Stockholm embarkation

[Into the Sunset]

What inefficiency! Wait and wait. Insulated by Thomas an officious concierge. In 25 cruises I never been so poorly treated. Security was slow and slower. Kept on pulling security off for 'special' customers. Our line was continually stopped for others. All and all a very poor start.

[orchestrapal]

What inefficiency! Wait and wait. Insulated by Thomas an officious concierge. In 25 cruises I never been so poorly treated. Security was slow and slower. Kept on pulling security off for 'special' customers. Our line was continually stopped for others. All and all a very poor start.

 

Just one question, did you arrive at the time you were allotted by Oceania? :confused:

[Into the Sunset]

Yes and so did two other buses !

[Into the Sunset]

It was not a question of arriving at the incorrect time, or even being separated into three lines: penthouse and above, concierge level, and veranda level and below-- this we expected. We booked a B1 veranda cabin. The main issue was that our security person, who was reconciling guests with their reservation and passport, was constantly being pulled off of the veranda and below queue to help passengers that Thomas, the Concierge, continually brought over. There were at least 4 or 5 other security people, but it was always ours that was pulled to take care of Thomas' escorted guests. Additionally, this security person had great difficulty doing her task. On the average, she took 10 minutes per guest compared to 2 minutes by the other security people. I had a long time to watch and time the interactions. When I pointed, politely, out how slow this security person was to Thomas the Concierge' I was rudely admonished. It was an unfortunate and inauspicious beginning to our second Oceania cruise.

[Paulchili]

Was this security person an Oceania employee or Stockholm port authority employee? The answer to this makes a lot of difference in determining who was at "fault" for this inefficient boarding procedure.

Sorry for your poor experience - hope the rest of your cruise will be better.

[cindilouwho]

Was this security person an Oceania employee or Stockholm port authority employee? The answer to this makes a lot of difference in determining who was at "fault" for this inefficient boarding procedure.

Sorry for your poor experience - hope the rest of your cruise will be better.

 

This was something like the issue that I experienced boarding in Stockholm. I had arrived earlier than the allotted time and was perfectly content to wait - we began boarding around 11:30 am but I was one of the first and didn't see what was going on after I boarded. It may be isolated to just the Stockholm staff.

 

The boarding process in Rio for AZ was a hoary experience as well - guess some ports are just better at it.

 

Into the Sunset - I am sure that your shipboard experience will be much better.....enjoy your cruise --- what happens on the pier STAYS on the pier!!! LOL :)

[Into the Sunset]

Paul and Cindi,

 

Thank you for your good wishes. I'm sure we will have a terrific time on board.

 

The security personnel were Stockholm employees, not Oceania, but it was the attitude of one Oceania employee on the dock that was upsetting.

 

Cheers!