sailbynite

Checked my on-line account.  It also states "bronze" status.

I both tip different crew members who standout and give to the crew welfare fund.

On 2/16/2021 at 12:09 PM, mrlevin said:

Please NEVER tip; but donations to crew welfare fund appreciated.

Today I recieved the latest Oceania Email.  I noticed my membership stated I was "bronze" level.  Previously, I had been "gold" level.  All my previous sailings are listed.  I assume Oceania has changed to number of cruise versus number of nights.  For me, this really isn't great, as I usually choose longer cruises.

Anyone else experience this devaluation? Has anyone questioned it?

Can't even think of a response that won't get me banned for life from CC.

Had a level 11 PH under the Terrace Cafe last year on Riviera. Was worried about the noise, but found it to be completely quiet. Never once bothered by any noise. I also never noticed the "overhang" from above.

I guess we all have our own opinions.

Hello retafcruiser:

I have used LuggageForward for many years. Arriving at Miami is super easy. As you depart the customs hall with your baggage, the LuggageForward rep will meet you just outside the door. He has always been standing on the right with his sign, identifying himself. The rep also always had duplicate paperwork, in case we had misplaced ours. Had my baggage within 2 days. Great service. Can not recommend enough.

Hope this helps you some.

Not a problem getting extra key cards for your suite. We had the owners suite and 2 other cabins on a past cruise. Everyone got a key card to the OS. May have actually been key card to their cabins, but encoded for the OS... don't remember that detail.

Mura,

I have asked our butler for lamb chops with my in-room breakfast and have never had a problem. Nice to hear from someone else who enjoys this for breakfast!

Mikeyto,

Happy Birthday in advance! I have been to the ports you listed with a friend who uses a motorized wheelchair. There have been very few dfficulties, but nothing earth-shattering or deal breaking. In ports where a steeply-angled gangway or stairs are in use, we were brought on (and disembarked) through a dock-level staff entrance.

In all fairness, I will admit, we made our own sightseeing arangements, taking into consideration getting into an out of a wheel-chair and storing the wheelchair during road trips. As your chair is manual, this could be much easier.

We choose cruising to have a (relatively) stress-free vacation with reduced planning on our part. It is NOT stress-free to have to arrange travel to coordinate with whatever the cruise line puts together, when we're at O's mercy as to when we'll get our flight information. It's not something we want to do.

 

But really the point is that O previously allowed passengers to pay to fly to a gateway and then get the PE air promotion. Now, they don't. I understand it's their prerogative to change the T&Cs of a promotion, but they then need to realize it may impact whether someone chooses to cruise with them for certain itineraries.

Might I suggest you book a cruise as "cruise only" with no air package. This way you are free to book any itinerary you so please. I for one rarely use the cruise line's air package. I like getting to the embarkation city several days ahead of time. This allows me to travel totally relaxed without the concern for mis-connections, lost baggage, delayed flights, etc. Also, I am at liberty to choose the airline and class of service I want.

Absolutely agree with Stan and Jim.

According to printed material in our cabin (Vista Suite on Riviera), there is an extra charge for guests to join you in your cabin for dinner. I think a lot depends on your butler and the GM on-board at the time. We were told by our butler there would indeed be a charge. Our friends butler (head butler) told us the opposite. We ended up eating with our friends (they had an owner's suite).

But then, our butler gave us "free" tokens for the laundry.

Guess it just all depends on the whim of the day.

I have only sailed twice with Roy... once as Asst. CD on Regatta (and he was the only good thing we found on THAT cruise) and then as CD on Riviera this last year. Have always found him friendly and out-going. Very entertaining and enthusiastic as well.

Having been on well over 2 dozen "upper-end" cruises (Regent, SilverSeas, Seaborne, Crystal, Oceania, etc) Roy is definitely one of my top choices for CD.

This last cruise with Roy, he had invited us to lunch with him. While at lunch, I could not believe the audacity of other passenger to pull chairs up to our table and join without being invited nor asking. Roy was most gracious... at least more then I wanted to be.

We use Luggage Free every year. There has never been a problem with the service we have received. I suggest you phone them (800.361.6871) and ask any questions. They are most helpful and friendly. You will not be sorry you used them.

Not to argue with Jan nor her source, but I AM onboard Riviera. Self service buffets (Tea time, for example) are gone. At trivia they annouced the pencils would be disposed of. The captain came over the PA and made an annoucement as required be the CDC when 2% of the passenger and/or crew have REPORTED GI problems to the medical center. The ship has instutited "code red" for sanitation. The staff is continually cleaning

EVERYTHING with sanitizer. As soon as anyone leaves a table in the Terrace Grill, their chair is wiped down with a sanitizer spray (I just witnessed this less then 10 minutes ago). One person told me her husband is going directly from the ship into the hospital upon arrival in Miami tomorrow. Several people have been on IV to avoid dehydration.

There are more hand sanztizer stations set-up now then when we started.

Who ever gets this, seems to be OK within 48 - 72 hours. We are with 4 other couples and all 8 of them have been ill.

I do not know who Jan's source on this cruise is, but they aren't seeing what I am.

Anyone else currently on-board wish to comment... PLEASE?

Currently on The Riviera T/A. Several people have been out sick with stomach/intestinal ailments (all the correct symptoms of The Norwalk Virus). Today at trivia, the CD announced the ship did NOT want their pencils back. There is definitely more chlorine in the water (shower/faucets).

I know of at least 8 people who have been ill this last week.

Anybody know more about the Norovirus?