AC Stew

I must agree with "OnTheJourney." Muster drills are an absolute necessity, and the dumbing down of a safety briefing for "convenience" is a huge mistake. Do I like standing on deck in hot/cold weather to see an actual visual of someone putting on a life jacket as opposed to a "convenient" screening on a phone or TV? Heck no! But at least I've been given a real-life visit to my actual muster station. Hopefully, I'll remember. If people choose to chatter or cruise the internet during the briefing, that's on them. Airline and cruise ship safety briefings are indeed similar. For any of my fellow Cruise Critic members who might doubt the importance of paying attention, I could cite many examples of why we should. Over a great many years in Airline Health & Safety, I've read dozens of accident reports. The one that remains permanently stuck in my brain, is the tragic 1977 runway collision of two 747s in Tenerife. When interviewed, two of the few survivors had this to say: "We were traveling with another couple, who were sitting in the row behind us. They joked about not looking at the safety demonstration or looking to identify their closest exit." But the survivors had done just that. During the evacuation, the surviving couple were unable to budge their friends, who sat frozen in their seats. OK, an aircraft is not a ship, but if we think that being forced to attend an in-person safety briefing is a "Cattle Call", just imagine the chaos of an evacuation. "Negative panic" can always kick in. However, any knowledge that we absorb will increase our chances of getting through it! I really do think that a live safety briefing is better.

I see that fitness classes (including Yoga & Pilates) are complimentary. For those who are familiar, how do they generally schedule classes? I'm primarily interested in mornings. The Oceania website talks about morning yoga on deck? Ouch ... for me, I can't do sun, so it would be a huge disappointment to be deprived of that class. Also, I'm assuming that there would be one instructor to do it all. Any comments on the quality of instructors and classes? Thank-you!

Appalling statement. I suppose then, that you don't tip your servers in a restaurant, even if the service was good? There's no difference here. If you think that the tours are overpriced, then you should not book them. Do some research and book your own tours which I often do, and there can be a very significant cost savings. Even with a tip!

Jbluebird: Good question and diplomatically phrased. If you are pleased with your tour experience, of course, you should tip! Tours are obviously contracted out to local tour operators. Your driver and guide are back at work after a long Covid shut down. While they shouldn't actively solicit your gratuity, you can be darned sure that they'll appreciate you giving it!! FYI: If it's a fairly basic tour day on a bus, we'll typically tip $5 pp. for the guide and a couple of bucks to the driver. Although, I'm guessing that the guide would probably give a portion of her tips to the driver.

Infinity Feb.11 Antarctic sailing: Oceanview dinner offerings started out to be very limited, much like the original video that was posted. About 3 or 4 days into the sailing, they expanded the stations and added to the main course selections. Stir fry noodle section was opened. Customer demand perhaps? On this cruise, the Oceanview was quite well-attended in the 3 or 4 evenings that we went. However, I'd have to rate the quality as mediocre. Not inedible, but certainly below familiar Celebrity standards. Lunch was generally OK.

Do NOT miss Celia Garland (on board naturalist/speaker's) lectures. She's remarkable! Get to the theater early. On our recent Feb.11 Argentina/Antarctic sailing, there was always a packed house. Bon Voyage!

Thanks, Jelayne. In the past, the expanded Concierge breakfast choices were available on all ships. But I did notice that it was sometimes ship specific. I guess that now, those menus for all categories under Aqua have been aligned. Hubby will miss the granola! Thanks for clarifying.

Usually, you get an expanded Room Service "Continental Breakfast" menu. As far as I know, the Continental Breakfast (only) is still complimentary. After the morning hours, there's a service charge for room service.

Hmnnn ... I guess that you're probably right. But the menu for additional amenities is kinda cool. As long as they keep offering it, I'm sure I could find something useful.

Last time we were in Aqua (S Class), there were already a couple of brand-new yoga mats in the cabin. I did take one to a yoga class, but only once. The new yoga mat was a bit slippery, and, in my experience, they have to be worn in. I ended up using the well-worn gym mats for class. Of course, well-wiped before and after! Never got the email, but I'll certainly be on the lookout for one on our next Aqua sailing.

Oh for crying out loud ... you're ignoring the whole point of this discussion. Nothing "humorous" about that.

I've digested (pardon the pun) this entire thread, and I find myself fascinated by the divergent emotions expressed. Although, for those who freely admit to not frequenting the OV, that kinda makes your opinions somewhat less valuable to this discussion. On a longer sailing we do enjoy the occasional relaxed dinner in the OV. We like the quiet, and the ability to select healthier choices. Ditto to those who've already explained our reasons. I'm not going to argue about the need for cost cuts and the like. My own groceries cost more, everyone's cost more. My problem (in reacting to the video) is the fact that the reduced hot food offerings appear to have been marinating in the half-scraped pans for far too long! Very unappealing. I don't mind if Celebrity wants to reduce the choices, but OMG, give us fish and chicken and veggies that are more freshly prepared and nicely presented! And fried fish fingers ... seriously?! I agree with the folks who actually dine in the OV and can live with changes but concede that the changes have gone too far. As for hubby and moi, we'll see for ourselves in a few weeks.

Awesome photos, thank-you so much for sharing! Question: Do you know if Alejandro is staying on for the next couple of months? We'll be on the February 11 sailing. (He's one of my faves.) Thanks!

Dress Code/shorts/flip-flops in the Dining Room conversations have been Cruise Critic fodder for years! And I freely admit that years ago, I was somewhat bothered when I saw grown men sporting T-shirts and shorts and baseball caps being allowed in. (I'd silently cheer if they were turned away.) We don't wear ball gowns or tuxes or anything that cumbersome, but we've always tried to look "nice" for the dining room. Still do ... our choice. But am I still bothered if someone wants to hold "casual/comfortable" to a lower bar? Heck no! We sit at a table for two. What you wear is your own business. Of course, I wouldn't want to be next to a guy in a tank top with hairy armpits and a baseball cap that advertises political slogans! Probably though, that guy would prefer to be in the Ocean View anyway. Times are different and I am older. I won't lower my standards, but I've learned to go with the flow.

