“LIVE FROM” 2019 Oceania Insignia World Cruise, Jan. 11-July 11

[bob brown]

47 minutes ago, Go-Bucks! said:

 

There are certain things that are for the world cruisers only but this is because we are doing a very special type of cruise...I see no reason why Oceania shouldn't have events for us.  That doesn't mean that we treat those doing segments as second class people...everyone is treated the same but there are some extra events for those doing the ATW.  If I were doing a segment, I would totally understand.  And most events on the ship are for everyone.

I concur.  Oceania also offers special perks for high loyalty status passengers, top suite passengers, and for solo travelers, who are invited to private parties, luncheon’s , and dinners.

 

I dine almost every night, either in the main dining room, or one of the other restaurants with a large group of “solo’s”,

all delightful company, and it makes absolutely no difference whether they are ATW, or doing a segment, other than we will miss them when they disembark.

 

But then, we will look forward to welcoming new arrivals to our table.🙂

[Shiphappy1951]

1 hour ago, Wisewoman8 said:

Audrey, We are going to Kelly tarlton s aquarium in Early morning if you wish to join.  I have been there before and it is a splendid little aquarium. There is a free bus downtown at 8:30, 9:30  etc. About a 10 minute ride.  Online ticket is $32, $36 at entrance.  You can call me if you want to join us . cabin 4055  Juanita

Thanks Juanita, but since Patrick posted, I've made other arrangements. Thanks for thinking of me. Audrey

[bob brown]

Had a great day on the Glow Worm Cave and Puketi Mauri Kauri Forest tour.  We also had time to tour a few of the villages for snacks and shopping.

 

Of course I managed to get a private tour of the tourist railway facilities...😎

[bob brown]

After returning to the Insignia, we found the Oscar Awards were being shown in the Lounge, with meatballs, franks, sandwiches, and popcorn available.

There was also a “guess the winners” contest.

Later, after the show in the Insignia Lounge (Constantine in concert with the band), there will be an Oscar “after party”, up in the Horizon Lounge...

[Not landlubbers]

Well here I am sitting looking out my window at blowing snow and listening to the roar of 100 km wind gusts! On my beloved Insignia there is a debate re special treatment or not for RTW cruisers! I would give anything to be on a segment short or long and of course a RTW would be the trip of a life time! Be grateful and enjoy every minute of your trip .. It may never happen again! Love the pictures, and positive comments! Please keep sharing those and be happy!Carpe Diem!!

[palakika]

11 hours ago, bob brown said:

I concur.  Oceania also offers special perks for high loyalty status passengers, top suite passengers, and for solo travelers, who are invited to private parties, luncheon’s , and dinners.

 

I dine almost every night, either in the main dining room, or one of the other restaurants with a large group of “solo’s”,

all delightful company, and it makes absolutely no difference whether they are ATW, or doing a segment, other than we will miss them when they disembark.

 

But then, we will look forward to welcoming new arrivals to our table.🙂

Thanks for your pics and keeping us up to date on your fun activities!  Like Not Landlubbers,  I am sitting here in Bend,  Ore watching the snow fall.  I'd love to be on a cruise about now!!  It's so great that you have a nice group of "solos" on board.

[bob brown]

With the aid of tugs “Waka Kume” at the bow, and “Waikaka” at the stern, we are now alongside in Aukland.

Now they are off to assist HAL’s Amsterdam to dock...

[chivatosteve]

12 hours ago, LHT28 said:

  I agree  the RTW pax  paid a lot for the cruise  so they should get special perks  but  just do not tell others  that  everyone is treated the same

They are not...  that is  a fact

segment PAX may feel  like they are left out  ..another fact

but they knew signing up  that it was a RTW cruise  & those pax doing the full trip would get extra parties etc..

but for someone part of the RTW to say everyone  gets the same  treatment  is  not correct

 

Mura  you need to go back & read the post by Bob

the luncheon was a  special menu just for the RTW pax

Our experience:  We signed up for our first Oceania cruise back in 2015 - a Panama canal crossing.  We did not know at the time that it was the last segment of RTW 2015.  After the tragic Insignia fire, we joined CC and only then learned that our segment was part of the shortened RTW!  Once on board we did noticed a subtle cliqueness, but we were determined to have a great time.

We had heard a lot about Oceania Trivia so we attended.  It was very clear that it was a very serious well established group that didn't welcome new players who just wanted some fun.  When we made a comment about this to the CD, his response was "That's human nature, isn't it."  We didn't go to Trivia again.

We had heard a lot about Oceania High Tea so we looked forward to that.  We found that the ATW passengers totally monopolized the servers, because they were very familiar with each other, so our service was far less attentive. We didn't go to Tea again.

