jackdeb

Your basic cup of coffee is good, not sure about brewed or syrup. If you are unsure about it there is always baristas, as good or better than most coffee bars on land. The drinks are included in your fare! 

The dress code is more of a guide than gospel. Choose what to wear to a particular venue as the same as what you would wear to a similar venue in your home town. Linen table cloths and crystal in the Grand Dining room or an upscale buffet at the Terrace Cafe. Dressy Jeans is an oxymoron, there is no such thing. Hats and caps should never be worn indoors.

5 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Since retiring, I have taken an interest in Classic cocktails (e.g., Aviation, Sazerac, SideCar et al.).

Even in the best bars on the best ships, most bartenders murder these drinks with "well swill," citrus mixers, etc.

So, with the understanding that I most often ask nicely to dictate the ingredients (e.g., fresh squeezed citrus, cognac vs brandy, Cointreau vs triple sec, etc) and correct ratios, I would say my "go to" drink would be a Side Car made with 2 oz Hennessy Privilege VSOP cognac, 1 oz Cointreau and 1 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice. However, I'd skip the sugared rim but keep the lemon garnish (and, if the ship had them - which they don't, a Bada Bing cherry even if it's not really in a Side Car).

I think you are right the classics are hard to beat!

The Sidecar is great when it is done right, on the ship I prefer a Big O martini, in port I try to get a local specialty, 

Like Pastis in Marseille, or Shery in Cadiz.

Petoonya  your reasons for being a vegetarian are irrelevant  to anyone else,  that is your choice and we need  to respect that. Personally I will try just about anything that people eat in any part of the world. For me that is part of the travel experience. To each their own.

Hi Pam

First I want to thank you for the updates, very well done. The ship changing course could be a lot of different issues, we once had a14 hour diversion so a man could be helicoptered off because of cardiac problems. I am curious about how much self serve is still at the Terrace Cafe and Waves grill? Are there more servers or fewer options?

thanks 

Jack

Thank You Jan

This letter does make sense for us all, I hope more people read and understand what it all means. 

Unfortunately there are still too many people with an overwhelming sense of entitlement that think this does not apply to them. 

Jack

We received an upsell  offer yesterday for our Oct. 6th cruise, we were booked in an inside F and were offered a B1 veranda

for 400 cdn. so it was a no-brainer. This our first offer to move up through 5 cruises. Who knows who gets the chance or why?

After being settled into you room you can always go to the desk to ask if there is space available in any of the specialties.

without using a prearranged reservation. if not then there is still the GDR.

Hi Josie like Lyn I am curious about ' infra dig'  and the bells would be very annoying, during the day the sweater would be very festive and fun. Enjoy your cruise

Jack

Oceania's posted dress code is "Country Club Casual" which means casual not over dressed or lower end grubby. It is still astounding that people can not  or will not adhere to this, but keep trying to lower the bar of what is acceptable attire.

Sneakers are never okay in the GDR or specialty restaurants for men or women. Same for denim, dressy jeans is an oxymoron.

Hello Thixson

For seafood try Vancouver Fish Company on Granville island, steaks and chops try Joe Fortes on Thurlow st. about 5 blocks up from the cruise terminal, for sushi try Tojo's on 9th ave. aka (Broadway).

One of the main attractions of Oceania is the food, use the OBC for a special dining experience in La Reserve, well worth the price.

We are avid O cruisers and prefer them over everything else, we keep looking for sales for Alaska, no luck. We just got off  HAL cruise to Alaska because it was an unbelievable price, living in Vancouver there is no air travel. The old adage about you get what you pay for is true, we didn't pay a lot so we didn't get a lot. Glacier Bay is a highlight, HAL is one of the few cruise lines that go into Glacier Bay to see the glaciers up close. The food is fine and the bed comfortable but nothing is close to O's food and service. Depends on the price with the itinerary.

We too got off the Volendam this past Wed., could not resist the price, especially with no travel time from Vancouver. After cruising with Oceania for the past decade we will only go with HAL for a good price or unusual itinerary. The food on O is as advertised ' The Finest Cuisine at Sea ' at every venue, with no unhygienic self serve as on HAL. As the old saying goes you get what you pay for. Everything  on Oceania is far superior: food, service, decor, accommodation, and staff. 

Thank you Lyn for the informative review.  It is too bad that people are always trying to lower the bar for the dress code. Country Club casual is quite relaxed. April is definitely  not the time to do a North Atlantic crossing, if you remember another ship that tried that it finished early on April 12th.

Obviously have touched a nerve with UK cruisers about tipping, it is a good thing they have their famous sense of humour to see them through this crisis.

Tipping is for good service above and beyond what you think you are entitled too. The added gratuity on your end bill is to be shared with all the hospitality staff not the officers and crew. Of the 80  days of sailing with Oceania I have yet to receive anything but stellar service from the staff and do not begrudge them the gratuity. Always give something extra to the room attendants and bar staff that we often meet.

Hi LTH28 could it be that your straws held up because you are in the North Atlantic and they just froze? How goes the snowball fights?

If you are lucky enough to stop in Funchal Madeira, the cable car up to Monte and the "toboggan" ride back down is not to be missed. Check Youtube!

Yes, name that tune trivia is less serious than daytime trivia. With lots of impromptu sing-a-long, some in tune some not so much!

Katie you are right, never a problem having a couple of beer at lunch at Terraces in the sunshine. 

Paul my sentiments exactly, as you said it is a team effort. Everyone has different skill sets and knowledge and something to contribute, so join a team and participate. 

Good for you UDSpud! sometimes the CD will give O points for a funny line or original quip. Like Susiesan we are also trivia aficionados , we try to exercise some slowly dying synapses and have a few laughs. We welcome  any who want to participate but don't want those who won't contribute, it is a team activity.  

Probably not by design, just lack of forethought and consideration.