Mura

Yep. We always find our own transportation from ship to hotel (or ship to port). We generally need to do so anyway since most of the time we are arriving early and leaving late. But there have been a few times when, for example, we debarked at Southampton a few years ago and needed to go into London. I pre-ordered a car service for 6 of us. Far cheaper than O's bus transport. The one exception to this was on our last Renaissance cruise in early 2000: we landed in Athens and happened to be on a flight that had many Ren passengers on it. There was a transport waiting for them to go to the three hotels Ren was using. So we just got on and no one asked to see a "ticket". Won't ever happen again, I am sure. Mura

You remind me of our first Marina cruise (Oct '11) when we tried for a Jacques reservation but couldn't get it. I don't recall if we were 4 or 6 people. Probably 6. So we went to the GDR and were asked if we'd like to go to Jacques? And so we did! (I have only come back here after a hiatus in posting so perhaps this is a repeat ... if so, my apologies!)

Laura, let me send my condolences as well. I haven't been checking the list as frequently as I used to (say several times a day!) and so I only now saw the sad news. I was scrolling through to add a comment about prayer groups. While not particularly religious myself, and not an "official" member of any religious group, I sang for many years at Christian churches and Jewish temples. My last church job (which ended a few years ago because they decided they could no longer two professional singers) regularly had a prayer group for friends and family, and I often sent in names for my personal friends and family. The results were quite amazing. Another friend no longer with us was in a horrible auto accident when on a business trip in Brussels -- his taxi was broadsided when another driver had a heart attack and careened into the taxi. The driver was killed and Craig was seriously injured. He had to be removed from the car by the "jaws of life". He was in a coma for several weeks and later complained about all the "voices" that made him wake up ... Well, I shouldn't say he complained, but he was well aware of them. Mura

As a couple who prefer sharing, we've fairly often found ourselves at a two-top when no one else at the time we arrived was interesting in sharing. They obviously don't want to put a couple at a 4-6 top and have no one else show up. So we understand when this happens. But I think what it also means it that there really isn't a problem accommodating couples who want to dine alone. Sometimes, perhaps. But not as a rule.

I didn't say it was such an issue. If I hadn't noticed them until they left, it wasn't a big deal. I did notice, however. And as to the bad location, we didn't blame the staff. Someone screwed up and told them that our reservation was for an earlier time than it was supposed to have been. So they found a place for us. As far as we were concerned, a bad location was better than NO location. Mura

The lounges were only available on Marina and Riviera. I assume the same will be true of the newer ships coming on line soon. (As I have said elsewhere we haven't sailed since pre-Covid although we are booked on a late August 2023 TA, London to NYC.) I pretty much have used the executive lounge but I believe that there isn't much difference between the two, other than location. For each you need your card to open the door. We pretty much just used the lounge for late afternoon nibbles if we'd missed lunch but many people did use the space for reading newspapers and the like. I did have a very few consults with the Oceania rep on duty regarding setting up private Meet & Greets which were helpful. I provided the rep with the names and room numbers or the participants, and they chose the venue and time. 'Mura

My information is also several years old and so may not be at all pertinent, but I thought I would mention it anyway. We were on a TA (Barcelona-Rio) on Oceania in 2015. The two ships had identical itineraries with one exception. We had a private tour booked I forget where -- perhaps Cape Verde. We gave a lift to a few people who were looking to get out of the port. They commented on how the Oceania people seemed a lot livelier than the ones they saw on Regent. I make no judgment myself since I'm pretty sure the age levels between the two lines weren't (and aren't) all that different. Mura

Speaking for myself, I hate them ... but I wouldn't throw someone out of the restaurant because I could see them.

It's pre-Covid since we sailed but I remember when we were on Riviera in November 2017 that we noticed (only when a foursome were leaving) that they had torn jeans on ... probably t-shirts but it's been a while so I don't recall. But I was surprised that they "passed muster" with the Maitre d'. They were there when we arrived so ... Had they been so attired at Waves in the afternoon or even Terrace, I don't think anyone would have been bothered. But I do agree that a dress code should be adhered to. O's dress code is not that difficult. I remember our first QE2 cruise (back in 2004) when gentlemen had to wear a suit virtually every night. Regulations were last stringent for women but there were a couple of formal evenings on a 14 day cruise. We had an additional problem on Riviera that night because our confirmed reservation was for 7:30 but they had us down for 6:30! Even so, they found a table for us ...not in the best location but we weren't going to argue about that! Our table happened to be next to our dressed down neighbors, otherwise we would not have noticed. Mura

Bob, that may well be the way it was set up o the ATW cruises, but my experience in setting up smaller private groups from our roll call for one cruise of perhaps 14 days (we were usually no more than 40 people, usually fewer) and we usually tried to do is on departure day or perhaps the next day. Went through the cruise staff to make sure we weren't conflicting with anything, and to choose the venue. But it's now several years since we cruised so indeed, times may have changed.. Mura

We're with you. DH doesn't drink very much, maybe a sip of my wine at dinner. So we usually bring on a few bottles for consumption in the room and may bring a bottle to dinner knowing that we will have to pay the corkage fee. (If we're in a suite that includes the liquor package this is an easier decision!) Normally I will just purchase a bottle from the wine list which generally lasts me for 2-3 dinners since I'm "drinking alone". We've never found either booze package worth if FOR US.

