MEFIowa

Of course, as my wife tells me, the joke is on me... "If you want that painting hung up, we've got to buy a new house. It just can't go on any of the walls we have now. Unless you want it in the basement." So the headline: "Man buys painting, wife gets new house"? 😉 I was a bit nervous unrolling and laying it out at the framing shop. But the proprietress seemed to appreciate it. I had to have her put it on the stretcher rods/frame when I came back. BUT when I called to pick it up, I immediately saw it, for it had its "back" to us. No one was in the shop when I paid for it, so she turned it around and we discussed it bit. My "Caribbean beauty".

Riviera and Marina have an Executive Lounge (Deck 11) for the PHs and a Concierge Lounge (Deck 9) for the A1-A4 Concierge Verandas. They are restricted access, so you have to use your room card to go in (as with the therapy spa pools on both, too).

The key is the WHERE. The dress code is only truly applicable in the Specialty restaurants. NOT by the pool or the smoking areas or at Waves Grill or the Terrace Cafe. Nor even at the shows. The repeater party and captain's welcome party did have the more restricted dress code in the Horizon's Lounge and Martinis.

Though I'm glad no one at O's Terminal J customs or the international airports at Miami, Atlanta, Minneapolis or Des Moines made me unwrap the rolled-up oil canvas painting I was carrying as my "carry on". Wrapped like a present. Nearly 3" long. IF they had made me unwrap it, they'd have seen a tasteful nude I'd bought in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

You might study the deck plans for Riviera and take into account the price differences between the various types of verandas (A1-4 and B1-4). Personally, I'd avoid rooms with adjoining doors and those cabins directly across from the elevators. See also rooms with or without the triple w/sofa bed. IF, however, you did end up doing a Concierge Veranda (A1-4), note the Concierge Lounge on Riviera Deck 9 is forward, so if you plan on using it, being forward means a quicker trip from aft on that deck. The laundry facilities on decks 7 & 8 are forward, too.

Our 10-day A4 on Riviera (12/21) was $2099 pp. Our 10-day B2 on Sirena (11/22) was $2399. Cruise only. So that $350 pp would be about 17% of the former and nearly 15% of the latter. That may be zip, nada, nothing to you but a nice chunk of change to buy things on the cruise for us. So I used my "$350" on Sirena to buy rum and a painting, for example. And a nice Citizen's watch while on Riviera.

But the real cost comparison would be B4 to A4. On our next cruise (Riviera 10/30/2023) the difference is $3449 A4 versus $3099 B4. Or $350 pp. If you do B1 to A1 it is $3599 A1 versus $3249 B1. Or $350 pp.

Thank God! We'll be on Sirena there 10/30/2023. Didn't want to go to Trieste.

For the recent Sirena cruise in the E. Caribbean (11/18-28/2022) I brought my normal 6 bottles of wine. Just in a simple fabric carrying bag. People watched and smiled as I pushed it in line on the ground with my foot. AND I brought a 6-pack of beer in a suitcase. No problems. Do NOT forget you can bring back beer, hard liquor, and wine from ports. I brought back beer and hard liquor (rum) from St Vincent, Dominica, San Juan and Puerto Plata to my veranda stateroom to enjoy nightly.

As for St. Barts: "We stopped at Cantina on Rue du Bord de Mer. We had heard horror stories about a quick lunch and 2 sodas costing over 100 euro, but we had 2 mains (a sort of duck shepherds pie and a burger and fries that were AMAZING), a large bottle of Evian, and a pina colada, and the total was around 55 euro. Not bad at all." ------------- After 3 wonderful hours at Shell Beach in the early afternoon, I had some delicious French coffee and an amazing baked item at L'atelier de Joel Robuchon TO/GO (14 rue de General de Gaulle, Gustavia) for just 7.50 Euro. BUT I did find the same St. B t-shirt in two places. One at 40 Euros and the other at 30 Euros. I sprang for the 30. Most expensive t-shirt I've ever bought in a tourist shop area.

In Roseau, Dominica, the people lined up on the pool deck shouted a few things. I remember distinctly hearing, "Run, Forest, run." I walked. And the security people and I became buddies. When I left, I'd tell them, "See you at (insert final return time here). I won't be back a minute earlier." 😉

For just Kingstown... (1) If you want a fascinating view take a CAB or TAXI the 2 miles from the pier up the STEEP hill to Fort Charlotte. Wife & I walked it on a hot day, but I love that sort of thing. (2) The Roman Catholic and Anglican cathedrals are across the street from each other between N. River Road. (3) The quiet Botanical Garden is up the Leeward Highway. Walkable, easier than Ft. Charlotte, but most likely would want to be driven there and back. (4) As for the downtown, I walked it for hours and it seemed pretty much like Roseau, Dominica. Rather industrial and business oriented. Somewhat run down and dirty. BUT the people are so friendly. OUTSIDE of Kingstown, for the island... There is Black Point Tunnel (east coast, halfway up), that my wife and I took a taxi to. Somehow, we got the "standard" published fare of $150 (for 1-4 passengers) down to just $100. The drive there along the coast and then back by interior was fascinating. See also the Mesopotamian Valley, beautiful jungle and near the Montreal Gardens. Also, the Wallilabou Bay (west coast, about halfway up) has the remains of the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie city set. (We didn't go to it.)

