Semi-Live Review of Oceania Riviera November 9-19, 2023 from a New Oceania Guest

[cruiserchuck]

3 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

A man and woman pushed through the line, like they owned the place. He was frowning and rude. 

In my defense, I was very hungry.  😀

 

We actually had reservations at Toscana at 7:30 pm, and there was no line when we arrived.  I tried the lasagna as recommended, and it was excellent.  My wife tried the trio of pastas, and enjoyed all three.  I went with the fillet mignon as my main, and she ordered the veal, after being warned that the suckling pig was dry.  Both mains were great.  

[Tyskie]

6 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

Saturday, November 11, 2023:  "It is the little things!"

 

Martinis Bar: I am an extrovert.  I love to make folks happy and laugh especially the crew.  This second evening, was our third time in Martinis.  When the four of us arrived, the crew had a huge smile and said, "Hello Mr. Gary".  This might not mean much to some of you, but it meant the world to me.  A bar where everyone knows your name!!!!  The drinks were lovely and they made my wife a special martini which she loved. 

 

 

 

 

We were on Riviera in September - we loved the Martini Bar, bartenders (Viktor and Tony)  and servers, all fantastic.  It was fun to grab a cocktail during Trivia, before dinner and our "nightcap". 😉

 

If you would like to try something slightly different - order the Cosmo with the orange peel instead of lime.  Loved it - wish we brought home the exact ingredients!!  I believe it did have orange vodka instead 🤷‍♀️

 

We too are Princess, NCL converts!  Continue to enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 11, 2023 by Tyskie

[Sthrngary]

2 hours ago, Tyskie said:

 

We were on Riviera in September - we loved the Martini Bar, bartenders (Viktor and Tony)  and servers, all fantastic.  It was fun to grab a cocktail during Trivia, before dinner and our "nightcap". 😉

 

If you would like to try something slightly different - order the Cosmo with the orange peel instead of lime.  Loved it - wish we brought home the exact ingredients!!  I believe it did have orange vodka instead 🤷‍♀️

 

We too are Princess, NCL converts!  Continue to enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

It is called a “Big O”. 
 

[mauibabes]

@Sthrngary

Gary, loved your Jacques menu items.  Besides trying the Sea Bass for 2 on your next reservation, you have to try the Pumpkin Soup, AMAZING and IMHO, EVEN BETTER THAN THEIR FRENCH ONION. 

 

Any chance the General Manager was Laurence Barasse?  If so she is WONDERFUL. We spent 46 days with her coming out of Covid on Riviera. Invite her to dinner if you go to Privee, she will go if she can fit the schedule.  Absolutely delightful lady.
Mauibabes

[LSuzQ]

“Stingray” Gary,  please remind me why your deck furniture s tied down overnight. Continue to enjoy your trip! Enjoying your reports.

[Sthrngary]

1 hour ago, LSuzQ said:

“Stingray” Gary,  please remind me why your deck furniture s tied down overnight. Continue to enjoy your trip! Enjoying your reports.

No clue. The tell be because it could fly off because it is on the front of the ship. 

[Cruzin Terri]

14 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

No clue. The tell be because it could fly off because it is on the front of the ship. 

It has been reported on CC many times that because the Vista suites are in the front of the ship that the furniture is tied down at night.  Why, they don’t say.  However, it is a known fact.  Gary, with all your research, I am surprised you did not find this out ahead of time.  It sounds like you are having a great cruise in spite of this.  Enjoy!

[Cruzin Terri]

2 hours ago, mauibabes said:

@Sthrngary

Gary, loved your Jacques menu items.  Besides trying the Sea Bass for 2 on your next reservation, you have to try the Pumpkin Soup, AMAZING and IMHO, EVEN BETTER THAN THEIR FRENCH ONION. 

 

Any chance the General Manager was Laurence Barasse?  If so she is WONDERFUL. We spent 46 days with her coming out of Covid on Riviera. Invite her to dinner if you go to Privee, she will go if she can fit the schedule.  Absolutely delightful lady.
Mauibabes

i agree about Laurence.  She was the GM on the Nautica in the Spring of 2022.  She was so good to us.  We contracted COVID on that sailing and she made sure that we were well cared for.  We give her very high marks.  Lovely person.

Terri

[Harry Lake]

9 hours ago, Vallesan said:

So pleased you’re enjoying your trip so far.

We have never had a ‘bad’ Oceania cruise and sometimes I find the ‘nit picking’ on here a little sad.

Somebody said here  “some people wouldn’t be happy if they were hung with a new rope”! So true.

Anyway “keep enjoying”, especially your butler!

 

I say 'people are quick to criticize and slow to praise.' I have this little personal thing I fell into many years ago. It comes absolutely naturally. I try and generally succeed in complimenting at least one person every day. It makes both of us feel good.

