Classiccruiser777

For what it’s worth, when dining in Terrace and when I want an alcoholic beverage I request it when passing by the bar on my way in. Fast service every time.

With the newly implemented Oceania Club benefits “bronze” level members and up receive a complimentary bottle of private label wine. Has anyone who has received this benefit had the option to choose a red or white or is the bottle delivered to your cabin the bottle you get?

7 hours ago, dog said:

What is the earliest I could expect to disembark Oceania Sirena in Barcelona? Cruise ends 8 am.

 

Does the cruise line offer a disembark tour with airport drop off? It is too early to see

what excursions are offered.

If you opt for self-disembarkation  (you can carry all of your luggage off) you would be able to leave the ship once formalities have been cleared.

Regarding a disembarkation tour with airport drop off, depends if there is enough fellow passenger interest. I recently was on the Sirena and asked this question to Destination Services staff for a different cruise and that was the answer they gave me. If this is something you’d like to do I suggest using the cruise critic  roll call to dum up interest. Rather than using an arranged tour through Oceana it would probably be far cheaper to connect directly with an operator in Barcelona.

20 hours ago, Mura said:

So location of the specific agent may not matter ... I guess it depends on the specific agency.  Some of them at least have agents located in different areas.

 

Mura

Same here. We live in the Seattle area but used a TA out of Florida for years then switched, after a bad experience, to one outside of Houston. Overall value and responsiveness are what matters to us, location of the agency doesn’t.

2 hours ago, edgee said:

 Seems like Oceania did not have a wash and fold laundry product before they decided to offer included laundry for Concierge class and above. When they started including it for those categories they marketed it as being slightly less of a product than passengers pay for by stating that turnaround could take as much as 3 days. That is certainly fair since the free benefit came with that disclosure. However if they did not note that the lesser product also did not include pressing when previously all Oceania laundry services included pressing, that is a bit deceitful. Marketing a new benefit to now include for free a product people are used to paying for and not fully disclosing the extent to which it is a lesser product is not okay IMHO.

On longer O cruises a “$24 for 20 items” laundry special was/is typically offered but included only wash and fold, not pressing. The clean laundry was returned to the cabin inside a laundry bag. We used this service a couple of times last June.

I suggest you include the category of cabin you will have since that is relevant to your question.

We're always in an ocean view or inside so here’s my two cents:

• the bathrooms now have a blue nightlight and an electrical outlet under the cabinet
• USB ports are now in the cabins
• the TVs are wall mounted, bigger, have movies on demand, restaurant menus as well as your account information
• the menus have been reduced in the GDR and there are some items that are always available (shrimp cocktail, lobster bisque, steak, chicken, salmon)
• there is a dedicated restaurant reservation desk in the deck 5 lobby, open for 8 AM to 5 PM everyday
• in Horizons steps have been removed and replaced with ramps and the wall behind where the musicians play has been removed
• the new look is beautiful and fresh

We always get cash back, around 5% of the price paid, and typically gratuities. Since we are silver in the O-Club the gratuities turn into additional OBC, up to $224.

What ship, date and itinerary are you looking at?

My wife and I love Oceania. Just about everything is great but there is one area where I believe an improvement could be made. When we (rarely) Cruise on Holland America there is one thing we really like and that HAL does far better than Oceania and that is laundry. HAL will wash and press a bag of laundry, everything that can be stuffed in one bag, for a flat $20. When the clean clothing is returned the socks and underwear are in a tissue wrapped basket and slacks and shirts are pressed, on hangers and in a garment bag. What a nice job HAL does and I wish Oceania did the same.

To get better responses I suggest you provide:

• The length of the cruise
• The Oceania ship you would be considering
• The itinerary in which you are interested
• The attributes most important to you

We have cruised the "mass market lines" and since trying Oceania we haven't looked back (other than the occasional "blow out" special on HAL). We just completed our 10th cruise on O.

On Oceania the entire ship is a "retreat." Very few, if any, kids, limited announcements, no photographers, no up-selling/pressure to buy anything, no crowds, no "buckets of beer". You are guaranteed to get into the specialty restaurants and may get additional reservations on a space available basis.

The food is very good, the service and beds are wonderful, the ships are well maintained and "intimate." The current fleet has two O-class ships (less than 1,300 passengers) and 4 R-class ships (less than 700 passengers).

The passenger make-up tends to be well traveled, well educated, and professional.

We love the food. Waves, the snack bar near the pool has lobster tail medallions and filet mignon, the “surf and turf,” everyday and they aren’t stingy with the portions. There are many other choices as well, all cooked to order.

