O Newbie - Mid Cruise Report - Insignia

[ORV]

24 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

Perhaps things are improving or returning to normal— Insignia GDR has been open for lunch on several of our port days on this cruise. And at least by comparison of posted menus, there are some dishes the same as in Terrace Grill but some are not.

Good to hear, this is one of my pet peeves. I always enjoyed eating there when we don't get off the ship, or a short morning tour or out and about in the port for a while. 

[Vineyard View]

4 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

Perhaps things are improving or returning to normal— Insignia GDR has been open for lunch on several of our port days on this cruise. And at least by comparison of posted menus, there are some dishes the same as in Terrace Grill but some are not.

Cruisemom42, how are you enjoying your Oceania cruise? Would be interested in your perspective,  and hoping it is a completely enjoyable time! 

[wineoclock]

Can I please ask about things to do in the day or evening?
 

Generally we will go to a show or a drink before dinner. After dinner dh goes to the casino (he stays up late) while I go for a coffee and then head to my room.

 

On sea days I’ll go to the enrichment lectures or read & dh will sunbathe or go to the casino. 

 

Is that something that would work on O? We usually sail Celebrity mostly in suites but not always in suites. 
 

TIA

[LHT28]

5 hours ago, wineoclock said:

Can I please ask about things to do in the day or evening?
 

Generally we will go to a show or a drink before dinner. After dinner dh goes to the casino (he stays up late) while I go for a coffee and then head to my room.

 

 

There is rarely a show before dinner   the rest should work  for you

[cruisemom42]

10 hours ago, Vineyard View said:

Cruisemom42, how are you enjoying your Oceania cruise? Would be interested in your perspective,  and hoping it is a completely enjoyable time! 

I’ve been enjoying it very much. Don’t want to take over another’s post here, so I will post a review once the cruise is over on this forum. 

[SonuvaBeach]

52 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

I’ve been enjoying it very much. Don’t want to take over another’s post here, so I will post a review once the cruise is over on this forum. 

My wife and I are boarding the Insignia ( our first O cruise) when you disembark in New York....SO tell us your thoughts  NOW!! PLEASE??? 😃I hope you do not hit rough seas with Trop. Storm Franklin coming you way....

Edited August 25, 2023 by SonuvaBeach

[SonuvaBeach]

On 8/21/2023 at 1:04 PM, QuestionEverything said:

Greetings everyone:

Hope things are going well for each of you.

This is my 1st O voyage, so this is a mid cruise report from my perspective.

I am on Insignia off Greenland. We have missed 1 port Nuuk due to "high winds" which would impact tender operations. Checking the marine forecast, seemed plausible.

I have no historical record to compare to, so I am asking cruisers aboard their thoughts of todays product aboard Insignia versus the past O product.

First, the vast majority of the long time O cruisers have clearly stated the food has significantly declined in choice, quality and complexity. 

Second, there is much pushback against the Simply More with people stating they are leaving O.

My observations based on O's marketing materials statements/insinuations of what I should expect:

GOOD:

*The bread offerings are awesome. I am not supposed to have gluten, but I can not help myself, truly!!!!!

* The dining staff, simply 100% - kind, energetic, smiling, professional, will do anything. I wrote my mid cruise report only about the staff!

* Horizons is fabulous, the space, the view is essential for a sea voyage. I will never patronize a ship that does not have a forward view for all

* Full access to the ship for all, again, I will not patronize a ship that segregates guests

* High tea, amazing, just love it,  very well done

* The class and decorum of the ship and guests, it is an elegant, civilized experience where people are adults

* The shower head is beyond awesome, best shower head and shower ever!

* Grand Dining Room is magnificent, a splendor

*A1 cabin, well done indeed, less that tiny shower

SO SO:

* I am in an A1 with the tiny shower, oh my, that is small and I am a tiny lady, yikes for bigger folk

* Organization. Todays schedule was delivered last evening. This morning at 8:30 am we were informed of the schedule changes for the morning, events moved back or forward by an hr or more due to...the emergency drill for all staff this am. Q - how did they not know about the impact on guest activities....could we not have been informed last evening? Many talks were poorly attended as a result

* Excursions - well not that impressed. Two days ago, had a walking tour in a tiny Greenland town, the guide knew 5 words of English, the dear sir, to be expected given the locale.  Well we could not understand anything....so could O not have attended to assist with the historical presentation. It was a waste of our $85 x 2......

