Sirlancelot

Does the cushion box mean that in bad weather the crew do not have to pile all the  chair or lounger cushions inside the cabin ? We are sailing nov 2024. On oceania vista they brought cushions inside in high seas ( missed 2 ports) this march and it was a mess and sloppy. Thanks for any experiences to report !

On 3/10/2024 at 9:35 AM, pinotlover said:

Fwiw, it’s been posted here multiple times, by multiple cruisers, that lobster on Oceania is typically best avoided. I see you have learned that for yourself.

Ditto. Surf and Turf had gristly turf - my table and several others on 3/16 voyage 11 nights. Main lobster MUSHY. BUT the Florida Lobster tail grilled in TC was wonderful. Texture like big prawns. They had those too. 

On 4/6/2024 at 10:38 AM, kibutzer said:

Truly disappointed. So many talented new chefs, guess they are not going to keep the mantle of best cusine. Unimpressed with her suggestions for Toscana.

AGREE! was on Vista just before transatlantic and Toscana is all veal all the time it seems. Where was the ravioli? Manicotti? Other traditional items. It was hard to craft a good dinner. I will say you can watch endless reruns of JPepin's shows on the Gym or room tv (I think he created these as fundraisers during the covid debacle). They are great! 

On 9/15/2023 at 5:12 PM, edgee said:

As a frequent Concierge class guest I resent the ability of Suite passengers to use Concierge lounge when they have their own. On the other hand, I have sprung for a suite on a 25 night cruise on Marina next summer and will look forward to using either lounge I choose. 😏

In the March 2024 Oceania Vista Cruise my Executive Lounge room key would not open the Concierge lounge door . Both doors were propped open during the day when their respective concierges were in attendance helping people as people taking coffee out couldn't push the door open very effectively without mishap. 

On 3/22/2024 at 5:41 AM, flossie009 said:

Suggest you email your Regent office

 

Just curious as to why you expected a survey to be sent to you after the cruise 🤔

Other cruise lines send the survey after the cruise. 

On 3/21/2024 at 10:47 PM, Pcardad said:

It can only be completed while onboard the ship...unfortunately.

This is same as on Oceania. That means any bad experience getting off the ship at the end is never captured. And probably not the last evening either. HMMM. 

Oh and what about the deadly blue light on the ceiling outside the bathroom. The Tje green lighted button by the bedstand takes care if that we learned after 3 days! Still don’t know how people get that “ home “ red light outside the door in the hallway to light 

No noise very quiet and we go to bed after the show 10:45 latest

Not sure I know what an IR blaster is but I get the concept so I would probably muck it up if  I  tried tjis myself! 

I am now on vista and all you say applies here. There is an amazing selection of current eg Oppenheimer and classic eg gone with the wind movies and the tv is fine. Thanks for posting all the investigative outcomes!! Loved it. Very helpful 👍

I wondered if anyone had hooked up An iPhone or ipad  to the cabin tv with an hdmi cable ( im thinking look at photos watch prime video or whatever like I do in a hotel on land ) did it work ?

On 1/21/2024 at 11:20 AM, Redtravel said:

Just off Vista.  Ate at most venues. Some good. Some less desirable. None were bad.  We were eager to try the new additions.  Liked Ember and Waves evening Pizzeria .  Waves is open at night as an Italian bistro. Tablecloths and service similar to the Terrace Buffet. Not thrilled with Aquamar kitchen.  Pizza at Waves was excellent.  Ate there last night of cruise.  We ate inside at the Terrace buffet.  Waves delivered our pizza to us.  It was really good.  Terrace Buffet at dinner is a great choice. It has everything on GDR menu plus grilled item, freshly prepared sushi, and salads.

Try the pizza. 

Can you advise on dress code at night and say. Shirts and polo shirt ok ?..for men 

On 12/20/2023 at 1:04 PM, Wynterwynd said:

We’ve had luck with our butler getting us add’l specialty restaurant dining (usually shared table), also.

Question from newbie going Vista in March ph 2:we 1 reservation per specialty restaurant so does this cost extra to get say 1 more via Butler in room ???

On 12/22/2023 at 7:01 AM, Gracie115 said:

We were on Vista last week, our 1st O cruise.  We found people mostly dressed "country club casual" in the evenings.  Having said that we also found people who dressed up more, even saw one couple in tux and gown.  All in all it was a wide mix of really casual to semi-formal (or formal in the case of the tux & gown couple).  So wear what you want. The only thing I saw enforced personally was one person who had to go back and get a shirt with a collar to enter MDR for dinner.  

I know everyone is tired of this topic but this next March 2024 we go on our first Oceania cruise and we know we have to pack carefully so--- of the specialty restaurants, which is the fanciest and do men have to wear any or all of : longsleeved shirt with Collar (I think that is a yes), Jacket, Tie? We know not to wear shorts. We don't have jeans in the suitcase.  And, I assume it is ok for women to wear long pants as opposed to dresses. Yes? We own old folks shoes so hopefully that is ok (no Italian Leather or heels ) Appreciate the help. You  old timers don't have to read the answer! 🙂

On 9/14/2022 at 10:38 AM, davy jones said:

Many people like Grandeur because of its smaller size.  If you don't need the rock walls, amusement amenities, and grand production shows, you will enjoy the more relaxed vibe.

 

I preferred the Park Cafe over Cafe Promenade.  It had more variety and better late night offerings.  

 

The cruise was fine, but be very careful with inside cabin selection.  The doors on the IS cabins on decks 7 and 8 open into the center of the cabin, not the corridor between the closets and bathroom.  This greatly reducing the effective area of an already tiny cabin.  The door constantly interfered with the single chair in the room.  You could either sit in the chair, or open the door.  Avoid those cabins at all costs.

