A/C onboard the Insignia

[crabcruiser]

We board the Insignia in Copenhagen on August 10. I wondering what the tempature is like in the public rooms...dining room,lounges, etc. Will I need long sleeves or a jacket or wrap?

I have found that the tempatures vary by ship. Last year on the Azamara there was no need for wraps etc but the year before on the Noordam I nearly froze to death.

[VIRGINIA ARTIE]

Whenever I cruise I always pack a wrap. It will go over anything, and if you don't use it , just put it on the back of your chair.

[newfirsttimer]

If you are cruising the Baltic, you need to have a warm jacket for outdoors, just in case. We were there last August and some days were very cool while others were nice and warm. Very few days for shorts and t's only.

[JimandStan]

Isn't this why the ships have boutiques?

 

They have a nice selection of resort wear, as well as the jewelry and perfumes.

The Logo wear is now VERY good quality!

[CintiPam]

I do not think you will need a wrap, but I always pack a pashmina just in case.

[capecodder2]

We were just on the Insignia and found public rooms comfortable, but I prefer cool to warm so someone else may find them cooler than I do. The staterooms were warmer than I like even with the A/C turned low as possible. Our stewardess took the duvet away - way too hot. Even the light blanket she provided was too warm some nights.

[JimandStan]

We were just on the Insignia and found public rooms comfortable, but I prefer cool to warm so someone else may find them cooler than I do. The staterooms were warmer than I like even with the A/C turned low as possible. Our stewardess took the duvet away - way too hot. Even the light blanket she provided was too warm some nights.

 

We have found the staterooms warm also, but discovered that keeping the curtains closed helped that out a good deal. It's not an ideal solution, but sometimes being cool trumps the view.

 

The AC can be spotty during the wee hours of the morning, but they seem to crank it up around breakfast time.

[BaltiGator]

We were just on the Insignia and found public rooms comfortable, but I prefer cool to warm so someone else may find them cooler than I do. The staterooms were warmer than I like even with the A/C turned low as possible. Our stewardess took the duvet away - way too hot. Even the light blanket she provided was too warm some nights.

 

We have found the staterooms warm also, but discovered that keeping the curtains closed helped that out a good deal. It's not an ideal solution, but sometimes being cool trumps the view.

 

The AC can be spotty during the wee hours of the morning, but they seem to crank it up around breakfast time.

 

Hmm...these posts concern me. We like it pretty darn cold at night while we sleep. In most cabins (and hotel rooms for that matter) turning down the A/C all the way or nearly so does the trick for us. Thanks for these comments - the info is much appreciated. But I'm not liking it.

[juli2020]

Hmm...these posts concern me. We like it pretty darn cold at night while we sleep. In most cabins (and hotel rooms for that matter) turning down the A/C all the way or nearly so does the trick for us. Thanks for these comments - the info is much appreciated. But I'm not liking it.

 

We were on the Regatta last December. Our cabin was quite warm. We were told to keep the curtains closed during the day while in port which did not help much.

[JimandStan]

Hmm...these posts concern me. We like it pretty darn cold at night while we sleep. In most cabins (and hotel rooms for that matter) turning down the A/C all the way or nearly so does the trick for us. Thanks for these comments - the info is much appreciated. But I'm not liking it.

 

We had the same AC issues on the Noordam (when she was brand, spanking new) and the Volendam. You seem to have been happy on those ships, so maybe we are just "hot kids". :rolleyes:

[Rickey 88]

Since the original question referred to the temperature in public rooms - dining, lounges, etc., I once had dinner with a ship's doctor on this same subject.

 

According to him, the ship's "public" rooms are kept on the cool side as this is more comfortable to the majority. Anyone who feels too cool can add a wrap or a sweater and be comfortable. However, if those rooms are too warm, then as the doctor, his services are needed as too many feel uncomfortable.

 

Now, stateroom temperatures are an entirely different matter and should not be a part of this forum.

[BaltiGator]

We had the same AC issues on the Noordam (when she was brand, spanking new) and the Volendam. You seem to have been happy on those ships, so maybe we are just "hot kids". :rolleyes:

 

We like it darn near ice box cold at night and had no issues on the Noordam last year with the thermostat turned all the way down. We haven't sailed the Volendam yet, but I have seen several recent unhappy posts in the HAL threads about malfunctioning room A/C equipment on many of their ships. Not sure if other lines are having this problem too.

