palamoh

I had a Cruise on the Whisper scheduled for Nov 17th. Deposit was only $500, had to cancel Mid July. Took 4 1/2 months for Silversea to refund.  If I listed all the phone calls and E Mails Involved in this small refund it would take up a full page.  They readily accept our money, but some how fall asleep during the refund request.  Not their finest hour. They ignore E Mails and seldom return phone calls.  Anyone else with this problem?  

I just read where the entire crew was not vaccinated until they reached the U S Port in FLL.  Means they left their European Port and the crew was NOT vaccinated, seems like poor planning on the part of Mgt

Not trying to interfere with all the science everyone is discussing here.  Just noted that Crystal Cruise lines just announced Vaccine to required for all 2021 sailings.  Believe more Cruise Lines will follow same requirement very soon.

My question as well, hope someone can give some insight to this.

I live in Arizona,, effective Mon We will be eligible for the Vaccine.  Az has mobilized 750 of its National Guard Medical personnel to assist in the Vaccinations.  Hopefully this will speed up the process, also received an E Mail yesterday from Walgreens, that they hope to be able to open their Vaccine Stations open to all phase 1b eligible people within a week or two, presently they are only doing Vaccines at local Elderly Assisted living facilities. Do believe this past month has been a learning experience for everyone involved, hopefully some of the reasons for the log jam will improve. Hopefully sometime in the next week or two we will both be vaccinated.  I know it is difficult to remain positive in these times, I encourage all of us to do our best with remaining calm during this storm.

Do wish we would get a more definite position from the Cruise Industry as to their thinking regarding their approach to Vaccines and how it may effect if the Vaccine will be a requirement to future cruising. 

There are so many varied opinions on this subject, hard to decipher what will really happen regarding the vaccine and Cruise Lines enforcement.  But I do believe getting the vaccine is the correct step toward future. Cruising.  My wife is 84 and I am 86, both of us in very good health, we will be first in line when Arizona gives us the call.  Unfortunately Arizona has put Seniors pretty close to the end of the Line.  They have thrown the “Greatest Generation” under the Bus.  With that said I encourage everyone to get this Vaccine when it becomes available to you.  I believe the Cruise Lines will make it mandatory as part of its contract.

New. Cruiser on the Edge, is there a charge for Lunch on any of the Restaurants.

I might jump in and also add my comments about Boris who is the Head Mgr of all Rest’s aboard the Riviera. The second night at Sea we had a Major issue with our Food at the Main Dinning Room. Boris found us after we left the Rest w/o finishing our meal. This man has made a believer in us in Oceania. He contacted us every day to ask how we were enjoying the Cruise and how was are experience in the Rest’s He invited us to attend any Specialty Rest of our choice every night. We just returned from the City of Tangiers today and like out of know where Boris appeared at our Table in the Waves Rest This Gentelman is such an asset to Oceania, I do hope they appreciate him. He has made this Cruise something very special for my wife and I.

Agree with Wes, excellent info on the Exployer. Wife and I will join her in Monte Carlo on the 12th April, have made a mental note of all of your suggestions. Can’t wait to see her for the 1st time and will be interesting to compare her to the Oceania Riviera which we are on doing a Trans Atlantic from Miam/Barcelona on Mar 28th. Well written boblerm

Thanks so very much for all your recommendations. I have researched ea and every one of them and elected a Marriott Hotel. So interesting to get everyone thoughts when it comes to Hotels

Excellent review, yes food is subjective, we have traveled Azamara on 6 different occasions, always felt that the Ships Officers were always interested in discussions with their Guests. The captain often came alone or with his wife and ALWAYS joined the ships guests for Lunch, other wise I believe both ships are very close in all other regards. The comments about Meat not being cooked to order are dear to me. I have long ago refused Meats not cooked to order, or tough and chewy steaks. I will keep sending them back until they get it right. On the Riviera Cruise last Dec in the Main Dining room I sent three Filets back until the 4th one arrived to my Medium Rare preference. My wife and I prefer to dine alone, so in doing this is does not interrupt other Guests at the Table, Safe Travels and Good Health to all of you.

I am so very pleased with your responses to this thread, I am checking out Hotel by Hotel based on your recommendations. Thanks so much, I knew I could count on Oceania’s seasoned Travelers

I am sure I read in a previous thread recommendations for a Hotel in Barcelona, but I can’t seem to find it. I know this forum has many seasoned travelers that have stayed in Barcelona. Could anyone please give me your recommendations. I know I can count on you.

We will be on our first Exployer Cruise on April 12th, Thanks so much for your informative review. So sorry to hear that Regent has no protocol to deal with Chair Hogs at the Pool. We were on Oceania Riviera last Dec, they have a Ploicy if items on chairs are there over 30 minutes with No one there, they remove and store them and yes they do it. Nothing more irritating than this problem on Cruise Ships

Rachel, it is refreshing to see someone as fit as you and your Husband enjoy the Hiking and Outdoors. My wife and I are in our 80’s, but work out in the Gym almost every day and Hike as much as possible, We also try to take the most strenuous Tours available and also try to work out in the gym on the ship as often as possible. You two should be an inspiration to older Cruisers to do the same. I am so very sure we would make excellent companions on a future Cruise. I spent my life as an Outdoor writer writing about Fishing around the World and was blessed in the opportunity to see the Wilderness that most people only read about. Keep up your lifestyle you are a Credit to Cruise Critic and to all Senior Citizens

Rachel, what kind of steak did you order in the Prime that was so good?