NOT ACCEPTABLE:

* Food. I must concur with the longtime O patrons, the food does not come close to "the best at sea". I am disappointed in the selection, quality, lack of complexity, taste. The Terrace, or as a group of guests just now commented at the next table, the "terrorist cafe", has never had shrimp anywhere. The soups are watery, chicken soup was actually chicken broth, stirfries are pieces of chicken in a broth, not a sauce with no snow peas etc, small thin steaks, beef mole on Mexican night was square cubes of something in a thick brown paste 0 appeal, there are no appetizer canapés, mushy vegetables obviously from frozen, desserts are obviously mostly pre made and bland, Yes, there are the discarded cookies everywhere around the ship some with 1 bite out of them.....on a good note, the salad power bowels are 100%, excellent food and greens, I have 1 every lunch, offered in the Grand Dining room as well, good sushi, ceasar salads always well done with plenty of cheese, the fresh roasts/chicken at the Terrace are 1st class, generous pours of single servings of wine. 

* Management Approach. I have to concur with other posters, O mgmt is basically non existant to guests, if they happen to be in public areas they ignore guests. The exception is Claudio, the Hotel Mgr, who is everywhere and is friendly and always a big smile.

_____________________

While I am mostly satisfied, I reserve judgement until the end of the cruise. 

My husband and I do not plan to purchase O again given the Simply More situation - we drink little alcohol and never at lunch nor dinner as it affects sleep. We have a glass of wine around 5, so the Simply More will force us to pay for wine we will not use, unless we get it at lunch, put it in the fridge till 5. We can not consume enough wine to justify the plan.

Also, we usually plan some of our own tours, so forcing us to pay for tours is  not acceptable. 

I hope you all find this helpful.

Kindest Regards till after the cruise. We have 1 port in Greenland yet to go, 2 in Newfoundland, Halifax, Bar Harbour Maine, canal transit.

Who knows what will happen!

Stay well! 

LOVE your review so far! We board the Insignia when you  disembark in New York...This will be our first O cruise...We are very interested! I hope you are enjoying Greenland/Iceland/Canada...we did a similar cruise last year. We LOVED it..and we are Caribbean Beach devotees! Franklin is heading you way. Let's hope the seas are not too too rough!

Edited August 25, 2023 by SonuvaBeach

[cruisemom42]

1 minute ago, SonuvaBeach said:

My wife and I are boarding the Insignia ( our first O cruise) when you disembark in New York....SO tell us your thoughts  NOW!! PLEASE??? 😃I hope you do not hit rough seas with Trop. Storm Franklin coming you way....

I apologize but only traveled with phone and I’m not prepared to type that much!

 

Quick summary: food, for my tastes and preferences, has been very good despite missing a re-supply in Nuuk (port canceled due to weather). I’ve tried both specialty restaurants and preferred Toscana. Polo seemed to be having an off-night when I went and steaks aren’t really my jam. Several have mentioned issues getting the correct temperature for their steak as ordered.

 

Two guest lecturers onboard is nice to have. Entertainment very mixed but one couple provided some decent shows (he did two, she did two, they did one together). One cooking demo by head chef. I am very much enjoying classical musicians. My focus has been on the ports, but sea days have been good too.

 

The state of the ship considering her age, is impressive. Hard to find a scratch or stain anywhere. Lovely thick white towels. Nice art and upholstered pieces, quiet in Grand Dining Room speaks to attention to details that deaden sound. Here’s a fun fact: Insignia has a fluffer— I’ve watched him go round the main public areas regularly straightening chairs and fluffing pillows. They always look pristine and inviting. 🤣

Fellow passengers very friendly but skew older. There seem to be a number of sick passengers onboard and mask wearing has increased (voluntary) since boarding.

 

Hope this gives you an idea.

[SonuvaBeach]

1 hour ago, cruisemom42 said:

I apologize but only traveled with phone and I’m not prepared to type that much!

 

Quick summary: food, for my tastes and preferences, has been very good despite missing a re-supply in Nuuk (port canceled due to weather). I’ve tried both specialty restaurants and preferred Toscana. Polo seemed to be having an off-night when I went and steaks aren’t really my jam. Several have mentioned issues getting the correct temperature for their steak as ordered.

 

Two guest lecturers onboard is nice to have. Entertainment very mixed but one couple provided some decent shows (he did two, she did two, they did one together). One cooking demo by head chef. I am very much enjoying classical musicians. My focus has been on the ports, but sea days have been good too.

 

The state of the ship considering her age, is impressive. Hard to find a scratch or stain anywhere. Lovely thick white towels. Nice art and upholstered pieces, quiet in Grand Dining Room speaks to attention to details that deaden sound. Here’s a fun fact: Insignia has a fluffer— I’ve watched him go round the main public areas regularly straightening chairs and fluffing pillows. They always look pristine and inviting. 🤣

Fellow passengers very friendly but skew older. There seem to be a number of sick passengers onboard and mask wearing has increased (voluntary) since boarding.

 

Hope this gives you an idea.

THANK YOU!! Yes..my wife was kind of concerned...the Insignia has not been getting sterling reviews. You have allayed some of her fears! I hope your enjoyed Your trip from Reykjavik. We did a similar cruise last year and loved every minute of it.