 

But on the Insignia and Regatta, it sounds like the room A/C units just may not be capable of lowering the temp in the cabins all that well even when functioning normally...?

[JimandStan]

We like it darn near ice box cold at night and had no issues on the Noordam last year with the thermostat turned all the way down. We haven't sailed the Volendam yet, but I have seen several recent unhappy posts in the HAL threads about malfunctioning room A/C equipment on many of their ships. Not sure if other lines are having this problem too.

 

But on the Insignia and Regatta, it sounds like the room A/C units just may not be capable of lowering the temp in the cabins all that well even when functioning normally...?

 

That is probably true. You'll never get the room icebox cold.

 

I suppose that we should also factor in that the ships are ten years old, and that the engineers who manipulate the system are generally trying to placate an older clientel whose major compaint about AC is how cold it is.

[BaltiGator]

That is probably true. You'll never get the room icebox cold.

 

Well, that's an unhappiness that we will have to factor into our decision making. Thanks so much for your frank and honest assessment.

[HawkeyeCruisr]

We were on the Insignia's Amsterdam to Dover cruise that just ended 7/23 (with capecodder2). The ship went as far north as Gothenburg and Oslo. To address the OP's question: public rooms were not chilly at all and no evening wrap was needed. I wear black slacks and tops with 3/4 sleeves and always pack a pashmina for evenings. On this trip, the pashmina was not used at all.

 

I think Insignia was having some a/c problems in the public rooms as the dining rooms felt a bit on the warm side. One night when we arrived at Polo, the manager was on the phone to maintenance asking for more a/c up there.

[capecodder2]

These ships are on the older side and, as I think someone mentioned, newer ships or larger ships may have more efficient A/C. We have been on 8 O cruises on all 3 ships, in both verandah and penthouse cabins and I have never been able to get the temperature as cool as I like it. I, also, like my sleeping area about 65, no way on these ships. We ask for a light blanket to replace the hot duvet, and hardly need that, it does seem to get warmer in the middle of the night, too. Keeping the drapes closed during the day is a necessity, but doesn't always solve the problem if it is hot outside. You must keep the sliding glass door (if you have one) closed always as well - although in Oslo and Gothenburg we opened the door to cool the cabin down as it was cooler outside. Insignia is going into drydock in November so perhaps we can hope that new technology will improve the A/C system. We love the Oceania product so we will continue to deal with the warm cabins. Maybe the new ships will be cooler.

[Oceans&Rivers]

Hmm...these posts concern me. We like it pretty darn cold at night while we sleep. In most cabins (and hotel rooms for that matter) turning down the A/C all the way or nearly so does the trick for us. Thanks for these comments - the info is much appreciated. But I'm not liking it.

 

I didn't write that, but I could have. I would much rather it be too cold than too warm in public areas and the stateroom.

 

It's very easy to put something on to warm up but quite another to take things off...especially in public rooms. :eek:

[BaltiGator]

I think Insignia was having some a/c problems in the public rooms as the dining rooms felt a bit on the warm side. One night when we arrived at Polo, the manager was on the phone to maintenance asking for more a/c up there.

 

We have been on 8 O cruises on all 3 ships, in both verandah and penthouse cabins and I have never been able to get the temperature as cool as I like it.

 

These continued reports are appreciated. I have to say, it is seriously making us reconsider an Oceania cruise. Admittedly, there are plenty of reports about other cruise ships with A/C problems. But those are operational failures that arise and usually get resolved. This is the first cruise line thread I have seen where pax are more or less acknowledging that throughout the ship the A/C is just not very good even when it is functioning normally. :(

 

Insignia is going into drydock in November so perhaps we can hope that new technology will improve the A/C system. We love the Oceania product so we will continue to deal with the warm cabins. Maybe the new ships will be cooler.

 

I hope you're right about the drydock, although I would think only a very extensive drydock would allow for something as involved as re-engineering a ship's whole A/C system. Who knows, we might come to love the Oceania product too. I'm just not sure we could love it enough to deal with warm cabins at night. I simply won't sleep well under such circumstances.