[Gracie115]

1 hour ago, Sthrngary said:

No clue. The tell be because it could fly off because it is on the front of the ship. 

 

That's really too bad.  We so enjoy sitting on our balcony at night, watching the stars, listening to the ocean, it's an important part of our cruise, hope it isn't impacting you too much.  So far it seems like you are having a great time!!

[Guest]

Sthrngary you had asked if I found out about friends stopping in Turkey on their cruise. They did and it was my friends favorite stop. Maybe because she bought 2 leather jackets and she and her boyfriend both bought rugs for their homes. Saw the one jacket already and it was the softest leather I’ve ever seen. Keep enjoying your cruise!

[Sthrngary]

1 minute ago, Gracie115 said:

 

That's really too bad.  We so enjoy sitting on our balcony at night, watching the stars, listening to the ocean, it's an important part of our cruise, hope it isn't impacting you too much.  So far it seems like you are having a great time!!

@Gracie115 Not impacting us at all.  If it was the summer time, it would be a really big issue.  I knew the deck would be unusable during the night when sailing because of the wind.  I had a similar cabin on the NCL JOY.  I will ask if during our sea day of which we have one, if the same rule will be in place.

 

My MO is never letting one thing impact my cruise.  On this cruise, we are at ports we never ever thought we would get to go too.  The food has been really good.  The drinks are flowing.  We are with good friends and other we met that are our new friends.  Nothing ever goes perfectly on a cruise.  It is always an adventure.  

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[Sthrngary]

2 minutes ago, Guest said:

Sthrngary you had asked if I found out about friends stopping in Turkey on their cruise. They did and it was my friends favorite stop. Maybe because she bought 2 leather jackets and she and her boyfriend both bought rugs for their homes. Saw the one jacket already and it was the softest leather I’ve ever seen. Keep enjoying your cruise!

@Guest Interesting you shared this.  Today, my wife went to a leather store and bought a new Leather Jacket.  It was lovely.  I have found Istanbul to be quite a spectacular place.  

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[Harry Lake]

5 minutes ago, Guest said:

Sthrngary you had asked if I found out about friends stopping in Turkey on their cruise. They did and it was my friends favorite stop. Maybe because she bought 2 leather jackets and she and her boyfriend both bought rugs for their homes. Saw the one jacket already and it was the softest leather I’ve ever seen. Keep enjoying your cruise!

LOL. We did an escorted land trip to Turkey maybe ten years ago. We both got leather jackets and a gorgeous rug 🙂

[Sthrngary]

1 hour ago, Cruzin Terri said:

It has been reported on CC many times that because the Vista suites are in the front of the ship that the furniture is tied down at night.  Why, they don’t say.  However, it is a known fact.  Gary, with all your research, I am surprised you did not find this out ahead of time.  It sounds like you are having a great cruise in spite of this.  Enjoy!

@Cruzin Terri You are right, I missed this but I am OK with it.  I did know that I had to close my drapes at night.  This one thing is fine and as I said to someone else, if it was the summer, I might be uncomfortable with it.  Thanks for the comment.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[Sthrngary]

3 hours ago, mauibabes said:

Any chance the General Manager was Laurence Barasse?

I met the general manager on day two.  I don't remember her name.  She had an UK accent and red hair.  He was quite nice and kind.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[Sthrngary]

9 hours ago, cruiserchuck said:

In my defense, I was very hungry.  😀

 

We actually had reservations at Toscana at 7:30 pm, and there was no line when we arrived.  I tried the lasagna as recommended, and it was excellent.  My wife tried the trio of pastas, and enjoyed all three.  I went with the fillet mignon as my main, and she ordered the veal, after being warned that the suckling pig was dry.  Both mains were great.  

LOL, this gentleman and his wife was on a mission.  I think they thought the line was for first available.  Honest mistake.  They should have asked the folks they were passing by if they had reservations, but Hindsight and all. It did not effect my evening in the slightest.  We at my table had a good laugh about it.  

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[Sthrngary]

Istanbul Turkey:

 

Wow, just wow. I got really lucky.  This whole cruise I choose not to do any Oceania Excursions.  Lots of reasons for this.  One was I hate being restricted by time to leave, time to get back or time in an specific place.  This strategy can backfire or be great.  We got off the Riviera at the port with easy and no delay.  I was a little nervous because of some of what I learned online about scams.  I took my group to the Taxi Stand and was given a flat price of $60.00 to take us to a few places including the Grand Bazar.  The Taxi Driver stayed with us, gave us advice and took us back when we were done. I gave him $100.00, a giant box of Turkish Delights for his kids.  This man was so kind and helpful.  He used his translator on his phone to communicate with us.  It was a perfect way to approach the city for four Not So Young folks their for the first time.