As a P.S. to the question ... The Meet & Greets that I have set up were generally for fairly large groups: maybe 30-40 people, For smaller groups, just getting together in one of the bars can be a good option. But in that case -- assuming the bar sizes are not different from those on the smaller ships -- I think a small group would be better of in Horizons rather than in Martinis, for example. As I think about it, on a couple of cruises where I was setting up such get togethers there were very large groups on board, and they were given Horizons as their location. On one evening I went through Horizons as they were meeting and there was PLENTY of room for our group, but we happy enough with the space allocated to us. (I only say this as a suggestion that even if you have a small group of 10-15 people, it probably would be advisable to check with Oceania staff in advance. They will know how many people are meeting where ...And if one of your members is in an owner's suite, you could just meet there!) If you want to set up a larger group it's always a good idea to go through the ship personnel. They will send out invitations, recommend the venue and time , etc. This should be fun, not a chore! I tended to go over board: prepared name tags, purchases name tag holders, etc. Just because I can be obsessive doesn't mean that anyone else needs to be! MURA

Oh my, that's news to me! Not contesting what you are saying!! At recent muster drills I had a problem getting into my life jacket. I hadn't had a problem in the past but I did on our last two cruises. I can't imagine doing the drill online ... but I bet lots of people will prefer it!

Way back when -- I forget how long ago but it was MANY years ago (not 20, but maybe 10?)... Anyway they taped the game and it was available on your in-room TV. I was grateful since that was one of the very few times when the NY Giants won ...

I have set these up many times in the past. I gathered participants from our Roll Call, submitted the list to Oceania and arranged a place for the gathering. Haven't down this for a while since we haven't sailed since before Covid but I doubt these things have changed. Sometimes they set up an area in Horizons. My last two times we were at the Sanctuary Deck 14 portside just forward of the Sun Deck. These were on Marina and Riviera.. I actually liked these because we were smaller groups and ALONE. NOT that I would have been unhappy with Horizons. Best to check with the Oceania staff when you are setting these up. I always met with the attendant in the Executive Lounge, gave him or her a list of my people. It was always handled very well. Mura

We had a similar offer in 2017 which we accepted because the cash refund paid for a VS on a cruise we'd booked for a few months later. So it was fine for us. But if we had not had a cruise booked shortly thereafter, I doubt we'd have taken it. However, I thought I'd heard a while back that Oceania was no longer offering these generous downsells. I guess they have changed their minds.

Great news! We had a wonderful Oceania cruise to Peru in 2015: did a pre-cruise private tour (6 of us) with a fabulous guide. Then had a cruise from Lima to NY. Wonderful vacation. Glad yours has worked out.

We had a similar offer that we accepted back in 2011. Marina was new. We were booked on an Alaska cruise o an "R" ship. They upgraded our room on Marina, gave us how much credit I don't recall, and it was a great deal. We had already booked our air to Vancouver but were able to change it over to visiting my family in L.A. So all it all, it was a great deal. More recently we received a downsell that paid for a VS on our next cruise (both on "R" ships) ... these offers don't seem as prevalent as they used to be, but they can be well worth the deal. Mura

Oh gosh, Jan, I'm so sorry to hear this. I've been an email correspondent with Laura for many years -- back to Renaissance days, I think. Will certainly send prayers and healing vibes her way. And of course for John, Mura

In the early days of Oceania I ran into a high school classmate on board. They'd been delayed due to a flight cancellation (and Oceania was of no help in getting them to the ship.) We left from Dover but they didn't arrive on board until we were in Oslo. My classmate and her husband were both recovering alcoholics. The ship gave them a bottle of champagne as an apology for their problems in getting to the ship. (They'd been using O's air from Southern California.) When they asked for a non-alcoholic bottle they were denied. Yes, this was many years ago but it does sound like that is still the policy. Mura

Joe, Glad you're having a good time (or HAD a good time) even with port changes ...but screaming at a butler because of port changes????? Geez, louise, that's crazy. Starting to think about private tours for our end of August 2023 cruise on VISTA.

Yes, excellent points. Since we DO live in a gateway this wasn't a problem for US. Also: I was referring to flight options with Renaissance in 1999 ... I would not be surprised if things have changed since then ...

This did occur before Covid appeared ...

We were dining in Polo a few years ago --- I think on Riviera. We had 7:30 reservations but somehow they thought we had 6:30 reservations ... they found us a table in a corner anyway. But when our neighboring party got up to leave we saw that they all had jeans with holes in them. So much for rules about dining room attire. Don't get me wrong"! We didn't see what they were wearing until they left. We were surprised! But not offended. Mura

We've done a number of Trans-Atlantics although NOT Trans-Pacifics. It took some time but we love the sea days now. When we were first cruising we didn't like them at all. North Atlantic crossings can be more "seaworthy" than more southern ones, but I have to say that we had some of our most difficult times going from Miami to Aruba. That was a long time ago ... and we survived. Although there was one day when I stayed in bed and even our cabin stewardess was ill as well. (And please explain to me why no matter how I try to type our with an "O" it kept on coming out as a "Q"? I was typing the right letter!!!) Most of our TAs were on the smaller ships although we've done a couple on Marina. Didn't notice much difference since none of these ships are really HUGE. We were supposed to do a NY-Southampton TA in 2018 (I think it was 2018) -- we had to cancel but Lyn who was on that cruise spoke about a snowstorm ... she posted a number of photos of the pool area as I recall. If you don't like sea days then don't take one of these cruises! Then again, doing one could convert you to loving sea days as happened to us many years ago. Even on the smaller ships, there are activities planned. Mura