Go-Bucks!

8 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

did you actually submit the 3 separate shareholder benefit requests, one for each leg with a separate booking number, to NCLH which they subsequently rejected?

Yes, I did this. I got an email response from the office that I submitted the request to.

3 hours ago, StanandJim said:

They estimate that 25% of UPS and Fedex drivers regularly work with  torn meniscus (menisci?).

Funny you'd say that since I've had personal experience with this.

Both of my medial menisci shredded in 2011 (from years of running and high impact aerobics)...verified by an MRI. For the past 8 yrs I've continued working as a staff nurse walking 3-4 miles/day, 12 hr shifts, 3 days/week. Since I retired, I power walk 4-5 miles/day and lift weights for 45 minutes. The only accommodation I've made is to wrap my knees with ace bandages during exercise for stability. 

Luckily there has recently been a new procedure approved to implant a "fake" silicone meniscus to replace the former one...I'm hoping this will be in my future. 😊

22 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

What type of special promotion are you folks referring to? 

Since I got a discount for booking 3 cruises onboard and that they were B2B2B, Oceania said they wouldn't give me the shareholder credit. 

I'm used to getting combineable discounts on Princess so this was a disappointment. 

59 minutes ago, tvlbum said:

How did everyone find their homes when they returned after 6mos or longer for some?

Well...this was an issue for me. 🙁

One of my daughters was coming over once a week to be sure the faucets were dripping (during winter) and to flush toilets, water the plants and drive the car around a little. She did her best, but there were still some problems. 

First, my car died in May...the starter went bad. AAA said they'd tow it to the dealer if I emailed her a copy of my AAA card and my driver's license, but then they changed their minds. So I was able to arrange for a neighbor to tow it. Finally got fixed just 2 weeks before I got home!

3 raccoons took up residence in my detached garage (I live rural) so those needed to move out.

Luckily a neighbor mowed the lawn and shoveled snow so the place did look lived in. I changed my address to my daughters house so she collected the mail and all bills were on auto pay. 

22 hours ago, Mura said:

While I haven't been on a super-long cruise like the ATW (we did 24 days once) I've never had a problem finding an ATM.  My bank doesn't charge us for using ATMs and it also doesn't charge for currency conversion.

 

That being said, I'm sure on the ATW there will be some places where ATMs could be hard to find.  It's not like every port is a large city.

 

We prefer to use local currency -- unless we're some place that prefers good old greenbacks.  When we did the Black Sea cruise in 2012 most of the guides wanted U.S. dollars.

 

Mura

 

I found that US dollars were accepted in most places so no need to get many, many different currencies. I did get yen, yuan, euros, and pounds because I was in those places longer. I was able to get US dollars onboard at the ATM in the casino.

Personally, I don't like to waste time finding ATMs in each port...rather see the city/country. Sometimes they were at the pier, but not often.

Finally got mine today.

5 hours ago, tvlbum said:

How did you handle cash?  Was easy enough to find ATM machines located n each ports?  How much on hand cash would be a fair amount to carry from home?

I took $2K to start, but it didn't last for the 6 months despite trying to use my CC as much as possible. I have a checking account with Charles Schwab that I use exclusively for travel as I'm reimbursed for any ATM fees worldwide, plus it keeps vacation money separate from my main checking account. 

How much cash will you need? Only you can determine that. 😎

2 hours ago, Jayne E said:

Be Aware!

i received $250 Shareholder OBC on my last cruise. 

For my next 10 day cruise I sent in the same paperwork on 9/3 and received no reply. 

I called and was told that I was getting a “Promotion” rate, so no shareholder benefit. 

This happened to me too.

I booked 3 additional cruise extensions while onboard, but Oceania refused to give me my stockholder benefit for any of the 3 cruises because they said I was already getting "a good deal" (the cruises were discounted). I don't think this is fair and I've never had this happen when trying to use my CCL (Carnival Corporation) stockholder benefit on any of their cruises...as a matter of fact, Princess allows you to combine many benefits on the same cruise...nice!😊

23 hours ago, Ferd Berfle said:

 

Free Sauna (Men's and Women's) - they are hidden., not in changing rooms but there are lockers and showers in the sauna rooms.  No free steam.

 

Darn...the steam room is my favorite. 

Anyone have an idea what they'll charge for the Thermal Suite on a 58 day cruise?? 

