Just Back From Nautica

[Fetchpeople]

Lately there has been so much negative posting on the Oceania section of CC that we just have to put in my 2 positve cents:

 

30 days at sea with an excceptional crew who delivered every possible service with a smile, including fair weather and amazingly calm seas. And, of course, far too much delicious food.

 

Special kudos, in no special order, to:

*CD Julie James for being funny, friendly, approachable, ever available and more. She's a keeper, for sure.

 

* Executive Chef Smeets for being on duty from earlierthan 6 AM to late, late, always making sure the quality was superior, the presentation superb, and the variety to die for

 

* The Oceania at Sea staff person who deserves accolades for dealing with the tech challenged idiots on board, self included, always with a smile, always helpful, and always successful

 

* Reception for being fully informed at all times, and finding each of the 3 items we lost

 

* Bridge Director Susan Carter for being a gem of a teacher with limitless patience even for those who are a tad slow at the game. A terrrific instructor!

 

Guest Lecturer Don Campbell who spoke many times, always with a sense of humor, always informative, and always dining in the Terrace at a table designed to attract friends and some who weren't friends yet. A great asset!

 

Low points? Room for improvement? Sure, a couple but their significance is dwarfed by so many positives. I know this posting doesn't obliterate that Insignia tragedy, but we want to assure any doubters that there were no signs of NCL finding corners to cut or making excess staff walk the plank. Maybe that's why the Ambassador was non stop busy doing new bookings.

 

Judy & Fred 10, O cruises and counting

[Toranut97]

Thanks for this posting. Your perspective (that the good outweighed the bad) was refreshing. Made my morning. Merry Christmas!

[PaulMCO]

Nautica has always been Oceania's best. Chef Maarten was spectacular -- he had a lot to do especially fixing issues in the specialties which were subpar (in July)

Edited December 25, 2014 by PaulMCO

[warburg]

Thanks, Fetchpeople, for the positive comments. We sailed on Regatta and Insignia in O's early days and enjoyed them both very much. We thought the English Country House libraries were wonderful. They are probably long gone. We return to Regatta in January 2016 on its Panama Canal transit.

 

We are looking forward to our trip. We don't expect to find a mini Marina or Riviera. I will miss the glass elevators though.

 

Most CC posters are positive because people who don't like a particular company drop off and go elsewhere. There is no requirement that posts have to positive, and sometimes negative comments are warranted. However, I do recall certain posters who don't like much about O yet stay around anyway. Many regulars on CC know who they are. People who respond are tolerant.

 

Mary

Edited December 25, 2014 by warburg

[bitob]

We will be back on nautica for 30 nights in January. Live chef smeets. He's a gem

We cannot wait

 

 

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[LHT28]

Thanks, Fetchpeople, for the positive comments. We sailed on Regatta and Insignia in O's early days and enjoyed them both very much. We thought the English Country House libraries were wonderful. They are probably long gone.

Mary

 

Do not think the library has gone anywhere on the R class ships of Oceania

maybe on other lines

[no fuss travel]

We will be back on nautica for 30 nights in January. Live chef smeets. He's a gem

We cannot wait

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Have a wonderful cruise from Cape Town to Singapore. It was fabulous this past January on the Nautical. We board again in February to finish the rest of the cruise.:D

[Mura]

Do not think the library has gone anywhere on the R class ships of Oceania

maybe on other lines

 

 

 

We were on Regatta in August '12 and the library was still there. I sure haven't heard that the "R" ships have done away with it.

 

That would really make me MAD!! My favorite space on those ships ...

 

True, that's 2 years ago ... but as I said no one has posted that they are gone since our last cruise on an "R" ship on Oceania.

 

Mura

[LHT28]

True, that's 2 years ago ... but as I said no one has posted that they are gone since our last cruise on an "R" ship on Oceania.

