rhohea

It may depend on how the OBC is worded

 

Probably can be used for anything but then again ;)

Lyn, Does this include the 2 Spa treatments as part of Oceania Club. Mine is showing as a $$ amount on my invoice but split between DH & myself???:confused:

[QUOTE=RJB;44991389]From most accounts the crew did a wonderful job. Hat's off to them.

Lets just hope that they get some sort of recognition especially those who worked closely with the deceased & injured. I know from personal contact with 1 of those crew that they are suffering now but trying to put on a brave face as they carry on working on one of the other ships from 2 days after the fire. His words to me at 3am (Aust time this morning) were "Rhonda, I don't think I will ever get over this. But I have to carry on for my children's future". His eldest daughter starts University studies on Jan 5 next year to study Medicine. So if he does not battle on she will not be able to fulfil their dream of a bright future.

So, I for one do hope they get some help & recognition. Friends & family (in many cases - thousands of miles away) can only help so much. They need someone to talk to NOW. If it was not so close to Christmas and had I not just got home from cruising on Insignia (Dec 3) I would be over there now just to be there in case they wanted to talk.

Thank you also to my CC/FB friends who sent messages for him through me and also to many crew who are either on vacation or currently on one of the other ships and did not know how to contact him except through me - thank you also. He was blown away when I told who and how many people had contacted me to pass on their concerns/love/best wishes etc. I have printed off all those emails/CC threads/photo's which show him helping other injured crew including performing CPR to give him when I see him next.

rhohea,

 

I’m sure many more stories like this will emerge. Your idea of the crew getting counseling is a good one, and I hope Oceania hears you.

 

-Sukey-

Hi Sukey. You know the crew member I am talking about and know how close DH & I am to him so you can imagine how useless I feel sitting here, unable to help him and I know from talking to him last Friday that it has affected him more than he will ever let on but know I could help. He is too proud to ask for help.

I have been unable to contact him since then as he did not get his phone charger from his cabin so his phone is dead and he is now at sea on Riviera. :(

I've posted the pictures I took that day with timestamps on Facebook.

 

 

The news reports don't seem to be getting it quite right on a few points.

 

--- JRW

Thank you Rubic for these photo's. I was on Insignia from 11/11 to 31/11 and am shocked by what happened.

I have a very good crew member friend who was right in the middle of all this and having spoken to him at length last Friday night from his hotel in Miami, I can tell you he will never be the same again. I am very worried about him. He certainly was not his normal layback self. Far from it and told me he did not feel up to going to another ship immediately. But where was he the following day back on another ship working.

I opened up your photo's to see him working with the ships Doctor & ambulance attendants in the door way of Insignia. He is a trained cook not a nurse nor had any medical training except what the ship has provided as part of normal O H & S.

It brought tears to my eyes. I am so, so proud of him.

Four years ago when he was visiting my husband & I in Australia for the 1st time, he saved my life by recognising I had early signs of Kidney failure. Specialist told us that had I not got medical attention when I did I would have been dead within the hour. I had total renal failure & spent 18 days in a specialist renal unit - for 15 of these days I lapsed in and out of consciousness. Between my husband and this crew member friend I was not alone the whole 15 days. He had the hotel in Sydney call a doctor to me and phoned my husband to tell him to fly to Sydney ASAP. None of this I remember but hotel, hospital staff & my husband told me what had happened.

He also did not retrieve all his belongings from his cabin and will probably never get all his belongings back including spare work boots etc. But he is not one to complain & will battle on with only 1 pair. So many of the crew lost personal items it was not just passengers. And lets be real here, what passengers on an Oceania cruise could not afford to loose some clothing/luggage. We can afford to loose these items but most crew cannot. We must remember that.

