Fredalyn

12 hours ago, ORV said:

Not sure if this is the right thread for this, but was served oatmeal apple crumble with plant based ice cream in GDR by mistake the other night. In a word, putrid. 

Most "real" ice cream is gluten free. I stick with that and on the Insignia, it was delicious. I didn't have the plant based stuff. 

9 hours ago, LB_NJ said:

Not every dish was over salted.  However it happened enough times that I noticed.  The only time it really annoyed me was when they served DOVER SOLE A LA MEUNIERE.  I happen to love that dish, and they did a nice presentation of deboning it at the table, however it was overwhelmed by salt.  Other times I would just try something else.

 

I am wondering if anybody noticed the GDR on Insignia being extra noisy.  It might have just been an off night where the large table next to us was extra loud or I was wondering if they put too many hard surfaces in the room so that it reflects too much sound.  

The noise may have been due to the particular crowd? That was the first leg of our B2B (Repeat lol). On the last evening in Toscana, it was particularly loud. We have not ecountered that before. 

1 hour ago, cpecen said:

By the time that I realized what was happening it was clear that it wasn't an isolated issue that could be easily corrected by escalating to the head chef but a systemic problem: hence my earlier statement that there are issues within the kitchen. For my own health and safety I intentionally chose an approach of risk mitigation. Please believe me when I tell you that this was a decision that was not taken lightly or without a good understanding of operational and management issues; after returning from my trip I have attempted to work through my travel agent to reflect my experiences back to Oceania.

 

At this point my perception is that Oceania is a process-based operation that does not deal well with situations that fall outside of the norm and that their processes are constructed in such a way that there is very little latitude for individuals to correct the process once a problem is discovered. I believe that is why some people enjoy Oceania very much, as long as their expectations fit within the processes that Oceania uses. For those of us who fall outside of the norm we have a much different experience as reflected by some of the comments on this thread.

I am very sorry you had this experience. After being officially diagnosed and gluten free for 17 years, eating anywhere else but home is stressful. However, on the Insignia, this has not been my experience. Admittedly, I am not a dairy free celiac. I do have the "canary form" DH and am very sensitive. In fact I had to reiterate dairy was fine for me and I could have such choices as ice cream. I found those serving me and the chefs to be hyper vigilant and patient with my continued questions about everything I ate. I hope your experience is an anomaly. Please do follow this up with corporate. There should be consistency across the line.

Feel better soon. 

On 8/12/2019 at 2:52 PM, cruisetheworld67 said:

My  wife  needs to be gluten free and is also  lactose intolerant.

 

We  have  mostly  sailed HAL,  but things have been sinking in many aspects with HAL ( not the ships).

 

One problem is my wife mostly  orders the salmon each night cuz that is all she can tolerate.

 

Are there at least a few gluten free choices for dinner  or just the same choices each night in the dining room?

 

Do the specialty  restaurants have  at least  one gluten free  menu item?

 

I assume LActaid (lactose free milk) is available (for cereals and coffee).

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

I am currently on the Insignia (B2B Bermuda) and have had absolutely no problem. I do have celiac disease and must be gluten free. My TA alerted Oceania, I introduced myself to Dining Services as soon as we embarked. Until the Maitre D's and wait staff got to know me, which they did very quickly, whether it was in the GDR or the Buffet at Terrace, I reintroduced myself. Either with the chef or Maitre D, we go over items that are gf or can be made gf. If I am unsure, I ask questions and they are patient. For evening meals, I am given the menu and I complete requests the evening before. They are aware of the cross contamination issue. Fortunately, I can eat dairy but have noticed plant based options. As I enter any of the restaurants, I am asked- "gluten free bread for Madame?" I do make a point to thank anyone who goes out of their way. One of the Maitre D's had a special chocolate dessert made for me, unsolicited, when he learned of my love of chocolate. 

I always keep in mind, just like restaurants, ships have their specialities, strengths and you may find some disappointments.

A case in point:

My first TA when I was 4 yrs old was NY to Liverpool (and return) on Cunard. A menu item caught my eye- spaghetti. My mom tried to dissuade me by telling me this (at the time) was something they did not prepare well and it wouldn't  be what I was used to. She allowed me to make the mistake- it was barely recognizable and awful. On the other hand, the Children's Tea Party was amazing and this many years later, I still have one of the menus! The birthday party they threw me was also memorable. I am glad I didn't judge my entire experience based on the spaghetti (over cooked mush).

