Norseh2o

Yes, the view out the window was decent enough. The 7006 cabin inside space was really good, but when we repeated the cruise in September in a balcony (A2), we decided that balcony and above are our favorite cabins.

Stayed in 7006 on the Regatta 4/2022, our first time in a non- balcony Oceania ship. Chose 7006 as all balcony and above were waitlisted. When balconies became available we decided to stay put. So sorry that I have no photo to share. The bed is nearer the cabin entrance, the seating area near the window. The window is small with a large ledge. The bad: no concierge privileges. The good: huge sitting area, great cabin steward. We asked for an additional chair which we set next to loveseat for more comfortable seating. Ledge at window was good storage for paperwork, maps and the like. Oceania could replace loveseat with PH type couch & raise the price!

We had the same downgrade offer on Sirena 10/25/22 cruise. It would be a 4 level downgrade. Like janecambridge, we have favorite cabins. As we will stay onboard the Sirena from Barcelona to Miami, not interested in cabin change AND deck change.

After final payment, our TA asked about cabin upgrade or onboard ship credit for price drop on our October, 2022 cruise. NCL offered fcc good for 1 year after cruise ends. With many (non- NCL) cruises booked between October 2022 and October 2023, the fcc is pretty useless.

Thanks, HAL4NOW for the updates on the fires. We drive from Southern California to Seattle often and appreciate knowing about travel conditions. Lenda, thank you for the comments regarding my DM. Sisters and brother and SIL met with staff yesterday to "refine" what services are promised and actually available to DM. 🤨 @kochleffel, I appreciate your news about the NCL ships. Sure hope that the Star has an area like the Crow's Nest for water watching, reading and coffee drinking...

Not necessarily true. Last week on the Regatta 8 day Coastal California Vines trip, we cancelled a dining reservation for our 3rd evening. We had booked all of our dining reservations on the day bookings opened. We were unable to rebook. We were open to fine dining at any time @Toscana. We did not want a shared table. On the last night we managed to secure a 7:30 seating. The meal was definitely worth the wait if not the hassle.

Thanks to all who contribute to this great morning read! We will celebrate Maritime Day with a final check on our packing for our October 6th cruise. It is the make-up of our final cancelled due to Covid-19 cruise. We meet a sister and BIL, brother & SIL in Southhampton to board NCL, The Jade for 10 days in Northern Europe. Haven't traveled on NCL in years, it will be interesting to see how NCL compares to HAL... After a few days in London and a week in Lisbon, we board Oceania's Sirena for a transatlantic to Miami in November. DM is adjusting to her new spiffy living place, she and staff still working out some of her daily schedule.Thankful for our large family who visit often, write letters and keep her in their prayers. Hopeful that the storms in the south ease up. Gerry, bad hotel news, but thank you for sharing. I will recheck our reservations this morning. Remember you are half water. If you can't go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.

We look forward to 1 or 2 Transatlantic trips on Oceania every year. The Marina, November, 2021, was great with a fine crossing, of course we were so happy to be back on board an Oceania ship. 😊 The Insignia, June-July, 2022 offered rough seas, cancelled ports, fabulous food, staff and plenty to do. We are counting the days until we board the Sirena in October for one more 2022 transatlantic trip!

Much praise and support for good caregivers. Thanks to my sisters, brother, SIL, & BILS for their loving help with DM’s move to her new home. Especially thankful for sister who stayed the entire month of August (in Phoenix…) to make the move happen. I spent the last week in the “cool” weather of AZ with DM. Her new home is resort like- beautiful public rooms, a library much like the beautiful Oceania libraries, the dining room reminded me of a bhb, comfortable, with a nice variety of food and serving times & good food - not quite as good as The Lido or the GDR, but tasty. The best part was staying with her and learning about her new home. Especially enjoyed the Queen Elizabeth conversations. We are not a star struck family (although once I was delighted to follow the Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) and Mr. Bates (Brendan Coyle) around a small shop in Los Angeles…) but I loved hearing DM talk about the princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, Elizabeth’s and Phillip’s wedding in 1946, a year before my mother and father wed, and learning that DM and her father woke up early to listen to Bertie abdicate.

