Treasure Hunter

Random thought. My father was in the Navy in WW 2. A radar operator on the destroyer escort USS Day in the South Pacific. Which is why I love the show Anything Goes. It has two of my favorite things. Sailors and tap dancing. Actually sailors who tap dance!

Also , we went to Cuba on Oceania from Miami. Three ports with an overnight in Havana ( which allowed us to see the Tropacana show). If they start doing it again I strongly recommend it. It was a wonderful cruise.

You know already about Trivia on Oceania (blood sport). There aren’t big Broadway type shows but the entertainment is very pleasant and the dancers and singers are good. The penthouse is a lovely stateroom. The bed is very very comfortable and the soft furnishings are the highest quality. We will be in the Med in June on the old Celebrity Constellation with our son’s family. We have three concierge cabins in a row ( not retreat) on my dime with help from the casino. I envy you. Our itinerary includes three days in Athens , Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Kotor, etc. ending in Ravenna ( with a long expensive car service to Venice). We have already been to most of the ports multiple times . The kids wanted to see the three Greek islands. When we went with Oceania we docked a 20 minute walk from St Marks square. Now we are two hours away. Your wife will love this cruise so much .

You still need to make reservations. Easily done in the Haven lounge pre boarding or shortly after boarding with the concierge. The section is on the left half way up the orchestra. But we prefer to meet the asst. concierge or our butler ( pre arranged) 45 minutes before the show and go down in the crew elevator through the secret passage and sit third row center. Ten minutes before the show, the reserved seats are released to those without reservations.

I have been on the Oceania Riviera in the Med the first summer it sailed. It is my favorite Oceania ship. You did good to pick her. One night eat dinner in the buffet. If it is still the same as when I sailed, they have a grill with prime steak and lobster tails. As many as you want. And of course boarding and leaving the ship for excursions is marvelous. But the entertainment will not come anywhere near NCL.

Choir of Man was great. Our son loved it so much that when they appeared in DC at the Kennedy Center he took his kids to see it again. It is a rousing good feeling magical night. Just my opinion.

Go on the Getaway and see Million Dollar Quartet. We saw the show when it opened in Chicago and then when it won the Tony on Broadway . The Getaway’s version is as good if not better! The cast does a Broadway Cabaret later in the cruise ( fantastic) . And by the way, Jersey Boys was very good too ( different ship). Six was entertaining but not memorable ( don’t throw tomatoes at me , I know a lot of people really like it. ) Kinky Boots was an excellent production but not appropriate for a family show( Thanksgiving sailing with tons of confused kids in the audience). There are many entertainment venues on NCL ships including the comedy club ( our favorite)

I’ve never cruised out of NOLA and in recent years just NY and Miami. We’ve never had a problem especially when we’re in the Haven. So I guess you have to adapt to the circumstances.

I’m so excited to cruise that I don’t mind waiting to board ( all checked in and done with security) just in case there’s a mud slide or flat tire on the way to the pier we leave super early ( yes I know I’m crazy)

We have sailed Haven many times out of New York. We get to the terminal at 9:30. Must taxis are old hand at this but there a re good signs. Drop checked luggage with the porters ( tip). The Porters are very helpful. There is a separate Haven security line. BUT YOU HAVE TO ASK REPEATEDLY. The Haven lounge is on the left side half the way down the terminal. A lady with a clipboard will be out front near the sign. Haven will board around 11 maybe earlier ( once at 10:30). But you will be comfortable, snacks, mini sandwiches, danish, coffee, water and chairs. Your will get a list of the shows with times and while you wait you can fill out your preferences and hand it in. You will find your confirmation in your suite after lunch. You are taken in a priority elevator to your muster station, then whisked back into the elevator to the Haven lounge where you will be given drinks and a little intro by the concierge then right into a delicious lunch. After lunch the rooms will be ready. It's all great.

