Robjame

1 minute ago, ORV said:

Old Fashioned with a decent bourbon. 

Decent bourbon - oxymoron?

One single malt double per day  justifies prestige IMO. People may change their minds on packages with drink price increases

On 1/6/2023 at 6:04 PM, Aloha 1 said:

Have they done away with XO Cognac??

No it is still at Horizons @ $ 25 a shot but not in the Drink package 

On 1/5/2023 at 4:51 PM, ORV said:

Balvenie and Oban scotch are now both on the bar menu, they were not before, although they were available in Horizons for a cost, (not part of the Prestige Package). If they stick with the old rule that if it's on the bar menu it's covered under the package then the addition of

Up at Horizons enjoying a double Oban 14yr @ 2 x $18 + 20%. All the single malts are aboard tho I have not verified that by taste 👅.

They are included in the Prestige but NOT in the 2 for 1 Happy Hour or freebie parties. ( I am guessing there will be more of the party exclusions)

1 hour ago, jjeffjb said:

Can you please expand upon your disappointment with the D.P. dinner?  We board Riviera on Jan.14 and are considering trying it.  Thanks!

This is from talking to those who had this New Year’s Eve. The champagnes were 3 different champagnes which were cycled through twice. The belief was there would be more champagnes and differences allowing a wider variation. This was a major disappointment as there was the belief there would be an attempt to pair the offerings with the food as there are with the Odyssey and Bourgeoise selections. 
‘The meals for the other two are designed by Jacques Pepin while The Dom Perignon is not and we’re not as successful in choice. I want a wine pairing to reflect that and not just be champagne with some food.

‘The major price increase would bother me when this has not proven as successful.

I would ask around because this just may have been a bad night.

1 hour ago, Acrusa said:

Do you know how full the ship was or do you have your own estimate?

My guess would be the Christmas cruise - Dec 23 - Jan 4 was quite full. 

2 hours ago, LHT28 said:

Is it over already I though it started on the 4th??

This was meant to be a summary of our first leg, from DEC 23 to Jan 4 from the collective conversations.

2 hours ago, MEFIowa said:

Did you make it to all the ports as per the cruise itinerary? No missed ports. Were the arrival times and departure times as per the itinerary?

We missed St Barts as it was too rough to anchor and tender. Instead we zigged and zagged on a sea day.

1 hour ago, LHT28 said:

like all things in life  we have choices

I think I can live with that - nothing non-alcoholic😉

1 hour ago, CurlerRob said:

From a post on a different O thread - apparently port fees are extremely expensive, making it cheaper to stay at sea vs dock. Port fees are normally charged "per foot", "per hour". It's about cost, not carbon.

Thanks Rob. I will put this in the file - It’s not about green but BS baffles brains.

1 hour ago, LHT28 said:

hard  to read the menu but they look like the NEW  non alcoholic concoctions

 

Times are changing

Happy to see that Oceania is sharing the price pain …. 🤣

These are thoughts from some of the CC roll callers:

— everyone had a wonderful Christmas cruise and are looking forward to Dubai next year

- mentioned most was the fantastic new friends - it was a tight group starting with our roll call and moving to the informal Meet and Greet

- Decorations were very tasteful and understated

- opinions varied on the service -

— the Riviera refurb was a solid win - no misses that we noticed

- Concierge lounge (A?) was never serviced - no concierge and disappointing or non-existent snacks. When asked, guests were told to go to open concierge desk on  deck 5

- the breakfast times at MDR and Terrace were too short a window and too similar (the times) and did not match those published in Currents

- Happy hours were not always published in Currents

- new Baristas is fantastic

- La Reserve Odyssey (cc group of 10) was a wonderful night. La Reserve Dom Perignon was not, neither the champagnes or the food

- Embarkation was smooth and quick. Not the disembarkation.

- Oceania excursions were hit and miss in price and experience.

- Beverage package increase and gratuity increases  mid-cruise were Ill- conceived though some of us found solutions 

- Terrace selections were reduced by a large table display pushing $10 Bloody Mary’s

On a personal note - our toilet flooded 6 different times (the poop deck we called it) twice in the wee hours. Plumbers finally addressed it seriously (yesterday) and replaced key parts. We found $400 OBC added to our account as a courtesy.

For the most part we all had a lovely time.

