samiam0403

The casino Drinks Everywhere is exactly the same as the Cheers package. It's always a nice perk!

Wow - just checked my upcoming cruise. It's now showing, like yours, $69.95 a day. Glad I bought it on Friday at the lower rate. Wonder what's going on?

First drink on board? Prosecco or sparkling wine, or a mimosa. Favorite drink on board? Blanton's on the rocks or an old fashioned if I can convince the bartender to not muddle the fruit or add club soda. 🤢

21 hours ago, davekathy said:

I'm all for smokers and vapors smoking or vaping in the designated areas only. Even the smoking lounge, AKA casino. I blame RC 100% for allowing it in the casino even when the casino is closed to gambling not the smokers. But game on if the smoker or vapor is doing their thing in any of the unauthorized areas. IMO, first time busted, fined and removed from the ship. See ya! Everyone on the ship has been given plenty of notice of where and the ramifications if busted. OK, back to reality. 

I'm a smoker, and I agree 100%. Drives me batty when people light up in no smoking areas. Kick 'em off the ship, I say. 

On 2/9/2023 at 9:21 AM, molsonschooner said:

I know and fully understand the policy and agree 100% with it. So, I am asking for a friend of my wifes, is smoking on the balcony allowed on other cruise lines. This person apparently was told by someone that it was ok to smoke on the balcony. 

Yes, there are other cruise lines that allow smoking on the balcony. I was shocked when we sailed on our first Costa cruise in 2019 - aft wrap suite on a transatlantic. Spending sea days on the massive balcony with a book, a glass of wine, and a cigarette was heaven. They provided wind-proof ashtrays, but I always used a water bottle filled with tap water to prevent any issues. 

On 1/11/2023 at 7:10 AM, Robjame said:

With the new bar menus, new menus seem to be appearing with drinks not included in the Drink Packages. I recall items like XO, but these are more extensive.

 

I am positively weeping at the fact that Blanton's and WR Double Oaked aren't included in the Prestige Package. Even Carnival includes the Blanton's in their package. But then again, if they were included, Oceania would likely discontinue the beverage packages after my sailing. 🤣

3 hours ago, May1cruiser said:

Money value of Elite seems to be parking/airport (est $150), 1 free excursion for 2 ($175ish) wi-fi, free room service, bottle of booze for both ($200), and some gifts. 

 

Our January Ultra was so packed, it was not worth the extra Freeplay. This will be our first Elite and I am hopeful the casino is much less packed. 

I've done both Elite and Ultra - and like yours, the Ultra was insanely packed. The hosts told me on the Elite that they capacity control them to about 50 guests per cruise (100 with companions). Of course, that was pre-COVID, so who knows at this point. Hoping the casino on my Elites in July and September aren't too crazy.

3 hours ago, jennybenny said:

How sensitive are the key cards? Do they demagnetize easily? In my prior cruise life, I found that if I had my cell phone and cruise card in the same area, the card key would demagnetize and no longer work. Not an issue on the ship because I don't have my phone on me, but when getting off the ship, it is. 

 

I absolutely would never wear with a lanyard. 

 

Just curious. 

I've never had one demagnetize on O. It has happened on other cruise lines - one even got demagnetized by the snap on my clutch. Maybe I'm just more aware of it now? But I always have my keycard in a wristlet with my cell phone - I just try to keep them separated by something like the Currents folded up.

25 minutes ago, Bongomauka said:

I believe we have signed up for a cooking class in the demonstration kitchen. I’ve taken cooking classes on a previous cruise on the marina and it’s a small classroom/lab with individual cooking stations. 

Did you sign up for 'In the Kitchen With Jacques' with this description:  Help us celebrate the glorious career of our Executive Culinary Director, Jacques Pépin. Regarded in the chef community as the master of technique, Jacques has demonstrated a lifelong passion for culinary technique that inspired this class. Brush up on your knife skills and master the emulsion – the secret to perfect salad dressings. Prepare a collection of delicious dishes while practicing the basic techniques that chefs have learned from Jacques over the past six decades.

If so, I would imagine that's just one of the normal cooking classes on Marina - unless you're booked on a special culinary cruise that he will be on?  

Not sure about non-alcoholic wine, but they do have Heinekin Zero. Hubs doesn't drink either, but occasionally enjoyed an alcohol-free beer on our last sailing. And happily, they didn't charge us for them during happy hour when I grabbed a drink from the bar (I had the drink package). It was nice that they considered that as part of the 2-for-1 deal!

On 2/4/2023 at 1:00 PM, diane2242 said:

If you take the upgraded package do you have to sign each time for a drink or do you get a card or something to identify you have the package?

Looks like your questions got answered before I got to it! No signing for drinks with the Prestige package. And the servers/bartenders pretty quickly figure out that you have it. The downside to that is when they start pouring your normal drink as soon as you walk up to the bar when you had intended to order something else! 🤣 

That's crazy, OP - they had to have been seriously understaffed for some reason. Even on my terribly over-crowded 3-day cruise in September, I had casino drink servers tripping over each other to get me drinks. I tip $1 per drink. I couldn't walk through the packed casino without at least 2 of them offering to bring me a drink immediately, and most times they would just bring me a drink as soon as they saw me. Then again, maybe that's just a commentary on how much time I spend in the casino and we shouldn't examine that too closely. 🤣

On 1/9/2023 at 9:20 PM, ShakyBeef said:

Always check every nook and cranny of your safe before debarking, y'all.😉

 

Words of wisdom, these. On my Horizon cruise a few years ago, I entered my room and found a set of Cadillac keys in the safe. As we were sailing out of Port Canaveral, I can only imagine the poor previous sailor had likely made it all the way to Orlando (or beyond!) before realizing their mistake. I swiftly ran them down to Guest Services, but who knows if they passed them to port personnel before sailing! 😳

OP, I truly hope you get your earrings back! 

