DrHemlock

6 hours ago, ORV said:

It's right next door to a very good Italian restaurant

That would be Umberto Menghi's Giardino restaurant.  He's been cooking in Vancouver since 1969 and by now qualifies as a legend.  First experienced his Tuscan cuisine in 1985 at the original little yellow house restaurant simply named Umberto.  Multiple times since then -- now at his newer bigger place -- when visiting Vancouver.  Reservations not easy to obtain, so apply early -- and tell him we said, "Grazie!"

2 hours ago, Thought2go said:

So “Simply More” is becoming simply less.

Becoming?  That ship sailed when SM was inaugurated.

On 6/8/2024 at 10:40 AM, clairol said:

I had forgotten how lovely and intimate the library is on the smaller ships. Such a luxury! 

Abso(frickin)lutely!  It's why some of arrive at the pier as early as possible on boarding day: not for lunch with the crowds at TC and Waves, but for first crack at whatever's new on the shelves.  

It's also where we enjoy waiting on disembarkation day between 8:00a.m. "out-of-cabin" time and when our luggage tag color/number (usually the last) is called.  

Such a sweet "good-bye" it is as we reluctantly trudge down the stairs to the gangplank.

There's also the challenge of "which side is which" for those of us who are not native seafarers.  It would be too tacky to say, "As you stand looking toward the front, it's on the left (or right) side."  So, I always have to re-remind myself of the mnemonic based on facing forward:  "Left" and "Port" each have the same number of letters, while "Right" and "Starboard" do not.  

Do not attempt this procedure while facing aft lest confusion reign supreme.

2 hours ago, ORV said:

I believe they're talking one level up

If so, then they're not responding to the OP's question re R-class.  One level up from the pool on an R-class ship is the walking track where it would be a tad too windy for ping-pong while underway, or even on a calm day in port where an errant volley would risk flying overboard.  Where the table is on A-class Vista is irrelevant to the OP.

12 hours ago, slw207693 said:

On some of the ships the ping pong table has been moved to the starboard side outside the gym area where the couches and other seating under cover were.  

Are you sure the ships you're referring to are R-class ships that the OP asked about?  The seating area you describe is -- or was? -- the smoking area, meaning that smokers would have been moved to someplace else.  But where?  Maybe nowhere...as in Oceania experimenting with going entirely non-smoking as most hotels have done?  Smokers were still starboard-side on our Insignia trip in March.  Anybody currently aboard an R ship who can comment?

17 hours ago, Kay S said:

I think that's  where it is

That is where it is: on the forward/port side of the pool deck around the corner from the pool bar.  Basically, the opposite position of the smoking lounge on the forward/starboard side.  Or...catty-corner across the pool from Waves Grill.

3 hours ago, richardbohn said:

...we frequently travel to Aruba. We will spend a few days at our favorite resort before flying home.

While there, try to visit the donkey sanctuary.  Pet and feed the animals...and, by all means, leave a donation.  It's a magical place filled with the goofiest, kindest and safest-from-traffic four-footers you'll ever meet.  Another "meet & mingle" just like on the ship but minus the cheap champagne!

Stop at the store to pick up some carrots and apples; you'll have the residents eating out of your hand.

6 hours ago, ORV said:

Is it necessary to book the 1 category? What's the savings to go to an A3 as opposed to an A1? 

The OP mentioned that A1 cabins are amidships.  I suspect that's the operative factor as it represents the smoothest (or least rocky) ride in exuberant seas, while A2 and A3 radiate forward and aftward from there -- as in "Pass the dramamine, please!"  (Not telling you anything you don't already know, ORV; just mentioning it for the benefit of newbies who may have wondered the same thing.)

49 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

Thing is, they mostly consider anyone under 60 a kid.

Well, some of us were kids until we were 60.  And beyond!  (If somewhat pathetically....)

4 hours ago, Harters said:

The facility to make early reservations for speciality restaurants is important to us - in being able to book when and what we want.

Ditto.  Very important for misanthropes like us for whom small talk with strangers impedes our enjoyment of multiple courses and a good bottle we don't want to share.  And since big talk inevitably devolves into politics, as we know from occasional snippets of conversation wafting over from nearby large tables, we'll stick with our hard-to-get-if-you're-not-in-a suite two-tops -- which, along with our preferred dining time, requires the earlier reservation date of a Concierge cabin.

In 18 cruises on all the R and O class ships, we have never been asked to show our invitation to a repeater party.  As for the newbie party, we've waltzed into a couple of those over the years for a free drink when Martinis was full.  

Of course, as they say in stockbroker ads: "Past performance does not guarantee future results."

Just dress and act like you belong; you'll be fine.

16 hours ago, grmmybtty said:

Dr Hemlock’s suggestion of just taking the tour and then returning to the ship for the night sounds more workable

Actually, I meant return to the ship late afternoon after their tour, grab their luggage and disembark the ship, then taxi to airport hotel so they're already there first thing in the morning.  (And for former English majors like myself, I just used "their," "there" and "they're" correctly and all in the same sentence.  Vive la difference!  Ooo-rah!!)

6 hours ago, pinotlover said:

Much like some posters here on CC, some guides attempt to give a new definition to verbose and verbosity.

Not to mention at least one Oceania cruise director who shall remain nameless in this post.

Oddly enough: when this song was popular, I actually did see my Marianne walking away.  It still gets me every time.  (I know, I know...TMI!)