Leaving your vax card at home in a safe is not much different than trying to travel with your passport locked at home in your safe. When you need it ... you need it. Well, we tried.

Why would you not bring your vaccination card?! For the present, covid rules have been relaxed for most cruises. But as you said yourself, "it seems like the rules constantly change." Regulations in your ports of call could be different, or they too could change. Bring your card, your good sense about crowds and all that, chill, and enjoy a great cruise!

Noise aside, the cabin was spacious and comfortable. One full lounger on the balcony, along with a little table, and two of the low backed non-reclining chairs. And of course, you can't beat the view. If you experience the "sledgehammer" ceiling banging, at least you can cite a definite sailing (October 24/22 Transatlantic) on which previous guests were disturbed. And look to see if the shims (adjacent to cabin 11271) are still in place. I would guess that they'd have to keep a maintenance log to record reported issues? Good luck and Happy Sailing.

On the recent Edge Transatlantic from Civitavecchia, we were in SV 11273. While in the Med, we did hear some "louder than normal" banging and creaking, apparently from the ceiling area, bordering the neighbouring cabin. But the noise was intermittent; we actually joked about it with our cabin steward. However, once into the Atlantic, with a few nights of higher seas, it was no longer a joking matter. The noises kept me up on a couple of nights. I have never heard such cacophony in a ship's cabin! It was not normal creaking that we've always experienced on every other class ship ... this was far different. It sounded like a loud hammer banging above us ... all night long! We actually were compelled to inform Guest Services, wondering if something was wrong. They sent a maintenance "joiner" who looked at the walls. We pointed out that someone had inserted several shims into seams between the wall and ceiling overhang. Clearly, we weren't the first guests to have been disturbed. The guy wouldn't really comment, but he said that he'd check the cabin above us. Did he? Don't know. But the seas did calm down for a few days and the noise was diminished. Never entirely, but enough so that we could sleep. Now that this thread has pointed out the noise issue on Edge Class ships, I'm wondering if we need to expect that this would be an ongoing problem? For us, another reason to avoid Edge Class. Loved the Transatlantic experience (as always); did not love the ship.

C'mon people! Delta, Omicron, or whatever new Greek letter or number comes into the picture, some of us might get a "little" sick, some might still get "a lot" sick. My unvaccinated next-door neighbour died last week from Omicron. This week, two couples in my community (fully vaccinated) got really, really sick from Omicron. Could have been the Holland America Alaska cruise, could have been the airport or flight home. Yet another couple picked up Omicron from Disney World and escaped with super mild symptoms. Ya just never know. So, unless we're qualified epidemiologists, we shouldn't be rating covid variants like our favourite fruits. The vast majority of us can just try to learn as much as we can, pay attention to the changes, get vaccinated if we're able, and take precautions. And YES, get out there and enjoy our cruise adventures! Nobody is enthralled with the inconvenience of testing, and I for one, will be doing one helluva happy dance when it's over and done with. But for now ... we'll do whatever it takes to get on the ship.

To the OP: Really? That's a no. No friends, acquaintances or relatives, unless they too, have put in the time and $$ to reach Diamond or above. It might seem like a nice gesture to bring your niece in for a cuppa, but how embarrassed would you both be if/when she gets "carded" and turfed out?!

Honestly, I think it's virtually impossible to get anywhere near an accurate accounting of Covid cases onboard. Too many folks are self-testing and then may (or may not) self-isolate. They won't report. Many not reporting their positive self-tests for fear of being forced into quarantine. (Not judging, just presenting probable facts.) Many getting sick, sticking on a mask (maybe), then strolling about as if nothing was different. Of course, they're not reporting either. And once home, if we succumb to the virus, very few are willing to be on a 3 hour hold with the cruise line to report said illness. Reading these Rolls, there are a significant number of returning cruisers becoming sick with Covid. On my recent Equinox sailing, crew were told by the Captain to avoid Covid conversations with guests. Providing covid numbers or info could result in immediate dismissal! I will personally vouch for this statement. Bottom line, it's out there, and most likely in far greater numbers than we know. For us, we'll maximize all recommended precautions. We'll weigh the pros and cons of what we do know. But we'll still keep sailing!

I think so, but sorry, I don't know for sure. However, in the "pre-departure" information sheet delivered to the cabin, I do remember seeing a section on instructions for Back 2 Back guests. They obviously have protocols in place.

Just back from the June 26 sailing. I don't use the App. We enjoyed a full slate of entertainment, always pre-dinner music in the lounges and the atrium. I won't say that all were "fantastic" but there were certainly some standouts. The production cast were all really top rate! Even if you've seen the shows, see them again! As for Covid, the perennially "chatty" Captain Matt made no mention of any cases. (But that doesn't mean that there was no Covid.) All crew were tested about 3 days in and none of our wait staff, cabin steward, butler, bartenders etc, had gone missing. The ship was booked at about 75% and crowds were getting close to pre-Covid levels. We're home now for 2 days and no coughing ... once again, I think that we've managed to escape the virus. The ship looks great, you'll enjoy a wonderful sailing!

Agree with TeeRick: I've always found Dani's posts to be interesting and informative. Just returned from the Equinox and we enjoyed a lovely cruise. We've managed to avoid Edge class, but finally gave in and booked the Edge for an October Transatlantic. Not for the ship ... for the itinerary. Dani's post confirmed my concerns, and I will keep my expectations in line with her comments.