On Riviera Now- 1/14 - 1/28

[Flatbush Flyer]

3 hours ago, LHT28 said:

Too bad they  are quarantined 

Hope they are in a balcony cabin & can sit outside

With this variant it could have been picked up anywhere

They are. And thanks for sentence #3.

[Nymich]

What a difference a week makes!  Day 7 Currents out for tomorrow and NONE of the O signature acts on the schedule.

Bellissimo String Quartet, Sync Session, Riviera Show Band and Riviera Production Company are all shut down and not listed.

I am glad we did the Jan. 4 because we saw them all alot!

For those on the 1/28 you should have them all back up and entertaining by then.  

I hope the ports hold up for this cruise because it offsets the lack of entertainment.  

Edited January 18, 2022 by Nymich

[Host Jazzbeau]

We cruise for ports and cuisine, and this cruise is delivering top notch on all so far.  Even though we got stuck on the slower Canadian America's Cup boat [Sorry, eh?] we had a great time.  First 5 nights:  each of the 4 specialties [excellent] and one Horizons Café – my answer to prior discussion is that while the food is very good, this is still a buffet.  If you arrive when it opens, the food will be reasonably fresh [though probably not quite as fresh as in the GDR] – but if you like to dine late as we do there will be a lot of dried-out dishes that have been sitting under heat lamps and a joint of beef that is down to its last fatty end.  And no 'presentation' in the plating.  Definitely a buffet...

[basor]

10 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

We cruise for ports and cuisine, and this cruise is delivering top notch on all so far.  Even though we got stuck on the slower Canadian America's Cup boat [Sorry, eh?] we had a great time.  First 5 nights:  each of the 4 specialties [excellent] and one Horizons Café – my answer to prior discussion is that while the food is very good, this is still a buffet.  If you arrive when it opens, the food will be reasonably fresh [though probably not quite as fresh as in the GDR] – but if you like to dine late as we do there will be a lot of dried-out dishes that have been sitting under heat lamps and a joint of beef that is down to its last fatty end.  And no 'presentation' in the plating.  Definitely a buffet...

I believe you can order quite a few tasty items from the grill that are cooked to order to go along with the salads and other side offered 

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

Just now, basor said:

I believe you can order quite a few tasty items from the grill that are cooked to order to go along with the salads and other side offered 

 

Tried that.  Not to our taste – I can do the Barbie at home.  But we haven't exhausted the specialty menus yet, and our Butler should be able to get us in for another round (or two).

[basor]

Just now, Host Jazzbeau said:

Tried that.  Not to our taste – I can do the Barbie at home.  But we haven't exhausted the specialty menus yet, and our Butler should be able to get us in for another round (or two).

Sorry to hear - we eat late and found the Terrace a wonderful option.   Don't forget to order from the specialty restaurant and enjoy having it delivered to your room by your butler.  Some of our favorite memories were eating in our room from the specialties with the verandah doors open enjoying the Sunset and amazing food and wine!

[Flatbush Flyer]

4 hours ago, Nymich said:

What a difference a week makes!  Day 7 Currents out for tomorrow and NONE of the O signature acts on the schedule.

Bellissimo String Quartet, Sync Session, Riviera Show Band and Riviera Production Company are all shut down and not listed.

I am glad we did the Jan. 4 because we saw them all alot!

For those on the 1/28 you should have them all back up and entertaining by then.  

I hope the ports hold up for this cruise because it offsets the lack of entertainment.  

If we’re looking at the same Currents and tomorrow is Wednesday January 19, arriving in Antigua, it would be Day 6 of our cruise and the Riviera Show Band is scheduled to play in Horizons at 6:30 PM.

[Nymich]

4 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

If we’re looking at the same Currents and tomorrow is Wednesday January 19, arriving in Antigua, it would be Day 6 of our cruise and the Riviera Show Band is scheduled to play in Horizons at 6:30 PM.

I am losing track of days lol.  Yes Day 6 and I do see the one Show you noted.  I am glad one band is still able to entertain. 

The others are still absent everybody.

