Flatbush Flyer

Not sure where the US State Department’s “renew on line” project is at this moment (last time I checked several months ago, the beta test was done). When it’s up and running, you’ll not need to send in the old passport. Apparently, the minute you submit the online renewal application, the existing passport still in your possession becomes voided.

Look at your O invoice, it will tell you the cabin number and classification you’ve purchased. I assume your invoice details will govern what you get.

I haven’t searched to see if anyone else may have noticed it but… Our beloved B category “extended balconies” on Oceania and Marina have been reclassified as Concierge cabins.😳

Three cruises?🤔

But O is only a Premium line (or as some of their old advertising said, ultra-premium). Glad you’re enjoying the cruise. A suggestion: Do find the time to submit your mid-cruise comment cards. BTW: who is your General Manager and Cruise Director?

As I have often posted over the years: At least a month (preferably two) prior to embarkation, you or your TA can make special F&B requests which O will do its best to accommodate. We have two standard requests. We ask for our cabin fridge to be kept stocked with small bottles of Pellegrino and cans of Coke Zero.(both regular and caffeine-free). The former is usually no problem. The latter (caffeine-free Coke Zero- NOT Coke Lite) sometimes gets lost in translation from one world region to another. As for food (beyond dietary restrictions), a great example of O’s accommodation can be found on Sirena where the merger of Polo and Toscana as Tuscan Steak resulted in limiting the traditional list of available items from each of the partner venues. One casualty was the Aragosta Fra Diavola. However, a request to the Exec Chef early in the cruise will be honored if at all possible. We’ve even had bartenders (mostly among the original “Bali Boys”), who are aware that we’ll be coming onboard and often have real lemon juice set aside for our Side Cars. (Fortunately, now that O has upped its cocktail game, fresh juices as ingredients are more readily available).

Lido Deck? That would be on the Love Boat.

Not always.

Since many cruise-lines do similar worldwide itineraries, you may want to modify your question along the lines of “once you have certain ports in mind (particularly start and end since you may want to add land stays too), what factors determine your choice of ship?” For example: Lots of cruise-lines do the Med and start/stop at Civitavecchia (Rome) and/or Piraeus (Athens). But, antiquities remain the same regardless of who gets you there. IMO, Once you have what you want to see in focus, your attention should immediately turn to your “home away from home” (particularly if you’re looking at a longer cruise of at least two weeks or more). The ship itself and its quality/value quotient then becomes the most important consideration. Note that I’m not talking about cheapest cabin price (that’s not the sole determinant of value). Rather I am talking about “bang for your buck” since one cruise line that is all or mostly inclusive can be a better value (quality/price) than another cruise line that nickel-dimes you for every little thing (and then serves you mediocre food too). With all that in mind, we’ve found a preferred cruise-line with which we begin our search for a future cruise. So, in one sense, you could say that the ship is the most important consideration for us (that is, as long as that cruise-line goes where we want to be).

FetaCheese: did you email me this morning?

When I posted my original Cheesesteak comment, I was referring to Waves on Riviera. My discussions with the GM (himself a former O F&B manager), who agreed with my offered correction, resulted in the necessary fix. Perhaps, on Vista, you were an eventual benefactor of that discussion?

Whatever you do, make sure you’re booking a flight on one of the classic Dehavilland Beavers (while they’re still around).

Given my original post about the “non-Philly CheeseSteak” and my refusing it, how could it be confusing?

The benefits are the same as regards BoB discount, price drop match, low deposit, etc. the only difference is more SBC for picking an actual cruise as opposed to the FCDC.

Yes - recently $250 SBC for book onboard or $100 SBC FOR FCDC.

FWIW: The term FCC, which was a bit confusing during the height of the Covid era (because it could mean either/both Future Cruise Certificate and Future Cruise Credit is now differentiated by the term FCDC (future cruise deposit certificate) being applied to the onboard purchase item. When you actually get the emailed FCDC certificate, you’ll see the new title at the top of the page.

The only Cabin overhead PA announcements are supposed to be for critical announcements and emergencies. I was talking about the regular announcements in the public spaces which, by the time you turn on the TV and go to Channel 25 (Bridge Cam) to hear them are almost done.

Oceania has not used the term OBC (OnBoardCredit) for its own non-refundable SBC (i.e., ShipBoardCredit) since starting to allow those $ to be used for tours et al. purchases prior to boarding. Now OBC is best limited to citing refundable $ from your TA purchased as a gift.

Yes - a small but telling change - basically going from service to sales. I don’t like it.

Glad you like it (as do I). One thing though: Moonstruck’s “neighborhood” is not Flatbush (home of numerous other Brooklyn based movies). The Moonstruck neighborhood is now considered part of what has become the “oh-so-swank” Carroll Gardens (though it will always be the edge of Red Hook to me). Most importantly, however, don’t confuse Brooklyn with New York (many old time locals’ other name for the island of Manhattan). A long time ago Brooklyn (which eventually became Kings County of New York State and one of the five “boroughs” of New York City) was itself the fourth largest city in the United States. We even had our own baseball team - “dem bums” - the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers.

One of my pet peeves is that, when a public space PA announcement is made (e.g., Captain at noon), there is no delay between the PA signal and the talking. If you’re in you’re cabin and you want to listen, you have to open the door or turn the tv on to channel 25. By the time you do either, you’ve missed a bunch of the announcement’s beginning. There really needs to be at least a 5 second delay.

Because I ordered a Philly CheeseSteak which was, in no possible way (nor interpretation) what was served to me. Ever had a Philly CheeseSteak? If so, you’d have returned it too.

If you’re talking about now, you’re correct: we live on the North Shore of San Francisco Bay! When I was growing up/living in Brooklyn from the late ‘40s until mid ‘60s, Red Hook unofficially encompassed a larger area than now. I’m guessing that Grandma’s place at Henry & Sackett is now considered part of Carroll Gardens(?) while Columbia Street either side of Union St. (where my dad had two movie theaters (several block apart)) may now be on the outer perimeter of Red Hook. In any case, Brooklyn then and Brooklyn now are not quite the same. and it’s all due to the “trolley dodgers” moving to L.A.!

All depends on which CD you’ve got. As aforementioned, Ray Carr is the “gold standard” for O. A morning show that’s so funny, people tune in just to see what the latest antics are. Minimal announcements as well.

Brooklyn Boy here too. Beyond Brooklyn, the only other great bagels are Montreal.