Yes I think you are right on. At 2 or 3 am it just feels stopped

Riviera and Marina - if you are going to floor 15 - Horizons - take the front elevators. Tha back ones don’t go to 15.

You will be confused when you get off the elevators as some are bow facing and some are aft facing.  A Quick check as you exit the elevator is to look for the telephone on the wall. The telephone is always on the Port side. A quick glance and you will look like a pro as you correctly turn to the side of your stateroom.

Here is a copy of the email we received.

Someone can correct me, but what Riviera seems to be doing is shutting down the engines in the middle of the night and bobbing along without power. is this is a new tactic? The result is sufficient difference in motion to wake us. As well slamming noises are heard as waves hit the hull at undesirable angles. This might carry on for a couple of hours with brief bursts of power to correct the direction. Not impressed.

Do cruise lines pay port charges by the hour? If not why not stick at port rather than drift?

2 hours ago, terrydtx said:

Thank you, that list posted by RobJames has some good wine by the glass selections and would be all we need for our lunch and dinners. Viking has IMO a very limited selection in their included wines and beers

3 wines which we have found quite useful are:

Wente Vineyards Southern Hills Cab Sauv- Livermore Valley - California (Red)

Villa Maria Sauv Blanc- Marlborough - New Zealand - (White)

Poesie Soave Classico DOC - Veneto Italy (white) This last one we love as it is one of the few that goes well with salads

Just suggestions 

We don’t like over oaked wines and ABC

1 hour ago, Aloha 1 said:

So which Bar menu sets the standard? Martini's? Grand Bar? Waves Bar? Horizons Bar? I've seen variations on the menu at each one in the past, so which one defines the Prestige package?

Any drink you find on any bar menu or any wine by the glass or any beer is included in the Prestige menu as far as I know.

However you might not find all drinks at all bars. For example Baristas has a limited menu suitable for aperetivos or after dinner drinks or drinks with coffee but not the fancy cocktails. Or - we like a pastis (cinquante et un or Ricard) before dinner but it may only be available at Main Bar. Having said that, we have ordered it from any restaurant and it arrives.

Caveat: there are some specialty drinks only available in specific specialty restaurants - sake in red Ginger or a special after dinner liquor in Tuscan. We are in the habit of asking if in doubt “Is this included in the drink package?” - avoids surprises.

7 hours ago, LHT28 said:

so does this mean you did not upgrade for the $30 PP PD??

I did not upgrade for the $30 pp pd

7 hours ago, Aloha 1 said:

Have they done away with XO Cognac??

Haven’t checked but if it is not on one of the bar menus, it is not included in a beverage package- I will check at one of the bars.

1 hour ago, LHT28 said:

Have not seen any  documents from FF to confirm anything he has posted

More to the point - has anyone posted any written communication from an official of Oceania? other than this one? 
 

Until such time, this is the only official position.

4 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

when folks post here on CC about O policy changes or updates or confirmations (supposedly based on info coming direct from O), they really do need to provide a copy of the source document (albeit with personal info redacted if do required).

With the caveats and suggestion of FF, has anyone got a written communication more current, more updated or closer to the source than this one?

1 hour ago, pinotlover said:

All drinks come with the gratuity added.

Unless you are on a beverage package.

However I will talk to others (an easy thing to do with bartenders 😀) and we’ll weigh that with article that clearly states bartenders are salaried.

A little research will set you straight:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=261

”As mentioned above, not all members of the ship staff receive a share of the gratuities paid by passengers. Bartenders, main show entertainers and third-party shop employees are some of the more obvious ones, but they're not the only ones.”

But then again you are the self-proclaimed expert

1 hour ago, AMHuntFerry said:

Does that mean they are 2 for 1 during happy hour now? I think you need to test that too 😉

Good Thinking….. of course at $21.60 a 1 oz pour (to get a 2 oz.) that is expensive research.😉

1 hour ago, njhorseman said:

substantial percentage of the crew honestly doesn't know where their paycheck comes from and how their pay is computed. This is particularly true if they're new...and a substantial percentage of crew on board cruise ships now are new.

And a higher percentage of CC experts aren’t the experts they think they are

This is insulting. Until you have some creditable information, resist the impulse to type tripe.

4 hours ago, susiesan said:

A good reason to book cruise only and pay as you go for drinks.

Not necessarily. Check your favourite in the thread on new bar menu prices, add 20%, and then make up you mind.