Oceana beer

[ace of swords]

Hello,

Can anyone tell me,

what beers are available on the Oceana, ?

are the shore excursions value for money ?

why do you have to book a table for dinner ?

 

Thank you.

[Pontius Navigator]

Hi Ace,

 

What beer do you like?

 

What shore excursions take your fancy?

 

What dinner did you have in mind booking?:)

 

AFAIR, the beer was standard pub fare, in other words, for me, disappointing. I recall John Smiths, Stella etc. Now I like a good, warm, bottled ale. These were conspicuous by their absence. Failing that I like an indigenous beer. These too were also absent.

 

Shore excursions? This really is a topic in itself. To illustrate (not P&O), a tour of Copenhagen cost a couple on our table $156 including entrance to the Treasury. We walked. Including Treasury and an open air lunch, plus the free Botanical Gardens, it cost us about $40. Who got value for money?

 

We both did. We are early 60s, fit, and walk. They were late 60s, unfit, and could not walk.

 

Dinner? Why book? Because there is insufficient seating to serve 2000 people in one sitting or one restaurant. In the speciality (extra cost) restaurants there may be less than 100 covers. Fortunately only a minority will dine there one night. As for the main restaurant 1000 first sitting, 1000 second.

 

Now we have not tried this but you may be able to swap, on a day by day basis, as some people will go to the specialist or casual dining. Now they do not have to tell anyone what they intend but, as we discovered, this can mean that your table companions wait 10-15 minutes in case you are late.

 

I would reccommend that others tell their table waiter if they do not intend to dine and you could ask the maitre d' if there is space at a different time/table.

[ace of swords]

Thank you for your reply,

We are on the Oceana/Caribbean in March.

I'm dissapointed to learn about the lack of good ales on board.

Thanks for your tips on the dinning arrangements,

My wife has choosen 3 trips, all including shopping.

:(

Any more top tips for first time cruisers ?.

[Pontius Navigator]

Thank you for your reply,

We are on the Oceana/Caribbean in March.

I'm dissapointed to learn about the lack of good ales on board.

Thanks for your tips on the dinning arrangements,

My wife has choosen 3 trips, all including shopping.

:(

Any more top tips for first time cruisers ?.

 

I can't remember the details of the Caribbean ports of call. Which ports will you be at?

 

If Fort Lauderdale there is a large mall a short taxi ride from the port. In our case they provided free shuttles.

 

In Key West you land at the shops.

 

In the US Virgin Islands (St Thomas?) or tour driver gave us a toilet stop (buying opportunity with a relation). Later the ship was moored hard against the shops with a great, cheap, local beer kiosk near the bow.

 

In Dominica ditto with a 1st rate hotel and an undercover, open air, bar in the hotel and good local beer.

 

In Trindad we did not venture ashore. Tobago, IIRC, was in a dock near the town which might be fine for shopping but . . .

 

One of the first ports had a main shopping area of small jewellers, camera shops, watch shops etc. If you have something specific in mind research before you go. Take as many notes with you as you can so that you can compare what is on offer with the specification and price of what you research.

 

For example I have a Citizen Skyhawk watch. It is in Titanium. From memory you might think the offer is the same and much better value. However stainless steel is much cheaper anyway.

 

Perfumes are available at good prices too. Best place we found was the port duty-free shopping complex off the jetty. You will know where it is by an absolutely fabulous one man steel band. His music is sublime and he is wasted on a dock side.

[daiB]

Thank you for your reply,

We are on the Oceana/Caribbean in March.

I'm dissapointed to learn about the lack of good ales on board.

Thanks for your tips on the dinning arrangements,

My wife has choosen 3 trips, all including shopping.

:(

Any more top tips for first time cruisers ?.

 

 

 

And what is wrong with Newcastle Brown Ale?

 

I suspect supply problems with barrels would restrict choice especially in the Carribbean

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

 

:cool:

 

Dai

[Pontius Navigator]

And what is wrong with Newcastle Brown Ale?

 

Nothing, in Newcastle.

 

Seriously I like to try the local brew. I was disappointed in St Petersburg. As we left the docks we were told that the fortress that we passed was actually a brewery as the Russians love their beer, but we never got near a bottle.

 

In the Far East it is de rigeur to drink Tiger and Tops. In Canada the best tipple, IMHO, was Molson's etc.

 

I once had Watney's Red Barrel, in Bahrain, never again.

 

Give me a glass of the local amber nectar every time.