LIVE from the Riviera Nov 18 Crossing

[Paulchili]

I am pretty sensitive to sea motion and will take Bonine at a "drop of a hat" - better safe than sorry. In fact I took some the first night leaving Barcelona as the area was stormy for a couple of days. But so far I have not felt the need for Bonine on the Atlantic.

So I would say it is fairly smooth and the captain made the right choice (even though we would have preferred the Azores to Madeira). Let's hope that this will continue like this and get no worse :)

Edited November 23, 2013 by Paulchili

[yorkiemomjn]

I just wanted to thank you all for taking the time to post. I am really enjoying this thread. I feel like I do when I sit down with a good book!:)

[Paulchili]

Roy's generosity with O points at trivia continued today. We had 15 (that is FIFTEEN) teams tied for 3rd place with 13/15 correct answers. At this rate they will run out of O points (not to mention merchandise) before we get to Miami. :)

It helped that he received today a new denomination of 10 O points cards. So all the small change (1,2 & 3's) can now be converted into 10's - much more convenient.

A little over 1/4 of passengers are "Elite" - meaning they have at least 4 O cruises. The O family is growing fast!

Tonight is the new (for us) show with Sir ALW songs - I am looking forward to it.

Another busy day at sea is gone - where does the time go?

[sldispatcher]

Someone earlier asked about the ride. All I can say is that it is a large ocean voyage across the Atlantic. There has been more pitching motion than rolls today, but Riviera seems to be taking it all in stride. Nothing is really uncomfortable by any stretch of the imagination. We are, after all, at sea.

 

I had a great cooking class this morning featuring dishes from Red Ginger. I like to cook a few things, but would never consider myself a chef. Chris, the chef who will be taking over for Chef Kelley for the next two months led the class through knife skills, some background info on Asian cooking, and information about some of the sauces and spices. It was obviously an enjoyable time for all and the lobster pad thai was my favorite. Although now, I’m also not afraid to work with rice paper and look forward to making some spring rolls in the near future.

 

Dinner in the dining room had a great appetizer dish of prawns with nests of rice noodles on a corn salsa. The combination of textures, flavors, and cooking styles put on a fireworks show in your mouth. Finally, a chocolate fix was to be had and this scribe may be up until 3 AM.

 

The show tonight was the first we have attended this cruise in the theater. Hats off to the singers and production staff. Great job on vocals all around. We really appreciated that the backup vocals were live and not canned. A+ grade to those folks.

 

Is it the fanciest show at sea? Hardly. The theater with marginal site lines and slope will never really allow that. But effort and talent tend to be able to overcome a lot of limitations. As on the Marina, a high quality audio system was also utilized. One of those small details that most will probably never really know what went into the design and selection, but someone cared enough to make an effective choice.

 

Considering that they are asking for some feedback mid cruise, tomorrow I’ll just post some of mine here. I’m sure the list of suggestions that come in range from simple fixes to zany ideas. Somewhere in there is a line between pleasing customers and monitoring the bottom line. Without a doubt, everyone has their sacred cow or cows when it comes to things they would change or not change. For everything that I can see, the company seems to have a product level that they wish to maintain. The guests of Oceania seem to embrace that product level. With so many repeat guests and pent up demand for cabin space, do they really need to know anything about what I might suggest or comment on?

 

For the folks waiting to board in Miami, the crew seems to running a well-oiled machine and they should have no problem taking care of you come the afternoon of December 2nd.

 

The ship was relatively quiet this morning as to be expected. The day dawned with steel blue seas with gentle swells but no white caps. We passed through one foggy area at lunch, had glints of silver as flying fish darted across the wide expanse of ocean, and scattered low hanging thin clouds seemed to hover over the water at times like someone had laid out pieces of meringue on a watercolor portrait. The temperature is somewhere between feel good and just right. One can sit out on the balcony and enjoy both the sound, the wind, and the waves without catching the chill that can sometimes lurk in the shadows of 18 knots westbound. The isolation can result in a delirious mish mash of confusion, relaxation, and a constant need to study a menu.

