First Timer Any "Insider" Tips ?

[itzfitz]

We board Wednesday, Jan. 4 on Riviera.  We are in an A2 Concierge cabin. Looking for any info that first-time Oceania cruiser should know that is not widely known?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

Patty

[JoePDX]

Hi Patty -
 

The Virgin Pina Coladas from Waves Bar are amazingly good and no cost.   You can get them in Horizons too, but not nearly as good.  
 

On embarkation day it is usually easy to get a reservation in one of the specialty restaurants for that evenings dinner.  Just see the reservation desk.

Don’t miss the Taste of the World samplers at lunch in the Grand Dining Room.   Great as a shared appetizer or as a main.

 

Sticky buns!   🥰

 

Have a great cruise.  
 

Joe

Edited December 28, 2022 by JoePDX

[susiesan]

If you are a coffee drinker, before going to breakfast in the GDR or terrace go to Barristas and get a REAL coffee or cappuccino and take it with you to breakfast. The coffee served in the dining rooms is horrid compared to Barristas coffee.

 

Same goes for the smoothies/juices. Stop by Waves on your way to breakfast and get a fresh made smoothie or juice and take it with you. Every morning I went to breakfast with each hand full, one cappuccino and one juice.

[mauibabes]

Any questions on board, use your Concierge in your Lounge or down on Deck 5. 
Baristas is the best coffee on the ship, you have a coffee machine in your C Lounge too. 
There are probably hundreds of posts if you can go back into Newby Posts for Oceania on CC or similar topics, an endless supply of ideas. 
Enjoy your Specialty dining. Love RG and the Miso Glazed sea bass, Rack of Lamb and the Watermelon and Duck Salad. Jacques, try the Sea Bass in Puff Pastry for 2, AMAZING. 

If there is a Quartet offered for desert, order it to get bite sized tastes.

you have to try the daily offerings of the Humphrey Slocumb ice cream, OUTSTANDING. 

Almond Croissants is a go to after ODing on Sticky Buns in the Terrace Cafe, along with the grilled lamb chops for breakfast. 

Great burgers and fare in Waves.

Gourmet foods, consider a La Reserve Wine Paired dinner or if a group, consider a private dinner for up to 10 in Privee. Both of these have a charge however.

Just enjoy your O experience and welcome to the Oceania family, you will have found a new cruise home. Great guests, great staff and service and great food.  If something is not right, say something to a Maitre d or waiter, they want you HAPPY. On your mid cruise survey, if you have an issue about something, tell them, they want to know and will resolve. 
 

Mauibabes

 

[Flatbush Flyer]

Welcome.

In all honesty, the best time/topics to ask for/about “insider tips” is the actual booking of an O cruise, the idiosyncrasies of O Life and the importance of having an O savvy TA.

[Woofa]

Hi itzfitz, we are onboard with you a week from today and also first timers.  If you have not already, check out our roll call.  Informal meet and greet first night in Horizons I think at nine.  We may be late as we are eating in Red Ginger at 8.  Should be a great way to start our cruise. Can't wait to try that Miso glazed sea bass!!!

[pinotlover]

Unless you are a dedicated DIYer, ask around the ship on who they use and recommend as a Travel Agent. A good Travel Agent, that is knowledgeable of the inter working of Oceania is a tremendous asset. Fellow cruisers will gladly share the information with you.

 

After you have enlisted that TA’s services you’ll never again need to read a five (5) paragraph verbose DIY explanation on solving a problem. You’ll just quickly and efficiently hand the issue off to that knowledgeable TA and let them take care of the issue. That is benefit you get from Oceania paying their Agency the commission for helping you.

[Flatbush Flyer]

2 hours ago, pinotlover said:

Unless you are a dedicated DIYer, ask around the ship on who they use and recommend as a Travel Agent. A good Travel Agent, that is knowledgeable of the inter working of Oceania is a tremendous asset. Fellow cruisers will gladly share the information with you.

