bob brown

Could be, but I find the chocolate chip cookies offered on corporate sister NCL, to be superior. They usually are devoured as quick as they are put out… One day, I may bring aboard a 24-pack of Costco chocolate chunk cookies, and give them to the pastry chef, to taste what good is…🙂

Sort of reminiscent of the stairways and elevator banks on the old, class-separated ocean liners, where you had the “you can’t get there, from here” syndrome.😁 But many modern cruise ships also have these “obstacles” of navigation. Sometimes because a full width galley isolates an aft, lower deck restaurant from the rest of that deck. On Oceania’s “R” Class ships, if you are in a forward cabin on Deck 3, you cannot access the forward stairway/elevator bank without violating a “crew only” area, which means you need to first walk back to the aft stairway/ elevator bank, go up to another deck, and then go forward again. When the gangway is on Deck 3, they will sometimes allow you to cross that area…

The only known cure for “PCDS” (Post Cruise Depression Syndrome), is to… book another cruise!😉😁

Thanks from me, as well. I’ll know a lot more on what to anticipate on my cruise next year.🙂

I am hoping that it will result in some good deals, and make some within my budget, if only for a “once and done” trial…😉

I used to drink Budweiser, and tell my Schlitz drinking friends that Bud was the beer that made Milwaukee jealous…😆

Looks like CHICAGO!👏🙂 According to the AIS🙂

As more and more cruise lines seem to be saturating various segments of the cruise business, and some seem to be searching for new “niche’s”…evidence, the recent new entries in the ultra luxury or in the expedition segments; this is one where there is currently no competition. I don’t know if this segment would be profitable or not, but I suspect it could be. If I had the means, I might consider investing in it…🤔

As far as I know, they are still for sale, and haven’t been scrapped. Too bad Blount doesn’t seem interested in reentering that market, or AQV buying them and doing so…

Another idea would be for AQV to acquire a ship or boat small enough to navigate the Erie Canal. That would open up a whole lot more inland river itinerary possibilities. The Blount line used to offer that, but seem to have ceased operations. Imagine doing the “Great Loop”! https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/great-loop.html 😎 And perhaps sailing up the Missouri to Kansas City, Omaha, and Sioux City. Or the Arkansas up to Fort Smith and Tulsa. Amazing potential…

Either way would be okay with me…🙂

Does the ship carry and loan out bicycles like their riverboats do? I would prefer that means of transportation over riding on a horse drawn carriage…

I was disappointed to read on some Vista reviews, that this machine, is not available in their Horizon Lounge, as is on the Insignia. I enjoy its “Americano” better than Barrista made coffee, which I find too strong, or dining room coffee which I find too weak.

I would love to see AQV create a “Grand Voyage” that would begin in, say New Orleans, on the American Queen, do the entire Mississippi up to Minneapolis, use their coaches to transfer to Duluth, then board the Ocean Voyager to do the entire Great Lakes, continuing to Montreal, and on to do the entire Atllantic Inracoastal Waterway, ending back in New Orleans. It would be sort of their version of an “Around The World” cruise…😎 I would jump on it , if offered!🙂

Enjoying your photos and commentary. Only wish the itinerary extended a bit further, to include Duluth…

Just as we thought…This morning I asked Cella about it, and she “Couldn’t confirm or deny” the rumor. She could not even “confirm or deny” there would be a major announcement coming in July. She just smiled and said we would have to wait and see…🙂

I haven’t read any of those reviews, but I can comment on my own personal experience on my current, second ATW cruise aboard the Insignia… First of all, I am not a “foodie”, by any means, so perhaps not the best person to comment, but I find plenty of delicious food on board, in all of the venues. And to my perception, no degradation since my last Oceania cruise in 2019. As far as service…I think it is superb, rendered by a generally very happy and friendly crew. Yes, there are a few new crew members, but they seem” to quickly learn, and assimilate into the on board culture. The crew to passenger ratio is much better than what you’ll experience on a “mainstream” line…400 to 680, enabling more personal service.

Getting off in one port, and rejoining in another, is an entirely different matter, than staying off overnight and returning in the same port. You must inform the cruise line and receive approval in advance, as sometimes it is complicated by immigration or “cabotage” regulations. That said, Oceania does offer such so-called “Overland” shore excursions on some itineraries, so it is not uncommon…

I’ll ask Cella, but not expecting her to either know or prematurely share that “proprietary” info…😉

Agree with above, although on our current ATW cruise where we did a few overnight’s in port, they told us the gangway was open 24 hours, so I don’t see how it would be a problem to remain off the ship overnight. The only thing was the port operated shuttle from the ship to the gate would not operate after 0200 for a few hours…

Just so I’m clear on this, the included beer and wine at lunch and dinner, is only for those paying for the “O Life” package, correct? Not for those choosing “Cruise Only” fares? Just wanted to be sure one still had the option (unlike Viking)…

Curious… what % capacity would you estimate occupancy at? I noticed the menu saying “grill is close(d)”…is it ever open?🤔

Okay, thanks…I wasn’t sure about the larger ‘O’ ships. On other lines I’ve sailed with similar sized ships. The entertainers were separate jobs from the cruise activities staff…

I can usually get a decent rate, free shuttle, and free breakfast at one of the chain airport area hotels. Not convenient for sightseeing, but in most cases, I’ve already seen enough in the port…

Do the performers on Vista “double” as cruise activities staff, like they do on ‘R’ Class ships? I haven’t been on ‘O’ Class ships, for comparison…