MarkieMarkNYC

The news is reporting that unfortunately the flu shot may not be as effective this year. It was only 10% effective in Australia which may be a sign as to what the flu season in the Northern Hemisphere is going to be.

That is the preliminary estimate and it's very unfortunate.

There are research efforts to create a universal flu vaccine that would protect against all (or almost all) strains and variants without the need for seasonal component changes. Hopefully something will be developed in our lifetimes.

I wonder if it is a case of:

 

1. Worldly travelers not getting their flu shot as recommended; or

 

2. Wrong flu shots?

 

Hard to imagine that a line like O doesn’t mandate all its employees get the flu shot. Maybe even a couple.

 

I do know that it’s been an issue where some passengers refuse to get recommended shots , such as yellow fever shots, before taking cruises. Really have to wonder how much that’s coming into play? A flu shot is cheap, painless, and easy to get.

Jinx! :D

Stay healthy.

This makes me wonder if the flu strain circulating on board is matched with what is included in US and European vaccines this year and if Oceania requires that its staff receive a flu shot each year.

Given that many Oceania passengers would be considered high-risk for flu complications (given their age and/or underlying health status), and the inherent close contact found on cruise ships, it would seem that they should.

Explain then.

It's call "context" and was part of a larger paragraph.

If you need an explanation for that, then there really is no point.

I do however understand that at least one person was afraid of becoming a bobble head having to acknowledge another in a hall or passageway.

Presumably you are referring to me, and needless to say you have misrepresented what I wrote.

It's fine to take potshots but at least be truthful.

Maybe I should not be so bold, but "warmth" is one of those unquantifyables that sets off my alarm bells when I read about it here. If the promised warm and fuzzy feelings are not produced, to whom does one submit a complaint? What would or could the recourse be?

+1

I can imagine that if enough people complain about a perceived lack of "warmth" from senior officers, or if Oceania reads this board, they may end up instructing those officers that there is a segment of their passengers that require this.

Officers would then be expected to "warm up".

I'd prefer efficient, capable officers to be themselves rather than walk around with forced, disingenuous smiles and head nods just to pacify those passengers.

It's remarkable to me that people actually pay attention to whether a senior officer looks and nods at them. If one passes me without acknowledgment, I assume they are focused on something, or that it isn't part of their cultural DNA, or whatever. But clearly it sticks with many people well after a cruise has ended.

What you see as being aloof may be seen by others as being unobtrusive.

 

Look at it this way: what makes a great waiter in a restaurant? Is it someone who acts like your BFF or is it someone akin to the inconspicuous server in the movie, "My Dinner With André"?

 

IMO, a great manager (of anything related to service/hospitality) should be so confident (due to vigilant observation) that the staff is performing at the highest levels of performance that there is never a need for him/her to initiate a conversation inquiring about your satisfaction. Of course, s/he should be openly receptive, courteous and attentive should you approach him/her with comments about personnel, service, conditions, problems, etc.

 

Though not exactly the same situation, I am reminded of one of "Max's" casual "delicatessens" in SF where in a "service creed" printed on the menu, the manager promised to pay for your meal if any server ever asked you "how is your food?" Why??? Because a good server would never let anything unacceptable ever reach your table.

 

Whether it's the ship's captain or it's hotel director or any other senior staff member with whom you would not normally rely on for daily attention to your needs or desires, I see their purpose as providing assurance that your leisure experience is excellent rather than trying to be part of that experience.

 

 

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Beautifully stated! (y)

You're proof of that for New Yorkers. Here's proof that you were right about South Carolina too. :halo:Charleston, for the fifth year in a row, is the Friendliest city in the U.S. according to Conde Nast Traveler Magazine which agrees with you!!!

 

https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2015-08-11/the-2015-friendliest-and-unfriendliest-cities-in-the-us

 

I am looking forward to our four upcoming O cruises. It doesn't matter if officers converse with me or not however I feel friendly crew & officers do make for a more enjoyable environment IMO.

NYC is typically at the bottom of various rankings of friendliness. We like it that way. We value directness and honesty. We would never confuse friendliness with conversation skills.

It's definitely not a place for delicate flowers.

Guess the staff aren't from NYC if they nod or strike up a conversation. Bet they may even look you directly in the eye.

It's true. We New Yorkers are terrible conversationalists compared to South Carolinians. :halo:

I disagree.

The staff meet passengers ALL the time and yet they are happy (or at least willing) to greet them always - in the hallways, in the restaurants, etc.

The officers are rarely seen and they rarely encounter passengers - certainly nothing like walking on Fifth Avenue in NYC and passing hundreds of people. Those few times that they pass by a passenger, they certainly could acknowledge them - as a simple courtesy, if nothing else. It's like the passengers are invisible to them or below their dignity. Never mind that it's the passengers that pay their salaries. :)

I think that this is the difference that Azamara cruisers often mean when they say that the officers on A are friendly - not that they stop to chat with each one of them - they just don't ignore them.

JMO

Well, I find they generally acknowledge me. It might be luck of the draw. Or maybe some people are more approachable than others. Who knows...