I just wish I could afford to go back over to him to make sure he get some counselling as he would not ask for it himself as he always says there are others worse off than him. Some nationalities have never had access to things like counselling etc. & some are made to think it is a sign of weakness & think they just have to keep working to be paid so they can support their families and extended families and neglect their own well being. But then again I wonder if their employer offers it to those involved to the extent he was. Maybe they should be given it whether say they want it or not. On Friday night he had not been offered counselling and was back at work on another ship on Saturday.

I know or should I say I assume they would normally be made to attend debriefing but how would they in this situation when crew went to different parts of the world either on other ships or to their home country?

I want to fly to Miami & get on his ship to talk to him and I know he would be honest with me and then get him some help if he needs it. Shame about the price for the solo traveller cruising on "O".:mad: The cost of the airfare is the cheap part & the 18 hours flying time + 4 hour layover in LA are the easy/cheap part.

That is it from me on this subject, I have raved on enough but after seeing your photo's including the one with my friend in it, I had to say "How very proud of him we are."

I would like to think that someone from "O" or Apollo will thank him and ALL the crew for their efforts in the way of some sort of Cash bonus". But.....

Now she needs 3 extra bags. I remember her shopping in Amalfi.

:D Shopping & eating to me are a very big part of any cruise or land holiday. I come home with some unbelievable things. Some little some big, some expensive some cheap. Just wish I did not have 8 months until my next cruise. Still hoping to find a cheap cruise to do between now & May 7th. Shame I live so far away - just makes the cruise so expensive, Maybe "O" might bring out some "NO" single supplement cruises soon or I might have to cruise on another line for my in between vacation.

Rhonda,

For your River Routes & Channel Cruise shopping next year :

There is a great 'Christmas Shop' in OldMontreal across from the NotreDame Basilica. There are also beautiful artisan boutiques & an artist alley at Place Jacques Cartier and and plenty of stylish boutiques all within walking distance of the ship!! Montreal is a shoppers' paradise.

Thank you. This will give me a head start lol

I do not regret each Christmas ornament I have purchased while traveling over the years. When we put up the tree each year, it brings back really good memories of where we have traveled.

I agree. No regrets here. I collect Christmas ornaments also. Now have 2 trees because I have so many. Have them from most places I have travelled. Everyone told me I would not find one in Turkey & Morocco but I did find 1 in Turkey. Took me 2 hours in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul but I found one. A little dusty & not very brightly coloured but Santa was hand painted on this tiny glass bauble. It was expensive compared to other's I have purchased but who cares when you are on holidays.

If I see something I love or even like I buy it. I never leave a ship/country to come home to Australia without excess baggage.

Just ask Lyn, she laughs at me every cruise we do together at the amount of stuff I buy. One of the "O" security guys (whose name shall remain with me) has been on about 8-9 of my cruises, tips off the other security people, that I am onboard & that I am a big shopper and tells me to use the crew gangway if it makes it easier to get all my goodies back to my cabin.:)

Now, now, it's not ALL doom and gloom. There are all manner of "British Only" offers are coming down the Pike these days...

Most recently for private limousine transfers, and before that included Beverage Packages.

Well guys, would you please let me know if / when you see ANY offers that cover my part of the world. 12 "O" cruises down with 2 more booked and have never seen an offer yet. I just thank god I now have a great travel agent. As it helps to have one that at least knows what they are talking about even if they can't offer me "free air etc etc".

Rhonda

If they're talking tagine, you're going to wind up with a majmar, somehow or other

.....think lamb with dates, lamb with raisins or prunes and almonds; alternativeley, chicken with olives and preserved lemons, chicken with dried apricots, and Ketfa (Suprise, Lamb meatballs). If it is a big day, they will add tomatoes and hard boiled eggs.

Heavy on the Cumin. but otherwise quite good

Guys, this sounds beautiful. Yummy (except the chicken & eggs). But Lyn, it does not sound like your type of food. What cruise is this class on?

Rhonda

Oceania Marina Plays Part in Empress of Ireland Anniversary

 

on 30 May 2014.

