Lorraine Marie

Just breakfast. Same menu as MDR.

 

Room service menu for Neptune suites has a few extra items included. One is steak and eggs. Oddly, that isn't on the menu at the Pinnacle.

Does anyone know if the new tables in the NS are height adjustable like the older ones?

My DH and I have been on 3 NCL cruises...all for different reasons, none of which include food quality or lack thereof. That being said, we were recently on the Breakaway and decided to reserve the Chef's table. Previously, we had enjoyed this type of dinner on the Emerald Princess and the Nieuw Amsterdam (Cellar Master's dinner). NCL, in my opinion, was by far the worst. Yes, the wine was flowing, but the meal was subpar. For me this is a good comparison of the "high quality" offerings on a ship and NCL fell way short. We do not live in NYC, but do have access to good restaurants in our area (living close to the CIA) as well as NYC. The Chef's Table should be exceptional...like putting your best foot forward for special company. My DH and I were extremely disappointed in this dinner, as well as the other dining venues on board. Again, just my opinion, but welcome any comments specifically about the Chef's table.

Does anyone know the open times for all the restaurants for breakfast and lunch? I am especially interested as to when the latest time breakfast foods are served including room service. We are in a Haven suite (June 22-29) and the only info. I was able to get was that the Haven rest. serves breakfast until 9:30, and I'm not even sure if that's reliable.

DITTO!!! 5 weeks and counting. I think I have everything covered for my crew of 17... waiting for one more package to arrive from NCL, but aside from travel to/from the pier, my spreadsheet looks like I have it all covered (fingers crossed).

 

I can't wait! I SO need a vacation.

We are from Dutchess County also. Taking the Breakaway June 22. Will try to post review and comments as soon as we get back.

Are you then saying that this coming February when thousands of people are embarking on HAL cruises that HAL port officials will employ the tedious task of determining which people can get on the ship with unlimited bottles of wine and those who can only bring on one bottle? I think I`ll watch the riot from the FLL webcam.

You are right. It would be a mess. The point I was trying to make was that anyone who books will know the new wine policy and as of Sept.12, it is in the revised cruise contract. The Explore4 program would also be available. I never wanted to start anything with my original post; I was only interested in giving the info. that was shared with me. To those traveling, have a great time.

This info. is from cruise dot com who called HAL directly to check. Yes, it is my understanding that if you have made final payment on your cruise before Sept.12 the new policy does not affect you. Any new booking would be affected.

The new policy does not go into affect until Jan.31,2014 for new bookings. Please check your sources before you post.

The Oceanic was my first love and will always be. There is no other like her.

 

My first trip on her was back in 1966 in September. A girlfriend of mine had a friend who had been on her the previous year and said about the great time they had. So we booked a cruise to Nassau and were suppose to stay in Nassau for a week and were then going to sail back to New York the following week when she returned again. We met a lot of single people on that cruise and were having an absolutely wonderful time and both of us really were wishing were weren't staying in Nassau because of the friends we had made.

 

The hotel we were to stay in was undergoing renovations which we hadn't been told about, and when we met the group for lunch on the first day of docking, they said we were very quiet. We explained about the hotel and since Home Lines had an office on the Main street of Nassau, we went over and found out that we could come back on the next day before she sailed back to New York. We just had to spend 1 day at this terrible hotel. Well, when we came back the next day, several of the crew met us to welcome us back. What a great group. That started my love affair with the Oceanic.

 

I took many more trips in the fall of the year and again during the winter months and fell in love with one of the crew. I came to New York often to see him, and was able to stay with a girl I had become friends with on one of my cruises and she would always let me stay with here so I could see Gino when the ship came in for an overnight stay.

 

I went to visit him in Italy for 6 weeks and fell more in love with him. However, there was no happy ending, as I we had an argument over something that had happened before I met him. But he couldn't forgive me. I just couldn't go back on the Oceanic again. I sailed other lines, but none ever compared to the Oceanic. The service was impeccable, meals delicious and the bands on board were terrific along with the shows. A couple of times I sang in the Passenger Talent show and often would stay to closing hours up in the Club where I'd sing with Rolando and his band.

 

I learned to play chess on board when I went into the library to get a book and found some of the officers playing chess and asked if they would teac me. I had also met another woman and her friend who was with the Chief Radio Officer Andy and became friends with them. However I did lose contact with them over the years.

 

I am leaving on November 12, 2012 on a transatlantic trip on board the MSC Poesia and since it's Italian crew, I'm hoping that it will be similar to the Oceanic, although I know that there will never, ever be, a replacement for her. I've been on Celebrity, Pacquet, Costa, Festival cruise lines and found that since I started cruising in 1966, I still enjoy the smaller cruise ships. The Poesia is some 90,000 tons and what I call big - hopefully, my cousin and I will find some interesting people on board.

 

It was strange to find out the other day that MSC had purchased the Homeric which was a sister ship of the Oceanic and is now sailing as the MSC Melody. It's at least a link, albeit, a very fine one to a wonderful cruise line, Home Lines and the Wonderful Oceanic.

 

Memories are made and can never be forgotten - long live the Oceanic!!!

 

I will try and find some of the pictures from my early years on board and add them to this site. :)

 

Sylvia

I, too, fell in love with a crew member (Gianfranco Archetti) on the Oceanic. I visited him in NYC, also. We became engaged and were planning to marry.....unfortunately, he had a wife and 2 children in Milan. Still would like to know where he is today, however.