Paul

I rarely have had staff member not at least nod when passing some will say good morning or what ever but most at least nod when passing

Some will strike up a conversation

I will say also some do keep the head down but in my experience it is only a few

 

I find some passengers do not speak or acknowledge others when passing in the hallways

 

I always smile or say hello when in the hallways even if I do not know them ...on deck is another story

 

that is just me

That has been my general experience as well.

I have two things to add to the conversation here:

1 I do not need to engage the officers in conversation nor do I need my ego stroked. However, I would like to be greeted or at least acknowledged by a passing officer - even if it is just a subtle tilt of a head. This usually does not happen on Oceania but always does happen on Azamara.

2 We spent an incredible Azamazing evening in Ephesus when we had a private evening concert in the amphitheater. There is nothing like being the only group in Ephesus and having the whole place to ourselves.

All that said, we definitely prefer Oceania to Azamara when all things are considered.

I personally don't think your expectation is unreasonable, and I do find that officers generally do make a subtle attempt to acknowledge guests.

But I guess some people want more - and it makes me think of life in a big city like NYC vs. a smaller town. People often think of New Yorkers as cold and even rude because we don't smile more and we often don't make eye contact. But if we smiled or tilted our head at every passing stranger we would all look like crazy bobbleheads. In the same way, perhaps sometimes officers are focused on high-level tasks and it's not on their mind to acknowledge every passenger they pass. Their jobs aren't as public facing as stewards, waitstaff, etc. who we would perhaps expect to be more outwardly friendly.

Just my 2 cents.

I think some people need to get a warm and fuzzy vibe from senior staff to feel important. Some egos need to be stroked more than others.

Yes and yes.

Why the refusal to use your Travel Agent? That person could have gotten the answers for you long ago, and you wouldn’t still be pouting about it.

 

I disagree with an above poster. This forum is not the best place to come for many of your questions. The best place, by far, is from Oceania, via one’s Travel Agent!

Are there travel agents for monkeys?

What a crock! Is that why they put the OP on hold for ten minutes without returning with an answer or some sort of solution? I agree a good TA is the solution but that's no reason to shoot the messenger. But then CC is filled with people who will bear no criticism of their favorite cruise line.

With what part of my reasoning do you disagree?

Statistically you have a far greater chance of getting sick from Norovirus on a ship than from bad food in a port

Evidence?

"It is important to remember that everyone makes mistakes at one time or another, and that there are many users who use English as a second language, especially on our Cruise Boards. There are also a number of people who suffer from learning disabilities and who have difficulty noticing their spelling mistakes. Do not make comments on the spelling and grammar of other users. It is simply not a productive expenditure of energies."

Can you point out where I referred to spelling or grammar mistakes?

I am commenting on the histrionic quality of the post coupled with the use of terms like "smart ass" and "monkey".

I would expect that one who expresses themselves like that in writing is perhaps likely to conduct themselves the same way verbally, which may impede their chance of obtaining a satisfactory response.

If your verbal communication is anything like your writing style, I can imagine that it might be hard for customer service reps to respond effectively to your questions.

We have never found the ph suitable for course by course proper dining. Just too small. A larger suite with a real dining table works

 

If we are in a ph we tend to order a bunch of appetizers from the specialties. We find small plates work better

 

 

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I completely agree.

For me, the best meal in a PH is a burger and 2 martinis.

Quick and easy.

I was raised the same way - no hats at the table. But I really couldn't care less if someone else does. In the same way I don't care if I share a table with someone who is obese, or wearing a tacky shirt, or even Southern! After all, that person might actually be a good person.

But like you say, JMO and YMMV.

I once saw someone wear a Royal Trace hat at dinner. Now that was crazy.

A man in a hat?? Great Steve Scott!

I have to agree with this poster. A lot of people posting on this board are sounding like a bunch of pretentious snobs who seem to think they own Oceania cruises.

 

I sure hope the people on my cruise next week are a lot more down to earth and accepting of their fellow cruisers, or I will head back to AZ.

 

Everyone needs to chill. Unless you chartered the ship, you are simply along for the ride.

 

 

 

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It's probably worth keeping in mind that there are a handful of regulars here and there are many thousands of happy Oceania customers.

My experience is that the typical Oceania passenger is easygoing, well-educated, and possesses a sense of humor. There may be a few clucks and bobbing heads when confronted by something like a hat in a dining room, but I think that most of my fellow travelers are not so obsessed with the minor peccadilloes of others.

In September "Round the British Isles" there was a gentleman guest who wore a black hat with a white band and a brim, a la Frank Sinatra, from the time he boarded till the time he disembarked. I never saw him without it. In the end, I thought perhaps there was a particular reason for his wearing headgear. Perhaps he had some scaring on his scalp, for example? Having fixed on that idea, I stopped worrying about his wearing a hat indoors, or at the table. J

You raise an interesting point.

I have a good friend who recently had Mohs surgery performed on his scalp. He had to have a good part of his head shaved and has to keep the incision site bandaged for a few weeks. I went to the theater with him and he wore a baseball cap during the performance (which mortified him because he doesn't like when people wear hats indoors).