 

On May 29, 2014, at 55 minutes past midnight, church bells in Rimouski and Sainte-Luce-sur-Mer rang out over the St. Lawrence River in the darkness to commemorate the loss of the Empress of Ireland a hundred years earlier.

 

Descendants of family members involved in the tragedy gathered in Rimouski for a series of commemorative events. One group of individuals who had assembled at Pointe-au-Père Marine Historic Site happened to notice that a cruise ship was passing by offshore in precisely the same location and time that the Empress of Ireland had been lost.

 

That cruise ship happened to be the Marina, which has just departed the Port of Quebec, just as the Empress of Ireland had done a century earlier. Luckily, 100 years on, the water was calm and the night clear.

 

 

http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/11161-oceania-marina-plays-part-in-empress-of-ireland-anniversary.html

Thanks Lyn. And to think we could have been there. lol Have sent on to Glen - He was probably sleeping like most of the passengers at that time.

I agree with Jim & Stan, how much stuff do they need! I think cash works best, and I think that's what they really would like-think what you'd want......

Rick

Yes, I agree that cash is best BUT the comment was made that you can't get a cash reimbursement for unused OBC. As you can only direct the unused OBC towards the gratuities pool and not to an individual, the only other way is to purchase them a gift with the OBC.

I know several crew members on a personal basis and know they all appreciated cash & gifts especially things they cannot afford to purchase themselves.

And as Lyn stated not all crew get to spend time onshore shopping for themselves or for gifts for their family. I also understand that the crew cabins are small but most go to the ship at the start of their contract with minimal possessions knowing they collect things along the way OR due to lack of funds at the end of their vacation time.

JMO

We were able to donate our leftover OBC to gratuities (we had prepaid gratuities). I wanted it all to go to our steward, but was told that isn't allowed

But you can buy "your steward/stewardess" a nice expensive perfume/after-shave, warm scarf, polo shirts, jackets, luggage, etc, etc, from the stores on-board. They then have a choice of using it themselves or taking it home as a gift for their spouse/children or ?? whoever.

We usually stay at the Sheraton on the Park or The Sydney Harbour Marriott at Circular Quay. Both are nice hotels but if you wish to do a lot of walking the Marriott is more central to the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Cafes etc and is easy walking. The bus change over stop is also only 2-3 minutes walk which takes you uphill into the city. You can also catch the Explorer buses from Circular Quay. A lot depends on how long you will be there and also where the ship is docking. The Marriott is only close to the International Cruise terminal not the new terminal.

Agree with wirpro re the Park Hyatt - nicest if you can afford it. If only for the views.

http://www.sydney.park.hyatt.com/en/hotel/our-hotel/hotel-features.html

Rhonda

I try to have all bases covered ...I would hate to have to spend my vacation shopping for clothes :D

Lyn[/b]

Well, Lyn all I can say is "thank god I am multi skilled". I always seem to fit in sightseeing PLUS shopping for everything including clothes. My excess baggage fees prove this. I always take an extra luggage tag to put on the extra suitcase I purchase along the way. lol Off the track of original thread but could not resist. I was looking forward to the New York shopping in May but that will have to wait until 2015.:)

Recently back from B2B Caribbean cruise and they did have Zumba classes on some days but not daily. It is not listed in the Daily Currents but on the currents insert under Fitness Class Schedule (of which I only brought 1 home with me) BUT it happens to be one with 8am - Zumba classes on it. 45 minutes at an extra charge of $11.

