Vallesan

First thing I do is check the senders email address. You know immediately if it’s suspicious and if so I block list sender and delete.

The service onboard the Marina at the moment is one of the ‘stand outs’. Somehow you can forgive a slightly ‘off’ course when it’s delivered with a smile!

We have only taken one RSSC and that was booked on a ‘promotion’. We didn’t enjoy the atmosphere on Regent. It’s a different experience to that on Oceania. But it may suit you. I’ve posted elsewhere that we cruise for a ‘floating hotel’ rather than a ‘must see every site’ type of holiday so maybe my view isn’t representative. In saying that with SM and more people taking trips in has been a lot quieter onboard in some ports. I just didn't find the service in general as good. The staff were a bit surly. It could very well have been just that cruise. We met Regent fans who’d sailed Oceania and preferred Regent. I would say if the itinerary suits and the price is right give it a shot. Our trip certainly wasn’t horrendous just not as good as our previous Oceania trips. Oh and we’d sailed Seabourn for the first time that year as well so maybe our expectations were unrealistic!

Sorry don’t know but the Wi-Fi seems fine.

Just wanted to add a bit of an update. Polo tonight for the first time which now has wonderful new leather seats and of course the 7 layer chocolate cake which I’d forgotten about completely. No Oceania trip is complete without sampling that cake! On another note this is the new Waves menu as of today. Quite reduced. But may still have your favourite.

Must admit we don’t seem to have many announcements apart from usual one and the ship docks or maybe I have just missed them!

Yes I agree with you to a certain extent. I do think that Oceania could have been clearer and handled the changes better. I think all cruise lines are scrambling to find ways to recoup their huge loses but just doing it in different ways. I think some lines are removing benefits like butlers etc. Now Silversea, there’s a complex system! First they added excursions, ‘door to door’ includes everything, ‘door to door without air’ , ‘port to port’, no air, pay up front and no refunds. Then the prices went through the roof. Now they have ‘door to door’, ‘port to port’ without air but decent deposit refund terms and now they have introduced ‘essentials’, all the onboard facilities but no tours and NO refunds. Starts to make SimplyMore look really simple! I’m sure over the next year or so most lines will get their acts together and work out what the consumer really wants. However, with 50%+ new cruisers on our current cruise and many waitlisted cruises in the coming months it looks as though SimplyMore has not affected bookings!

Hope I didn’t come across as negative about the number of 1st time Oceania cruisers. I certainly don’t feel that way. I was just surprised at just how many there are. It’s unusual that’s all. Personally I’ve not found any huge difference with SimplyMore. Certainly nothing negative. I guess it depends on your perspective and exactly how much it matters to you that you extract every last single ‘drop of blood’ for your £, €, $!!! Personally we look at the itinerary and the cost and if it fits our budget that’s it. If we don’t use some of the ‘included’ items so be it! I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful cruise. Enjoy!

No idea! I seem to have only spoken with 1st timers.

No USBs in old (non-refurbished) cabin on Marina. Don’t know about Vista but am addumning new ship so must be.

Passenger update: there are 500+ new to Oceania cruisers on this cruise! Not at all sure what this means?

We don’t sit close to the buffet itself but there is a totally different feeling in a restaurant where everyone is seated and only the waiters are moving around. Just a lot less ‘busy’ than the buffet, unless you are sat by a window which is less busy! It’s just so good to have so many choices on Oceania, so there’s always something to suit everyone’s style of dining.

We prefer leisurely so very rarely eat in the Terrace in the evening with lots of people going back and forth to the buffet. You should enjoy the GDR we’ve never had an experience when we’ve felt as though we were ‘waiting’ impatiently to be served! Go with an open mind

That’s odd because. they bring the menus as they seat you in the GDR. We regularly eat in the GDR and have never had to wait for a menu it surely must have been a one off.

Thank you! Yes I have travelled on those but they seem to be mainly in Spain. The other problem is the number and height of steps once you are on the bus! It’s all very hit and miss. The buses in the Caribbean are the worst for steep steps!

Must have missed them!

Take a look at ‘Marina Redo’ I’ve just answered that question!

Ok. I’ll try and help. We are in a Concierge cabin. The runner on the bed had been replaced with a new one but the same pattern as the original. The curtains are new as are the blackout curtains. The cushions have been recovered in the same material as the runner. The dressing table chair has been recovered in a matching material, same colour way different pattern. These changes make the sofa look shabby! It sure about the carpet but looks fine to me. Public areas: GDR lovely new carpet cream with flowers. Martinis new carpets and possible new sofas. First time on Marina but several times on Riviera. Last trip on Riviera penultimate before refit, October 22 so difficult to remember. Apart from the dark wood still in the cabins I think the ship is looking ‘refreshed’. Aquamar is a lovely new addition but has a limited menu. The photos portray the area as it really is: one part normal tables and chairs close to the windows and the other in the ‘kitchen’, a long high table and bar type stools for communal eating. Waves doesn’t look any different to me. Overall the ship had been ‘refreshed’ rather than having a ‘refit’.

Hi. What is a kneeling step? I’ve never seen or heard of this before.

Not sure what your response means but …. ‘Horses for courses’ a British saying … what suits one suit doesn’t another!

As usual you can be trusted to come up with great advice, Thank you,

Thank you!

Just one word of warning. By 9pm you are likely to be the only diners! You might just find that the staff rush you as they are ready to end a long day and the atmosphere isn’t going to be that of a ‘full’ restaurant. Just my thoughts. Maybe somebody who eats late will add a little more.

Horses for courses!

Then maybe you should try the GDR just once. You can’t really say that the TC is the best if you have ttied everything on offer!