oceansandseas

Hattie....glad you posted thread. Something new maybe or I wish I had known this in 2015. I had to go to the naughty room on Queen Victoria to claim my luggage, I think the scissors I had were about 4 cm. They did have points. They were for my needlepoint. They were taken from me and he showed me some little scissors that were the biggest allowed on board. I was not allowed to visit them during the cruise either. They were returned to me the night before we docked.

You are lucky that Oceania allowed you to book the B2B cruise since your cabin was taken for the 2nd cruise. I wanted to book 2 cruises for February 2018, but was not allowed as the same cabin was not available for both cruises. We would have had to move next door, but we were not allowed to book it. Therefore we are just on the first cruise. Moving cabins is not allowed anymore. The reason I was given was that there were too many complaints.

We have moved cabins previously. Four times in total. It has been very difficult to do this even though people say it is easy. They do not send that "hotel roller". One time no one was even available to help. We moved ourselves and it was from a B category to an A category (up 2 floors). The last time the clothes on hangers were moved for us. Everything was shoved into the new closet. My husband's clothes mixed with mine. Everything hanging crooked. We had to take everything out and put it back in correctly.

Many people have told me that it has been done for them very satisfactorily. Maybe they were in penthouse.

You will get through it though and will enjoy the rest of your cruise.

Two years ago (this was NOT a Cunard ship) there was norovirus on board. Even though I was very cautious, I got that dreaded norovirus. I was quarantined to my cabin for 5 days. Also my husband was quarantined and he was never sick. Room service food (their choice of bland food for both of us) was given for the 5 days.

My insurance nor the cruise line gave me anything in compensation. I did a lot of writing but the answer was always NO. Therefore, I would say that you save your time and energy as there will probably be no compensation.

Please report back to let us know whether or not compensation was given. Thanks

Sorry about your sister getting the flu LHT28. However, when you receive a flu shot you are advised that it takes at least 2 weeks for the flu vaccination to become effective. You can get the flu within the first 2 weeks after having the flu shot.

Last cruise on Riviera I asked in the casino and was told that I could not use non refundable OBC in the casino.

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https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...aen|171120|bnr

Lynn.....this sale is only for flights on Tuesday and Wednesday. Not good days for my cruise. Thanks anyway.

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Thanks for the replies. Makes me feel better. Since the box is always there when I book a flight, I thought these codes were given out more readily. I guess not.

Yes, I have found good prices, but not for flights that I want. As mentioned, Toronto to Denver does not help with a cruise. lol Flights to Miami in February are at a top dollar and if we want to cruise, we must pay them, or drive.

Thanks again.

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Booking flights for our cruise. Flying Canada to Miami. Probably flying AA or WestJet. There is always a place to put in a Promo Code, but I do not know how to get one.

Have signed up on both of these websites (and a few others I have looked at) to receive emails. They send emails but the prices are always the same.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

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Yes Carolyn, Keith is very familiar with Miami hotels because he has taken so many cruises from Miami. I recognize Keith even though I cruise with Oceania and he has his own favourite cruise line.

Keith, you have given lots of information and I will bookmark it for our 2019 winter cruise. I hope others also read it and remember it for when they are staying in Miami. However, the W hotel is booked and paid for and I can not cancel it. Just read the not-so-good reviews after. As long as it is clean and the linens are fresh, it will be ok.

Carolyn, after booking I went to google maps and "put the yellow man out on the street" and went towards Brickell Village. I am glad that you mentioned that Whole Foods was just across the river. Went looking again and found it quite easily. I went to their web page and it looks good. I will go there. Also B Bistro across the street. I have never been to a bakery that sold beer (which I do not drink).

Thank you Keith and Carolyn for helping. We have cruised from Miami often, but we always stayed at a hotel near the airport. This is the first time exploring downtown Miami.

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We were in an extended balcony on Riviera in Jan or Feb 2016 and 2017 and the loungers were there when we arrived. Lucky enough to get one of those cabins again this year and sure hope that loungers are available. Those extended B3's used to be B4's before the loungers were added.

