Overwhelmed First Timer...

[Sun Queen II]

Hi all, after having spent the last five days reading everything I could about cruising, excursions, the ship, the do’s and don’ts, we still have some questions.  Not sure if listing all of them in one post is easier or more confusing, but here it goes.

 

First off, my husband and I are first time cruisers who did a lot of research before deciding to “jump aboard”, and we are tremendously excited about our upcoming cruise.  We are staying in a concierge verandah room on the Riviera.  Here are my questions, if you could answer as many as possible it would be extremely appreciated:

 

1. What do you do with your luggage once unpacked?  I know it may sound trivial, but given that the rooms are not that big, do the suitcases fit under the bed?  If so - what is maximum size?

 

2. I read that there is something called the Oceania@Sea or Connect@Sea app that you should download before you arrive on the ship, which will then allow you to connect to wifi.  I’ve looked all over the cruiseline’s site, and cannot find this app.

 

3. For those of you who have travelled on the Riviera before, is dinner in La Reserve with wine pairing worth it?  Also if you are on the premium drink package, are the wine pairings included or is there an additional cost?  And does anyone know what time the dinners are?

 

4.  Staying on the Premium drink package topic,  can you request that a bottle of wine be sent to your room, if both are on the package so you can enjoy an evening on the verandah, same for a six pack of beer, or do you have to call for room service after each drink?

 

5. I read on one of the forums for first time cruisers that you can check in to the cruise a few days prior to your sailing date.  Has anyone ever done this, if so, what is entailed?

 

6.   What channels are available on the in room tv? And when folks talk about “on-demand” movies, is there a fee associated with this, or are they free?

 

7.  Which restaurants are open during the day and what times are they closed?  For example the MDR - can you pop in there at 2:00 p.m. to grab a late lunch?

 

8.   When/how will I be able to make spa reservations?  

 

9.  I know that irons are not allowed on board, what about a small steam iron?

 

10. And finally, the last question has to do with staying in touch with home.  We have elderly parents that we would like to keep in touch with.  How expensive is a phone call back home from our room, and how is wifi for sending text messages or FaceTime?

 

Thanks for your patience with all these questions!

 

Best regards,

Overwhelmed First Timers😳

 

[Mura]

11 minutes ago, Sun Queen II said:

Hi all, after having spent the last five days reading everything I could about cruising, excursions, the ship, the do’s and don’ts, we still have some questions.  Not sure if listing all of them in one post is easier or more confusing, but here it goes.

 

First off, my husband and I are first time cruisers who did a lot of research before deciding to “jump aboard”, and we are tremendously excited about our upcoming cruise.  We are staying in a concierge verandah room on the Riviera.  Here are my questions, if you could answer as many as possible it would be extremely appreciated:

 

1. What do you do with your luggage once unpacked?  I know it may sound trivial, but given that the rooms are not that big, do the suitcases fit under the bed?  If so - what is maximum size?

 

First off, if your suitcases do NOT fit under the bed, your room steward will store them for you and then return the suitcase(s) to you on the last day of the cruise.  My husband's 26" always fit underneath the bed -- I'm not sure if my 28" did or not.  BUT some have posted here at CC that if you leave the suitcase open, it will fit.

 

2. I read that there is something called the Oceania@Sea or Connect@Sea app that you should download before you arrive on the ship, which will then allow you to connect to wifi.  I’ve looked all over the cruiseline’s site, and cannot find this app.  I can't help you here!

I

11 minutes ago, Sun Queen II said:

 

3. For those of you who have travelled on the Riviera before, is dinner in La Reserve with wine pairing worth it?  Also if you are on the premium drink package, are the wine pairings included or is there an additional cost?  And does anyone know what time the dinners are?  We have dined in La Reserve on each cruise where it was available (about 5 or 6 now) so we definitely think it is worth it.  The dinners start at 7:30 but you meet at 7:00 (or thereabouts) to meet with the others and have a little aperitif.  I think if you have the premium package you get a 10 or 20% discount on the cost of the dinner -- we don't bother with the package ourselves so I'm not sure of the discount.

 

4.  Staying on the Premium drink package topic,  can you request that a bottle of wine be sent to your room, if both are on the package so you can enjoy an evening on the verandah, same for a six pack of beer, or do you have to call for room service after each drink?  As I said we don't take the package.  But I suspect you'd have to order separate glasses rather than a bottle (or 6 pack of beer).