It all depends on your reason to cruise. Is it visitng or returning to places you would like to see and experience? Or is it for some much needed R & R? We enjoy Bermuda and especially not having to fly to the ship. We can always find things to do and see if we so choose. Had a rough year and hoping for R & R on a beautiful ship and just appreciating the ocean. 

1 hour ago, ORV said:

I’ve had a couple of bizarre sharing dinners and quite a few really enjoyable ones. 

We've had the same experience across cruise lines. I always try to be positive. However,  one was particulary bad in which a husband was clearly past his drink limit and despite his wife obviously kicking him under the table, could not stop his ignorant, insulting comments of everyone and everything. We noticed, for the remainder of the cruise, we never saw the couple together again. 

What I like about Oceania, with open seating, you are not stuck meal after meal with a boorish person(s).

9 hours ago, azam71209 said:

Yes, I was on the Cottages, Coves cruise last year with my twin grandsons. This time with my sister to Alaska August 6. Is this the cruise you will be on?

 

Mary

I thought your name and user name were familiar from that Roll Call. I did say a quick hello. There was never a m&g for that cruise, at least to my knowledge.

We are doing a double Bermuda Bliss. DH prefers not to fly for any extended period of time, due to some health issues. We really like to cruise NY-NY area. Bermuda Bliss is only 7 days and we both enjoyed our time on the Insignia so much, we didn't think 7 days was enough. We also like Bermuda. We are still thinking about what to do for next year and perhaps a cruise where we only need to fly one way.  

Based on your response, I reworked our conventional luggage tags so that our name, ship and cabin number can't be missed (I hope). We will attach them to both top and side handles. Interestingly, Oceania is one of the few cruise lines that don't have printable luggage tags. For other lines, the blank ones can even be purchased through Amazon. 

Though my optimism is dwindling, there is still time for us to receive the Blue Book. 

Enjoy your Cruise and may this be the only glitch- a slight inconvenience!

17 hours ago, azam71209 said:

Also have not received luggage tags. I do know that they will be available at the dock but that is going to mean standing there on the dock and filling a generic version out by hand. More opportunities for luggage to get misdirected and a waste of time.

 

On our last cruise one of my bags was misdirected because someone else's generic tag had ended up stuck to my correct tag and the bag was sent to his cabin. Probably a problem of an overworked dock worker not attaching it properly.

 

I would definitely like the free bottle of wine that the other poster got for not getting the Blue Book. I haven't changed addresses since 1983! And my TA has also not changed addresses.

 

Mary

Hi Mary,

I think we may have been on the same Cottages, Coves,.. Cruise last August?

We haven't changed addresses and neither has our TA. Still no Blue Book but most importantly, the luggage tags. Someone mentioned a template in an earlier response. After an extensive search, I was not able to locate it. Our TA is on the West Coast (she did offer generic ones) and I am not sure if we would get their generic ones in time. 

Misdirected luggage is always a concern for everyone. We try to complete everything in advance to make embarkation a bit easier. 

Thank you everyone! Your responses helped a great deal. My TA still hasn't received my Blue Book. However, she did forward the Final Cruise Summary to me via email. Looks like they haven't given our cabin away lol! 

We are 13 days out and still have not received the blue book or been emailed our Final Cruise Vacation Summary.

Last year, we booked late and direct. We received it within 2 weeks.

This year we booked onboard and transferred the booking to a highly recommended travel agent. Our TA has contacted O several times. Most recently O said it would be sent to our travel agent last week. O said the delay was because it was a b2b. Our agent said when they receive it it will be sent priority. 

2 questions- when working through a TA, will O still send a Final Cruise Summary via email?

Should we be concerned? 

Everything is in order when we login to manage our booking.

10 hours ago, Go-Bucks! said:

 

Lerwick was a fabulous stop...I was on Celebrity Silhouette and we had a gorgeous July day when we were there. If you like yarn, there is a yarn shop in town with yarns from local sheep. 

