Riviera's FW excursions and culinary classes

We are sailing on Riviera in early August and we keep checking but we still don't see any FW excursions or culinary classes for our cruise. We are concerned as these were one of the main things that drew us to Oceania. Are there some sailings without these features? Or, is it common for them to made available very close to the date the cruise starts? Or is this just a problem with having booked on a new ship?

We are on the cruise before yours. There no Culinary Center classes available. I am assuming there will be none at this point. The facility may not be ready or perhaps they are not offering classes on every cruise. I suspect they must anticipate high demand (based on # of seas days and ship occupancy levels) before hiring instructors. I don't know if they are offerred on all of Marina's sailings. Perhaps we will see a change now that final payment date has just passed. Despite (temporary) equipment problems we enjoyed the classes on Marina's maiden voyage but we had many sea days on that cruise so many classes were offered. This cruise just two sea days. I'll re-check our booking as embarkation gets nearer.

Sorry, I don't know what FW excursions are.

FW excursions are Food & Wine Trails excursions, centered around culinary highlights. It appears that there are a few of these now being offered. There are also a few Bon Appetit excursions (visit markets and follow up with a cooking class).

Although we are on a culinary dream itinerary on Marina (London to Barcelona) in September, I am disappointed that no F&W or BA excursions are being offered (at least none so far - all the other excursions have been available since March).

O informed me that the on-board culinary classes will be available 120 days prior to our sailing.

We are sailing on Riviera in early August and we keep checking but we still don't see any FW excursions or culinary classes for our cruise

Are you checking under "ALREADY BOOKED" ?

I think the culinary classes are under options tab but not sure as I do not have a current booking to check the location

Maybe someone will comment on where they found the time slots for the classes

Thanks, rubysue, I did not know they were a brand name of a tour provider. I did an internet search on their name and looked at their web page. They have a number of cruises listed but it may be that these are are winery sponsored cruise tours they have packaged and not just a ship excursions.

Carnivale, curious I poked around O's website and found under 'Explore Ashore' selecting excursions for Tuscany (Livorno). From there found a listing and on that page can select a drop down box for other cruises with this excursion (there may be other excursion too). Looks like you are out of luck as I do not see one offered in August. They have them listed through to later in the Fall so may be simplest to check with O's Destination folks and confirm if they do have something on your itinerary. It also depends on where cruise's itinerary because F&W Trails would only be organizing tours in certain places. Assuming you are on the Aug 3 Turkey, Greece, Croatia, ending in Venice cruise, I think there may not be a wine excursion.

LTH28 I learned that it appears the F & W Trails are excursions like other can be viewed without a booking (but have to find them - no search) but like you I have not found a place to see when culinary classes are offered except under a booking. Mine (the one before Carnivale's) reports that none are available at this time.

Many thanks to all of your for the info you have shared. I suspect that YoHoHo is right and there won't be any of these special events on the cruise we have booked (yes, we are on the the Greek Glories cruise). That is so disappointing given all that I've heard about the culinary centre and the emphasis OCL puts on food and wine. But given what's been shared I'll give OCL a call to confirm.

Thanks again everyone!

Many thanks to all of your for the info you have shared. I suspect that YoHoHo is right and there won't be any of these special events on the cruise we have booked (yes, we are on the the Greek Glories cruise). That is so disappointing given all that I've heard about the culinary centre and the emphasis OCL puts on food and wine. But given what's been shared I'll give OCL a call to confirm.

 

Thanks again everyone!

What everyone has been trying to say is that on the Oceania Web Site, if one clicks on the "already booked" icon, and sets up an account, each passenger may easily manage their booking in a number of different ways.

http://www.oceaniacruises.com/

Pre booking dinner reservations, pre booking Culinary classes, reserving Privée and/or La Reserve, or purchasing a Shore Excursion, are all easily accomplished ahead of time, if that is the passengers preference. It is even possible to book a pre or post cruise hotel, or to request a change in ones Oceania-Air reservations.