 

5. I read on one of the forums for first time cruisers that you can check in to the cruise a few days prior to your sailing date.  Has anyone ever done this, if so, what is entailed?  We always go into the departure port a few days early but we have never tried to check in early. What's the advantage?  I can't see one.

 

6.   What channels are available on the in room tv? And when folks talk about “on-demand” movies, is there a fee associated with this, or are they free?  Free.  There are quite a few channels available but not standard TV channels that you see in the U.S.  There are a few news channels, various entertainment channels, Jacques Pepin cooking episodes, etc.

 

7.  Which restaurants are open during the day and what times are they closed?  For example the MDR - can you pop in there at 2:00 p.m. to grab a late lunch?  Nope!  The Grand Dining Room usually closes around 1:30, I think.  These days it's not necessarily open for lunch at all on port days.  The Terrace Buffet is usually open until 2:00 and Waves (adjacent to Terrace) is open until 4.  There's always room service as well -- no charge for that.  The GDR, Terrace and Waves are open for breakfast and lunch (with the port day possible exception for the GDR at lunch time).  Dinners for the GDR and specialty restaurants start at 6:30 (sometimes at 6:00) and end around 9:00.  By the way, they don't kick you out promptly at 9:00.

 

8.   When/how will I be able to make spa reservations?  Not sure if you can make them online or not ... Check the website.

 

9.  I know that irons are not allowed on board, what about a small steam iron?  Again, NO.  There are ironing boards and irons in the laundrettes on all ships.

 

10. And finally, the last question has to do with staying in touch with home.  We have elderly parents that we would like to keep in touch with.  How expensive is a phone call back home from our room, and how is wifi for sending text messages or FaceTime?  Telephone is very expensive.  I've never used wife for texts or FaceTime -- instead I send an email.  If you don't have a laptop, iPad or other computer with you, you can go to the Internet Cafe and use one of the computers there.

 

Good luck!  Mura

11 minutes ago, Sun Queen II said:

😳

 

 

[Rob the Cruiser]

You made a fabulous choice. Don't worry about being overwhelmed. We all were newbies once.

 

Adding a bit more detail to your luggage question: No problem with two 28" x 20" x 11" large bags and two 22" x 14" x 9" roll-aboards under the bed. The large bags barely touched the bottom other the bed. Anything deeper than 11" will need to be stored opened under the bed.

[Sun Queen II]

1 hour ago, Mura said:

I

 

Good luck!  Mura

 

Thanks so much Mura!  All very helpful. 

[Sun Queen II]

23 minutes ago, Rob the Cruiser said:

You made a fabulous choice. Don't worry about being overwhelmed. We all were newbies once.

 

Adding a bit more detail to your luggage question: No problem with two 28" x 20" x 11" large bags and two 22" x 14" x 9" roll-aboards under the bed. The large bags barely touched the bottom other the bed. Anything deeper than 11" will need to be stored opened under the bed.

Thanks Rob!  We are super excited 🙂

[marieps]

2 hours ago, Sun Queen II said:

Hi all, after having spent the last five days reading everything I could about cruising, excursions, the ship, the do’s and don’ts, we still have some questions.  Not sure if listing all of them in one post is easier or more confusing, but here it goes.

 

First off, my husband and I are first time cruisers who did a lot of research before deciding to “jump aboard”, and we are tremendously excited about our upcoming cruise.  We are staying in a concierge verandah room on the Riviera.  Here are my questions, if you could answer as many as possible it would be extremely appreciated:

 

1. What do you do with your luggage once unpacked?  I know it may sound trivial, but given that the rooms are not that big, do the suitcases fit under the bed?  If so - what is maximum size?

 

2. I read that there is something called the Oceania@Sea or Connect@Sea app that you should download before you arrive on the ship, which will then allow you to connect to wifi.  I’ve looked all over the cruiseline’s site, and cannot find this app.

 

3. For those of you who have travelled on the Riviera before, is dinner in La Reserve with wine pairing worth it?  Also if you are on the premium drink package, are the wine pairings included or is there an additional cost?  And does anyone know what time the dinners are?

