What would make Oceania (even) better?

[CintiPam]

It seems the biggest problem is trivia so why not just do away with it :rolleyes:

 

Lyn, you are very, very daring today!:D

 

We really enjoyed Trivia in Martinis in January; at the times we played (only in the evening), we were not displacing anyone.

Edited May 13, 2014 by CintiPam

[ORV]

It seems the biggest problem is trivia so why not just do away with it :rolleyes:

They could limit the number of people per session so they could hold trivia in one of the smaller dining venues in the afternoons

Having trivia in the bar in the evening is not suitable either

 

Leave afternoon tea in Horizons where the music & views are more enjoyable

 

On our Riviera TA in Nov there were easily twice as many people at daily trivia as there were at tea in Horizons.

 

How much do you think it costs to put on the tea vs trivia?

 

Seems like we're trying to create problems where none exist.

[hypercafe]

Since trivia is such a popular event with no place to go and slot pulls ect are so, well tackey why not take out the casino and make the space into a lounge that is set up for trivia. To make up for the lost revenue a charge like bingo could be put in place. For the crowd who entertain themselves by eating afternoon tea could stay as is. The only problem I see is if there is a charge the attendance might drop off!!

Edited May 13, 2014 by hypercafe

[MVPinBoynton]

I just spent way too much time reading all 153 posts on this thread. Based on the topic "What would make Oceania (even) better?", it sounds like O is doing a mighty good job of making us all happy with the experience. It doesn't sound like much needs to change; and based on my first O cruise, I couldn't agree more. :)

[Travelcat2]

On our Riviera TA in Nov there were easily twice as many people at daily trivia as there were at tea in Horizons.

 

How much do you think it costs to put on the tea vs trivia?

 

Seems like we're trying to create problems where none exist.

 

Agree that doing away with trivia is creating a problem that does not exist. And, while we cannot find room in our stomachs to eat the many delights at "tea", we understand that there are many people that enjoy it.

 

What has concerned me is the lack of openness to the many suggestions that have been made on this thread. IMO, whatever works for Oceania and their crew would be fine. It does not matter if Trivia is before of after some other events -- it seems that most people simply want to be able to gather as a group to exchange ideas/responses to trivia questions. This is really not possible in the theater (which, BTW, is my least favorite part of the Riviera).

 

If we could put our selfish desires aside, I am certain that there is a solution that would satisfy the majority of Oceania guests.

[Caroldoll]

On side of Horizons and not have it exactly at tea time...or why not One of the ends of The Terrace. I am positive that would work. Trivia is a favorite of ours and it just doesn't work in the theatre.

[Toranut97]

On side of Horizons and not have it exactly at tea time...or why not One of the ends of The Terrace. I am positive that would work. Trivia is a favorite of ours and it just doesn't work in the theatre.

 

With extreme humility, I beg to differ. It works great on the R ships in the theatre, with the movable chairs.

 

I know you really dislike it in the O ships, Caroldoll, but for some of us it was not that big a problem.

 

I suspect the Entertainment staff likes afternoon trivia in the theatre since it is immediately followed by Bingo, which seems very popular --- and they can haul everything there at the same time for those two activities.

 

Personally, I do not do Bingo, I dash off for my "pig swill." (Happy Hour) ;-)

[hondorner]

So, trivia inthe theater on Marina and Riviera is not ideal. But, after 80 days on those ships, playing trivia on most of them, I think there is no better place. There is no disturbance, there is plenty of room for lots of teams, it's so popular it's impossible to think where it could be held if all the folks who stay away because they don't like the seating suddenly showed up. It works for 200 people or more. It works for the staff. It works for the sound system. It works for having enough space to separate the teams. It works for having enough seats. The only thing that's a bit difficult is that some have to turn in the seats to confer. On our teams, the ones who are willing to do that sit more in front of the others. It works.

 

I dislike having it in Martinis; there are no sight lines and the trivia master might as well be on the bridge. Horizons doesn't work becausethe trivia broupvan get rowdy. The resturants have to be set up too early; the crew has to get some sort of a break.

 

I repeat, IMHO there is no better place.

[Toranut97]

so, trivia inthe theater on marina and riviera is not ideal. But, after 80 days on those ships, playing trivia on most of them, i think there is no better place. There is no disturbance, there is plenty of room for lots of teams, it's so popular it's impossible to think where it could be held if all the folks who stay away because they don't like the seating suddenly showed up. It works for 200 people or more. It works for the staff. It works for the sound system. It works for having enough space to separate the teams. It works for having enough seats. The only thing that's a bit difficult is that some have to turn in the seats to confer. On our teams, the ones who are willing to do that sit more in front of the others. It works.

 

I dislike having it in martinis; there are no sight lines and the trivia master might as well be on the bridge. Horizons doesn't work becausethe trivia broupvan get rowdy. The resturants have to be set up too early; the crew has to get some sort of a break.

 

I repeat, imho there is no better place.

 

+1000!!!!!

[Andromeda93]

If anyone is still thinking about the overall ways to improve the O experience, my votes for the larger ships would be:

 

1. Glass-enclose the poolside smoking area, and ban cigars entirely. There are operable windows along the side of that area of the ship so 'fresh' air would circulate into the smoking area - and the smoke would have less impact on the starboard pool deck and Waves.

 

2. Relocate the lovely string quartet out of the 'thoroughfare' of the Grand Bar hallway. We made a point of coming to hear them each day, but the parade of people walking past while talking really detracted from the experience. It's disrespectful to the talented musicians in the quartets, and I think some passers-by were embarrassed by essentially walking through a performance.

