Sailnsurf

I was on Capri late September last year. It was terribly over crowded. Time consuming queus for everything. So my tip is do not be over ambitious with what you plan to do and ensure you allow plenty of time so you can really enjoy whatever you do.

Thanks for this- it is veTey re-assuring. I had thought it would be relatively calm around the islands during August based on my research but it is nice to hear this first hand. Thanks to all who responded.

Thanks again. Are you able to say what level of movement there has been during meal times and when at anchor? What do you mean by " not bad between most ports"? Is the GDR a better place to eat wgen some motion is likely given it is at a lower level than other dining locations? I really appreciate comments on motion generally because this could be a deal breaker for us-which would be a great pity because we have wanted to cruise FP. Does anyone know whether kinder seas could be expected in late August compared to now?

Thanks for this. However it raises something which worries me. My wife is very sensitive to motion which has always influenced our cruising choices. That said she has been bold enough to enjoy sailing (yachting) with medication when needed. But that has been for relatively short periods. I would not want to subject her to extended periods of movement. She would not enjoy dining/eating at all if conscious of movement. So my question is how much movement is likely when at anchorage and when moving between the islands? Thanks also to jondfk and TRLD for your comments. I would welcome input from others about their experiences of excursions etc on the islands.

As we are on Regatta for a 10 day Polynesian cruise in August 25 any comments on this section of your itinerary, such as what was good and what not would be very interesting to read as well.

Thanks for this additioal information which is comforting.I appreciate your detailed response and must say I find peopl on this board really helpful. Maybe it says something about Oceania cruisers!

Thanks for your objective comments. I have a first time Oceana cruise booked and have already been informed on this forum about almost all I need to know about how to best ensure my GF needs are met (I am coeliac). I know from cruising on HAL that those needs were well met when it came to dining arrangements as seems to be the case with O, but it was the all day options which fell short and it is in this area that I have little information.It is sometimes hard when those in your group are tucking into delightful looking pastries and suchlike if there are very limited or no GF options. It would be very helpful if you ( and others) could give information about those all day snack options e.g. is there a good choice of GF confectionaries available, are there GF ice creams ? Are there GF High Tea options?

Thanks to all for your very helpful responses.

I am new to Oceania and wonder when offered excursions are available to view. My understanding is that excursions cannot be booked until the cruise fare is paid in full. Our cruise will be on Regatta in Polynesia in August 2025. It would be great to have time to consider all opportunities without having to make a.decision under any pressure. Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks to all who responded. I feel well informed. Its all very similar to HAL although HAL menus indicate GF dishes the chef will meet all possible requests. The buffet also has marked GF options. I am sufficiently comforted from all responses to book a Polynesian cruise on Regatta. Thanks again.

These links were so helpful. Thanks very much. I would be interested to know whether gf confectionaries are available for snacks outside set meals.

After a number of Holland America cruises we are contemplating a cruise on Regatta. I am coeliac and HAL do pretty well in accommodating gluten free. It gives cruising holidays the edge for me because it can be difficult managing gf needs in some countries. So how Oceania manages gf is likely to be adeciding factor for us. I would really appreciate information from Oceania cruisers about how Oceania deals with gluten free needs.

A brief update. Total experience remains good. We have now also had a dinner in the Canelleto. While the menu has changed and lost a true Italian Restaurant flavour those of us who had Italian dishes all enjoyed thei meals.My food critic brother was very complimentary about the chianti-braised beef short rib. Unfortunately I went down to Covid caught on a hop on hop off bus in Barcelona. I felt a bit off the 2nd day of the cruise,tested negative but a day or so later my wife was not feeling at all well and we then both tested positive. She was given Paxlovid. I was by then not feeling bad but we both went into isolation and hope to be released tomorrow. HAL could not have treated us better and have done everything they could to ease our isolation. The room service operstor Boji has been exceptional and I have given him glowing feedback via the Navigator app which I hope will give him well deserved recognition. That said we have made the best of it enjoying star- lit nights, breakfast and coffees on our stern verandah. We look forward now to breaking loose and the rest of the cruise. I am sorry I am not able to respond to some specific enquiries. We have either been off the ship or having lengthy dinners so have had no time for any entertainment or other activities.

