ToxM

I think thats how it worked

The truth is the bathroom isn’t tiny at all on PH’s on R class, they are fine. PH’s on an R class are a really good size unless you need to host some sort of rave lol

Outside might be a bit cold. Sounds like you are on Virgin metal with Delta codeshare.

If anyone saw what happened to the P&O ship Britannia last week in Palma will understand why they probably don’t want to chance using a gangplank or bridge in a tropical storm. If you don’t know, Britannia’s lines broke, she hit a nearby tanker, a couple of lifeboats were damaged and 300 passengers had to fly home as the ship couldn’t sail at it’s full capacity due to the decreased lifeboat capacity. An abundance of caution is a good thing where Mother Nature is concerned.

Exactly! Your experience of cruising is about to have a paradigm change. So maybe, and please don’t take this the wrong way, but maybe the best way to experience O when you travel on it is to experience it as it is … rather than explain why it should be like the line you just travelled on, before you even travel on it…

No need to order food and drink from an app on O - someone is hovering to help. There’s not a lot of finding to do on an O ship 🙂 the beauty of the line is that the ships arent big. I have my phone with me all the time, I hog the internet on a cruise, I post pics all over social media all the time whilst on a cruise. I am sure if I was ever on a mega ship an app would be great. If they bring one out for O than cool, don’t expect to be able to order a drink or book an excursion from it 🙂

I wonder what percentage of those wanting an O app are cruisers who haven't been on O before? There really isn’t a lot to put in an app, the need to book activities (apart from spa, trips, specialities etc) don’t really present themselves. Anything that could be booked via an app you will have booked in advance anyway. The beauty of O is that it’s pretty laid back. You all need to chill and have a Big O. I realise if you haven’t cruised on O before it can be difficult to envisage just not stressing about things that you may have had to on X or other lines, but you don’t have to. An app with Currents on it and maybe GDR and Terrace lunch and dinner would be nice, but I don’t think O needs an app. Before anyone shouts at me, I work online and have done for the last 20 years, I am as online as one can get.

I cannot wait til you have been on your first cruise with O.

Exactly the problem we had with the connecting cabin.

Are you in a connecting cabin? We have only had this problem with a connecting cabin (not on Vista, on Marina).

While I don’t think O needs an app, I will gladly accept one over certain CD’s need to do 5pm storytime with the evening’s activities - something I find tiresome and annoying.

O buffets and the lack of self service has always been very nice (and sensible), I really haven’t noticed any changes, apart from the sticky bins, and that is a loss I can take if everything else is the same 🙂 I was very sad about the sticky buns, but I live in hope they will rise phoenix like from the ashes.

This does bring up a good point - shuttle buses used to pretty much guaranteed at each port - this isn’t always the case. Simply More should at the very least offer a HOHO or an on your own trip to major port stops in addition to their more curated tours. As it is I can see they seem to be offering more private vans etc - they should offer people the chance to make a small party for these maybe. Just ideas, but I know that I am not really into the vast majority of curated tours O offer.

I’d agree with you, but then we would both be wrong 🙂

Have a fabulous time!

Over Christmas Marital Unit and I were on Riviera. I caught a cold, a terrible streaky blue urge cold. I did two tests a day to make sure it wasn’t covid. Sauna and steam room twice a day and the shed full of OTC medication I bought with us dealt with it, but I know I would have stayed in the cabin if I had tested positive. I think it was particularly bad because I hadn’t had any sort of illness in over two years - because marital unit and I are considered at high risk for covid potentially so we have been very careful. If people are wandering around with covid, or think they have a right to be doing so then it’s really sad.

The new Eris strain, plus going into Autumn and Winter is going to change the covid landscape once again. Eris is apparently incredibly transmissable, this means everything we have flung away from us with gleeful abandon will have to be relearned until the spring probably. Anyone travelling is going to have to buckle (and you should mask) up and deal with what could possibly happen. Please be aware of what your chosen cruiseline says will happen if you test positive, be a responsible traveller, be prepared to isolate if you are positive and be mindful in crowded situations. Everyone here is almost certainly a grown up, time to act like it. Can you imagine if OP had decided not to act like an adult and had instead carried on as if nothing was wrong and told people “it’s just a cold”. Possibly the most selfish act possible - especially in a confined area with a demographic that could include people who would be at risk from getting severe symptoms of covid? Doesn’t bear thinking about. If you do feel like you can just carry on - don’t put others into a situation you wouldn’t put your elderly asthmatic granny in. You could be causing great harm - even death. I doubt anyone would want that on their conscience, and if they don’t care, then I am aghast.

Prickly pears all over this thread. Food is subjective. I will weep with happiness at the turkey and mash on embarkation day in The Terrace because it is IN The Terrace on embarkation day. it’s probably not the best turkey and mash, but it is MY turkey and mash on embarkation day. The hot sticky buns have deteriorated since the heady pre covid days and I weep with sadness at their slide towards oblivion. The pancakes in the GDR at breakfast are perfection to my eyes because I rarely get to eat American pancakes for breakfast. I have had an experience with Halloumi in The Terrace that made me want to jump over the counter and teach the griddle chef what to do with that heavenly baconcheese marvel. The fish and chips were a sadness that Marital Unit has disavowed from experiencing on O ever again. The Eggs Benedict give me goosebumps because I love them so much. I discovered the Cuban sandwiches last cruise and even though they aren’t particularly authentic I really like them. The magician on Sirena who was making the most gorgeous pizzas at The Terrace was magical and I worshipped at his altar every day. I am sure everyone who has experienced these things on O will have 360 degrees of different opinions. I think for me it’s all pretty good, better than I have experienced on other lines.

Hospitality staff in the UK generally don’t rely on or are taxed by expected tips. Just because your culture demands it, doesn’t mean it is widespread throughout the world. We tip, or pay the service charge. I am in the UK.

Yeah, that is a bit naughty, we stayed in the club level last time and had snackettes there.

I know at least one other person on here orders starters from specialities in lieu of evening canapés in their suite then go and enjoy dinner in their desired location…you would just receive them a bit later than the normal canapé service.

Perfect, I take it you are doing BA as the Sofitel is T5 (nicely connected to the main terminal). What hotel are you in on South Beach? We stayed at The Betsy in January and it was lovely. 15 mins tops from the port. Honestly I thought cruising from Miami was going to be a nightmare, but it really wasn’t, specially as the O terminal is nice and small. Have a fab cruise!

Sorry to hear about your experience. The new Eris variant is taking a toll in the US and the UK, infection numbers are creeping up. People have short memories.

Fort Lauderdale isn’t well represented directly from the UK, so MIA is probably the best option for OP. Indirect is a bit of a trek and a very long travel day so I would advise against it unless the end point really needs a plane change - for example I used to go to Vegas twice a year - indirect was a bit of a pain unless you went to LAX as a change; anywhere else east of Vegas resulted in a much smaller and more uncomfortable plane for four hours or so after an already probably 9 hour transatlantic flight. LAX is 1 hour after an 11 hour trip to LAX. Getting to Fort Lauderdale would probably add another 5 hours to a trip that can be done in 9 hours direct. Flying in the day before is really the only option from the UK unless you enjoy very high stress levels. I do agree about the AirTags been using them a while. MIA to the Intercontinental Hotel is around 10 mins, Intercontinental to port is less than 10 mins. I’d always go direct 😉

It’s a dark art, I had a bad experience, and learned from it. I suppose I would do a try again IF it was a very very good late deal, but apart from that not worth the gamble, I am a pot odds kinda girl.