pinotlover

This is what I did for our June Vista cruise. My TA booked it for me even though nothing shows on the website site.

Last two days here on Marina all crew has mandatory masking. The buffet lines in the Terrace has been wrapped up tight. Cruisers have been forced to ask for food again. No sticking one’s arm under the shield and pointing and grunting. Nothing can be touched by the passengers. This should always be the case imo. Covid is rampant abroad. A healthy percentage of guests are now under mask. Lots in quarantine. Coughing and hacking so prevalent in public areas, many are just hiding in their cabins. The ship should have done mandatory Covid testing for all passengers several days ago to get this under control. To address an above comment, I’ve repeatedly heard fellow passengers say” I’m not going to Medical and shell out $1000 and possibly be locked down for a week!” Every time I read certain posters talking about Oceania’s sophisticated travelers it starts a gag complex. This cruise is missing a third port tomorrow. Lots of very unhappy cruisers. From responses, a lot more cruises are going to be cancelled after this cruise than have been booked aboard. The OCA hasn’t seen much business. The Captain flippantly cancelling ports has created some very strong ill feelings.

We boarded Marina on 2/27. The cost to upgrade from the OLife Drinks package to the Premium Package is $30/day. There is no 20% discount on La Reserve dinners on an upgraded package, only on an original purchased Premium Package.

Chile changed the rules for entry two days before our boarding in Buenos Aires. Everyone entering the country must be vaccinated and boosted or have a negative test within 48 hours. Oceania required everyone to either show their vaccination cards upon boarding or be tested at the dock since most were unaware of the new requirements before departure from the States. Some had foolishly left the cards at home believing they weren’t needed. The cost for the test , at the dock, at the dock was $100 each. They were again required to be tested before entry into Chile while aboard ship within 48 hours of Chilean entry. Cost aboard ship, $250.

I booked it about 6 months ago, before the price hike. I believe it was around $120+ grats. It’s now $180 all in. You asked a subjective question, but it is an outstanding evening. The food and wine quality surpasses that of the old Connisuer (sp) Dinner that was higher priced.

Last night, we did the new Bourgeoisie Dinner in La Reserve. They gave Pepin credit for the original menu but plainly said they had “ moved on” from his recipes. The new menu is fantastic and far far superior in both food and wines presented to the original menu. I’m guessing Jacques has a date stamp even on the O ships.

If the ship opts to have 6:00 shows, that would be fine. However, it should be announced well in advance, before Specialties reservations are made. If this change turns a ship in ghost ship by 8:30, it will be a bad change. Past CD’s have discussed this before.

To eliminate any potential issues, after completing cruise #9, have your TA to have Oceania issue you a new invoice for cruise #10. By doing so, all of your new Silver benefits should be clearly displayed. This has eliminated issues for people in the past.

If I couldn’t dress appropriately for an occasion, I wouldn’t go. At the Captain’s Reception, drinks are also free, and appetizers provided In Martinis. The CD always announces it. The decision to show up under dressed is a personal one.

But it may well have impacted those people routinely posting here that sign up for the infamous 10:00 flight out of MIA to wherever. I bet I’ve seen 50 posts from people, over the past 5 years, wanting to know if the should ( or should have) booked that flight. You might be surprised at the number of responses telling them it’s fine, NO problem.

On the Marina NOW, 3/3/23. ALL shows are starting at 9:15, which iss change from my Oct/Nov cruise when they started at 9:30. Things change! 🥂

Let’s remember than the Air Dept is a profit center for O. If this change in policy drastically increases the number of guests utilizing O’s Air, it will obviously more than offset the loss of the $175 deviation fee.

This has to be true! 🤗 Just look at all the 20 & 30 year old lovely women hanging out with old 70+ year old geezers! 😳. Has to be the stimulating sophistication FF refers to ! 😂 If you’ve got the money honey; I’ve the time!! Who’s your Daddy? Where does Daddy want to go? 🥴🥂

I don’t think the cost of the experiment justifies the probability of outcome. Brenda Lee shows in the Lounge. Perry Como, Anne Murray, and when they go mod some 70s music around the pool! Let the young ladies be young and enjoy the company of their peers on cruise lines that cater to their age group.

When we opt to eat at the buffet, we typically go around 7:00-7:15. We often meet people ( even at 7:00) that have snorkeled and are leaving as we enter. The perfect venue for those that like to “eat and get it over with “. Some rave about the venue.

Our current Mods refuse to do stickies. This is a perfect example of a topic that should be.

To many variables here. Most of us don’t live in SF or NYC and pay $1+million for an efficiency apartment. 🙄. So comparing what drinks costs there versus elsewhere doesn’t really matter. At question here is the cost of ship well drinks and call drinks ( significant difference in price) versus upper class bars in most major cities ( not SF, Chicago, or NYC). Many establishments have (1) $7.50 glasses of wine and (2) $15-$20 glasses of wine. Difference in wine quality. Trying to sell 1 at 2 prices draws scorn.

The seagulls keep wiping out ports! 😢 Happening on River cruises also. The seagulls have worn out their welcome. 🥺

I can speak to wine. Some of O’s by the glass selections are not horribly priced. However, some of them quality wise don’t rise to the level of plonk and O still charges aggressive prices. My customers don’t typically bring in as low of quality of wine as Oceania does , but when they do the wines are priced at $6-$8/ glass to appeal to the price sensitive buyer. Significant percentage jump between $8 and $12, especially with an additional 20% added on.

The issue is that airlines typically set their final flight schedules 60-75 days out. That’s when all kinds of crazy things will/can happen to that great itinerary one put together. That’s the time period one needs to check the flight status almost daily. The airline will completely alter the flights and may not actively tell you about it for a week or so.

They have never guaranteed that. December can mean blizzards, ice, and air traffic snarls. Oceania cannot control either the weather or the airline’s response. They don’t hold the ship to wait on you.

We enjoy going to Horizons for Happy Hour, and especially when sail away is during daylight hours. Enjoyed multiple sail aways from that venue. I’ve never understood the band abruptly quitting at 6:00 and walking out. Just playing to 7:00 would be a huge improvement, imo.

What does the hallway have to do with Martinis or Horizons, of which I limited my comment? The quartet is great, but it’s not bar music.

When PCH was acquired by NCL one of the first combination of services was the air department.

Typically, in Martinis, during the questioned time, the CD ( or ass’t CD) takes over and does an evening trivia game. This is popular with some and an abuse of the bar area by others. Either way, you’re not getting music during that time frame in the bar. I find it unfortunate that if one chooses to dine 7:00 and later, Oceania effectively shuts down entertainment in both Martinis and Horizons.