[Nymich]

A good piece of info here imo:

On the last cruise many of you are aware that we had a quarantined cabin next door for the last 8 of the 10 days.   For this cruise O has left that cabin EMPTY.  This leads me to believe that they value our health and hopefully this makes people feel comfortable as they board on future cruises.  My guess is they have protocols to sanitize and prefer to leave such cabins empty.

 

Edited January 19, 2022 by Nymich

[gbits]

10 hours ago, thilton said:

Thanks for starting this post. I am not on this cruise, but my mother in law and friend are. Her friend tested positive on Monday and they are both quarantined for the remainder of the cruise.  She has not tested positive yet, but she needs to quarantine with her room mate. My Mother in law suspected it was from the casino, as they heard many of the casino staff were positive. Just a speculation though.  I'm so sad for them. I'm going to try to send something via the cruise line to their room. 

Hoping your MIL and her friend are doing ok. By any chance did O offer to give them anything to compensate for having to spend the majority of their cruise quarantined in their cabin?

Edited January 19, 2022 by gbits

[chloemonkey]

5 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Jan: So sorry that you are not on this cruise. As it turns out, we have most of the ports intact (though Antigua is now on a different day) and all is as good as can be expected including essential safety precautions like Covid era just-to-be-safe quarantines. 

As aforementioned, the casino is currently closed. But, like many O regulars, I was surprised to learn that there was still (ever?) a casino on an O cruise ship.👀😉

We are quite the opposite as without a casino - we would rather NOT cruise.  So this would truly be a deal breaker for us.  Hoping that we can cancel our February cruise if this continues to be the situation.

[Nymich]

2 minutes ago, gbits said:

Has O offered to give your MIL and her friend anything to compensate for having to spend the majority of their cruise quarantined in their cabin?

Now that is a good question.

[jazznruby]

13 minutes ago, gbits said:

Hoping your MIL and her friend are doing ok. By any chance did O offer to give them anything to compensate for having to spend the majority of their cruise quarantined in their cabin?

From Sail SAFE FAQ...If I test positive for COVID-19 during a cruise and have to quarantine, will I receive a full refund? Guests who test positive for COVID-19 during their cruise and are required to quarantine will receive a pro-rated cash refund or a pro-rated Future Cruise Credit. 

[Cruze4Ever]

13 hours ago, ToxM said:

I hope all crew members get out of isolation safely and enjoy a bit of a rest if they are asymptomatic.

 

it’s not Oceania’s fault - it’s the pandemic’s fault. They are now adapting as best they can to a new new new way of working, this is how it will be now. 

 

Make the most of the sun and the food and the camaraderie 🙂

I totally agree!!!

 

[gbits]

16 minutes ago, jazznruby said:

From Sail SAFE FAQ...If I test positive for COVID-19 during a cruise and have to quarantine, will I receive a full refund? Guests who test positive for COVID-19 during their cruise and are required to quarantine will receive a pro-rated cash refund or a pro-rated Future Cruise Credit. 

Thank you, I did not see that!

[pilgrimage]

5 hours ago, Nymich said:

What a difference a week makes!  Day 7 Currents out for tomorrow and NONE of the O signature acts on the schedule.

Bellissimo String Quartet, Sync Session, Riviera Show Band and Riviera Production Company are all shut down and not listed.

I am glad we did the Jan. 4 because we saw them all alot!

For those on the 1/28 you should have them all back up and entertaining by then.  

I hope the ports hold up for this cruise because it offsets the lack of entertainment.  

 

Clear sailing for you all - no matter what, it could be worse, you could be back on dry land!  I was really craving a Waves burger and a view to the horizon today. 🙂

 

Edited January 19, 2022 by pilgrimage

[Redtravel]

You arrive at embarkation having tested negative. The test at the dock tests negative.  You sail and a few days later, you test positive. If all passengers are vaccinated and tested negative, where is the virus?  Must be on the ship somewhere.  Then you must quarantine for the rest of the cruise.  After which they get fcc.  Give them a refund and hope they recover without any long term affects.  A prorated fcc is inappropriate.

