jonthomas

Well I hope in Sept there will be no kids, hope they will all be in school but there are always some. Wish O had the Viking policy of no one under 18.

Really? Just looks like water with some coloring in it...but hey, they keep making it, so somebody might like it.

Yum!!!

of course you are correct... but look at it this way, I love caviar, but many dont, I got my fill on the Vista, when you could get all the caviar (black) you could eat in the Terrace....they did that cause we missed 2 ports...a gesture of sorts... so if you hate caviar, why would you eat it, since pizza makes you happy... I hate all lobster, shrimp, etc...and always complain that so many salads and pastas have seafood in them...O does not loose any money on me in that respect, when I see plates piled high with lobster....unless I am eating caviar....lol...

I dont drink wine....to me flavourful food is not sushi , not indian, and not japanese, just give me a nice vegetable soup or a beef with barley soup, none of those cremes, none of those water soups with barely anything floating in it, hey, Henry marmite soup in the dining room comes to mind...what is that and more to the point who would like that....tongue in cheek....

yes I also miss jacques...cant replace the crepes and so much more...

Yes the pizza is very good... But I do get criticized by people who say they don't go on a cruise to eat pizza. To each his own.

Suchi Yes I understand, to each their own, even though I like European food, there is always something I can find, but on Indian night it is a little tougher.

Suchi I agree...and No NO NO to sushi... Nothing new about sushi, have seen it in Terrace every sailing... Now if they began to have Hearty soups, like goulash, beef and barley, cabbage soup, chick noodle with vegetables...ah I can dream... Generally I think they do very little European and much more exotic... That's what more prefer...I am in a very small minority on this one.

Been on Riviera a while ago, so I forgot. Would sail any O ship regardless of pizza ovens. We really enjoy them and all that they offer. This is for the last couple of years since covid. I understand that those sailing prior to that are not as complimentary now. But then I'm sure that few of them are turning to Celebrity and the like.

we will be on the regatta in sept...I think it is amazing as well... but hey vista has the pizza oven...lol... we spent a life time and a fortune on over 50 cruises with Celeb and have nothing to show for it...so no wonder we think all O ships are amazing...

really looking forward to being on the Vista again..amazing ship... thank you for your posts...

I don't want to see this rescue mission become an expectation of cruiseships and the passengers aboard the ship. If governments have a mandate to rescue illegal migrants and care for them, take them to their countries and support them, then a ship should have immediately been sent to transfer them from the Insignia. Send in the flames.

It's as clear as mud.

Thank you to everyone who supported my comment on this topic # 11, both here and by emailing me. I totally agree with the poster who said, it is in the deeds not the talk. Of course no one wants to do battle with chair hogs or crass tippers who openly tip to get their chairs, their food brought to the table at buffet, or talk about how they took their stateroom attendants to the ship store to buy them a wardrobe. These people have spoiled the intent of included gratuities and created a competitive atmosphere for crew and staff. Stop it, people. I will do my best when I see it to comment. Of course everyone knows the responses that will generate.

Well I don't know of anyone pulling the automatic grats. I do know that just the automatic is no longer appreciated the way it used to be and we all know why.

That's the point tho', It's not just around the pool. The extra tipping I and others witnessed was in the Terrace Cafe, food being brought from the buffet to the table, which is wonderful. Tipping with bills was just not necessary. Other staff are witness to this and of course also feel they are deserving. We were at a loss as to what to do, so we did nothing. Can't see how O can enforce the no tipping at pool area, Terrace Cafe etc without enforcing ALL extra tipping. The EXTRA tipping is a fairly recent phenomena, yes even for cabin attendants. It was definitely not as prevalent as it is now. Now all attendants get the automatic and feel slighted if not given extra. All other staff in all departments are influenced and I can't blame them.

⁸I don't agree, as someone else said, staff know about the extras some get, it is human nature to want the same and they will find a way to get it. Slippery slope, when you give extra to some. We also experienced it with wait staff in Terrace. They were being tipped when helping to carry food to table. Other wait staff were telling us their life story becoming overly friendly with guests. The stories seemed exactly alike. We all have created this tipping culture not O.

Of course and why wouldn't he/she and all others working on the ship. All are aware of the extras that stateroom attendants are getting, why shouldn't pool attendants, those that come in for maintenance issues, balcony washers, activity staff etc cash in as well. Of course a am being ridiculous but there is a lot of truth in it. Why should O inforce the rules for pool attendants but it's OK for others to be tipped over and above.

Exactly!!!

In March on Vista we saw several openly seeking out staff to cater to their needs, ask for pool chairs, towels, drinks, all openly were giving tips and it seemed expected. A place for chairs was made, new chairs brought, towels, drinks offered. We had not seen that on O before. Seems, tipping over and above the automatic gratuities is now the norm. It is not encouraged by O, it is driven by individuals wanting to get special attention, over and above what others get. It is about being noticed and being more indulged than others. Rather an ugly and crass display of self importance. JMHO

Off topic of course, the kids we have endured were in prams, parked in front of cabins, running and knocking on doors at all hours, jumping into pools, pushing all the elevator buttons, babies in hot tubs in diapers and that's just the tip of the iceberg. All on celeb. On O only small kids screaming in pool or in other areas. Nope don't want to see a single kid. Viking has a no one under 18 policy, but it is not our line of choice.

We got so fed up with kids on Celebrity that now even one is too many. One of the reasons we now only cruise with O, unless with our grandkids.

Hoping there won't be any in September.

We return to Alaska this September. Thank you for your post and comments.