Hanoj

So . . . we had hoped to get a tender pass in the Vista Lounge this morning to go ashore but the cancellation announcement came before we headed down. Instead we went to the Vista Lounge for the Future Voyages Presentation and my wife won the $250 OBC raffle! My cynical sarcasm was a way for me to vent. I let my disappointment go before leaving my stateroom and greeted everyone, whether guest or crew, with a smile and gracious word. I am grateful. Gratitude is bliss. My “missing more” pun was largely due to what appears may be a trend, disturbing to this traveler if borne out, of missing ports and shortening durations.

“This is your captain. Due to the overwhelming success of the newly introduced Simply More marketing campaign (designed to drive away cruise only freeloaders), I announce our new port intensive program Missing More! (designed to drive away DIY and private tour freeloaders).” Presently on Vista and we just missed Stornoway due to “sea swells and weather” making tendering unsafe. I’m not qualified to assess the veracity of this reason given, but I have no loss of sarcasm for expressing my disappointment. I saw the harbor pilot leave the ship after heading back out of the port after we had entered the port and stopped (though I don’t think anchors were dropped). The sea appeared calmer than both Newhaven (Edinburgh) and Kirkwall, also tendering ports. I’ve read numerous comments about concerns over dubious reasons communicated for missing ports on Oceania itineraries. If someone wishes to provide independent information supporting this instance, I’m open to giving O the benefit of the doubt, but this is our first O cruise and they now have the ignoble honor of achieving our first missed port in 40 days of cruising. Coupled with noting 6 hours of reduced port time (across 3 of 10 scheduled calls) per the itinerary published in Currents compared to when booking the cruise (June 2023), I won’t be visiting the O Ambassador about booking any future cruise while onboard.

We also enjoyed Ember (day 3). Table for two at 6:30 pm. We each ordered the beef tenderloin and ours were also cooked perfectly medium. Our waiter asked us to check if it was cooked to our liking before leaving our table. Restaurant manager also came by and enquired about our satisfaction. The staff were very attentive and eager to please. We liked the ambiance and it wasn’t too loud, though the restaurant was not full. We would definitely go back!

Interestingly, we are day two into our first Oceania cruise and we are already thinking about looking into returning to Viking. It’s not a particularly relevant comparison since we have only sailed with Viking and not since 2019, but it is our only frame of reference. Also interesting is the first three guests aboard Vista we struck up conversations with prefer Regent but chose this particular cruise because of the new ship, this particular British Isles itinerary, or both. I’ve been looking into Regent. Whichever way we go for future cruising I doubt we will be loyal to any one line.

We are US customers and never received luggage tags nor did our TA. The terminal (Southampton, UK) had tags and we watched as they were secured to our luggage and all pieces were delivered to our stateroom.

Room service and cabin attendants have been very attentive. We have a travel WaterPik (120v US plug) and the only outlet in the bathroom is 120v European style. We called housekeeping last night and there was an adapter installed after our attendant made up our room this morning!

We wanted something quick and easy for dinner last night and had an excellent pizza at Waves. I have a wheat allergy and they were very accommodating and the gluten free crust was as good as the best we’ve had on land and better than most. DW could have ordered her own pizza on normal crust but she was willing to have GF. She thought it was excellent too. The waiter suggested we could order different toppings for each 1/2 so we did. We got to the venue about 15 minutes early thinking we might be turned away since not yet open, but the waiter said we could be seated and even brought us water while we waited. He promptly took our order at 6:30. Service was excellent.

Hi Miriam. I see we’re losing a total of 6 hours port time across 3 of 10 ports compared to the scheduled itinerary when booking this cruise. One hour less each morning at Kirkwall, Dublin, and Portland and three hours less evening time in Dublin.

Boarded about 2.5 hours ago, expecting access to our B3 stateroom in about 30 minutes. We are enjoying a break in the weather in loungers on deck 14. Outdoor areas have considerable black exhaust soot that has the crew very active cleaning. We got covers for the loungers from one of the crew - he offered. Ship arrived in port yesterday morning. There were thunderstorms overnight but the outdoor areas are drying nicely. We had a nice lunch in the Aquamar Kitchen with delightful pumpkin spice cappuccinos made with Laird superfoods and oat milk (as an alternative to dairy). We used the pickle ball court and the wind makes for interesting play. We had good laughs just practicing. Attached is a photo of a broken pane on deck 16 aft just beyond the golf driving range. Can’t help wonder if club slipped someone’s grip. Vista is beautiful. The colors are lighter and brighter than the impressions I formed from photos and videos. I’m posting using my cellular plan. Don’t know what to expect once we are underway and we will only have one Wi-Fi access.

If you desire past information, I recommend: https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/usa/portland-or/climate Once you find your destination, using the Yesterday/Past Weather opens a new window that has the ability to "select month" in the upper right hand corner. You can see extensive past data.

It appears the gap is April 30-May 17, 2024 according to O's website since there is a sailing disembarking in Venice April 29, 2024 and the next embarkation is May 18, 2024 in Barcelona.

@maxamize The thoroughness and balanced quality of your review merits conveying in a letter to Oceania. Like @Sthrngary my wife and are too "soon to be NEW Oceania Guests" (though by modifying my expectations it won't be "too soon" 😎 since we sail Vista embarking August 18, 2023) so other CC members may have recommendations where to send a letter and to whom it is best addressed. Views you expressed, particularly in areas where improvement is warranted, concur with my expectations. It appeared your dining experience comments were primarily about evening meals. Do you have comments about breakfasts and lunches? Also, did you order room service?

