My quest for a long overdue Oceania change...

[Flatbush Flyer]

I just filled out a mid-cruise comment card and, as I have often done on prior O  cruises, I left room at the bottom for my pet peeve: The crew name badges are basically unreadable.

 

The combination of minimal size, gray background color and small font style/size often requires one to lean in way too far in order to begin deciphering a crew member's name and country of origin. And I have yet to meet a fellow passenger on any O cruise who disagrees with me. (In fact, many crew agree as well)

 

Though there will be some initial expense in redesign and replacement, easier-to-read name badges would definitely be beneficial to passenger/crew interaction. 

 

Perhaps something more along the lines of the unobtrusive Disneyland "cast member" badges, which are clearly readable from a few feet away, would work. (Not necessarily the same but definitely large enough to use better/bigger fonts on lighter contrasting background). 

 

And given the new project to redecorate all the Oceania ships, now would be the perfect time to redesign/introduce the new badges. Maybe even  invite Oceania Club members to submit designs (contest for a future cruise credit or SBC? 👀)

 

If you happen to agree with me, please add a "readable name badges" recommendation to your comment cards and in personal conversations with the cruise directors/GMs/et al.

 

Your thoughts?

Edited November 15, 2018 by Flatbush Flyer

[jo-b]

Must agree, especially for the age of their clientele. My OH particularly finds it embarrassing trying to read the name badges of the female staff! 

[Gnoelj]

 

Not only the name badges are not unreadable, I found out the name of the staff on the name badge does not necessarily have to be his/her real name.

On one cruise, I had an issue with a junior catering staff .  Let's just say his name was "A".

 

After approaching different people on the ship, I found out that  "A" (i.e. the name as stated on his badge) was not even his real or official name! (It could just be his "pet" name , so only his friends on board would know it. Management may not be able to find that name on their list.).  

 

My suggestion to Oceania management is not just redesign the staff name badge, but to make it compulsory that the name the staff puts on his/her name badge is the name he/she used when applying for the position. Don't you think that is reasonable?

Edited November 15, 2018 by Gnoelj

[LHT28]

2 hours ago, Gnoelj said:

 

Not only the name badges are not unreadable, I found out the name of the staff on the name badge does not necessarily have to be his/her real name.

On one cruise, I had an issue with a junior catering staff .  Let's just say his name was "A".

 

After approaching different people on the ship, I found out that  "A" (i.e. the name as stated on his badge) was not even his real or official name! (It could just be his "pet" name , so only his friends on board would know it. Management may not be able to find that name on their list.).  

 

 

Was  this on Oceania ?

 

On some line  they give the crew Anglicied names  ...easier for the pax  to remember/pronounce

[LHT28]

I would  agree they need  better badges  but NOT  as gaudy  as the Disney type

something  maybe slightly larger or the colour  change would even help

 

I usually just ask them if I cannot read their names without  my glasses

[ORV]

3 hours ago, jo-b said:

Must agree, especially for the age of their clientele. My OH particularly finds it embarrassing trying to read the name badges of the female staff! 

I had this problem on an airplane the other day. I put my glasses on to read the name tag of a female attendant, and commented that she had an interesting name, her comment was something like, "you think so". She was pretty cold the rest of the flight and didn't happen to have anything I asked for. 

 

Concerning the name tags, they could be a little larger, but I'm not interested in joining a crusade to get them larger.   To me there's more important things, like having more drink servers at lunch and dinner. 

[JimandStan]

18 minutes ago, ORV said:

To me there's more important things, like having more drink servers at lunch and dinner. 

+1, this is typically our number one complaint.  The process needs to be streamlined.  

[pinotlover]

Many Asians go by Americanized names when working with English guests. Li  or Rose are a lot easier to say or remember than their real names! I’d be careful broaching that tradition!

[LHT28]

I really wonder why some people continue to cruise with Oceania  when

the food is too bland

the name tags are too small

the drinks are too small

the wine is not good

they miss most ports with no warning or compensation

the Captains  in some people's opinions  are not qualified

the top staff  do not talk to passengers

they do the  same itineraries

the menus are  the same  ..until they change things  then they are not good because pax want the same old things

the entertainment  is  not good

the shows are too late

dinner is too late ..need to start at 4pm according to some

& the list goes on

 

seems there is  no happy pax on Oceania

 

 

[pinotlover]

I can't imagine why the Cheerleaders become so upset when other posters make recommendations on where improvements can be made!  

 

I guess we all see various mysteries in Life!  

 

 

[LHT28]

10 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

I can't imagine why the Cheerleaders become so upset when other posters make recommendations on where improvements can be made!  

 

 

I am not a cheerleader  I do know Oceania  is not perfect  but do not continually  whine about their faults

Just because people do not have the same  views or opinions as you does not make them a cheerleader

 

What is the opposite of  a cheerleader ?

 

[JimandStan]

6 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

What is the opposite of  a cheerleader ?

 

A curmudgeon.

[floridatravelersforlife]

Hey how about equal treatment of women

 

[JimandStan]

13 minutes ago, floridatravelersforlife said:

Hey how about equal treatment of women

 

Where on earth did you get a photo of Stans' mother?

[babysteps]

My DH calls CC "Cruise Complaint"

[golfguyhhi]

F. Flyer,

 

'If you happen to agree with me, please add a "readable name badges" recommendation to your comment cards and in personal conversations with the cruise directors/GMs/et al.'

 

Ever since our 3rd cruise I have made this very comment in every mid-cruise and end-of-cruise comment card.  I like to be able to call the people taking care of me by name, but I don't like to have to ask them.  I like the look of surprise and pleasure they show when I say their names, especially when I can say thank you in their language because I have read their home country name on their badge.  Sometimes, though, it takes a lot of peering and squinting to be able to get both the name and country while I am either being served, or waiting while the person in front of me (at the buffet) is asking for something or being served.

