Mura

You probably will get a lot of different answers to your question. We personally tend to do the GDR more than specialty restaurants. We DO like Jacques a lot, however, and we have more dinners in Terrace on the "O" ships than we do on the "R" ships.

But I've seen lots of comments from people who seem to dislike the GDR a lot.

We like it because of the variety of menus which change each day. The menus in the specialty restaurants are pretty much "set". And we've always had quite good service.

We also tend to prefer Polo to Toscana, and haven't been that impressed with Red Ginger (we've been there a whole two times). If you read through these various threads you'll find many people who feel the opposite.

It's hard to know what you yourself will prefer until you try them.

Mura

In November 2005 we used Abdelhamid Idrissi Kaitouni.

I can't vouch for him myself because I had a torn meniscus and chose to stay on board that day. But everyone else in our group (8 of us) thought he was excellent.

Try http://www.privateguide.com/tangiertour/ and

http://casablanca-privatetours.com/about-us.php.

Mura

He was on Marina November 20-December 8. Not sure if he's still there, however.

Mura

I am happy to hear that you preferred the interior layout Mura - that pretty much confirms my thoughts when looking at some pics Jim and Stan had posted (but which only included pics of the balcony in the Aft suites). Mura - given the choice would you go for the Aft suite again?

I would but my husband would prefer NOT to. But that was because we had some particularly rough weather the first couple of nights. Howard never gets seasick but because the motion was in both directions, he found it hard to sleep. He was blaming the aft location. But in talking to others who were more midships (in different categories of cabin) it seemed to have been pretty universal.

If I wanted an OC and only the aft location were available, I'd go for it and Howard probably would, too, but I think he'd prefer a Deck 12 suite.

As Jim/Stan always say about the aft location, the view is pretty fabulous watching the wake, and the deck is spacious. Not as spacious as the Vista or Owners, of course!

Mura

Aha! That confirms my impression. The deck for 11080 and 11083 is deeper and wraps around the corner. Not that the one shown is terrible ... and the inside (my opinion) is more spacious with the Deck 12 OCs.

It may well depend on where you think you might spend more time. I was out on our deck several times for reading ... and taking photos. But I spent more time inside, even though we had a warm weather cruise.

Mura

Are you talking about the Owner's Suite or the Oceania Suite?

It may not matter. We were in an Oceania Suite (OC) recently. It was an 18 day cruise so we were entitled to two reservations in each restaurant. For shorter cruises, we would have gotten only one reservation per restaurant.

My impression has been that an Owner's Suite doesn't get more reservations than the other top suites (OS/VS/OC).

We only booked about 7 specialty restaurants on our cruise and ended up cancelling at least one of them. We did order in to our suite on two nights from Jacques and Polo, and did several dinners in the GDR -- because we happen to like it.

Mura

I don't have a photo handy but we were in 11080 (one of the two aft OCs in November on Marina) and attended a cocktail party in one of the other OCs.

It was noticeably larger in terms of interior space -- and I would say better laid out. We did not go out on the deck so I don't know how it compared in size, but I'm guessing it was smaller since ours was a wrap-around.

Mura

It has struck me that people who are used to all-inclusive often value that more than many of us from non-all-inclusive lines. They complain about having to sign a chit for a drink where that doesn't bother me at all. I sign for my drink and don't have a problem doing so. (Don't get me wrong: I can understand not wanting to sign when you're used to not having to do so!)

But the main thing, as some of us have said, is that I want to pay for what I want ... we don't drink that much on a cruise (well, I do but DH doesn't) and so paying for that in our fare isn't so valuable to us. Likewise, we prefer booking smaller private tours where we can, so having "free" bus trips doesn't appeal.

(Speaking about signing those drink chits ... If I were used to not having to sign I probably would object, too. But I'm not and so it doesn't bother me.)

As regulars here know, we don't even want to buy the drink package on O ... we probably would if DH ordered some other than "orange juice no ice" when we go into a bar ... but I also prefer buying a bottle of wine as compared to getting a glass of wine from a selected list ... Not that I am suspicious of the list selections ... I just want to choose my own.

Mura

After all, what do they do in Rio where most flights leave late at night? They don't let the disembarking passengers stay on the ship till 5 PM (AFAIK).

Having just let MARINA on December 8th, I can confirm that. We were due to be off at the usual time. 9am. We had arranged a day's tour which brought us to the airport at the end of the day. We got there around 4:30pm but couldn't check in until about 6:45, with no place to sit while we waited. Also no place to eat. We were not happy campers but it wasn't O's fault.

