Paulchili Posted January 8, 2019 #26 Share Posted January 8, 2019 6 minutes ago, MVPinBoynton said: That is great news! You will be very happy with him. It was one our best tours ever. We will have Alex the next day for a Lisbon area tour, since we had previously seen Sintra with him. Mike/ORV - can you share the info on Alex as we will be back in Lisbon in 2020. TIA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MVPinBoynton Posted January 8, 2019 #27 Share Posted January 8, 2019 1 minute ago, Paulchili said: Mike/ORV - can you share the info on Alex as we will be back in Lisbon in 2020. TIA Absolutely, here is a link to their website: http://www.toptentours.eu Ask for Alex, he is great. You can see what we did with him when we were there in Oct 2014 on our website that is linked to in my signature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted January 8, 2019 #28 Share Posted January 8, 2019 Thank you Mike. We’ve been there several times but this time we are traveling with a “first-timer” to Portugal and want to get the most out of the day we have in Lisbon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanoverian Posted January 8, 2019 #29 Share Posted January 8, 2019 Paulchili, also contact Kate about Alex. If it is the Alex that I think it is, we have been with him several times and consider him to be a friend now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo-b Posted January 8, 2019 #30 Share Posted January 8, 2019 Meanwhile, Back on topic 😉 it says on the video more speciality restaurants, so that may account for less passengers as well as a wider range of suites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted January 9, 2019 #31 Share Posted January 9, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, Hanoverian said: Paulchili, also contact Kate about Alex. If it is the Alex that I think it is, we have been with him several times and consider him to be a friend now. Thank you - I will. I assume that you are back home by now? Now back to our regularly scheduled programming 😄 Edited January 9, 2019 by Paulchili Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted January 9, 2019 #32 Share Posted January 9, 2019 I dunno ... we've been to Lisbon many times since 1999, and we always do it on our own. Have never had any problems. I DO agree that if you only have one day, a guide can be very helpful. We've always gone in early 2-3 days or stayed late 2-3 days. We've also done 3 road trips now through northern Portugal, which always ended with several days in Lisbon. So we know the city pretty well. But again, if you only have one day there (or maybe part of a second day) ... a guide can be very helpful. My cousin was just in Lisbon for a couple of days and based on my suggestions, had no problems doing it on her own ... It depends on how much you want to do on your own! No judgments here ... Even if you want to go to Sintra, it's easy to do by train. Based on our June 2017 visit we decided never to go to Sintra again. The crowds were terrible. But my cousin went there in December and had a lovely time ... it can depend on the time of year. Mura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare eroller Posted January 9, 2019 #33 Share Posted January 9, 2019 I'm thankful Oceania decided not to go bigger. Essentially these new ships are the same size and capacity as the current RIVIERA and MARINA. Great move Oceania. I like that standard cabins will continue to be large, and hopefully with the wonderful bathrooms like RIVIERA and MARINA. Also I hope to see continued emphasis on offering the finest cuisine at sea, with new an innovative venues. Physically I would love to see a true promenade deck on these ships, and lounges/bars with great sea views. One of the things I really don't like about RIVIERA and MARINA is that some of the most popular lounges/bars have no views or a view of the lifeboats. There is the observation lounge but it's large and not very intimate. I would love to see that space become more intimate. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lais Posted January 9, 2019 #34 Share Posted January 9, 2019 13 hours ago, LHT28 said: interesting Probably will be out of my price range if there are less passenger to cover the costs 😉 Plus we may see price increases the next couple of years to pay for these ships?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare eroller Posted January 9, 2019 #35 Share Posted January 9, 2019 5 minutes ago, lais said: Plus we may see price increases the next couple of years to pay for these ships?? Hard to say. Prices are driven by demand. They may actually go down as Oceania will have to fill two additional ships on a weekly basis, provided they don't get rid of any ships. Also the economy will determine pricing and who knows where that is going? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted January 9, 2019 #36 Share Posted January 9, 2019 9 hours ago, eroller said: I'm thankful Oceania decided not to go bigger. Essentially these new ships are the same size and capacity as the current RIVIERA and MARINA. Great move Oceania. I like that standard cabins will continue to be large, and hopefully with the wonderful bathrooms like RIVIERA and MARINA. Also I hope to see continued emphasis on offering the finest cuisine at sea, with new an innovative venues. Physically I would love to see a true promenade deck on these ships, and lounges/bars with great sea views. One of the things I really don't like about RIVIERA and MARINA is that some of the most popular lounges/bars have no views or a view of the lifeboats. There is the observation lounge but it's large and not very intimate. I would love to see that space become more intimate. Sounds like a good plan for a new ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanoverian Posted January 9, 2019 #37 Share Posted January 9, 2019 Paulchili, it was a great trip. Thoroughly enjoyed every moment. The last leg was warm and relaxing, but we did sorely miss our new friends from the previous legs. We did meet some new folks during the last two weeks, including a lady who lives only 25 miles away from us. What are the chances of that happening? Yeah, reality bites as it is going down to 18 tonight and the wind is howling. And we seem to have lost contact with room service. Please stay in touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andee Posted January 9, 2019 #38 Share Posted January 9, 2019 I agree about changing the library and Baristas area. We used both of those areas often on the R ships, once on the O ships. We laugh that, for us, a tub is the most expensive drying rack ever. