RetiredLifer

3 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Thanks  for the explanation

 I know a lot was going on about that time in March

Nice you got extra time onboard & an FCC for your trouble 😉

 

Were you confined to your cabins?

Since no one was sick, it was just like a day at sea.  From our last port in Chile until we arrived in Miami it was 13 continuous days at sea.  We were not confined to our cabins.  Shows, trivia, daily activities were normal.  Paul Baya, the CD bent over backwards to keep us entertained with new or different activities, the lecturers gave additional lectures, it was possible to make additional specialty restaurant reservations, Terrace Cafe had additional ethnic speciality nights and we had a couple of open bars. There were additional health protocols but nothing which caused us problems or diminished our enjoyable experience.  Even though, from March 16 to when we arrived in Miami we were “squatters,” we never felt that Oceania did anything less then when we were paying customers.  When we went through the Panama Canal we had continuous commentary.  I will have to say though,they ran out of chocolate chip topping for my ice cream two days before we got to Miami.😀

IF anyone on the ship would have had the virus, all would have been different, but because we did not, we were just “the Flying Dutchman” looking for a port that would take us.  Not knowing how it would end and facing the virus when we got off the ship did give us some mental anguish. We were living in a healthy bubble. Being retired, we had no reason to get home.

We were on the last cruise of the Marina before the shutdown.  We had been on since January when we boarded in Miami.  We were to disembark in Lima where the ship was to pick up new passengers and head south.  The day before we were to disembark in Lima we were scheduled to stop in Pesco, Peru.  Things were getting a little “dicey” but until that scheduled stop in Pesco we were under the understanding that we would have a day and Pesco and sail overnight to Lima for disembarkation. 
 

I Remember waking up that morning and looking out and thinking “ the sun is not where it is suppose to be” and land was no where in sight.  We were not going to Pesco and we were heading south.  That morning we were advised by the Captain that Peru had closed all their sea ports and airports and we where heading south back to Santiago, Chile which would take three days.  A day later the Captain advised Chile had closed their ports and Miami had ordered the ship to sail north.  Final destination not known, according to Captain.  A day later we were advised we were heading to Panama.  When we anchored near the canal we were advised by the Captain that we would not be disembarking in Panama and Miami had ordered us to return to Miami but we had to wait for a slot to go through the canal which happened  after another day at anchor.  We then spent a day going through the canal and cruised to a Miami were we finally dsimbarked.

No one on the ship was reported to have the virus at any time during our time aboard.
 

We had booked our own flights out of Lima so I had to cancel, scramble for fights out of Santiago, cancel that, schedule a flight out of Panama, cancel again and finally schedule flight out of Miami which turned out to be canceled when we got to the airport but was able to fly home the next day.

Oceania treated us very well and we had no complains.  We ended up getting a 50% FCC which we never expected or asked for.

He was on the Marina.  We were on the last cruise when the shutdown happened.  He took excellent care of us as always.

1 hour ago, Noxequifans said:

One of our O cruises made several stops in Vietnam. Before we arrived, there was a veterans meeting ... which was announced. About 20 of us attended including one former POW. He spoke a bit and it was very moving. The stops and excursions were memorable. 

Last year we did two segments of the  ATW  cruise.  One of the segments included two stops in Vietnam.  We did not have a Veteran's meeting but there were at least 4 of us who had served a tour in Vietnam on that segment.  None of us knew each other before we met on the cruise.  The interaction we had with each other and returning to Vietnam was something I will never forget.

Concerning this most recent cruise on the Marina wherein CD Paul hosted the Veteran  get togethers , we had at least 20 to 25 Men and Women Veterans from as many as 5 different countries with service spanning from the Korean War through the present.  The cruise was, for us, a back to back to back so each segment had some of us who stayed on  and new Vets who got on as each new segment began. 

The Military Veteran get together was put together and hosted by CD Paul Baya every time.  Not much different from Needlepoint other then they did not hand out free needlepoint kits. 

There were other hosted get togethers listed in the Daily Currents such as “Single  Travelers”,  “Military Veterans” and, of course, “Needlepoint.”

I have found the following link to be very accurate:

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

It contains the same information (and more) that the The Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at John Hopkins University site has but I find it easier to read.

