rrunner

23 hours ago, Carol28 said:

We were also on this cruise and just canceled our upcoming Marina cruise.  This was our first Oceania.  I understand the change of itinerary. I don't understand why my TA did not advise me when i sent an email and I will discuss this with her.  BUT, what really annoyed me about this trip was the lazy cruise director who provided no extra entertainment for the guests.  Extra music and games, culinary experiences and lectures could easily have been arranged.  Of our 41 cruises, this was our worst. Never again!

 

On 1/23/2023 at 9:10 AM, Pear Carr said:

https://www.theworldvoyageqm2.com/

Following, however, not impressed so far.  Not enough information/detail with regard to the onboard atmosphere and daily experience of a world cruiser - bars, dining, guest speakers, interesting shipmates and characters. As someone who would like to take a world cruise in the not too distant future this blog is not setting the scene for me.  I can search for factual tourist information on Google.  

Yes disappointing so far. Hopefully blog will improve.  

We are sailing QM2 on   December 22nd.  I read  facials  and massages  are available but the sauna steam  and  whirlpool are closed due to Covid.  Disappointing as I  read the entire spa  has been refurbished.  It is no longer Canyon Ranch.   

43 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

It isnt hostile but Cunard have rules on Formal nights for those that are not dressed  formally they are only allowed in certain areas of the ship which is explained on their website. On other nights when dress code is smart attire a dress shirt and trousers are acceptable and everywhere on the ship is available.

In the 15th years were have sailed with Cunard we have seen many passengers sitting  in the  theater   not wearing formal attire on a formal evening.      We do dress for dinner -  my point is not everyone will and  they will be permitted in the theater.    It does not bother us - we are there to watch a show not look at other passengers attire.   The rules are changing - in past years it used to be formal or semi-formal almost  every night - much more relaxed these day's.   

1 hour ago, majortom10 said:

Nobody is forcing you.

Obligated then.   When you read posters suggesting you find another cruise line if you are not willing to dress up - or stay away from many area's  of the ship on formal nights  -  bit hostile.     

On 11/21/2021 at 10:46 AM, mcloaked said:

I am sure that the topic of dress code will run for quite some time - there is a strong following of non-casual dress and having some level of smartness for dinner even on non-Gala evenings - but there is also a number of people who want to have nobody tell them what to wear and are happy to turn up for dinner as if it was on a Caribbean beach holiday with a tracksuit, or shorts and flip-flops.  So many people really don't want that atmosphere for dinner on holiday - but in any event in the Lido you can wear what you want, so why can't a less casual atmosphere be maintained in Britannia Restaurant and a more casual atmosphere for the buffet thereby keeping everyone happy! 

 

Equally I am sad to see that non-fixed dining has arrived for the second sitting.  I do hope that fixed time dining is maintained for first sitting - we like having the same table at the same time each evening, as do a lot of other people. If dining in MDR went the way of P&O then we would be unhappy - in fact with P&O having 'freedom dining' and no fixed seating, and time, and also diluting the Crystal Room from its prime use of ballroom dancing, meant that in recent years we stopped booking any cruises with P&O.  If dining on Cunard were to also go over to full 'freedom dining', and further dilution of the use of the Queens Room, then we, along with quite a few people we know, might also stop booking Cunard cruises - at least we still have ballroom dancing every night, and a high level professional dance couple doing high quality ballroom show dances in the ballroom on Gala nights, and people do dress up and enjoy the formality as part of something special on holiday. After all I could go to a Costa beach holiday, and never have to dress up, at much cheaper price than a cruise - if cruises went that way, what would be the point of paying the premium for something that is no different to a land based package holiday at half the price?

 

For 5 years we have paid a premium on Oceania for their excellent food  and casual  dress code.   No one shows up in shorts or flip flops to eat in their  many elegant dining rooms  -   no one wears a gown or tux either.  It is a lovely way to cruise - however we missed the lectures and  entertainment on Cunard.      We are diamond members so many sailings with Cunard.   We  will be sailing on the QM2 Christmas  cruise.   We will dress up but only because we feel forced to.  

