Rare ORV Posted August 26, 2014 #1 Share Posted August 26, 2014 We're currently on Riviera, have been since the 15th. They have served sticky buns every day in the buffet for breakfast. My wife says it's almost too much of a good thing and takes away the anticipation for them. The Cruise Director is Andy Heath, he is a new cruise director for Oceania. We feel he does a very good job. For those interested he is supposed to be the CD for the Insignia World Cruise. As usual the Riviera is great. The last cruise and this one to an extent have many more families and children than normal. More younger and middle aged people also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orchestrapal Posted August 26, 2014 #2 Share Posted August 26, 2014 We're currently on Riviera, have been since the 15th. They have served sticky buns every day in the buffet for breakfast. My wife says it's almost too much of a good thing and takes away the anticipation for them.As usual the Riviera is great. The last cruise and this one to an extent have many more families and children than normal. More younger and middle aged people also. Glad your enjoying. As for your wife's problem there is a simple answer, switch to chocolate croissants. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisingxpert Posted August 26, 2014 #3 Share Posted August 26, 2014 We're currently on Riviera, have been since the 15th. They have served sticky buns every day in the buffet for breakfast. My wife says it's almost too much of a good thing and takes away the anticipation for them. The Cruise Director is Andy Heath, he is a new cruise director for Oceania. We feel he does a very good job. For those interested he is supposed to be the CD for the Insignia World Cruise. As usual the Riviera is great. The last cruise and this one to an extent have many more families and children than normal. More younger and middle aged people also. Lucky you with 17days. Nice meeting you on the 7 day cruise. We are on the Insignia on Nov 11th Miami to San Juan. Do you know if Andy will have moved over by then? We thought he was very personable. Catherine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 26, 2014 #4 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Did not care for the sticky buns ..whenever we have had them they are soggy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floridiana Posted August 26, 2014 #5 Share Posted August 26, 2014 I am more partial to croissants and baguette. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CintiPam Posted August 27, 2014 #6 Share Posted August 27, 2014 Yum to both sticky buns and chocolate croissants! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corpkid Posted August 27, 2014 #7 Share Posted August 27, 2014 Yum to almost EVERYTHING on the O ships! :) I found myself going nuts on Sushi on our last cruise for lunch AND breakfast... I was trying very hard to not gain the "freshman 15"... Well, that attempt failed by day 5 as I figured "what the heck?" There's just too much good food. And truth be told, they make some great bacon for breakfast... Scrambled eggs, not so much... Ironically my biggest weakness is the little sandwiches they put out in Baristas. I spend a lot of time in the library/computer/coffee area working on my travel blog, etc. on O class ships and those little yummy bites are just TOO "handy" and quite plentiful (favorite is the tuna salad)!!! :rolleyes: DH would not walk from the pool area to the elevators on the port side just because those milkshakes are way too tempting! We all have our vices I guess. :) Point of the story - you paid for it - enjoy it. We always go on a strict low cal diet and double our exercise for a month post-cruise. So easy to put it on, so hard to take it off! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roothy123 Posted August 29, 2014 #8 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Yeah, just got off Insignia, and there were a LOT of sticky buns to compete with the chocolate croissants! Choices, choices! If they started having Cinnabons I'd be in BIG trouble! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roothy123 Posted August 29, 2014 #9 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Oh, and they had mini chocolate croissants at Baristas too! Aargh.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ORV Posted August 29, 2014 Author #10 Share Posted August 29, 2014 We're in Palma De Mallorca today. Insignia was parked beside us. They just left port at 3:15pm. One note on Blvgari products in Balcony rooms. They are not the bottles with the green tops. The shampoo is a combination shampoo/shower gel in a clear bottle with clear top. On our last cruise in Concierge on Regatta we had the separate ones with a green top. The gift sets for the upper suites have a red top in a red box which is different than the ones with the green top that we got in the OC last time on Riviera. Not really sure of the difference. Also, re drink packages. I was able to get the drink package with 4 days left on a 10 day cruise. They are still advertising it in today's (3 days left) Currents. Vat