We just spent 10 days on Sirena in an A-level cabin. On the 10 day cruise, we were allowed 2 reservations in each specialty restaurant, for 4 total. You would get the same at 14 days. 

On 12/29/2022 at 9:20 AM, Robjame said:

This changes my understanding:

When we boarded we were give this certificate, name on the top. We asked if we were still eligible for the 20% off as we had taken OLife Beverage and were upgrading to Prestige. (`all along I had believed NO, have to purchase House Select.)

‘We were told yes we get the 20% too. As we had purchased our La Reserve in advance, we asked if that was adjustable. NO - only on purchases after the upgrade.

 

Couple of lessons here.

 

That's so odd - wonder if it's a new change? I pre-booked the Dom P and another La Reserve dinner on Riviera, and purchased the higher beverage package on board. Guest services was happy to reimburse me the 20% on my 2 dinners - although it took a day or two to show up on my account. They told me they always refund that 20% if you buy a bev package on board. Either way, enjoy your La Reserve dinner!

1 hour ago, MEFIowa said:

I found it interesting on Sirena 11/22 to find the CD Dottie in a particular San Juan (PR) supermarket, where I found the least expensive alcohol. She mentioned she'd been shopping there for many, many years. When I went back I told some of the crew about it and where it was (gave them the address). I'd learned on Dominica from some crew how important it was for them to find inexpensive shopping in ports for their room and life necessities. They could see the green cross hanging off the building with the big supermarket that they could see from the ship in port. I forget if they were let off that day. But they need to shop for their supplies. 

Some were definitely allowed off Sirena that day, as we had lunch in port with the Chief Purser. 

2 hours ago, SophieM said:

Just did Barcelona to Miami on the Sirena. We loved it! One sort of rough day/night but otherwise smooth sailing. We doing Lisbon to Miami next November on the Marina. 

We'll see you on Marina! 

Just now, LHT28 said:

in the early years  they used to have  Veterans meetings  as well as FOD & Friends of Bill  in the Currents

Then  they stopped this  I think in the pas 5-6 yrs   as every group out there wanted a special meeting

So now if you ask they will usually  do it but not an automatic  thing

I have seem meetings  for Canadian cruisers  British Cruisers  Australian  etc   some Rotary groups 

I better it was too much  for them to schedule  😉

JMO

 

 

 

They definitely had Friends of Bill meetings on Sirena - not sure if due to pax request, or if it's standard. 

34 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

We have been on the sister ships  during rough seas    they handled just fine

We were hit by a rogue wave   between Grand Cayman & Columbia  

Though we had hit a container it was such a bang .. someone in the smoking  section on the pool deck said  it came up & over the walking track above

Then again in the Irish sea  it was force 9   but Insignia  was fine

 

Wow! Note to self: utilize the indoor smoking room by Horizons on our Nautica cruise, especially while sailing in the Bay of Biscay.

23 minutes ago, Twiga said:

Thank you so much for your posts.  I agree that the Sirena is great!!  We were on the Sirena in 2018 for 28 days, Transatlantic, and loved it.  I read 5 or 6 books from the library.  Great selection of books.  We were supposed to be on the Sirena last February, but that cruise was switched to the Marina.  We will be on the Sirena for 27 days beginning in January. Just a few short weeks away.  I can't wait!

Lucky you! I hope you have an amazing cruise! We're on for a transatlantic on Sirena as well, but not until 2024. Curious as to your thoughts on how Sirena handled the crossing?

13 minutes ago, ORV said:

Funny, the only time I've been to St Vincent we got soaked while on a tour. 

 

Just out of curiosity, what is your age range?

Hubs and I are 50 and 49, respectively. And not the youngest on the ship by far! 

1 minute ago, shepherd really said:

Thanks, this thread has been very helpful.  I'll be on Sirena in 5-6 weeks.

Happy to help! I felt like there was a lack of recent info on Sirena, so wanted to help a little. Enjoy Sirena - she's a great little ship!

7 minutes ago, shepherd really said:

Would you happen to know the seating capacity in the two specialties?  Thanks

Unfortunately, I don't know. Both are fairly good sized, though. I just asked my husband, and he guesstimates that Red Ginger is around 50 and Tuscan Steak is around 75. (I am terrible at guessing such things, but I did think they looked about the same size to me.)

I would renew and pay for expedited processing. Mine was back in 10 days when I did that in September. 

7 hours ago, MEFIowa said:

The only other two songs I heard on Sirena that really stood out for me were:

 

- "I Melt With You" by Modern English (1982)

- "I Would Die 4 U" by Prince and the Revolution (1984)

I heard Guns N' Roses 'Sweet Child of Mine' on the pool deck one day as well.