BigCheese1

Just been rung, only registered a few weeks ago. Offered 30% off Natural wonders of Iceland 4/7/25, 35% off Southern Spain and Morocco 23/7/25, 35% off Scenic Scandinavia 11/9/25. Decided they are not for us at the moment, we may regret this, but we haven’t even done our 1st Saga cruise, so maybe we might try this again for 2026 if we really think Saga is best value for us.

Lovely thanks

I lived at Sek Kong (RAF). Fab time trying all the ‘foreign food’. First Saga cruise next year, looking forward to Khukuri, we had lots of Gurkha food whilst at Sek Kong, is this the slant in there? Looking forward to my cruise (Norway August).

Thanks to both Spryder and Mauibabes for interesting info.

Agree. Didn’t realise wearing a lanyard was not the thing to do in polite society … (I don’t necessarily do what others recommend, just what suits me as long as no others are harmed)! I'm sorry for the person who said lanyards reminded her of work. I can do the ‘down my bra’ trick but don’t really think rummaging around in there is polite either (or hygienic ha ha). On a recent cruise (pretty average/ poor I have to say) we had a medallion which we had in a silicon watch band - that worked (no so much the cruise itself, though). It may be better when O switches up to some sort of medallion. In the meantime, a lanyard it is, sorry if it offends you.

Oh my, how kind, who’ve thought this would end up with a big conversation! Yes it’s very funny about the same words meaning different thing on both sides of the Atlantic. I have quite a few tales to tell on that. So we sail from Lima (Callao). I guess that Marina starts off in Florida and goes to S America, the back from S America to Florida. Yes I prefer flavoured still water but sparkling flavoured will suffice. Don’t like plain sparkling water. Not mad about Cola but Sprite is OK. Trying to work out if there are any choices on commonly available soft drinks or might I get my TA to ask for something nice. Yes with a sweetener content is fine, don’t mind which sort. Don’t really drink alcohol, but my hubby does, so he has a beverage package. Yes we are thinking Oceania will be lovely!

No I’m not meaning plain still water. In the UK we have flavoured still water (lime & lemon or blackberry & apple, say). I’m thinking Fresca might suffice. Thanks for help.

Thanks to all for replies. Helpful. Yes I hadn’t thought about quantities (18 day cruise). I think where I’m struggling is what might be ‘normal’ sugar free or diet drinks types. As you can see I’m a Brit so I may not know what might be available. One thing I do know is that Root Beer is not for me! In the UK we have zero sugar flavoured still water in bottles and cans. Does that exist in the US? I think you Americans may have more choice of diet drinks than us. I guess Sprite Zero might be freely available. A thing called Fresca came to mind, have I imagined that? BTW we’ll be bringing our own tea bags, you know what us Brits are like for tea (not mad about Liptons if that is what is offered). Also apparently we have to ask especially for clotted cream to go with our scones (not heavy/ whipping cream/ double cream)…… Getting excited now!

Oceania newbie here. I can see you can ask (through your travel agent) that your cabin steward put soft drinks in your cabin fridge. I prefer diet or sugar free drinks (i keep the calories for yummy food). I have seen photos of the bar menu showing alcoholic drinks. Does anyone have a photo of soft drinks options (or recall them). I’m guessing diet Cola of course but maybe diet Sprite, anything else?

Thanks for your thoughts on this. Yes self arranged tours have always worked well, I think we used to try and arrange for a quick meet-up coffee the day before, that worked. We have done all ship-arranged excursions for our March O cruise. We didn’t fancy being deep in the rain forest (or wherever) in a minibus with a flat tyre and the ship sailing without us (not risk takers, I suppose). We haven’t done many excursions on the Caribbean side since we have done all of the stops multiple times. That’s because we owned a house in FL for 17 years, being there for 6 months each year, and took advantage of pretty good deals going from FL ports. Happy travels to you……

Hi Mura thanks for the explanation. sadly I have misunderstood! I thought you meant an on Board ‘cabin crawl’ arranged by means of the Roll call. Some cruises I have been on those involved offered their own cabins to be seen by a pre-arranged bunch of people, say 4-6 different grades of cabins. It was very interesting to see a suite with a baby grand (have I imagined that?). The prearranged CC meet up (hosted by the ship) was always very nice and friendly. We sometimes arranged to have a drink/ shared table for a meal on another day with those we hit it off with. yes I have also set up ‘private’ tours myself via the roll call with others (I remember once on the Azores ours was much better than the ship’s excursion since the big bus couldn’t get up some narrow lanes whilst our minivan could). Of course it a trust/risk thing… if others who say they will share don’t appear you are left with a bigger bill. That had never happened to us. happy cruising!

Hi Mura So, so agree with sentiments, it’s the person that counts not any choices on orientation. But what I wanted to ask you (newbie on Oceania here, 1st trip due mid March). You say “ since Oceania instituted … tours”. Can you elucidate?

Hi LHT28. Thanks for response. Oh, I hadn’t realised it was tricky to get those spaces, I’m thinking that’s what you mean by “c**p shoot”! Ha ha English English vs Canadian English……. Well, we’ll do what we can. In any case we have the x4 reservations and I can see that the GDR will be pretty acceptable! Or even the grill at the Terrace sounds smashing. On other lines we don’t normally do the Buffett for supper, but the Terrace sounds nice for a change. Thanks again.

Hi Oceania newbie here. So, can you ask the concierge to do this for you? I know we are off the ship quite often at the times lots that concierge level (is it 11am to 1pm) can go to the reservations desk to attempt to get an extra speciality night (I have already reserved my four). As always, grateful for advice for this in the know.

Yuck. No, sorry it has to be clotted with a scone! Yes I will ask then, thank you.