ORV

Just one thought, looks like if you went on O you would turn Bronze, you would start getting some decent perks at that level. 

Every Oceania cruise I've been on has had the heavy doors closed to the stateroom area until they are available. They are not locked, but they are closed. I have been on multiple B2B where we've had to open them to come and go. We've also been questioned by staff when we open them. Once you tell them you're on a B2B it's fine. But they definitely prefer that you not be in that area if you are just boarding, regardless of your opinion on the subject. 

The R ships handle rough water quite well in my experience with them. When the weather is bad enough the size does not matter. 

Just one point, if they didn't do enough research to know that typically Oceania only has one show a night, usually at 9:30 then they didn't know what they were getting in to. 

But frankly if they had all those issues then I'd say the problem is probably with them. 

There are multiple ATW cruisers that have repeated it since it started, so they must be doing something right. I personally would not do an ATW, primarily because the food and drink would probably kill me. As a friend of mine in college used to say, "Moderation is for monks."

I've missed Bermuda as many times as we've been able to make it. Twice due to weather and once due to not being allowed to dock due to Noro onboard. 

I've been there 3 times, twice on Oceania, once on Celebrity. Both times on Oceania we were scheduled for St George but only made it there once. The passage to get there is very narrow(well, so is the one to Hamilton, but not as much) and if it's windy they may not attempt it. 

Have you read any of the posters that do say the food meets the hype? Don't just read the negative stuff. Remember, an unhappy traveler is more likely to leave a review or comments than a happy one. I would say go with an open mind. 

Having been in multiple Celebrity specialty restaurants and most of the Oceania ones in my opinion there is no comparison. 

I'd say give it a go and see what you think, if you don't like it then you know. 

I believe unless you are a member of that site then you can only see the weather for just a few days before you're at a port. On the other hand it'll probably be more accurate then. 

9 hours ago, mark46 said:

You can google or look on youtube.

 

On HAL, we always book a Neptune Suite near their Neptune Lounge. BTW, I'm somewhat amused with the great O benefit of washers and dryers on every floor and 3 bags of free pressing.  I'm used to daily free laundry that comes back within 24 hours cleaned and folded. 

HAL doesn't have a ship within a ship.  They are similar to O in that they do value treating folks relatively equally. But there are many options and preferences given to Neptune suite guests.

 

On Celebrity, we book a Royal Suite.  This includes unlimited access to all specialty restaurants as well as to their ship within a ship.  Suite guests have their own restaurant lounge, retreat and many other benefits.  One also has access to the "healthy" restaurant BLU if there is room.  Service includes a dedicated butler (not as good as MSC service, but cry good).

Have you cruised on Oceania or just considering it?

This is a couple of times I've noticed the "ringing of doorbells" statement. Does the Vista have doorbells on all the rooms? I know on the other ships that most upper suites and some accessible rooms have them, but not the regular rooms. 

One thing that some don't know is that you used to be able to get is Iberico de Belota pork chop in Polo & Jacques. That is also another thing that has quietly disappeared. 

I've done this in the other direction. This is really easily done. The train station in Amsterdam is right next to the cruise port. If you're ok with handling your luggage a few blocks then it's a piece of cake. This is assuming your ship is going to dock in the downtown port. I don't think there's anyone to help with your luggage, but I could be wrong about that. 

It's not a long ride at all, I don't remember the scenery that much as we played cards with our traveling companions. We were there before I knew it. 

I think both places are part of the EU, so you don't have to worry about immigration. If I'm wrong hopefully someone will correct me. 

I think the train station you go into in Paris is Gard du Nord, at least that's the one we boarded at. I don't think there is any problem with taxis, although we only took one from our hotel to the train station. 

I'd recommend it. Everyone should go to Paris at least once. I think the train you want to look up online is Thalys, or something like that. Wasn't expensive at all, and it really wasn't too hard to deal with luggage, but we have really good luggage that rolls well or attaches to one that rolls. A good backpack also helps. 

20 minutes ago, ORV said:

I didn't click the link but I do think Bristol is the birthplace of Bluegrass. I'll go check the link now to see. 

I had that wrong, it's considered the birthplace of country music.

Bluegrass is the little town in KY where Bill Monroe is from, but, I guess it's not as simple as that. It's roots are England, Scotland, Italy, Ireland, Africa and I'm sure other places, that melded together in the Appalachian Mountains. I've always enjoyed the energy of it live, but not really something I'd sit around and listen to at home. 