Unfortunately Lyn of all the times we went to the gym - we missed Zumba. :D

I will be on a Riviera cruise, Miami to Miami, with my 86 year old dad. Our less than ideal travel plans include a red-eye flight that arrives at 6am. We have an Oceania transfer to, I guess, the cruise terminal? And then a long wait before we embark at 1pm. This will not be easy for my impatient father. He is already worrying about where we will get breakfast, etc. So I would like to know if anyone who may have experienced this wait has any suggestions on how to make it as pleasant as possible. I am wondering what is available in the terminal, and is there somewhere to get breakfast? Will we be in charge of our suitcases until we embark or will Oceania take them from us at the terminal? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

I only disembarked Riviera on Feb 2nd, 2014 and due to a 2hr+ wait for a Taxi at the port I noticed that some of the next cruise embarking passengers were arriving with their luggage from approx. 9.30 - 10am. They were going through the usual main front doors of the terminal & dropping their luggage and on more than one occasion the taxi was waiting for them & off they drove. Maybe you could do a tour with your taxi driver or another company then return to the port for lunch on board.

PS: THE TAXI DELAY WAS CAUSED BY THE RUNNING OF THE MIAMI MARATHON LAST SUNDAY MORNING. THERE WERE 6 SHIPS ARRIVING IN PORT THAT MORNING AND TRAFFIC WAS HORRENDOUS. There were people yelling at each other, screaming at the traffic offices, people jumping into the queues and refusing to wait their turn, port officers taking people out of the queues out of order and directing them into taxies/shuttles etc.

A lot of this could have been avoided had passengers been advised by their cruise line that long waits etc. were to be expected. But after speaking to other passenger from 2 others lines - none were advised of the delays. Not good enough as far as I am concerned as the main office of all these cruise company's are in Miami and they should have knows of the possible delays.

Like I said we did have a good cruise with some exceptions

 

First night may have been just an off night for the staff, it was taken care of once brought to their attention

We were seated 3 of us & given the menus & water glasses were filled

The table next to us which was seated within minutes of us seem to have their order taken & thie 1st course arrive

We still sat with menus in hand, no bread basket to go with the water

So DH went in search of the maitre'd

All fixed but this should not have happened

 

Toscana ...we had 6:30 seating we were at a table for 7, five of us were on time

The card states they will hold the reservation for 15mins ..fine

By 7:15 we are still waiting for the 2 no shows, finally one of the ladies asked to be served now rather than wait for people that are too rude to cancel their time slot

Food was fine ...veal Limone was not much lemon flavour

 

Red Ginger -seated at a table for the 3 of us, orders were taken

They came & asked for our tea order, we said we would like it with our dessert

no problem

DH wanted to try the chicken Satay it came while the restaurant manager was chatting with us

He tasted one piece & asked if it was a warm or cold dish

she said it should be warm..it was not

They offered to take it & heat it up but he did not want to chance it coming back worse than before

I noticed the next piece when DH slide it off the skewer was still raw inside

NOT GOOD

Next the summer roll, he tasted it said it was very strong taste, I tasted it YUCK

It was like fermenting vegetables or something tasted like cleaning fluid

took most of the night to get rid of the taste

after a long wait the entree arrived

We decide to share the Green curry dish with some rice, this was nothing like the same dish I had on Marina

The rice was good

We ordered dessert ..we ate the dessert, waited for tea we order at the begining of the meal

Gave up & left

 

Jacques- I ordered the salmon ..it was so overcooked it was like shoe leather trying to eat it

DH ordered the dover sole, it was over powered with lemon & smelled fishy

he said it also tasted fishy

Dessert was good

 

There were other issues but those are the worst ones

 

So glad other people had good service & food

This was not our first rodeo with Oceania but it may well be our last

We felt that some of the staff were just not up to the task or were rude to the passengers

 

We did hear from other some new to Oceania that they also had issues with certain staff members

 

 

Lyn

I have returned home today from my 12th Oceania cruise (5th & 6th on Riviera). I have cruised with Lyn & her DH on several cruises over the past 6 years including the Jan 13, 2014 cruise on which Lyn has stated her concerns on this thread. As I usually do, I did the B2B completing the Jan 23, 2024 also. As stated, I only arrived home today after my 30hr long & painful journey from Miami to Brisbane with injuries received on Riviera so will today just add to some of Lyn's comments.

