Baybear

is it possible that the "gap" from April 15-25 is a privately "chartered" cruise on the Riviera by a Company or something? And is therefore not listed as "for booking?" Is that the only reason people think it's going into drydock... the lack of a bookable cruise on those dates?

If not.. WHERE did you all get the information that she is going into drydock? And where would that be? Barcelona?

OP here: This will be my last post on this thread.

Well, today, 3 days before the cruise, we finally got our cabin assignment.

It was Good News, and Bad News..

The bad news is that it is AN INSIDE CABIN, which is what we signed up for as "Cat G guaranteed."

The good news is that is is an UPGRADE from a Cat G to a Cat F inside cabin. Ordinarily we would say "so what" to that, but it turns out we're in 10050 which is one of the two wheelchair cabins on board Oceania Riviera and from what I understand it is quite a bit larger than the other 16 "standard" inside cabins. So we're happy about all that.

Only problem is that now we'll have to go and shop tomorrow for a wheelchair or two.

Great to read a good review of a trip we're taking in five days (Feb 3) on the same ship. Since I'm a classical music "snob" I LOVE that they will be playing that around the pool. I've never been a fan of popular music, so their choices sound just right for me (but not for most, I agree).

Did they have any classical music like string quartets playing at night near/in any lounges?

I've been following the food reviews with great ferocity since I'm a gourmet all the way (and cook a lot myself)... and am looking forward to the food, most of all.

DW and I love to snorkel so we'll be snorkeling in every port except Key West on the same itineray you just went on. Only one will be a ship-tour... as you say, those are VERY expensive and you can do much better on your own as long as they get you back to the ship on time.

Glad you enjoyed the cruise and we hope to duplicate or even exceed your pleasure next week!

Slightly off topic... But I seem to have heard that Canadian "prices" in "Canadian dollars" are higher than US prices in "US Dollars" so does that mean someone traveling to Canada from the US is still paying about the same prices as in the US for food, lodging, etc?

Since even though the exchange rate is favorable to the US, the Canadian prices are higher than US...

OP here: Six days to go and still no assignment. Statistical probability of a better cabin rising with each passing day??? (We're on the cheapest inside "gty")

Women can wear any kind of "nice" sandal they wish, they do it all the time. In fact, I rarely wear shoes on a cruise ship.

 

Men's sandals are a different matter, and I would defer to Oceania experts on this topic. But your wife's sandals are just fine, believe me.

Thanks. They're going in the luggage.

I think they mean flip-flops and other beachy rubber sandals.

That's what we thought too, but the documents only say "sandals." Oceania could make it a little clearer.

I read in our Oceania documents that sandals are not allowed in any of the dining rooms (MDR and Specialty Restaurants). I'm not sure what "sandals" means.

So here is a picture of my Wife's sandal... Can this NOT be worn in the dining rooms?

Thanks

We are a believer in the "guarantee" type booking. The catch is you have to be willing to accept the cabin O assigns you and actually movein. In cases where the ship is not full you can ask the Concierge once you are onboard if a higher level cabin is available. You may be offered an upgrade at very reasonable price. I hope I don 't get banned for saying this.

 

D.

Ooooh... That's an interesting tidbit. We'll have to try that. Mum's the word...

I pronounce it Dee-lish-us.

A person after my own stomach.

Go to

,

and others to hear how Oceania pronounces "Oh she ah na"

 

Ira

OP here: Well, that pretty well nails it! If Mary Hart says OH-SHE-ANA, then that's the gold standard!

Thanks.

OP here: Thanks for all your replies. The best news seems to be that IF I don't get an assignment before I show up at the dock, the porters may have a list with my name and cabin number on it. So that's reassuring.

I didn't want our inside-cabin luggage to show up in some Penthouse Suite and someone else wore all our clothes for the whole cruise... I could always tackle them at Polo's if I saw my cabana wear on them.

Yes, but that type of booking is an entirely different thing.

 

In this case, the OP has in effect requested that the Cruise Line hold his Cabin Assignment in abeyance, so that:

 

A) he could buy onto the Cruise at the Rate for a Cabin Category which is so full that specific cabins are no longer being offered.

B) by the time Cabins are assigned, he hopes that only better accommodations will remain unsold, and he will be put into one of those without extra charge. In any case, he is promised a place on the ship at least as nice as the category he buys in at.

 

This type of flexibility, in America we call it buying a "Guarantee", not only fills empty cabins for the Cruise Line, but gives passengers a no (or low) cost method of sampling nicer digs than they might otherwise feel comfortable paying for.

 

In most cases, it is a win/win proposition.

Wow! It's like you can read my mind! And can also look in my wallet! (insert funny emoticon here)

Our Oceania cruise is 3 weeks out and we have our luggage tags, but they have a blank for cabin number. That's because we have a guaranteed cabin and they haven't yet assigned it.

Does anyone with Oceania experience know whether it is possible we may get to boarding day and still not know which cabin we're in? If so, what do we put on our luggage tags??? Since you turn your luggage in before you enter the terminal and see the agent to board.

