pilgrimage

2 hours ago, Hawaiidan said:

Remember the opening line of  the "HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY"........." DON'T PANIC" .........     People and the market react emotionally to news whether it is good or bad...   Know  that the media thrives on featuring and even promoting "BAD" news.   Hey,  Relax,, do not get emotional pour your self some wine and watch a travel show.. do not let your emotions run your life...     I have $eriou$ money, not only in several cruises this year but have paid in full......... I  am not worried...  Things will get sorted out and the media will find other topics to focus on........... 

Oceania knows what to do:

New announcement after departure from Barbados - Antigua is denying us, so spending tomorrow at sea to arrive Sint Maarten on 1/1.

2 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

 

Have those of you currently onboard heard anything official regarding major modification of the continuing itinerary or those to soon follow?

 

Today, on the O website, all January/February 2022 cruises on Insignia, Riviera and Marina have been waitlisted.

From past experience, this can be troubling news regarding pending cruise cancellation. On the other hand, with most of those cruises having very little cabin availability several days ago, it might just be a decision to better control capacity. 

 

Any reliable intel you can share will be genuinely appreciated!

 

Stay safe brave mariners!

No, nothing about our next ports at Antigua and Sint Maarten so far.

7 minutes ago, CintiPam said:

Hi, pilgrimage, thank you so much for your helpful updates. We are scheduled to board Riviera two weeks from tomorrow. Does this report mean that you were able to go ashore today without an Oceania shore excursion requirement? I inquire because I sail in the winter on Caribbean cruises for the beaches. (Husband enjoys the Riviera experience onboard so these cruises are our ideal winter vacation compromise.) I plan to taxi to nearby Carlisle Bay on our Bridgetown port day so I prefer to be on my own schedule. 
 

Keep enjoying your cruise. I have struggled this week to keep up my positive attitude but your posts really help me with that issue.

Shouldn't have any problem unless the ports change their rules.  Shore time where we've been allowed is just like always, except with masks and *lots* of hand sanitizer.  Barbados had an interesting sanitizer dispenser when you enter the port shopping area - it dispenses a generous amount of liquid and takes your temperature at the same time.  Nobody there to do anything if you're spiking a fever however.

We did the same for the 12/23 cruise

14 hours ago, pilgrimage said:

No news.  Still planning to dock in Barbados in the morning.  As mentioned, most tings are status quo, they're just emphasizing the masking.  Haven't heard anything about additional cases or any further testing (that was a port requirement for Barbados).  My assumption is that Barbados is more lenient than Curacao or Aruba (it's already a CDC level 4 country) so we may be able to go ashore there as planned.  As far as the actual cruise - no complaints.  Just plan on masking up indoors and be willing to accept some risk of not getting all of your ports and enjoy the cruise.

All ashore for Barbados!

11 minutes ago, RCD1952 said:

I am hoping for an update from pilgrimage on the Riviera.  Boarding the ship January 14 and am uneasy about the trajectory of events.

No news.  Still planning to dock in Barbados in the morning.  As mentioned, most tings are status quo, they're just emphasizing the masking.  Haven't heard anything about additional cases or any further testing (that was a port requirement for Barbados).  My assumption is that Barbados is more lenient than Curacao or Aruba (it's already a CDC level 4 country) so we may be able to go ashore there as planned.  As far as the actual cruise - no complaints.  Just plan on masking up indoors and be willing to accept some risk of not getting all of your ports and enjoy the cruise.

11 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

On a different (but somewhat related item): What policies are now in effect for use of the gym?

I think it's business as usual there.  Most things are normal.  They had netting over the pool this afternoon, but I don't know if that is Covid-related.  Hot tubs are still open.  They did announce no drinks in Riviera lounge, and unofficial group get-togethers are cancelled.

New announcement - we have been denied by Grenada, so we'll be proceeding on to Barbados.  I couldn't hear clearly on the announcement if we were over or under the 1% threshold, but it sounds like it was close to that.

9 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Bummer about the reported cases and glad that they were disembarked. I hope that they will recover without issues. And I trust/hope that O will tighten the restrictions to the max to protect those still onboard.

But, just in case: Please tell the skipper that we’ll be onboard on January 14 and are expecting zero Covid issues. (trying to inject a little bit of needed humor here).

I'll let him know 😉

1 minute ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Please refresh my memory:  which ship is this?

Riviera

5 minutes ago, davencl said:

Did the captain announce on the ship there were positive cases on board?

Yes, but not how many.

Just now, Queen of DaNile said:

I believe we got ours a week out on the 12/3 cruise so I wouldn't be too concerned.

Good to know - thaks!

1 hour ago, espmass said:

That's concerning to us.  Looking towards our 2/7 Riviera cruise we can manage with masks both indoors and out and we can manage with a change in ports and we would be happy to even miss one or two stops as sitting in a lounge chair by the pool is far preferable to sitting home in the cold North East.  However, if more and more ports are starting to close out ships, we really wouldn't be happy being onboard for the entire 12 days without any stops.  Hopefully for us and for the entire cruise industry that won't happen.