We were seated 3 of us & given the menus & water glasses were filled

The table next to us which was seated within minutes of us seem to have their order taken & thie 1st course arrive

We still sat with menus in hand, no bread basket to go with the water

So DH went in search of the maitre'd

All fixed but this should not have happened

I was the 3rd person who Lyn refers to. I agree with all of Lyn's points but also wish to add that the table on our other side which had been seated after us had also had their order taken before we finally made contact with the maitre'd.

Toscana ...we had 6:30 seating we were at a table for 7, five of us were on time

The card states they will hold the reservation for 15mins ..fine

By 7:15 we are still waiting for the 2 no shows, finally one of the ladies asked to be served now rather than wait for people that are too rude to cancel their time slot

Food was fine ...veal Limone was not much lemon flavour

Again I agree with Lyn's points. Toscana's has always been my 3rd favourite choice of the specialty restaurants but came up top over these 2 cruises.

I had also noticed that there were very few familiar faces amongst crew members which disappointed me. But in Toscana's I found a few more smiling faces from the past and their experience came through with good service (except the delay at the beginning).

Red Ginger -seated at a table for the 3 of us, orders were taken

They came & asked for our tea order, we said we would like it with our dessert

no problem

DH wanted to try the chicken Satay it came while the restaurant manager was chatting with us

He tasted one piece & asked if it was a warm or cold dish

she said it should be warm..it was not

They offered to take it & heat it up but he did not want to chance it coming back worse than before

I noticed the next piece when DH slide it off the skewer was still raw inside

NOT GOOD

Next the summer roll, he tasted it said it was very strong taste, I tasted it YUCK

It was like fermenting vegetables or something tasted like cleaning fluid

took most of the night to get rid of the taste

after a long wait the entree arrived

We decide to share the Green curry dish with some rice, this was nothing like the same dish I had on Marina

The rice was good

We ordered dessert ..we ate the dessert, waited for tea we order at the begining of the meal

Gave up & left

Well this was my greatest disappointment from my all time favourite.

Again I can confirmed Lyn's comments + add a few of my own.

I had also ordered the Summer Rolls but they never arrived instead I received the Deep Fried rolls. I never mentioned the error as I was happy to be in my favourite restaurant at sea. The rolls I received were very nice. Next I had ordered the Terriakyi Beef (which I had enjoyed several times over past cruises). When the T Beef arrived it appeared to me to be cooked more than my requested Rare to Medium and did not have any sauce over the beef. When I mentioned the missing sauce the waiter picked up the plate left the table and returned to the table with my Beef with a very thin gravy like sauce over the top. Normally the sauce is a nice thick rich sauce.

We ordered dessert ..we ate the dessert, waited for tea we order at the begining of the meal

Gave up & left

I had ordered a desert that was not on the menu but was available at several of the other venues on the ship and in the past have had not problem requesting the same desert at Red Ginger. When Lyn & DH's desserts arrived but mine did not I asked about mine and the waiters reply was "Oh, I thought you were joking".

Also when we arrived and had been seated the Wine Waiter came over to ask if we wish to order some wine with our meal and we all said "No" to wine, we were never ask if we wish to have any other drinks with our meals.

After my mid cruise comments card on which I had written my first ever negative comment regarding food or service, I was approached in Terraces one morning by the Red Ginger Maitre'D and asked to expand on my negative comments regarding her staff & the food & service. After which she asked me to please come back to RG for dinner during the 2nd cruise. I did go back and received excellent service from start to finish and all courses were excellent. With 4 waiters "fluffing" around me how could the service not be good. All had been advised that I was dining that evening.

Jacques- I ordered the salmon ..it was so overcooked it was like shoe leather trying to eat it

DH ordered the dover sole, it was over powered with lemon & smelled fishy

he said it also tasted fishy

Dessert was good

I enjoyed my meal at Jacques but can confirm the above mentioned Dover Sole was "on the nose".

