sailorgirl

This is getting ridiculous.

 

My experience is that it's OK to have but wouldn't pay extra for it, used it maybe once a day on three cruises. Concierge can be helpful if it's something your butler can't tend to. The door is a pain to open and if you have something (coffee and pastry) in your hands, you can't get out the door without some help. So out of a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give it a 5.

I am glad you had no side effects from the patch.

It caused my pupils to dilate and I had trouble reading the menus at dinner - they are not for me.

Bonine works great for me (when I need something).

 

We find Bonine has few side effects (I did fall asleep in a lecture once or twice!) and is quickly very effective.

Having sailed Riviera last year Miami to Barcelona ( Penthouse category) and having just returned from 17 days on Marina Tahiti to Lima (again Penthouse), I was interested in your comments and concur, except that we were very impressed with our lecturers and enjoyed several wonderful song/dance productions enroute. Our itinerary was fantastic and we highly recommend. It's the flying to and from that is challenging!

When terrorist groups start to put their time, money and energy into finding a cure for a deadly disease, when they start to be innovative with ideas and products that benefit other's lives other than their own, when they build universities and support education, when they protect the antiquities of their region, and celebrate life instead of death, then they will win.

 

So well said.

If, by any chance, you are in a Penthouse or higher suite, your butler can serve you course by course from any of the specialty restaurants if you can't get the time and table you want. This is a real plus. Dining in the restaurant is always a step above the bedroom IMO.

I'm really appreciating all these helpful comments on my topic. Thanks.

Any recommendations on the best island in FP and/or shop other than Tahiti itself because we won't be there long enough.

Thanks. I see there is now a link and a form!

Thanks. Once again, I can count on quick answers from this group!

The new site also seems to lack a search link except to find a cruise.

How do you send a Bon Voyage bottle of vodka to a passenger on Oceania? I find no information for Bon Voyage gifts on the website.

Does anyone have a copy of a recent daily activity sheet I just navigated more of O's site and found some great details on the entertainment. Here's the link... https://www.oceaniacruises.com/ships/lifestyle.aspx.

 

It's pretty detailed when you delve into it and it makes it seem quite varied.

 

Thanks for that link. It offered a lot of information which I hadn't seen on the website before.

 

That said, besides the evening entertainment, we enjoy the Enrichment Program lectures during the day time. They've been decent on the the two Riviera cruises we've taken, but not outstanding. I'd like to see an improvement in that area too.

on a slightly different tack regarding not doing any research - a few years ago a couple we know booked a cruise on the legend from miami, including air from london. A while after another couple asked if they could join them but didn't want the air as they had friends they would visit pre-cruise in miami. They duly went to a ta and booked a cruise only on the legend departing on the same date. The 2 couples exchanged cabin numbers and arranged to meet on the first evening.

 

Fast forward to the first evening - they couldn't find each other!! After a lot of work by the reception staff on legend of the seas it turned out that the second couple were on carnival legend. Both ships had left miami on the same day. :eek::d

 

hilarious!

If it's a week day, you'd be right in the middle of late afternoon traffic and it could easily take you half an hour. However, one of the reasons one would book with O is because they have some commitment to wait for the flight if it's one of there bookings. Is that correct? That said, I'd never ever cut it that close because I'd be a nervous wreck before, during and after!

You are absolutely correct....that is why I said in my second line it's the same thing plus the cold items (salads, crab, sushi, etc) and the grill (lobster, etc). I should have said the main dinner entree items are the same.

 

Terrace is truly spectacular! I can't say anything bad about it. I'm just nervous that I'll be disappointed in Crystal since I may be comparing it to Oceania's Terrace (for lunch).

 

There are other things that are better on Crystal such as the entertainment and enrichment lectures and programs. Perhaps you could consider that a real plus. That said, I certainly prefer Oceania.

We (only two) dine in our "O" Penthouse only when we can't get a desired reservation in one of the specialty restaurants. As stated, it's a bit cramped but also being seated at the end of our bed feels odd. However, it is what it is.