Or do you ALWAYS know your cabin number before you travel a day ahead of time to the Port?

OP here: Thanks... I thought there might be a story behind this.

I love it when things make sense. And I thought there must be a reason people pronounced it differently than it was spelled.

Thanks for clarifying the evolution of the spelling re: the conflict with the other line's ship, and hence the same pronunciation!

I say O she anna

 

others may differ

Me too. But that would be spelled OCEANA... without the "I."

Here's a rather dumb, trivia-like question...

How do you pronounce Oceania?

It's spelled.. "OCEAN-IA"... So if it's pronounced as spelled,

then it Should be "O-SHUN-AYE-UH" or "O-SHUN-EE-UH."

But I have a feeling people say "OSHEE-ANA." Which is not actually correct when you look at the word itself.

Which is it?

OP here: Thanks for your replies.

I am currently booked (final payment made) in one of the lowest categories that's listed currently on Oceania's website as "wait list." And I am in the "Guaranteed cabin" position (i.e.: No cabin assignment for a cruise that happens in 4 weeks).

Does that mean if someone wants to pay for one of those lowest category cabins and is on the current waitlist for it, that I may get "bumped up" so Oceania can sell one of those "wait listed" cabins to the waitlist person? Or is this pretty much wishful thinking, rather than logical?

On the Feb 3, 2015 Mayan Mystique cruise on Rivieria, the lowest three categories of cabins, and Veranda Staterooms (B3) and (B4) are classified as "wait list."

Categories (B1) and (B2) are classified as "Book." Some other categories are classified as "Sold Out."

What's the difference between "wait list" and "sold out?" I would think if all cabins had been purchased in a certain category that there could not be a "wait list" since the have already been "sold." On the other hand, if people are waiting for the "wait list" categories, why can't they also wait for the "sold out" categories?

I'm confused...

Excellent comeback :D

He probably paraphrased that from a quote frequently credited to Winston Churchill after a similar altercation to the above.

Lady to Winston Churchill: Sir, if you were my husband, I'd poison you!

Churchill: Madam, if you were my wife, I'd drink it.

Being a local, I can tell you that water temps in February tend to be in the upper 60s/lower 70s. Right now, my canal water temp is 70. We're having an unusually warm winter so far, but don't expect water temps to be bathtub in Feb. Also, while temps are normally in the 70s in Feb, we are susceptible to cold fronts that time of year that can bring chilly temps for a day or 2.

 

I can see you're from PA, so I don't know how you feel about 70 degree water, but I might suggest snorkeling in a warmer port.

Thanks... That's what I thought. Wonder why the ship offers snorkeling in Key West when a lot of folks would not want to "brave the water?"

We're going to be in Roatan, Honduras; Cozumel, Mexico, Grand Cayman Island, Costa Maya and Belize and will be snorkeling in all those places, so we'll probably just do the "Key West City Walk" thing...

Oceania Riviera advertises a snorkel tour in Key West for Feb 12th, 2015. I've heard that the water is very cold that time of year in Key West and that if you snorkel, you need a wet suit. There are no wet suits provided in this tour...

Has anyone had experience snorkeling in February in Key West and could they tell me if the water is "doable" without a wet suit, typically?

DW and I like to snorkel, but don't want to spend money if you can't even get in the water...

TIA

OP here: Thank you ALL! I just got back from Van Heusen's and I'm all set now!

You know, I never actually took a picture of folks dining. I have photos of the various dining rooms, and I have photos of the food, and I even have a few photos of some of the smiling servers, but none of the restaurants in use.

 

There are a couple of reasons for this. First, the food and conversation with friends at dinner is so awesome, I totally forget who or what is around me (probably why I almost never notice what folks are wearing). Second, it's kind of awkward to jump up in the middle of a meal and take photos of fellow guests, some of whom might resent their picture being taken.

 

The photos you see in the brochures are totally staged with models selected by the PR agency. They are about as real as the models in the Ciala ads. The restaurant is empty when they make their shoots, the entire scene is carefully staged. As someone else remarked, few of us look like the models, and even fewer dress like them or look the same way even if they are wearing the same clothes.

 

If the PR agency was preparing a brochure for a clothing optional cruise, and the beautiful and handsome models were naked, would you worry about doing the same? The rules are simple, long trousers and a collared shirt for men, for women a dress or skirt/slacks with a "nice" top. Believe them, and wear that or even more if you are comfortable doing so (but not less :rolleyes:).

 

Having said all that, I searched through 13 Oceania cruises and 2 Regent (same dress code), and found one shot of us and friends at what I think is Toscana, aboard Insignia. Betsy and I are on the right (before our cataract surgeries; we no longer wear glasses), and I think if Gerald and Sheena are looking, they won't mind this photo.

 

That's exactly what I was looking for... Thanks!...

OP here: I "hear" what you're saying and I understand words fairly well, but I'm fashion-challenged and am also a guy so pictures/graphics work better for me than 'explaining.'

So I would feel more sure of myself is someone had a picture of people actually at dinner so I could visually "examine" the shirt types being worn.