Mura

Personally, I wouldn't risk it so soon.  Heard a prediction on some news program to day that this situation could last for months if not years. I would like to think that the supporters of Ukraine would work faster to minimize the danger and damage, but that's jut a wish.

But also I wouldn't go to these countries in the summertime ... although we have spent a fair amount of time in Portugal in August, but it was always in the north.  Lisbon should be fine ...

JMO

You brought up something that had not occurred to me before.  We usually like to share tables, but clearly in this climate that is probably not advisable.  We are happy with late reservations, so that wouldn't be a problem.  Then again, the GDR has had large tables suitable for 8 people that probably with social distancing would work for 4 ... assuming they want to accommodate passengers in this way.

It probably doesn't matter (regarding us) since we don't intend to travel until Covid is even more reduced.

Mura

I wish I could be of help.  We have been in a couple of Vistas on Marina but we didn't sit out there very much on either cruise.  Usually we would walk out and stand at the railing for a while but not too long.

Remember that many people complain that the balconies on forward suites are inconvenient to use because of wind.  That won't apply, of course, to port visits. 

I was using a wheel chair when we were in an OS on Regatta, but that was many years ago.  And of course that was an OS on one of the smaller ships so irrelevant to your question.

Mura

On 3/21/2022 at 6:57 PM, LuAnn said:

Oh no...I just can not believe this! We sailed with Paul and Marsha on several O T/As and were lucky enough to be on the same Trivia team.  I had emailed him with questions for years re flights etc and he was always so helpful and kind. He helped me by giving me information about gaining points with branded credit cards for hotels as well. And even hosted a "mini seminar" on board about these subjects for myself and other CCers. 

 

Right before I logged onto the O forum I was trying to remember if I had written Paul to tell him my DH Kenneth passed away on 3/3. Imagine my shock in seeing the title of this thread. You were just the best Paul. Thank you and you and Kenneth start planning your next cruise in the sky. 

LuAnn, our sympathies to you as well!!  It has to be even harder for you to see this news since you just lost Kenneth.  Hugs to you,

Mura

In the early days of Oceania I discovered a high school acquaintance who was on our cruise.  They had used O's air from L.A. to -- well, Europe.  I think the departure port may have been Dover since we initially headed up to Norway.  Anyway, there were weather problems and they were MOST frustrated because they had no help from O in getting a new flight.

They ended up arriving in Oslo rather than Dover.  (Yes, as I recall they had planned on leaving the U.S. in time to arrive the next day at the port which was probably their first mistake.)

She and her husband were recovering alcoholics so they didn't appreciate the champagne that Oceania offered as an apology.  But when they couldn't use the champagne, Oceania wouldn't give them something non-alcoholic.

As I said, this was many years ago and I like to think that Oceania would handled their problem differently today.

On 3/19/2022 at 11:12 AM, pinotlover said:

With the installation of this new rule, I believe it is now therefore madness to plan flying in on the same day of Embarkment. Flight rescheduling and outright cancellations are now so common place, even in the U.S., it’s just down right stupid to risk everything on an  Embarkment Day arrival. 
 

Ancedotal, a group of us, from around the country, were meeting up in Charleston, SC early in the month for the Charleston Food & Wine Festival. Two couples didn’t make the opening night festivities ( which I believe is the best event) because of flight issues. We purposely came in a day early, but got in 2 hours later than planned. If getting to Charleston is that difficult, how do you consider Istanbul, Athens, or Copenhagen? 
 

As perhaps a side issue, with the combination of this new Oceania policy and the current flight mess, I find it reprehensible that Oceania continues to charge deviation fees for flying in early. Grasp this. One opts for Oceania Air, they get in late and miss the Embarkment, and then has their cruise cancelled because they can’t join it at the second port! You took Oceania Air why???

For us it was ALWAYS madness to fly in on the day you board the ship. On our first Ren cruise (Lisbon to Barcelona) we planned on spending a few days in Lisbon, already one of our favorite cities.  We booked our own air since we planned on a couple of days there pre-cruise.  Once on board we heard nightmare stories from other passengers who'd used Ren's free air.  The flight arrangements -- especially for people who were flying from non-direct ports -- were awful.  Then on our next cruise (Dover-Stockholm) again we flew in early and saw shell-shocked passengers arriving at our hotel while we were having breakfast.

Since then it has never occurred to us to fly in on the day of departure ... without even considering what happens if there are flight delays and you might miss the ship EVEN with ship-sponsored flights.

