espmass

Which ports did you end up getting to and where are you still going before returning to Miami?  Any information given regarding Covid cases onboard?  Hope you are all enjoying the cruise!

A lot has been posted regarding the specialty restaurants;  both the great food and the availability to get extra reservations with the ships so empty.  Being this will be our first Oceania cruise, we want to sample everything so is the Main Dining Room also highly recommended to try?  We actually figured that we would go there on embarkation night rather than to get an extra specialty reservation that night.

4 minutes ago, macaroni said:

2 masks were in our cabin when we boarded. You can get more by asking your steward.

glad we came….even with no casino and limited entertainment. We will never get to enjoy a ship at 50%capacity for much longer. 
 

we are testing  again tomorrow for entrance to St. Vincent’s…

 

my only complaint is that the food venues close up early. Never sailed Oceania before so don’t know if that is usual.  I guess you have to order from room service for late food.

 

 

How early is early?  Enjoy St Vincents.

7 hours ago, Nymich said:

We got our own cab $15 for 2 each way.  I heard that was higher than some who paid $10 but they shared. Gave her a nice tip because she came back at exactly the time we requested to be picked up.

 

We went next to Sandals Resort. Lounge chairs were $5 each (silly good price) and umbrellas were $12.

 

Hope that helps.

Thanks so much.  Sandals is where we usually end up so good to have the current info.  I see on the current "Travel and Entry Requirements" that Grenada allows a private cab only to a "government authorized" beach so if you go to a beach while there I'd also appreciate knowing which beach is "government authorized" and what the price for cab, chair, etc are.  Thanks so much for all your continued information on this leg of your cruise.  Enjoy!

34 minutes ago, Nymich said:

Dickinson Bay

My favorite Antigua beach and that's where we plan to go when we are there.  Mind telling me the cost of the cab these days?  Thanks.

50 minutes ago, Redtravel said:

Rapid tests are quick, but can be false. PCR are more reliable, but delays to get results can be long.  If Oceania really wanted to be safe, insist that everyone get PCR test before sailing at the dock. There are rapid PCR tests. That way, positive cases would not board.  It would be safer.

I thought that the PCR needs to be a lab based PCR and that Rapid PCR tests are not lab based.  Am I wrong?  

8 hours ago, Redtravel said:

You arrive at embarkation having tested negative. The test at the dock tests negative.  You sail and a few days later, you test positive. If all passengers are vaccinated and tested negative, where is the virus?  Must be on the ship somewhere.  Then you must quarantine for the rest of the cruise.  After which they get fcc.  Give them a refund and hope they recover without any long term affects.  A prorated fcc is inappropriate.

Another interesting scenario-  You take your PCR test 48 hours before embarkation.  With the delay in results lately you do not have your results prior to boarding.  You take the Rapid test with Oceania at the port, it is negative, and you board.  The next day you get your PCR results online and it is positive.  Very feasible as Rapids are often inaccurate.  Now what?  Whose fault?

I might have missed this with so many comments, but did you get to port at St Maarten today?

Sorry to hear that apparently a passenger has been quarantined.  Hope it's one case and not a breakout of cases and hope the passenger is all right.

59 minutes ago, tipsygirl said:

Thank you for asking this question. We plan to be on the Feb 7 cruise and also would hope to have  our morning gym time. FYI I just at my regular stress test on a treadmill with a mask required. No problem. I wore  KN95 .We will wear a mask in the gym even if not required.  I would hope for some organized social distancing on machines in the gym.

I always wear a mask at my gym although not yet a KN95 one.  My gym is a private one for my community and I go at 5AM and am usually the only one there so a regular mask has not been an issue.  I figured on the KN95 on the cruise.

28 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

The successful strategy we have used when circumstances (Covid era or prior) dictated a need for a case-by-case review of a request for an Oceania policy exception leans heavily on the proven concept of “negotiating to yes.”

For example, if you want an FCC when one has yet to be offered, consider requesting a cruise transfer. (BTW, If you happened to have booked the questionable cruise onboard, you probably already have one transfer allowance.)