At the Terrace, the buffet, salads are made to order, the food is served, and at dinner there is almost always a nice selection of sushi, grilled lobster, prawns, fish, steaks and lamb chops. There are also many other choices to complement the selections.

The deserts are as good as they look and the ice cream, as most other delights, are made fresh on board. 

Sometimes it is, sometimes not. We are just off Sirena and the GDR was open every day for our 7 day cruise, 6 of which were port days.

15 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

Do you have precise information about wind and currents ? Do you know whether the ship had any mechanical issues that may have contributed to the accident?  You don't have any of that information. That's why professionals will conduct an investigation before deciding the cause(s) of the accident.

“The Carnival Glory sustained damage to its Platinum Dining Room, but the company said none of the damage had compromised the ship's seaworthiness.” i.e., other than superficial damage there isn’t anything wrong with the ship. I also know how to “read the water” as well as how to compensate for a ship’s sail area. But who am I to argue with you... Heck, you know I’m in Seattle!

22 hours ago, njhorseman said:

 

Yes, I'm sure the two of you sitting at your computers thousands of miles away from the accident site and with absolutely zero firsthand knowledge of what happened hit the nail on the head. I'm sure you're both fully licensed masters who are qualified to command cruise ships with 6 thousand souls on board and you probably have years of experience as harbor pilots too. 

Or, just maybe, a former fully qualified Surface Warfare Officer in the US Navy....

Poor seamanship.

22 minutes ago, sunlover12 said:

When you were booking reservations in the specialty restaurants did you ask for a shared table or a table for two?  

Also, the OP could have talked with the waiter at the restaurant reservations desk, available everyday from 8 AM until 5 PM in the lobby to try to get an earlier time.

Perhaps the repetition  in the GDR are the selections that are now always on the menu and dinner in Terrace is very nice with the lobster, steaks, lamb chops, fish, prawns always available and many, many other choices.

On 12/12/2019 at 9:21 AM, marylovestotravel said:

Is it possible to get US dollars from reception? What would be the best way to do this? Can I cash in travellers cheques? Do you know if there is any handling charge for the service. How about getting cash from onboard credit?

Mia, I’m presently on board the Sirena and just talked with reception regarding your question. Following is what I was told:

1. There is an ATM in the casino. Each withdrawal is charged a flat fee of $6 per transaction regardless of the amount. This doesn’t include any of your bank’s fees.

2. American Express traveler checks, and only American Express, may be cashed at reception at par, no fee applies.

3. Cash advances against your registered credit card may be taken for a 5% transaction fee.

4. Refundable on board credit may be “cashed out” but ONLY one or two days prior to the end of the cruise.

Happy sailing!

You may get cash from Reception against your registered credit card though there is a charge which (I think) was 4%. We’re on Sirena this Saturday and I’ll ask.

24 minutes ago, Paulchili said:

That seems new to me. Is it where the Barista is ?

Deck 5, top of lobby stairs, starboard side.

4 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

This is true on Riviera and Marina. On the R ships, Terrace Café- Starboard side entrance.

OP: Please DO NOT try to bribe the maitre d's on Oceania. It's a low class move and somewhat insulting.

On Insignia this July and the reservations waiter was in the lobby.

2 hours ago, BenMurphy said:

There's usually someone in Terrace Cafe standing by a screen(monitor), they will have all the reservations on there and will help you too find a reservation that suits you

Have a great cruise

Josie

No longer, now there is a dedicated waiter at a desk in the main lobby who can help you with reservations. A waiter is there everyday from 8 until 5 or 6.

We’ve stayed at Jurys Inn twice pre-cruise: https://www.jurysinns.com/hotels/southampton?utm_medium=cpc&gclid=CjwKCAiA5o3vBRBUEiwA9PVzalLKLr7BQXTNWwdfUjsbwQD54BD1MIH-CYfTvZ220xc9jGBk8pZiFhoCf0cQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Been to both. Rainbow Falls is one of the stops on the Hop-On, Hop-Off in Hilo, (http://www.hop-onhop-offhilobus.com/Trolley-Tour.html) which was a bargain and we will use them again.

The volcano is a full day and included walking through a lava tube. One of our party slipped and received a very nasty gash since lava is very jagged and sharp.

Given the choice and the price I’d take the Ho-Ho since you may go at your own pace, see some interesting and scenic things and the pass is good for all day.  

My wife’s, suggestion, Catalina.

1 hour ago, Petoonya said:

Was this a Cruise Critic email or an O email? I did get an email but glanced at it and discarded. But now I have some ideas.......:)

Email was from Oceania.