So, the tour you want to take is not a ship's excursion departing Riviera at 11:00, but rather a local tour beginning in Rome at 11:00?  You might be able to make it if you can get off the ship early enough -- but there's the rub.  

Depending upon where the ship is arriving from, Italian customs/immigration authorities might want to check everybody's passport and have a look at luggage, etc.  Also, depending on whether the ship arrives on time (weather and harbor traffic permitting) and whether the longshore crew are standing by to grab and tie off the ship's lines.  

Safer, IMO, to head directly into Rome as early as possible, take your tour, head back to Riviera to retrieve your luggage, complete disembarkation and take taxi to Fiumicino airport hotel.  It just depends whether you want to roll the dice.

Megaphones and ear trumpets.

10 hours ago, GeezerCouple said:

YES!

One way international J (or the increasingly elusive F) tickets are a wonderful use of awards.  Awards can be terrific for round trip, too, but because international premium tickets are usually more than half the price of the round trip, it's perfect for using points, where there's no "one-way penalty".

Just to be perfectly clear:  Miles held in an airline FF membership program (e.g. AAdvantage or United Mileage Plus) are one thing, while "points" held in a bank or credit card program are of a different breed which varies from program to program.  

My post above to which GeezerCouple responded was based only on my experience with miles, not points.  Ever since Covid, FF miles have been refundable without fee on trips booked through American and United even if flights would involve travel on code-share OneWorld or StarAlliance carriers (and I hope they stay that way!).  Those two programs have worked for us very well for overseas travel to all sorts of destinations the past several years, so they suffice.  And, like GC above, I nearly always book two one-ways rather than RT since a different airline's return schedule or mileage cost might be more convenient (or cheaper) than the outbound flight.

But FlyerTalker is undoubtedly correct in pointing out that other FF and points programs may have different rules, so I should have been more specific by restricting my original post to AA, UA and their alliances.  Happy flying!

8 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

But, remember that the cost is in addition to the price you already paid for coach tickets in your cruise fare! You don’t get a credit for those coach tix when you buy the bizclass tix. So, you’re basically buying two tix per person.

Yet another reason for one to request the air allowance from O -- never lavish but usually reasonable -- then book Biz or even Econ tickets oneself whether with money (usually nonrefundable 😢) or those fabulous refundable FF miles.

Okay, yeah.....if you're sailing two segments and not disembarking in Tokyo, then that seems the best solution.  (Too bad American Express discontinued their poste restante service several years ago.  Now that was convenient.)  Good luck and have a great trip!

3 hours ago, rzjc46 said:

I will be gone over a month prior to election day.

Do you mean you'll be aboard Regatta for a month, having boarded in LA on 10/3?  Or that you'll be traveling otherwise and intend to meet and board Regatta in Tokyo on 10/29?  

If boarding on 10/3 in LA, then pinotlover's suggestion re pre-cruise hotel won't work because the ship only stops for one day in Tokyo; ergo, you won't have a hotel.  In that case, then Harters' suggestion of the port agent could work if you can clear it with them ahead of time.

OTOH, if you are planning to board the cruise in Tokyo on the 29th, then it's a matter of how early you plan to arrive in the city and whether you will stay in a hotel for one or more days before joining the ship.  If so, then pinotlover's suggestion becomes an excellent one.

Or will you board the cruise in LA and then disembark in Tokyo?  And, if so, do you plan to stay in a post-cruise hotel?  In that case, pinotlover's suggestion is still in the game.  

This would all be a lot easier if you would at least tell us your date of departure from Ohio, your initial boarding date/city, and whether you intend to to said one segment (LA-Tokyo or Tokyo-Singapore) or two (LA-Singapore).  Otherwise, we're all trying to help based upon speculation and guesswork.

18 hours ago, roothy123 said:

But now at least there's usually an announcement at the cocktail party for past passengers about how many nationalities are represented by the crew members. 

Hmmm....there was none such at the repeaters party on our recent Insignia cruise.  Too bad; we would have enjoyed knowing.  We do miss the name badges that included country of origin -- even though the lettering was usually too small to read from a respectful distance so there was that embarrassing moment of leaning in to peer at the person's chest.

You don't say where you'll be boarding Regatta.  If in LA on 10/3, then I see your dilemma: according to your Ohio voting schedule, early and absentee voting don't begin until October 8th so that would be impossible for you.  OTOH, if you'll be flying to Tokyo to pick up the ship there on 10/29, then you should be able to vote early at home before departing.  

If the former, then maybe try this if you know or can make contact with someone in Tokyo:  Request an absentee ballot at the earliest possible date; have whoever is picking up your mail at home forward the ballot via DHL or whoever to your contact in Tokyo to hold until you arrive on the 29th; go ashore and meet up with that person; fill out your ballot, seal it and have the person return it, again via DHL or whoever, to the appropriate Ohio absentee voting address.  (I know, I know .... rampant vote-by-mail fraud!!!).

Other than that, I don't see a solution but will look forward to other posters' ideas.

47 minutes ago, bob brown said:

Hey people!   Don't you realize that these pins are by far the most expensive jewelry I own?

(As in the fares paid to obtain them)....😁

True dat!

8 hours ago, ORV said:

it might mean something else than what I meant. I was referring to a practice by a poster here named Mike. 

Apparently, in a world possibly younger than ours, "Mikeys" refers to Mike's Hard beverages which feature a variety of fruity flavors to please every discerning teenage palate.  Good to know you and I are a bit more serious than that (not that there was ever a doubt). 😎