My mistake! Thanks for correction. ORV

DS ran into the living room as I sat with my coffee and newspaper on 9/11/2001, urging me to turn on the television, a plane had crashed into the Twin Towers in New York. DH was in Los Angeles for a conference, usually he used Amtrak, we were glad that he had driven for this trip as the rail service was disrupted for some time. Best memory from that day was my principal’s calm reactions, she moved a television to the teacher’s workroom and most importantly, assured all of us that she would cover our classes if we needed a break, and reminded us that the two Churches right down the street were open and to let her know if we would leave campus. 🥰

The port side area dedicated to the smokers can be avoided but smoke does enter into the ship’s hall from the outside area of smokers. Annoyed that Oceania hasn't built some sort of wall/divider between the smoking set up and the walk way from inside to outside. Might encourage smoke to leave the ship rather than drift into the halls?

Low and aft is never a good idea for a favorite place on a ship. 😕

Last NCL cruise in 2018 on the Pearl. Boarding The Star next month & am looking high and low for the top of the ship lounge/bar coffee/tea sipping lounge on The Star. I think it was called The Spinnaker Lounge. Did a recent remodel remove that favorite place?

Suggestions for Zuiderdam Crow’s Nest changes: 1) Separate the coffee bar from the bar. Making foo-foo coffee drinks and/or foo-foo alcohol drinks ties up the overworked servers if guests are clamoring for both. 2) Move Excursions desk to another location, during our 35 day South Pacific cruise, rarely were guests lined up to book excursions, usually zero people at booking counter while enjoying the delightful sea days. 3) Showcase the gorgeous views from the Nest with the removal of bookcase/game shelves and the nautical screens that block so much of the window view. Move the nautical screens and bookcases to a wall. Add more lounging chairs and tables with comfortable chairs. 4) Improve the library.

National Beach Day, this is Friday night’s sunset from our lanai. We are enjoying two weeks with DD and family on Kona.

Sparkling.

Chandon is a champagne. Don’t know who receives a bottle of champagne, we exchange our champagne for wine.

It is a sunny day in Kailua-Kona & a perfect afternoon for DH to make gazpacho for our cold supper with DD and family. They won’t bring their dog (or kitties!) as the dog has ‘aged’ nicely and would rather settle under a bed and snooze than travel. Yes, Jodi58, this IS a nice group!

My mistake, we wish that O’s champagne was at least as good as Chandon. 🥂

It’s not a favorite, Chandon, Napa Valley… 🍾 We exchange for a red or white wine. 🙂

First time with trouble getting shareholder credit easily. Send snail mail and email forms and copies of stock to NCL for one last cancelled from Covid cruises, and to Oceania for three future 2022 trips. NCL claimed emailed forms were “corrupt/unreadable”, no response from O. Our wonderful TA stepped in and in less than 24 hours, credit appeared on our invoices. Not important if credit is refundable as we enjoy having obc when onboard.

November, 2021, we bought a bottle of Jack from the last shop that we walked through to re-board the Marina in Barcelona. Passed through security like any other purchase. The champagne “gift” in your cabin can be exchanged for (Oceania brand?) wine if champagne is not your treat.

A nice long weekend in AZ! The good; temperatures <100, cool rainstorms Friday and Saturday nights, the better; located and reserved a place for DM; the best; spending s long weekend with Mother and siblings with more agreements than disagreements, good food/fun, and laughter. When BIL suggested late Friday golf to DH, sister snd I decided to take supper to DM. Traveling to Culver’s for Mom’s favorite vanilla shake took us to 3 favorite slo-fashion spots (thrift stores!) where we managed to support Hospice of the Valley, the Lutherans and the LDS. Especially enjoyed finding tags-still-attached linen pants, golf shirts and a sweater. The vanilla shakes and cheeseburgers were delicious. Looking forward to returning in September to help with the move. Thank you for all of the news, pictures and friendship.