Kay S

Did you take a look at the deck plans? We had verandah on 7 (Don't remember the number) but it was more aft. I don't remember any life boat issues.

Didn't someone just answer this question earlier in the thread?

Luck is in the eye of the beholder. Those two little dogs here are mighty adorable. Of course I do not have the gift of second sight where I can tell just by looking at someone if he or she needs a service animal.

Sound like plan!

Can you direct me to these ships with wanton service dog abuse? I want to book on one. Since I don't have a dog of my own, this looks like cuddling opportunity. 😄😄😄

His caps key is broken. 😝

Seriously, it was hard to tell. 😄

This thread is silly. Does anyone know for sure if the specific dog in the stroller photos was or was not a service animal? I know CC food fights can be lots of fun, but why the anti-dog sentiment? In many parts of the world, you see dogs in restaurants and inside retail stores. Most of the people who live in those countries seem to be just fine, no dog-related traumas. I still think that little dog in the stroller is very cute, and I would tell the lady with the stroller exactly that. 😝

My yardstick for "inedible" is my late aunt's jicama-beansprout-avocado gelatin mold. Or beets. I can't stand beets. Cruise ship food can be delicious or tasteless, over salted or not warm enough, but I think most people can find at least something they could eat. What's the old saying? Nobody ever starved on a cruise?

Me, too. That eggplant looks devine. I don't have a problem with Oceania hiring a "show biz" chef for marketing reasons. After all, she will not be the one doing the cooking in the galley on my next cruise. Now, how her influence affect the menus, that's a story yet to be told. I'd be thrilled to eat that eggplant at multiple meals!

Cute dog. 🙂

Not all American food is burger and fries. Many places in America have local, fresh and different food. As a Toronto native living in California, I can appreciate your fondness for nearby international cuisine. I hope Oceania isn’t so limited to just burgers.

Thanks for this. We will be doing this cruise in reverse next year (also on Odam.) We have done transatlantics before but not on HAL. We do HAL to Mexico periodically, so we are familiar with this ship.

I love seeing men in their formal dress, complete with kilt and great socks!

Maybe it was a teeny tiny service dog? Dogs provide many more services than just assisting the visually challenged.

And Carnival (the cruise line) hums along happily doing what they do. It does seem Carnival (the corporation) is scrambling to do something, anything, to make up for the Covid losses. Princess has become something entirely different (not in a good way) from what it was pre-pandemic. We switched to HAL, and now it looks like they are going the same route. We are trying the more inclusive lines now. Fewer cruises per year, but that's how it has to be.

My husband is going to be so happy to leave his ties at home.

This. I know of one gentleman who drinks his favorites alone in his cabin to avoid sharing any. 😄

There are a couple of really interesting tours at that port. HAL does a good job with the Mexico cruises. I'm looking at another one right now.

Not sure about that, but I can attest that LAX is hell on earth. 😝

Don't get me started on that infernal Princess app... Lack of app is one reason we're moving over to Oceania.

We are right behind you, Hank. We have an Oceania cruise booked for the fall. My husband was the biggest fan of Lincoln Center, and he is very disappointed in HAL's decision to dump them. We have a HAL TA booked for next year. I'm hoping they will have settled what their entertainment will be by then.

You and my husband. We are never late for our reservation.

The horror that is quarantine! I was jailed for three days once on a Princess ship (a flu that was preCovid) and I could only order from room service. You made the best of a terrible situation. I would have been thrilled with Applebee's fish and chips after one day of Princess room service! (BTW, the best fish and chips I ever ate was from a little chippy in Leicestershire.)

Exactly. I'm bemused by the fervor of the discussions here since I haven't yet been on my Oceania cruise. I just assume that "best cuisine at sea" is a marketing slogan, and that I will find some things I like and others I don't. BTW, Dover Sole and Prime Rib are my favorites out here on land, so I am really looking forward to trying the O versions.