charge of 22% in the boutiques and Spa products but none on beverages. All ports on this cruise are in the EU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roothy123 Posted August 29, 2014 #11 Share Posted August 29, 2014 (edited) Still curious about the infamous Spanish VAT tax. For the spa and gift boutique purchases, are you saying that the 22% VAT tax was collected throughout the whole cruise, or only when docked in a Spanish port, or what? I find that whole Spanish VAT thing very confusing. We started out in Lisbon and jumped around a bit in and out of the EU, so tax had to be collected on drinks on days we were in Spain (except Canary Islands, which are exempt). I'm not sure about the spa and boutique products as I didn't purchase anything there. I wish Spain would find another way to increase their coffers, and I hope other Euro countries don't start imposing VAT on cruisers! I'm sure the cruise lines are as unhappy as some of their passengers are about having extra paperwork and tax. Edited August 29, 2014 by roothy123 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2travel Posted August 29, 2014 #12 Share Posted August 29, 2014 I'm currently on the Riviera as well:)... I found those sticky buns on day 4 and I love them...but after reading this I just realized I have not found the coffee bar or had a milkshake yet....I'm currently in that 4-6pm slot where it's hard to find food! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roothy123 Posted August 29, 2014 #13 Share Posted August 29, 2014 I'm currently on the Riviera as well:)... I found those sticky buns on day 4 and I love them...but after reading this I just realized I have not found the coffee bar or had a milkshake yet....I'm currently in that 4-6pm slot where it's hard to find food! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Isn't tea served at 4 on all ships large and small? They have little bits of food. And isn't Waves still open at 4 (not sure)? As for Baristas, on the R ships, it does not go on all day, as it turns into a bar at night; not sure when they close on either size of ship. Of course, room service is 24/7, so I doubt you'll starve between 4 and 6! Mango smoothies at Waves are refreshingly good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 29, 2014 #14 Share Posted August 29, 2014 (edited) I'm currently on the Riviera as well:)... I found those sticky buns on day 4 and I love them...but after reading this I just realized I have not found the coffee bar or had a milkshake yet....I'm currently in that 4-6pm slot where it's hard to find food! Barristas are open until 6 & have small sandwiches/cookies just above the pool deck aft Afternoon tea in Horizons daily from 4-5PM serving sandwiches, scones, pastries etc.. How could you miss them:eek: Of course the room service is available 24/7... Not sure how one would go hungry on an O ship ;) Edited August 29, 2014 by LHT28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ORV Posted August 30, 2014 Author #15 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Still curious about the infamous Spanish VAT tax. For the spa and gift boutique purchases, are you saying that the 22% VAT tax was collected throughout the whole cruise, or only when docked in a Spanish port, or what? I find that whole Spanish VAT thing very confusing. We started out in Lisbon and jumped around a bit in and out of the EU, so tax had to be collected on drinks on days we were in Spain (except Canary Islands, which are exempt). I'm not sure about the spa and boutique products as I didn't purchase anything there. I wish Spain would find another way to increase their coffers, and I hope other Euro countries don't start imposing VAT on cruisers! I'm sure the cruise lines are as unhappy as some of their passengers are about having extra paperwork and tax. Whole cruise, pretty sure this is not about Spain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2travel Posted August 30, 2014 #16 Share Posted August 30, 2014 I'm currently on the Riviera as well:)... I found those sticky buns on day 4 and I love them...but after reading this I just realized I have not found the coffee bar or had a milkshake yet....I'm currently in that 4-6pm slot where it's hard to find food! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2travel Posted August 30, 2014 #17 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Oops looks like it posted twice...the internet connection comes n goes:( yes tea is at 4 and it is absolutely wonderful but I wouldn't go there hot n sweaty after reboarding from port...Waves closes at 4...we did find some lovely petite sandwiches in the concierge lounge yesterday. I still have not tried a milkshake or found the barista but on my agenda today. The coffee in horizons today was delicious...stumbled on that since I overslept Bkfst:) Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roothy123 Posted August 30, 2014 #18 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Whole cruise, pretty sure this is not about Spain. Oh, I think it is. I managed to find (on Cruise Critic) a link to a document issued by an American