What A Market

Good afternoon from the Good Ship Riviera.

Nothing to really post, so just some random comments.

This is our second consecutive sea day on our way to St. Kitts. We have a ship’s excursion tomorrow afternoon. I think I booked a caterman/snorkeling excursion.

Captain’s party last night was fun. Sat at the bar in the Horizons lounge and chatted with some fun people. Also seated next to us was a person who probably had imbibed a bit too much. Not overly unruly by the standards of a bar, but I guess a tad over the line for a ship’s bar (or at least an Oceania ship’s bar — lol). Two security officers engaged the person. The only part of the conversation I heard was their suggestion that the person go eat something. Nothing more came from the exchange, but the security officers stood nearby until the person wandered off. 
 

Wi-Fi continues to function pretty well. At least for everything other than streaming. 
 

Bar staff around the pool circulate fairly often. You won’t go thirsty, particularly once you’re on their radar.

11 hours ago, mbiggers said:

So, you're not a pedicure person.  Maybe Mrs. What a Market is familiar with them. The spa chairs for pedicures are large chairs that look like theater seats with a basin attached in front to soak your toes.  They have a faucet and a drain, so the nail person fills it up and then drains it when finished.  The problem with them for me is that bacteria grows down inside the drain, so even if they wash them out, they aren't really clean.  I only go to places that have basins.  Thanks for your respone.

I’ll swing by the Spa and check it out. 
I’ve had a manicure before, but never a pedicure. After your description of the attached basins, I doubt I’ll ever give it a try. 🤮 

Last night was dinner in Red Ginger. It has been too many years since our last opportunity to try this specialty restaurant. Love the whole routine of the chop stick presentation and the tea service. (Although we wait until the end of the meal to order our tea.)

I had the vegetable tempura, the tuna tataki, the watermelon and duck salad as starter courses. For the entree I had the miso sea bass. All were as good as I remembered. 

Morning Two’s first cappuccino in Baristas. Winds still high. Seas running a little less high. 

The Time Out table. (Or maybe better: the Time’s Up table.)  I did not see it in use today, but truthfully, I didn’t pay attention. I just noticed now. Unattended items are placed on the table. No comment on items sitting here on the naughty table. (Another term for the table…..)

I can say that The Chair Hoarders (“Hogs” is such an ugly word — Ha!) we’re up before 7:00AM. This even before the pool crew had gotten out the lounge covers and towels.

Some food picks from last night. Not many. I’ll do better tonight (maybe) for our dinner at Red Ginger. 
 

Last night at GDR. Sea bream for my main. Skin was perfectly crisp, but the fish was hammered. Still pretty tasty. Went up to Terraces after because we passed on dessert. Sampled some sushi  rolls. Very tasty. 

Onboard now. Definitely doesn’t seem cool. Stairwells actually seem warm.

DW always takes light sweater to restaurants. Last night she walked into The Grand Dining wearing her sweater and then promptly took it off when we were seated. 
 

30 minutes ago, LakeRooseveltBrews said:

 

@loriva  we did not do the B2B (unfortunately).  We are in the middle or repairs to our Hurricane Ian damaged home and didn't feel like we should be gone for 20 days (10 days was about what we thought would be OK).    Also, DH has jury duty scheduled for right after our return and we didn't think they'd take kindly to using "going on an extended cruise" as a good excuse. 🙂  

 

We will be going to one trivia session this afternoon.  The evening one is during our Red Ginger reservations, so we'll miss that one.  We will report back in on how trivia was later.  

See you at trivia this afternoon as well as Red Ginger. As you note, definitely high winds today. 

I can confirm what ORV stated above, at least on (a) this cruise, (b) this dining venue, and (c) this wine steward. Last night in The Grand Dining Room, the wine steward did not take our cards until the end of the meal. We didn’t have them out on the table either.  It took a bit for our first glass of wine to arrive (moments after first course arrived), but after that the wine steward appeared often for refill. And always before glass was dry.

The wine stewards all appeared to be hustling the butts off during this dinner service.

Here’s a couple of photos from the food and munchie offerings at Baristats  in the morning.

15 minutes ago, loriva said:

@What A Market-- Who is the CD on your cruise?  Realize that you are an experienced O traveler, but did you notice in the Currents if there is a reception for those new to Oceania?  (We've had those with other lines, just curious if O also does them.)

Hi loriva 

All I’ve got right now (from Currents) is a first name: Cruise Director Steve.

Eventually I’ll come up with last name, unless someone beats me to it.

