Damicom

Good to hear. Take good care of yourself.

3 hours ago, bob brown said:

Easy...after words,

click to choose files

select photos 

then done

finally, submit reply....

 

I have added a photo emailed to me by Grace Stewart, of the pilot boat at Cobh...

How about giving us a update. So many are concerned.

1 hour ago, The Beach said:

I talked to Trish on shore and she said the ship got an email that Bob abd Betsy were reboarding the ship in Cork.  I hadn't heard so I called Bob.  The doctor said no to four days at sea and the slight potential for problems that could not be addressed that far from land.  He and Betsy were in Paris boarding a flight for New York.  It is still possible they will get back on in Halifax.

Sounds like a good time for Bob to get home, check in with his own medical team and do some rest and rehab. 

Oh my. Bob and Betsy deserve all the happiness in the world. Hopefully their Happy Ever After.

16 hours ago, The Beach said:

Sorry guys, bad news. Bob Brown will not be returning to the ship today.  He had a stroke this morning and he will be in ICU for 3 more days and then in a regular room 4 more days, unless something else changes. Betsy and I are leaving the ship here soon and will be staying close by to get Bob through this. We may be getting back on Insignia somewhere down the road, maybe not.  It's up in the air as we throwing everything together. I will try to keep you up to date as I know the whole ship is concerned.  Bob has made a lot of friends on Insignia.  I'm sure he will be alright physically but his spirit is a little tarnished just now. Please keep him in mind and maybe he will return towards the end of the cruise.  -Jim.

This is such sad news about Bob. I wish him good healing and a speedy recovery. He was having such a great adventure. I’m so sorry it was interrupted this way.

I was on the Tokyo to Singapore segment and was on a trivia team with Betsy.  This must be so difficult for her as well. Please send her my love.

You world travelers have really become a family. Your love and support for Bob and for one another is touching. You and Betsy are so kind and your presence will help Bob through this difficult time.

Please, if you can, keep us posted. There are so many of us sending all three of you our thoughts and prayers.

Michele and Joe D’Amico

On 5/20/2019 at 8:12 AM, CraftyMomster2112 said:

 

This is the only comment I've seen so far about how the water system tastes.  I would like very much to know what other opinions are.

It wasn’t the water system. Oceania switched to water in cartons instead of plastic bottles but the water tasted horrible. Undrinkable. I understand they switched back to plastic while exploring a better solution. (I think. I left the ship May 2 and the cartons were still in use)

The problem is real

22 hours ago, RJB said:

Sounds like it is time to organize a BOYCOTT OF the UAE.   No one should go there until they change their policys

I don’t believe decades of Israeli-Arab hostilities is going to be soled by a cruise ship passenger boycott. If only things were that simple.

16 minutes ago, Hawaiidan said:

 

One turtle.. in the whole world out of hundreds of thousands..    a  bogus study done by an 8 year old boy was taken seriously..... strictly speaking any plastic is harmful... Banning a straw is  not going to have any real impact in reality.   I worked with wild life in Hawaii as  Ranger... worked with thousands of turtles,   never ever saw one with a straw, never saw a straw wash up on the shore......Of course I only watched  for 9 years.... 

Focus on something meaningful..  Focus on the absurd will only alienate  people from the entire environmental  awareness and turn off more than it will enlist.     

 Hey, more worries...The CDC just came out and declared "saliva" a known carcinogenic.........But only is you swallow a lot.

It’s not banning a straw. It’s banning hundreds of millions of straws and if you’ve never seen one washed up on the beach, get your eyes checked. And the CDC/saliva fantasy is no argument at all.

On 2/2/2019 at 10:05 AM, su-arizona said:

Hate to sound environmentally insensitive....but I always grab a plastic bottle of water when leaving the ship, drink it while touring, and drop it in the nearest garbage can before returning to the ship.  Maybe I can be trained to bring a reusable container back with me from shore excursions...but many times that bottle has been some really dirty places. 

 

I live in the land of no-plastic-straws already so I've heard all the environmental arguments (funny how no one talks about the cost saving benefits for the restaurants) and it's okay as long a restaurants wash the rims of their glasses thoroughly.  But I can't count the number of times I've received glasses with lipstick on the rim (in restaurants ashore AND on O).  Windstar already provides reusable bottles of water/sparkling water and it tastes dreadful.  Not looking forward to the experience on Oceania...

