Fredalyn

We have booked B2B cruises. 1 Booking number, same cabin. Online the dining reservations and excursions are broken into 2 segments.

i have several questions. How is the onboard credit distributed? We usually use it for the suggested  gratuities. Would it be paid as a lump sum at the end or broken into 2 segments? The account shows an onboard credit total, not separate. Usually we tip extra for wonderful service. Would we do that after each segment? Being we are in the same cabin, will we have the same staff members? 

Additionally, for the first time in many years we have a TA who has generously given us onboard credit. When do we see that? Is it part of the account or do you receive that upon embarkation?

Thank you in advance!

We were also on the same cruise (8/14 - 8/24) and couldn’t agree more. My second Oceania cruise and we were not disappointed. Found plenty to do on the sea days (even the rockin’ and rollin’ day) and enjoyed our PH1 cabin (forward, 8011 and 8016). As noted, employees are delightful, food absolutely delicious. We heard lots of complaints about slow service, but going to the GDR a bit earlier (before 7) avoided the crush. And, really, what’s wrong with relaxing over a meal? We dubbed the cruise ‘lobster every day’ and that it was. At Waves Grill, order the surf and turf sandwich-hold the bread. Perfect sized lunch!

 

Some of the more unusual food items—caviar twice (appetizers), guinea hen, octopus carpaccio, green paypaya/mango salad, beet/goat cheese appetizer, delicious and spicy lamb curry, chicken tikka salad, apricot sorbet. I’m not a dessert-eater but don’t miss the key lime pie.

 

Ashoke and Ismail were our butlers, Mary and Jay our cabin attendants. Fantastic service!

We were on the 8/4 cruise. We too had Ashoke as our butler and Mary and Jay as cabin attendants. Along with Marius at the Terrace, they helped to make our cruise so enjoyable we booked onboard for next year!

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Cannot make a decision ---will there be noise in a ph suite ? If i go with a3 will i be sorry because it is so small? Do i need a concierge cabin and will a b1 be just fine ? Not a lot of choices for sept 2019. Any help will be appreciated.

 

 

 

Arl_nocaps ( yes funny- all caps)

We decided on a ph suite on our first Oceania cruise on the Insignia. We chose a ph guarantee and were upgraded to a ph2. We booked very late and not many cabins were available. Our primary reason for choosing ph was the size of the bathroom. As others have said, it is a matter of preference. We don't care about having a butler - nice but for us not necessary.

Generally, on any cruise, for us a balcony is a must because we love just watching the ocean. We love it even if the weather is bad.

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Are there freezers in the refrigerators in the owners suites on the R ships? If there are, are they cold and big enough for gel ice packs?

On the Insignia, the refrigerator in our cabin did not have a freezer. I brought plastic well sealing bags and asked for extra ice. Our cabin attendants made certain I had 2 buckets of ice twice a day and was encouraged to call if I needed more. I ice twice a day. It worked for me and was suggested by my pt. I also brought a few cold packs just in case. They were not needed.

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We've cruised with Oceania since the beginning and I'd number my personal pros and cons as

 

Pros

 

Small/intermediate sized ships. I much prefer the original R ships, my wife likes the new O pair

Superb, meticulous maintenance (astonishingly good)

Quality furnishings, linens, beds, china, silver etc.

Consistent levels of service

Personalized service from an empowered and respected staff.. not automatons. We value so many of them over the years as friends and important to our overall experience.

Excellent cuisine and varied menu

Super golf putting course on each ship

Value: a rare commodity nowadays. Not cheap but good. And no nickel and dime nonsense once aboard

 

Cons

 

Too port intensive itineraries for me (the ships are too good to be reduced to "bus stop" itineraries

Better attention needs to be paid to special diets (my wife is gluten free and Cunard is far better catering to this than Oceania)

MDR can be terribly slow in the evening, open sitting and an epic menu make it often difficult to run efficiently

Some cost cutting in evidence the last few years... the spa deck for example used to be immaculate, last cruise in REGATTA it was not.

"Country Club Casual" interpreted by too many whose club must be the YMCA. Elegant, beautiful ships and too many in the evening dressed like they just came off the 18th hole or mowed the lawn.

Occasional poor bar service if you have the BIB (drinks package) card vs. paying per drink

Too loud music around the pool... totally un-needed when everyone has their own personal music devices

Not keen on the announced redecoration of the R ships

 

But this is a superb, consistent product.. and has been for us since 2003. You have to really work at being vaguely disappointed. They work very hard to ensure you aren't.

We just ended our first Oceania cruise on the Insignia on Tuesday. It was amazing. As a celiac, I too must be gluten free. On QM2, they do have a separate GF section of the buffet, it is self serve which always makes me a bit nervous. QM2 had better afternoon tea GF selections. Both ships will give you the menu the evening before so the MDR can accommodate the diet. However, on the Insignia, each time I dined at the Terrace Cafe buffet, the head waiter brought a chef out who took me on a tour and pointed out safe selections and also offered alternatives cooked separately. The buffet was not self serve and I felt more confident about possible cross contamination. The food was delicious and I felt more varied. We booked another cruise with Oceania next year.

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Perhaps I missed the meet and greet. I did meet Mary from the 8/4/18 Roll Call.