 

This is life at sea. And we are living life.

[CintiPam]

Roy's generosity with O points at trivia continued today. We had 15 (that is FIFTEEN) teams tied for 3rd place with 13/15 correct answers. At this rate they will run out of O points (not to mention merchandise) before we get to Miami. :)

It helped that he received today a new denomination of 10 O points cards. So all the small change (1,2 & 3's) can now be converted into 10's - much more convenient.

 

Where are the trivia contests held on Riviera?

 

Just checked out sldispatcher's photos. Wow, that is some cut of beef! :)

Edited November 24, 2013 by CintiPam

[JustRich]

Where are the trivia contests held on Riviera?

 

Just checked out sldispatcher's photos. Wow, that is some cut of beef! :)

 

Trivia is held in the theater. Although it isn't ideal, the huge turnout makes it the only choice other than the large dining room.

 

Weather is gorgeous today. Light breeze out of the northwest gving us just enough roll to be relaxing. It will be tough to get me off the balcony today.

 

Rich

[sldispatcher]

I awoke to a fairly good pitch now taking place with the Riviera. After dressing quietly in the closet, I wandered about the ship and was summoned immediately to partake of a chocolate croissant. It was a lack of selflessness on my part as we are scheduled to have a 915am "brunch" in the dining room and I would not want to disappoint my tablemates by not appearing due to motion sickness.;)

 

I find the quiet alcove on the port side next to La Reserve and enjoy the flaky creation of indulgence. At first, the vista before me does not explain the increase in pitching of the ship. The sky is much clearer now with an unknown visibility to infinity. I can see towering cumulonimbus off to the south and east. But they may very well be 200 - 300 miles away. The horizon is so crisp and clear that the ocean looks like a peel and stick label on a child's book. The low, grey bottomed clouds are now giving the ocean a grey and somber look. There are no traces of whitecaps anywhere giving an idea that winds are dying down.

 

But the deception of the color and form is hiding the real culprit. Treble clefs of energy are moving lowly through the water giving rise to moderate swells. The backs of these swells look like a leviathan moving at a nearly imperceptible depth just below the surface. But we are in a great pod of them moving at a good clip.

 

The Terrace is practically empty at 815am. Crew members in long coats, white coats and pushing carts or carrying heavy trays gives evidence that either people are sleeping in or choosing not to fight the swaying boat.

 

It is not rough. It is not violent. Compared to some of the 130,000 ton and higher behemoths floating across the seas these days, this ship is obviously going to be a bit more nimble. Instead of shoving it's way through, it must remain a bit in harmony with the ocean that it travels.

 

Some people will bemoan the motion, others will say it really isn't much to it. Even others will defend the motion.

 

But some prefer Mozart to Williams or Wagner to Zimmer. They all make or have made music for people to enjoy.

 

No difference today. Riviera is doing what it does best. Delivering a high quality experience filled with measures of great food and service while hitting high notes on a regular basis. Today is just a different selection of musical motion. It's all part of the symphony of the sea.

[sldispatcher]

(duplicate post)

 

PS. The ship/MTN has blocked shutterfly access :/ I can only post pictures and can't even caption them for now. Bummer.

Edited November 24, 2013 by sldispatcher
duplicate post

[Paulchili]

The trivia is still in the Riviera lounge. While not as comfortable as the lounges on the R ships, we have learned to cope :). Besides,as Rich mentioned, I am not sure what alternatives are available for this many people in groups of nine.

I agree with sldispatcher - the show last night was excellent. Both the male and female vocalists are outstanding. Once again it proves to me that one does not need a huge stage with 36+ performers and fireworks to have a great show - a few good singers and dancers will do just fine. It's the quality and not the quantity that matters to us.

