Go-Bucks!

In another thread where the question of the ships' drinking water was discussed, I suggested that passengers might not want to drink the water from the faucets since it stains the washcloths an orange color. It doesn't happen everyday, but at least a few days each week. And it has happened in the 3 different cabins I've been in on the same journey.

So...today it happened again and I took a picture.

1 hour ago, keithm said:

we've found the average pax seems more elderly than those we've seen on other lines.

That's the one thing I don't like about Oceania...and the music and entertainment reflects the elderly demographic. Princess or Celebrity  demographics appeal more to me as well as greater options in activities. I still plan to sail them all though.

On 7/31/2019 at 4:29 PM, SleevesEnd said:

Hi Lisa! I think it's you that my husband Terry and I met while having lunch in Greece ... Santorini I think. We were talking about cruises and travel and I think I gave you may card. I'm researching World Cruises and this thread popped up and this sounds a lot like you. If so, I'd love to hear from you! You can reach me at MaryGlynn@mac dot com. Hope to talk to you soon! Mary

Yes, Mary, it's me! I'll get in touch...I was actually mentioning to someone a few days ago about meeting you in that Santorini restaurant. I'm still onboard Insignia...have done a B2B2B2B (world cruise plus the next 3 after it!).

7 hours ago, Earl Rosebery said:

Don’t forget the Terrace Cafe.   Wonderful food on your schedule.

And the Terrace usually has the same offerings as the GDR plus more! I like the casualness of the Terrace and not needing to sit for 2 hrs to eat.

If you get to the GDR at 6:30pm, you'll likely have no trouble getting a table for 2. The later it gets, the harder it becomes.

1 hour ago, ChappChapp said:

Thanks but we will be boarding on 8/18 so no Damien for us. Is Ray Carr the Aussie with all the funny pants?

 

No, Ray is from Seattle, Washington but now lives in Bali, Indonesia.

2 hours ago, ChappChapp said:

Anyone know who the GM and CD are on Insignia right now ? We board in 2 weeks.

GM: Damien Delacroix (think that's his last name)

CD: Ray Carr

At dinner the other night, Damien said he's leaving on 8/11 in NYC. His family is in the US already.

7 hours ago, cbb said:

Rollout of plant based food offerings suitably labeled. Some corporate chefs on board as they incorporate the items into daily offerings. Don't know if they are in MDR menu but some are in Terrace.

 

Been on since June and it is wonderful being on board. Shawn Carter is CD. Crew and officers are amazing.

 

I've been on Insignia since January!!  Almost 7 months. Agree, the staff and crew are awesome and amazing!

We've had the plant based-foods for awhile now (over a month at least) in both Terrace and GDR...I like vegetarian food, but those bowls and other offerings don't look good to me. Other people seem to like them though.

On 7/17/2019 at 1:06 PM, Joanne G. said:

I am well aware of all the tips for packing light, but that was still a turn off for me.  Is that enforced?

It was on my tour, but I was on a 2 week tour all over the northern part of France... and we did have to carry our own luggage. But its totally doable to pack for 2 weeks in a 22" carryon...I did it.

On 12/21/2018 at 2:07 PM, Go-Bucks! said:

My first world cruise is in 5.5 weeks, but it will be my 17th cruise.  Longest one was just 15 days, but I love cruising and am always sad at debarkation so I'm sure I'll love my 161 upcoming days on the ship.

Update: well, the 161 day world cruise is in the books now and I actually extended for the next 3 cruises after it (on the same ship). I have 2 weeks to go and I'll finally be going home (although this ship truly feels like my home now!). I will have sailed 192 continuous days!

It's been an experience I'll never ever forget...and the crew has become like family! Each morning my favorite crew in the buffet make me my crispy bacon and bring it to my table...and they know how I like my lattes and iced tea. I'm so spoiled that I'm afraid I'll be in for a rude awakening when I get home and I have to do everything myself.   😲

4 hours ago, luvmesometravel said:

Anyone done a WC on Oceania? We too are looking. We want great food not just good food and free everything. free WiFi, health care, excursions, laundry, drinks!  

I just finished the 2019 Oceania world cruise 2.5 weeks ago. It was fantastic!

