there, Max? All of us would love to know.
Thanks in advance.
Will be trying out the Oceania Cruise line soon… Did not see these Delta offers
Dee, hope you have a great cruise!
If I could make one of these work I would definitely look to cash in some SkyPennies!
Headed out for an Oceania cruise this week on their new Vista ship. For this one we used UA miles (transferred from Chase) to book ATL:ORD:BRU:LJU in J for 155,000 miles each. Delta ATL:VCE was 360,000 SkyPennies and even more for routing on KLM/AF their AMS/CDG. For the return we used AA miles to book Qatar Airways QSuites ATH:DOH:ATL for 112,500 miles each. Delta ATH:ATL or ATH:JFK:ATL were pulling up at 750,000 SkyPennies each. Much better to use SkyPennies to pay for cruises than for international J flights!