Robjame
Members-
Posts
1,339 -
Joined
Content Type
Forums
Store
Blogs
Downloads
Events
Gallery
Everything posted by Robjame
-
Alluring Caribbean Dec 23 2022 to January 4 2023 - summation
Robjame replied to Robjame's topic in Oceania Cruises
This was meant to be a summary of our first leg, from DEC 23 to Jan 4 from the collective conversations. -
Alluring Caribbean Dec 23 2022 to January 4 2023 - summation
Robjame replied to Robjame's topic in Oceania Cruises
We missed St Barts as it was too rough to anchor and tender. Instead we zigged and zagged on a sea day. -
I think I can live with that - nothing non-alcoholic😉
-
Thanks Rob. I will put this in the file - It’s not about green but BS baffles brains.
-
Happy to see that Oceania is sharing the price pain …. 🤣
-
These are thoughts from some of the CC roll callers: — everyone had a wonderful Christmas cruise and are looking forward to Dubai next year - mentioned most was the fantastic new friends - it was a tight group starting with our roll call and moving to the informal Meet and Greet - Decorations were very tasteful and understated - opinions varied on the service - — the Riviera refurb was a solid win - no misses that we noticed - Concierge lounge (A?) was never serviced - no concierge and disappointing or non-existent snacks. When asked, guests were told to go to open concierge desk on deck 5 - the breakfast times at MDR and Terrace were too short a window and too similar (the times) and did not match those published in Currents - Happy hours were not always published in Currents - new Baristas is fantastic - La Reserve Odyssey (cc group of 10) was a wonderful night. La Reserve Dom Perignon was not, neither the champagnes or the food - Embarkation was smooth and quick. Not the disembarkation. - Oceania excursions were hit and miss in price and experience. - Beverage package increase and gratuity increases mid-cruise were Ill- conceived though some of us found solutions - Terrace selections were reduced by a large table display pushing $10 Bloody Mary’s On a personal note - our toilet flooded 6 different times (the poop deck we called it) twice in the wee hours. Plumbers finally addressed it seriously (yesterday) and replaced key parts. We found $400 OBC added to our account as a courtesy. For the most part we all had a lovely time.
-
Yes I think you are right on. At 2 or 3 am it just feels stopped
-
Riviera and Marina - if you are going to floor 15 - Horizons - take the front elevators. Tha back ones don’t go to 15. You will be confused when you get off the elevators as some are bow facing and some are aft facing. A Quick check as you exit the elevator is to look for the telephone on the wall. The telephone is always on the Port side. A quick glance and you will look like a pro as you correctly turn to the side of your stateroom.
-
Here is a copy of the email we received. Someone can correct me, but what Riviera seems to be doing is shutting down the engines in the middle of the night and bobbing along without power. is this is a new tactic? The result is sufficient difference in motion to wake us. As well slamming noises are heard as waves hit the hull at undesirable angles. This might carry on for a couple of hours with brief bursts of power to correct the direction. Not impressed. Do cruise lines pay port charges by the hour? If not why not stick at port rather than drift?
-
3 wines which we have found quite useful are: Wente Vineyards Southern Hills Cab Sauv- Livermore Valley - California (Red) Villa Maria Sauv Blanc- Marlborough - New Zealand - (White) Poesie Soave Classico DOC - Veneto Italy (white) This last one we love as it is one of the few that goes well with salads Just suggestions We don’t like over oaked wines and ABC
-
Any drink you find on any bar menu or any wine by the glass or any beer is included in the Prestige menu as far as I know. However you might not find all drinks at all bars. For example Baristas has a limited menu suitable for aperetivos or after dinner drinks or drinks with coffee but not the fancy cocktails. Or - we like a pastis (cinquante et un or Ricard) before dinner but it may only be available at Main Bar. Having said that, we have ordered it from any restaurant and it arrives. Caveat: there are some specialty drinks only available in specific specialty restaurants - sake in red Ginger or a special after dinner liquor in Tuscan. We are in the habit of asking if in doubt “Is this included in the drink package?” - avoids surprises.
-
I did not upgrade for the $30 pp pd
-
Haven’t checked but if it is not on one of the bar menus, it is not included in a beverage package- I will check at one of the bars.
-
Unless you are on a beverage package. However I will talk to others (an easy thing to do with bartenders 😀) and we’ll weigh that with article that clearly states bartenders are salaried.
-
A little research will set you straight: https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=261 ”As mentioned above, not all members of the ship staff receive a share of the gratuities paid by passengers. Bartenders, main show entertainers and third-party shop employees are some of the more obvious ones, but they're not the only ones.” But then again you are the self-proclaimed expert
-
Good Thinking….. of course at $21.60 a 1 oz pour (to get a 2 oz.) that is expensive research.😉
-
6:30 to 9:00 in Waves Grill, not Terrace - Riviera now
-
These times differ on sea days. Today a sea day Waves - 9 am Horizons - 11 am Martinis - 1 pm Grand Bar/Casino Bar -12 noon
-
We have met several staff who are not joining Vista until the contract after Vista sails because, if they join before the first cruise, there are no gratuities to share.
-
Orv et al: The single malts that have been added to the bar menu are included in The Prestige Beverage Package. Catch 22 - not all are on board yet -Oban, Cragganmore, Balvenie - I did have a double Macallan $34 + 20% before lunch for research purposes
-