 

4.  Staying on the Premium drink package topic,  can you request that a bottle of wine be sent to your room, if both are on the package so you can enjoy an evening on the verandah, same for a six pack of beer, or do you have to call for room service after each drink?

 

5. I read on one of the forums for first time cruisers that you can check in to the cruise a few days prior to your sailing date.  Has anyone ever done this, if so, what is entailed?

 

6.   What channels are available on the in room tv? And when folks talk about “on-demand” movies, is there a fee associated with this, or are they free?

 

7.  Which restaurants are open during the day and what times are they closed?  For example the MDR - can you pop in there at 2:00 p.m. to grab a late lunch?

 

8.   When/how will I be able to make spa reservations?  

 

9.  I know that irons are not allowed on board, what about a small steam iron?

 

10. And finally, the last question has to do with staying in touch with home.  We have elderly parents that we would like to keep in touch with.  How expensive is a phone call back home from our room, and how is wifi for sending text messages or FaceTime?

 

Thanks for your patience with all these questions!

 

Best regards,

Overwhelmed First Timers😳

 

 

There's no issue fitting suitcases under the bed.  Nest your carry on inside your larger cases for even more room under the bed.  You may have to lift a frame an inch or so, but no biggie.  

 

Oceania@Sea is the name of their internet program.  The internet office can help you sign in to wifi.  Only one device per stateroom allowed logged on at a time under the free wifi pkg.  I saw no one recently on Regatta using an app.  

 

I can't address the wine pairing question, but the drink package does not include wine by the bottle.  Only by the glass.  Unsure about the beer.  

 

The TV was very disappointing in the South Pacific.  News channels, but no American network TV.  No where to watch football.  Bummer.  There are free movies.

 

You will be able to check in well before your cruise.  In concierge,  you can make your speciality dinner reservations 45 days in advance.  Restaurant hours will be posted in the Currents daily newsletter.  Waves grill is open for breakfast, then for lunch until 4.  The MDR was open until 2:00 for lunch.  Dinner at 6:30.

 

There are two irons in the launderette.  Don't bring one.

 

Can't address the spa issue.  Internet is too slow to use facetime or what's app.  Stick to text or email, IMHO.

 

Have Fun!!

 

 

 

 

[Earl Rosebery]

Facetime works reasonably well depending on how many people forget to log off when they aren’t using wifi. Take your ipad

 

Facetime audio works much better as it uses less bandwidth 

 

Wifi in most ports is free and extremely fast.  Go where the crew members are calling home.

[ORV]

Your TV choices are not very exciting. You have the in house or on ship channels. Couple for shore excursions, one that reruns the lectures, one that has the CD's morning announcements, bridge cam view, weather info, a couple of food channels, MSNBC, FOX news, CNBC, SKY news, BBC news, SKY Sports, then a few movie channels, they generally show the same movies that are available on demand. There was no charge for on demand movies when we were just on Riviera. 

 

You also can look up the daily menu in the GDR & The Terrace. You can check your acct on the TV now also. 

 

Dinner starts at 6:30 most of the time. In the GDR there is no set time, just go in whenever you feel like it. In the specialties you have reserved times, starting at 6:30 until 9 or so, available in 30 minute increments. Your room level will determine how soon you can pre book these online or by calling in. The best times and non sharing tables go early, so it helps here to have one of the rooms that books earlier. 

 

As the Spa set up has just changed you are on your own there. Just call Oceania to find out when you can book theem. 

 

 

[GeorgesGal]

2 hours ago, Mura said:

4.  Staying on the Premium drink package topic,  can you request that a bottle of wine be sent to your room, if both are on the package so you can enjoy an evening on the verandah, same for a six pack of beer, or do you have to call for room service after each drink?  As I said we don't take the package.  But I suspect you'd have to order separate glasses rather than a bottle (or 6 pack of beer).

 

Are you aware that Oceania allows you to bring on wine and spirits at embarkation and at ports of call?

[Sun Queen II]

Thanks ORV!  Much appreciate the info.

[Sun Queen II]

Yes I read that.  I guess our thinking was that if we are paying for the package, why spend extra to bring on more.  Hubby likes a couple of beers in the late afternoon, but I didn’t think we could bring beer on.

