FetaCheese

Happy to say that my daughter and son-in-law are now on their 1st cruise together, (his 1st ever cruise) on X in Alaska. She has elite status, based on our many, many X cruises, starting in 1993. Last X was 2018. She has been on many cruises with us, so I'm confident that she will really enjoy the cruise life, especially now with husband. Proud to say she made all travel arrangements, air, hotel cruise, shorex, herself. I did share some advice, learned from some 50 cruises. And of course much that I learned from fellow CC pax.

From Travel Insured, FlexiPax is a relatively new product offered by brokers only You will not find that product on Travel Insured website. Have purchased it 2 times from Trip insurance store. Slightly different coverages than World Wide trip protector, but above broker can guide you to best policy for "your exact trip".

Forgot to say, another CC member @jonthomas gave me a heads up on the flash sale. Thanks JT.

No secret. It is on the O website. O has reduced the quantity of mailings, as was said in a previous earnings call. One can learn much from those calls.

Disappointed with so many deletions. Grilled fish, chicken to name 2. On NCLH investor day at NYSE, CEO said they were eliminating about 30% of food items (slow movers), so this is the result in just 1 venue. Current Waves menu on Sirena (from O website) https://www.oceaniacruises.com/Documents/Menus/1719/Waves-Menu.pdf

Not sure that chairs/loungers available on Promenade deck. Recent cruisers, please confirm.

Oceania Flash Sale now thru 29 May. 18 cruises.

On topic, but not Oceania. On our recent Viking cruise, had air from V, PHL/FLL, on AA, 11 am dep. At approximately 8am, received AA notification, flight now dep at 1 pm. Uber already on way. Panic set in that we would miss ship departure at 6 pm. Called V emergency day of travel #. They answered fast, said as long as we get into FLL by 5, we would make ship. Flight time changed 3 more times, now dep at 4 pm, ( while in Uber car to airport. ) Really anxious now. Called V back from car. Rep again answered (fast) said would check with contact at AA, came back and said, flight back to depart at 1pm., said again if arrival by 5 we would make ship. It all worked out, we made the V coach transfer, and ship. Have good ins, from trip ins store, so was not worried re: financial hit.

All of those marketing materials/mailings/magazine ads -- must be working. Also, from reading here on CC, many X, HAL, Princess refugees. Thanks for your posts.

Re: VO end of voyage survey/questionnaire. Having been on 4, I feel that I know what their product is, and how it should be delivered. When properly executed to VO Standard, I always say "Met my Expectations". In some rare instances, I will say "Above or Exceeded Expectations, or below". Therefore, I do not consider meeting expectations as a fail. Re: Bridge Tour on Star, December 2023, Captain Magnus was engaging, took ample questions, and was very personable, both on the tour, and around the ship. Took Engine Control Room Tour, same voyage, and Chief Engineer was also engaging, answered many and all questions. He also told everyone, that if he is around the ship, to ask any other questions. Both tours, I rated "Above/Exceeded Expectations" in comment section.

Interesting article in NYT re: cruise insurance claim. In Travel section.

From SeaTrade Cruise News: 1st Earnings Call https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/finance-legal-regulatory/viking-schedules-its-first-earnings-call-may-29-q1-results?utm_campaign=SC_News_Seatrade Cruise News Weekly Update_NL_05172024&utm_emailname=SC_News_Seatrade Cruise News Weekly Update_NL_05172024&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eloqua&utm_MDMContactID=9d5bd72d-7f4c-4493-b015-48013d5850ea&utm_campaigntype=Newsletter&eM=aa701701123f0394af13ba72c3450f5afc29342d5a552fc03cb711122d86b6d0&eventSeriesCode=ES_SEATRDCRSCTNT&eventEditionCode=MTM00SCC&sessionCode=S_STRDCRSNEWS&sp_eh=aa701701123f0394af13ba72c3450f5afc29342d5a552fc03cb711122d86b6d0

Thanks for your posting your impressions on 1st V cruise.

I was wondering why on Star, December 2023, and March 2024, these 2 shows were not performed. I enjoyed both on our 1st 2 V cruises, Venus December 2021, and Sea December 2022.

Thanks for the correction.

If known, please post scheduled Drydock period for any Oceania ship.

Look on page 1 of your Shorex doc. This should be included with confirmation email, along with many other documents. Will say how many shorex needed to book to obtain 25% discount on those, plus all others booked.

Each of the 4 singers in cast had their own 1 night show. Guest entertainer (singer) 2 nights. Plus several cast "production" shows. This was on Star, Dec 2023 and Mar 2024. Also, as said, CD 1 night performance. On March 2024 cruise, last night, in BCN, local entertainment was brought onboard.

Abba and Beatles Shows have been retired.

Grats USD $17 pp pd

In Prince Rupert, we walked down the shoreline -- turn right from ship -- to the "The Railroad Museum", a small railroad station house, which was relocated from somewhere else. Some interesting history there, along with artifacts of the past days. The station master lived there with his family. Free will donation. A volunteer was onsite, but museum is self guided, (and not a modern museum.). Lots of written displays to read. There is a bar/restaurant on way, overlooking the ocean. To the left of ship, marina with some shops. Up the road, we found a nice store. Eclectic, Like a general store with lots of items including souvenirs and housewares, even food. I also went to the Safeway, for a couple of forgotten non-food items. While there, I did perused the cheese cases! Also enjoyed watching the crab boats unloading and workers sorting them for the processing at the facility.

Upon arrival to Barcelona, all pax had to pass thru Immigration/Border Control in cruise terminal, before being allowed to exit terminal. Each pax had to have face to face interaction with agents, and passports were stamped. Process was very fast and efficient, with minimal waiting in que/line.

@Buck King Thanks for your comparison review. Very objective. I was on the Star, 28 DEC 2023, Hawaiian Islands voyage. Very rough seas -- the Captain did warn pax -- but did not hear the many listed loud noises as you described. We were in DV2, deck 5 midships, so perhaps cabin location makes a difference. Have read about these loud noises (fittings) on other V topic threads. I want to try Regent, but their fares do seem to be much higher than Viking. Waiting for the right sale to book ! Was also on Star TA FLL/BCN, 18 March 2024, in a DV4, deck 4, far far aft. Cabin location was just fine -- got lots of step in ! We were also bothered by loud neighbors TV -- not so loud -- that a complaint was warranted. Thanks for info that IT can lower max TV volume. Was more bothered by (same) neighbor man loudly coughing, which we could hear almost daily. Also did not complain about that.

@AMHuntFerry Thanks for posting this.

I did a Live From Regatta, Alaska Sept 2023. I think I posted a laundry ticket photo. Perhaps you will find it. Not sure on which page it is posted. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2961465-live-from-regatta-07-sept-20-sept-2023-alaska-to-california-medley-vancouver-to-la/?do=getNewComment