Csardas

We are booked in for the night before our New Year cruise on QV. Looking forward to trying it.

So am I.

These transfers seem ridiculously overpriced. Even although there are only two of us, we'd be cheaper with taxis.

We're doing an 11 night Western Med next July. My husband will be taking a smart linen jacket and for the "chic" evenings at least a suit, if not a dinner suit.

I just haven't decided yet!

Queen Margaret.

It's really amusing that almost all the advice is given by men who focus on the minimum one can get away with. I guess it's just a sign of the times.

 

People who try to look nice always will and others will get by. You just have to decide which person you are.

Well said!!

On Med/Europe cruises most passengers do tend to dress up on Evening Chic nights. My DH usually wears a DJ or a Suit but others can be seen wearing a smart Jacket /Trousers

Glad to read this. We'll be on Reflection in July 2018, around the Med and we will dress as you do.

Just depends if you want to be chic or not.

Agree!

We'd all be "comfortable" in our pyjamas. What's so bad about making some effort to dress up and look smart instead?!?

sammybonny, I would buy some food/snacks/drinks at the airport, past security. Our Titan flight on 19/8 back from Trieste, took off around 15;30 and there were THREE sandwiches left to buy! Breakfast at 8am was a long time ago!

I'd be interested in the table for two availability too. We've cruised on Cunard and once on Oceania and don't mind that the twos are close together. As another poster said, it can be the best of both worlds-private conversations and chatting to the neighbours about our day etc.

We're booked on Reflection, July next year, 8:30 sitting. How good are our odds of getting a two?

Sorry to hijack but does the same apply on Reflection re number of tables for two and a quiet area at the back? We've booked fixed, late dining, not select.

I guess us Brits always hope that "tomorrow will be better" !!!:):)

It can be. I reckon our wardrobes must be the biggest in the world as we have to have access to all four seasons' clothing in an average summer week!

Csardus;

 

Believing your report for July conditions, it is highly likely that the ship may have received scolding passenger reviews and comments , on that issue, at the end of the cruise, and management dictated a strict enforcement of policy on subsequent (August) cruises.

 

Oceania does read those comments!

Perhaps they do read our comments but wouldn't it be more appropriate for them to maintain their own rules about beds/chairs all the time?

Oceania's well documented and common courtesy policy of removing chair hog squatter items after 30 minutes is a good one.

 

Hoping the OP finds a mass market cruise line to meet his/her courtesy class since, fortunately for us, Oceania is not a good fit for him/her.

See my post, no. 13. They didn't remove items to free chairs/beds after hours, never mind 30 minutes.

As to your second paragraph, it's beneath contempt.

On Riviera in July. Bed hogs strewed belongings from 08:00 and I never saw a staff member remove them! By 12 noon the beds were still uninhabited, except by the baseball caps, STL etc. Very low class behaviour.

I've seen my doctor and a specialist and am now waiting results of an MRI scan to see if there is any underlying cause. The specialist is also arranging some physio for me, so yes I suppose until they tell me different it is a medical diagnosis.

 

BTW: Don't you just love it when the doctor looks you in the eye and says that a lot of the problem is 'age-related' :mad: Problem is that in my mind I'm still 21 but my body is telling me something totally different - and no, I'm not telling you how old I am; let's just say I'm a senior citizen and leave it at that. :D:D

My symapthies, as I feel the same. I get a horrible shock when I look in the mirror every morning as the face doesn't correlate with what's in the head!

Elder daughter is a doctor and said that anyone over 50 is considered medically "old". Don't know if that's any consollation....

Try making a mildly critical remark on the Oceania board! My god, some of them are really snide.

Speak to your Physiotherapist and tell them you're going away. They may give you a tailored 4 week programme of exercises you could follow on board. Mine sent me a video of exercises, post hip replacement.

At least, I would want their opinion on any massages etc. Good luck - sciatica is horrible!

My new hip sets it off too. My hospital did offer the card but said it would be useless as hightened security meant no airport would take it at face value. Actually, I think that's how it should be. I always end up in the full body scanner thing!

Well said Cahpek!!

When you consider the pre internet days and near impossibility of checking against other prices, you can only wonder how long these " anomalies" have existed in the industry.

Perhaps an illustration of the "Me, myself and I" sense of personal entitlement?

To return to the jeans, I can wear them every day in life which is precisely why I will not be wearing them in the evening on board. Effectively going out for drinks and dinner every night, I will be dressing smartly and not at the nadir of the dress code.

Before leaving home, take a photocopy of your passport and put it in the cabin safe. If you are required to take a passport onshore and it's lost/stolen etc, I read somewhere that you get a replacement quicker with a photocopy, rather than just the number.

Interesting thread now.I believe the staff should be able to do something about the disruptive children as they do with adults.Same consequences, if they do not calm down,Parent/carer should be sent back to cabin until they had calmed down.

As for dementia passengers,that is so sad.We had a cruise where the man next door tried to get into our cabin at 3 in the morning via connecting door.We were unaware until we received a very apologetic letter slipped under our door from his wife.I immediately wrote back and told her not to worry and indeed offered to sit with her husband one afternoon or evening so she could have a break.(understanding dementia as I have been through it personally 3 times).This was her holiday after all.The couple in question had grown up family with them and so she declined my offer.But two days later we were all disembarking for a tour and the husband was missing.Sadly all 5 missed the tour.He was missing for nearly two hours on the ship.Extremely worrying and I wonder if they will cruise with him again.

These people cannot be punished like children.Drunk passengers can become violent and lost on Shore too.

Surely it is up to the family and general practitioner to decide if a dementia passenger should sail or not.

More complex is the total upheaval for the person with dementia and how they completely change when in a different environment.Things like different colour plates,lines on carpets,sudden loud noises.etc.

I agree that maybe the family should say enough is enough, and the rest of us not judgemental..Especially for the well being of the affected passenger.

Thank you Jane. A kind, sensitive response to an illness which could hit any of us or our loved ones.

Checked the VP yesterday and Dining has been changed to Late! V happy and relieved that we don't have to face the angst of trying to change on board.:D:D

Even if all excursions were included, I wouldn't go on them unless they were a straightforward transport to and from. My anti-herding instinct is strong!!

Thanks!

We've never visited Venice from a cruise ship before so the people mover will be a new experience. I suppose distance to it will depend on berth and that could change every time Cunard is there!

We plan to make the most of our day and cherry pick our favourites to re-visit and thought a day vaporetto ticket would allow the feet a rest and the joy of up and down the Grand Canal - something we always do.The combination of the two works out a whole 2 euros each cheaper than the Cunard transfer- at least that's a contribution to Florian's music charge!