The competition goes up a notch

[kiawahdon]

Just my opinion, but the recent reintroduction of the infamous art auctions on the Prestige Cruise Holding ships is an indication that the bottom line is hurting. It it particularly troubling to see Regent bring back Park West the auction house that has been sued six ways to Sunday for their questionable practices. If you have any questions, just google the firm.

[MightyQuinn]

Just my opinion, but the recent reintroduction of the infamous art auctions on the Prestige Cruise Holding ships is an indication that the bottom line is hurting. It it particularly troubling to see Regent bring back Park West...

Art auctions aren't coming back to Regent - Park West never left. Their presence has been a constant source of consternation for Regent cruisers. However, Park West coming to Oceania must be very recent. We were aboard Oceania Riviera just a month ago and not a sign of an art auction in sight.

 

I agree art auctions aren't very consistent with an upscale cruise experience. But then again, neither is bingo!

[excitedofharpenden]

Hi Jade,

 

I noticed they were back on Eclipse in November. Interesting to see, but there's a lot of $$$ in this. So glad Azamara does not offer it. One of the very few things I truly dislike on a cruise, but it can easily be avoided.

Another vote for no art auctions on Azamara.

 

I was on Eclipse last April and no Park West. It was great because the area by the Molecular Bar was a good spot to play cards at the tables there (well used) and in fact they used the space for the Elite Lounge when Michael's Club was flooded by a leak. On Silhouette it was back to normal with that area packed full of art work. As you say there is obviously money in it, but all the bad publicity I have read about Park West does nothing to enhance the image (Mighty Quinn, liked your bingo comment!:)).

 

Phil

[johncb7]

We took 2 cruises on the Journey last September. Lobster was available, one night per cruise in Discoveries. We were not impressed with the loster either time, tastless and chewey. To get decent lobster onboard you need to visit Aquilina and pay $25 per head unless you are in a suite. Having said that the majority of the food onboard was 1st class. Going back again soon for 28 nights so Azamra must be doing a lot right for us. Not sure though about the price increase and free drinks next summer. Would prefer to see a modest price increase, same 50% off excursions and pay for drinks over and above the excellent wines served with lunch & dinner.

[traveler916]

May I ask...is smoking allowed on A in cabins? public areas? Thanks for your help

[midwestchick]

May I ask...is smoking allowed on A in cabins? public areas? Thanks for your help

 

 

:o:o:o:o

Oops...double post...things are slow here again tonight...web problems?

[midwestchick]

May I ask...is smoking allowed on A in cabins? public areas? Thanks for your help

 

 

 

NO! There is a small smoking area on deck 9 close to the pool bar...that's it. I saw a guy up there flicking the ashes off his cigar out of the open window :eek: :mad: :rolleyes:...not very smart...ashtrays are provided. For safety reasons and being as polite as I could be, I reminded him of this...didn't really care if he liked it or not.

They are extremely cautious about ship fires....which they should be but some people don't have a clue.

No smoking is allowed on the verandas either.

[midwestchick]

We took 2 cruises on the Journey last September. Lobster was available, one night per cruise in Discoveries. We were not impressed with the loster either time, tastless and chewey. To get decent lobster onboard you need to visit Aquilina and pay $25 per head unless you are in a suite. Having said that the majority of the food onboard was 1st class. Going back again soon for 28 nights so Azamra must be doing a lot right for us. Not sure though about the price increase and free drinks next summer. Would prefer to see a modest price increase, same 50% off excursions and pay for drinks over and above the excellent wines served with lunch & dinner.

 

They never served lobster anywhere when we were there :mad: :mad:...there was supposed to be a seafood buffet with lobster and we watched the menus every day...never had it. My lobster in Aqualina was very tough...not cooked properly at all and really not much flavor. It can't be because they were busy...there were only 2 other couples in the restaurant at that time. It certainly didn't take like Maine lobster to me...I've actually had better Caribbean spiney lobster than what they served me. Lobster is my favorite and I would not have missed a lobster dinner and you won't normally find me complaining about lobster...but I was not impressed with Aqualina.

[CintiPam]

...but I was not impressed with Aqualina.

 

But their duck is sublime. Went back for a second meal there just to taste it again!

[marinaro44]

But their duck is sublime. Went back for a second meal there just to taste it again!

 

And the lobster we had in Aqualina in November was just fine. We're from New England. Both cold and hot seafood plates were excellent.:)

[uktog]

I too have found the lobster (hot and cold) in Aqualina, the buffet (we had a seafood buffet one night) and Discoveries (again it was served there once) to be excellent - but we are from the UK and one lobster is the same as another to us, so long as its not tough.

 

Maybe one day I will get to Maine and develop a finer appreciation

[nordski]

May I ask...is smoking allowed on A in cabins? public areas? Thanks for your help

 

Great question!

 

Not only is it not allowed in cabins or their respective verandas, but when we encountered smoke from a neighbouring verandah in October our concern was immediately and efficiently dealt with by the ship's staff, in particular the room stewards.