On 10/24/2021 at 4:12 PM, Underwatr said:

Apologies for what probably constitutes a cross-post, but what's the current situation with Britannia dining? Specifically,

• Is Cunard still seating larger tables in Britannia with unrelated traveling groups (if requested)? I'm interested in dinner table assignments as well as breakfast & lunch. 
• Is second seating still being given over to anytime dining? Assuming two seatings of traditional dining we requested a larger table in second seating as recently as August and nothing was mentioned to indicate that a new dining concept was being introduced.

Lots of changes afoot in access to Caribbean ports (in a bad way) so I'm trying to determine how much the onboard experience has changed before final payment comes due in November.

We are on this cruise also.      Can you explain the "bad" changes to the Caribbean ports.    I have booked a couple of excursions.  Did not notice anything different   -     there appears to be plenty to choose from.     I don't remember having assigned tables for breakfast or lunch in Britannia in the past. Is this something new due to Covid?        

7 hours ago, Underwatr said:

I've seen a RCCL post on this topic but I can't see any CDC communications more broadly announcing this. It's hard to know what to conclude from that.

 

I'm on the same itinerary as you are. Given that Cunard has moved final payment to 30 days before embarkation for all remaining 2021 itineraries, I suspect that they believe there is sufficient uncertainty in those itineraries (whether they'll be significantly impacted or canceled outright) to give passengers more flexibility - and also to ward off people canceling prior to the old 120 day final payment deadline given how much time and uncertainty there is between now and embarkation.

I plan to wait it out and see what develops between now and November.

  Hoping for major improvements regarding the virus  by the end of the year  - fingers crossed the cruise goes ahead as planned.  

I have not seen this article discussed on the CC board but apologies if I missed it.   The CDC will not allow ships arriving from international waters into the US until 14 days after the last  passenger disembarks.  We are on the QM2 Christmas cruise New York to New York - how can this cruise go ahead unless they change the requirements.  The cruise starts in Southampton and ends there also.  

We are booked on the Christmas cruise  leaving from NY to the Caribbean. I have not been notified that it has been cancelled.  Hoping it is not.    

1 hour ago, canoncruiser said:

Just read the article. It sounds like carefully planted industry gossip - and entirely speculative. BUT The basis of the story is that Cunard and Seabourn depend on an aging and diminishing  customer base and that Carnival wants to make more money with brands that cater to a ‘younger’ customer base that is more promising . But there is  always an aging and prospering demographic who will want move beyond the mass market.  I’ve spent a lot of time on Cunard ships and , yes there are a large number of ‘seniors’, but in my experience they are not floating retirement homes, there is lots of life and energy. So we’ll see. 🤨

Also, not really sure that Cunard’s fleet will appeal to ‘fast buck’ types-though great ships have been cheapened before.But the real issue nowadays is the Pandemic. 

Their ships  will be empty if they make it more difficult for older people to travel especially if they have existing health issues.  It will not be easy filling cabins for a world cruise .        

I read the article on Face Book this afternoon.  Surprised  no comments   

5 hours ago, TOLISTravellers said:

That would be wonderful if someone posted the spa price list.   I called today and O does not have it ready yet.

I am also interested.  

On 8/6/2019 at 11:39 PM, Mura said:

We haven't been unhappy with food on Oceania -- then again, our last cruise was May 2018.  Yes, of course, there have always been the occasional dish that disappointed!  But in general we were very happy with the food.

 

It has always been superior to the cruises we took on other lines -- even Queens Grill on the QE2 -- but I have to admit there haven't been that many, and not in recent years.  (After all the last QE2 cruise was in 2004.)

 

I do wish I hadn't had to cancel the April 2019 cruise (NY-Southampton) since I'd have a  more recent experience to relate!

 

Mura

We think the food on Oceania  surpasses all other cruise lines.  I have sailed approx 20 times with Cunard and many with Celebrity.  Oceania has superior  seafood and steaks.  We have not sailed Queens Grill however on Cunard.  

2 minutes ago, Cruseforme said:

No, from Oceania’s FAQ on a 7 day cruise you will only receive 1 reservation in advance.   If you check onboard, you May be able to get another one, but on a 7 day cruise, I wouldn’t bank on it:  

Insignia, Nautica, Regatta and Sirena 
Concierge Level Veranda and above 
Cruises 7 days or less: 1 reservation at each restaurant 
Cruises 8-17 days: 2 reservations at each restaurant 
Cruises 18 days or more: 3 reservations at each restaurant 
 

 

That was my understanding.  Thank you.  