Agree with you about the deviation fees ... especially since they have vastly escalated since our first Renaissance cruise in October 1999.  I can't say we have NEVER used a deviation flight, but it's very rare ... for us.

Mura

I can't recall ever having been on right by elevator or stairs (although on occasion we've been close) BUT our first two cruises on Renaissance (remember them?) were on the R2.  We were directly opposite the laundry rooms on Deck 7.  Never heard any noise.

On the second cruise I happened to open our door and discovered maybe a dozen people congregating in the hall as if it were cocktail hour.  They were all waiting for their laundry to be done and chatting away.  We didn't hear anything at all until I opened the door.

Now, the ships were a lot newer back then ... Don't know if that would be a factor to consider.

Mura

Things do change, especially when a pandemic hits the scene.

It's been several years since we did a B2B (on Marina, I think) and we did have the private lunch for continuing passengers in the GDR.   Perhaps there were too many of us to fit in one of the specialty restaurants???

It was delightful.  Much better than having to leave the ship and then come back!  For the record, we were in a European port (don't ask me which one, though).

Mura

We did Mont St. Michel on a self-drive trip (after visiting Normandy) and indeed it was a highlight.  This was many years ago, before my knee surgery (not replacement).  I didn't think I was going to make it to the top, but then I saw I was almost there so I forged onward and upward.

Today I'm doing a Context virtual tour online ... haven't watched yet but hope to soon.

It's easier when you do it as we did, in that we spent the night in a local hotel and then drove to the site.  So we had as much of the day as we wanted to spend there ... which was most of it!

As Jan said, there are lots of shops on the way up so that you don't have to do it all in one shot!

Mura

I don't check in that often these days since we are NOT traveling yet ... but was shocked and saddened to see this news.  I never met Paul but we did correspond every so often, and I always appreciated his generous posts.  Gentle journey, Paul.

On 3/8/2022 at 2:28 AM, Jancruz said:

I love the new itin..the extra time in those places is fantastic..

Jancruz1

 

I agree with Jan.  While I would miss St. Petersburg (and any other russian ports) extra time in Stockholm and CPH is always welcome.  When we did the Baltic cruise (on Ren way back when -- had breakfast with Jan and Stu at our hotel in Stockholm) we overnighted in St. P, but only had day ports in Stockholm and CPH. And we'd welcome Gdansk as well. And totally agree about visiting the Vasa Museum.

When we were there, we discovered that across the street from the Vasa was a wonderful folk arts museum just opposite.  Well worth a visit there as well if you have the time.

Mura

It's several years since we were in a shower on a Renaissance ship.  We had accepted a downsell for enough money to pay for a Vista suite on our next cruise.  I think this was in 2017.

What surprised me was that I always had objected to the showers on the R ships but on this cruise I wasn't bothered. Back then it was still the curtain.

I'm short and overweight but didn't have a problem with the shower back then.  A six footer probably would.  But many tall people use the showers in the gym ...

Mura

All of this reminds me why we have decided not to cruise for quite a while ...

I do miss them though!  I will be very happy when Covid is NO longer a problem ... we are fully vaccinated but these testing requirement are enough to make us postpone any travels.

Mura

It's 20 years since we were there on a cruse and we had no trouble booking a private tour for two couples.  But that was then.  In the Caribbean we have often hired cars at the port ... don't know what it's like these days, though.

Good luck!

Mura

We have been traveling in suites in recent years and generally have pre-paid tips included in our fare.

But even so we generally tip extra in cash to our cabin staff depending on the service.  We always give something. And we tend to be generous by OUR standards.  I can't give specifics, however!

I can't remember a time when we were unhappy with the cabin stewards and the butler.

Trying to remember what I wanted to comment on ...

As to pizza, I never saw deep dish on the ships and while the pizza was not my favorite pizza ever, we found it very acceptable.  We don't have it often, however.

I remember on I think it was our first Oceania cruise, way back when they were new.  This was probably Regatta (formerly the R2 on Renaissance).  We spoke with the "pizza guy" who had worked in Italy at a pizza place.  He told us then that it wasn't really possible to get the proper heat for the pizza that you could get in a real pizza place. That was many years ago so I don't remember the details of what he said!  I did go back to my various trip diaries but couldn't find if I made a comment about what this guy said, so I'm going back with my memory to 2004 ... but I'm very sure that he said that on the ship they just cannot gave the high heat oven they need for REAL pizza, but beyond that I do not really recall,

So, as I said at the outset, we found it acceptable ... but definitely not our favorites.