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ORV Posted January 9, 2019 #39 Share Posted January 9, 2019 I don't really see real Promenades being a feature of modern cruise ships. I do miss the lower deck outside access on the O ships. A full walk around is not necessary for me, but I can see how some folks prefer it. Very good point about Martinis not having a good view. But it is close to the GDR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted January 9, 2019 #40 Share Posted January 9, 2019 Will the new ships have La Reserve? Is that included in the restaurant count? How about Privee? Would hate to lose either of those dining options. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbb Posted January 9, 2019 #41 Share Posted January 9, 2019 I'm one of those who would love to have a Promenades--on extended cruises it is a great way to burn those calories and to have "me" time even if there are other walkers/joggers all around me. I would love the longer track rather than the shorty on Deck 10 of the R ships and having a covering over my head would be great--especially in the tropics where it was waaay into the 90s at 6am! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare eroller Posted January 9, 2019 #42 Share Posted January 9, 2019 All the new Viking Ocean ships have a full wrap-around promenade deck. It’s a great feature and people love it. These are newly designed ships and brand new, so just goes to show you people still appreciate a promenade deck. In fact they are making a comeback. Even the new mass-market ships of Carnival, NCL, and MSC feature a big wide promenade deck. People want a connection to the sea when on a cruise and cruise lines are finally starting to realize this again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classiccruiser777 Posted January 9, 2019 #43 Share Posted January 9, 2019 1 hour ago, ORV said: I don't really see real Promenades being a feature of modern cruise ships. I do miss the lower deck outside access on the O ships. A full walk around is not necessary for me, but I can see how some folks prefer it. It isn’t a huge deal but we love the Queen Mary 2’s expansive teak promenade. I hope O continues using teak decking on the new “A” class ships. Teak decking looks great and is easy on the feet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted January 9, 2019 #44 Share Posted January 9, 2019 We almost always have cocktails in Horizons because of the views of the ocean and landscapes. The only time we go to Martinis is after dark. When in the cabin, our shades are almost always open except when the sun is shining directly in making it to hot. We sail to see the Ports of Call, the ocean, and the landscapes . We always use our veranda, even on cooler days! We often try to find a nice sunny spot, out of the wind, on the small promenade on the R ships to sit and socialize. So for us, a full promenade would be great. Each to their own, but sitting in a cabin, curtains drawn, watching tv or movies is the last place you’ll find us on a cruise ship! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted January 9, 2019 #45 Share Posted January 9, 2019 I guess time will tell what the new ships will look like & what restaurants etc... they will have only 3 + years to wait 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go-Bucks! Posted January 9, 2019 #46 Share Posted January 9, 2019 1 hour ago, cbb said: I would love the longer track rather than the shorty on Deck 10 of the R ships and having a covering over my head would be great--especially in the tropics where it was waaay into the 90s at 6am! That's when a treadmill in the climate-controlled gym with ocean views comes in handy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classiccruiser777 Posted January 9, 2019 #47 Share Posted January 9, 2019 1 minute ago, Go-Bucks! said: That's when a treadmill in the climate-controlled gym with ocean views comes in handy. True, but the gym lacks the ocean breeze, the salt air, the sound of the surf, and the changing view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanandJim Posted January 9, 2019 #48 Share Posted January 9, 2019 39 minutes ago, Classiccruiser777 said: True, but the gym lacks the ocean breeze, the salt air, the sound of the surf, and the changing view. I love a traditional Promenade Deck, but there is good and bad to them. Think of it this way: verandahs monetize that space, which results in overall lower fares for everyone. As always, follow the money- 🤑 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedneckBob Posted January 9, 2019 #49 Share Posted January 9, 2019 Since NCL has input maybe they will had one of those water sides from the top of the Polo Grill over the Library and drop into the pool . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted January 9, 2019 #50 Share Posted January 9, 2019 17 minutes ago, RedneckBob said: Since NCL has input maybe they will had one of those water sides from the top of the Polo Grill over the Library and drop into the pool . The only input from NCL will be what Mr. FDR wants to give. Glad he is here to build these new ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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