This affects me too...I'm also on the 58 day South America cruise. I booked it as one cruise even though it has 3 segments (was lots cheaper to book it as one). I'm happy to hear everyone's experience is that I'll get 6 cruise credits (I'm sailing solo), but my Personalizer says 2 credits!😥

Even though it says this, do you think the Captain Circle rep will change it? If I actually get 6 credits, it will make me Elite on the second leg so I'll get the perks for the 3rd leg.

I'm confused as to why it doesn't say 6 credits in the Personalizer?!

3 hours ago, voljeep said:

yes ... didn't realize it was this nice ... may try on SKY instead of the mdr  one night

I've never been to one that looked that fancy!

I often make this dinner if it's a good selection.

Does the Pacific Princess buffet have a grill-to-order in the center like the same style Oceania "R" ships?

Anyone have pictures of the buffet on Pacific Princess?

Does the Island have the free steam & saunas in the women's (and men's) locker room? I like the Thermal Suite, but often the beds are just lukewarm so if the Island has the free steam & saunas, I won't bother joining the Thermal Suite. 

21 hours ago, clo said:

Why/how?

Personal taste...just didn't like them...neither did my roommate. Good news is that there are many choices on the menu so I never went hungry...even after dining there for 7 months!😉

3 hours ago, BarbaraM said:

If you just have one or two reservations for Polo -- don't waste it on this as an entree.

I love their filet!!!  Juicy, tender and cooked perfectly. Ummm....

7 minutes ago, Colo Cruiser said:

Really?  I have seen stuff on the Oceania board that makes the Princess board look like saints.

It is on all of them. It's the internet where keyboard courage rules.

I agree...I'm on both boards and each has their share of snarky and argumentative posters...sadly! 

2 hours ago, bob brown said:

Wow....this thread is still alive?🙂

 

Yep, alive as you are, Bob!!  Hope you and Betsy are doing great!!!😊

2 hours ago, bob brown said:

Wow....this thread is still alive?🙂

 

Almost all, Lisa...my accessible cabin (4028), had a curtain so wheelchairs could more easily roll in and out...

That's true...I wasn't thinking of the accessible cabins.

8 hours ago, msn123 said:

They are yummy.

Eewww, yuck...I thought they were awful! 

I pre-purchased 1 coffee "card" for my upcoming 58 day cruise, but the website refuses to let me purchase more than one! I want to buy at least 2 more, but have tried several times, to no avail.

Will they sell me as many as I want onboard? Can I use OBC?

On 9/18/2019 at 2:07 PM, Wendy The Wanderer said:

 

https://www.amazon.com/mDesign-Soft-Fabric-Closet-Organizer/dp/B06XMYPTHT/ref=sr_1_52?keywords=closet+shoe+holder&qid=1568829774&sr=8-52

 

And we're not really shoe people. 

I like this one, but it would have taken up too much closet space. Even using skinny wire hangers, my roommates' and my clothes took up the whole closet! No one could see my shoe hanger...the closet door was able to shut.

On 9/10/2019 at 10:24 AM, Ken the cruiser said:

Interesting. We will be going through the PC in January on the Island in our Aloha deck vista suite in January. Are you saying all aft cabin balconies are off limits while going through the locks?

Ken, are you going to be on the 58 day South American cruise? If so, Waynetor and I will be some fellow Oceania cruisers on it too!

10 hours ago, martini cruiser said:

Question does anyone know if they have a glass shower door in B1?

 Like cabin 6089.

 

Thanks,  Martini Cruiser

All showers now have glass doors on the newly refurbished ships with Insignia being the first. 

1 hour ago, need2cruisesoon said:

I was on the Grand a couple years back and just not a fan, 7 days was a stretch for me on this ship.

While I was sailing on the Grand in December, 2015, there was a fire that destroyed the port side engines as we neared Hilo, Hawaii. It was pretty scary until they got the fire out...plus my area of the ship had no electricity for 12 hrs.

A year or two later, one of the tender doors fell outward (toward the sea) and the ship started taking on water.

After these incidents, this is the only Princess ship I won't sail on again...JMHO.

1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Me too!  Surprised that it arrived without being in an envelope and it was in pristine condition.  

Glad to hear! Looking forward to something in the mailbox instead of just grocery store flyers and retirement home ads!!🤣