 

Mura

this is Regatta

From the Preismans blog in April 2014 scroll down mid page

http://www.thepreismans.com/bermuda_regatta_page1.htm

 

I would think it unlikely it was removed but never say never

 

Lyn

Edited December 26, 2014 by LHT28

[Mura]

Okay,we still don't know what NCL will do down the road but I can't imagine that Oceania would eliminate this fabulous space since they've kept it pretty much as Renaissance had it in years gone by ...

 

I sure hope not, because as I have said before, this is my favorite space on the ship.

 

Thanks, Lyn for posting all those great Preisman photos.

 

Mura

[Fetchpeople]

It remains in all its glory, for sure, on Nautica as of 12/21/14.

 

Can't be any different on the other 2 R ships.

[potterhill]

Nautica has always been Oceania's best. Chef Maarten was spectacular -- he had a lot to do especially fixing issues in the specialties which were subpar (in July)

 

 

 

We spent 25 days on Nautica. It was fine, but far from O's best. That was Insignia, the original, twice. Marina in Eastern Med and Holy Land. Regatta in South Pacific. Other trips have been so-so. I have decided after 9 cruises that it is pot luck, dependant on the staff on any particular cruise. I also think the chef plays a bigger part in the enjoyment of the cruise than one would expect. It all trickles down. If the food is great, all are happy. Not so great and the complaints roll in, making everyone stressed and unhappy, and magnifying other complaints. It all comes down to the food!

 

Mo

 

 

 

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[PaulMCO]

We spent 25 days on Nautica. It was fine, but far from O's best. That was Insignia, the original, twice. Marina in Eastern Med and Holy Land. Regatta in South Pacific. Other trips have been so-so. I have decided after 9 cruises that it is pot luck, dependant on the staff on any particular cruise. I also think the chef plays a bigger part in the enjoyment of the cruise than one would expect. It all trickles down. If the food is great, all are happy. Not so great and the complaints roll in, making everyone stressed and unhappy, and magnifying other complaints. It all comes down to the food!

 

Mo

 

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We may have been on the same cruise. In any case Chef Maarten was very open to meet with the guests and admitted they had a beef supply issue.

 

He even tailored the cookies to one guests criticisms :)

[potterhill]

We may have been on the same cruise. In any case Chef Maarten was very open to meet with the guests and admitted they had a beef supply issue.

:)

 

 

The beef was terrible. I gave up. DH persisted and had a great steak at the end of the cruise. Different steer for sure!

 

Overall the good outweighs the bad and we will keep coming back.

 

Mo

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited December 26, 2014 by potterhill

[beardedshark]

Lately there has been so much negative posting on the Oceania section of CC that we just have to put in my 2 positve cents:

 

30 days at sea with an excceptional crew who delivered every possible service with a smile, including fair weather and amazingly calm seas. And, of course, far too much delicious food.

 

Special kudos, in no special order, to:

*CD Julie James for being funny, friendly, approachable, ever available and more. She's a keeper, for sure.

 

* Executive Chef Smeets for being on duty from earlierthan 6 AM to late, late, always making sure the quality was superior, the presentation superb, and the variety to die for

 

* The Oceania at Sea staff person who deserves accolades for dealing with the tech challenged idiots on board, self included, always with a smile, always helpful, and always successful

 

* Reception for being fully informed at all times, and finding each of the 3 items we lost

 

* Bridge Director Susan Carter for being a gem of a teacher with limitless patience even for those who are a tad slow at the game. A terrrific instructor!

 

Guest Lecturer Don Campbell who spoke many times, always with a sense of humor, always informative, and always dining in the Terrace at a table designed to attract friends and some who weren't friends yet. A great asset!

 

Low points? Room for improvement? Sure, a couple but their significance is dwarfed by so many positives. I know this posting doesn't obliterate that Insignia tragedy, but we want to assure any doubters that there were no signs of NCL finding corners to cut or making excess staff walk the plank. Maybe that's why the Ambassador was non stop busy doing new bookings.

 

Judy & Fred 10, O cruises and counting

 

 

Yep Susan was brilliant on our transatlantic this year. Limitless patience. Spoke to her during the cruise and was surprised to learn that she didn't get paid for teaching, just got free cruise and a percentage off her bar bill!