Having a cocktail in Martinis daily was fun but you had to be careful of not sitting on "the regulars" stool.  One day when a lot of people were not back from excursions, an ATW regular entered the half empty bar and proclaimed "Looks like we got our bar back!"   At a show one night we watched another ATWer try to shoo a couple of nice teenagers from "her" seats that they were saving for their parents. 

That all being said, we did meet several segmenters that we enjoyed and have staying in contact with.  We also met some ATWers that were very nice and welcoming to us "newbies".  And, we did have a great time on that first Oceania cruise in 2015 and as a result we will be on our 4th Oceania cruise next month, with the 5th reserved for next fall.  But, I doubt we will again do a segment of an ATW......

So yes LHT, not every one is treated the same, but then the ATW passengers are spending a lot on a cruise that most of us will never be able to go on.  Some of the ATW service and passengers are delightful, and some not so much.  I guess that is human nature...…. 

[bob brown]

What could be better, than enjoying breakfast on the Insignia’s Terrace, watching a great city “waking up”?

The commuter ferries are now coming and going like “streetcars”...😎

[LHT28]

Just now, chivatosteve said:

Our experience:  We signed up for our first Oceania cruise back in 2015 - a Panama canal crossing.  We did not know at the time that it was the last segment of RTW 2015.  After the tragic Insignia fire, we joined CC and only then learned that our segment was part of the shortened RTW!  Once on board we did noticed a subtle cliqueness, but we were determined to have a great time.

We had heard a lot about Oceania Trivia so we attended.  It was very clear that it was a very serious well established group that didn't welcome new players who just wanted some fun.  When we made a comment about this to the CD, his response was "That's human nature, isn't it."  We didn't go to Trivia again.

We had heard a lot about Oceania High Tea so we looked forward to that.

 

That was pretty rude  of them

I agree the RTW  are entitled to the special lunches. dinners & cocktail parties  but  they are not ENTITLED  to  shoo people out of the bars or other areas  of the ship  nor be rude  to other pax

Afternoon tea  is the highlight  for DH   I can only imagine his reaction  if  someone told him he could not  sit where  he chose if the table was  empty

we would probably be put off at the next port  🙂

 

He went to Trivia  ONCE..it was too cut throat for him 🙂

Hope you enjoy your  next O cruise

[Go-Bucks!]

On 2/25/2019 at 8:37 AM, chivatosteve said:

Our experience:  We signed up for our first Oceania cruise back in 2015 - a Panama canal crossing.  We did not know at the time that it was the last segment of RTW 2015.  After the tragic Insignia fire, we joined CC and only then learned that our segment was part of the shortened RTW!  Once on board we did noticed a subtle cliqueness, but we were determined to have a great time.

We had heard a lot about Oceania Trivia so we attended.  It was very clear that it was a very serious well established group that didn't welcome new players who just wanted some fun.  When we made a comment about this to the CD, his response was "That's human nature, isn't it."  We didn't go to Trivia again.

We had heard a lot about Oceania High Tea so we looked forward to that.  We found that the ATW passengers totally monopolized the servers, because they were very familiar with each other, so our service was far less attentive. We didn't go to Tea again.

Having a cocktail in Martinis daily was fun but you had to be careful of not sitting on "the regulars" stool.  One day when a lot of people were not back from excursions, an ATW regular entered the half empty bar and proclaimed "Looks like we got our bar back!"   At a show one night we watched another ATWer try to shoo a couple of nice teenagers from "her" seats that they were saving for their parents. 

That all being said, we did meet several segmenters that we enjoyed and have staying in contact with.  We also met some ATWers that were very nice and welcoming to us "newbies".  And, we did have a great time on that first Oceania cruise in 2015 and as a result we will be on our 4th Oceania cruise next month, with the 5th reserved for next fall.  But, I doubt we will again do a segment of an ATW......

So yes LHT, not every one is treated the same, but then the ATW passengers are spending a lot on a cruise that most of us will never be able to go on.  Some of the ATW service and passengers are delightful, and some not so much.  I guess that is human nature...…. 

 

Sorry to hear of your bad experience...not right for anyone to be rude. I personally have not seen this happening and I would never do it. Also haven't heard others talking about it so maybe this hypothetical discussion can end and we'll get back to reporting on our fabulous cruise.  🤩  

 

We're ready to go up to the top of the Sky Tower for lunch!  Will check back later.

[bob brown]

Had a great morning on a scenic harbor tour aboard a sailboat.... even got to take the helm.😎

 

Then it was on to the maritime museum. The best one I’ve been to, so far.👍

 

Next it’s off to my regular “mission”...to see the railway station, and bus terminal.😊

[katz]

On ‎2‎/‎24‎/‎2019 at 10:47 AM, KS&JW said:

 

I agree.  While I have enjoyed this thread and can see what a fun time the ATW's are having, this makes me very hesitant to ever book a segment.  Too easy to feel like a second class passenger.,

Passing on our experience as "leggers" on one of the segments on 2018 ATW.  There was a definite division between ATW's and leggers.  I  understand making friends early on and wanting to be with those people. We experienced exclusion on the land tours that we went on.  