 

Our guess was that the inhabitant simply may not have realized the regulations onboard.

[CintiPam]

And the lobster we had in Aqualina in November was just fine. We're from New England. Both cold and hot seafood plates were excellent.:)

 

I was very impressed with both the food and service in both specialty restaurants. The servers absolutely were amazing. We ate twice at each during our October cruise.

 

The only strange note to us were the plastic placements in Prime C, which seemed very out of place at such a lovely restaurant, and something I never have seen at any steak place I have visited. Hopefully they have been replaced by something more elegant during the recent refurbishment.

[midwestchick]

And the lobster we had in Aqualina in November was just fine. We're from New England. Both cold and hot seafood plates were excellent.:)

 

Really? I've had Maine lobster many times and it's so delicious...this was not the case. I don't know what happened....no complaints about the staff though.

[midwestchick]

Great question!

 

Not only is it not allowed in cabins or their respective verandas, but when we encountered smoke from a neighbouring verandah in October our concern was immediately and efficiently dealt with by the ship's staff, in particular the room stewards.

 

Our guess was that the inhabitant simply may not have realized the regulations onboard.

 

I just want to add there can be extremely stiff penalties for violating the no smoking rules....if one is caught, they cannot only be fined but made to leave the ship but would also need to pay the price for getting a flight home. I'm sure many people don't realize this.

Not to undermine anyone that reports this, I think I would first speak with the offenders before I reported them. As you said, they may not have realized it...I know some people on our cruise didn't and they would talk about smoking on their verandahs. They had no idea what the penalties could be.

[marinaro44]

Really? I've had Maine lobster many times and it's so delicious...this was not the case. I don't know what happened....no complaints about the staff though.

I didn't say it was Maine lobster. It was excellent cruise ship lobster. If you want Maine lobster, come to the New England shore, don't go on a cruise ship. $3.99 a pound--steamed for you--at a local supermarket.

[nordski]

I just want to add there can be extremely stiff penalties for violating the no smoking rules....if one is caught, they cannot only be fined but made to leave the ship but would also need to pay the price for getting a flight home. I'm sure many people don't realize this.

Not to undermine anyone that reports this, I think I would first speak with the offenders before I reported them. As you said, they may not have realized it...I know some people on our cruise didn't and they would talk about smoking on their verandahs. They had no idea what the penalties could be.

 

I admire your willingness to speak to people about this issue.

 

I guess, in our view, it is a ship's rule and the experienced staff are better equipped to handle it. Lacking their finesse, it's outside of our "comfort zone" since we can never be certain of the reaction of the smoking cruiser.

 

Additionally, we already knew one of the stewards from a previous cruise and had full faith in his diplomacy.

[midwestchick]

I admire your willingness to speak to people about this issue.

 

I guess, in our view, it is a ship's rule and the experienced staff are better equipped to handle it. Lacking their finesse, it's outside of our "comfort zone" since we can never be certain of the reaction of the smoking cruiser.

 

Additionally, we already knew one of the stewards from a previous cruise and had full faith in his diplomacy.

 

That is a whole different side of it. I'm sure you were probably not aware they could be removed from the ship and I'm sure you meant well. ;)

There are occasions I do speak up and try to be as diplomatic as possible...blame my DH...lol....I developed that over many years....for example when I saw the gentleman flicking his cigar ashes out the window and mentioned it to him...he did not get angry with me. I've found for the most part, people are pretty amicable. People don't realize throwing hot ashes or cigarette butts from a window or balcony can get sucked into the ship....I never would have thought of that had I not read why they don't allow smoking on the balconies.

[midwestchick]

I didn't say it was Maine lobster. It was excellent cruise ship lobster. If you want Maine lobster, come to the New England shore, don't go on a cruise ship. $3.99 a pound--steamed for you--at a local supermarket.

 

 

I know...we have friends on the East coast....I was told it was Maine lobster.

[shedridt]

Passengers on ships know the rules, these days, about smoking. The people who disregard those rules are not worth taking on in a private tete a tete to try to persuade them to behave better on the issue & I would not hesitate for a moment to turn them in.

 

Too bad if they are escorted off the ship --- they knew the rules & assumed that their habit was more important than the comfort of an entire ship full of people.

[shedridt]

It's not just that smoking is a little smelly --- for those of us with asthma & the allergies that bring it on, cigar & cigarette smoke is almost deadly & can cause us a night of distress - coughing & wheezing & gasping for air & grabbing for our inhalers! - & I can't imagine why we would tiptoe around getting smokers to tamp out their tobacco.

[Jancruz]

Passengers on ships know the rules, these days, about smoking. The people who disregard those rules are not worth taking on in a private tete a tete to try to persuade them to behave better on the issue & I would not hesitate for a moment to turn them in.

 

Too bad if they are escorted off the ship --- they knew the rules & assumed that their habit was more important than the comfort of an entire ship full of people.

 

I agree, it is not my job to inform passengers of the rules and I dont want to get in a discussion with someone who may not be agreeable..the best thing to do is report them and let the proper people deal with the situation..

Jancruz1