accounting/consulting firm which explains some, but not all, of the Spanish VAT tax law. I also found a translation of the Spanish legislation, but it's such legal gobbly d gook (and lacks specificity) that I gave up trying to understand it. Other cruise lines besides Oceania have charged the Spanish tax for "products" and liquor, and one line even charged in Italy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MVPinBoynton Posted August 30, 2014 #19 Share Posted August 30, 2014 My wife says it's almost too much of a good thing and takes away the anticipation for them. I hope that the sticky buns being available too much doesn't spoil your cruise experience. :D Glad you are having a wonderful cruise. We are so looking forward to cruising on Riviera in December. Say hi to Teresa for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ORV Posted August 30, 2014 Author #20 Share Posted August 30, 2014 I hope that the sticky buns being available too much doesn't spoil your cruise experience. :D Glad you are having a wonderful cruise. We are so looking forward to cruising on Riviera in December. Say hi to Teresa for us. Oh, we'll manage. Will do, say hi to Carol also. Oh, I think it is. I managed to find (on Cruise Critic) a link to a document issued by an American accounting/consulting firm which explains some, but not all, of the Spanish VAT tax law. I also found a translation of the Spanish legislation, but it's such legal gobbly d gook (and lacks specificity) that I gave up trying to understand it. Other cruise lines besides Oceania have charged the Spanish tax for "products" and liquor, and one line even charged in Italy! Okay, but the sign in the boutique says Italian vat tax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 30, 2014 #21 Share Posted August 30, 2014 The coffee in horizons today was delicious...stumbled on that since I overslept Bkfst:) You can get breakfast at WAVES until 11 am it is more than just buns & coffee Check the back page of CURRENTS for opening/closing times of restaurants & bars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 30, 2014 #22 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Okay, but the sign in the boutique says Italian vat tax. Sounds like Itally saw that Spain had a good thing going so has jumped on the VAT wagon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2travel Posted September 8, 2014 #23 Share Posted September 8, 2014 As for the Vat tax...I spent $330 in the boutique...was told that I could get custom stamp and refund at the airport which I did...I only rec'd $33 back so clearly not the entire 22%. It was pretty simple to do though and only took 5 minutes or so. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ORV Posted September 8, 2014 Author #24 Share Posted September 8, 2014 As for the Vat tax...I spent $330 in the boutique...was told that I could get custom stamp and refund at the airport which I did...I only rec'd $33 back so clearly not the entire 22%. It was pretty simple to do though and only took 5 minutes or so. Sent from my iPhone using Forums They told us that we would only get around 11 or 12% back. I think the rest is considered "processing fees" I believe Oceania or the boutique company would be keeping that part. When it was time to get the money back at the airport, Global Blue, the company that handles the refund, claimed their computer was down and could not give out any cash refunds there. The only way to get a refund was to give them a credit card number and they would credit it to that. While it sounded like a stall to me we did give them the number and to their credit we got the refund on the card within 5 or 6 days. We didn't make the purchase with the card as it was OBC. I don't know what someone that doesn't have a credit card would do. Maybe get a refund by mail? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roothy123 Posted September 8, 2014 #25 Share Posted September 8, 2014 (edited) Sounds like Itally saw that Spain had a good thing going so has jumped on the VAT wagon Yes, other threads on Cruise Critic indicate that Italy has jumped on the bandwagon, too! Hope the rest of Europe doesn't, as cruisers are used to getting certain things tax-free on cruise ships! Here's a recent thread that talks about VAT tax:http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2086651&highlight=spain+vat+tax Earlier I read something in a write up by an American accounting firm that explains (a little, anyway) the VAT tax. I vaguely remember that there was something about the refund process, and the fact that only part of it would be refunded. I don't think the cruise line gets to keep the difference between what was charged and what's refunded, but I can't remember for sure. I can't really imagine the countries would allow a cruise line to keep that much, but who knows? The whole thing is quite confusing to me. I'm glad we didn't purchase much while on our recent cruise, and that when we did, it was not in Spain. Edited September 8, 2014 by roothy123 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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