Scanning Currents again (Currents being the daily newsletter with activities, restaurant hours, etc), I don’t see anything about a reception for new cruisers. This evening is the Captain’s Cocktail Celebration (pretty lofty title for this event — lol). This is where they roll out free cocktails from 5:45 to 8:00.  Even new cruisers are welcome. 😆 

57 minutes ago, mbiggers said:

Hi What a Market and DW, I have a weird question about the spa. Do they use the big spa chairs for pedicures or portable basins? I’d like to schedule a pedicure but don’t trust the sanitation of the spa chairs. 
Thanks!

Michele

Well, as with InsGuy3’s question, you have me stumped.

Not sure what “big spa chairs” you are referring to. My photo?

If you mean from my photo, then No. Those are only for waiting around for your spa appointment.

30 minutes ago, InsGuy3 said:

Does Riviera provide a hotspot for the Pressreader app for newspapers and magazines? It’s fun sometimes to read the foreign newspapers that are in English. Just curious. 

Boy, that’s a new one for me.  I don’t think there is a special hotspot for this. Each room is given the ability to create a log on to the ship’s Wi-Fi. There is an upgrade (cost) for higher speed for streaming.  I’m using ship’s basic Wi-Fi package. Seems ok mostly for posting (including photos) to Cruise Critic, getting to my office emails, and reading online stories like google news.

15 minutes ago, Carol28 said:

May I ask what time did you go to the port and did you take the tunnel or the bridge? Last time we went to Miami port it was awful getting to an RCCL ship, but I understand that Oceania port is on the south side of the port and should be an easier access. Is that accurate?

Hi Carol28

I probably can’t give  fully accurate info here as I’m not that familiar with Miami, but here goes.

Caught our Uber at 10:50AM.  Definitely took a bridge, not tunnel. A number of other cruise ships were visible next to bridge/freeway that we travelled upon.  Made left at some point to drive up to port entrance, which was another left. Terminal J for Oceania was to our right shortly after entering port area. Seemed like all other ships were to the left. Hope that makes sense.

The Unhealthy part of my morning breakfast. (Sorry Celebrity. You lose to Oceania in the hash brown patty contest. 😋)

26 minutes ago, loriva said:

 

What time did it start and when was it finished, please?

They asked people to start gathering at assigned muster station a bit before 5:00PM. It was definitely more than 30 minutes before we were dismissed.

First breakfast at Terrace Cafe.  Photo of my usual starting fare. Photo of Terrace Cafe as well. 8:30AM and not busy. Plenty of seating. First comparison to Celebrity: Oceania’s baguette wins hands down. No contest. (Let the flaming begin….. LOL)

11 minutes ago, loriva said:

@zentand @toolworkerare also scheduled to be on your sailing as part of a B2B prior to the start of our cruise on 20 February.  @LakeRooseveltBrews--did you decide to do a B2B as well?

 

Would love to hear a few more details on the resumed muster drill.  And activities on board--especially trivia.

 

Most of all, we hope everyone enjoys their cruise and we look forward to seeing Riviera ourselves in 9 days!

So the muster drill was exactly the same as pre-Covid. Or at least as best as I can remember. Only difference: You don’t need to bring your life vest. You still go to your assigned muster station, check in your cabin number and then at the designated time the safety instructions are broadcast over the ship. Seemed to take forever to get everyone checked in. Maybe people forgot things are back to “normal” and they had to get to their muster station. 

Stop the presses! The DW joins me before 8:00AM. Lol

A little about last night. Pretty quiet. We did dinner in The Grand Dining room. Small line to get a table, but it moved quickly. DW has Coeliac and Oceania does a good job with managing her gluten free needs. It’s an interesting approach. Nothing is marked on the menu, but the servers always seem very well versed in what to recommend if you have questions. They will always say that they will ask the chef if they are uncertain about a dish.

Other than the first night, Oceania delivers a menu to you the previous evening so you can chose what dishes you want to manage your food allergies. This includes the Specialty restaurants. Kind of a pain to think about dinner and plan ahead of time, but DW is happy they are so conscientious of her needs. 

Here’s a photo looking out the windows from Baristas. I’ve always loved the view from here overlooking the pool. It isn’t as quiet and “comfy” as the Baristas on the R ships, but I prefer the view and the feel of Baristas on the O ships. 

Early morning one begins at my favorite place on ship: Baristas. If you read any of my previous Live posts from past cruises, you know this is where I spend every morning. Usually  for a couple of hours as the Dear Wife slumbers. Love love love espressos! 

Bye Bye Miami!

Two seas days coming — Sweet!!!

Hi ORV!

Great to hear from you. I guess we got lucky today. Took about 20 minutes to get to ship. Would have been faster, but there was all sorts of freeway/ramp construction coming down to port. 

2 minutes ago, CJANDH said:

How was the muster drill?

We’re in the middle of it. 
Really drawn out. 
Fortunately I brought fortification. 

Waiting for massage. Photo of Relaxation area.