We were on the Marina for what turned out to be Miami to Miami around South America which lasted from January 22nd to March 21st.  There were frequent LGBT get togethers hosted by the Assistant CD.  These get togethers were listed in the Daily Currents. 

49 minutes ago, ORV said:

I think Paul Baya used to be with Celebrity. Bald headed guy in his 40s?

Yes.

We were on the Marina also.  We are home now too and "self isolating". The officers, crew and entertainment staff including CD Paul Baya were nothing short of amazing and outstanding.

Cindy, I could not have said it better.  Thank you

On Marina.

disembarking for passengers scheduled to begin at 10am then buses to airport.  They have treated us well.  No health issues.

On the Marina now.  Today is Thursday.  We are at anchor today.  Tomorrow, (‘Friday), we have a slot to transit the canal.  Expected to be in Miami mid day Monday.  All is well.

On Marina now.

Just received the following from the General Manager:

On Marina now.  We were suppose to be in Pisco, Peru today (Saturday) and Lima, Peru tomorrow where we were suppose to disembark.  The ship was to then proceed through the Panama Canal with only the crew. This morning (Saturday) we were notified that Peru has closed all ports.  We are turning around and heading back to Santiago, Chile.  That is all we know at this point.  Captain to give us more information later.  

1 hour ago, bob brown said:

My favorite way to exercise on a cruise ship is to try to never use the elevators...even when going from deck 3 or 4 to the top.

Not only good exercise, but a pleasure to never have to wait for one during periods of peak demand...

+ 1

On the Marina now.  Ours never showed up on guest summery.  The certificates were delivered to our stateroom shortly after we boarded.

Just now, Mrs f. said:

I don't know how to post  it...take a look at the Regatta Feb 3 roll call. Letter said "We want to inform you that during the previous voyage, some of our guests exhibited symptoms  of gastroenteritis".   So this sounds more norovirus than coronavirus.

 

this is the post:

1 hour ago, clo said:

Where are you cruising? Is this for all the O ships regardless?

We are doing Miami to Lima.  January 22nd to March 15th. B to b to b.  We are presently on the Amazon River.  I am sure this letter reflects a company wide policy applicable to all their ships at sea.  Terrace Cafe now has plastic wrap and one wait staff person on each side of the dining area to wipe down the table and chairs after passengers finish eating.  Salt and pepper shakers still on the table, silverware on the table when you arrive, place mats still being used. Have not been to other venues since this all started so can’t comment on that.  Food and service still great.

on Marina now.  Got the same letter that dfb got but under our Captain’s signature.
 

6

On Marina now.  Received this letter delivered to our room this morning.
We have heard nothing to indicate this letter was the result of anyone being ill at this time on this ship.  I wonder if all ships in the Oceania fleet put out this letter.

On Marina now.  Usually opens at 7:30am but some days at 7:00am if we arrive in a port early like we did today.

The Insignia (heading west) and the Marina (heading east) are both in Panama Canal today.  The Insignia is just now clearing the  Gatun locks and the Marina is just clearing the Pedro Miguel locks.  They should pass each other in canal in a few hours.  The Insignia and Marina will pass each other again in the South Atlantic on February 28th when the Insignia leaves the Falkland Islands heading for Uruguay and the Marina (which we will be on) will be heading to the Falklands from Uruguay.

50 minutes ago, sailco said:

Currently on Nautica and I'm yet to eat anything that impresses me. In fact DH and I have left most meals barely touched or unfinished. We are not foodies but so far have found the 'best food at sea' to be sorely lacking. Heading to the Polo Grill tonight and looking forward to some improvement.

Based upon our  experiences with over two hundred days on various Oceania ships we are stunned by this statement. 

We just got our Blue Book for our January 22nd Marina sailing out of Miami on Tuesday.  It just stated departure as "Port of Miami"  with additional information forth coming by electronic communication.  Yesterday, January 1st, we received our final summary documents, by email, which stated "terminal name: portmiami, terminal J."   It then states: "Ship's location within the Terminal is subject to change at the sole discretion of the port authority without notice."  RJB is right, look at the sign board as you enter the port. 

Thanks for the update!