You can get your own glass or metal straw and carry it with you. You should also make sure you recycle your plastic water bottles. 

It would be kinder to see the world without contributing to its destruction 

2 minutes ago, Hawaiidan said:

 You are  correct....this is fantastic news...   The National Parks are also doing this..  and providing filling stations.  People have no idea of the huge impact that  discarded plastic water bottles have had, un like straws which have had none. 

Thanks O....... thanks a lot.    

How can you say straws have had no impact on the environment? All plastics are detrimental. Straws are particularly unnecessary. I think almost all humans are capable of drinking without a straw, particularly if it will contribute to saving the planet. Have you seen the video of the straw being removed from a turtle’s nose? 

This was disturbing. From an article in Readers Digest

They brought out cardboard water bottles on the Insignia a few weeks ago. The water tasted like cardboard. I couldn’t drink it

On 3/22/2019 at 12:50 AM, Mura said:

Which is something we all do.  I was just wondering if it was a time consideration ... since we found our visit to Wadi Rum such a highlight.

 

Others don't need to be guided by OUR choice, of course.

 

Mura

 

I agree. Wadi Rum was such an unanticipated thrill. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

1 hour ago, cbb said:

classiccruiser777- we did take a taxi in India, and our driver asked us if we knew what the most important thing every driver should have.

 

I responded 'well, it appears that brakes would be handy' but he said 'no no.....a horn.'   We all laughed because.....truth!

We spent a month touring India and hired a car and driver. Initially it was terrifying and after a while our driver explained that how you honk your horn has meaning to other drivers. It’s some kind of code. You may have noticed that trucks have “horn please” painted on their tails. That’s so the truck driver knows where you are and what you’re about to do. 

It got to a point where on longer stretches I was able to fall asleep in the car.  

That said, India has the highest traffic fatality rate in the world..

The traffic in India is not too bad in the places the Insignia wtll be stopping

19 hours ago, cbb said:

damicom-

Many of the Worldies of '16 remain in contact with each other on "that" social media forum, including the Capt,  GM, both CDs and many of the staff and crew.  Ray Carr had told us he would be joining ATW19 and the '16 worldies on board now were delighted to hear that.

 

Trivia with Ray:  know your collective nouns of animals, reptiles, birds like  hippopotamus=bloat or crash.  Ray is also  passionate about rock music so expect lots of those.  He's a lot of fun so have a great time at trivia!

I was on the Singapore to Rome segment of the 2016 ATW. Ray was a lot of fun. I’m joining the Insignia For Tokyo to Singapore so I’ll be missing Ray.

On 3/9/2019 at 4:53 PM, cbb said:

You'll also get a new Captain, GM, Chef, and CD at some point in your cruise.  But it is all ok....they're all pretty much wonderful! 

 

We sailed out of Miami with  our beloved Capt Flokos, he left us as his contract required him to at one point, but we all pretty much begged and pleaded with him to return--it wasn't pretty, but he did return!  GM Victor did the same and Jennifer was with us the whole way!  Farid, the Chef began with us, had to leave, then returned.  CD switched in late Feb and Ray stayed with us to the end. 

 

We all are still in contact with each other on social media!

Ray Carr comes on as CD in Singapore.

I’m joining the ship in Tokyo. We’ve been planning to take the train from Kyoto on the morning we board. I want to be sure we get to the ship on time so maybe we’ll just get back to Tokyo the night before. Can anyone tell me where the ship docks and/or suggest a convenient hotel? Thanks.

10 hours ago, Mura said:

I figured that was a good part of the reason but I'm still befuddled.  I'm not particularly religious myself although I worked in churches and temples as a singer for many years and I don't see any problem with announcing a private group meeting.  Maybe they figure if they allow one such group, they would have to allow everyone else ... scratching my head.

 

By the way, it appears my first comment was deleted and then restored.  Giving support to your theory!

 

Mura

I’m guessing they won’t promote any activity that isn’t sponsored by the ship.

4 hours ago, LinnieRed said:

Hello cruisers, I am really enjoying following you along on this adventure! 

Today I received an email from Oceania for the ATW21 and we are considering our options. This would be a huge stretch for us but not unattainable.  

 

Question: current option is to pick one of the following:

70 shore excursions 

drinks package

$7000 onboard credit.