These are my observations 6 days into the Cruise. My comparison is to pre- covid and our last cruise on the Nieuw Statendam, a 21 day Norway cruise. Opinions will differ. 1. Food is just as good. The Dining Room quality has been extremely good. We have had one dinner in the Pinnacle Grill. My brother (who was with us on the Norway cruise, is a very good cook and is a tough food critic) but he described his scallop entree as one of the best dishes he has had. We all enjoyed the dinner which I thought was as good as ever. Although not on the menu I asked if I could have the famous coat hanger bacon which was willingly provided. 2. It has not been our experience that servings are any smaller. 3.Eating gluten free in the Lido is now marked GF. This makes it so much easier. It was a real struggle before. 4. The Have it All drinks package has worked very well for us - not on cost considerations - but because it is just not necessary to think about it.The only difference we have noted is that waiters do not seem to be at your elbow as quickly as before. 5. I did not come with the highest of expectations based on much I had read but have to say I think HAL has done well. It is obvious some crew are less experienced than before and there seem more who struggle a bit to understand English but they have all been 100% friendly and obliging in the manner for which HAl is well known. Our servers in Fixed Dining have been excellent. We are enjoying our time on board very much.

The best advice I can give is that you ask to speak to the Officer in charge for guidance at the outset. Based on my experience nothing is marked as GF except a specific dessert section. On my last cruise an arrangement was made that I was givenvthe lunch menu the day before to make a selection, and I would give a time for the meal to be prepared. I had to ask for the officer each time and he would personally bring the meal to me. With breakfast I would assess whether it looked safe to order something like bacon and egg or an omelette but I preferred to eat in the MDR whenever I could. Eating GF in the Lido is difficult. This is an area in which HAl could do better by listing the ingredients where practical or by preparing some specific and signed GF choices. I used sometimes to get a burger from the Dive -In (without the buns because even if they had GF buns they fell apart) or a GF pizza from the Pizz Bar.

Sydney to Brisbane would be anti-clockwise. Anti-clockwise is the common route. I generally only follow HAL but for a time was considering Cunard and cannot re-call ever seeing clock-wise circumnavigation on offer but perhaps I just did not notice.

Thanks for your help evetyone.

Same questions as asked YourWorldWithBill. Thanks for taking the trouble to reply.

Thanks (everone) but were you using the standard or premium packages? Could you make telephone calls and message?

Can anyone tell me whether its possible to make Whatsapp telephone calls on either the standard HIA wifi package or the upgraded Premium package?

Worth knowing. It might get us up to the next level. Does anyone know the actual value currently being placed oneach component of the HIA drinks, crew appreciation,specialty dining,wifi, and crew appreciation? Excursion value and early Mariner booking OBC are obviously clear.

Thanks for your responses which are re-assuring and illustrate how cautious one needs to be about reviews that are overly negative.

About 8 months ago a young English couple uploaded a very good video review on Youtube of their cruise in the Med on board the Oosterdam. However CC reviews of her later sailngs to South America/ Antartica were overwhelmingly poor. Supply lines may have been a big factor in those reviews as well as weather. I would be intetersted to know how she has fared in the Med this season as we board in September for a 24 day cruise. It would be great to hear from CC members who have cruised recently on her. Any port tips also welcome.

I have had both knees replaced - one year apart. Did all the phsio required including water therapy(which was much easier and super beneficial) and I was playing lawnbowls after 6 weeks. Do the hard work and you have a good chance of doing more than you think likely. Even if somewhat limited I reckon it will be worth going for it. Good luck with it all.

Have others had difficulty with this? If so is there some reliable way of using the Istanbul Kart?