Clutj

I think I’ve usually seen cooking classes every sea day at two times. So I’d say it’s odd for sea days without classes. Maybe have your TA ask what’s up.

What port did they cut? I did this trip in 2022 and almost did it again this year.

I have always enjoyed the classes. Sea days usually have a morning and an afternoon class. Port days just an afternoon one. Sadly, they do not add more classes in my experience. If you talk to the chef and emphasize that you will respond promptly to a call off the waitlist (I’ve seen people cancel 10 minutes before class and the chef making phone calls to people’s rooms), perhaps you’ll get priority. Or ask if you can just show 15 minutes before class and ask. There is usually an open house on the first day.

That is a dramatically shorter Waves BTG wine list. Disappointing. I am used to that list maybe dropping 2-3 of the wines from each category vs GDR list. It shouldn’t be this way, but the other 6-8 wines of each color are probably available for the asking and maybe a 5 minute wait. If you have problems, I’d ask to talk to the manager (I forget all the titles on various cruise lines) and there should be a head Somm/beverage person for the ship. You should have easy access to all BTG wines. (BTW, they are the same for the basic and upgraded package; no new included wines, you just get them outside meals, plus alcohol drinks…)

Most cooking classes have a waitlist and the chef can get a sub to take the spot with a quick phone call, so I’m guessing most cancellations get a refund.

We just did a 15 day cruise on the Endeavour from St. George, Antartica (flying from Punta Arenas over the Drake Passahe) to South Georgia to Falklands to Punta Arenas, and can recommend it without reservation. It obviously costs more, but including South Georgia was a huge plus, and the Falklands added a couple key things as well. The ship was amazing, the expedition teams were top notch, loading and unloading zodiacs (including along ice-clogged shores) was awe-inspiring, the expedition leader (Marika, sp?) was a true force of nature, the bays we visited were stunning, the settings and wildlife mind-blowing to experience. The clothing they provided, the room layout, size of shower, bedding, butler and room attendant, dining staff, food, a tour of the bridge … everything was 5 stars. If you just do the shorter 7 days with fly over the Drake both ways, be aware that bad weather could lose you some days. If you do the longer combined flyover just one way with a Chile port on one end, I’d recommend sailing from Chile with Antarctica and the flight back at the end, so if there are weather flight delays, your trip runs longer rather than shorter. We were delayed flying into Antarctica and lost a couple days there; SS can make up 1 day, but there is only so much flexibility. They did take us by the awesomely huge A23a iceberg half way to South Georgia, a very rare sail-by that few will ever experience. If you sail in and out of Chile, you risk bad seas but you are unlikely to lose any days. Just be aware that you are taking risk and have little basis to complain because you aren’t an expert in flying in bad weather!!!

Can you get room service from La Dame or Il Terrazzo? Or is it just Restaurant and/or Grill? Or is it a smaller room service menu? Thanks.

For future reference, your travel agent can put a hold on a RSS room for 3 days or something. That gets you online access to check excursions. I spent a fair amount of time determining that 75% of my preferred excursions on an Australia to Singapore cruise were sold out, many without a waitlist but there were a couple of those, and one island stop only had 6 of the same excursion sold out, all apparently in a national park and no real ability to do anything else on the island. We were very disappointed in RSS that they didn’t plan better, and unwilling to risk waitlists or other things opening up. Also, RSS told our travel agent “almost all excursions have room.” Shame on them. (I know, I know, “buyer beware”, blah blah blah, but I still consider it an ethical failure and will criticize them for it). So we booked Antarctica with SS instead!

We really liked these two cocktails on the Splendor in 2022 and hope they are still there! The Bonne Soirée is pictured. The big ice sphere in a martini glass is a good look, I think.

We are taking an Antarctic cruise in January that starts with the flight over the Drake Passage to St George. SS says their baggage limits are strict: 55lb checked bag and 17lb carryon. They also say an SS parka, waterproof pants, and rubber boots will be waiting for us at the hotel before the flight. So my question is, do we have to leave some room (10lbs?) in the luggage for this new gear? I guess I could wear the parka on the plane, and the pants are possibly light and easy to squeeze into the luggage. But surely I don’t want to wear the boots on the plane? Any word on prior experience from Antarctic Bridge veterans would be appreciated. Thanks.

We just got off Vista. There was never a mention of a survey, which I would have noticed because I recall frequent reminders on other cruises. There was a paper version of the early/mid cruise comment process. Was surprised at the lack of an end of cruise survey.

I complained in the onboard midway cruise comment form about a sommelier service issue. I got a call the next day from the Beverage Manager on the ship the next day.

I hate to say it because I really feel for the young performers trying to make it in a tough, tough field, but of the singers on our Vista cruise I’d give their voices 3 C grades and 1 B. I’ve only done 5 Oceania cruises but they’re was usually an A- and a couple Bs. This group just didn’t have strong voices. The female guest singer at 60 years old blew them out of the water.

Yes, it’s listed at $18.

A small PH perk is if both of you also have Prestige Bev package, then your butler will stock beers in your fridge. Maybe cabin steward in lower rooms will do that as well, but I don’t know. The room service from Polo and Toscana can be a big perk for those who like to dine in their room. We definitely prefer the bigger PH on the larger Oceania ships but found the size was okay (even the shower) on the R class, and I am a big 260 lb guy.