 

Hmm. Wonder if FDR will consider one of his rare thread appearances to offer some insight and/or reassurance?

[orchestrapal]

These continued reports are appreciated. I have to say, it is seriously making us reconsider an Oceania cruise. Admittedly, there are plenty of reports about other cruise ships with A/C problems. But those are operational failures that arise and usually get resolved. This is the first cruise line thread I have seen where pax are more or less acknowledging that throughout the ship the A/C is just not very good even when it is functioning normally. :(

 

Our experience this April-May on Insignia were that we did, one very warm day, find the air-conditioning lacking. One call to the desk brought an engineer who opened a panel in both rooms and made an adjustment which allowed us to get the suite as cold as you would ever want it. I'm not sure if the cabins on the sides of the ship are as individually controllable as are those on the back of the ship but it would certainly be worth a try to have the adjustment made.:)

[tropicalkerry2002]

I have to say I am someone who is ALWAYS hot. when others are not...co-workers will have lab coats and warm blankets around them, I might say it is "coolish", but wouldn't dream of putting something on over my scrubs.

 

Having said that, I don't ever remember being uncomfortably warm on either of our 2 O cruises, both in the Med, but both were in Sept, Oct. Summer may be another story. We slept with the balcony door open almost every night ( I know, not s'posed to, but the sound of water...WOW!), and were quite comfy.

 

In the restaurants, showroom, etc, I usually had on short sleeve or sleeveless tops, and was fine, while others had wraps, jackets, etc. We too got rid of the duvet, and I required just a sheet, hubby had sheet and blanket.

[Paulchili]

These continued reports are appreciated. I have to say, it is seriously making us reconsider an Oceania cruise. Admittedly, there are plenty of reports about other cruise ships with A/C problems. But those are operational failures that arise and usually get resolved. This is the first cruise line thread I have seen where pax are more or less acknowledging that throughout the ship the A/C is just not very good even when it is functioning normally. :(

 

I have cruised on Oceania 4 times (with 4 more coming). I love my A/C everywhere (at home, in hotels, on the ship).

We have cruised with Oceania in the Med (including Egypt), Baltic, the Equator, Asia, Australia (icluding Darwin - it's always hot & humid there) and I was never uncomfortable or hot any place on the ship.

Note: Not all cruises were on Insignia

[BaltiGator]

Well, it's nice to hear some good things about the A/C too! Thanks all for those comments. Most likely this issue won't be a deal breaker for us to try Oceania, especially since the cruise we are considering is in Sept 2011 and the ambient outdoor temps shouldn't be blistering.

 

On the other hand, if we do take this cruise and find the A/C lacking, it could certainly be a deal breaker for us to ever sail Oceania again. So we'll see...

[opheliaj]

We were on Insignia for two weeks (granted in 2006) and never had an issue with the temperature in either the public rooms or our staterooms. We were traveling with another couple and neither did they have any complaints.

 

I think the suggestion to take a shawl is probably a good one. I'm going to take that bit of advice myself.

[winegirl]

Oceania Insignia--Barcelona to Amsterdam June 27 to July 11--

It was hot at this time of year, especially in southern Spain where it got into the upper 90's.

 

The AC was OK, but we had to have an engineer come in and fiddle with the AC (something about a vent.) We kept it going at max at all times, and closed the drapes if the sun was beating in. Our cabin stewardess also removed the down comforter (!!!!!) and replaced it with a light blanket covered with sheets on both sides. This kept the room as comfortable as could be expected, but when we came back on board, we were just fried from the heat and took showers to cool off.

 

For those of us who are "menopausal," the ship ran a bit warm in this weather. For those who are normally cold, it should be fine but bring a shawl or light sweater.

[CintiPam]

We have found the staterooms warm also, but discovered that keeping the curtains closed helped that out a good deal. It's not an ideal solution, but sometimes being cool trumps the view.

 

The AC can be spotty during the wee hours of the morning, but they seem to crank it up around breakfast time.

 

Maybe this is one area where having the smaller cabin rather than a suite is advantage :p because I found the a/c perfectly responsive to our desires in our cabin on all three cruises, and I am a very overheated person at night (especially these last few years!:)).