CoolChile

8 hours ago, ORV said:

So I’m in a public room with comfy chairs and floor to ceiling windows. I’m the only person in here, all other inside venues with a view are wall to wall people. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before. 

OK, I'll bite, ORV, can't help myself.  How was your pedi?

16 hours ago, TFree said:

 While we had a TA on the cruise that ended last week, we left her off this reservation, and we are not likely to use her again <snip>.  So we are exploring a couple of agents . . . .

So, to be clear, the Oceania bookings are in your (and your friends') name?  In other words, the bookings are not currently assigned to any TA but you are trying to find a TA to transfer the bookings to that gives you "meaningful benefits"?

You were on the Vista Panama Canal sailing Nov 3 (the one right after ours) so you might want to step up your research (lots of tips here on how to find a "good" one) as you have only 30 days to reassign the booking from Oceania to a TA.  That is, unless Oceania changes the time allowed to do that from 30 to 14 days on December 1, and makes it retroactive.

22 hours ago, sandpiperbay said:

On the Panama Canal cruise too, but haven’t received any docs yet. Did get an email from my TA when asked about this earlier. Included info on excursions etc.. But not much more ( ie. no luggage tags). Should I call Oceania.

I forgot to say, Oceania is unlikely to talk to you as you have a TA.  Time for a new one.

21 hours ago, sandpiperbay said:

On the Panama Canal cruise too, but haven’t received any docs yet. Did get an email from my TA when asked about this earlier. Included info on excursions etc.. But not much more ( ie. no luggage tags). Should I call Oceania.

Tom, you must get on your TA again.  Was your "blue book" (not blue anymore) delivered to them and not forwarded to you?   A little late for the booklet, but do not worry!  You will have no problem getting luggage tags at the pier.  The baggage guys will fill them in for you and all will be well. 

The rest of the booklet is a nice read, especially if you're new or newish to Oceania, but not essential.

What IS essential is getting the Final Cruise Vacation Summary (it's done by Oceania) FROM YOUR TA.   Also have your boarding pass when you arrive at the Port.

See you at the M&G!

Linda 🌶️

23 hours ago, PaisleyMello said:

I have booked a shore excursion for my friends and us, through Viator/Cay Tours to see the Queen Elizabeth II botanical gardens on this Panama Canal sailing - for October 18. I’m hoping others of you on this sailing will join us. 

@PaisleyMello, you might want to return to our roll call.  You haven't posted in months or emailed me to attend the M&G.  At any rate, the roll call is where you should post about your tour -- much more likely to get some uptake there. 

Linda 🌶️

1 hour ago, Vineyard View said:

This time we are thinking Positano and can grab a sofa bus of all else fails. Looking forward to seeing this beautiful area again!

What is a 'sofa bus'?  Must be comfy.

16 hours ago, chloemonkey said:

Only downside for the Vista Suites on the "Vista" is that I do NOT see a jacuzzi on the balcony....something that we have enjoyed tremendously.....hope that I am just missing it?

6 hours ago, Hambagahle said:

I don't think so.  I do not think there is one on the balcony on the Vista.  Frankly I personally am just as glad - we had one on the balcony of the Owners Suite and the Vista suite and never used either one.

When Frank Del Rio, Sr. was our 'guest' at the Vista Founder's cruise Meet & Greet, he spoke to us for pretty much the whole time.  He was affable but very clear:  Tubs, jacuzzis (whatever they're called) on the balconies of the top suites are a no-go.  They're often not used but also costly to clean and maintain.  So, voila.  None on the new Vista (nor, I would guess, on any future Allura class ship).

If you were there -- or weren't -- I'm paraphrasing, so don't get too picky with me. 😂

Linda

Dominique left after the Founder's cruise. Damien Lacroix took over as GM on the one following, Ancient Adriatics.  But who knows who's who in the zoo going forward.

6 hours ago, jonthomas said:

sounds delicious, if only it came it a small size...

Simple.  Make some friends.

On 6/15/2023 at 12:00 PM, pinotlover said:

Everyone has two weeks to sign up for any O cruise available under the current T&Cs for cruises until mid 2024. 
<snip> Worry about 2025 later!

Wondering if there's something out there about this.  Some time ago, we booked an April 2025 Tokyo-Vancouver with OLife (shorex).