Once set up (and it does take some effort), the passenger can easily monitor their cruise plans, down to the smallest detail. :D

Why not? Look up your booking number, and give it a shot.

Thanks Jim and Stan. I've been using that part of the OCL website for sometime now (got all my pre-cruise info entered and have been reading up about all of the excursions). That site says there are no culinary classes at this time for the sailing we are on and none of the excursions have the FW designation (but there are many excursions in each port). I think you are on the first Riviera cruise next month. Are there any Culinary Classes and/or FW excursions on your sailing? I'm wondering if the problem I'm facing is that this part of Riviera isn't ready yet.

Thanks Jim and Stan. I've been using that part of the OCL website for sometime now (got all my pre-cruise info entered and have been reading up about all of the excursions). That site says there are no culinary classes at this time for the sailing we are on and none of the excursions have the FW designation (but there are many excursions in each port). I think you are on the first Riviera cruise next month. Are there any Culinary Classes and/or FW excursions on your sailing? I'm wondering if the problem I'm facing is that this part of Riviera isn't ready yet.

The Culinary center will be operating during promotional cruises, even before the 5/16 Maiden Cruise, so it is not a case of the facility not being ready.

Are you sure that the site says that no culinary Classes are being offered, or does it say that no culinary Packages are being offered?

In our case, even though the Culinary Class section had "None" next to it, clicking on the "Add" button displayed a list of available classes.

It does not appear that there are any Food & Wine, Bon Appetite or Artist Loft tours being offered on our cruise or on yours. This may be a function of the part of the World that we are sailing in (our cruises are very similar but some of our ports are very basic places), or it could mean that the Tours themselves are not ready to be rolled out yet.

I'll ask the Tour desk more about the details of that, when I get on the ship in a few weeks :D

I know that on the Marina transatlantic in March that the culinary classes posted much later than anything else. I think part of the problem is that it was a transatlantic and they were offering many more classes (usually 2 a day) than usual and Chef Kelly was not going to be on board and instead we had Chef Annie and Chef Noelle.

We also participated in the first Bon Appetit market tour and cooking class while we were in Funchal. It was fantastic, we had such a good time. Again, this excursion did not post when the other excursions did but later on and I just happened upon it. Once on board I questioned if there had been enough demand for fear that it might be cancelled. Upon embarkation there were 6 of us already signed up and by the time we arrived in Funchal we were up to 22. 24 is the maximum number since the cooking part of the tour can only accommodate 24 at the 12 cooking stations.

I'm always so impressed with how helpful everyone is on these discussions. Thanks so much!

Jim and Stan, when I click on the "Reserve Culinary Classes" button what comes up says "Bon Appétit Culinary Classes are unavailable at this time". I tried clicking on the "Add" button but nothing happened. Then when I clicked on "Bon Appétit Culinary Classes" it said both classes and packages are "currently unavailable". If you would ask onboard that would be terrific!

And CAG, you have given me hope! I'll keep looking in case something appears later on. A market tour and cooking class combo would be ideal. I'm glad you were able to enjoy it.

If you have not done so already you can view the classes offered

http://www.oceaniacruises.com/ships/riviera/lifestyle/bonappetit.aspx

it will just be the times/days that you will need to confirm at a later date

You could also try asking your TA or Oceania to book the classes you want

you just have to pay at the time of booking

I am sure it will all work out in the end;)

I did notice some excursions including a wine tour in a couple of ports just not the FW tour group

Lyn

Thanks LHT28. I hadn't thought of going to the part of the website that describes the ship. Seeing this list makes me hope the classes will be offered even more - they sound great!

We can keep up with the postings on the blog at http://www.oceaniacruisesblog.com/taste/bon-appetit-culinary-center/

There are postings about the various new features that will also be available on the other Oceania ships as well as Marina and Riviera. Chef Kelly often posts there.

Hi Everyone,

I am on the August 13th sailing from Venice to Rome and very interested in the cooking classes. It is my understanding that you will be able to book them as soon as you pay in full.

