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On 4/3/2019 at 4:03 PM, Paulchili said:

Oceania will accommodate just about any reasonable request.

My personal opinion on this matter - order as much as you wish as long as you do not waste food.

That's one of my personal bugaboos anyway.  Bob and I share almost every meal we eat out.  It's simply too much food.  And 'Americans' certainly hold the record for wasting food.  If you take the food, then eat the dang food.

Is there any reason we couldn't 'tether' our computers to each other and both be online at the same time?

On 3/28/2019 at 7:26 PM, Mura said:

No, I can't say that I've ever seen a written rule that shorts are verboten in Terrace in the evening.  Still, I've rarely seen anyone wearing shorts in Terrace in the evening on any of the ships.  Not that I was really checking!

 

We don't usually travel in hot climates ... never say never, so I won't.  But I can see where if you are in the Med in the summer time or the Caribbean -- warmer climates anyway -- that one might be more tempted to wear shorts at dinner time.  I always wear slacks or a long skirt, DH wears long pants in any of the restaurants for dinner always.  Not because we have to, but because that's what we prefer.

 

Still, even if wearing shorts one should dress relatively nicely!  Yes, it's a bit more "formal" in the official restaurants.  But Terrace isn't all that casual either.  Think "comfortable", perhaps.

 

Mura

I think you may be making the point that there are shorts and then there are shorts.  I have cuffed shorts that hit the top of my knees...and then there are shorts 🙂

On 4/9/2019 at 8:47 AM, LHT28 said:

a few more at

https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-DbbGVF/

 

 

We cruised last January to Antarctica.  Summer there.  But we did have a snow day.  But not as much as you.

On 4/20/2019 at 9:00 AM, Hawaiidan said:

Money rule #1    use a debit card in an ATM ashore, or in airports or banks.   Never use a credit card in an ATM because its a "cash advance "  at a high interest rate and fee.     Your tour operator will  stop by an ATM for you if asked.

Money  rule#2    In foreign  places  use a Credit Card as much as possible with a no charge conversion  Book as many tours as possible with the card if you have to cancel, or like the ship misses the port.    A real possibility you need to consider.

Money rule#3  remember that you will get charged a3-5% commission  to convert any  un spent foreign bills back to your home currency....... no one will convert coin.. if you dont use it  it becomes an expensive fishing weight.

Cash in Europe  today  is not your friend   even taxi's take  credit cards.

We have an account with USAA (husband former military) and they reimburse ATM fees up to $15 a month. I believe there are others like that.  We really mostly use that account when we're traveling.  And make sure your credit card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.  Oh, one other thing.  If it's a non-Euro country try to have as little local currency as you can get away with...unless you plan on visiting that country again.

Thanks to all of you.  Yes, definitely planning on booking as soon as available.  Sharing a table is NO problem.  I'm an early to bed, early to rise person so probably not dining late.  Also I can be a major suck-up so will try to work some magic 🙂

3 minutes ago, Mura said:

That was my original point, but then someone said something that reminded me we are talking about a very long cruise and going in for a fancy dinner -- whether the food is deemed fancy or not -- can get rather wearing.  No one has to have beef wellington or lobster thermidor every night, that's for sure.

 

 

With (almost) everything being cooked to order I'd think there will be loads of flexibility.

We're going to be on the Marina Veranda Concierge and get just one per restaurant.  For the Italian and the French I was hoping for maybe a second one each to try more things.  Are they usually booked solid, do you know?  Thanks.

14 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

i  think Lisa was looking for a simple Grilled Cheese sandwich 😉

After 100+ days onboard she probably knows the Waves menu by now  LOL

 

I admit after a few weeks onboard I would just like some home comfort food  also

Oops, don't know what I did to make this appear twice.

My favorite past time is cooking so I can get really tired of 'eating out' all the time.  We don't do a lot of cruises so thoroughly enjoy airbnb-equivalents.

14 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

i  think Lisa was looking for a simple Grilled Cheese sandwich 😉

After 100+ days onboard she probably knows the Waves menu by now  LOL

 

I admit after a few weeks onboard I would just like some home comfort food  also

9 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Only on the Marina & Riviera

no lounges on the R ships

Ah, thanks.  Since we're going to be on the Marina I hadn't paid enough attention obviously.

15 minutes ago, 1985rz1 said:

Basically, yes.  Although some may quibble over fine details and some may opt to dress up more (sport coat/blazer with or without tie), especially for the specialty restaurants, but it's not required.

Thanks.  I see from their website that some men have sport coats and that's doable.  With it being summer there at the time he wouldn't be wearing it anytime other than dinner 🙂

On 4/22/2019 at 6:25 AM, orchestrapal said:

 

We have never had a coffee maker in the suites on Oceania unfortunately.

Always have wonderful Nespresso machines with all the coffee and fixings choices on Crystal and Viking, wonderful!

It is something we miss on O because even when brought by the butler the coffee was never hot enough.

Isn't there a lounge, 24/7, for suites?  I know there is for Veranda Concierge.