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We usually fly from Toronto to Miami 2 days before our cruise. Like staying at Hampton by airport, but thought we could stay downtown this year. Our daughter always bids on Priceline and gets a good hotel when going places in the US. She is always saying that I should try it.

This year I did and asked for 5 star downtown. I was given the W Hotel. Fairly good price, but after reading all of the reviews about this hotel, I am wondering if this was a good decision. Seems like the pool is under construction. We were looking forward to spending time at the pool before our cruise. No breakfast like at the Hampton and does not seem to have places around to get a breakfast. I know the hotel has a restaurant, but any time we have eaten at a restaurant at a hotel it has been overpriced and not that good. I am worried that we will not like it. Reviews are bad.

Has anyone stayed at this hotel or heard of it. It used to be the Viceroy.

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DH and I are silver with Oceania which means that we get complimentary gratuities. The 14 day cruise that we have booked included prepaid gratuities. TA is saying that we will only get a credit of $225.00 OBC for the prepaid gratuities booking offer and not the full amount of the price of the gratuities.

Is this the way it is usually done? What have others received? Thanks for any replies.

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Sorry, crossing of November 2016

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On our double crossing on Queen Mary 2 November 2017, we never did receive a survey after returning home, even though it was mentioned on board. I did check junk.

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Just curious LHT28.....I remember you saying that you booked with a US TA. When you do this, can you still get the Canadian Specials? I am Canadian. Just happened to think of this while reading your above post.

Carol....I wish I knew how to get 12% rebate. I will ask if I am ever on a cruise with you. lol

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Have never, ever heard of this, nor have I ever seen this on Cunard. Highly unlikely also I would think.

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Last year when on Riviera, there was a jigsaw puzzle on one of the tables in the games room. That is the small room beside the computer area. That is probably where you find the boxes of jigsaw puzzles. People set them up in different places. Light was not that good in that room. If puzzles are not there, ask at the reception desk.

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Last year when we were on Riviera in February, there was no longer dancing before the show. Only in Horizons. Usually a group of 2, 3, 4 or 5 playing pop songs. This is the band that plays on deck when we sail away. They play for about an hour around noon each day around the pool also.

The show band had 2 nights that they played in Horizons in the late evening. However, on those nights, the singers stood in the middle of the dance floor with their mikes as they sang. Not much dancing.

Not a cruise line for ballroom dancing. I believe you would call it social dancing.

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Thanks jelayne....quite a journey but I found it. Only a white page opened in the Standard drink package. I am not sure if the TA includes Standard or Classic drink package. DH is ok with Classic. Was surprised to see Baileys was in Premium. Will find something else to drink. Thanks.

Just looking into taking our first cruise with Celebrity. Was wondering about the question of Classic drinks. I looked, but cannot find the menu and prices for drinks on the Celebrity site. Please advise what I am doing incorrectly.

Thanks.

HelloKittysMum.....on which ship Cunard ship did you dine at "smokehouse"? Where is it located?

There is a rather large and heavy cook book that has been published that contains recipes from Oceania . Probably has Jacques Pepin in title. I know that it was given as a gift for some cruises about 4 years ago. Not for the cruise I was on though. Might be available in book stores. I am sure that every ship has one in their library. The recipe will probably be in that book.

The way it is done is what Cunard does not like. One is to take a clean cup or glass and fill it from the dispenser and then pour it into their personal container. Yes, people do put beverages right into their containers from the spigot. I have showed the sign to some and they just keep doing it. Oh well. I try.

Thanks. I will try lots of different things rather than High Volume Oceania Cruise travel agents. With the Canadian dollar so low, I try everything that I can so that I can cruise more.

DH and I had a sheltered balcony, think it was deck 4. This was NY - SOU - NY last November. First time and we enjoyed it. Did not feel dark at all. Very windy on Promenade but we were able to go out on our balcony as we were protected from the wind. Not for long though as it was also cold on the North Atlantic in November.

I would book it again. Half of the time there is no sun on your balcony anyway. On sheltered balcony you can stand at the railing and enjoy the sea and look right down the side to the water, as mentioned in one of the above posts. If you want to sit in the sun, you can go to upper deck.