 

Just asking for an open-ended FCC will usually be met with a NO. But, having a specific cruise in mind (particularly a more expensive one with significant cabin availability) may get you what you want with little hassle. And, needless to say, the right Connoisseurs Club or Preferred Partner TA can help make that case (as can the right long-serving O phone rep if you booked direct) in one quick phone call. This also hold true for requesting exceptions to FCC “cruise by” (but not necessarily “book by”) deadlines - particularly when the deal is a mix of FCC and cash. 
Bottom line: Having a mutually agreeable solution in hand will work far better than - “I want a refund” or “I want an FCC.” 

I did ask for a specific transfer to a different cruise that we had selected and still a no.  Believe me, we tried.  Obviously our TA is not the "right" O TA but being a first timer with O I didn't know any better and used a trusted TA I have been doing business with for about 15 years.  I plan to let O know how unhappy and stressed I was with their decision but in the meantime, I am sure I will have a wonderful cruise.

15 minutes ago, catgirl411 said:

So here is what our TA told us that O said to her late last week about cancellation. It is on a case by case basis. A refund or FCC has to be requested. O then cancels the cruise and has some review process whereby they decide if any compensation will happen or not. No criteria for the decision was provided. But the booking is cancelled before the compensation,if any, is decided. We were unwilling to play refund roulette so we are going on the Jan 28th sailing. Our TA works for a preferred O supplier.  A couple of days after we committed, One of her contacts asked what compensation we would want to be able to cancel. At that point we weren’t up for negotiating. We do have private insurance which would give us 50% back if we cancel for any reason.

Yes, heard this explanation over and over.  With the decisions being on a case by case basis, we were told no via phone, no via email from O, and no to our TA.  So we have resigned ourselves to being on the cruise and having a good time.

3 minutes ago, Twiga said:

My travel agent told me that anyone on an Oceania cruise departing in January or February may cancel now for any reason and get a FCC.  My friends just did that for their January 14th Riviera sailing.  I also have that option for my February 11th cruise, but I am sailing!  If you do not want to take your cruise, please ask for a FCC and cancel.

We have tried and tried.  O keeps telling us and out TA that they will give FCC to those who have O trip insurance or no trip insurance but not to those who have private trip insurance.  As has been posted, some people have been able to cancel or postpone and others have not.  I don't want to again hijack this topic. 

Can anyone give me some personal observations regarding the gym?  Spaced well?  Ventilation?  Wearing N95 or regular surgical-type masks?  Crowded?  Cannot start my day off without time in the gym!  Thanks.

2 minutes ago, Jayne E said:

This is why you’ve been thanked by so many since 1/4.  You, and several others on this thread, neither attack or are demeaning or sarcastic to those who feel apprehensive about cruising due to virus or disappointed in the current product, nor are you cheering O’s every move. 

The only information we future cruisers can obtain are the statements from you and others as to what is and is not transpiring on board. 
This is what CC has always been about. Information! Your postings are informative. 
Glad you’re not being intimidated!
We love cruising O…..15 and 6 on rez says it all. However, we’re not sure about cruising 2/7.  We cruised 12/3 with 1100 passengers, no masks, all ports and all (very good) entertainment. We were very fortunate. 

 

I have to ditto what Jayne E wrote.  I have tried to thank all of you currently onboard for all the valuable opinions and information.  I tried numerous times to get O to allow us to postpone our 2/7 Riviera cruise but we have finally accepted that we are going.  Thanks to all your valuable information, we are more comfortable about it and are beginning to look forward to the trip.  This is to be our first experience with O and you have provided valuable insight as to what we should expect and what we should look forward to.  So, in case I haven't said it enough, thank you to all who have posted.

1 minute ago, Nymich said:

5th test in 2 weeks and we both are negative.  I think because of the asymptomatic aspect and the promise of being quarantined it's a relief every time!  Lol

Off to Waves and Spa Terrace!

 

"Carry on my wayward Son"

I hope you continue to test negative and continue having a wonderful time.  Your posts have given me so much information for my 2/7 cruise.

16 hours ago, AlexCherie said:

So here’s the thing: 

You want to be tested before you get to the dock, within the parameters required. Here is why: if you fail at the dock, they’ll test you a second time to get you onboard. You fail the second time, and you can’t substantiate a passing grade at home, they aren’t covering you for the cost of your cruise. Period, full stop.