I am guessing that the Rio situation is different from Tahiti. I'm also guessing that arriving passengers get there in the morning -- that may be wrong, because we arrived in Rio by ship. In addition, Tahiti has far fewer passengers.

Correct me! I haven't done the South Pacific and I'm always willing to be educated.

Mura

Still, unhappy passengers are unhappy passengers!

As to those happily sleeping passengers, what amazes me is the people who watch movies throughout the night ... I would be dead on arrival if I tried to do that. I don't sleep WELL on a flight (not even in the upper classes), but I do sleep.

Mura

Pam,

You may well be right about that. When we did our Israel trip, we flew there. We didn't try to connect with a cruise.

The cruise itineraries I've seen that include Israeli stops don't start or stop from there.

So you would probably have to do as has been suggested -- do a pre-cruise visit in Israel, then get to the embarkation port. (Or go to Israel from your debarkation port.)

The best you can do ON a cruise (as far as I have been able to tell) is that you have 2-3 days in Israel and you adjust your time as you wish. But there is so much to see in Israel, that a cruise really isn't satisfactory.

As I've said before, neither is trying to see the Normandy Beaches from either a river boat or a cruise ship. One day isn't sufficient. And I'm sure others can chime in with similar problems with other ports.

Now, if you think you'll never get there on your own ... a cruise stop is your choice. That is better than nothing. You will at least see SOMETHING.

When people want to see Paris or Berlin (or fill in in the city) with one day in a port several hours away, I always say it isn't worth it. But that is MY perception. If you think you'll never get back to that city, then whatever you can manage is better than not seeing it at all.

Mura

That must be a first!

But I would agree. Unless you are really susceptible to mal de mer and feel the need to be midships -- although in that case you'd probably also be better off lower down in a lower category -- you should stay where you are.

We've been in PH1, 2 and 3 and really haven't found much difference. Some rooms had a bit of noise from above but it was never enough to bother us. Actually, the one time we were in a VS on Insignia we were bothered more by noise (from the anchors early in the morning) than we ever were by furniture being moved above us on Deck 8.

Mura

J&S,

That's a good point ... but I do happen to feel that Israel is in a class by itself in these terms. Yes, we've loved our two weeks trips through Portugal, but I'm happy with one day in Lisbon (two is better). And this is true of many other areas. (We did insist on a land trip to Normandy. Visiting the Beaches in one day from Le Havre just wasn't enough.)

But our two weeks driving through Israel with DH's tour guide cousin was spectacular and I just cannot see "doing" Israel on a cruise ship. We had three and a half days in Jerusalem which truly was not enough, although the time we spent in the other areas of Israel *was* sufficient. At least for THAT trip. (We also included visits to Petra, Wadi Rum and Mt. Sinai.)

For anyone in Jerusalem for the first time, try not to miss the Tunnels tour.

http://english.thekotel.org/content.asp?id=116

But then, there is so much not to miss ... Of all three religions.

Mura

I'm a curmudgeon. I admit it.

My husband has a cousin who is a licensed tour guide in Israel (she is a sabra) and we spent two weeks driving around Israel with her.

As a result, while I would be willing to go back for a quick visit on a cruise, I would never consider a cruise the best way to see any place in Israel.

Beyond that, with political conditions being what they often are, it isn't unheard of for a cruise stop to be cancelled.

No, I cannot recommend a particular guide ... but I DO recommend a land trip. It's a fascinating country. I had to be dragged kicking and screaming, but I absolutely loved our time there.

Mura

Lyn,

Thanks for that info. It is much appreciated.

Of course, now I don't know which pillow is which ... I guess we'll have to ask for samples of each on our May '14 cruise and then decide if we want to buy!

But I still want to buy some of those wonderful towels much more than I want the pillows.

Not to mention the mattresses, but we've gone down THAT road before!

Mura

The pillow choices ares fab in those upper suites.

I'm also one who brings along my own "squishy" pillow whenever we travel. The problem is that so far I've lost two of them when I forgot to retrieve them.

On our last Marina cruise (in an OC) my husband tried out three different pillows ...

But even in "lower classes" we have liked the pillows we were given. And we never tried to buy one!

In years past, we could buy the towels ... but when we tried to buy some bath towels a few years ago we were told we could not. Are sure the pillows are for sale?

Mura

Since no one has answered yet I will just say this ...