[ORV]

I'm also on this cruise, have been since Istanbul. Many things I have to agree with that others have stated. It truly is a beautiful ship. It's the small touches that make the difference. The carpets in the public areas are very tasteful with excellent color choices. The handrails for the stairways are some of the nicest I've seen. The designs on the elevator doors are very pleasing.

 

A couple of observations I've noticed or wondered about.

 

Why do so many people use deck 14 for a walking track? It is crowded, people tend to get bunched up and there are a lot of loungers in the way. On deck 15 there is a great walking/fitness track around the smokestack that very few people use. I figure people either don't know about it or they don't like the wind up there.

 

The buffet in Terrace is without a doubt the finest buffet at sea, not only the food but the service. Once you get your table you never have to worry about someone else taking it. We've had dinner there more often on the cruise from the 18th than the MDR. You can generally get all the entrees that are in the MDR each night plus more. On the first leg we had 8 days in the Specialties, love them all, but especially have enjoyed Red Ginger.

 

It's a bit of a shock going from a Oceania Suite to a Penthouse, but we've managed. It seems tight after having all that room.

 

The only disappointment has been the casino. Their slots are pretty outdated, they have yet to have any tournaments, the table minimums are never less that $10. Very few people are in there. Not playing much is probably a good thing as it's saving us money. If that's the biggest disappointment then we really have no problems.

 

Losing track of what day of the week it is is okay. Actually pretty fun.

 

All in all a fantastic cruise. Although I don't agree with the ship taking the water well. It actually seems to have more movement, snaking back and forth as well as up and down than most of the ships I've been on. But our cabin if quite forward on 11. It doesn't bother us, just an observation. The seas are supposed to be smoother from here. At least that's what our CD tells us.

 

Looking forward to the rest of our cruise, especially Bermuda.

Edited November 24, 2013 by ORV

[cruisingxpert]

(duplicate post)

 

PS. The ship/MTN has blocked shutterfly access :/ I can only post pictures and can't even caption them for now. Bummer.

 

Sending a picture from Tapatalk is really easy and I'm not a techie. You can download the app for free and I'm sure the tech guy or gal onboard can show you how easy it is.

 

Love the thread. You paint with words.

 

CJ

Edited November 24, 2013 by cruisingxpert

[ORV]

A couple of other observations.

 

I've noticed at least 50% of the men wearing jackets to dinner in the evenings.

 

We've had at least 2 medical evacuations that I know of.

[pacheco18]

Percentage of jackets very high in my experience.

 

Were the medical evacuations from ports or from the middle of the ocean ? Scary.

[Paulchili]

One was a sea evacuation a day before arrival in Funchal. I do not know about the second one.

[sldispatcher]

Quick hits and thoughts from the rest of the day.

 

1. The 11th floor PH’s occupy an unusual place in that noise from pool deck area can happen at any time. The strangest and most unruly is the 430am timeframe when there is lots of footsteps and back and forth. This can be disturbing to try and sleep through.

 

2. It’s amusing to watch the zombies on the track on deck 14. You have seen them. They amble around the track getting their exercise. Their gaze goes off to nothing in particular and the motion of the ship makes them weeble and wobble. They just don’t fall down. They don’t talk. They just circle.

 

3. Jacques is my personal favorite dining spot onboard. I enjoy the preparation and food profiles. Not on the menu crepes were a fantastic finish.

 

4. From the original “LIVE from Marina Maiden Voyage” thread, I made a post concerning the oompah loompahs hard at work. I saw them again today. Keeping a rather low profile on our cruise, Exec Chef G was in the Culinary Institute kitchen late this afternoon either demonstrating some new equipment or overseeing new dishes for the kitchen. Again, what struck me is how much fun they were having. Yes, the team of white aprons was at work, but they were enjoying themselves.

 

5. We have mixed emotions about our fellow passengers. That would be true in most any situation. I’ll leave it at that.

 

6. Both butlers involved in our staterooms on 9 and 11 are superb.

 

7. The salmon colored sunset was a joy to behold from deck 15 aft sitting on one of those artful wooden benches.

 

8. Beef short ribs were popular at lunch.

 

9. I’ve seen plenty of chicken legs and most aren’t on plates.

 

10. 75 minute nap on verandah in the middle of the Atlantic is priceless.