Or the allegedly tasteless cookies, which do have an “S,” on O’s ships.

Pinto for my first drive. This way I could have more time enjoying the views. Also, better chance of an unexpected stop for a picnic due to a breakdown. 😎

We disembark Vista in Southampton August 30, 2023 with Oceania transfer to LHR purchased for $79 pp. We did not purchase airfare through O. We are scheduled to arrive two days before embarking in Southampton and purchased National Express from LHR tickets for £47.00 total for the two of us (this includes the £10.00 to allow schedule change). Since we plan to fly back to the US the same day as disembarking we didn’t want to hassle with getting from the cruise terminal to the bus station to save a few quid.

I have no experience with this, though I have read enough comments on various CC threads for several different lines and from private tour operators out of Holyhead, suggesting it happens with some frequency. Some of the tour operators offer excursions into North Wales from Liverpool.

Ditto for us on Vista British Isles Splendors embarking Aug. 18, 2023. Holyhead, Wales is included in the itinerary and is often missed due to rough seas, so I have adjusted my expectations. Ports integrity (including making and time in) is the most important criteria, cetaris paribus, for us regarding whether we book again with Oceania. We booked our cruise June 2. 2023 and considered booking future "cruise only" sailings before SM went into affect July 1 but didn't, primarily over concerns arising form comments in this forum about skipped ports for dubious reasons. Oceania has one opportunity to gain repeat business from us.

I wouldn't move to "A" class just for the free laundry. $750 would buy plenty of laundry service. A concierge class stateroom for our Vista cruise later this month was going to be a $1000 higher fare. We plan to pay for laundry service as needed and will save most of the lower fare cost.

The ones that aren’t missed.🫢

How are “jeans” defined? By material (denim) or pant design? They’re a 5 pocket style pants (with and without rivets) made from exactly the same material as chinos. The only difference is often in the pockets design.

Waterford, Ireland? Vista is scheduled for Waterford on August 28, 2023 and will anchor at Dunmore East. Is Oceania likely to provide a shuttle into Waterford?

Since “manners maketh the man,” I am relieved to read Viking’s evening dress code is “for gentlemen” and applies for all dining venues, performances and special events (except the World Cafe). Trousers and a collared shirt required (not defined), though jeans (also not defined) are not permitted. So, is a man who wears jeans in the evening were not permitted behaving in an ungentlemanly manner? Anecdotally, I realized when re-reading the dress code ahead of our second VO cruise that I had unwittingly worn jeans to an entertainment venue during our first cruise the year before. We had dressed appropriately for our dinner at Manfredi’s and taken a stroll on the promenade before retiring to our stateroom, or so I thought. While I changed into my jeans, my DW noted the band was playing music we liked in Torshavn so we went and I didn’t think about changing, believing then that the code applied only to the restaurants. We had a great time and it included dancing. I’m happy to report not one guest or staff person said anything or otherwise made conspicuous my dress code impropriety. The moral of the story? We all make assumptions, often varying, about many things we think others understand in the same way. As a licensed financial professional, I tend towards being conscientious, even to the point of being fastidious. I admit to feeling a bit embarrassed when re-reading the dress code, but I remain grateful this embarrassment didn’t occur that night on the ship from a comment, look or confrontation. I expect the dress code isn’t enforced at the entertainment venues as vigorously as at the restaurants, but it was a pleasant non-issue. What are jeans? Since not defined by Viking, the question is relevant, even if tedious. Jeans historically are considered pants made from denim. First introduced over 150 years ago by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis, “blue jeans” have become increasingly popular since the 1960’s. Denim jeans are now sold in various shades of blue and many other colors. There are now pants marketed as “jeans” that are made from other fabrics besides denim and in many colors. The common theme among the modern array of pants called “jeans” is their 5-pocket styling, with and without rivets. Some of these pants are made with exactly the same fabric as chinos, the difference only being the pant style, most notably in the pockets design. When pleated trousers (with suits, dress slacks, and chinos) ceased being sold, I began wearing high end pants in the 5 pocket style for business casual purposes (i.e., situations not requiring a tie or jacket). Thus, I consider Viking’s “jeans not permitted” as applying to denim trousers.

Deserves own thread? 🙃

Aren’t some of the excursions “car for a day” or “car for 1/2 a day?” If you’re disinclined towards the O excursions (and you have good reasons), then try to use the credits to defray costs for something you might incur doing your own thing. Don’t be “bought” by something you don’t value. Sure, it’s included, but if I applied this rationale to the now included SM beer and wine at lunch and used to occasionally have one beer which I charged to my onboard account, how many “free” beers would I need to consume to get my money’s worth? Also, by not joining the ship tours it may contribute to less crowding (or time at potty stops) for other guests. As it’s often repeated “there’s no such thing as ‘free.’” If something is free, the customer is the product.

Agree. But that be can asserted about the CLIA and its operators. The most glaring error in the attorney article is referring (twice) to the 45 ships allegedly sailing with the faulty panels are all cruise ships. This claim was not made by FT or the other articles. Some, but not all 45, were reported as cruise ships. Seems an attorney would be more careful.