Newbies Finally Booked

[malony33]

We just booked our 1st Oceania cruise (to the Caribbean in Jan., 2011), so now, for all you veterans, here's the first list of questions:

 

1. How much per day are the pre-paid gratuities? Do we have any leeway here?

 

2. Are umbrellas provided?

 

3. Is an iron (and ironing board) available? How about washer & dryer, detergent and softener?

 

4. Can onboard credits be used in: the spa? the casino? for shore excursions? how about toward pre-paid gratuities?

 

5. How's the drawer/shelf space for toiletries and all the "little stuff" we all bring along? Is a hanging bag w/little compartments a necessity/good idea?

 

6. Should I bring my husband?...JUST KIDDING!!

 

I'm sooo excited! Anyone else on the Jan. 2 Regatta Caribbean cruise?

 

Thanks, everyone!

[Debbers]

You will so enjoy your trip! Now, to answer a few of your questions:

 

2. Yes.

3. All are available in the laundry room on Deck 7. There is a charge to use the washer & dryer. Detergent is provided; I brought a few dryer sheets.

4. Yes to all except gratuities; that I don't know.

5. In our Penthouse cabin, we found plenty of space for odds & ends but brought some folding boxes for keeping them organized on shelves. There was a surprising amount of storage in the Penthouse bathroom, too.

 

Regatta is lovely...like being in a beautiful, well-run resort hotel, only cozier and friendlier. Enjoy!

[LHT28]

Welcome to Oceania & Cruise critic

 

1)Do you mean you are pre paying gratuities ?

The Gratuities are (i think ) 12.50 pp /pd & if you have a butler an extra $4.00 pp/pd they are added to your shipboard account at the end of the cruise

Yes you can adjust them but why would you:confused:

 

4) not sure about the casino but anything charged to your shipboard account can be deducted from the OBC

If you are pre paying gratuities they are already paid for so no if you just let O add them to your onboard account yes

 

5) in the bathroom there is limited space but I keep some of my stuff in the cupboard with the drawers

6) only if he is good:D

 

enjoy your cruise

 

Don't forget to join your Roll Call just find the ship then the sailing date

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=420

 

Lyn

[JimandStan]

4. Can onboard credits be used in: the spa? the casino? for shore excursions? how about toward pre-paid gratuities?

 

If your onboard credit originated as money that was paid to Oceania, then you may draw against it in the Casino.

 

If your onboard credit originated as a promotion or incentive from Oceania, then you may only use it to purchase goods, to pay for onboard services (including excursions), or for tips.

[Jancruz]

If your onboard credit originated as money that was paid to Oceania, then you may draw against it in the Casino.

 

If your onboard credit originated as a promotion or incentive from Oceania, then you may only use it to purchase goods, to pay for onboard services (including excursions), or for tips.

 

No matter when you withdraw money from the casino there is a 5% surcharge.

Jancruz1

[alexandra cruiser]

of drawers,but closet and hangars ,could be more...also do bring hanging bag for makeup,etc...not a lot of space, and tends to roll around in bathroom with choppy seas....

as far as hubby, ahahaha, yes mine was quite happy and had plenty to do,,he loved the gym area and early AM coffee, I loved the library,alot of NEW books and magazines, plus room service breakfast on balcony....

Bon voyage:D

[CintiPam]

Hi, Malony33,

 

In response to your question 5, we have stayed twice in the smallest cabin spacewise (obstructed E), and once in a B1 veranda cabin, both of which have the same-sized bathroom (small!:D), and we found that between the three triangular-shaped bathroom medicine cabinet shelves, the three triangular-shaped shelves in the corner and the long shelf below the sink, that there was plenty of room for all the toiletries.

 

I did end up using my hanging bag with the little compartments at our pre-cruise hotel in Venice on this last cruise, but not on the cruise itself. I always bring this hanging bag because it efficiently packs most of my toiletries in the suitcase.

 

BTW, I hate the shampoo and conditioner provided and always bring my own.

 

Nice to respond to a post from Toms River, where I grew up and my 92- and 87-year-old parents still live.:)

[malony33]

Thanks to everyone for your helpful, wise, friendly, and funny answers! We've cruised about 15x so we're not new to cruising, just to Oceania.

 

And to my "neighbor": so glad you shared this little nugget! I 'm a life-long TR resident; my entire career in education was with TR Schools; and my son is now a TR police officer!

 

When did you live in Toms River? Did you attend school in TR? If your parents live in one of the senior communities, their driveway has probably been sealed by my husband's company.

 

Small world; hope to hear from you ! :-)

 

If someone tells me I may include my e-mail address, I'll post it on this thread.

[CintiPam]

Thanks to everyone for your helpful, wise, friendly, and funny answers! We've cruised about 15x so we're not new to cruising, just to Oceania.

 

And to my "neighbor": so glad you shared this little nugget! I 'm a life-long TR resident; my entire career in education was with TR Schools; and my son is now a TR police officer!

 

When did you live in Toms River? Did you attend school in TR? If your parents live in one of the senior communities, their driveway has probably been sealed by my husband's company.

 

Small world; hope to hear from you ! :-)

 

If someone tells me I may include my e-mail address, I'll post it on this thread.

 

I lived in Toms River from 1951 (my year of birth!) until 1969, when I graduated from Toms River High School as a proud member of the last graduating class from when TR only had one high school (located just three blocks from my home near downtown TR). The county took my parents' home by eminent domain for county offices, so they moved into Holiday Heights off of Davenport.

 

You can include your address (people spell out the "dot" to avoid spamming issues), but many prefer to save that for their roll calls.

[karen sharpe]

Regatta is a beautifully appointed ship but the spa and the thalassotherapy pool is a major disappointment.

[Mura]

BTW, I hate the shampoo and conditioner provided and always bring my own.

 

 

You hate the shampoo and conditioner??!!

 

And we love it. I think sometimes I book a cruise just because I've finally run out and need more ...

 

A year ago I finally ran out of my last Renaissance-provided shampoo ...

 

I HAVE noticed that suppliers have been changed every so often ... perhaps the shampoo/conditioner you dislike is from an earlier cruise??

 

Heaven forfend it should be what they are using now!

 

Mura

[seatraveler24]

Hello There,

 

My wife and I are also booked for this sailing and from the east coast, as well. We're veteran cruisers but this will be our first Oceania cruise. Take a moment and join our Roll Call. We can chat there while we wait for our sailing. Happy cruising . . . :)