jjeffjb

We usually book balcony rooms in the Caribbean and summers in the Med.  If you've cruised Asia Oct. through November in a balcony room, how much did you use the balcony?  We

will likely book 3 or 4 B2B cruises so the cost differential is significant.  Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

The Westerdam is in Asia in the fall of 2019.  The HAL web site has no Asia cruises in the fall of 2020 listed.  Does anyone know if HAL will be returning to Asia in the fall of 2020?

Randy

Have you seen this video? :halo:

 

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/experience/

We have seen the video. It was fun being a part of it! It was recorded on board Riviera in Miami.

We're just off Insignia and there was talk of big changes coming in November. Seems one change will be the Tuscan Steak House/Red Ginger model.

When the O Club Amenities change on Nov. 1, 2019, will those who have reached a certain status prior to the change date be grandfathered? For example, if my current status is gold, will I lose the spa credit after Nov. 1, 2019?

I've never seen a French press on an Oceania ship. The best coffee can be found at their coffee bar, Baristas.

Jeff,the beverage package includes champagne too at lunch and dinner!🍾

I can't think of better way to start a dinner than with a glass of champagne. Too bad it's not offered at breakfast too :D

Is it possible that I have stumped the Oceania cruise critic experts?

I know that the house beverage package includes wine and beer with lunch and dinner. Can you also order a port, served by the glass, after dinner?

We are Silver Oceania Club members. One benefit is that we receive included gratuities. However, the cruise we have booked comes with free gratuities. Oceania has said that we'll receive an on board credit in lieu of the gratuities due to our silver status because gratuities are already included. They were unable to tell us the amount of the OBC. The cruise is 16 days. Does anyone know what the OBC will be?

A recent review mentioned an added VAT tax while cruising on Oceania in Europe. I think it was 10% on spirits and 20% on spa services. Is this the new normal?

We're debating an ocean view vs a balcony for a June Transatlantic crossing (Miami to Rome). Our question is, would the temperatures/winds be comfortable enough to make good use of a balcony?

Does HAL offer either soy or almond milk in Lido for breakfast?

We're considering a FP cruise on Marina in 2014. As I understand it, depending on suite level we may have access to either the Coincierge or Executive Lounge as well as the Spa's Terrace. While the benefits of the Spa's Terrace seem self evident, could one of you explain what is offered by/in the Executive and/or Coincerge Lounges, please?

 

Thanks,

Greg

These spaces offer newspapers, magazines, pastries, a cappuccino/espresso machine, juices, water and the services of a coincierge. All of these things are available in various places thoughout the ship for everyone. The lounges bring all these amenities into one place. There is also a computer (internet is not free), a TV and comfortable seating.

I have no idea why the font changed when I clicked submit.

We boarded Riviera on July 7 and disembarked August 23. These were four back to back cruises. It was our first time cruising on an O class ship. We had done nine previous cruises on the R class ships. We’ve also cruised on many other lines from the big ships to Regent.

The overall experience was stupendous. As many of you know first hand, and from photos posted here, Riviera is a gorgeous ship. Everyday we noticed some new beautiful design detail that surprised us. The furnishings, floors, wall coverings and art create an ambience that simply makes you feel good.

The cuisine was delicious. The four specialty restaurants, along with the Grand Dining Room, La Reserve and Terrace Café, provided tremendous variety. We wondered if Oceania could maintain the quality of its dining experiences in a larger ship. Our experience was that Riviera surpassed the excellent meals we’ve enjoyed on the R ships. It was wonderful to return to Polo and Toscana and enjoy some of our favorite samplings along with trying some of their new menu items. Many times in the Grand Dining Room we asked our waiter or head waiter for recommendations. Everything suggested was terrific. Jacques and Red Ginger were new for us. Being on four cruises, we had the opportunity to experience these new specialty restaurant several times. Again, we often asked the staff for recommendations and were always delighted with the results. Terrace Café was a real treat when we were in port late in the evening and could dine al fresco with lovely views of places like Sorrento. Baristas, the coffee bar, became a traditional stop in the morning and afternoon. Perhaps a Baristas will one day be added to the R ships. I think the Grand Dining Room Bar would be a terrific location for a coffee bar on Regatta and Nautica – hint, hint. The dining venues also offered several “healthy” options to choose from throughout the day. I was able to balance the decadence with the fruits, veggies and lean proteins so that I did not gain any weight. I also made good use of the gym. I was shocked because I indulged often. La Reserve proved to be the pièce de résistance. The Discovery and Connoisseur menus and wine pairings were extraordinary. Our La Reserve dinners were two of the best dining experiences of our lives. A similar experience on land would likely cost between $500 and $1,000 for two. The service in all of the restaurants was excellent. A head waiter, maitre d’ and/or chef stopped by the table nightly to inquire about our meals and service. It was an out of this world experience to dine like this for seven weeks.

As magnificent as the ship is and as wonderful is the cuisine, what made this summer’s experience one that we will never forget is the Riviera staff. The service was exceptional. The staff is a team of caring and warm-hearted individuals. Being onboard for an extended period of time offered us the opportunity to get to know, if only in a small way, many of them. This was a real highlight for us.

We could not help comparing our experiences on the R ships with that of the Riviera. The only thing lost on the larger ship is that we did not meet as many fellow passengers because we did not see the same people as frequently. That’s not to say that the ship feels too big. In fact, if I wanted a quiet space with few people, there were several places to choose from both indoors and outdoors. It’s simply that the guests are more spread out. So, we do not have a preference between the R class and O class ships. We’ll choose our next Oceania cruise based on itinerary.

Our summer adventure confirmed once again that Oceania is our favorite cruise line by far. Thanks to those who have posted photos and reviews of Riviera. They were very helpful. Happy cruising.