 

3. Give an allowance of a few free laundry tokens per cabin. Start with Concierge and above or longer sailings only if it's too 'costly' to O (?) to provide to everyone on every sailing. It's a small thing, but even the Executive Concierge seemed a bit red-faced when handing me a bill for $8 for four tokens on a $15k+ cruise. :rolleyes:

 

4. More reasonable prices for ship-sponsored excursions. We usually go private but there are times and places when we'd rather go with O's arrangements, but paying 3X for that privilege grates.

 

5. Wish list for a retrofit - somehow increase the Terrace seating capacity. There were several times at breakfast and again at dinner when seats were unavailable. When we could wait a bit, it wasn't a problem. On busy mornings, not so good.

 

Of course O does so many things so well that most of us will keep sailing the line even with tiny imperfections here and there...

[tvmovielover]

There was nothing on our cruise that was a deal breaker (please do not flame me but trivia was in Martinis on our Jan cruise and I liked it-the members of our team that wanted a drink to spur them on could get it easily). However, I agree with Andromeda93 that it would be nice to relocate the string quartet from the Grand Bar Hallway AND that it would be nice to have more and better seating in both the Terrace and Wave at peak times. I am not sure there is a better place for any of these things at present.

[LHT28]

Not sure how they can make the Terrace any bigger to accommodate more people at certain times of the day :confused:

 

At one time the chairs were so close together you could not get up from the table without knocking the chair behind you, I prefer more space between tables

 

If it is busy I go to the GDR ..food is just as good there & no hunting for a table :D

 

YMMD

[Travelcat2]

There was nothing on our cruise that was a deal breaker (please do not flame me but trivia was in Martinis on our Jan cruise and I liked it-the members of our team that wanted a drink to spur them on could get it easily). However, I agree with Andromeda93 that it would be nice to relocate the string quartet from the Grand Bar Hallway AND that it would be nice to have more and better seating in both the Terrace and Wave at peak times. I am not sure there is a better place for any of these things at present.

 

I agree with you 100%!!!!!

[hypercafe]

I was wondering why, since the title of this is What would make Oceania Better, when people add their suggestion others have to comment on weather it is good or bad? It is just one persons idear in the spirit of the idear of the post.

[Paulchili]

I was wondering why, since the title of this is What would make Oceania Better, when people add their suggestion others have to comment on weather it is good or bad? It is just one persons idear in the spirit of the idear of the post.

 

Because sometimes the suggestion makes little sense - it is either not practical or not workable. :)

Thus it is more of a wish or dream rather than a suggestion.

Edited May 15, 2014 by Paulchili

[Travelcat2]

Just because something appears to someone to be impractical or something that will not work does not mean that Oceania could not arrange things to enable it to work. I enjoy reading posters ideas and attempt to ignore naysayers. JMO:)

[JimandStan]

I enjoy reading posters ideas and attempt to ignore naysayers. JMO

 

Any idea......

Really? :rolleyes:

[Paulchili]

Just because something appears to someone to be impractical or something that will not work does not mean that Oceania could not arrange things to enable it to work. I enjoy reading posters ideas and attempt to ignore naysayers. JMO:)

 

If you have a space (Martinis) that will not accommodate 200+ people for trivia, how is that ever doable? How can Oceania "arrange things to enable it to work"?

[LHT28]

Maybe they will build the next ship with one BIG room with movable chairs & a bar just for trivia

 

They could adapt the current ships by doing away with the grand staircase expand the space for Martinis ..I think that is practical :D

[Travelcat2]

Exactly how many people does Martinis hold (including bar seats?) And, can additional folding chairs be placed around the perimeter? And how about Horizons -- what is it's capacity?

[JimandStan]

Exactly how many people does Martinis hold (including bar seats?) And, can additional folding chairs be placed around the perimeter? And how about Horizons -- what is it's capacity?

Martini's has a capacity of 85, but a lot of extraneous furniture, particularly around the premiter, would not work because those large picture windows are Emergency Exits to the Lifeboat Deck.

Horizons was built for a capacity of 240, but that number may be stretched to 281 if the need should arise.

[Travelcat2]

Thanks for the information and diagrams. In Martinis, do you know what the open space is at the left (where that small black "thing" is)?

 

Apparently trivia has been held in Martinis so it isn't such a far out idea. I was thinking about the Horizon Lounge on the larger Regent ships where trivia is held. If there are no seats, there are no seats -- not much can be done about it. The theaters on Regent are much more conducive to teams getting together for trivia (there are tables, etc.) but for some reason, it is never used for trivia.

 

I guess I was just trying to get across that, IMO, ideas should be welcomed whether good or bad. Making a poster feel badly for posting just isn't kind. :o

[Paulchili]

Apparently trivia has been held in Martinis so it isn't such a far out idea.

 

Yes, evening trivia is usually held in Martinis. The reason for that is that the evening trivia is a "different animal" from the afternoon trivia. Namely, it is usually hosted by the staff and not the CD, it has a "lighter" atmosphere and it attracts a different and much smaller crowd. This size of crowd usually fits in fine into Martinis, although late comers frequently have to scramble for tables and seats.

[hypercafe]

Maybe they will build the next ship with one BIG room with movable chairs & a bar just for trivia

 

They could adapt the current ships by doing away with the grand staircase expand the space for Martinis ..I think that is practical :D

 

Do away with the Casino, not all lines have them.

 

Sent from my XT1032 using Forums mobile app

[Iceberg 3]

Thanks for the information and diagrams. In Martinis, do you know what the open space is at the left (where that small black "thing" is)?

 

:o

 

That's where the piano is.