 

After you have enlisted that TA’s services you’ll never again need to read a five (5) paragraph verbose DIY explanation on solving a problem. You’ll just quickly and efficiently hand the issue off to that knowledgeable TA and let them take care of the issue. That is benefit you get from Oceania paying their Agency the commission for helping you.

Of course, “knowledgeable” is the operative word. Sadly, many folks looking for a good TA have to endure some bad experience(s) before connecting with one.
And, that said, the more a TA client understands O’s idiosyncrasies, the quicker they’ll be able to identify that good TA (not to mention also being able to deal first hand with certain emergent issues once onboard.

[AMHuntFerry]

Stop by the spa to check out the fitness center and get the fitness class schedule for the week (typically includes yoga/stretch plus maybe pilates or spinning or ??). The spa will have a drawing for spa credit on embarkation day, but you have to be present and I keep forgetting to go back 🤪

There used to be a self-guided tour of the ship's art collection. Check with Reception to see if they still have it. If not, there is also a "treasure hunt" of the art that appears a few days in.

If you like brain puzzles, pick up the Mensa quiz and sudoku/crossword on deck 5 (I think behind the concierge desk on Riviera starting on day 2). You can get O-points (trade in for O-swag) if you attend the Mensa quiz answers after trivia.

Edited December 28, 2022 by AMHuntFerry

[MEFIowa]

Your cabin has an umbrella, hairdryer, and wine opener.

 

Check out the therapy spa pool & area forward, you have access to it and the Concierge Lounge on Deck 9 from your A2 cabin status. (Everyone can use the steam room and sauna.) The Concierge Lounge has someone there during posted times who can assist you. And they have some things to eat and drink there. 

 

Go to the library early to see what books they have and if you see one you may want to read over the cruise, take it to your room.

 

Baristas, the coffee bar, on Deck 14, overlooking the pool deck, has some food in the evenings; would see potato ships there, for example.

 

If you think you may need or want to do laundry, find the laundry room nearest your cabin.

 

If you want to try to eat more often in the specialty restaurants, ask when you board or during the cruise.

 

You can bring up to 6 bottles of wine with you at embarkation (their official posted policy, though many say you can bring whatever you want). AND you can bring back beer, hard liquor and wine from your port excursions.

[LHT28]

Read the CURRENTS   nightly to see what is happening the next day

Happy Hour   daily

Afternoon tea daily

Relax & enjoy

 

[itzfitz]

Wow!  Thank you all for the wonderful "insider" tips.  I've copied and pasted them into a document to bring along with me.  Again, thank you so much.

 

Patty

[ORV]

The GDR has started having nightly Souffles for dessert, or at least they did in Sept on Regatta. You can go there for dessert without having dinner there.

 

Generally the second night of the cruise is the Captain's Welcome party. There are free drinks for around 3 hours in Martinis, Horizons and the Casino bar during this time. Watch for details in the Currents. 

 

You can find menus for the current day on the TV. 

 

The areas on deck 14 on the starboard and port sides just above Waves bar area/either side of the elevators, are nice places to relax out of the sun. 

[mauibabes]

Also, if anyone has a special dietary issue, let your TA or Oceania know.  Vegan, Vegetarian, Plant Based, Healthy Heart, Gluten Free, just let them know and they will work with you with special diets and let you select your meals the day prior. 
 

What level of Stateroom are you booked in, more info can be shared there as well. Your booking dates for the Premium Restaurants are tied to room categories.
 

One more  FYI, Always book a future cruise on board to earn On Board Booking discounts, SBC, reduced Deposit amounts.  
 

just enjoy your cruise,

mauibabes

[JRIH]

41 minutes ago, ORV said:

The GDR has started having nightly Souffles for dessert, or at least they did in Sept on Regatta. You can go there for dessert without having dinner there.

 

The same for Marina, this month.

[DCGuy64]

Thank you for the tips (and to the OP for asking about them). Our first-ever cruise on Oceania is a little more than 3 months away, but we're already in planning mode so these tips are quite helpful.

[kml246]

We're on the Jan 4 Riviera cruise, too. It's also our first. Thanks for the tips. 

