Kate-AHF

The small clock is on the nightstand, which is jammed up against the closet, leaving one unable to utilize that side.

Just now, LHT28 said:

just have them move the stand an inch away from the closet

Have never had a cabin where the nightstand was up so close to the closet doors  🤔

Clearly, your experience and mine do not align.

4 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Wow  You could not ask the cabin attendants to move the nightstand ??

The problem we have with the closet doors is that they rattle  a bit  with the seas

We stick a piece of cardboard in them when not in use

JMO

Move the nightstand to where, exactly?  There is no room, and I'm not putting my eyeglasses on the floor while I sleep.  I can do that in a Motel 6.  Why am I not allowed to hate that closet?

2 hours ago, chloemonkey said:

I just rec'd notice that our November cruise (on another line) has been cancelled.  And since Oceania cruises book up so far ahead of time.....I was wondering if these "Waitlist" staterooms ever clear?  As in are there a lots of folks who place deposits on various trips/staterooms and then cancel?  

Just didn't realize how far in advance you have to book Oceania.....as we have been cancelling and rescheduling for the past two years due to Covid....and now when we are able to travel, there are no suites available.  And then with this cancellation.....it's just made me sad and I am hoping that you expert Oceania regulars can shed some light as to whether or not it is even possible to have the waitlists clear.....

Sigh.  Waitlists on O.  Here's how we dealt with it.  Booked a cabin.  Realized that there was no way we could cope with that cabin.  Went on a waitlist for a higher category.  

Made checking the O website part of my daily morning routine.  Every morning, check the weather, the news feed, the Oceania website for that sailing.  One morning (3 months later) noticed there was availability in the category we wanted.  Called our TA, got the cabin.  Clearly, the wait list was not checked before that cabin was released.  So my advice to you is to channel your inner terrier and make it happen yourself.

17 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

That's what we just cannot wait to find out! 😉 

 

GC

it comes that way instead of wrapped in the hoba leaf.  Much more comfortable for the sea bass.  and clearly, they only need one fuzzy sock.

We are on the Sirena Baltics Sept 2022 for 14 days (9/17- 10/1).  Removed SPB, now overnight in Stockhom (yay!) and a visit to Kiel, Germany (meh).  We got an email from our TA with a revised invoice that reflected a discount a little over $500 (total).  In addition to the later final payment date.

4 hours ago, jonthomas said:

Have never been in a Penthouse. Would not like a butler. That would really bother me. Like to be left alone. LoL...

 

but you are right...very hard to go back to having less....

SB= Seabourn.

I don't think they had many Baltic cruises, but they have rerouted the ones they had to London/Norway, and staying out of the Baltics.  Don't know why, but the competition for alternate Baltic berths must be intense.  I can see the appeal of "this doesn't affect that many sailings, and we don't have a crystal ball, so..... punt."

2 minutes ago, PhD-iva said:

I had to sign each time I ordered a drink (except Captain’s welcome, etc.) bc I didn’t have a drinks package. I wonder if you will need your key card to order a drink once they recognize you and remember you have a drinks package. 

Yes.  The key card is required for any drink ordering even with the drinks package.    The bar still has to account for every pour, and the key card is the (ahem) "key".

I would think there would be huge interest in Endeavor.  That said, the cruise line owned the shipyard while it was being built.  This obliviates several layers of oversight in the product produced - and invites shortcuts on an unbelievable level..  I wouldn't trust it.  I'd send a bevy of engineers to make sure this ship is what she purports to be. 

2 hours ago, welshfamily said:

For all more knowledgeable cruisers, Please explain further.
We have cruised out of Venice 4 times with three different companies, large and small ships.

We have only ever cruised out of the large port with the people mover ( a monorail ).

Sorry don’t know name of port. Usually you have to walk a distance with your luggage and hand in before entering to check in. Last time 2019 around a car park, we were on the Serena. Does anyone know the name of this port ?
Do wish I hadn’t shredded previous documents in large clear out during lockdown.

 

 

 

You were leaving from the Venice port Marittima.  It can no longer used for cruise ships, which have been banned from the lagoon.  The Italians are working on improving Porto Marghera (which is close by, on the mainland) to be able to accept some cruise ships.  Whether these improvements will be completed in time for this year remains to be seen.  this is why a lot of cruises are still listing "Venice" as the departure/arrival port.  I think the timeline they are hoping for is optimistic.

On 2/5/2022 at 11:14 AM, Flatbush Flyer said:

Yes- in my experience, that’s the way it’s done. You go to one of the wine steward displays at embarkation and they’ll give you a handwritten “invoice” which you take to Guest Relations where your room key will be reissued with the correct notation for “prestige” (can’t remember the new letters on the card).

And I've never understood this.  Why can't I upgrade before boarding so our keycards are right the first time, and I don't have to take up my time, and their time, getting what I know I will purchase?

We must have been on the same bus.  And why they dropped the "United Air" pax in the back of beyond, absolutely nowhere  near the United counters, both mystifies me and ticks me off.  That's the last time I ever get an airport transfer on O, at least domestically.  And to top it all off, when we finally got to the United rep to drop off the bags, she looked at my ticket and said "This is for Ft. Lauderdale."  I had booked the wrong airport for us, or I had not remembered that I booked FLL.  We did manage to get a taxi, who broke some land-speed records to get us to FLL in time for the flight. (And, I might add, dropped us 20 feet from the United counter).  I still have hope I will someday forget that trip home.