We were finally turned away by Curacao - pulling out now at our scheduled 1pm departure.  Captain mentioned "a number" of positive tests, who were disembarked, plus additional people who were close-quarter contact traced and put in quarantine.  No mention if that is in-cabin, or down in the dungeon.  Also, no specifics in numbers, nor do I expect them to be forthcoming with that. 

Waiting now to see if we will be allowed in other ports.  We did get our Miami disembarkation questionnaire delivered during today's cabin cleaning.  We are not *scheduled* to disembarked until 1/4, so getting that a week early seems ominous.  Maybe it is SOP.

It appears that the shutdown is starting.  We had mandatory testing yesterday for our upcoming stop in Barbados in two days and there appear to be enough positive cases to concern Curacao where we are currently docked.  Captain came on and said negotiations are going on between Miami and Curacao to see if we can go ashore.  No idea how many positives came up and I doubt they will tell us.  

30 minutes ago, sofietucker said:

Just off Riviera. No masks required anywhere on board. They DID send out notices about individual port requirements--masks on all public transportation, vaccine cards in Belize.  No masks by pools, hot tubs, in spa, Aquamar Terrace... No usage limited either (I think there were generic/permanent signs announcing the max in a hot tub--8 or so). Sometimes the pool was packed. Clumps of folks hanging out together around the edges, "8" in hot tubs (but who's counting, lol?)... The one place you'd really think there'd be attention was the theater: the final show was, again, packed, very few masks; usually only one empty seat between couples/groups.

That has changed with the 12/23 sailing.  Masks required in all indoor spaces now.  No masks outdoors, but most are wearing them to walk up to the counter at Waves (grill and bar both).  Doesn't seem to be bothering anyone and compliance is pretty good.  Not a big deal.

Classic Pepin - "drink more wine, it helps"

He said he hadn't flown in 2 years and got an offer to come on when one of the suites became available at the last minute.  Here with the family, including his granddaughter.

Sorry for the poor audio/video quality.  I was a little rushed setting up and in the back of the theatre.

Looks like the culinary classes are all booked - they were already booked online prior to the cruise and I assume any additional openings booked on the first day.  Turns out they are not cooking this cruise, only demonstrating.

Certainly, I would not interrupt him during family or work time - I'll plan to attend today's presentation and perhaps I'll be fortunate enough to see some demonstration later in the cruise.

Yes, his wife passed away last year.

I was just about to come on and post about this.  We're aboard now and hoping to get a chance to attend one of his classes.  Book signing and presentation scheduled for tomorrow afternoon - a nice unexpected Christmas present!  Ate at Jacques last night, but didn't see him there.

Are we talking about offers to upgrade cabins based on availability becoming available?  I'm in a Veranda for the 12/23 cruise on Riviera and have received a couple of emails over the past few days to upgrade (at full price, no discount) to a Concierge.  We had asked to be on the waitlist for that since there was no availability when we booked, but we decided we were fine with the Veranda.

I've noticed that quite a few levels have become available since the mask requirement came online.  Not sure if it is related to that, normal cancellations, or something else, but where the entire cruise was waitlisted last week, right now PH1-3, A1-3, and B1-2 have availability.  No idea how many of each are now available, however.

Thanks for all the updates - looking forward to boarding on Thur. for our circuit.

I plan to disembark everywhere I can on my upcoming cruise.  Just to put things in perspective, the United States is shown as a level 4 red country - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html

1 hour ago, ORV said:

At this point exactly what do we know about the OP? Not accusing or anything but how do we know it's not just someone having a windup? 10 posts is not a long career here. 

What do we know about anybody on this board?  Is there a minimum post count before you can do anything besides ask the same questions over and over (and over) again?  I'm sailing on 12/23, and I received the email as mentioned.  I thought it would be useful info for anyone who cares one way or the other and didn't receive it or bother to read the changed policy.  As mentioned by others, the policy was also posted on the O website.  Maybe it will change, who knows about anything these days?

Looks like the masks are going on starting tomorrow, just received an update email with this:

FACE MASK REQUIREMENTS

In order to provide the highest level of health and safety during your voyage, as of December 18^th, 2021 all Oceania Cruises vessels have implemented a mandatory masking policy for all guests onboard with the following exceptions:

• While indoors unless actively eating/drinking or seated at a table in a dining setting.
• While outdoors in crowded settings when physical distancing cannot be achieved.

Please be advised that this is a zero-tolerance policy and violators will be disembarked from the vessel for non-compliance.

12 minutes ago, lj77346 said:

Room service breakfast is available from 6:30 to 10. Besides the usual continental breakfast items, you can order scrambled eggs, fried eggs and omelettes as well as pancakes and French toast.

Can’t post a picture of the menu because the internet is so bad that the picture would never load. 
 

On the regular room service menu, it looks like omelettes are available all day as well.

Thanks for the room service info!  Not excited to hear about the bad internet - I hope my t-mobile "high speed" will be good on port days at least.  Hope you're enjoying your trip.