Regarding amenities, it's better to use the word "included" instead of "free."  As the amount of amenities increase, so does the cruisefare. Less expensive cruiselines rarely have many amenities but you'll still need some of them so you'll have to pay for them anyway.  Oceania includes virtually everything you need except alcohol and excursions...BUT, we got to choose 1 of 3 OLife perks...either the standard drink package OR 36 shore excursions per person OR $3,600 onboard credit per person. Since private shore excursions for 91 ports can get very expensive and we could pick ones valued up to $199, we chose that perk. Plus, we don't drink alcohol. 

Laundry, medical care, first class airfare, wifi, transfers, luxury hotel before embarkation, special events, parties, gifts, and much more was very valuable. Oceania staff are amazing and service is excellent. They're known for great food and it really was...best filet mignons I've ever had. Lobster in all venues 24/7. No formal nights, which is fine with me!

Hope that helps.

On 7/26/2019 at 10:41 AM, bnbeyer said:

Montego Bay - I was probably going to go to Doctor's Cave beach or maybe Frenchman's Cove beach. Thoughts or recommendations?

 

Cayman Islands - I was thinking about going to Cemetery Beach, but it is isolated with no facilities, so since I'll be alone, I'm not going to do that.  There are a gazillion other beaches I've seen listed, and I don't know which one to choose.  Maybe I should just tag along with a group from the ship?  Options I've seen on the SevenMileBeach are Royal Palms, Beach Club public beach, Sea Grape beach, Courtyard Marriott, Smith Cove, and Spotts beach. 

 

Cozumel - I'm debating between Chankanaab, which I heard was a good option for both snorkling and the beach, or Paradise Beach, which Mitsugirly reviewed as offering great facilities, good food and drinks, a HUGE pool, nice beach and good service.

 

I welcome your thoughts!

I haven't been to any of these ports as a solo, but have been there as one of 2 females traveling together.  Here are my experiences in these ports...

Montego Bay - after a very scary experience in Ocho Rios, Jamaica I said I would never return!  Yes, it's well known that Jamaica is not safe and definitely not a place where a woman alone (or even women together) should travel around without a group.  But 28 yrs later we found a cruise we wanted to go on and it included Montego Bay. I only agreed to get off the ship if we got a day pass to an all-inclusive resort with transportation to and from the place...I will NOT take any private transportation in Jamaica.  I used www dot shoreexcursioneer dot com and found a great place!!  It's the White Sands/Blue Water resort, but when I just looked on their website, I didn't see it....it did look like they offered other resorts.  There is a website for the Royalton White Sands resort too, but I didn't check into it any further.  This place had the biggest lunch buffet included and was delicious!!  Several pools, with the one by the ocean was an infinity one with a swim up bar and drinks were included.  Lots of palapas, umbrellas and loungers were available.

Grand Cayman - I've always felt safe there.  Once I went out to Hell (cute) and the turtle farm.  Another time we just got a taxi to the public beach (free and just as nice as the hotel beaches, but no chairs or umbrellas).  The port area has lots of shops and places to eat. Sand is very nice, town is clean.

Cozumel - I feel safe here as long as you stay in the "tourist" areas and don't go too far down the main street where there are no tourists...then it got seedy and we knew it was time to turn around.  My favorite thing to do is go to Chankanaab...it doesn't cost much to get in, I think the taxi was $5-10 from the pier, and the water and snorkeling was great!  They also have some Mayan ruins that they moved there and were fun to see.  Iguanas are everywhere but don't bother humans.  My 19 yr old loved it.  There were beach chairs there too.  Be sure to wear water shoes...lots of sea urchins on the sea floor.

Have a great time and just use your intuition and common sense about going places alone...and be sure that someone knows your plans.

Is Coco Cay right next to Great Stirrup Cay?  I was at GSC today and a RCCL ship was anchored at an island right next to us.  Someone said it was a RCCL private island but no one knew the name of it.

On 7/18/2019 at 10:38 PM, CruiserBruce said:

A beach has bathwater?  Not something I have wished for.

I think you know what I meant.

Does the Island have a Thermal Suites?  I was on the Coral many years ago (and they had one), but I understand the Island recently had a refurbishing. I don't see it on the deck plans.