We did the trip and our travel doctor did not give us a yellow fever shot. Unless we were going to Brazil, it wasn't necessary. However be very care about Mosquitos especially at dusk because of Malaria and other local diseases (we used Deet towelettes) . We did get the shot, which is hard to come by and expensive when we went to Kenya so now we are set for life.

Stefmaia- you will have a choice. Book with the concierge as we do while in the Haven boarding lounge or shortly after boarding ( there will be a sign on their desk). As for seating , you can sit in the Haven reserved seats on the left ,half way up from the stage or do as we do, go down 45 minutes before the show with the asst concierge or butler in the crew elevator and go into the theater in the secret passage near the stage and sit orchestra center third row. The reserved Haven seats are held until 10 minutes before the show and then released for the standing room crowd.

We like the mushroom soup, duck, and all the desserts

I got carried away on a Princess cruise and kept charging $20 before I knew it I had a $1200 bill. I learned my lesson.

Bring cash. Then you know how much you are going to lose. The temptation to keep charging to your room is dangerous!

The last few cruises , we were handed a list of the shows with times while we were in the Haven check in lounge. We filled it out while we were waiting to board and handed it in. Later that afternoon we received confirmation in our suite.

We have found that the nicest suites are on Princess especially price wise but there are little to no other amenities. No guarantee of the sanctuary even if you wanted to pay, no separate restaurant just a roped off space and the suite ( concierge ) room only on the newer ships so we have drifted to Celebrity and NCL Haven. We really like Celebrity and to paraphrase Some Like it Hot. Nobody (or no cruise line) is perfect. We like an over hang for privacy and shade.

Hahaha😂👍

You can print extra tags and send their luggage to your room ( I’m assuming you are close by). We have done that and then they can get it from your room after lunch.

I will try that if it’s January and don’t pop up. Thanks for another great cruise critic buddy

As a retired librarian, the idea of making the library into inside cabins is a stab in my heart. Last time on the Reflection, I was able to exchange my paperbacks for some really good ones left by other passengers. I usually buy 20 books from ThriftBooks.com and leave them by the end of the cruise. I had a whole carry all full of books. The only cruise line that I have been on recently, that still has a great library is Oceania.

We are on the Edge in January in a Celebrity suite. Previously on the Reflection, Equinox, Silhouette in Sky and Celebrity suites. The Celebrity suite on the hump with the angled balcony is terrific. We always have them tape up the stupid bedroom window so you can nap. We won't be able to do that on the Edge as the whole sliding door is frosted glass. We are on the Edge in March in a Royal Suite and I am anxious that if I can't find shade in the retreat because of chair hogs, I'm screwed because of the tiny balcony. Maybe they can take all the furniture off and replace it with one lounge chair ( my husband is just as happy inside the room). This is the first time in a Royal Suite because when we booked, all Celebrity suites across the entire fleet for March 2023 were gone. I really hope I like the Edge because I loved the other ships a lot.

Thanks, but I sweat about everything. I will be a basket case waiting for the pier. I only relax once I'm on the ship.

We used to only go on Princess and Oceania then friends of ours convinced us to go on Celebrity. NCL cruises year round from New York and I LOVE THE SLOTS so now we go Celebrity from Florida ( they give me 40% off even off the biggest suite) and NCL Haven which subtracts the cost of an ocean view (very little ). Sthrngary, you will be in a state of shock on Oceania especially if you like trivia where it is a Blood sport. You will meet very A type personalities. Everyone is either a former CEO or a Professor of Classical Literature ( joking). Food good ( but not as good as they make it out to be, great itineraries, excellent service especially if you are in a suite, and no lines) They have a small outdoor grill open for when you come back from touring with delicious Reubens, and Fish sandwiches. Now that we've gone Haven, I just am so happy with NCL that I accept no matter how much I bet they aren't giving me gobs off. Last cruise I hit four big handpays, gave it all back and nothing changed.

I paid in full and got my edocs but luggage tags say pending ? I’ve gone back several times and can’t get them to print. Guess they stopped mailing the nice ones even if you are in a suite