ORV

This could very well be why those on Marina are having the issues that have been reported. I didn't really notice any service problems on Riviera, but we did talk to a few new staff members.

When you have a package there is no gratuity added to your drinks. I don't think that applies to a bottle of wine or a La Reserve dinner. You still pay gratuity on those. But if don't have a package and you are buying by the drink there is a gratuity added. For example, a $12 drink has $2.40 added to it making it $14.40. A couple of those in the afternoon adds $4.80 and if there is two of you it's $9.60. That can add up pretty quickly.

Thank you pointing that out. That was a typo, I've fixed it now. I guess I was going to be on a special cruise. I'm the one that had the dates horribly wrong. LOL. We get on Nautica on the 24th, which oddly enough is my 20th year anniversary of joining Cruise Critic. You'll be getting off as we get on. Enjoy your July cruise on Riviera.

One thing that I didn't mention. I'm sure many world travelers know this, but I've never flown out of Dublin before back to the USA. It's one of those airports that you clear US customs before you ever board the plane. So, that speeds things up considerably if you're looking at a tight connection. Your bags are checked all the way through to your final destination without you having to touch them. We actually came into Boston at gate A19 and went out on our next flight at gate A18. It don't get any better than that.

Yeah, I wouldn't try that.

Only change we had was Oban, it lost an hour. 8am to 9am. Of course Holyhead was changed to Killybegs, but it was the same amount of time.

We had booked our excursions fairly early so didn't have a lot of issue with them, then when they cancelled Holyhead two weeks before the cruise we had to scramble for what we could get. We enjoyed our tour in Killybegs, but we didn't stop for lunch. We did have a great time at Leo's Tavern. Seems like a fun place.

Just to finish this up. We did make it back to DFW, with luggage, BUT the airport Marriott kept us waiting for the shuttle from 2:15-3am. I was so tired by the time we finally got to the room. I'm getting too old for 24 hour plus days. We were back up by 8:30am for the 7-hour drive home. I'm back in the lovely hot Ozarks, all unpacked and finishing up laundry. Good thing I did a couple of loads on the ship. Other than the one tour that was a bust I have absolutely no issues with this cruise at all. Riviera is one of our favorite ships and we've probably spent more days on it than any of the others. This cruise only solidified that opinion. The food was about as good as any I've ever had on Oceania, the service was for the most part great, with a bobble here and there, but not enough to get excited about. All of the Specialty Restaurants were very good. Emma Smith was the General Manager, and she seems to have the Riviera running just fine. FF asked me about the CD Clelford. I agree that Martinis is not a conducive place at all for team trivia. I didn't really gel with him the way we have with a few other CD's, but I didn't find him any more abrasive than many people's favorite from Pennsylvania. This was the first time in a while we didn't have some kind of drink package but didn't miss it too bad. Just a reminder that the 20% gratuity can add up pretty quickly. I've mentioned it earlier but the weather for the UK was about perfect. Mid 70's and sunshine pretty much every day. A little rain a couple of times, but it went away. After going to Edinburgh we decided to go in a couple of days early on our cruise that starts there in Aug of 2024. As I think I said when I started, I'm just happy to be there, and did my best to make the best of it. Life is too short to look for problems. Any questions I'll try to answer.

We do have some good beef in the Midwest. I see a big ol cow in the pasture across the street from me. Actually there are literally 1000's of them in every direction from where I Iive.

While they didn't get in my way it certainly changed the timbre of a normal Oceania cruise. There were many first time Oceania guests among the alumni groups and a few I spoke with seemed to be unhappy over the littlest things. Said they'll never go on Oceania again. I thought it was a great cruise.

McCormick Montreal steak seasoning is a pretty fair all purpose seasoning on a steak.

Spoke too soon, 9:38 flight to DFW delayed until 12:24, I expect it to cancel. Par for the course.

Did I mention that the internet was probably better than it’s ever been on an Oceania cruise? I’ll give some final thoughts in a day or so, currently on the second of three flights back. So far so good. Seems we left Belfast 20 hours ago, but Teresa says about 16.

On the cruise we just got off of my wife received the next evenings menu and to mark her choice by 10am the next morning. Having never received this we enquired at reservations the next morning and apparently her acct had been marked as food allergies. We told them she didn’t have any but for the next tif nights at dinner the waiters were concerned about it. It finally went away.

We’ll there’s something I can agree with you about.

As so frequently happens someone’s idea to make something better kills the concept.

Simply stated, the PH1’s will be in the center of the ship. Phs 2 the next group of rooms moving forward and aft. The Ph3’s at the extreme forward and aft. There are exceptions to this and deck level also comes into play, but this is the basic concept.

It’s not for everyone.

So our bus just sideswiped a car on a narrow Irish road. They exchanged information, don’t know who was at fault. We’re stopped in front of Daniel O’Donnell’s house. He performs in the town I just moved from.

We took a tour of the country side and stopped at Leo’s Tavern for an Irish Coffee which was a nice surprise. It is in Donegal and the Owner is the son of Leo and the brother of the singer Enya, also related to the band Clannad. Lots of interesting pictures on the walls.

The times, they are a changing.

Today is the last day of this cruise, weather looks fair today, but it might rain. The internet has worked rather well this trip. About as good as I ever remember. We’re off on a tour of Killybegs today, then back to pack, complicated by a specialty tonight. What idiot does that? I actually had no choice as I had previously messed up on the specialty reservations and had to adjust them to be able to eat early.

In Killybegs Ireland today which was a replacement for Holyhead Wales. The substitution was announced a couple of weeks before the cruise so it wasn’t a complete surprise. We made all other ports and have no shortened days other than what was originally announced. The fruit has been excellent this cruise, I’ve had blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, mango, melons etc and they’ve been good. No shortage of any jams or jellies.

I’ve never used a shoe horn in my life, if shoes are that tight I have no interest in owning them. 😫

Will do. Had dinner with her last night and had a great time.