 

The feeling was "this is our ship and you are just a visitor".  When leggers were told not to sit in "their" section during bingo and handmade reserved signs started to appear in Waves , we got the hint.

 

I am not looking for an argument, just passing on our experience.  Just sayin'

[Skmar]

OMG 😲 that’s dreadful. Let’s hope those on the 2019 ATW are not the sort that exclude others. Without the “leggers” there could be no ATW as the cost would be prohibitive. I was so looking fwd to this trip now wondering how we will be received. 

[Terralee]

I was on the first segment with the 2019 ATW gang and they were great! With Trivia, likely best to come in with a new team. :)

Love seeing all Bob Brown ‘s pix! Thanks Bob! I was in Auckland Dec 2015 with daughter Amy & we loved it. Keep up the pix!

[palakika]

Bob..  great pics of sailing in the harbor.  Auckland is a lovely city.  I'm  curious..  you've mentioned looking at the railroads a couple of times.  Were you a railroad man in your past?

[Mura]

1 hour ago, Skmar said:

OMG 😲 that’s dreadful. Let’s hope those on the 2019 ATW are not the sort that exclude others. Without the “leggers” there could be no ATW as the cost would be prohibitive. I was so looking fwd to this trip now wondering how we will be received. 

Just because the 2017 crowd can be unwelcoming doesn't mean those who are on your cruise will be so.  Just don't anticipate the worst because then you just might find it!

 

Good luck.

 

Mura

[Mura]

Re the Auckland Maritime Museum ...

 

We were there just about exactly 10 years ago.  We weren't planning on visiting the museum but at the last minute (on our last morning) we changed our minds and visited.  It was a short walk from our hotel, and also very close to where Nautica was going to dock.  We were glad we did.  I agree, it's one of the best maritime museums we have seen, and we have seen a number.

 

I worked for many years at a maritime law firm and always felt it was my "professional duty" to visit these museums when I could!

 

Mura

[bob brown]

46 minutes ago, palakika said:

Bob..  great pics of sailing in the harbor.  Auckland is a lovely city.  I'm  curious..  you've mentioned looking at the railroads a couple of times.  Were you a railroad man in your past?

Thanks!

I have worked for railroads, and every other form of public transportation over my lifetime, hence my interest in all that sail, roll, or fly...,🙂

Edited February 26, 2019 by bob brown

[palakika]

It's great that you get to see these around the world.  We got to ride a really cool beautifully restored steam train in Montivideo, Uraguay.  It was a different view of people's homes and lives from the tracks.

[LHT28]

Just now, katz said:

The feeling was "this is our ship and you are just a visitor".  When leggers were told not to sit in "their" section during bingo and handmade reserved signs started to appear in Waves , we got the hint.

 

I am not looking for an argument, just passing on our experience.  Just sayin'

Reserved  signs     that should  not be allowed

 

Sounds like  a trend  by the Worldies 😉

 

 

[Paulchili]

38 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Reserved  signs     that should  not be allowed

I agree with that on any Oceania cruise - RTW or not.

[Go-Bucks!]

Our day in beautiful, clean Auckland, NZ....

 

Connie and I took a 2 hr tour around Auckland in an electric tuk-tuk with our great guide/driver, Bo.  He's a native New Zealander and gave us very interesting info about his country.  We saw sights in the downtown area, the bridge, the huge marina, the veteran's memorial, parks, an old church and cemetery, and a rose garden before dropping us off at the Sky Tower.  We visited the casino (I won 7 cents!), the Sky Deck on the 60th floor, the observation deck on the 51st floor and had lunch in the Orbit 360 revolving restaurant on the 52nd floor.  Lunch prices looked high initially, but they included free admission to the tower which was a $23 (senior price) charge.  Had a great lunch while watching people doing the Sky Walk and Sky Jump right in front of us while we ate!!  They were tethered well, but the walkers had nothing to hold onto while they walked around the side of the 53rd story and the jumpers (God bless their souls) were also tethered but they jumped all the way down in a free fall.  😲  The most courageous thing I did was to stand on the glass floor that looked down 52 stories to the ground.

 

Auckland was so clean and well maintained...no dilapidated buildings, no trash on the streets, no inner city looking areas...and our money went a long way with the USD being 75 cents to the NZD $1.  Prices were higher than in my area of the US, but the exchange rate made up for it.  It was a great place to visit.  The HAL Amsterdam was also here today while they're on their Grand Voyage (I think that's their equivalent to a World Cruise)...there was even a sign on the front of the ship stating that this is the 2019 Grand Voyage...I thought that was nice.

 

I included a picture of a traffic sign that was so polite!

[bob brown]

“Mission” accomplished.🙂

[bob brown]