We stayed at CityBox in Bergen and when we're in Oslo next year we'll stay at the same.  Check out their photos and read the info.  We were super pleased with it.  And quite reasonably priced...unlike everything else in Norway 🙂

https://citybox.no/oslo-en/

Because I've not seen this brought up, I'll comment on 'proper attire' and ask to be corrected.  It appears that "country club casual" means for men a Docker-style pant and a nice shirt.  Does that mean either a dress shirt or a golf shirt style (collar)?  I know they say no shorts, jeans, caps, etc.  Nothing more or less casual than that.  Right.  Thanks.  We're booked on our first O cruise in December from Rio to Buenos Aires.

On 5/6/2019 at 4:00 AM, Paulchili said:

Are you going to visit these places on a land trip or just stay home?

Good question.  We were in Dubrovnik last year on a non-cruise trip.  The cruise ships are ruining it over everyone not just the cruise passengers.  UNESCO is threatening to revoke their world heritage stage because it's too crowded.

2 hours ago, Go-Bucks! said:

 

I'll try at Waves.

Sample menu:  https://www.oceaniacruises.com/Documents/Menus/1719/Waves-Menu.pdf

21 hours ago, Mura said:

Lots of passengers adore the food, others not so much.  We all have our own taste buds and personal likes.  Some like gourmet food, others are like Bob and prefer simpler food.

 

My husband loves spicy food but his body no longer does!

 

Nobody is wrong.

 

 

Perhaps this got added already and I didn't see it.  This is a sample dinner menu of the MDR.  Seems like there's something for everyone.  No?

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/Documents/Menus/13391/Grand-Dining-Dinner-Menu.pdf/

3 hours ago, bananawindnj said:

I know how you feel, as I boycott most  movies and actors coming out of Hollywood and entertainers with extreme liberal opinions.

I totally agree with you.  Put your money where your mouth is.  And I do.

On 7/22/2018 at 1:26 PM, catsngoats said:

Oceania gets my vote, based on two cruises with them, as well as others with Carnival, RCCL, Celebrity and Princess. We are trying HAL/N Amsterdam to Alaska for the first time in a few weeks: DH had specific requirements for the land tour and they have it, We are booked on Oceania/Marina in Jan 2020, through the Panama Canal and I'm a bit concerned based on reports here since the NCL acquisition. When did that happen? NCL needs to leave Oceania 'untouched'!!!!

If you look upthread there's another one about food and one person in particular thinks Oceania is the best with "no close second."

Not sure if this counts as it's the future not the past 🙂

We're sailing from Rio to Buenos Aires in December. We board on a Saturday but don't sail til Sunday PM.  So we'll board and then immediately leave the ship and head to Copacabana beach to The Deck, our fave place for feijoada, a typical Saturday lunch.  With multiple caipirinhas.  We'll return to the ship, Oceania's Marina, sleep off the lunch and drinks and maybe have a snack for dinner.

1 minute ago, Paulchili said:

I hope you will enjoy their food as well as the entire Oceania cruising experience (knowing that food preferences are subjective).

PS I forgot Viking Ocean😊 

Everything about the line sounds great.  Marina is larger at still only 1200 pax.  And, except for one at sea day we spend all day in ports.  Time to actually see things.  We got upgraded to Concierge level and that has its own benefits.  Pretty jazzed.

1 minute ago, Paulchili said:

 

21 minutes ago, Paulchili said:

I have cruised on Princess, HAL, RCI, Celebrity, Azamara, Oceania, Seabourn, Crystal, Silversea, Voyages of Discovery, Regent, Swan Hellenic, Marco Polo, Star cruises, Ponant, NCL, Cunard and probably some others I cannot think of right now.

Of all these cruises there is only one with the best food at sea and that is Oceania (and there no close second either) 😀

Since we're sailing on them in December, that pleases me enormously!

10 minutes ago, Coldbunny76 said:

For those who are only judging based on fine dining or specialty restaurants, if that is your thing...awesome!! When my wife and I are on land, we have to dress up often and are fortunate to eat well on many occasions. So, when it’s cruise time we purposefully don’t eat in the main dining room (or even take fancy clothes). This leaves us with the buffets, pizza shops, and free specialty restaurants while on the boat.

 

Our main reason for cruising is the ports of call - and eating native foods in their country/region of origin is a by-product of that. Shrimp Tacos in Mexico, Jerk Chicken in Jamaica, Mofungo in PR...yes please!!!

 

That said, Carnival’s pizza is very good, Guy’s Burger Joint and the Mexican themed restaurant on the pool decks are both great! Carnival buffet is not so great. Edible is probably the best adjective I can come up with.

 

RC Buffet is sufficient to good. Johnny Rockets is...well, Johnny Rockets. If that’s your jam, chow down!

 

Princess is good all around as well.

One of the things that's nice about Oceania is that "country club casual" is the standard in all the restaurants.

I boycott CFA due to their support of anti-LGBTQ organizations so that would sure be a deal breaker for me.

We're booked on Oceania Marina at the end of the year.  One of the reasons is the food.  I'm kinda 'into' food (hate the word "foodie!) and on the half dozen or so cruises we've done the MDR is what I call LCD, lowest common denominator, food.  Nothing awful but little that is all that great either.  From what I've read about Oceania even the MDR dishes are cooked to order.  And the specialty restaurants (culinary director is Jacques Pepin) are sometimes incredible.  And no extra charge for them.  I'm glad to see good comments here.