 

11. It is amazing how full the specialty dining spots have stayed on this cruise. However, if you are willing to eat late (i.e. 9pm), I believe you can eat at one every night if you so chose.

 

12. Have I mentioned the croissants?

 

13. The NFL games aren’t carried out in the middle of the Atlantic.

 

14. The ride has been erratic all day. Periods of relative calm and periods of fairly good chop as the bow plows through the swells coming in from the northwest. As I write this, the pitching is picking up again, but quite tolerable if you have any sea legs whatsoever.

 

15. The French Onion Soup in Jacques…so memorable. The pumpkin soup is as smooth as silky velvet.

 

16. I’m thinking about a croissant right now.

 

17. I’ve decided against giving my thoughts/pros/cons about what should/shouldn’t happen onboard at this point. Would be a guaranteed thread hijacking.

 

18. The wifi has been almost 100 percent reliable. The speed is as good as it is going to get. I have issues with some sites being blocked (i.e. shutterfly), but that is beyond my control.

 

19. Another card tonight asking us to wind our clocks back an hour . Oh you poor eastbounders in March on the Transatlantic. Constantly moving your clocks FORWARD.

 

20. There is more than enough event and programming going on for anyone’s taste while we are at sea. You can stay busy all day if you like.

 

21. That’s about it. Think I’ll have a croissant.

[pacheco18]

5. We have mixed emotions about our fellow passengers. That would be true in most any situation. I’ll leave it at that.

 

.

 

I singled out this observation because I found that on the one transatlantic cruise I took on Marina, the passenger mix was VERY different from my other Oceania cruises. There were many regulars from the mass market lines (not casting aspersions, simply observing) (especially Princess for some reason) who found the transatlantic an affordable way to experience Oceania. I think this is inevitable on any of the less expensive O cruises, be it a TA, the Caribbean or even a 7 day cruise.

 

I also think that for a variety of reasons the larger and glitzier O ships attract a different and more diverse passenger mix than the R ships. Just my opinion.

[Caroldoll]

What do you know about him?

 

I am really upset that the Trivia is in the theatre. I don't understand why it can't be in part of Horizons which is plenty big.

 

Can any one of you ask about this.

 

We found that in the theatre to have groups of 9--everyone heard what the other group was saying.

 

We are going on a B2B..Holiday and Mayan Mystique and if there is someone I can see, I would appreciate it. Not being able to play trivia is a bummer

[Toranut97]

Carol, the trivia on our recent cruise worked fine in the theatre. I know you think the Horizons would work, but the timing conflicts with tea some days, the tea setup on others. And Tea is pretty popular too... Sorry this keeps you from even playing - we found that jotting down answers rather than speaking them worked fine - but I am sure you thought of that.

[firefly51142]

I awoke to a fairly good pitch now taking place with the Riviera. After dressing quietly in the closet, I wandered about the ship and was summoned immediately to partake of a chocolate croissant. It was a lack of selflessness on my part as we are scheduled to have a 915am "brunch" in the dining room and I would not want to disappoint my tablemates by not appearing due to motion sickness.;)

 

I find the quiet alcove on the port side next to La Reserve and enjoy the flaky creation of indulgence. At first, the vista before me does not explain the increase in pitching of the ship. The sky is much clearer now with an unknown visibility to infinity. I can see towering cumulonimbus off to the south and east. But they may very well be 200 - 300 miles away. The horizon is so crisp and clear that the ocean looks like a peel and stick label on a child's book. The low, grey bottomed clouds are now giving the ocean a grey and somber look. There are no traces of whitecaps anywhere giving an idea that winds are dying down.

 

But the deception of the color and form is hiding the real culprit. Treble clefs of energy are moving lowly through the water giving rise to moderate swells. The backs of these swells look like a leviathan moving at a nearly imperceptible depth just below the surface. But we are in a great pod of them moving at a good clip.

