Cabanas and Panama Transit?

[StanandJim]

Passengers in the all of the Suites (Penthouse & up) are issued Gold Cards.

 

Don hasn't seen one because he does not spend nearly enough time in the bars ;)

[MarilynA]

Thanks, I understand the cards now. Silver, gold, and white are all nice "colors", not that I would ever be carrying around a gold card unless I found one that someone who'd spent too much time in the bar had lost. Are these by chance VING cards that activate our cabin locks? That would be handy if everything were combined in one.

[StanandJim]

Thanks, I understand the cards now. Silver, gold, and white are all nice "colors", not that I would ever be carrying around a gold card unless I found one that someone who'd spent too much time in the bar had lost. Are these by chance VING cards that activate our cabin locks? That would be handy if everything were combined in one.

 

Yes, as Hondorner mentioned, the cards act as door keys, charge cards and identification.

I'm not sure about their being the VING brand name, but the cards do open the cabin doors.

[joan24]

Stan and Jim, You've got me watching to see when you're Stan and Jim or Jim and Stan. Oh, well it's keeps me from shopping.

Joan

[vaitape]

Pax in Cat A cabins have priority tendering?

[YoHoHo]

Pax in Cat A cabins have priority tendering?

 

As per O's website they get priority for:

• Priority Early Embarkation and Dedicated Check-In Desk
  
• Priority Luggage Delivery
  
• Priority Restaurant Reservations in Toscana, Polo Grill, (as well on Marina: Jacques and Red Ginger )
  

It does not comment on tendering. We never had a problem as our tendering was quick and easy but would be helpful if wanting to meet someone as early as possible on-shore. I believe there was a 'get a number' sort of thing for after the ships tours have tendered but again, the call for open tendering was usually pretty early on in the process (still on my all important second cup of coffeee perhaps.)

 

I could not find on O's website anything more specific. I did find on avid cruiser an interview with a Regatta Concierge who says that a feature on Oceania that he likes is:

"A welcome bottle of champagne in the Concierge and Penthouse categories as well as suites. Also for those categories, upgraded Hermes amenities, priority embarkation at 11 a.m. at no extra charge (normal embarkation is at 1 p.m.), priority tender service and priority luggage delivery upon embarkation" (my emphasis)

 

If it was an available service, we never used it.

[Leonid]

Priority luggage delivery is a joke! We have had an OS the last two cruises and did not get our luggage for at least three hours each time...and we had checked in as soon as it was allowed. In fact, on our last sailing, I had to go down to the main desk to inquire as to when we might see our luggage....a waste of time.

[lyndenfa]

Priority luggage delivery is a joke! We have had an OS the last two cruises and did not get our luggage for at least three hours each time...and we had checked in as soon as it was allowed. In fact, on our last sailing, I had to go down to the main desk to inquire as to when we might see our luggage....a waste of time.

Priority embarkation was not available for our last Panama cruise; we arrived a bit early because we thought we could board but no such luck. We had an "A" cat. and waited in the boarding area (filling out a questionnare) like everyone else and then when boarding began, we waited in a line dedicated to priority boarding but everyone else was in their respective lines. That would have been fine but then we had to wait for 2+ hours for our stateroom to be ready. After having a pleasant lunch, we were so ready to go to our stateroom but had to sit and sit and wait and wait. Had we know this, we would have just arrived later so we could have gone to lunch and then right to our stateroom. On our upcoming Marina, I wonder how it will be? (ofcourse as soon as we were allowed to enter our stateroom, all the impatience vanished and we were fine, but the memory remains).

[vaitape]

We were able to board straightaway in Bangkok but then, we stayed at our beautiful hotel for most of the day and didn't present to the ship until about 4 pm. Our bags were in our cabin by the time we completed the onboard check-in process.

BUT our experience with tendering was abysmal......in Hong Kong, we waited almost 2.5 hours to finally get on the tender and another 20 mins or so before the tender cast off.....and then tender ride was another 20 mins...really not a great comment on tendering....at least not on Nautica in March. I would hesitate to book an independent tour in any port where tendering is involved because of this experience....unless the tour began several hours after arrival at anchorage. I'm sure others have done just fine in tendering but not us...and we were in an A cat cabin so no priority.

[Oceans&Rivers]

Priority embarkation was not available for our last Panama cruise; we arrived a bit early because we thought we could board but no such luck. We had an "A" cat. and waited in the boarding area (filling out a questionnare) like everyone else and then when boarding began, we waited in a line dedicated to priority boarding but everyone else was in their respective lines. That would have been fine but then we had to wait for 2+ hours for our stateroom to be ready. After having a pleasant lunch, we were so ready to go to our stateroom but had to sit and sit and wait and wait. Had we know this, we would have just arrived later so we could have gone to lunch and then right to our stateroom. On our upcoming Marina, I wonder how it will be? (ofcourse as soon as we were allowed to enter our stateroom, all the impatience vanished and we were fine, but the memory remains).

 

Uh oh. Was your last Panama Canal cruise also westbound and had the ship just arrived from Europe? I recall on another board that turnaround days in Miami from a European disembarkation to an American embarkaton (whether to Panama Canal or to the Caribbean) have resulted in delayed embarkation on more than a few occasions.

 

We are absolutely counting on being able to embark four hours earlier than other categories, to have priority luggage delivery, etc. and then during the voyage to have a smooth process for priority tendering.

 

If, combined with the loss of the cabana that we booked, these priority services are likely not to be available to us, then I would like to know now.

[pvan]

The maiden voyage on Marina is scheduled to dock in Miami on Feb. 4 and the Panama transit cruise departs on Feb. 8 so timing, delays etc... for that cruise are really unknown. Being a new ship there could be all kinds of reasons for delays...and then on the other hand it could all go very smoothly with lots of extra time to spare.

