Quick Review- Insignia in the Baltic

[pick117]

This was our first ever cruise so take this for what it is worth. Many of our choises were based on comments from this site. Thank you so much.

Oceania was great from the start.

Watch your airline schedule however, as they really turned us quick in Atlanta. Could have lost our bags.

We choose a PH3 and really appreciated the extra space and the Butler. Had coffe served every morning and several meals on the veranda. All in all, well worth the extra cost but not really necessary.

Dining was great all around . Really liked the less formal atmosphere but many folks still dressed very fashionably. All the resturants provided a good variety. I did not think the Polo and Toscanna were that great and service was actually better in the main dining room. The hamburgers were excellent in Waves. The convenience of not having a set dinner time is wonderful.

The excursions were only of fair quality and if you are at all adventuresome, I highly recommend getting a taxi and doing your own thing. Except St. Pete - We hired a local guide (Alla) for two days and were very satisfied - more so than many who went on the packaged tours.

The only peeves I really had with Oceania was the nickel and dime feeling every time I wanted bottled water or a coke and having to sign chits. Also, it would have really been nice to have a bus pick up those who wanted to stay in town a little longer rather than return to the ship and spend 4 to 7 hours waiting to sail. Lots of wasted time that could be spent sightseeing or better yet shopping.

All in all though a great cruise and cruise line.

[Sweeterpea]

Thanks for the review Pick :)

 

We are booked in a PH3 on the Insignia next spring. How big is the veranda? Do you feel crowded or is it big enough for the both of you?

[pick117]

We had two lounge chairs and small settes for your feet and a very small table. We were quite comfotable and used the veranda a lot. If you depart Copenhagen ad disembark Stockholm get an even numbered cabin.

[Sweeterpea]

Thanks, Pick :)

[Arkie_L]

I would echo most that was said. Our problem was that we had a big 5 hour layover in Chicago and then we didn't get to London until about noon. By the time we got to our hotel it was almost 3 pm. It was Sunday so everything closed at 6pm. We paid for an extra day in London at a rediculous price and then got to use 3 hours of it. Next time I will book my own flights, hotels, transfers, and some tours. I believe that I can save some money and have a much more customized itinerary.

In general the cruise was a wonderful time. We had a PH2. We were near the middle of the ship and it made for a smooth ride. The veranda was very adequate for two. We had suite 8049 and it was against a bulkhead so the veranda was completely private on one side. We were right around the corner from the elevator and stairs which made it very convenient. We were basically right under the entrance to Tapas. Some noise at night when the crew moved furniture but not much. If you want a larger veranda you could get an A class suite in the front or back. The room is smaller but the veranda is long. The butler service was what made the cruise special for us. Our butler took care of every need, issue, problem, etc. He gave good advice and busted his butt to make sure everything was perfect for us.

Just some tour comments. The canal tours were more enjoyable than riding in a bus. In St. Pete you really need to book your own tours with a local tour company well in advance so that they can take care of the visa issue. We did the ship tours and I felt like we were rushed. There is just soooo much to see in St. Pete. The Hermitage in two hours is rediculous. You could spend days there. The tour guides wanted to tell you about every building and every historical location. This is ok but it took time away from the main attractions. In a smaller vehicle you could get through traffic quicker and have more time to see the sights that you want to see. The 12 hour tour to Berlin really wasn't worth it. In Copenhagen, Tivoli gardens was a rip-off. I was expecting some type of botanical gardens and park. It was a theme park. We went around the corner and went to the Hard Rock Cafe and had lunch and bought some t-shirts.

One thing that we noticed was a strong cigarette smell in the forward stairwell. This is where you go to use the spa, fitness center, or computers. It was being pulled in from outside on the deck in one of the designated smoking areas. If we would have had a cabin in this area it would have been a major issue since my wife has asthma!!!

The food was great. The burgers at Waves were really good!! We had the same issues with the Polo Grill and Toscana. Service was not as good and the food was okay at best. The main dining room had the best food and service by far. We ripped the Polo Grill on the mid cruise comment card and we received amazing special service after that in every restaurant.

The spa services were very expensive but that is to be expected. At least the personnl were well trained and very competent. I have lower back trouble and I had a deep tissue massage the day before we left to see if I could keep it from hurting on the plane. It hasn't hurt since and it has been a month. The massage therapist was also a licensed physical therapist. She knew what she was doing.

My primary advice would be to do your homework on what you want to see and if the ship tours do not meet your needs then book your own or wait until you get to port and find a tour operator. Don't over-do it on tours. We saw people that did two and three tours a day and they were exhausted. We restricted our tours to one a day and made up the difference either visiting the spa or reading on our veranda. We had to do this because my wife had just had surgery 7 weeks prior to the cruise. SHe was cleared by the doctor the day before we left. It turned out just fine. We saw the hilights and had some intimate time together, meals in our room, etc.

With tours, cloths, a PH2 suite, trip insurance, parking, and house-sitting. We probally spent in excess of $20K on this trip. It was worth every penny. When I can afford to do it again I will. I think the Med is next on the agenda. The only vacation that has even come close to this one was a 12 day stay at Qamea Resort in Fiji and it was a totally different type of vacation. On Oceania everyone was older than us. At Qamea everyone was younger than us. We managed to fit in and make friends at both places. On this cruise we were going to the the art, culture, and historical centers of Europe and the world. At Qamea we were going literally to a garden of eden at the end of the earth.

One medical problem that my wife and I had has our feet and ankles swelling. Hers swelled a little, mine swelled a lot. Hers went back to normal but mine didn't. I have been taking medication but when I quite taking the medication they swell again. I have additional test scheduled to see if it is a blood clot or a heart problem. So far all the test have come back normal. We'll see what the next batch tell. Neither of us have ever had ankle/feet swelling before and we have travelled extensively.

Arkie

[Decebal]

[quote name=Arkie_L.One medical problem that my wife and I had has our feet and ankles swelling. Hers swelled a little' date=' mine swelled a lot. Hers went back to normal but mine didn't. I have been taking medication but when I quite taking the medication they swell again. I have additional test scheduled to see if it is a blood clot or a heart problem. So far all the test have come back normal. We'll see what the next batch tell. Neither of us have ever had ankle/feet swelling before and we have travelled extensively.

Arkie[/quote]

 

Wonderful review, thank you for taking the time to share it with us.

My dad has the same problem with swelling ankles, it all comes from the heart (he is 78 years old). He is on a low sodium diet and gets 1 hour of exercise each day to keep the problem in check. He is on heart medication for arythmia (sp?) when the ticker is not running smooth, swollen ankles.