Visitors On Board

[Hanoverian]

We are on Sirena, "Vintages of Royalty", this fall, and would love to have friends from Yorkshire come aboard when we are in Portsmouth on October 11.  The plan would be to have breakfast, and take a quick ship tour. and then head off for the day's adventures.  FAQs on the Oceania web site says that visitors are not allowed.  Regardless of FAQs, has anyone ever successfully asked for permission to bring guests aboard any Oceania ship?     

Edited July 3, 2022 by Hanoverian

[mauibabes]

We have not been successful and have always understood it was NOT and option.  The only time I have seen “guests” come aboard is when they have had Travel Agent meetings on board. When Vista. Ones on line there will be a number of these Tours offered. 
The only time we were successful to tour a ship was on Crystal. We asked to have our friends join us and the answer was No, and then our friends got approval from Crystal to tour their ship. I have no idea what other major lines “Guest” policies are like.

Ciao, Mauibabes 

[babysteps]

Disclaimer: post-COVID things may be *very* different. We were successful in 2019 - we went through our TA w-a-a-a-y ahead of time, she connected us to special services and helped make sure the request and process didn't fail. O had us register our guest's passport and other info several months ahead of time iirc (or told us we'd need to and then didn't do so until a few weeks out?). Our guest 'checked in' on the dock with O staff before being able to board (we went out to meet him so he didn't get lost or told "no"). I think O held his ID until he debarked. Our guest came on the afternoon of our last night onboard, which was an overnight in NYC and we were able to pay a small upcharge vs. the basic guest/dinner fee to dine in Toscana with our guest. To state the obvious, he left after dinner (did not stay on overnight).

[ronrick1943]

Yes, before Covin.  We did it in San Diego when the ship was in port.  A little paper work, they charge you a fee for each guest at dinner.

[Hanoverian]

Thanks, babysteps and ronrick1943, we will give this a go next week after all in the front office have had time to get over the holiday weekend.  I will report back.

[mexicobob]

Good luck. But think pigs will fly before they allow guests that are not sailing to board a ship these days. 

[Dwtlion]

We have friends who will be on RSSC Navigator in Kirkwall the same day I will also be there on Vista. Anyone have an idea whether I could get them on Vista for a quick visit/tour since we are all passengers on affiliated ships.

[LHT28]

10 hours ago, Dwtlion said:

We have friends who will be on RSSC Navigator in Kirkwall the same day I will also be there on Vista. Anyone have an idea whether I could get them on Vista for a quick visit/tour since we are all passengers on affiliated ships.

all you can do is ask ahead of time

 we have not been successful

good luck

[RJB]

15 hours ago, mexicobob said:

Good luck. But think pigs will fly before they allow guests that are not sailing to board a ship these days. 

agree

[slw207693]

We have had guests come onboard prior to Covid.  My husband’s six Norwegian colleagues and their spouses came for lunch in the Grand Dining room while we were docked in Stavanger (cost was $25 per person I think billed to our shipboard account).  We also paid for any drinks/wine consumed as well.  I believe the evening dinner cost for Grand Dining room is $35 pp (no speciality restaurants allowed).  
 

We filled out a form requesting permission, which was granted by the GM in conjunction with Exec Chef and Captain.   About 2 weeks prior to them coming onboard, We had to furnish passport/ID information, full names, birthdates, address, etc.   When the guests arrived, whatever form of ID they had provided information for, that documentation had to be shown to security (one member didn’t bring his passport which he had provided as his info, but had another ID) and that caused a kink that was eventually rectified, but it was touch and go whether he would be allowed onboard.   We were allowed to show them around the ship including our cabin and they stayed most of the afternoon.   
 

On another occasion in Seward Alaska we had a niece and her family come onboard for tea time.  (Again, the cost was either $20 or $25 pp).  Same security procedures.   They had a little one and the staff produced a high chair.   
 

Now that Negative Covid testing won’t be a requirement for many countries to get onboard, just ask the Executive Concierge if it is possible to host guests.   Be kind to the staff and they make all kinds of things possible.

[FetaCheese]

Saw a large group of people onboard on a R ship.  I speculated to wife, that they  were TA's, even though I could not really see their badges on lanyards (Was in the business many year ago).  I was correct.  They had lunch in GDR, while we were also in GDR.  They really had a wonderful time!

[LHT28]

O often has groups of TA that are invited onboard at various ports

 

Guests of PAX not so much 😉

[Cliff-FLL]

Going way back and slightly off-topic...

I can remember when my sister was married back in the 70's. (Of course, I was but a child at the time...)

After the reception, she & the groom headed to the pier for a Bermuda honeymoon cruise, with a group of 20 or so of us in tow.  We boarded the ship with a couple/few cases of Champagne & Asti and partied in the main hall until sail time.  Since it was also the ship's "sail away" party, we were served by waiters circulating with hors d'oeuvres for everyone.

No one made arrangements in advance, no one checked ID, no one asked for a cruise card, and we all got off when they started blaring the "all ashore" whistle.  Life was good. 😊

[GeezerCouple]

Several years ago (it was less than 10 years ago, and more than 5, in case that precision is of any help! 😉 ) a group we were vaguely associated with sent out a notice that there would be the chance to have lunch aboard the Riviera while it was docked nearby for the day during a cruise.  We hadn't yet been on Oceania, but we were hoping to have a chance, so we were *very* eager to take a look.  There was no charge, but we did have to submit all sorts of ID information, such as passports, and it was checked very carefully before we were let on.

