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bob brown

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    Are all of the R-class Ships like this?

    in Oceania Cruises

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Snaefell3 said:

     

     

    BTW, Regatta was launched as M/V R Two, the second ship in the 'R' (for Renaissance Cruise Line) class.

     

    1 hour ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

    Ask any officer on an O ship: O’s “R” class is designated as such in recognition of its rechristening of it’s first acquisition as  “Regatta.” 
    (It’s an often asked O Trivia question).

    Renaissance Cruises bought eight ships they called, R One thru R Eight. When they went defunct, Oceania acquired three of them, and later a fourth from Princess.  The first one they bought was the R Two, which Oceania renamed Regatta.  Later,  they bought R One, which they  renamed Insignia.  Even though the Regatta wasn't the first one built, since they acquired it first, they named all four of the type, as the Regatta or 'R' class.  The other two are the Nautica, and the Sirena...

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    Help! Apple Devices Time Not Syncing with Vista Time!

    in Oceania Cruises

    Posted

    If you want to have the precise time on your wrist, anywhere you go, I would recommend this one.

    I've had it on two ATW cruises, and it automatically sets the time zone to wherever you are in the world.

    It never needs a battery, or a winding, and only needs to be outdoors to acquire its calibration from the GPS satellites, directly.  Doesn't need wifi or cellular service.

    https://www.citizenwatch.com/us/en/collection/satellite-timekeeping/

     

    *

     

    As for "ships time"....I would agree with @Flatbush Flyer.   The problem with "ships time", is when you are trying to coordinate meeting with a private tour operator in a port of call.  They act on local time, which can cause one of you to be late or early....

    Nov 20th Seashore Live(ish) review - Retreater goes Yacht Clubbing for 1st time

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    On 11/17/2023 at 9:37 AM, go.without.you said:

    I have long been a lurker but this is my first liveish review so bear with me. 

     

    My friend Janelle and I sail on the Seashore Monday for 6 nights with stops to the private island, Costa Maya and Cozumel. The weather is clearing up after the past couple of wet days and the ship had to move their stops around this weekend due to weather conditions.

     

    A little background, I have been a Celebrity loyalist for over 15 years with the last 6 or so cruises in the Retreat. I have reached Elite Plus status and I will probably never hit Zenith (the highest level) unless I hit the lottery. Their recent changes and price increases had me shopping around and after reading reviews from GenX and JamieLogical I was definitely down to try MSC.

     

    This will be my 30th cruise with past cruises on NCL, Carnival, RCCL, Celebrity, Viking River and Uniworld so cruising is like my part time job now. (One that costs money instead of making it but oh well). At this point in my life I work to support my cruise addiction.  This will be Janelle's 3rd cruise since March 2022 on Edge and Nov 22 Reflection, both in Retreat.

     

    I’m about a 3 hour drive away from Port Canaveral (plus traffic) and if you’ve ever driven around the Orlando area then you know it is not fun. Especially the week of Thanksgiving. Nope. Not doing it, so I decided to book Amtrak. Roundtrip from Tampa was only $30 and free parking at the train station so that's a win/win. The down side is the almost 1 hour Uber ride from Orlando to Port Canaveral but it still beats driving by myself in unfamiliar lands. Also, I used their move-up program and was awarded a roomette which includes a full dinner on the train.

     

    Since the train arrives in Orlando after 7pm I decided to spend an extra night in Cocoa Beach giving me all of Sunday to bum around. Janelle is a flight attendant from Baltimore and will meet me at the train station. It will be a 1st visit to Cocoa Beach for both of us.

     

    I use packing cubes in my luggage and after watching a video that Jamielogical posted I will be bundling some of my clothes to save space and wrinkles. I’ll let you know how that pans out. 

     

    My liveish review will start tomorrow after I board the train.


     

    Thanks for "taking us along"....

    • Haha 1

    iPhones and International Calling in the Caribbean

    in Oceania Cruises

    Posted

    On 11/9/2023 at 5:11 PM, mauibabes said:

    Quick, consider a switch to T Mobile 👍😇  You can get a new iPhone 15 and pay less for even better service is my experience and a senior discount, check it out.    I believe it makes no difference whether an iPhone or Android and I was offered phone call minutes at $.25 and required no extra calling plan. If on line and communicating with another iPhone, you can FaceTime and as I recall it cost nothing. Chatted with my grandson showing him pictures of a spewing volcano from the South China Sea or somewhere near Indonesia. 
    Definitely, keep your phone in Airplane Mode while on the ship unless you like hefty phone bills. 
    Mauibabes

    Agree with all of this.  The one advantage of the international plan on VZW is if you need to do a lot of voice calling, (more than 40 minutes), not using wifi...the $10. per day gives unlimited voice calling, no per minute charge.  As said, the $10. charge is only made on days you actually use it.

    Oceania Club Milestone Cruise Benefit Question

    in Oceania Cruises

    Posted

    Seems to me that across the board, among many cruise lines, so many passengers have achieved the highest levels, that they feel the need to add ever more higher ones.