We've sailed on Nautica although not on Deck 6, so clearly I cannot really answer your question.

But you shouldn't have noise problems on Deck 6. As far as I recall, you only have passengers cabins above you. I'm not sure where you are in terms of noise from below, but I've never seen complaints from people above the Grand Dining Room.

And I've definitely never heard complaints about wind.

Are there some complaints you are asking about? We've found the ships to be pretty much quiet unless you are right under a restaurant or on top of the anchor! But then, we are pretty tolerant of such noise.

P.S. After I posted I went to check the deck plans and discovered suddenly I only have the plans for Marina and Riviera. But I checked what is indicated Oceania's website. 6024 is relatively forward. I cannot imagine the problems you are imagining without input from you. You might have wind out on your balcony. It depends on itinerary and sea conditions. Why do you have these concerns? If you specify them, maybe we can be more helpful. You shouldn't have NOISE from above or below at that location. Maybe the show venue? That COULD be a problem if you are indeed over it. I didn't have a way of determining that information.

No doubt Jim&Stan will chime in with REAL info.

Mura

Great to hear that she is back.

Mura

It's depressing when this kind of thing happens. In our case, I was talking to Manu for a year in advance and he did indeed give us a great job, but we were a larger group -- ended up at 18. We were 22 at one point, and down to 14 at another. But on a per person cost, it was to his advantage to take our 18. (And his substitute the second day when we were only 8 was also excellent.)

Then we've also heard stories of other passengers getting the information about your guide and offering more money. Obviously the guide wants to make as much as he can, but in the long run news gets around. Especially on Cruise Critic!

So the guide should be advised to play straight ... as should other passengers. Because if he'll do it to someone else, he'll do it to you, too.

Mura

I'm sure you'll be fine with Daniel.

I'm just distressed at the negative report on Manu because he was so responsive for the full year we were talking before the cruise, and certainly there with us all day. Maybe it was because we were a larger group, I don't know. (My group fluctuated ... at one time we were 22, then 14, and we ended up, I think, at 18.)

Another passenger on our cruise booked him also, but she had a smaller group and had Victor as the substitute guide. They were very pleased with Victor, as were we on our second day when Manu wasn't available.

If my group had been bounced at the last minute for a larger group on my cruise I'd have been muy upset as well!

I find that complaint hard to reconcile with the Manu we met and spent the day with but cannot deny the report. After all, he'd have gotten a lot more money from a larger group. So I guess he had an incentive to do so ... but it should have occurred to him as well (he's far from stupid) that negative reports hurt him in the long run.

And none of this excuses his leaving one group for the other, especially at the last minute.

Mura

A reception clerk told someone in my hearing -- when he asked about the possibility of Marina or Riviera doing one of the longer itineraries in Asia rather than one of the "R" ships -- said that one problem is filling the ship. The longer the itinerary, the fewer possible passengers. Retirees can do a longer cruise but those still working cannot.

It made sense to me ... and I suppose the World Cruise would be even more difficult.

Food for thought.

Mura

I agree with everyone else, but would also say that if you want to see the show you shouldn't have a reservation later than 7:30. At least, that has been our experience.

Now, it's hard to know if you're going to want to see the show if you are booking the restaurants online prior to the cruise ...

For ourselves, we only go to a few, if that. If you know you'll want to see each and every show, then it's an easier decision.

Mura

If you don't want to take the offer, you don't have to!

We took such an offer once because it was so enticing. Other times, we haven't.

Mura

Dressy pants are fine. Pant suits are fine. Some wore dresses. In the regular restaurants people may be a bit more casual than in La Reserve -- I'm basing that on our two dinners there.

Mura

Your best bet is joining the Roll Call for your cruise. That's where you'll meet up with your fellow shipmates.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1759189

Good luck!

Mura

Whenever we are on a cruise, I am amazed at how many people are so totally unaware of what the internet can offer in terms of improving the experience. Often people will express interest, but very rarely to the point of asking about information on how to get there.

They don't know what they are missing!

Still, I think it's true that more people are aware these days ... but it's still a small number of passengers. (I'm not just talking about CC because there are other sites out there.)

And yet ... the Meet & Greet I organized for the Brazilian Destinies cruise had over 100 participants, as did the cruises immediately before and after. I had been used to groups of 35-50 at most.

I do have to say I prefer the smaller size -- it's easier to meet people when you don't have a huge horde. But it's good in that it shows the growing interest.

Happy New Year everyone!

Mura