I replied almost instantaneously; the number of slots was filled really fast, that first day.

 

They were supposed to let us see a sampling of different levels of cabins and suites.  However, everything was running very late, so we got a minimal peak in what was probably a regular balcony cabin not too far from the MDR, and that was it.

 

Very few of members of the group were travel agents.  I don't remember the "why" of this particular invitation, and we've never had any offer like that again, unfortunately.

The meal was excellent, no surprise.  And of course, the MDR was looking beautiful.

 

Waaay back, in the summer of 1968, I spent the summer in mid-town Manhattan, and one day we wandered over to "where the ships were", and had a chance to go aboard what I think was a HAL ship.  This was in the day when there apparently were regular "sailaway parties" with friends who were not sailing.  There were mutiple announcements about "leaving the ship", etc.

I was absolutely fascinated.

My actual cruising started a few years later. 🙂 

 

GC

[Silver Sweethearts]

Pre-Covid  our TA was able to get invitations for his clients and business associates to tour ships both in Lahaina and Kahului here on Maui.  We have enjoyed tours and full luncheons with wine with Silversea, Crystal, Seabourn, Regent and Celebrity.  There was no charge.  

[LHT28]

Going aboard with a TA  is totally different than  a PAX asking to have guest join them

 

Before 911 things were less complicated

We said in 1974  lots of guest onboard  before sail away,  streamers were thrown off as the ship pulled away from the dock

People dressed up on boarding day much like people dressed nicely  for flying

Now you see all sorts  getting on flights 😉

 

[Hanoverian]

It took about a week, but I received a reply from the Special Services Department via a corporate cruise specialist about bringing two friends aboard Sirena in Portsmouth for a tour and breakfast in October.   Per the reply, "Unfortunately It will not be possible due to Current Protocols that are in place for the Ship."  I will most likely wait until actually aboard Sirena to again ask for permission.

[SombraDeLuna]

Recently on Sirena a member of the spa team hosted several family members on board for the day, and had a great time together on the outside deck of Terrace Cafe.  It was so nice to see the special time they shared together!  

[LHT28]

3 minutes ago, SombraDeLuna said:

Recently on Sirena a member of the spa team hosted several family members on board for the day, and had a great time together on the outside deck of Terrace Cafe.  It was so nice to see the special time they shared together!  

If they are in their home Country crew  will be seen with family around the ship for the day

A nice touch

[Jancruz]

2 hours ago, Hanoverian said:

It took about a week, but I received a reply from the Special Services Department via a corporate cruise specialist about bringing two friends aboard Sirena in Portsmouth for a tour and breakfast in October.   Per the reply, "Unfortunately It will not be possible due to Current Protocols that are in place for the Ship."  I will most likely wait until actually aboard Sirena to again ask for permission.

The answer will be exactly the same..NO VISITORS on board for passengers

Jancruz1

[Cruzin Terri]

4 hours ago, Hanoverian said:

It took about a week, but I received a reply from the Special Services Department via a corporate cruise specialist about bringing two friends aboard Sirena in Portsmouth for a tour and breakfast in October.   Per the reply, "Unfortunately It will not be possible due to Current Protocols that are in place for the Ship."  I will most likely wait until actually aboard Sirena to again ask for permission.

I would suggest you find a place to meet your friends off the ship. Besides the security concerns, there is the issue of Covid.  I would think that the ships would try to keep anyone who is not a paying passenger off the ship to minimize the spread of Covid.  They are having enough trouble keeping it in check just among those on board.

Terri

[Mura]

On 7/3/2022 at 4:18 PM, Hanoverian said:

We are on Sirena, "Vintages of Royalty", this fall, and would love to have friends from Yorkshire come aboard when we are in Portsmouth on October 11.  The plan would be to have breakfast, and take a quick ship tour. and then head off for the day's adventures.  FAQs on the Oceania web site says that visitors are not allowed.  Regardless of FAQs, has anyone ever successfully asked for permission to bring guests aboard any Oceania ship?     

We have, but that was before 9/11.  Since then, I don't think it's possible.  (And our experience was probably on Renaissance, but early Oceania really wasn't all that different from REN.)  Our friend had to surrender her driver's license and a credit card and she was allowed on board but she didn't STAY on board.  The next day we found that she COULD have stayed on board ... but she had a hotel in town. This was in Copenhagen.

 

But even then I think it was up to the captain to say yes or no.

 

But it couldn't hurt for you to ask the question of TPTB!  It never hurts to ask.  All they can say is no ...

 

Mura

[Guppy99]

I would be surprised and displeased if passengers were permitted to bring guests on board. I think it is both a helth risk and a security risk.

[Mura]

Speaking for ourselves, our friend was able to board before 9/11 and before various intestinal problems arose on the ships in recent years.  I take you point, but it wasn't always the case.

 

We are traveling next year on Vista with this same Danish friend, but perhaps since she is paying her fare they won't mind having her on board ...

 

I do understand your comment!  These days letting "anyone" come on board could indeed be a problem.

 

Mura