 

Kevin

[Robjame]

15 hours ago, kml246 said:

We're on the Jan 4 Riviera cruise, too. It's also our first. Thanks for the tips. 

Be sure to check out Baristas - it has really changed.

6:30 - extended continental breakfast - meat, cheese, tomatoes, toast, pastries, lox, cream cheese

 

lunch - sandwiches and cakes, and cookies (some have mistaken this as the afternoon tea)  😆

 

6:00 -10:00 aperitivo - olives, nuts, tapas - wine (beverage package works) coffee drinks, grappa, brandy etc.

 

hostess serving and assisting, carrying etc.

 

JUST DONT TELL ANYONE ELSE _ VERY UNDER UTILIZED

 

 

[Robjame]

You will find a shoehorn, umbrella, 2 bathrobes, 2 prs slippers, laundry bag in every room.

‘Beach towels are available for excursions.

 

[Flatbush Flyer]

23 hours ago, Robjame said:

Be sure to check out Baristas - it has really changed.

6:30 - extended continental breakfast - meat, cheese, tomatoes, toast, pastries, lox, cream cheese

 

lunch - sandwiches and cakes, and cookies (some have mistaken this as the afternoon tea)  😆

 

6:00 -10:00 aperitivo - olives, nuts, tapas - wine (beverage package works) coffee drinks, grappa, brandy etc.

 

hostess serving and assisting, carrying etc.

 

JUST DONT TELL ANYONE ELSE _ VERY UNDER UTILIZED

 

 

And please use the tongs for the food items if a staff member is not serving.

[LHT28]

26 minutes ago, Robjame said:

You will find a shoehorn, umbrella, 2 bathrobes, 2 prs slippers, laundry bag in every room.

‘Beach towels are available for excursions.

 

also a hairdryer  in case someone needs one  😉

[MEFIowa]

56 minutes ago, Robjame said:

You will find...2 prs slippers

While that was the case on Riviera 12/21 it was NOT the case on Sirena 11/22. I did see some people asked for them and saw a box of them on the floor on our deck once, but it did not appear that they were putting 2 pair in each room at the start of the cruise. Don't know if that was a supply issue or a new policy. I still have the pair from Riviera. They're OK.

[JRIH]

33 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

While that was the case on Riviera 12/21 it was NOT the case on Sirena 11/22. I did see some people asked for them and saw a box of them on the floor on our deck once, but it did not appear that they were putting 2 pair in each room at the start of the cruise. Don't know if that was a supply issue or a new policy. I still have the pair from Riviera. They're OK.

Not the case on Marina 12/22 either.

[MEFIowa]

8 minutes ago, JRIH said:

Not the case on Marina 12/22 either.

And same situation for the nice carry-on tote bag. I received one on Riviera 12/21 but they weren't providing them on Sirena 11/22. I really do like the size, compartments and strength of it. Lugged so much stuff in mine both cruises (esp. beer, hard liquor and wine). We were hoping to get a his & her's set! 😉

[JHLH821]

On 12/28/2022 at 4:54 PM, mauibabes said:

Also, if anyone has a special dietary issue, let your TA or Oceania know.  Vegan, Vegetarian, Plant Based, Healthy Heart, Gluten Free, just let them know and they will work with you with special diets and let you select your meals the day prior. 
 

What level of Stateroom are you booked in, more info can be shared there as well. Your booking dates for the Premium Restaurants are tied to room categories.
 

One more  FYI, Always book a future cruise on board to earn On Board Booking discounts, SBC, reduced Deposit amounts.  
 

just enjoy your cruise,

mauibabes

Regarding special dietary needs: you can also call Oceania and ask that your dietary needs be added to your profile so it will appear in every cruise. I follow a no gluten, no lactose low fodmap diet and the 1st day of our cruise, the Dining Room Manager introduced himself to me and wanted to know if I wished to have a meeting to discuss food needs. I have "wallet size" menu cards that I distribute to restaurants and other dining establishments wherever I travel- this is very helpful to the culinary teams. I received special menus every day, made my selections and brought them to the reservation desk the following morning. I felt very well taken care of.