cruisingxpert

It appears some have cruises have changed the process

We have always done it this way before for non U.S. citizens however this trip we just got off with everyone else

 

I asked & they said it depends on the agreements with the ports visited & the USA

who knew

 

It was so smooth compared to previous cruises

 

Lyn

That's very interesting. I'm from the GTA and we had to do the visit to the Theatre last March for the exact same itinerary as you just took and for the most recent Mayan one on Dec 2nd 2013.

Hope this is a good sign. I hate getting up at the crack of dawn to retrieve my passport..

Catherine

I do hope they will reconsider going back to Bermuda. It was wonderful to be docked right downtown.

CJ

I have cruised with Celebrity (3 times) and HAL (7 times). The Celebrity Solstice is more beautiful in its decor but I prefer HAL to Celebrity. It's like food,houses etc - you can't always say exactly why but you just feel good about it.

That said, my last 2 cruises have been on Oceania Riviera. The last 2 cruises on HAL were good but the food was becoming very mundane - very subjective, I know. Interesting food is my passion more than the itineraries.

I haven't been on the Nieuw Amsterdam but all this talk about the Tamarind has me salivating for the "pho soup"

CJ

I'm sorry to hear that. I too would like to hear some specifics as well. We are going back in March for a 3rd time in a year. Not sure if you had same manager for Waves that we had on Dec 2nd cruise but I did prefer the manager from our cruise last March. Still enjoyed our cruise.

I know lots of people love the specialty restaurants but they are my least enjoyable places to eat with the exception maybe of Toscana.

La Reserve - even though it is an extra cost - is my favourite - followed by the Terrace Buffet (which was a great surprise to me).

CJ

http://www.portmiamiwebcam.com/

The Riviera is docked in Miami and I can see people moving around on board now. I love to watch the webcams to get my sunshine and water fix - especially when the weather here is unbearably frigid. Can't wait til Mar 28 cruise.

CJ

This is great. What a Market blogged live from the last cruise and now we get to go again. Love it. Can't wait for my Mar 28th cruise.

CJ

Sitting in FLL after a very smooth disembarkation from the Port of Miami. We had an 8:15AM "get off the boat" time slot. David P. called our color/number exactly at 8:15. Walked down staircase to Deck 6 and we were through the ship's security in less than five minutes.

 

Took one minute to find suitcases and less than five minutes to clear customs.

 

We were the only ship in port, which I knew from previous research. Took one minute to get transportation for FLL. Drive from port to FLL took about 30 minutes.

 

A very civilized conclusion to Oceania's very civilized style of cruising.

Thanks for taking us along on your cruise. I want to be sitting in Baristas every morning at 7am like you but my body hates to get up that early lol.

Catherine

You can have guests..I mean I wouldnt have a dinner party..LOL

Jancruz1

Thank you. That sounds like a great idea.

Catherine

Can you only have this for yourselves or can you invite someone to join you?

CJ

What a party. Never seen that many people out by the pool. I wonder if anyone had gone to bed. They certainly would get a wake up call with those horns blowing lol.

CJ

Thanks for the speedy response, What A Market.

To Mura - On our Dec 2nd cruise it was at 11:15am on our first sea day but we only had one sea day on the way down. With this cruise having 2 sea days on the way down, I was wondering if they waited til second sea day. Possible though that they have a cooking demo on both sea days.

Catherine

Question for "What a Market"

Was that Cooking Demo with Chef at 11:15am on the first sea day or second sea day?

We are on the the Mar 28 cruise and I want to see cooking demo and be able to go to Meet And Greet.

Thank you.

Catherine

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If you use the "search this forum" for "sldispatcher" "Live from Riviera" I think you will find what you're looking for. I'm almost certain he mentioned his wife and some others being crazy about someone in the Hair Salon.

CJ

Great pictures, Ron. I went to Bali once(land vacation) and thought I'd seen the South Pacific but looking at your pics, I'm now consumed with the desire to cruise there.

Like someone else said "Thanks for taking us with you"

Catherine

We booked the Discovery and the Connoisseur on the Dec 2nd cruise. No problem getting 2 confirmed. The only problem we had was the Already Booked said we had 2 La Reserve reservations but both on same day. Called Oceania and they said they had the right dates and that it was a computer glitch. We have done all 3 now and love them - setup has always been 3 tables of 8 when we have gone.

CJ

Computerworks, I am sad to see your cruise come to an end, because I have enjoyed your pictures and descriptions immensely. At least this means that soon I will be wearing the same "cruise glow" that your DW is sporting in all these photos.

 

+1 Love that expression "cruise glow" to describe Angela. She is a joy to be around.

The blue of those waters is incredible.

 

CJ

Yes, there are several... Over Water Bungalows (OWB).

 

Did not want to miss that experience...so we are staying in one in Moorea after the cruise.

Gee, Over Water Bungalows sound much nicer than "rooms on stilts over water":p

CJ

Hope you have a wonderful time in Bora Bora, Ron & Angela. Is that the place where they have those rooms on stilts over the water?

Catherine

Ha! Love it Ron! Thankfully in tropical places the weather seems to change in a heartbeat. Hope it is better by now!

 

Did you take rainwear? I've been watching the weather in the Western Caribbean where we are headed for the Mayan Mystique cruise in February, nothing but thunderstorms daily! I'm going to pack a rain slicker.....

 

Cheers! Terry

Ron's pictures are amazing and his commentsmake you feel that you are with him on the cruise. You and I were lucky to have him on our cruise last year.

By the way, I picked up 2 plastic rain ponchos( material similar to a ziploc sandwich bag) at the Dollar store ($ 1). I didn't have to use them on the Mayan Mystique cruise in Dec where the weather was perfect for 99% of the trip. I had to use it in Fort Lauderdale before the trip - where the weather was pretty crummy for 3 days.

Have a great cruise.

Catherine

Agree with "willidc". We were in 10031 near front of ship on first cruise and noticed a shuddering noise on numerous occasions. Last time we booked 7128, one cabin back from the aft and had a much smoother ride.

CJ

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Great pictures. Especially nice one of you and Angela. Sounds like you're having a wonderful time.

You make us feel like we are there with you.

Catherine

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The beds are wonderful but the pillows are just ok in my opinion. I bring my own down pillow- guess that tells you how picky I am about pillows lol

CJ

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We usually sail HAL but cruised Alaska last summer on Oceania, and also twice in the past. We don't know what our "tone" may be but had good times on both lines. BTW what is a "tone"? I don't want to be one!

Good point! I'm sure you're not a "tone" My interpretation of "tone" was that some people on the Oceania Board do sound a bit snobby or condescending but when I was on the ship, I never got that feeling. Maybe the lack of formal evenings relaxes everyone. Not sure why but I really enjoyed meeting the people on board. I made this comment on another thread - that the people I met on my HAL cruises(7) were perfectly lovely but I found that I connected with more people on the Oceania cruises(2).

CJ

Taking a cruise on Oceania this spring, because the timing & itinerary are exactly what we want, and the price is amazingly low. We've already been upgraded to a PH. I do have to say, I am detecting a "tone" on the Oceania boards which makes us wonder how we'll feel once we're onboard. We'll just have to wait & see!

I know what you mean about the "tone" on the Oceania Board but I've gone on 2 Oceania cruises and booked for a third in a few months. Onboard, I've found the passengers to be great - relaxed, interesting and informal. Totally different from the feeling you get reading the posts on the Board.

CJ

I'm so jealous. It's -32 here. Just bitter blowing wind and snow. You picked a great time to be away.

Catherine

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