 

The gym was pretty much standard stuff except for the aft location.

 

 

The gym is tiny. The huge solarium took up the large gym area on Radiance class . When there is a class with loud music it is terrible. 

On 8/7/2022 at 2:31 PM, Ourusualbeach said:

Don't forget about the free cruise.

we never got ours. After the covid cancellations they would not extend the certificate. It was worth $2400 towards a cruise or one free cruise 7 days caribbean with a balcony. But they refused to extend it during Covid and we never could take it. 

On 7/29/2022 at 2:58 PM, CuseJeff44 said:

 

This is sort of insulting and minimizing. I have been on 6 cruises. The first 5 I loved. I noticed some significant changes this time around and for the first time found my enjoyment significantly impacted, and was trying to get the perspective of other cruisers to see if others are seeing it? If so, is it only RCI? Or is it all cruise lines? 

 

Seriously I specifically invited anyone not interested to skip the post. 

Hi there CuseJeff44 (I always wonder where the names came from).

here is my ramble.  

I LOVED reading your post. I know I'm a couple of days late, but let me tell you our story. we cruised on Carnival until we got Diamond which was not worth anything, but that was 2007-2012 and the ships were great and we went everywhere in Europe and Carib. Loved it despite "problems". and takeaways like pineapple fresh at breakfast . Then RCI all the way up to pinnacle!! We went in Junior Suites because even then it was 152 sq ft of room and we couldn't handle a smaller room for the 2 of us. So it got to Pinnacle faster.

We cruise the very last cruise before Covid shut the ships down in march 2020. Everyone was nervouse. we felt like a family.

Now, we read about the protocols and see the masks and realize we hate crowds (the brainwashing of 6 ft kicked into the subconscious). And we are annoyed at having to pay for a test 3 days before a cruise when you and anyone else can "get it" in that time.

So we canceled a 9 day Grandeur this Nov and are "waiting" on a Dec 5 day to decide.

We hate all the problems you mentioned. But we did keep cruising on Royal just pivoting to what gave a good ration of GREAT to "would rather do without".

I will say, we have EATEN EVERY AVAILABLE MEAL IN THE MDR!! EVEN WHEN THEY SAID THEY CHANGED THE MENU IT WAS ONLY ONE OR 2 ITEMS. We now don't eat there any more. Takes too long. But if we did eat there, we remember you used to say I want a 2nd or 3rd serving of say that cheapo shrimp appetizer.or a 2nd entree.  If that is no longer the case wow. Also, we know the upsell is horrible. You know the upsell is horrible. So perhaps you can decide - is there something else other than food or dink that you cruise for. For us - we loved the orchestra and cheezy production shows and meeting people on the crew we'd seen before. I loved the espresso in the lounge and walking on the deck at sea. None of that required lines on the non-mega ships. So we stopped going on the mega ships where you have to reserve a seat. Also, all ships are different. We didn't like the Adventure when they changed captain and the orchestra leader Dave Moorhead retired. 

So final note. We started staying in hotels and doing land stuff and found we missed it. We don't even rent a car (no kids though). So do one of those and compare it to a ship perhaps. It's ok to complain. CHEERS! Florida person who loves Florida and may cruise again sometime. 

On 6/19/2020 at 12:00 PM, Ocean Boy said:

Only one green ship. That is not encouraging.

Sure it is. Did you see how few people need to test positive for it to be yellow - .3% of the PAX. So 7 folks or so. Now do you feel btter

4 hours ago, Jasukkie said:

What is the length of quarantine required now? What if you need to fly home? Is it hotel near the port and then a new commercial flight once you are cleared?

I have this question too for cruises in and out of Miami 

My biggest fear is getting jailed in a quarantine cabin with food I don't normally eat. -  not getting the flu (covid version)

Question about quarantine after getting off the ship in Florida - Miami. Do you have to quarantine in a hotel in Florida or do you get to just go home (if you were on the ship sick w covid and isolated in the bowels of the ship as posted on this thread. Thanks. 

What happened to Carlos Torres do you know?

Great Topic of Dress Code. We did all our early cruising on Carnival then went over to Royal so I know both. You can wear whatever you want! Just focus on your own little group and what makes you comfortable. Remember the AC is designed for guys in suits ha ha! Do you want fancy pictures? Do you like wearing dressy stuff? Do you have quirkly non dressy stuff? You do not have to follow a dress code. Make your own way on this one! There are some families that clearly wanted to get really dressed up for the pictures. I loved watching them! Some like dancing and they dress up. I got rid of ALL my dresses after I wore them enough and now it is slacks and jackets . 

I have never taken my engagement ring on any ship or non-US travel. . The wedding ring has inset itty bitty diamonds - 3 and sapphires - 4 and looks very plain and can be twirled to show a plain gold band. The Engagement ring is too much. I leave it at home. Well I did. I have not cruised since March 2020. I wear it all the time at hotels for Stay-Cations in Florida though! 

OH _ and PS I don't have any other jewelry I bring that I would not feel ok with having removed from my person or clasp breaking etc.  Count me out on those Diamond International sell fests. 

I have all of my FCC's accumulated from 2020 and 2021 cruises that were cancelled put on two cruises on Grandeur out of Miami in Nov 2022 and Dec 2022. If in Summer 2022 when I have to "pay up" on these 2 bookings, protocols have not been relaxed , I don't want to throw good money after bad. Could those who posted here offer their opinion as to whether I could get Cash back from all these FCC's (there were over a dozen ) or would the sailing have to be closer to today do you think. Royal is so hazy. Like someone else posted, I don't think if I cancel these we will ever cruise again.