1 hour ago, ano said:

No Concierge Lounge on R ships. We found ANYONE could use the spa deck area. They never checked. The best parts of the concierge service was two free bags of laundry, and you get two trips to each specialty restaurant as opposed to one, and earlier booking. Is that all worth the added cost? You have to decide. I'm not sure I would pay for it again.  

At the moment we do not have a choice - there are only concierge cabins left.  We only like mid ship location.  .    Are you certain concierge gets 2 trips to each speciality restaurant.  That would be very nice.     We are on a 7 day cruise.   

21 minutes ago, Mura said:

I'm usually in the Executive Lounge but both lounges are pretty much the same.  HOWEVER ...

 

I don't think you should be disappointed that it doesn't exist on the "R" ships.  If you want to go in to read newspapers or go online, that's one thing.  (I believe people have said internet connections are better in the lounges.)  But the only times we ever used the lounge was if we missed lunch and wanted a snack before dinner.

 

That's us, of course!  But it's really not a big deal.  A concierge is on duty several hours a day (not all that many) but some are more helpful then others.

 

Unfortunately, the "R" ships being roughly half the size of the "O" ships just don't have the space for such niceties!

 

Mura

I assume an executive lounge is for the suite guests only??  We would have enjoyed reading the papers actually.  I thought with the refurbishments that a concierge  lounge might have been added on Sirena.  

1 hour ago, LHT28 said:

No Concierge lounges on the R ships 

On Regatta there was  a shaded area on the spa deck  so maybe on the other small ships also

 

 

Thank you.  Disappointed no concierge lounge .  That sounded like a nice perk for concierge passengers.     

On 8/15/2019 at 12:20 PM, LHT28 said:

just to clarify for those  new to Oceania

the spa access is just for the spa deck  which has some loungers & the T pool

all other services like showers, sauna, gym are free to all

the Spa services eg: massages mani/pedi  are fee based  for anyone wanting to pay for them

Riviera T pool

 

 

heated ceramic loungers  open to all

 

We are not new to Oceania - 4 cruises however we are new to concierge class - no other staterooms were available mid ship.    .  We are sailing on Sirena January 6th cruise from Miami.  I thought I read that Sirena does not have a concierge lounge does anyone know if this is so.  Also are there any shade areas  on the spa deck  we  have special access to.   

I will thank you.  My husband is quite bad from motion when on the higher decks.  He has a hard time in the Polo grill unfortunately as it is his favorite restaurant.  

4 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Midship would between the 2 elevator banks   7031  is just a bit forward   it could be worse you could be in 7001

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/ships/sirena/deck-plans/

What sailing are you on?

Looking again at the deck plans.  I see the problem with a lower deck.  Most  of the cabins are insides also the life boats take up a lot of  space on deck 6.  We prefer a balcony.  Hoping the sea is calm?  

January 6th Miami - Miami

Thank you for your advice.     I will ask the travel agent again regarding a location move.    At the time of booking 7031 appeared to be mid ship but now not so sure.  

On 6/23/2019 at 5:00 PM, Toranut97 said:

A friend and I are booked on a January cruise and wound up in 6031. We were mainly concerned about motion (her issue) - but realizing now we are over the lounge, and that is ominous, anyone with experience cruising in this cabin? Thanks

 

Donna

We are also on a January cruise in 7031.  Does any one know how stable Sirena is.  My husband has problems with motion sickness also.  Travel agent does not have any lower deck cabins available.    

We have sailed on both ships and several cruises with both Oceania and Celebrity.    There is no  comparison  between the lines.  .  The Edge is mass market - loud music - crowds of people and not so great food and way to many specialty restaurants.      We thought The Edge was closer to a Royal Caribbean ship.   .  The Edge is more suited to the 40ish  crowd - we are mid to late 70s.   Regatta is a  very elegant ship.      Soft music -  great food and few passengers.      I was told by staff that Celebrity is trying to attract  younger passengers that like to gamble  drink and enjoy noisy evening shows.   If that is your style you will have a great time .     If you like to relax and enjoy super food - love the lobster tail lunches - then Regatta wins.