The phrase "until mid 2024" caught my eye.  Is there an end date for already-booked cruises with OLife?  As ours is not until 2025, will we be required to switch to simply MORE?  (Um, and of course, pay more.)

Linda

20 hours ago, Host Kat said:

 

Eventually as new posts are made, threads will appear unread. You should then be able to go to first unread.

Oh Kat, you saviour, you!  Can always count on you on Cruise Critic.👏 I went over to Oceania Riviera roll calls and the posts made within 24 hrs of my 'boo boo' were there and bolded. 

More accurately, I clicked on that little button beside "Riviera Roll Calls" 'dim-wittedly'.  I remember reading that once hit, "Mark forum as unread" cannot be reversed.  Please Kat, or someone, say it ain't so!  Having it stay that way forever will be no fun as I search in vain for my unread sailings on Riviera.

Help?

18 hours ago, DeanoNorthPerth said:

Those Adidas are a nice subtle shade of..........whatever colour that is. 😁

13 hours ago, JoePDX said:

A fiery orange.   Orange is my favorite color.   😊

Joe

I wish you'd told me, Joe!  We just sold our fiery orange sofa bed.  You cruise, you lose.

5 hours ago, ak1004 said:

. . . . Don't drop your soup while taking a shower. 

Better yet, eat it before your shower. 

23 minutes ago, blg said:

We are Gold on Oceania and our (now retired) agent did offer gratuities, but the new agents seem to have NO clue what I'm even talking about. May have to start using a US agent.

Haven't you been getting PPGs since you became Silver?  Trying to understand what your issue is.

19 hours ago, What A Market said:

Time to swing my thread off the topic of chair hogs…… LOL

Delete.

19 hours ago, What A Market said:

Time to swing my thread off the topic of chair hogs…… LOL

Repeated posts.  Delete. 

19 hours ago, What A Market said:

Time to swing my thread off the topic of chair hogs…… LOL

Well, that worked.  Kudos for trying though. 😂

57 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Does John have a surname??

John Clelford is the CD.  Most people don't remember his last name.  We were on with him for 33 days starting Nov 1.  Obviously he's still there and just as engaging. 🙄  The assistant CD, Marcus, was a blast.💥  

@ClafoutisFoodie, my husband and I think you did an absolutely STELLAR job of handling the issues, seeing the positive, then clarifying things even further on this thread.  Bravo!

We don't know what your "first language" is (and we don't need to know) but as people (fellow Canadians who cook well and love excellent food, but we are NOT chefs! 😉), we hope we someday sail with you, your wife and son. 😊

1 hour ago, REDSTRIPETYPE said:

Does O have Clamato juice to make a real Canadian Caesar?

YES (thankfully)!  Just specify. 

17 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

. . . .  PRE COVID  we would  store our bags & go later  where the Terrace as well as check in can be a zoo around noon to 1pm

 

We've never minded that "zoo."  In the 'before days,' there'd be roast turkey in Terrace Cafe on embarkation day.  But even more important, being in the throes of it meant we were ON the ship. 🤩 

17 hours ago, Cliff-FLL said:

Our second reservation is near the end of the cruise, when we ask 8-10 people we've met to join us for a special evening.  Normally, everyone meets in our suite for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres for an hour or so, and then we head up to Privée.  We bring special wines we've brought with us to complement those we've purchased on board for that evening.  It's a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie and bonhomie of shared and divergent experiences on the cruise, as we all prepare for it to end - and to do it as a group at a single table.

16 hours ago, cruisingxpert said:

I was  one of those invitees and it was a lovely and memorable night with very gracious hosts.

As were we -- MrCoolChile and myself.  Incredible evening.  Incredible hosts. And we remember most of it. 

On 6/18/2019 at 1:04 PM, LHT28 said:

they do not show the  amount of the new OBC   I believe you get that on your invoice

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/oceania-club-after-november-2019

Any of you click on Lyn's link and check the amenities for Gold?  Hard to miss this one:  COMPLIMENTARY PRESTIGE SELECT BEVERAGE PACKAGE

Listed separately is the discount for purchasing the Prestige and the House packages but this one's a stand-alone.  Just another of those if-it's-too-good-to-be-true-it-probably-isn't things?  But if it's for real, I'm in. 🙋‍♀️

Thank you so much for this, @Classiccruiser777. 👏 

Absolutely worth the 45 minutes to view.  

Profound, riveting and minus the drama.