It was an amazing cruise. Our first time on Oceania and loved it so much we booked another for next year. Hopefully the tubs will be out of the PH bathrooms by then! I did try to post a review.

It was available at the Baristas last trip on the Insignia. A bit stronger but delicious.

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We love cruising on two lines - Oceania and Viking Ocean (part of Viking Cruises). Neither is exactly inexpensive, but both are good value considering what you get. (Oceania usually throws in airfare, as long as you're not terribly picky about what they get for you. If you are, you have choices.) Viking provides a free overview excursion in each port other than (often) the embarkation and disembarkation ports, plus free beer and wine at lunch and dinner. Both include free internet and (somewhat limited) specialty restaurant dinners, and both are great lines. Viking's cheapest cabin is great, and Oceania's is too, except that it's an inside with no veranda - not acceptable to many people.

 

We took Viking Ocean on a British Isles cruise that included Lerwick (Shetland) and Kirkwall (Orkney). Some ports on the itinerary we took would probably be repeats for you, given how much you've traveled. (I'm jealous!) However, I just thought I'd mention those two cruise lines, as I think you would like both. (My likes seem similar to yours, except that I found Celebrity to be barely "OK.")

 

There are a couple cruise or travel agency websites you can use to enter a specific port you're interested in. If you can find those, it might help you find a cruise line that goes there. Then, of course, you have to weed out the lines that you likely wouldn't care for.

 

Perhaps a smaller line like Seabourn goes to more islands in your target area. Of course, the smaller the ship, the more pricey the cruise becomes!

 

We're not allowed to recommend travel agents on here, or I would. I love the company I use. It's a big cruise-only company, but service and knowledge are great.

 

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Thank you so much for your suggestions. We will be cruising on the Insignia NE/Bermuda trip this summer. It was last minute but we are looking forward to the Oceania experience.

My Mom was from England. So we were fortunate to be able to visit family and friends and expand our visits.

We did several Rhine cruises with KD. I believe Viking acquired the part of the company that did 5-7 night trips. They were so amazing, we were repeat travelers. It was all inclusive featuring wines/beers and food from the areas we traveled through. Lots of historical commentary. I will definitely research them and also see what Oceania. Cunard looks like it only makes one stop in Lerwick.

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I am looking for cruise line suggestions for summer 2019 that includes the Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands even possibly Faire Isle. We do not like party ships with huge passenger numbers. I have been searching and saw Hebridean. However with air fare added on, I am afraid it is outside of our budget. We have already been to Iceland, Norwegian Fjords and know Britain well. I saw the Black Watch, the Balmoral and the Magellan. I tried to get a feel if any would been a match but reviews have only served to confuse me more. We love Cunard and we liked Celebrity. However many of the cruise lines we would be interested in spend little time in the Islands. Any thoughts, suggestions will be greatly appreciated. We like good food, love looking at the ocean and scenery and don't drink much.

Sadly, our travel agent passed away some time ago.

Thank you in advance.

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I was wondering how to take the 3 allowable bottles onboard when embarking. Since the cabins aren’t ready until later, do you lug it around in carryons? I wouldn’t want to pack it into checked luggage because of the possibility of spillage.

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I am new to this forum and I am so delighted with the responses to my GF questions. Thank you!

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I’m gluten free by necessity and Oceania is great about helping me fully enjoy my cruises. GF pasta and breads/dinner rolls have always been available. Talk with the chef in the Terrace Cafe and he/she will assist with your selections. I’ve experienced them quickly making me GF gravies and had them delivered to my table.

 

You will receive the following day’s menu for turning in with your selections if dining in the restaurants.

Thank you so much for the information. I am looking forward to this cruise.

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Celiac disease is very serious but some people think it is a diet and it is not. You actually can gain weight on this diet but again if your are truly Celiac you need to avoid gluten and inform your waiter about it. Most if not all cruise lines know this and will accommodate you.

 

Gluten-free products in stores are very expensive and as I mentioned some people must have them but it is not a diet for weight control for people who are not affected.

 

I have IBS and know I cannot eat nuts so I just monitor this. Oh, and I love nuts.

Agreed- I gained weight because I now am absorbing. The GF diet fad is a doubled edged sword. It has greatly improved products and awareness, Enabling us with the freedom to dine out. However the dabblers who don’t need to be GF sometimes leave wait staff and restaurateurs with the impression it is not serious.

Thank you for your encouraging reply.

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Posted on an earlier thread elsewhere but didn't realize how old it was.The information here is great. I booked directly through an O agent. He said there was a notation made in my file about the necessity of having a gluten free diet. I have a form of celiac disease- DH. However, on other lines I filed a special medical dietary restriction form. The O agent said that was not necessary because this has become a routine request. Counting down to the cruise- 19 days. I am a bit nervous and wonder if I should contact anyone else or department in advance of the sailing. Any additional advice would be helpful.

Thank you!

I too have celiac and must be gluten free. Supposedly it was noted at the time we booked. I was told I needn’t to anything more. Some lines you must complete medical requests forms. I was told to identify myself to dining services and always alert waitstaff etc. I am always so nervous about new dining experiences even after more than 16 yrs. I would appreciate any advice. I am particularly concerned about embarking and the buffet. Thank you in advance!

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