Shay

Hi Everyone,

 

I am on the August 13th sailing from Venice to Rome and very interested in the cooking classes. It is my understanding that you will be able to book them as soon as you pay in full.

 

Shay

This has been discussed in other threads. You do not have to have paid for your cruise in full to book La Reserve, Privee, shore excursions or culinary classes because you pay for those items immediately when you book them. I booked and paid for a culinary class on Marina last year before final payment was due. I have already booked and paid for La Reserve and two shore excursions for a cruise this year and final payment isn't due until June.

Yes. I have seen this discussed and that's where I got the information regarding being paid in full before booking culinary classes. I have been able to book shore excursions even though I am not paid in full but the culinary classes don't even show up.

I guess the best thing to do is to call Oceania directly and find out what's going on.

Thank you for the information.

Yes. I have seen this discussed and that's where I got the information regarding being paid in full before booking culinary classes. I have been able to book shore excursions even though I am not paid in full but the culinary classes don't even show up.

 

I guess the best thing to do is to call Oceania directly and find out what's going on.

 

Thank you for the information.

As per my earlier post I suspect it is becasue there are no classes for your cruise. My Riviera cruise July 19th has no classes. "Culinary classes are currently unavailable"

It is a little confusing because JimandStan report that they can add classes to their cruise which is a few before ours. Perhaps only for the Maidnen Voyage to get it off to a start or perhaps they are waiting to see if the facitlites are ready for real action and not repeat the problems on Marina's maiden voyage

Let us know please what you find out. You could end a lot of speculation.

It is a little confusing because JimandStan report that they can add classes to their cruise which is a few before ours.

Since this topic was first introduced, there has been some talk about there being staffing issues in the Culinary Center, when the Riviera sails Transatlantic in November.

I'm not sure which sailing you are on, but remember that they need instructors as well as the facility to have a class.

My suggestion would be to telephone Oceania, just to confirm that the problem is not web-site based, and then keep checking for the classes every time that you manage your reservation. :)

I would think by July or even June they will have Culinary classes

It as J & S said it is probably a website glitch or an oversight

Sometime the website is not up to date IMO

I'm not sure which sailing you are on, ...

The next sentence after the one you quoted answers that question:

"My Riviera cruise July 19th has no classes. "

My suggestion would be to telephone Oceania, just to confirm that the problem is not web-site based, and then keep checking for the classes every time that you manage your reservation.

I ended that post with the same suggestion - to phone, so on that we certainly do agree. It would end a lot of speculation

I called O. Very fast response from a courteous & thorough rep. As has been posted these classes are not offered as early as other excursions (Destination Desk manages.) They are working toward having them available as early as 120 days before sailing. He said that they are averaging 75-90 days currently - there are many things in play to co-ordinate. He added that May sailings have them on offer. Currently they are available for some up to mid June. More on their way.

I called O. Very fast response from a courteous & thorough rep. As has been posted these classes are not offered as early as other excursions (Destination Desk manages.) They are working toward having them available as early as 120 days before sailing. He said that they are averaging 75-90 days currently - there are many things in play to co-ordinate. He added that May sailings have them on offer. Currently they are available for some up to mid June. More on their way.

Glad you got the answers

They are just behind a bit

I guess so many things to do for the Riveira ;)

Many thanks for calling and posting this info. I called too but all I got was that they were not posted yet and usually appear 120 before sailing (but's now about 100 days before the sailing I'm on). It's good to have the additional info that they are averaging 75 to 90 days. I'll keep checking.

I really appreciate all of the helpful postings in response to my original question!

After reading these posts, I checked out the offerings for our cruise, June 17 Lisbon to Rome and the culinary classes are posted. As my husband loves to cook, we selected one for an afternoon when we will already be back on the ship (most of them seem to be at 4pm). My question is, would I be allowed to just watch him participate or do they only allow those who have paid and signed up to enter the cooking venue?