    They may or may not keep or take away perks from existing program levels.

     

    My hope with Oceania is that they award levels based on individuals records, not shared, to simplify. Further, I think it’s time that they give credits based on days traveled like most of the industry does, including NCL, rather than by cruise.

    • Like 2

    Oceania Club Milestone Cruise Benefit Question

    in Oceania Cruises

    Posted

    Just an update to my situation...

    My travel agent, who has close contacts at Oceania, after a few attempts to get it for me, was told that they were "looking at making changes to the club"....whatever that may mean.  Whatever it is, it doesn't help my current situation.   

    I have thrown in the towel on this, and have low expectations of receiving anything further from them.

    • Thanks 1

    Pretty sure MSC doesn't charge for "tap water", right?

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    If they’re going to charge me in the main dining room for a glass of tap water, then I must remember to bring a refillable water bottle, given to me by another cruise line.  I will fill it myself, where able, and bring it into the dining room with me.

    Tacky?    
    Yes.

    But so is charging for a glass of plain water, at dinner.  JMHO…🤷‍♂️

    Pretty sure MSC doesn't charge for "tap water", right?

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    7 hours ago, lisiamc said:

    We cruised with a group of eight, all booked from a UK travel agent. We had bottled water brought to us at meals, and were asked to show our cards to verify any drink we requested. Half of the group had the top package, and half had the much more basic (just bottled water with meals?) package. No one ever came to our table with a jug of tap water, and I never saw anyone visiting any nearby tables with tap water either.

    Maybe they offer tap water on request, but if you want bottled water, that is when they charge you?

     

    I was on the Meraviglia in 2021.  I don't recall them charging for water (tap) at our dining room.

    Diamond status question.

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    On 9/21/2023 at 9:33 PM, Georgia_Peaches said:

    We booked our complimentary meal with the hostess at the specialty restaurant area on embarkation day. She went over all the included restaurants…the easiest way to determine if a restaurant is likely included is to see if there is a fixed menu option as well as an a la carte. The diamond meal comes from the fixed side of the menu. If the menu only offers a la carte, then it’s likely not included. This holds true for the Japanese restaurant for sure. Sorry, I am not familiar with Le Grill. 

    Is it possible to book your complimentary specialty dinner in advance of your cruise?   Some cruise lines offer this...

    Trivia

    in Oceania Cruises

    Posted

    The "guess the song" game at Martini's, usually has at least one "showtunes" night.  The afternoon trivia, as well as the evening "brain teaser's", occasionally has a question or two that are concerning music of different types...

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    Both Cabin Mates have Diamond Status. Can a Couple in Another Cabin be Inviting to Share the Diamond Specialty Dinner Perk?

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Selion said:

    I don't think cruise lines gives any attention on which passenger is occupying which cabin.  Otherwise chartered swingers cruises wouldn't be thing.

    Agreed.  Parents sailing with older children do this all the time, when they want a second cabin for children.  The cruise line requires an adult booked in each cabin, so they book it that way, then occupy the cabins the way they want to…

    Both Cabin Mates have Diamond Status. Can a Couple in Another Cabin be Inviting to Share the Diamond Specialty Dinner Perk?

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    This question comes up in many different cruise line loyalty programs.  The gist of it is, does each member of a loyalty program sailing on a cruise receive individual perks based on their personal loyalty level, or if two members are in a cabin, must they then share the benefit (usually to the member with the higher status).   The cruise line will invariably interpret in their own favor.

     

    As a "workaround", you could maybe split your booking, so that each of you sailed with someone that had no status.   Of course, no one is actually checking to see who really is occupying each cabin, but this would be not be "legal", and could result in penalty, if caught.  

    Not worth the risk, IMHO....

    MSC Current Status Match Tables

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    My question is how do I know what my Voyagers Club actual expiration date is?

    When I logged in to MSC's website, and clicked on Voyager's Club, it showed my name, the date 

    01-11-2024 below that, my Club number, and my status.   

     

    I received my status match sometime early in 2021, not sure of the exact date, but it might have been January...again, not sure.   I took my first MSC cruise from October 21 -October 28, 2021 

     

    According to the 'fine print' on the Voyager's Club status, it said I had to sail at least once every three years to maintain the status and points earned.  

    So by that, I interpret I must begin another cruise by October 28, 2024.

     

    I wasn't certain what that "01-11-2024" number below my name indicated...was it my expiration date?

    And if it was, was it January 11, 2024, or November 1, 2024?   

    I tried calling MSC, and the agent said it was January 11.  This puzzles me, as other places on the site, use the dd/mm/year format, not mm/dd/year.   And, why wasn't it three years from my last cruise, which would have been in October of 2024?

     

    I suppose it could be three years from when they gave me the status match, but again, that is contrary to what the fine print says about maintaining status.   The call center reps were not clear.🤷‍♂️

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