We have been following your posts on the Oceania Board. Great commentary! Thank you. We are on a Bermuda b2b because there will be no flying involved this summer and loved our experience last year. (We love the ship experience and for the most part have travelled extensively and usually don't care where we go lol). Nautica includes Lerwick next summer. However, it means 2 flights, unless we can arrange TA to and from. Also, it is a leg of a longer cruise and all the PH are spoken for.  Are the A and B cabin bathrroms that much smaller? We will ask for a look in August. The Island Princess leaves from Southampton and would require only 1 flight there.  DH has some health issues which makes flying less than desirable, at this point in time. If we didn't want to include Lerwick, Cunard has a 21 day NY-NY. So much fun to think about. 

6 hours ago, bobstheboy said:

Having cruised with Fred Olsen and many other lines, IMO it is the worst by far. Old ships and even older passengers. Now before I get slammed, I am 73 so am no spring chicken. The average age on our FO cruise must have been 80 and many were travelling single and could hardly walk, even with aides. We were constantly helping people who had fallen and again IMO should not have been allowed to travel. Food was very average, so was the entertainment.

Your input is most appreciated and supports my families comments. Fred has been eliminated from our list of  possibilities for next summer!

1 hour ago, BarbinMich said:

First, I believe that next summer will be the second time the Island has done a TA, the first being when it goes east to Europe.  So no really knows what a TA would be like on that ship.  We've done a number of TAs in both directions but on nothing smaller than the Crown P.  We have been on the Coral, the Island's "sister", and enjoyed that Panama Canal cruise.  Never been on the QM2 so can't compare.  But I believe it's a larger ship and, obviously, was built to do TAs as that's what it does a lot of.  One last point, we have twice been scheduled to stop in Lerwick but were not able to do so either time--generally weather and/or wind related.  I assume ships do make it there more often than not and we were just unlucky.

Thank you so much for letting me know about Lerwick. I have always wanted to visit the Shetland Islands. However, if it is sometimes missed, we may rethink cruising there. Fred Olsen does have an itinerary that stops there overnight, making actually getting there more likely. I just don't know much about the cruiseline other than what my cousins in England saying- the vessels are old.

We are considering a cruise on the Island Princess, TA Southampton to NY, next summer.

We have crossed on the QM2(twice) in a balcony cabin and it was perfect. We are looking at Princess because of the itinerary (specifically - Lerwick, Shetland) and arriving NY. 

We have been in a penthouse suite on the Oceania Insignia and will do so again this summer. The choice of cabin was because of the normal sized bathroom (supposedly the bathrooms are very small in the other cabins. We do not need the services of a butler and could do without. )

Any suggestions about what cabin would be equivalent to the QM2 balcony? I noticed mini-suites and balcony available.

On Celebrity there are all sorts of extras included if you boook a suite making balcony vs sky suites quite close in price, at times.

Is there specific dining for specific cabin types? (For instance on Cunard they have a Grill suites)

Can anyone speak to how well the Island Princess handles the North Atlantic?

Any comments comparing the lines, cabins would be appreciated. Also, I must have adhere to a gluten free diet and am told Princess is great handling dietary issues.

Thank you in advance!

Last summer, at the last minute we decided to book a cruise on the Insignia. Our experience was so awesome, over all, we booked a b2b on board for the following summer.

I have celiac disease (gluten free since 4/2002) and when booking, though given short notice, I was told it was not a problem.

I usually shy away from buffets. However, at the Terrace the Maitre'D and/or the head chef would take me to each station and identify what was safe for me to eat. They also offered to make dishes GF separately for me that would have contained gluten on the buffet. For the gdr, I was given the menu the evening before and chose from what was offered. I was told if it couldn't be done gf, they would inform me. They even used a gf rice wrapper to make a type of spring roll. Upon embarking, I spoke to dining services and was told of the procedure and also I would be assured of  at least 1 gf dessert each dinner. This was followed with a phone call and the policies reiterated.

Admittedly, I don't eat or really like bread. I can't speak to that aspect. Also, the only disappointment was at afternoon tea.  I did let the chefs know that I enjoy spicy, flavorful food and can eat dairy. I have the DH form of celiac and very sensitive. I had no problem. 

I hope I have the same experience this time around. We booked early, had it noted and followed up at final payment time.  

FYI- for any who care: celiac disease is an autoimmune disease. According to the latest research, it may take different forms and  have many  symptoms. There is lots of misinformation out there. One reliable source-Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University.