 

Other than that, I guess you'd have to put me firmly in the "Cheerleader" camp, as my wife and I love Oceania, have 8 cruises booked, and are planning our 20th.

[Kingofcool1947]

9 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

I just filled out a mid-cruise comment card and, as I have often done on prior O  cruises, I left room at the bottom for my pet peeve: The crew name badges are basically unreadable.

 

The combination of minimal size, gray background color and small font style/size often requires one to lean in way too far in order to begin deciphering a crew member's name and country of origin. And I have yet to meet a fellow passenger on any O cruise who disagrees with me. (In fact, many crew agree as well)

 

Though there will be some initial expense in redesign and replacement, easier-to-read name badges would definitely be beneficial to passenger/crew interaction. 

 

Perhaps something more along the lines of the unobtrusive Disneyland "cast member" badges, which are clearly readable from a few feet away, would work. (Not necessarily the same but definitely large enough to use better/bigger fonts on lighter contrasting background). 

 

And given the new project to redecorate all the Oceania ships, now would be the perfect time to redesign/introduce the new badges. Maybe even  invite Oceania Club members to submit designs (contest for a future cruise credit or SBC? 👀)

 

If you happen to agree with me, please add a "readable name badges" recommendation to your comment cards and in personal conversations with the cruise directors/GMs/et al.

 

Your thoughts?

Maybe just increase the strength of your reading glasses?  

Or would you be willing to pay more for your cruise if Oceania changed the size and design of the badges?

Edited November 15, 2018 by Kingofcool1947

[Kingofcool1947]

2 hours ago, LHT28 said:

I really wonder why some people continue to cruise with Oceania  when

the food is too bland

the name tags are too small

the drinks are too small

the wine is not good

they miss most ports with no warning or compensation

the Captains  in some people's opinions  are not qualified

the top staff  do not talk to passengers

they do the  same itineraries

the menus are  the same  ..until they change things  then they are not good because pax want the same old things

the entertainment  is  not good

the shows are too late

dinner is too late ..need to start at 4pm according to some

& the list goes on

 

seems there is  no happy pax on Oceania

 

 

There will always be whiners  on every cruise.   

Edited November 15, 2018 by Kingofcool1947

[Jancruz]

9 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

I just filled out a mid-cruise comment card and, as I have often done on prior O  cruises, I left room at the bottom for my pet peeve: The crew name badges are basically unreadable.

 

The combination of minimal size, gray background color and small font style/size often requires one to lean in way too far in order to begin deciphering a crew member's name and country of origin. And I have yet to meet a fellow passenger on any O cruise who disagrees with me. (In fact, many crew agree as well)

 

Though there will be some initial expense in redesign and replacement, easier-to-read name badges would definitely be beneficial to passenger/crew interaction. 

 

Perhaps something more along the lines of the unobtrusive Disneyland "cast member" badges, which are clearly readable from a few feet away, would work. (Not necessarily the same but definitely large enough to use better/bigger fonts on lighter contrasting background). 

 

And given the new project to redecorate all the Oceania ships, now would be the perfect time to redesign/introduce the new badges. Maybe even  invite Oceania Club members to submit designs (contest for a future cruise credit or SBC? 👀)

 

If you happen to agree with me, please add a "readable name badges" recommendation to your comment cards and in personal conversations with the cruise directors/GMs/et al.

 

Your thoughts?

I dont like the above..but I will talk to the person..who is in charge

Jan

[Flatbush Flyer]

24 minutes ago, jancruz1 said:

I dont like the above..but I will talk to the person..who is in charge

Jan

I don't like the Disney one either- just using an example of "readable"

I'm betting, with the new interior design project they could find something better -perhaps incorporating the "O" logo as the shape of the badge.

But, even if it's just another rectangle, the font size needs to be bigger and the background color needs to be a contrast.

BTW, this is not so much a bitchin' comment as it is a reality check. Most geezers (and many not-so-geezery folks) really can't read the names. What better way to increase the crew/passenger interaction???

Edited November 15, 2018 by Flatbush Flyer

[Jancruz]

26 minutes ago, jancruz1 said:

I dont like the above..but I will talk to the person..who is in charge

Jan

OK..He really likes the idea and change may be made shortly...forget writing on comment card..

Jan

[Flatbush Flyer]

3 hours ago, LHT28 said:

I really wonder why some people continue to cruise with Oceania  when

the food is too bland

the name tags are too small

the drinks are too small

the wine is not good

they miss most ports with no warning or compensation

the Captains  in some people's opinions  are not qualified

the top staff  do not talk to passengers

they do the  same itineraries

the menus are  the same  ..until they change things  then they are not good because pax want the same old things

the entertainment  is  not good

the shows are too late

dinner is too late ..need to start at 4pm according to some

& the list goes on

 

seems there is  no happy pax on Oceania

 

 

 Now that you put it in that summary fashion, I can see why, with all the complaints, Oceania "sucks." So, excuse me while I go and book two more Oceania cruises!😎😎

[ORV]

6 minutes ago, jancruz1 said:

OK..He really likes the idea and change may be made shortly...forget writing on comment card..

Jan

Are you new here? You only have 4 posts. Welcome to Cruise Critic. 

 

We just got into Charleston. No Poogan's Porch tonight. 

[Flatbush Flyer]

 

3 hours ago, LHT28 said:

What is the opposite of  a cheerleader ?

 

Opposite of a "cheerleader?"

That would be an English major.

😉

[LHT28]

55 minutes ago, ORV said:

Are you new here? You only have 4 posts. Welcome to Cruise Critic. 

 

 

I wondered  what happened

She must have forgotten her user name  when the new format came out  😉