Yes, I was a bit shocked it wasn't scheduled on Sirena as it was on Riviera 12/21 with CD Paul, who hosted it in Martinis. I had thought from that cruise it was essentially a "standard" type get together on every cruise. I hope others on O cruises will ask their CD early in the cruise whether such a gathering is planned and, if not, about scheduling a veterans' gathering.

Same thing happened to my wife 3 times because...after we missed St. Kitts I swore I'd spend every safe minute ashore and be the last person back on the ship. I came back on at St. V at 1730 because I didn't think it was safe after dark nor was there anything I saw to do after that. BUT I was the last back by myself from Dominica, San Juan, and Puerto Plaza. (As well as St. Barts but with my wife, as we were tendered back just the two of us.) IF you are the last person back, you sometimes get special treatment. They, in this case the port staff, met me at the beginning of the pier in Puerto Plaza and drove me to Sirena. When I came back last in San Juan I didn't have to walk thru the empty cruise terminal for they opened the previously locked gate near the bow and I just strolled over to the gangway.

I guess just be glad I don't do time in "Zulu"! I still prefer the 24 hour "military" rendering but I keep it local. Not GMT/UTC.

12/13-23/21 means December 13th thru 23rd in 2021. 11/18-28/22 means November 18th thru 28th in 2022.

Mea culpa typing this Friday AM with coffee yet and progressive trifocals... - Riviera was 12/13-23/21 - Sirena was 11/18-28/22 We did tip both Stephen and Anna in a Thank You card to each & a personal note but not huge amount. And we treated them both with respect and dignity during the cruise, engaging them politely every time we interacted with them, sincere gratitude for what they did for us daily.

On Sirena (11/18-28/22) the Oceania Club Ambassador was providing nice color-coordinated calendars for 2023, 2024, and 2025 (as announced so far) for all 7 ships. For 2023: Marina is shown with cruises for all of September, October, November, and December. For 2023 into 2024: Marina is shown with a 24-day cruise starting on Dec 21/2023 that then leads to a 24-day cruise starting on Jan 21/2024. There is a gap, but not a big one. For rest of 2024: Marina is shown with NO gaps sufficient for a refit. For 2025: Marina is shown cruising thru May 8, without any gap sufficient for a refit.

Did that in 11/21 on Riviera (but on the longer 10 day cruise), but Cuba is mostly a smudge on the horizon. Even with binoculars. Saw a bit more of Cuba a bit closer at times when Sirena came back up from her recent E. Caribbean cruise (11/18-28/22) by way of Puerto Plata and the Dominican Republic.

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)

Memory is a strange thing! While on Sirena earlier last month (11/18-28/22) I was walking along deck 4 starboard by the cabins with my wife when coming toward me was someone I immediately thought I recognized. When we met I said, "Stephen!" And he said, "Michael." I couldn't believe we both remembered each other from Riviera 12/22. He was our steward, along with Anna P. He is from India. So I mentioned our current steward, Salvio from Goa, whom he knew. Stephen was going back home at the end of the cruise. Salvio going back too, but the cruise after. (His co-worker, Mary from the Philippines.)

Though you may look closely at your arrival times in ports and when you can disembark for excursions or just to look around. For our recent 11/22 Sirena E. Caribbean voyage we had projected arrival times in ports at 0700, 0800, 0900, 1000, and 1200. But I eat at Waves for breakfast every day I can, regardless of arrival time. Just enjoy the wind thru the open windows and the view off the starboard side. (Did breakfast room service once on Riviera 12/22.)

Was this the 11/18-28/22 cruise? When I asked at the Reception Desk and she pulled up the data on her computer late in the cruise about the exact number of passengers, I was told 610. We "lost" the one at Puerto Plaza on the way down. Cruise certainly didn't seem "full" to me except when all the walkers and motorized scooters were clogging the Terrace Cafe at lunch or in the evenings.

Food issues are so subjective. Our recent experience is contrary to yours. We just finished our cruise on Sirena (11/18-28/22) and we thoroughly enjoyed our 2 evenings at Tuscan Grill. My wife doesn't like Asian food so when we boarded, we added a 2nd evening at Tuscan Grill and cancelled our evening at Red Ginger. I will say the service the 1st time (Day 1) was a bit slow, but improved for our 2nd time (Day 8). My wife and I have spent 10 days each on Riviera (12/21) and Sirena (11/22) and are GLAD we have NEVER eaten at the GDR. We much prefer the Terrace Cafe and eating under the stars in the evening. And I prefer Waves for breakfast, enjoying the wind and sights on the pool deck looking over the starboard side. Of course, people have to keep in mind that only Sirena has Tuscan Grill. And none of the smaller R-class ships has Jacques, as only the larger O-class ships have the 4 specialty restaurants.

Each one is a bit unique. In what they do and how they do it. On Riviera 12/21 the CD Paul hosted a Veterans' get together early in the cruise. Made a big impression on me as I met about 34 veterans there and would know a bit about them on the cruise as I ran into them on the ship. On Sirena 11/22 when I asked her about one, CD Dottie did NOT plan on hosting any such Veterans' gathering. BUT she did help me self-host one. We had about 23 or so show up. Dottie also conducted the inter-denominational Christian prayer services on our 2 Sundays and Thanksgiving. So my impressions of both are quite positive.