5 hours ago, bob brown said:

Just because I happened to recall reading that number, I don't want to give anyone the impression that I ever did laps in pursuit of some fitness goal... I thought it might come in handy some day as a trivia quiz answer....my main exercise was never using the elevator's....a lot of good that did me...🙄 😉

Bob,

How are you doing? What are you up to?

2 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

It's been a few years since I worked on the ships, but on most cruises we would have at least 1 death. In those days many of them were committed to the deep.

Guess that officer was right!

On 7/23/2019 at 7:59 PM, Cruisencatlady said:

I really like the Thai Herbal massage.  

Is it real Thai massage? On a mat (either on the floor or on a slightly elevated frame)? Where you wear loose clothing?

On 7/25/2019 at 7:44 AM, Floridiana said:

Where is the ship now?

We're about an hour from the private island Great Stirrup Cay, but we're barely moving...there's land ahead so that must be it.

On 7/25/2019 at 8:00 AM, SargassoPirate said:

I would rather regret things that I did than things I didn't do.

I love that!!  So true.

11 hours ago, Kingofcool1947 said:

 

To have died on a cruise.  What a wonderful way to go.   

I wonder how many PAXs on average die on a cruise.

An officer once told me that nearly every cruise has a death...that seemed like alot, but he would know better than me. 

I can't imagine a better place/time to go...doing something you love!

On 6/29/2019 at 1:24 PM, skiladyldp said:

I do like organized tours but hope we get enough free time to explore on our own.  Almost all hotel stops are for 2 nights.  

Rick Steves' tours are great, especially if you like mixing with locals and don't need to stay in 5-Star hotels. His tours can be guided or not, give lots of free time, take you to places you'd never even know about on your own and are reasonably priced. www dot rick steves dot com.

On 6/28/2019 at 10:17 PM, Paulchili said:

You mentioned that lobster was available about 25% of time in Terrace Cafe. It is normally available daily - has that changed?

Currently on Insignia, lobster tail is available every night in Terrace Cafe, everyday in Waves Grill, every night in Polo, and every night in Toscana. Whole lobster is available in Polo every night.

21 hours ago, kruisey said:

Booking a Princess   excursion taxi in Aquba and area ? I looked at travel  warnings for Jordon after I had booked .It stated Extreme  Caution Threats and Terrorist threats in area in the Canadian and USA Travel advisaries.Have any of you been there recently? Surely Princess excursions would not put these areas on their list if they thought to be dangerous.?

I was in Aqaba, Jordan 2 months ago. I wasn't sure if it would be a good idea to go to Petra since our ship had recently been in 2 ports where other ships got attacked by Iran and we had former Navy Seals onboard for security. 

I decided to go because I doubt if I'll ever get back there and it seemed a shame to miss it. I took the ship's tour because, as a solo woman, it felt safer than to go on my own. 

Everything was fine and I'm SO glad I went!!  Petra was amazing...I got to drive a camel for 1 hr by myself (the guide walked behind me)!!  The Jordanian people were so friendly and hospitable! 

6 hours ago, Maya_C said:

 

Thank you so much, Go-Bucks. This was exactly the information I needed. I really appreciate your taking the time to post the details. ~Maya

😊  You're welcome!

On 7/24/2019 at 10:28 AM, Maya_C said:

Since you have been to Harvels Caye on an Oceania ship, can you please tell me if it was possible to take the short ferry ride to the mainland to see more of Belize? 

I just found my shore excursion sheet from last weeks' Harvest Caye day. There was a shore excursion for the ferry...here's the listing:

"HAR-031   Placencia Village Ferry

8:40am & 9:40am leave times

Cost: $20pp

For guests wishing to explore independently, a local ferry is available to Placencia, Belize. Tickets may be purchased on board or at the Harvest Caye Marina on the island and will be charged to your onboard account accordingly. Transfer time: approximately 30 min. each way (depending on weather conditions). The Placencia Village Ferry departs from the Harvest Caye Marina on the island. There is approximately a 20 min. walk from the ship."

‐--‐----------------------------------

It took 5-10 min for me to walk down the walkway from the ship to the island. You'd have to walk pretty slowly to take 20 min. There are several golf carts that will drive you down the walkway too.