nigelc

On ‎8‎/‎15‎/‎2019 at 3:18 PM, Shawnino said:

 

If the staff is unhappy, that's really no good, but they'll mostly be out of contract by April -- and I hope they can find a better place they like to work.

There does seem a fair few reports of poor service and food - particularly on Sirena. Lets hope these "unhappy staff" are not expecting any "tips".   

Loved the space that the HAL Neptune Suite provides. However, for me, that's where the quality of the "HAL experience" ended. The food and service were poor and not even close to that I experienced on Riviera - but as LHT28 said, "only you can decide".

To someone from the UK it sounds as silly as the rule on tipping someone you have already tipped for a service you have not received - sorry, as they say "just poking the bear".  

3 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Is the suit  a perk on HAL ?😁

lol - it is - should always check the spelling before submitting the post

Been on HAL once - loved the Neptune suit, very large balcony, excellent for our Norway trip. However, the food, service and other passengers behaviour was truly awfully - never again. 

I was on Riviera in March 2019 for 10 days. My first Oceania experience and while it was not perfect, in my humble opinion, it was pretty close. Certainly, as good as any of my trips with Regent (well maybe not as good as Explorer but that was outstanding). Overall, a great ship, with excellent food and service - definitely no need to be concerned.

Hope you have a great cruise.   

Stayed at the Sheraton Miami Airport Hotel & Executive Meeting Center in March 2019 - free shuttle bus to the airport, leaving every 30mins and only a 10 min ride. Booked via Dayuse.com - excellent service and value, highly recommended.

You are a star - Been waiting for ages for some photo's of the refurbishment - Thank you.

Great post - nice to finally some video of the changes.

If you are planning on doing your own thing, then the simple answer is probably no - but that's just my humble opinion. Some of the others who visited during the same trip probably found it ok. However, the vast majority of the people I spoke too, would not want to repeat the experience.

Would also be very interested in how the ship is looking post-refurbishment - is there any CC members on the current cruise who could enlighten us? It would be most appreciated.  

You are right, I do not get it - but with respect, I do not think you do either. While you might think you are in "American Culture" you are not - just look at the flag the ship is flying. Indeed, I have been on numerous cruises where there are more non Americans but you guys still want to carry on as if you are in the USA - that's fine, do as you wish but please do not dictate what others must do. We are not being cheap but merely expect something for our tips. If I book and pay for 5 star service then that's what I expect as the norm - better than that and I am happy to tip. However, the real issue is that staff should be paid a fair wage but while American travellers feel the need to tip no matter what, and often on top of the set gratuities, this will never happen. Take one of the previous posters who had the drinks package (which incudes gratuities) but still tips each server 18% - not because of the good service, but because its the custom. As I said before, it might be your culture but it is not everyone's - and sorry, tips are never mandatory. Think about it, what you are saying is that if the service is extremely poor, you still are going to give a tip - from an English view (well mine anyway) that's crazy.

11 minutes ago, robbie21 said:

Although it has been often repeated it appears to have been missed by some of our non American fellow travelers - in American culture and practice tips are expected …..

This is often repeated but is certainly not missed by us non-American travellers. However, while it is American culture, it certainly is not every countries culture. When I am in the USA, I do feel that I should follow the "norm", but with the greatest respect, we non American travellers do not always take kindly to be told that we need to tip because it is American culture when outside the USA - in simple terms, you cannot force the world to be American. Indeed, we must remember that it is not in the majority of the crews countries culture either. As I have said in the "thread", I am happy to tip for good/excellent service and would not remove them for even ok service. However, I would not reward poor service, and while I am happy to raise issues regarding poor service with management, they tend to take more of an interest once you start reducing the gratuities.

5 minutes ago, jackdeb said:

Obviously have touched a nerve with UK cruisers about tipping, it is a good thing they have their famous sense of humour to see them through this crisis.

Nothing to do with tipping, just not keen on key board warriors and their promoting shooting or keelhauling people who have a different view to them. This forum is about cruising and readers/posters should not be subjected to such nonsense. You call it humour, I call it bad taste.  

2 minutes ago, Rob the Cruiser said:

Sometimes we tip, sometimes we don't. We don't tip a cabin attendant, bar tender, waitperson, whatever for just doing their job. You can't tip everyone. 

I could not agree more - in fact, on lines where gratuities are not included in the cruise fare, I have removed them from the bill where we have received poor service. While excellent service should be rewarded, I feel average service does not need further reward and poor service should definitely not be rewarded.

13 minutes ago, jojoparlin08859 said:

Because of medical reasons I do not drink , and Oceania Lines includes free non alcoholic  drinks in the public rooms (i. e. Bar and Lounges areas) we always tip the waiters and waitresses because they would have received  a 18%  gratuity for the alcoholic drinks that they would have served.  They still provide a  "freebie drink" service to us and we feel that they are missing out of the mandatory 18 % alcoholic drink fee and it is only fair to compensate them for their loss revenue stream . We always tip them. 

While I would like to think that the staff receive the mandatory 18% service charge - I am yet to be convinced that they do. That said, I always tip drinks waiters if they provide excellent service - especially, poolside waiters/waitresses. As you say, excellent service should be rewarded.

Not sure if it is common practice, but it is what I do - both on Regent & Oceania I always tip the Room Attendants. They work so hard and provide such a high quality service that I like to thank them personally and give them a tip. As to the waiters in the restaurants, it is rare to get the same ones twice, so it is a thank you after each meal but I do not tip.

UPDATE:

O  have responded to my e-mail, and may I say in a very timely manner. They have confirmed that all of the O life Ultimate benefits are in place and that they are indeed detailed in their e-mail to my travel agent (although I have never seen this - but that's not O's fault). However, they also confirm that while these benefits are in place, they do not appear in our "on-line accounts" - no idea why not, but they do not.

I am probably one of the few people who is not keen on the city, but have flown out of Barcelona airport numerous times. It can be done, but the traffic in the morning heading towards the airport can be awful and unless you can leave the ship very early you will not make it - as the previous poster said, "don't do it".

38 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Have you  gotten your "FINAL CRUISE SUMMARY "  email  from Oceania ?

Usually all inclusions like  OBC etc  are listed on that

No, not heard of this before now - maybe my e-mail will help to generate this/ 

38 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

 

I would be disappointed with their administration if I did not get a reply within 5 days, but yes, I will contact my travel agent and ask them to confirm with O everything is as it shows on my invoice. Never had this problem before, Regent is all inclusive for everyone and all the other lines provide very clear statements of what is included.

Thank you LHT28 for your replies. My online account states that there is no drinks package purchased, which technically is correct as it is complimentary. But to be sure, and to avoid issues onboard, I have just e-mailed O to confirm everything is as expected.

All of the stated offers are listed on my invoice from the travel agent, but not any of the documents from O or on my on-line account. I really do not want to start my holiday off arguing at reception.

Yes, all excursions booked

New to O but not cruising and this thread has got me thinking. I am on the 16 - 26 March 2019 sailing on Riviera which I booked via my travel agent under the O Life Ultimate offer. However, while the 6 shore excursions are detailed on my on-line account and Cruise Vacation Guide, the included gratuities, meal time drinks package and $600 on board credit are not shown. Is this normal for O or do I need to be contacting them before I get on the ship?
 

Had a wonderful meal in QM2's Veranda restaurant on 20th July 2018 as we left New York - worth every cent of the extra charge.