ORV

We just arrived 2 hours early in Punta Arenas. How many of you ever report these situations? Hard to complain about that eh?

So we’re in Ushuaia today, the southern most city in the world. Fun little town. We went for about a 3 hour walk in the woods on our tour. It was a 3 hiker icon. First time one of those was any type of challenge for us. Or maybe it’s been the 20 or 30 pounds I’ve put on in the last year or so. Soon as I get home I’m going to get on the Drew Carey/ Kelly Clarkson/ Oprah plan, whatever that is. Weather once again was great. The naturalists are very worried about that hole in the ozone and what it means to this area.

There are varying levels of crew though. You would think, or at least I would that the piano player would have a little more leeway than a room steward. But apparently not.

To quote the late great Chuck Berry: It wasn't me, Captain Uhm-uhm, Captain, it wasn't me It must have been some other body Uhm-uhm, Captain, it wasn't me

Right, and that was my point. The other poster was referring to Oceania and I’ve never heard of a “may not sail” case with a guarantee. Now, there have been many situations where a meeting of the minds between Oceania and the customer have occurred and other arrangements were made, but no one with a guarantee has been denied boarding. That is why I asked @Redtravel for more details. FWIW for future reference this is not my first rodeo on Oceania. I hope you were explaining all that for others that may not be aware of the way it works.

I never got your email, sometimes gmail addresses don’t come through for some reason.

Yes

So I saw an entertainer boarding in front of us today, security flagged his bottle of wine, asked him for his stateroom number and said he could pick it up later. Couple we know right behind us had a bottle and nothing said. So this was new information for me. Crew/ entertainment have booze held, but not passengers. Of course I’ve always known they didn’t question passengers, but I didn’t know the protocol with employees.

That is on the by the glass menu. Pretty drinkable.

Now you’re really dating yourself. Oddly enough there seems to be a router right above my head in a stateroom in the only Oceania ship that hasn’t been updated. Really doesn’t help improve the internet that much. I’m on my phone data right now in port. Works much better.

Email me Orv 7 at really warm mail dot com. Don’t really know if this is supposed to be public information.

I don’t know who that is, but do you speak Spanish? I could tell you what his name means in English.

Could you verify this statement concerning Oceania? Have you or do you know anyone personally that had a guarantee that was refused boarding?

Nope, haven’t noticed this at all. When did you get off?

Ok, for any of you on the next cruise that doesn’t want to fight the crowds. The specialty restaurants on 14 are unlocked during the day. Actually Polo is set up in the front for playing cards. No need to fight the crowds in Horizons or freeze outside unless you want to. I also understand you’ll have a VIP on board the next cruise, for those in the know he will be instantly recognizable. Let’s just say he’s retired now, but probably doesn’t need a boarding pass.

That’s great, I don’t think I’ve ever seen that version.

Just make sure you talk to someone that actually can understand you, because some of the front line servers in Terrace will just nod their head and smile to any question. Very nice hard working people, but some of these issues are well beyond their pay grade.

Premium Sheium, all I care is whether or not I like it. Just finished some Peanut Butter Fudge Ripple and loved it.

We are running out of a few things. No strawberries or blackberries. While I miss them I’m not going to get bent out of shape over it like I’ve heard a couple of people do over the yogurt in the Terrace. While on that subject, I can’t seem to understand how the food staff can bend over backwards for people’s special eating needs but if I ask for something simple like no lettuce on my Club sandwich it blows their minds. I’ve found it’s just easier to take it off myself. There are also no pats of butter at breakfast, lunch or dinner in the GDR. They have been replaced by foil wrapped Greenland Farms butter from Wisconsin. 🧀 The horror. Polo still had the little butter pots though. Although a bit windy the weather is beautiful again today. Looking forward to Ushuaia. Glad to have internet back but emails are not working. Odd.

I think it’s not a bag specifically but 20 pieces.

Well, it was a bit rough for a while, but it’s fine now. Nothing new to report really. We had dinner in Polo last night and I tried to branch out and get a Porterhouse, Wound up sending it back and getting a filet instead. It was pretty much all fatty. The filet side had no edible parts and was almost nonexistent, the other side was also fatty. The filet that I replaced it with was perfect.

The first night we were offered an extra specialty while having lunch after we boarded, the second was the one we selected in advance, tonight, the third was selected by the OCA who invited us for our dinner with an official that is one of the Platinum perks. We are going to be leaving Antarctica a day early and sailing through the Drake early due to weather reports. We will arrive at Ushaai on the 5th around 1 pm or so depending on weather. The Captain said due to good weather we had seen all of the Antarctic area they had planned on. He said the Drake will be pretty rough but not as bad as the next day Today was absolutely awesome and amazing. Everyone should do this if they have the opportunity.

The first night we were offered an extra specialty while having lunch after we boarded, the second was the one we selected in advance, tonight, the third was selected by the OCA who invited us for our dinner with an official that is one of the Platinum perks. We are going to be leaving Antarctica a day early and sailing through the Drake early due to weather reports. We will arrive at Ushaai on the 5th around 1 pm or so depending on weather. The Captain said due to good weather we had seen all of the Antarctic area they had planned on. He said the Drake will be pretty rough but not as bad as the next day Today was absolutely awesome and amazing. Everyone should do this if they have the opportunity.

Yeah, that’ s where we’re at. So I’m in a public room with comfy chairs and floor to ceiling windows. I’m the only person in here, all other inside venues with a view are wall to wall people. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before.

It’s a new day and absolutely beautiful. Schedule says Gerleche Strait and Wilhelmina Bay, we’ve seen a lot of whales 🐋 and some really impressive icebergs.