I believe the Ocean View Rooms on the Riviera are the same deminsions and size of their Balcony rooms w/o the Balcony

Interesting comments about Food, keep in mind Food is subjective, what one Loves another Hates. You can read this forum on ANY CRUISE LINE and find the same comments of both Good and Bad. I think we all have experienced Food not up to our Standards at Restaurants as well as Cruise Ships. I am of the belief that a disappointing meal can happen in the best of venues, but I also know that your Five Star Cruise Ships will provide much better Food time and time again, I stand by Regent and Oceania as the best on the Seas.

David - Sobe you are the only post that actually hits to the Heart of this whole Ugly issue. Typical threads from most, blame everybody, but the ugly group that started this. Mayhem

I have read this entire thread and found 2 Post’s that seem to have put this entire unfortunate incident into proper perspective. The 1st by David -Sobe and the 2nd by Keys2Heaven. Obviously Carnival does not have a ZERO Policy for misbehavior. Just written by a PR damage control employee as an inducement to make Passengers feel safe on their Carnival Cruise. Folks I have been there many times in this type of a situation after having spent 10 years as a Police Officer. It’s not as easy to deal with as some of your posts make it out to be. In the heat of battle there are usually some mistakes made in handling all the participating parties, especially with multiple people involved, so cut these obviously untrained Security Personnel a little slack.

Absolutely great idea for informing passengers of their future Cabins. You have done an OUTSTANDING JOB and one of the best Posts I have ever reviewed. We are in 671 on the Explorer for a April 12th Cruise and the review of this room made both of us feeling very comfortable being in this Suite. Thanks again Bill

We were on the Riviera on a Dec 12 Western Carb Cruise. Main Dinning room was open every day

Ref Susan’s 14 Blog, On our Riviera Dec 12 Miami/Miami cruise I also got Food Poisining. Got the impression after I posted concerning this, that most readers discounted it to Nora or just didn’t believe me. Got over it quickly and discussed with The Food and Bev Mgr, got a “I’m sorry”, If you have every been misfortunate to get this illness, you know it immediately. The symptoms are different from Nora and it hits you so sudden, It usually last from 12 to 48 hrs, mine was over in about 14 hrs. Food Poisining can happen in the best of Resturants. I know of two others on this cruise that had it as well. This won’t stop me from cruising with Oceania, but you cannot avoid a bad piece of food, there is no precautions for it.

Thank you both ‘Stanandjim” and “Bob Brown” for the correction, it was the Rotterdam. There are just too many ‘“Dam ships” to remember them all, and 20 years makes the mind a bit hazy. But one thing I will always remember Was this trip around the Horn.

Interesting side note to this, was my wife and I were on the Sea Dream 2 and while on a Brazilian Cruise we stopped at Devil’s Island, while waiting for our shuttle back to our ship, we struck up a conversation with another Couple waiting to Board their HAL ship, they had just done basically the same around the Horn Cruise on HAL and experienced the same awful Bad Weather, they said it was very destructive to the Ship with a good part of the ships crew and passengers very ill.

Do hope none of you have to experience this type of Weather on any of your future Cruises

About 20 yrs ago wife and I were booked on HAL;s “Amersterdam”, was the final voyage for this Grand Lady, a 36 day cruise around the Horn of South America. We knew we were getting into high Seas when our Port Call to the Falklands Island was canceled. Things got very bad the further South we Traveled. Waves high enough to hit the Bridge of the Ship, at night the Ship would go up and down so hard we would actually leave our bed, by morning things were even worse. We left our Cabin and headed up to the Rest for Breakfast. Only about 10 people there, you could not walk without holding onto the rails. Most of the Crew were as sick as were the passengers, the Ship smelled terrible. All the windows were broke in the Stores and merchandise spread out into the Hallways. Most of the Dish ware and anything else that wasn’t tied down was broken. Some of the Windows in the Main dinning room were cracked. People on the High floors could not even stand up in their Cabins, they had to literally crawl to get around their Cabins. This lasted for two days until we got to Ushia. Some passengers and crew members were injured so badly they were air evaced to Buenos Aires for treatment of broken Bones. Ship stayed in Ushia for an extra full day to replenished broken items. This ship was about the size of the R Ships, but I don’t exactly remember its tonnage. Our Cabin was an inside Cabin in the low middle of the ship. We both felt a bit woozy, but never did get sick. Don’t believe any ship could have fared well with waves exceeding 50 Ft. This area of S/America has a long History of extreme stormy seas. Rest of the Cruise on the West Side of S/America was smooth and comfortable