 

Where’s the smart money  in these choices? 

 

Concierge level: is it a great difference in cruise experiences? We have been on NCL, both in the Haven and in gen pop and have enjoyed both, but of course prefer the Haven amenities. Maybe Oceania is so “sophisticated” that you don’t need the concierge level (although I did see those pics of the ladies unmentionables so am rethinking the sophistication ) 😂

 

thanks for your “on the ground” feedback.

 

 

I’ve been on a number of Oceania cruises and have appreciated that the travelers have been well behaved, sophisticated, very intelligent and delightful. I was shocked and dismayed by the underwear. I’ve been on other cruise lines where I might expect that  behavior. Hopefully this was first and a last for Oceania. 

I haven’t been on the world tour but I’ve been on segments of it and will be on a 25 day segment of this one in March.  I usually book the B1 veranda category. The rooms are exactly the same as concierge. There are some amenities in concierge that might be nice. There is access to a spa deck that you would otherwise have to pay to use.  I’ve found B1 to be just fine. The Insignia does not have a Concierge Lounge like the larger Oceania ships have. There’s room service and generally all service is excellent. Insignia is a much smaller ship than NCL and is very intimate and comfortable. In March I will be at Concierge  level, only because it was all that was available when I booked. So I’ll see if the difference is worth it. We’re considering the 2021 ATW Cruise as well.

As for the options, I’m not much of a drinker so I can’t say how the drinks package would work out. I take the excursions option.  On an ATW Cruise you’ll be doing lots of excursions and they can get expensive. That would probably be the best bang for your buck.  There are also several overland excursions during the trip that, if you chose them, add some expense.

1 hour ago, bob brown said:

Sorry if a few were offended by this, but it was just a light-hearted attempt to have fun, by those people who feel young at heart.

 

I would say the majority of those passing by were very delighted and amused by it, both passengers and crew, and it was only there for a few minutes

1 hour ago, bob brown said:

Sorry if a few were offended by this, but it was just a light-hearted attempt to have fun, by those people who feel young at heart.

 

I would say the majority of those passing by were very delighted and amused by it, both passengers and crew, and it was only there for a few minutes

I would say passers by were more incredulous than amused. There’s nothing “young at heart” about hanging women’s underwear in the halls. 

On 2/10/2019 at 5:44 PM, bob brown said:

The next big event will be occurring at 4:00 PM, at the “Barnacle Wall”, midship starboard, on Deck 5.

You have to see it.

 

Who says, “What happens on the Insignia, stays on the Insignia”?

😉

I don’t know what this is supposed to mean but hanging women’s underwear on the walls is so inappropriate. This is supposed to be a sophisticated world exploration. Not a frat party. This is disturbing.

2 hours ago, Go-Bucks! said:

 

We'll definitely get tickets in advance, but they had different priced ones depending on how high you wanted to go and if you wanted a meal.

The Burj is connected to the Mall of Dubai. There are a lot of choices for eating and the mall is very interesting for people watching. The dancing fountains are right outside and you don’t want to miss them. 

If you have time, the old Souk is worth a visit. When you get to the Dubai Creek (I took the pubic rail but I believe the HOHO goes there) there are creekside cafes that serve the most delicious mint lemonade and other Arabic food. Then you pay about .25 cents to take a water taxi across the creek to the gold souk. Just wander around.

57 minutes ago, kitty9 said:

LHT28, I never said having having kids on this cruise was bad, nor did I ever imply that the poor dad was noisy, so please don’t read those negative things into my post. I was merely pointing out that this cruise has more kids that I have seen on previous O cruises. 

 

Want to know obnoxious?  Sitting on my scooter, waiting for the elevator and having a very elderly man get off the elevator with his zipper all the way down, nearly exposing old ping and pong.  

TMI

3 hours ago, Paulchili said:

Agree about the height. You really cannot tell the difference in the view from the 90th vs the 100th floor.

As spectacular as Dubai is at the ground level (imaginative architecture) it is that boring from the air - nothing but sands as far as the eye can see (more or less). It's not like the view from the Empire State in that sense.

That said, as it is the tallest building in the world (for now), I would not miss the opportunity to go up.

The building is exquisite and it’s story is very interesting. We went in time to watch the sun set and the city lights come on. Looking down at the dancing fountains was thrilling.