 

We skipped Breakfast and when the lunch was being served, we did that in stead.  Skipping a meal on a Cruise with really good food is the way to go sometimes.  Lunch for me was a Burger and fries and surprisingly good. 

 

When we came back from Istanbul, we went to Martini's for a couple of drinks. Our butler has some snacks waiting for us in our suite which were taste.  Just a taste, nothing to heavy.  We went to the Grand Dining Room for dinner.  I was not expecting much and told my guest just that.  Most of the meal was really good.  Some folks went outside their box to order things they normally did not order.  That was an epic fail be we all laughed it off.  The main course were all really good.  My test was the Sirloin Strip Steak Medium Rare. It was cooked perfectly and I liked it.  My wife loved her chicken, my friend had salmon and his wife had veal.  Everyone enjoyed the food.  The desert was hit or miss.  The cheese cake was excellent. 

 

The piano player in Martini's is just what the doctor ordered.  Make Martini's a special place. 

 

Tomorrow with an over night and early start, we will focus on the Blue M and some more shopping.  This city is something special and we are all really enjoying it.  This is defiantly not St. Thomas, LOL.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[Harry Lake]

42 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

@Guest Interesting you shared this.  Today, my wife went to a leather store and bought a new Leather Jacket.  It was lovely.  I have found Istanbul to be quite a spectacular place.  

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

You might enjoy an escorted land tour of Turkey. We adored every bit of it.

[Gracie115]

44 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

@Gracie115 Not impacting us at all.  If it was the summer time, it would be a really big issue.  I knew the deck would be unusable during the night when sailing because of the wind.  I had a similar cabin on the NCL JOY.  I will ask if during our sea day of which we have one, if the same rule will be in place.

 

My MO is never letting one thing impact my cruise.  On this cruise, we are at ports we never ever thought we would get to go too.  The food has been really good.  The drinks are flowing.  We are with good friends and other we met that are our new friends.  Nothing ever goes perfectly on a cruise.  It is always an adventure.  

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

 

That's great it's not bothering you.  We had a similar cabin on the Regal Princess, which faced forward and had a large balcony. The staff never moved the furniture so we were able to enjoy it at night.  But then that ship is 3 times the size of Riviera so am sure that makes a difference too.  Hope the rest of your cruise continues as well as the beginning has!!  We board Vista one month from today and can't wait.

[Gracie115]

10 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

 Tomorrow with an over night and early start, we will focus on the Blue M and some more shopping.  This city is something special and we are all really enjoying it.  This is defiantly not St. Thomas, LOL.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

 

We loved the 2 days we spent in Istanbul a few years back.  Also hired private excursions.  It's a very interesting city with so much to see.  The Hagia Sophia was amazing as was the Basilica Cistern.  Enjoy!!

[Harry Lake]

24 minutes ago, Gracie115 said:

Hagia Sophia

An interesting history.

[mauibabes]

Not Laurence, she is definitely French. Late 2021 or early 2022 two ladies were promoted to GM’s and have been great successes so you have Laurence’s colleague but I have not met her yet. 
Any additional insights for O and Riviera, shoot me an email. gerryesker@gmail.com

Enjoy,

Mauibabes

[YourWorldWithBill]

Gary, this just a note to say that I am closely following all your reports, since (as I've mentioned) we are on the Rivera leaving from Barcelona on the 19th, going the opposite way you will have traveled, ending in Istanbul. As a fellow new O cruiser, I feel that I'm getting a firsthand, detailed knowledge of what to expect. I'm already looking forward to the thermal spa.

[Iamthesea]

On 11/8/2023 at 3:01 PM, Sthrngary said:

A word of advice. We booked A lovely restaurant that was on the highest mountain overlooking Athens, Greece. I booked it over a year and a half ago. Yet with a full day of sightseeing and a massive amount of Jetlag we decided to cancel the reservation. I never have a problem doing that as long as it was my decision to cancel. My advice is the hotel that we stayed in, go up to the top floor and have a drink. The weather was fantastic, we had a small meal of meat and cheeses, and the view was out of a travel guide. I don’t get impressed very easily, but Athens at night is spectacular.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

 

Enjoying the review.  We will be taking our 3rd Oceania cruise (all Caribbean) next March.  Our first cruise was a failure, but we gave Oceania another chance (with the help of a discount) and it is much better the 2nd time around.  However, we thought the prices too high for our needs and continued on with Celebrity and HAL.  Recently saw a good deal on Oceania and decided to book again.  If all goes well, we will try to find something for European travel.  We have taken 13 cruises overseas.  Most have been on Celebrity and HAL.  One RCCL, and one AMA river cruise.

 

I looked up your hotel and it is lovely.  Have added to my list of hotels to stay in. 

 

You say that you started out your cruise booking in a GTY.  Were you upgraded to the Suites, or did you upgrade/upsell yourselves?