[cruiserchuck]

20 minutes ago, Redtravel said:

You arrive at embarkation having tested negative. The test at the dock tests negative.  You sail and a few days later, you test positive. If all passengers are vaccinated and tested negative, where is the virus?  Must be on the ship somewhere.  

 

There is so much Omicron out there that it is really impossible to determine where someone was infected.  Since passengers on most flights do not have to be tested, I suspect many folks are getting infected on airplanes and/or at crowded airports.  Folks who get infected while traveling to the cruise likely would not test positive at the dock during check in, but would only test positive several days later.

 

[kjbacon]

We just got back from a Regent Caribbean cruise and are slated for our first Oceania cruise in March. Our observations were that the ports were a likely contributing source of the virus. This was our bus driver on an island with a covid level 4 and how he wore his mask during both hour long legs of the bus ride. Many passengers were also unmasked on the bus.

[Nymich]

9 hours ago, jazznruby said:

From Sail SAFE FAQ...If I test positive for COVID-19 during a cruise and have to quarantine, will I receive a full refund? Guests who test positive for COVID-19 during their cruise and are required to quarantine will receive a pro-rated cash refund or a pro-rated Future Cruise Credit. 

While it is good to know what Sailsafe SAYS I would love to see how it is presented and what they actually DO financially with the lost days when someone is quarantined?  (cash... Fcc) Not what they SAY they will do.  Hope that makes sense.

For that I would need a first hand account from someone who WAS quarantined before I really trust a thing as to how smoothly it would go in that event.

If it is you paid with cash you get cash or you paid with FCC you get FCC that I clearly understand but it seems vague at the end imo

 

 

Edited January 19, 2022 by Nymich

[espmass]

8 hours ago, Redtravel said:

You arrive at embarkation having tested negative. The test at the dock tests negative.  You sail and a few days later, you test positive. If all passengers are vaccinated and tested negative, where is the virus?  Must be on the ship somewhere.  Then you must quarantine for the rest of the cruise.  After which they get fcc.  Give them a refund and hope they recover without any long term affects.  A prorated fcc is inappropriate.

 

Another interesting scenario-  You take your PCR test 48 hours before embarkation.  With the delay in results lately you do not have your results prior to boarding.  You take the Rapid test with Oceania at the port, it is negative, and you board.  The next day you get your PCR results online and it is positive.  Very feasible as Rapids are often inaccurate.  Now what?  Whose fault?

[seawitch1]

Confused now. Thought that PCR or Antigen test requirement recommended for next Riviera January sailing out of Miami stated 72 or 48 hours before embarkation according to Oceania 12 January update. Appreciate if someone could clarify this. We have booked our pre-testing going by the 72 hour understanding. Starting to panic. 

[Gray Eagle02]

3 minutes ago, seawitch1 said:

Confused now. Thought that PCR or Antigen test requirement recommended for next Riviera January sailing out of Miami stated 72 or 48 hours before embarkation according to Oceania 12 January update. Appreciate if someone could clarify this. We have booked our pre-testing going by the 72 hour understanding. Starting to panic. 

You are correct. And if you’re wrong we are in the same boat. We scheduled our PCR on 25 Jan for 28 Jan sailing as per Sail Safe January 12 update. 

[Redtravel]

8 minutes ago, Gray Eagle02 said:

You are correct. And if you’re wrong we are in the same boat. We scheduled our PCR on 25 Jan for 28 Jan sailing as per Sail Safe January 12 update. 

Make sure that you get a test at a facility that has a quick turn around.  
we got a PCR test at CVS. We were told that results come back 1-2 days later.  We got results 4 days later, more than 72 hours needed for most travel.  Test was negative. However, the time waiting was ridiculous.  

[gardenbunny]

I think people in that situation probably have Covid when they board  and testing  at pier is negative because viral load is too low to capture on rapid test. And IF they have no sysmptoms they could very well be unknowingly spreading.  And if they don’t have another test lets say before 5 days, next test could be negative again because viral load has passed!

Testing has to be just the right timing.

 

My question - didn’t CDC change quarantine to 5 days if you test negative at that time?