Cruisedreamer1

You can upgrade for $30 once you are on the ship.

Just off the Regatta and if you upgrade to the premium beverage package you get a discount on whole bottles off their wine list. (I think it's 20% or maybe 30% off. Definitely a discount included but want to report correctly. If you go to Oceania's website you can find more information on both packages. At happy hour, I ordered a gin and tonic and paid $14.00 plus $2.40 in tip.It was two for one drinks. If you have 2 or more mixed drinks a day it pays to upgrade. Also, there is the captain's reception which has an open hosted bar and canapes in all areas for 2 hours!

I ditto SophieM's comment about showering in the spa showers they are very large and have different amenities.

Just buy it under your husband's name and give her your voucher. They don't check names when you go to the lounge to check in for an excursion. They take the voucher and give you a boarding coupon for the operator. If you go on the excursion with her, you check in. By the way, we signed up for 3 excursions and found that we either buy another excursion or lose the $13 left on our $400 pp excursion credit.

Just off the Regatta and found plenty of wine to drink! Barista's has always closed for coffee drinks in the evening. We never had a problem asking for a cappuccino in the morning or lunch or dinner. We were in an ocean view cabin so we felt service was the same for us. To our delight, some of the crew remembered us from the Insignia and previous Regatta cruises. If Julia Diego and Abner Sanchez is still on board don't miss their performances. They are truly up and coming stars and hopefully Oceania will utilize them more on the stage. Does anyone know how you can get the tote pictured in the photo above? It looks very practical. I wonder if Oceania will ever schedule another west coast cruise to Mexico again? It was so nice to drive only 2 hours from home! Disembarkation was a breeze. Once off the ship, go through the photo camera and collect your bags. Embarkation was easy but the gentleman calling out deck levels for check in was hard to hear. Perhaps because the ship was coming off a very long cruise prior, it seemed to take a long time to get into our cabins. Try the cappuccino caramel ice cream . It's divine!

Just got off the Regatta today(10 day cruise) and we had a deluxe ocean view cabin. We has the same toiletries as photographed above and were replenished mid cruise w/o our asking.. The refrigerators in the room have coke products plus tonic and ginger ale which were also replaced as we consumed them. The shampoo/body gel is one in the same. I found it good for the body and the hair. It left my hair with a nice shine ! You might check out the amenities in the spa shower since they use a different brand there. Perhaps the problem is resupplying the ship on longer cruises. Crew told us that a lot of the by the glass wine was consumed and some varieties were not available towards the end of the cruise in LA. One of the crew went out in Honolulu to purchase wine in a regular store!

Also, ask your TA so you get two opinions.

Does the bar have a signature drink we should try while aboard? Would it be available during happy hour? Best bar to order it? We will be boarding this Saturday!!!

According to my TA, it's their travel business association that is pushing for this fee. I have no problem paying a fee if asking for specialized travel plans but will just go direct to the cruise line if this "fee" goes main stream to all TAs. Fortunately, mine says no to this fee.

If you are flying Tahiti Nui, you might want to try to get to the check in desk just when they open and try for an upgrade to business class. It really makes a difference in the condition you arrive in FP Oh by the way, we have never been able to get an upgrade flying from Tahiti to the west coast. Let us know how you fare!

Does the Regatta still have a place to leave books for others in the library? I'm boarding on Saturday and wondered if I could leave my finished ones and pick up another one. Thanks!

I WOULD NEVER PULL MY TIPS. just wondered how the tips were distributed. Our stewards and wait staff work very hard everyday.

They have two types of coffee ice cream. Regular coffee and one called Vietnamese Coffee. Be sure to try this one if you like coffee favor.

Pool area is what I was referring to about the blankets. On the Coastal cruise, one had to ask for them. I always thought the pool deck was called the lido deck. In terms of the tipping amounts, of course we leave it to O to distribute. I just wondered who gets what and up to what level it is distributed. Do the officers participate in the distribution?

I love their Vietnamese coffee ice cream. It's not always available but when served worth 2 scoops!

1. Does anyone one know how tips are distributed among the crew? 2. We will be on the Regatta shortly and wondered if requested, will lido blankets be available for use on this deck? Most of our cruise will be in warm weather but we expect one or two days a bit breezy on the lido deck where we like to hang out and read in the shade. Thanks!

No I understand. I just have the lunch and dinner package. I wondered if I went at happy hour about asked for a mixed drink.

Run away from this agent. I believe that the TA Association is encouraging a fee since some customers don't follow through with a booking. Thank goodness our agent does not charge nor plan to charge a fee.

Orv, you answered my drink question. Belvedere is an up charge vodka. Now which would be better Tito's or Belvedere?

If I ask for a tonic with Belverdere vodka will I pay more for a name brand spirit?

I wonder since everyone will have this package will the offerings change?

Big Kahuna: how do I access your video? Could you send it to me: car bet at rocketmail dot com? Thanks!

He's great and we watch him regularly. He does not accept free fares from the industry so his opinions are for real on his part.

The tender situation may have to due with St Barts and their rules. She was lucky to get to St Barts. The last 2 times the ship was unable to tender and to weather conditions.

Does wait list equal higher fare once an opening occurs?