10 hours ago, Glenndale said:

There is this cruise on a new ship, Spirit of Adventure, which visits Lerwick and stays overnight.

https://travel.saga.co.uk/cruises/ocean/where-we-go/british-isles-cruises/this-sceptred-isle.aspx?availability=2&duration=1-999&boardbasis=AI

That would have been perfect! I am a teacher and only have very late June and must be back before the first Monday in September. The more than one day in Shetland was to assure us we would actually get there and have long enough to see the puffins and ponies! 

Thank you for finding this one. 

The June July Cruise would have been a strong possibility. However, we can't get there by June 19th 😞

Thank you so much for your wonderful suggestions! I will definitely do more research.

Ken the Cruiser-

Reading your last post has gotten me thinking about your cruiseline choices. We have been looking for a Scottish Island criuse for next summer.  For our limited time frame, O only seems to hit Lerwick once, as do many of the others going that way and then heads off to Iceland. Weather can cause cancellations and we were looking into possible more days in each port.

Have you looked at the cruiselines that target the UK market or any of the other smaller companies? Any suggestions would be appreciated before we move over to the UK section of CC. We are in no hurray and have a b2b O coming up. 

We did like O, X and Cunard for different reasons, as we mentioned in an earlier post. DH does not drink a drop and I don't enjoy whiskey- so forget the distillery cruises lol. Cunard had an early one  in June but can't make that one. 

Thank you!

Thank you everyone! 

In reading past posts and replies, it seems the outlets are not rated for curling or flat irons in the cabins.

Does anyone know of a good battery powered, compact, flat iron? 

Thank you!

2 hours ago, Cruzin Terri said:

Hi M.

Jim and I are on the Riviera on Feb. 14 for 12 days.  Want to join us.? It will be a great opportunity to reconnect. We need to do that.

Terri

Hi Terri,

Would love to but the school calendar just won't let me lol!

I will email when I get a minute. Currently, I am working feverishly on curriculum.

M

As a celiac, I am so thankful that the buffet at the Terrace is not self serve. I have little fear of cross contamination. It has given me greater freedom with more choices. I love the variety and daily themes. All the staff their could not have been more accommodating. 

Thoughtless people are everywhere. It is unfortunate that some do not even wash their hands after using the lav. As a HS teacher, I will point out, in the most polite way, they may have "forgotten" to wash up. I can't help myself. Comes out of my mouth automatically. 

Last summer we took our first Oceania cruise on the Insignia. We had been upgraded to a ph2 after booking guaranteed. We did so because of what we read on CC about the size of the bathrooms. We don't really use or require a Butler.

Comparing it to the ships and lines we have been on in the last four years-

IMO Oceania's food cannot be beat. I like the fact that it is a smaller ship. (The service we received on the crusies line have all been superb.) I love the fact that so much is included in the fare and the alcohol is either alacarte or through a package. DH doesn't drink and I will have a fancy drink and bring my own wine. The entertainment was mediocre. However, watching the ocean and sky is plenty for us.

For us Cunard out does most vessels because of the deck that goes around the ship. I think it was called the promenade (or that could have been a name I remember from when I was a child). Both TA crossings we had a Balcony on deck 11. I think the bathroom may have been close to the same size as the Insignia ph2.  We did not need a suite.The price is right. However, as others have said- they charge for every little thing: water, soda, lattes. It adds up but they have a tea/coffee maker in the cabin. We also liked the detailed information we got on ship's cable showing, sea conditions, location etc. I like the formal nights b/c I get to wear all the fancy dresses bought for other ocassions.

On the Celebrity Summit, we had a Celebrity Suite. Compared to ph2, it was an apartment. Everything was included and the designated restaurant Luminare was good. We felt the entertainment was better. It is a larger ship than the Insignia and I think I would only cruise suite class to avoid crowds. We checked out the buffet and didn't like it.

What are you looking for in a cruise? That is the question we have asked ourselves. People look for different features. We have traveled extensively and would rather have a relaxing experience on the water and don't care if we even get off the ship. We also like not having to fly and all the above ships depart from the NYC metro area.

All that being said- we have booked the Insignia for Bermuda, twice! We enjoyed it that much.

Hope that helps.