You tested at home, you fail twice at the dock my understanding is that O will cover you. Also, you fail at home you can just save yourself the entire PITA trip. 

You couldn’t have it any worse than us - we were getting tested on a holiday weekend, on a Saturday (January 1!!!) for a flight on January 3. Which, btw, never left town and forced us to drive 22 hours to get to Miami, but that’s another story. 

 

Sorry but this has me a bit confused.  O suggests the PCR but doesn't require it.  We plan to get it anyway.  We also plan to test prior for leaving for Florida as why waste the time.  But if we did not take a PCR or do not have the results pre-embarkation, are you saying O would not reimburse us (or FCC) for the cruise?   Thanks for all your information.

10 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

For all who are scheduled in the immediate future: all is as well as can be expected on Riviera during pandemic times. The vast majority of passengers are compliant with all restrictions. I’ve seen less than a handful of “chin strap” maskers and fellow passengers quickly stare them down.

As always, food and service are impeccable. Great news for the sunbathers: social distancing on the pool deck with more space between loungers (see pic)

We had the CC M&G yesterday - about 20+ folks. It was great to put faces with screen names! Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves so far.

 

Covid tests this AM and our expected happy results were quickly delivered. 

Regrettably, there does appear to be a very few  folks posting here (and on other CC O threads) who see only fearful possibilities with every little routine change (e.g., entertainment, port cancel, etc) that was bound to happen under these current circumstances.

HOWEVER, the one single event that everyone should be aware of as a final decision on whether to cruise or not is contemplated is that my (and probably your) favorite baked item- the multi-seeded rolls- appear to have either a change in recipe OR they have been victimized by a world-wide shortage of poppy seeds (see comparison pics)!!! (I deserve a free cruise for this unforgivable act)!!!

Oh no, not the rolls!  Much more important than any health concerns!

42 minutes ago, jagoffee said:

To add to the information provided by Marconi, I was told the Casino was closed last night at some point and the quartet did not play in the grand bar.  Today’s current says that the Casino is closed all day and I noticed the Quartet is not scheduled today.

 

On a positive note, my wife and I both tested negative this morning.

 

It will be interesting to see what is announced today and what impact if any what impact it may have on our planned Barbados visit.

 

 

Thanks for all information as I am watching closely.  Stay well and enjoy your cruise!

We looked at the same thing and will be in Florida visiting for 8 days prior to our cruise.  We just assumed the zip code and address we use will be the hotel where we are staying at the time because that will be where we are "living" at the time.  I won't be scheduling it for another week or so though as our cruise is 2/7.  Hope that's the right thing to do.

4 minutes ago, gbits said:

With the ships sailing at less than 50% capacity, has anyone whose been on a cruise in the last few months been offered an upgrade or upsell?  Seems like it would be a good PR move for O to move people up in category, especially to suites where the gratuities are higher and the staff will make more.  We have been fortunate to have gotten upsell offers on a couple of cruises pre-covid and hoping we might get one on our 2/7 cruise for braving it out. 😁

 

Funny, I thought the same thing that with so many people postponing and cancelling that they might have offered an incentive to keep the cruise.  

20 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

You may want to review the 1/4/22 Riviera post where it was mentioned by someone that the cabin next to theirs was folks who had tested positive while onboard and became quarantined without needing to move.

Thanks.  Yes, In did see that.  Just checking if it seems to be the norm for anyone who must be quarantined.

16 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Are you planning on getting sick? 😷

Heck no!  

2 minutes ago, catgirl411 said:

It’s my understanding that they did.  Yesterday we had our TA ask O the specific question about quarantining location. The answer was that that is their preference/intention unless a passenger needs more care. That was the piece of info we needed to decide to cruise on 28/1.

Thanks.  The one thing we were most concerned about was the chance of testing positive (it happens) and then being stuck in a tiny cabin in sick bay!  This helps a lot.

Jagoffee, you mentioned your butler told you there were only around 3 positive Covid cases on the 1/4 cruise.  If possible would you ask if positive cases are allowed to quarantine in their own cabins?  That would give us a lot of comfort for our 2/7 cruise.  Thanks.