MUra

Re a tour from Marseille to Aix, a few years ago we booked a private tour (with 3 or 4 other couples) to Provence which drove through Aix on the way back to the ship.  If you have a roll call, see if you can find others to share a private tour.  I did not arrange the tour myself (although I have frequently done so).  The outfit we used was privateshoretrips.com. Our guide was excellent and we had a lovely day.  I'm sure they could arrange a tour to Aix as opposed to what we did.  We'd already spent several days in Aix on an earlier trip so we were looking for something else.

On 2/27/2022 at 2:19 PM, LHT28 said:

we enjoyed our stop in Svalbard 

we had booked a private tour with our friend but the tour guide  was a no show  so we just enjoyed the town & went to their museum there  it was well worth the price of admission

 

 

That's exactly what we did when we were there, and for the same reason.  REALLY enjoyed the museum.

MURA

I'm probably being repetitive because I just skimmed through the posts.  We love 11080 and 11083 on Marina/Riviera.  We love the view from the stern.

It's true that the second bath does NOT have a shower (as opposed to the Deck 12 OC suites) but we still prefer to be there,  Well, for us, we don't need a second shower.   But the second bathroom IS a plus. I would prefer having the VIsta exercise room to the media room that you have with the OCs but it's not a big deal for us. In fact, we use the media room as a storage room for extra bags, purchases, etc.

And we were never bothered with noise from above.  But that is US.

Mura

I have to admit that Oceania's ships have disappointed me in the past because of the small walking track.  When we were on the QE2 and also on NCL's GEM both had long walk-arounds available.  I used them ... I never have used the small walking track on O's ships.

Just my opinion!  I liked knowing that 3 rounds on the QE2 was a mile (or whatever it was).  My recollection is that the GEM's path was shorter -- both of these cruises were a long time ago so I don't remember the specifics. But both were far better than what O's ships have offered.

In addition there was less traffic ...

Mura

What we have always done in this situation:

Order dinner into the suite!!

We pack after dinner is over and put our bags out in the hall.  We haven't always made it by the "ordered out time" but never had a problem.  Then again, we didn't wait until 3am to put our suitcases in the hall!

We make sure to reserve clothing for the next morning and our carry-ons.  The former came from a very amusing commentary from our first cruise director on Renaissance when he mentioned having to wear two t-shirts when leaving the ship since he'd forgotten to leave out appropriate clothing for departure.  We never believed the story, but it was amusing ... and a warning.

It's so much easier to pack the last night when you have the option to dine in the suite.  I urge that you do so.  Maybe it's too late to give this suggestion ...

Mura

22 hours ago, HiFi43 said:

Mura…to each his own preferences….we like the 12th level Oceania’s better because of the ease of access (we like bringing closer to the action…we don’t have to go all the way to the rear of the ship). We like the separate TV room because one of us can read and one watch TV, a movie or listen to music without interfering with the other. Also we love the large deck on the side on the 12th level.

 

With the Vista the exercise room is nice but we tend to go to the larger exercise space near the spa because we like the extra equipment and the classes. I guess we are more motivated to exercise when others are exercising around us…go figure.

I absolutely agree:  we all have different preferences.  I will NEVER say you are wrong to have a differing opinion from mine!

PH suites are nice, OS is better ... in OUR opinion.  Yes, it's more expensive and you have to decide if the extra price is worth it for you.  But lately when we can, we opt for the OS.  Liked our VS options as well but in general prefer the OS -- assuming we can get one of the Deck 11 suites.

Me too.  We have preferred the Deck 11 Oceania Suites ... love the large deck and the wonderful view.  Others prefer the Deck 12 OS.

We didn't use our deck much on the two times we were in a VS.  Not because of wind, as many have complained.  Not sure why ...

We don't find the video room on the Oceania Suites much use at all.  So in that regard we prefer the big TV in the living room with the Vistas.

Despite some of these quibbles, we in general prefer the Deck 11 OS.  Haven't been in one on Deck 12 yet.  Given that we love the view from the rear of the ship, I'm not sure what we'd think about these.

Mura

Dan, I won't go so far as to describe the new ship as appropriate for a prison or psych ward, but I do confess that I was disappointed in the new decors.  Not enough to avoid the ship (!) but still .... not what I would prefer.

But they never asked me so they were free to proceed as they wished!  😀

I'll have to wait until I actually board to discuss dining venues ...

Mura