We always get a Penthouse and any room service, including dinner, has to be served at the rather smallish table at the end of the bed. As for dinner, since the butler serves it course by course, somehow they manage to make it work, using the dresser as a side table for any overflow. No table for dining of any sort on the balcony. In fact, I had to request a second tiny side table so each of our half-recliner chairs could have one. Of course, it was immediately taken care of. I'd have to say those are my only complaints about the lovely Penthouse suites.

 

I should add here that I only have experience so far on Riviera. Marina next Spring!

The ships bring supplies to the islanders.

 

That to me is reason enough!

It's on the itinerary for Marina's crossing from Tahiti to Lima, Peru next April but it's my understanding that Oceania passengers (and most other cruise lines) never ever get to step foot on the island. Apparently a handful of residents come out to the ship for the day. Why waste a port we will not be able to visit rather than go to Robinson Crusoe island or some other? It doesn't seem right to let people think they will actually visit the island when it never happens.

We went around the Horn a few years ago and had very calm seas. However, we prepared for it by taking some Bonine in advance. Never hurts to plan ahead.

Very hard to answer this question without putting the great food at the top of the list. But, since I can't, I'll go from there. The most comfortable bedding of any cruise ship we've been on. No formal nights. No extra charge restaurants. Pleasant and well mannered passengers. Dedicated butlers. Spacious suites. Terry cloth covered lounge chairs. Nice table settings and excellent service at the tables in the buffet area with a very friendly staff.

Riviera won the Cruise Critic best food in mid size category but also I see they got the most points (5) in all three categories of ship size. Marina not mentioned. Makes me wonder why. Any reason for that?

[quote name='pacheco18']For some reason I am having a technical issue when I upload photos -- got a strange message and I have asked CC for help.

In the meantime I have met the CD, Ray Carr, and I have a really good feeling about him -- very personable. i think he is going to be a winner.

About my Vista Suite -- kind of once in a lifetime -- this morning i got a phone call while I was in my hotel room from Kunal Kamlani (can u believe it) who said that he was only going to be on Regatta for 3 days, thought it was silly for him to have a Vista Suite when he could give someone the"cruise of a lifetime"and -- WOULD I LIKE THE SUITE? Seems he looked over the passenger manifest for frequent O cruisers, saw I was in an OV and thought I'd like the upgrade. Did I win the lottery or what?? Unbelievable. This could spoil me. LOL

I happened to see Kunal at lunch and we had lunch together -- what a guy. I am blown away. Wait till you see the photos of this totally refurbished suite -- I will figure out a way to post them, even if I have to put on a webpage.

Add to that, my favorite butler, Dimitar, is on board as the head butler. He found us (he said when he saw someone ordered Dr. Pepper he knew it was us LOL) and switched with another butler so he could take care of us. I think I am dreaming.

All this without having left port!

Sailaway is about to begin and I don't want to miss it. As soon as I get the photo issue straightened out, I will post.[/QUOTE]

That whole story is so wonderful. I'm just thrilled for you, and I'm sure it's well deserved. ENJOY!

It's all been said. And probably decided by the OP. But I have to chime in. We were Celebrity suite fans for years. Tried a HAL 7-day cruise in a Neptune suite. Liked the size of the suite and the huge verandah. Found the food very average. Nothing about the cruise shouted "come back". Then we tried our first Oceania on the new Riviera a year ago. Wow! Best food, service, crew attitude and bedding we've ever had. So we booked the T/A this past April for another two weeks on Riviera. Love the ship, food, crew, bedding and our Penthouse. Now we have booked Marina for Tahiti to Lima next April. Big negative would be their outrageously expensive excursions and transfers etc. Internet and drinks are pretty hefty too. But, we just can't seem to get away from Oceania now because it really is a big step up in the areas that count to us. I'll toss in one more plus - you never have to put on a tux or gown!

Maybe we are scheduled for 2 days at Easter Island next April in order to assure the likelihood that we get on shore! I notice that Regent has only one day scheduled in February.