edgee

Yes, we had a q and a session with our Panamanian local guide during our transit on Vista a few months ago. As I remember, he and a few other retired canal employees formed a company which contracts with the Canal Authority to provide guide narration services for cruise ships during their transits.

Will take that any day instead of a cruise director who makes everything about themselves...asking for applause before pre show introductions, too many long winded announcements, wearing attention getting outfits...etc etc.

Well, we join Splendor in less than 2 weeks for the TA. We will see first hand if toilets are cranky 😆. On a more serious note, we have spent 27 nights on Oceania's new Vista in the last 4 months. Never again! "Thin wall" noise between cabin issue is a big problem. Concern that Grandeur suffers from reported same issue and was built in same ship yard, raises concern that will keep me away from her.

Based on the noisy cabin/" thin walls" issue I am hearing about on Grandeur, I may limit myself to just Explorer and Splendor.

Have you been told this is true or are you assuming the reason? Maybe, like so many things with Oceania, they handle this inconsistently. I put in for shareholder credit for 3 cruises at the same time, all well ahead of final payment date. One was 3 months away, one was 9 months away and one was over 18 months away. Received the credit for all 3 promptly.

IMHO Oceania food is pretty even with Crystal and Regent,both of which are considered luxury lines VS Oceania's upper premium category. In any case, Regent and Crystal are at a much higher price point.

Did they confirm that any sort revolution will not happen...just superficial...eg. carpets, paint...things like that?

Thanks. In 40 plus cruises, many on Oceania, we have never brought a hair dryer with us. However, we notice that the one on the ship is always much weaker than what we have at home. A friend is going on her first O cruise this summer and she asked if it is OK to bring a hair dryer. So I thought I would inquire since they are not specifically excluded on O website and there is a paragraph discussing plugs in cabins saying they are there for use by hair dryers.

Anyone had experience with taking your own hair dryer on board. Qs and As do not sound like they are specifically prohibited.

No. I have been on more than forty cruise ships. Something different about Vista in a not good way. Never heard so much noise between cabins. Pretty ridiculous.

Directly related to nearby occupants is the key point. Seems you will certainly have a noise problem on Vista if you have the "wrong" neighbors. Matter of luck whether random choice of guests in adjacent cabins will allow you to sleep and otherwise affect enjoyment of your cruise. When booking your cruise on Vista then question of "Do you feel lucky?" comes to mind.

And you did a great job! Best meet and greet I have attended on any cruise, Thanks so much! Ed

Oh, I wish I could agree with you about O doing all or as much as they can. They lack so much credibility on so many levels regarding this Marina refurb (and other matters). Initially they marketed future cruises saying that Marina would be refurbished exactly like the Riviera. Then they released communications saying bathrooms below PH were not being redone because there was not enough time. Appears to be a phony reason, given that Marina's drydock time allotted is the same as was allowed for Riviera. Then they have sent mixed messages about how much or how little will be done in terms of soft goods replacement on Marina. The concept of full prompt disclosure to guests seems to be foreign to O's corporate culture in favor of a hide the ball, give out as little info as possible as late as possible and a lie here and there is no big deal, philosophy. Reneging on promise to refund folks booked on infamous Riviera through the Red Sea cruise, telling folks they had to switch olife bookings to SM in order to get 2nd wifi (not true)...just a few examples...

Either way.

Considering same corporate umbrella ship Regent's new Grandeur has reports on CC of same "thin walls" problem and was built in same ship yard as Vista, I fear we are moving toward more ships with noise problems rather than fewer. I will not book Allura either, unless positive reports come in regarding this potential problem.

Could not pay me to cruise under those circumstances!

Unfortunate, but can certainly make other choices. Looking forward to 25 nights on newly refurbished Marina this summer!

Two cruises in two different Concierge forward cabins on two different levels on Vista. Enjoyment of two cruises hampered by inability to sleep even when TV in next cabin was turned very low. Convinced that maybe noise problem was my bad luck in terms of cabin location, but inquiry at reception desk resulted in response that problem is pervasive. Concluded that full enjoyment of any cruise on Vista would be dependent on luck of having quiet neighbors who rarely turn on TV. No longer willing to take that chance. Based on my experiences, unless I hear of changes to rectify the situation, will not book Vista again.

What????? SM included drinks are beer and wine at lunch and dinner. Thats IT! What in the world does that have to do with the casino????

Long story short...My wife's brother & SIL really enjoyed a cruise on Seabourn. However they told us it would never work for us because no dedicated walking/jogging track. My wife is a compulsive exercise walker at all hours of the day and evening..not just early morning when folks may walk around the pool deck....has to get miles and miles in on her fitbit. So...no Seabourn for us.🙄

Agree with the value part, but we happened to get a good price booking over a year out on the new Celebrity Ascent. Their Suite class (Retreat) is really nice on the new ships, but usually overpriced.

I have been on Vista for two fairly long cruises in the past 5 months. Played BJ in the casino most evenings. Was cheerfully served non alchohol beverages at the table while I played. I do not drink alcohol while I play in the casino, so never tested to see if they would have covered the cost. Did not have a drink package other than SM wine and beer with meals. AFAIK casino has been operated under the Casinos at Sea program which is part of NCL...same management as NCL and Regent casinos...no longer an outside company like it was years ago.

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, agency I use is very upfront about the rebate and other additional value they offer to anyone. Past volume of business has nothing to do with it.

On recent Vista cruises all menus for the day were posted on the tvs in the morning. When we disembarked we immediately embarked a new Celebrity cruise. Nice there that all menus for all restaurants for the entire cruise are available on their app prior to embarkation. Look forward to the day when O will up their technology game and offer information in an up to date user friendly way!

Appears Grandeur is only Regent ship that will be anywhere close to being in range of eclipse, even partially. I will be on Splendor and appears we will be out of range. Anyway, how in the world would you expect anyone on this board to have a definitive answer to this question? Even if we get one from Regent, if I were interested in viewing it, would bring my own glasses. Would not trust an answer from Miami.