StanandJim

21 minutes ago, don731 said:

You can’t expect your guests to do what you won’t do.

Does that mean that we have to start getting up at 5AM to make beds and clean toilets?

17 minutes ago, CintiPam said:

My usual Waves Grill lunch order:  Surf and Turf with double lobster, no turf, no bun or fries (and a salad.). So so good!

Sounds so darn healthy-

Until the drawn butter is mentioned  😈

10 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

bring your own travel size TP and paper seat covers

On the TP I agree, but my contention (purely unscientific of course) is that the seat covers only work on those rare occasions when they fit the bowl easily.

Once we start to fiddle with them, the benefit evaporates.  

On a similar topic, I'm reminded of a Joan Rivers anecdote where she lost a (real) diamond earing down one of those "hole in the floor" Chinese commodes where the jewelry was still visible after it fell down the hole.

"I am VERY health conscious", Joan reported,  "and quite frugal as well".

"But even  I  thought to myself, Joan that earing IS vintage Dior",

before walking away from that bathroom, forever. 

Treatment related Spa Terrace use is generally restricted to an hour (pre or post).

8 hours ago, LoryAnn said:

With regards to the OLife beverage package promo currently on.  I typically enjoy a glass of wine at dinner and hubby has a Malibu Rum in the afternoon and at dinner. Would it be wiser for us to select the shipboard credit promo versus the beverage package promo? Can we use the  ship board credit for alcohol purchases via the bar service? If we did select the beverage package, is the gratuity included or added separately to our on board account?  And finally, in reading this thread, do I understand correctly that we are permitted to bring alcohol on board (for instance a bottle of rum) and use in our stateroom?  If so, does the alcohol have to be brought on board at embarkation or can you purchase and bring on board at one of the port stops? In the past, we never have brought on board with other cruise lines. Thanks

The typical Drink Promo is for a Package which only works during meals, i.e. no bar service unless you buy up into the Prestige Package at an additional $20 per person per day.

The gratuity is included with either Package.

Passengers may bring on alcohol for in cabin consumption, in other words not in the Public Rooms, at any port.  Oceania does not monitor it.

1 hour ago, Verokaren said:

As time draws closer to our March "trip of a lifetime" to French Polynesia on the Regatta, I am wondering if any of you seasoned cruisers out there have an opinion on how this trip might be affected from the recent cancellations and rerouting of other ships. I am hoping that the virus does not spread to any Pacific islands as that would be devastating for all. I am monitoring the boards daily, but appreciate any insight from others!

This is a very good question which unfortunately cannot be answered or predicted this side of a Crystal ball.

Polynesia has historically been aloof from the problems of the World by virtue of their comparative isolation.

Jet travel and the Internet has changed all of that, and they are keenly aware of it. 

Add in the desperation of the Ship owners suddenly needing  fresh playgrounds for their multi million dollar investments and, well, just about anything could happen.

7 hours ago, LoryAnn said:

I was inquiring if anyone knows the pricing details or any additional info on the Aquamar Spa Terrace areas and the daily or weekly access pass for this area. 

Is there a daily pass fee or a full cruise pass fee?  In looking on line, most of the lounge chairs on the Aquamar Spa Terrace have built in umbrella covers, however, it seems as though it would be very hot and sunny on that upper area.  Because we are sailing in the Caribbean, we have concern about accessing lounge chairs on the main pool deck area so we thought purchasing the spa terrace pass would be a good option.  We do enjoy the thalassotherapy pool, heated chairs and steam rooms. However,  I believe that the dry sauna and wet steam room in the Aquamar Spa Terrace are separated into the men and women's respective change rooms, so I would not be able to relax with hubby in those areas. Not completely certain of this. but the you tube video appeared that was the case.  And finally, can I pre pay or pre book the Aquamar Spa Terrace pass before the cruise or do I have to do this once on board?

I do believe if I have a signature spa treatment, I would have access to the terrace spa for that short time frame after the spa treatment.

The Spa Terrace is an area which is managed by the Spa Director on the ship, and it is within that persons purview to manage occupancy by raising and lowering the price as need dictates.  

The Sauna and Steam Rooms are indeed segregated by sex.

I'm not sure that these endless statements of selflessness carry any weight, when it is obvious (and normal) that Passengers presently booked on  these sailings find themselves in quite the financial pickle.

While I sympathize with being in the situation through no fault of your own, and agonize over the lack of control, it might be worthwhile to consider that professional influence peddlers (similar to the Press Agents of a simpler time) are shamelessly manipulating the Corona situation for fun and profit at a breakneck pace.

While the Internet can be a marvellous, rewarding resource, when it comes to areas where major players have a great deal of financial skin in the game, I have learned the hard way that Free Information is generally worth it's cost in gold.

Be savagely judicious about what you rely on.

8 minutes ago, zteamtwo said:

I thought the results of the ship naming contest were suppose to be announced on Feb 3.  Anybody hear anything?

Somebody named Charlie K won the contest, but they have not announced the winning name of the ship as of yet.

Messer Rubacky will no doubt make an announcement soon.

He loves the suspense.

not a problem, there are blank luggage tags at the pier and all of the porters will have a manifest through which they can check your Cabin number IF you don't learn it before sailing day. 

Relax and Enjoy!