 

The Terrace is practically empty at 815am. Crew members in long coats, white coats and pushing carts or carrying heavy trays gives evidence that either people are sleeping in or choosing not to fight the swaying boat.

 

It is not rough. It is not violent. Compared to some of the 130,000 ton and higher behemoths floating across the seas these days, this ship is obviously going to be a bit more nimble. Instead of shoving it's way through, it must remain a bit in harmony with the ocean that it travels.

 

Some people will bemoan the motion, others will say it really isn't much to it. Even others will defend the motion.

 

But some prefer Mozart to Williams or Wagner to Zimmer. They all make or have made music for people to enjoy.

 

No difference today. Riviera is doing what it does best. Delivering a high quality experience filled with measures of great food and service while hitting high notes on a regular basis. Today is just a different selection of musical motion. It's all part of the symphony of the sea.

 

 

A friend and I are eagerly awaiting our cruise on the Riviera from the 12th through to the 22nd of December. I have immensely enjoyed reading about your Trans Atlantic experience. You have a really wonderful talent bringing your experience on board to life and making one feel that we are there with you. I especially loved your hilarious description of your wife's after spa condition and your gustatory experience with the chocolate croissant! This will be my second Oceania cruise, the first being on the Regatta in 2008. Thank you so much for all the wonderfully tantalizing descriptions of your experience on board!! I can hardly wait to be on this wonderful ship.

[JustRich]

After a bit of a rough night at sea last night, weather is beautiful this morning. Gonna hit the hot tub then hit the country fair this morning. I think things may get interesting on the pool deck as they have cleared out most of the furniture for the fair, except in the smoking area.

[JustRich]

Quick hits and thoughts from the rest of the day.

 

13. The NFL games aren’t carried out in the middle of the Atlantic.

 

18. The wifi has been almost 100 percent reliable. The speed is as good as it is going to get. I have issues with some sites being blocked (i.e. shutterfly), but that is beyond my control.

 

 

I get around both of these issues in either of two ways:

 

1. Connecting via VPN to a Server in the Netherlands.

2. Using a thin client to connect to my home or office systems in Germany & the Netherlands.

 

Cruise lines never block VPN or Remote access ports, since it would prevent passengers from working from theie stateroom.

 

The NFL Games are very choppy, but free when connecting through the Netherlands.

 

Rich

[JustRich]

Quick hits and thoughts from the rest of the day.

 

13. The NFL games aren’t carried out in the middle of the Atlantic.

 

18. The wifi has been almost 100 percent reliable. The speed is as good as it is going to get. I have issues with some sites being blocked (i.e. shutterfly), but that is beyond my control.

 

 

I get around both of these issues in either of two ways:

 

1. Connecting via VPN to a Server in the Netherlands.

2. Using a thin client to connect to my home or office systems in Germany & the Netherlands.

 

Cruise lines never block VPN or Remote access ports, since it would prevent passengers from working from theie stateroom.

 

The NFL Games are very choppy, but free when connecting through the Netherlands.

 

Rich

[Hambagahle]

I singled out this observation because I found that on the one transatlantic cruise I took on Marina, the passenger mix was VERY different from my other Oceania cruises. There were many regulars from the mass market lines (not casting aspersions, simply observing) (especially Princess for some reason) who found the transatlantic an affordable way to experience Oceania. I think this is inevitable on any of the less expensive O cruises, be it a TA, the Caribbean or even a 7 day cruise.

 

I also think that for a variety of reasons the larger and glitzier O ships attract a different and more diverse passenger mix than the R ships. Just my opinion.

 

Not only Oceania, I think... Our last Regent TA had a strange mix of passengers. With many on walkers, wheelchairs, etc. Of course a trans Atlantic cruise is, a very good choice if getting on and off the ship everyday is a problem. So that makes sense to me. What did not make sense was a certain - almost aggressive - attitude of some of these passengers towards others who were more mobile. That was, I think, unnecessary... And a shame...