WAVES: The breakfast & lunches I had at Waves were all good and service was also good. The only problem I had was on 2 occasions I gave my order to an Indian Cook who then had to call another Cook over who asked me to repeat my order as the original Cook could not understand my English. To me it should be a basic prerequisite that crew understand basic English and also be able to speak English + smile. Smiles were lacking by many of the female crew in Terraces during both my cruises.

As I stated above I only returned home today and have other issues/problems that commence during the B2B that I will cover later.

Rhonda

PS: I was very disappointed that Roy P was not our CD even though he had been listed as both cruises CD.

We have done this on 2 occasions with Oceania and never had a problem but make sure you let them know ahead via TA or Oceania direct.

Plus on 2 occasions DH actually embarked at the 1st port due to other commitments and we have never had a problem. He just had to carry/manage his own luggage and Oceania security came to the gate when he arrived and processed his passport etc and gave him his Oceania Card.

There was a post about Channel perfume in the shops on board from someone a while ago. I was just on the Riviera (disembarked Dec. 22) and the store did not have any Channel at that time. I suggest you shop at Duty Free in the airport.

Thank you for this info (and also Deb who advised me via other thread).

Rhonda

Posting Photo's, just like a big girl!

Way to go Lyn, I KNEW you could do it.

 

She gets it from me, you see.... :rolleyes:

Just love it.:D

Chanel yes; Estee Lauder, I think!! Arlene;)

When were you able to buy Chanel on board. It is the only perfume I buy and have not been able to get it on board since 2009. Regatta had Chanel No. 5 & 19 in 2009 but I was not able to buy it on Insignia in 2010, Marina in 2011 nor Riviera in 2012 & 2013. Hoping you can tell me it has been on Riviera recently as I am on Riviera again in January 2014 then Marina in May & Riviera again in June 2014.:) Might have to get my crew member friend to check it out for me....just in case they have it. At least I would then know what I can spend all my OBC on.

Thank you in advance.

Doubledobles - Yes, I bought Channel perfume and cologne

on board.

When was this doubledobles???? Was it perfume or make-up or both??

Rhonda

HMMMM now I feel cheated ;)

We celebrated our 40th anniversary onboard only got a card on the first day of the cruise ..nothing on the actual date :(

 

Maybe this something new as I have never heard of the decorating the cabin before

 

Maybe they do not bother with the peons ;)

 

Lyn

Yes they do, Lyn. We were in B4 last March on DH's birthday and cabin crew filled our cabin with about 20 balloons and made posters saying happy birthday in both their languages + English for above the bed. Shame you were not there to see it. :p lol Will email you pics and you will just have to wait until May'14 cruise and you might get balloons for both yours & your DH special day.

Bring back Roy before Jan 23, please. He is great and has personality plus. Not to mention his amazing Spanish classes.:D

Booked to Oceania Riviera for February 22, 2014 cruise. One port is La Romana, Dominican Republic. Has anyone done the Chavon River Cruise? This same tour also visits Altos de Chavon which sits on land above the river.

Is this a private tour or ships tour. I am on Riviera in Jan'14 visiting this port but have not seen this river cruise. advertised (could have missed it-lol) Could you post here where you found it please. Thanks in advance. Rhonda:)

I was on the same cruise and the Beef Capaccio in Red Ginger was unbelievable. Fully of flavour and to say mouth watering is the understatement.

Continuing on...

 

Another dish of boarding lunch

 

 

 

Snacks they gave us when we ordered a drink at martini. Not available all the time I believe.

 

 

 

 

Raw beef capaccio at toscana. Not the wrost beef capaccio but certainly not the best I've had. Fairly bland in flavor. Beef sliced so thin that it sticks to the plate. 2/5 fair dish.

 

 

 

Lobster Risotto at Toscana. Excellently prepared. Risotto cooked perfectly(al dente style). Flavor was rich and creamy with large chunks of lobster. 5/5 a much try if you enjoy risotto.