1 minute ago, marylovestotravel said:

 

Dear StanandJim,

 

I understand that there should be a professional distance between staff and passenger. I was only asking if there is any way to contact the Marina for planning purposes. It was not a "personal" enquiry.

 

Mia

Mia-

Personal or professional was not the issue, although it occurs to me that anyone feeling close enough to send personal correspondence would most likely already have contact information.

Consider, if you will, that there are probably somewhere in the region of fifty thousand future guests awaiting passage on a ship the size of Marina, at any given time, and that about 70% of them would have sailed with Oceania before.

Best to plan through your Travel Agent.

On 1/26/2020 at 1:19 PM, pinotlover said:

Your Travel Agent May be a good source for the email address. Also an excellent intermediate for any specific requests you may have while aboard.

+1

FYI Oceania frowns on their shipboard staff corresponding with future passengers as they feel (with good reason IMHO) that it pulls focus from those lucky passengers who are presently on the ship.

These people work long, trying hours as it is, why subject them to hundreds (maybe thousands) of emails in addition?  Even deleting those emails can be quite a job.

Oh I don't know, RCI, for example has been trogging along with the (mostly) disappointing ROI figures of Azamara for nigh onto two decades at this point.

Everything, it seems, cannot be measured on a balance sheet-

5 minutes ago, rainyday458 said:

We were told that NCL had bought the line a couple years ago and had started changing the quality of food and service.

if this is incorrect I will go back to the source for an explanation.

Please tell your "source" that although NCL did buy Oceania, they very quickly placed our CEO  into their top executive spot.

Oceania is his  pet project and chief claim to fame.  

Mr. Del Rio keeps a very close watch on Oceania quality and service, and has the clout to keep it high.  

In short, don't believe everything that you read-

2 hours ago, don731 said:

We are staying at the Intercontinental Hotel near the Miami cruise port before boarding Riviera tomorrow.  Looking for recommendations for breakfast options in the immediate area other than the expensive hotel buffet.  Posted also on the Florida ports page, but thinking Oceania folks are best in the know! 😀. Thanks in advance!  

They don't open untill 11AM, but our go to Restaurant at the Intercontinental is the Blue Water Cafe, which has the added benefit of having THE VERY BEST views of Terminal J in Miami.

Positively mesmerizing if you're sailing on the ship berthed there-

At Any rate, DO visit the Intercontinental Pool on the morning of your sailing  to do a little pre-cruise ship watching.

28 minutes ago, pna said:

Looking at a ship tour of Martinique that is called Cabrio Bus tour.   What is a Cabrio bus?

It is a bus with a fabric (i.e. convertible) roof.

3 hours ago, golfguyhhi said:

Also, have you been able to get a deviation to/from a different city/airport than the cruise start/finish?

Example: Cruise ends in Barcelona and you want to deviate to fly home from Rome.

That is a hard no.

Oceania Air MUST be to and/or from the Embarkation/ Debarkation port(s).  No exceptions.

Something to do with their Air Contracts specifying cruise transportation use only.  

8 hours ago, marylovestotravel said:

Do we have to wait until our specialty restaurant bookings open up to make a reservation for La Reserve? I looked on our cruise of 20 days and there were only 2 days available. Will more evenings become available closer in to the cruise? once we are  onboard ship? Should bookings be done through my travel agent or should I phone Oceania?

 

This is a whole new world for me. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks

 

Mia

The larger picture Mia, is that La Reserve is a Wine Venue, and not a Specialty Restaurant.  It will only open be  open on select nights of the voyage. 

8 hours ago, Mura said:

Even the QE2 docked!

I chuckle when I read this, Mura, because despite the small fortune which Cunard put into all that  "Greatest Ship in the World" publicity; it might surprise you to learn that Marina and Riviera were larger at their launch than QE2.

66084 tons  versus  65,863 tons.

Looking back, we were all brainwashed.😎

5 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Both - and you'll know it when you hear it.

 

But it last for what, twenty or thirty seconds?  

How often are any of us on a ship?

Why not celebrate being on the ship.

1 minute ago, aaaaa said:

Thanks.  On which side is the hawsepipe?

It is where the Anchor chain is.  They are on both sides.

5 hours ago, sailco said:

the service and attention to detail is incredibly consistent across all Princess and Celebrity ships

You have to be kidding-

1 hour ago, EAGLESLOVER said:

Thanks

I'm actually on Regent Splendor that day out of J and was wondering if Sirena would sail from the same terminal.

Hoping someone on that cruise will advise

Rather than depending o the kindness of strangers, why not check the Miami Port Calendar?

http://www.miamidade.gov/portmiami/

7 minutes ago, EAGLESLOVER said:

Does anyone know which terminal the Sirena will depart from on February 25, 2020?

Oceania generally uses Terminal J but the information specific to your departure will be listed in your Blue Book.

43 minutes ago, CHYMN said:

If only one passenger buys the Wine by the Bottle package, can both passengers drink the wine?  Is the wine served only at meals?  A newbie to Oceania--thanks for responding to probably a dumb question.

When you buy the wine by the bottle (package or not) you OWN the bottles, any anyone may drink from them if YOU say it is OK.

You may either bring the bottles back to your Stateroom, or leave the bottles with the Ship to store in their Cellar until you call for them, which could be in any lounge or restaurant.  The choice is yours.