1 hour ago, Iamthesea said:

 

We were pleasantly surprised with this show on our cruise last March.  Agree that the singers were good, especially the female singer that we had.  Another surprise was that our small hometown of Kingsport, TN, was mentioned in the commentary, as was Bristol, TN and VA.

I suggest that you read the following article about Bluegrass. LINK

 

I didn't click the link but I do think Bristol is the birthplace of Bluegrass. I'll go check the link now to see. 

I'm sure they made Franck's Mashed potatoes for years and surely they still have the recipe. Is it against the law to make them the same and just simply call them mashed potatoes? Or is more a Professional Courtesy thing?

As has been pointed out, these are not really hot tubs, the water is filled and drained after each use. They are more an outdoor whirlpool bathtub. 

12 hours ago, jonthomas said:

Thank you for having the courage to say how you feel and saying it much better than I have been able to.

Actually what you've been saying and what she said are not the same. 

I've never had the Swedish pancakes, they're not very good. 🤪

Lorimay, thanks for your review and insights. I would have to say, with all due respect, that I would have a hard time highly recommending a tour company that took me to a high pressure rug seller. We also had a private tour there and they didn't take us to any stores, just to Ephesus, with the Terrace Houses and back to the ship. 

31 minutes ago, edgee said:

The architect who designed the Vista lounge should be thrown out of the profession for malpractice (along with the idiot who set specifications for the (non existent) soundproofing between cabins, the slippery floors in the Terrace and the aft stairway that does not go below deck six.)

Theatre site lines are awful and many rows off to the side have only one entrance/exit side, meaning lots of guests must be bothered to stand to let others in and out of rows.

Since you've been there obviously you have a point of view on it. I haven't been on Vista, but enough people have complained that it's a problem. It would seem there would be CAD program for that when it was being designed. It's probably a matter of the space above and below being needed for other things they felt were more important. If you notice most theaters on larger cruise ships take up 3 to 4 decks. On a ship the size of Oceania's they don't have that luxury. Soundproofing and slippery floors have no excuse, or reason why, other than poor workmanship or cost cutting. The elevator issue has been explained as that is where one of the kitchens is. 

I haven't been on Vista, so I have no opinion on it. 

Is this what's called a Red Herring argument?

I learned a long time ago, some people get it, some don't. It appears all the talking in the world won't change that for some people. Some minds are like cement, all mixed up and permanently set. 

Here is why they ask us to wait until your room is ready. The crew is busting their butts cleaning and preparing rooms for those of us coming on. There are also a dedicated bunch that are bringing on the luggage and taking it up and down the hallway to the proper room. If everyone was allowed to drop off their carry ons and extra purchases, whatever they may be, then the hallways would be full of people that really don't know where they are going or what they are doing. All that would do is just slow down the whole process. It doesn't take a smart person to figure that out. You know why it doesn't? I can figure it out and I'm not that bright. 

14 minutes ago, jonthomas said:

you were right, I found one more that is speaking freely....

 

it is from the topic of Vista july 23, topic #86

84...

 

"The downside of this trip was the 130 kids onboard.  We were stunned Oceania is now allowing kids.  

There were babies, in the pool and hot tubs with diapers. This is allowed in the concierge hot tubs too.  This was not a ship for kids.  Not enough to do.  They had a little room for them to play in.  Kids will be kids and some do not behave. It's the parents obligation to make sure they do. "

 

would not liked to have been on that one...

 

And like some others they are misinformed, they were under the impression that Oceania hasn't allowed kids in the past. The other boards you speak of have so much misinformation that it would be impossible for me to be a member there. I have a low threshold for that. 

2 hours ago, Sojourner02 said:

The downside of this trip was the 130 kids onboard.  We were stunned Oceania is now allowing kids.  

FYI, in my experience in the last 15 years they've always allowed kids, it's just very few people bring them, and rightly so. 

I think this is the new application of “at lunch and dinner”. In my experience it’s always been hard to get a drink in the Morning before 10am, unless it’s at a brunch and it’s an extra charge. 

1 hour ago, Kay S said:

Did this happen on an Oceania ship?  More than one voyage?

No, she’s reported it before and it was Celebrity. 

1 hour ago, SbbquilterUT said:

Did get an answer from O - be on board no later than 3 hours before sailing so 1600 seems to be the cut off .

I might be missing something but it would appear that 1700 is three hours. Of course I realize you need to leave some padding time. 

I would definitely ask your TA or a CSR at Oceania if you booked directly with them.