[sldispatcher]

The croissant may have been dethroned. Sitting in a broth of butter and keeping ever so warm were a chaffing dish full of gooey sticky buns this morning. As though they should have worn their chest waders after being baked, these things were soaked with the concoction half way up via capillary action. Tender, moist, melt in your mouth. The outside edges were just as soft as the “filet” in the center.

 

We are now on a daily watch for the sticky buns in the Terrace Café.

 

This morning, there was a ship wide activity held around the pool deck. I will not go into details, but it appeared that at least 60 percent or more of the passengers were participating. A group of typically well-heeled passengers were trying to fill bottles of water, knock things over, etc. all in an effort to collect raffle tickets. I don’t troll the boards here so this may or may not have been something new but the event was very well received. While on that note, there is plenty for anyone to do on any given day while we are at sea.

 

Lunch in the dining room today after one of the ladies had completed her 4th spa appointment of the trip. This was the first marginal service we had received on this trip but it appeared to be a training/new opportunity for the waiter involved. I’ll not mention names as it is unfair to label someone when you don’t know the full story. We did not leave hungry and requests were handled..sort of. We’ll leave it at that. We were taken aback though when as we were leaving a dining room manager asked why we were not staying for dessert. Now he was a good 60 or more feet away. I’m assuming his eagle eye saw that we left before lunch entrée plates had been cleared and that is how he knew. Impressive all the same.

 

This afternoon, it was resting on the verandah under the protective shade of the overhang. As the Riviera plowed through the now resting ocean, the bow waves looked like the speedy rush and mayhem of an avalanche while the chorus of thousands upon thousands of imaginary hissing sea snakes provided the bubbly sound that follows. There are few to no clouds in the sky. The temperature is in the moderate 70’s.

 

More spa time for another member of the party. Movie time for us in the room.

 

Dinner was just great. Osmond, our waiter, overheard my mother say that she forgot her reading glasses in the room. He shows up with jewelry box sized selection of reading glasses. Wow. The sea bass in a banana leaf was obviously inspired by the highly touted dish in Red Ginger. It was yummy. As was the soft shell crab, polenta soufflé, and the 5 desserts for the 4 of us 

As each day passes, it seems as though the trip keeps getting better. As it started out so well, that seems nearly impossible, but it is happening.

 

I have to say the ladies in our group were as radiant as ever. We are lucky fellows.

 

Again, our waiter and assistant waiter were a joy to be around. And that brings me to my final point for this evening and one that is weighing heavily on me. As we travel Oceania or any other cruise line, we should never think of ourselves better than the ones who are serving us during our travels. In some ways we may be “better off”, but we are indeed no better. None of us are “entitled” to anything although that disease has obviously infected quite a few on this voyage.

 

Osmond, our waiter tonight, has a 1 ½ month old baby girl that he has only seen on Skype. By this time next week, he will be on his way home to see her in person for the first time. He had real joy in his heart and a smile that cannot be erased. He’s here, wiping crumbs off of tables, to make a better life for his child. Without the willing sacrifice of 100’s of team members just like Osmond, none of us would be enjoying the 6 star service and food on Oceania.

 

The Country Fair on Deck 12 was special and will fade into the mist of a distant memory. However, it’s the growing collection of tastes, people, events, small moments, and service touches filled with humility and heart that will leave us with a voyage we will always remember.

[cruisingxpert]

(The croissant may have been dethroned. Sitting in a broth of butter and keeping ever so warm were a chaffing dish full of gooey sticky buns this morning. As though they should have worn their chest waders after being baked, these things were soaked with the concoction half way up via capillary action. Tender, moist, melt in your mouth. The outside edges were just as soft as the “filet” in the center.

We are now on a daily watch for the sticky buns in the Terrace Café.)

 

 

 

I didn't find the sticky buns til the last day. I'll be on a search first morning onboard. They were wonderful.

 

CJ