But!!!  the porters I was speaking of were in the hall where you collect your luggage. There were lots of them, and he loaded up the cart, whisked us to the Luggage Forward rep, and then on to the buses.  That was the only painless part. That, and not having to cart around the 50# bag all the way home.

I second the suggestion of a dementia clock, and get one now so that is one more thing that will feel familiar and comforting in the cabin when you pack it along for the trip.

I think it will help you both.  We've been using Luggage Forward for a while.  Piece of cake in getting it to the cabin, because once picked up at your home, the next time you see it will be in your cabin.

When you disembark in Miami (we just did this on 12/1/21), you'll leave the bag to be shipped outside your cabin with the rest the night before, with all it's highly visible Luggage forward tags already on it - along with your Oceania colored tag.  You will claim it with the rest of luggage, then do what we did and get a porter to take all bags out with you.  The Luggage Forward rep was waiting with his clipboard just outside the terminal building - drop off the bag(s) to be shipped and be on your way.

1 hour ago, CintiPam said:

Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo, San Polo quarter of Venice, a small hotel which is a short flat walk from the San Stae vaporetto stop on the Grand Canal. Also short walk to good restaurants. Great location, lovely outdoor garden for breakfast in nice weather, rooms overlooking a side canal, friendly helpful owners. Always highly ranked on sister website TripAdvisor. I have stayed here twice and prefer it to all the larger hotels we have tried. Books up fast. 
 

Check it out on TripAdvisor.

Everything CintiPam said.  We just stayed there for a few days in November 2021.  Our 4th stay there, and just as wonderful as the other three.  Walter and Sandro are hands-on, on-site owners of this hotel, and I think that makes a difference.  Sandro's wife is also a licensed guide, and gives wonderful walking tours.  BIG extra bonus?  The Aliguna (spelling) boat from the airport stops at San Stae - then you and your luggage are maybe 50 meters to the hotel, and no bridges.  Lots of restaurants around, included a well-regarded Osteria that has true Venetian food (Sardine en saur, squid ink pasta, etc).

It's been a few years since we've been to JVD, and we've always taken the jitney cab from "Grand" harbor over to White Bay.  It was $10 each way last time we were there. 

White Bay is where it is at for us - never was a fan of Foxy's but love Soggy Dollar.  A lounge chair, conch fritters, Painkillers, people-watching= heaven.  But our favorite palms trees are now gone, and I don't  know ow much shade is available.

3 hours ago, jrandjr said:

Asked my O TA if its possible to trade (PH) with passengers wishing to cancel their 7 Feb cruise so we can stay onboard after our 28 Jan cruise. Met with a resounding "No, it doesn't work that". Pity, as we would love to stay onboard.

I'm not sure i understand.  If there are PH's available on the next leg, why wouldn't you be able to purchase it onboard now - and just move your things with the help of your butler?

19 hours ago, sunlover12 said:

I highly doubt they will accept a rebooking to March 2022.  There was a lot of availability on those cruises but as of last week they are all waitlisted. Not a good sign. You should call your TA or Oceania to find out for sure.

I'm on a Regatta cruise in March 2022 and I'm expecting it to be cancelled. 

They are waitlisted so that the cancelled cruisers have the opportunity to book what is left.  Just as the Caribbean cruises for Marina (increased capacity) are not yet available until they get the Sirena pax situated.

You might want to consider the Pre-cruise Oceania tour of Istanbul that is on offer.  There is so much to see in Istanbul, and that tour gets you to most of it.  There is also the peace of mind that O will do the heavy lifting/planning, and you get to just enjoy instead of worrying about finding your way around.

I did a port-cruise tour with O in South America was was very, very pleased with it (and I'm picky).

4 hours ago, bbwex said:

I have to agree with HiFi43 and some of the others.  The veranda cabins are fine, but the PHs give you a bit more space in the cabin area, and a little more in the bathroom.  If the cost is not a factor, then the extra cabin space was, to us, worth it, particularly on a longer cruise.  If you get to the point where you are going on one of the O ships, then the PH is really worth the extra expense, both for the extra cabin space, but the closet space alone is worth the extra cost!

Oh, the closet in an O PH!  Heaven.  We get the PH on Marina and Riviera for that alone.

I can't speak from experience.  But.  We are booked on Sirena for 5 weeks this fall, and I've seen enough of the Sirena verandah bathrooms on youtube to know I would not be able to cope with the shower.  So PH it is.  

Some folks deal with the shower issue by showering in the spa instead of in their room.  And that works great for them.

20 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

11030 is nowhere near the elevators.  Do you mean 10030?

No.  I meant 11030.  And you are right, it's the 4th cabin down from the forward elevators, so I shouldn't have commented.  It's directly across from the Exec lounge.

I sincerely apologize if I mislead anyone.  

18 hours ago, mexicobob said:

I was considering booking cabin #10030 on The Marina and was also concerned about the noise from the elevators. Sounds like it should not be a problem.

We were just in 11030.  Zero noise from elevators or the pax waiting for them.