 

I think if you are booked on one of these first cruises you better be fairly flexible and patient. I am hoping all goes extremely well and smoothly for the sake of all--but I am ready for the unknown--and I think it will be fun and exciting.

 

I have never heard of nor seen in action the priority tendering...we were in a PH so not sure if it pertained to us or not...but never really saw it happen. We also had to wait for our cabin to be ready and it took some time for our luggage to arrive--but for me--really not a big deal... I packed some workout clothes in my carry on and then proceeded to the gym. With the new ship, I am sure there will be plenty to explore while waiting. FUN!!

[Oceans&Rivers]

The maiden voyage on Marina is scheduled to dock in Miami on Feb. 4 and the Panama transit cruise departs on Feb. 8 so timing, delays etc... for that cruise are really unknown. Being a new ship there could be all kinds of reasons for delays...and then on the other hand it could all go very smoothly with lots of extra time to spare.

 

Thank you for posting those dates. I'm very pleased to learn that the westbound transit won't depart until four days after the Marina arrives in Miami. So there won't be any "one-day-turnaround at first port of entry/Coast Guard check" problems.

 

That's great for the passengers, not to mention the many travel agents who will want to view the Marina. ;)

[StanandJim]

Thank you for posting those dates. I'm very pleased to learn that the westbound transit won't depart until four days after the Marina arrives in Miami. So there won't be any "one-day-turnaround at first port of entry/Coast Guard check" problems.

 

That's great for the passengers, not to mention the many travel agents who will want to view the Marina. ;)

 

 

Oceania has scheduled a cruise to introduce the Marina to the travel industry during those four days.

[Jancruz]

And friends and family..

Jancruz1

[lyndenfa]

Uh oh. Was your last Panama Canal cruise also westbound and had the ship just arrived from Europe? I recall on another board that turnaround days in Miami from a European disembarkation to an American embarkaton (whether to Panama Canal or to the Caribbean) have resulted in delayed embarkation on more than a few occasions.

 

We are absolutely counting on being able to embark four hours earlier than other categories, to have priority luggage delivery, etc. and then during the voyage to have a smooth process for priority tendering.

 

If, combined with the loss of the cabana that we booked, these priority services are likely not to be available to us, then I would like to know now.

Our cruise was from Miami to L.A. I don't know if the ship (Regatta) had just arrived from Europe. I think it is risky to "count on" any thing, so be prepared to be flexible. We never had issues with tendering, just go to the designated area and get your number or letter. The people move through quickly and it seemed no one had to wait. I hope you will have a smooth experience, Oceania is wonderful: the ship, the stafff, the food, and on and on...

[LHT28]

Uh oh. Was your last Panama Canal cruise also westbound and had the ship just arrived from Europe? I recall on another board that turnaround days in Miami from a European disembarkation to an American embarkaton (whether to Panama Canal or to the Caribbean) have resulted in delayed embarkation on more than a few occasions.

 

The ship usually come from Europe in Nov/Dec then does the Caribbean cruise

The Panama cruises usually are mid-Jan /Feb

But I think you are looking at the Marina so it will be different timing

 

 

 

Lyn

[Oceans&Rivers]

Oceania has scheduled a cruise to introduce the Marina to the travel industry during those four days.

 

The two-day Los Angeles stay is for travel agents to view the ship, too, according to Oceania.

 

So, for those of us who want to ensure that our cabins will be off-limits to travel agent viewing, will a simple "DO NOT DISTURB" sign on our door absolutely guarantee that no one will enter?

[Rickey 88]

The two-day Los Angeles stay is for travel agents to view the ship, too, according to Oceania.

 

So, for those of us who want to ensure that our cabins will be off-limits to travel agent viewing, will a simple "DO NOT DISTURB" sign on our door absolutely guarantee that no one will enter?

 

Probably not!!

We've been on several "first" cruises with some lines, where travel agents were invited on board. On most, they were interested and were inquisitive.

 

However, one, and that was San Francisco, the TAs that came on board were a rather rowdy lot, and there were a number of incidents where they attempted to enter passengers suites uninvited. Regent had to post staff in the hallways to give passengers some privacy.....

[Oceans&Rivers]

Probably not!!

We've been on several "first" cruises with some lines, where travel agents were invited on board. On most, they were interested and were inquisitive.

 

However, one, and that was San Francisco, the TAs that came on board were a rather rowdy lot, and there were a number of incidents where they attempted to enter passengers suites uninvited. Regent had to post staff in the hallways to give passengers some privacy.....

 

Aren't the TA's taken around on an escorted tour and not allowed to wander in the passenger passageways? That's how it is handled on some lines. My husband joined one of those escorted tours on the Crystal Serenity when it visited San Francisco a year ago near the end of the world cruise. (We are not TA's, but our TA arranged it with the DSM).

 

In any case, I would be very unhappy to have my cabin included on a tour or wandered into by anyone not of my choosing, and especially when I am not there.

 

Surely there will be some people who choose to disembark in Los Angeles instead of continuing up to San Francisco, and those cabins would be available for viewing, in addition to any others that may otherwise be empty.

[LHT28]

In any case, I would be very unhappy to have my cabin included on a tour or wandered into by anyone not of my choosing, and especially when I am not there.

 

I doubt very much the TA's would be allowed into any cabins without the pre-authorized permission of the guests.

They would need a key to access the cabin & I doubt they would be given a master passcard

[Oceans&Rivers]

I doubt very much the TA's would be allowed into any cabins without the pre-authorized permission of the guests.

They would need a key to access the cabin & I doubt they would be given a master passcard

 

Thank you. I do hope you are right.