[Sun Queen II]

Thanks Marieps!  We can’t wait.  

[ORV]

7 minutes ago, Sun Queen II said:

Thanks ORV!  Much appreciate the info.

Meant to mention that since you are in a Concierge room you can book your Specialties 60 days prior to sailing. You are in front of all the regular balconies and OV and insides

[marieps]

11 minutes ago, ORV said:

Meant to mention that since you are in a Concierge room you can book your Specialties 60 days prior to sailing. You are in front of all the regular balconies and OV and insides

Thanks for correcting me ORV.  We DID have 60 days.  Stayed up til midnight 9/1 to book specialties for our 11/1 sailing on Regatta.    

[babysteps]

I think early check-in is offered on some larger ships and/or mass-market lines, but O doesn't do this.  Check-in is pretty painless - worst case a short amount of standing in line (can often avoid by getting to port slightly after the stated check-in time).  Actually, worst case is a surprise inspection and delayed boarding, with everyone showing up at the "regular" boarding time and a backlog to process - don't worry, that is rare (most often inspections are announced at least a day ahead and O or your TA will email you so you know to show up later).

 

Spa reservations - not sure with the new spa; with Canyon Ranch there was a phone number you could call ahead of time to make reservations before boarding.  We did that once lol, since then we just drop by the spa on embarkation day and make arrangements.  Assume new spa will have a similar process, with extra spa front-desk staff on embarkation day to answer questions, schedule appointments (and sell package deals).

 

Have a great time!

[Sun Queen II]

Thanks Babysteps!  We did look for spa number and there doesn’t appear to be one, and our Oceania Vacation Consultant, has been difficult to reach, we’ve been trying for days to get some answers to some of our questions.  Is this normal?

[ORV]

Did you book directly with Oceania? If you just recently booked, run, don't walk, as soon as you can and transfer your booking to a regular TA that is an Oceania specialist. 

 

 

[Sny]

In the past, we have never had difficulty booking spa treatments, even for the same day.  There have been specials offered on spa services (look in Currents for them); so it may even be advantageous to wait to book.  Spa treatments are not cheap and they encourage you to buy whatever product line/s they are using.  Had my first acupuncture treatments on Riviera a few years ago and had great results.  Massages are good; but, as with all massage therapists, it's a good idea to be clear with them what you expect = I like a fair amount of pressure; but not so that I want to scream.

Enjoy your cruise. 

[Sun Queen II]

1 hour ago, ORV said:

Did you book directly with Oceania? If you just recently booked, run, don't walk, as soon as you can and transfer your booking to a regular TA that is an Oceania specialist. 

 

 

Now you have me worried ORV.  His title says “Elite Vacation Consultant, Ocean Cruises/Regent Seven Seas Cruises”. Is this ok?

[sunlover12]

The drink package does not include bottles of wine but you will get a 50% discount on bottles that you purchase.  You both do not need to purchase the drink package if you choose. 

 

Waiting until day of embarkation is fine for making spa appointments. I've never had a problem getting an appointment on the date and time I've asked for. 

 

Welcome to Oceania and enjoy your cruise!

[ORV]

17 hours ago, Sun Queen II said:

Now you have me worried ORV.  His title says “Elite Vacation Consultant, Ocean Cruises/Regent Seven Seas Cruises”. Is this ok?

Not intending to worry you, it's just that you are always better off with an outside travel agent as opposed to a customer service agent that works for Oceania. They can give them whatever fancy name they want, but they're still just a CS rep. You really want a Travel Agent that is a member of the Oceania Connoisseurs club. They will guide you through the ins and outs of everything

[ORV]

I'm not sure what you're putting in the search box but when I type in Oceania Connoisseur Club Travel Agent I get about 6 options on the first page, which includes all I need. 

 

 

[Rob the Cruiser]

You will find Oceania preferred travel agents from the Oceania website. Search "find agent".

 

 

[Sun Queen II]

That’s how we got the guy that we have.  I guess it really doesn’t matter anymore, as all arrangements have been booked now.  Not sure what the Connoisseur Club TA would do now that everything is booked?  Unless I’m missing a piece.  

[Rob the Cruiser]

Maybe I'm not understanding correctly. You used this link? - https://www.oceaniacruises.com/find-agent/