MEFIowa

Much larger pools, too. The small R-class pool is really mainly good for walking around in. 5' 6" deep and quite small.

Keep in mind that the least expensive "cruise only" cabin, a G, is still $1699 per person for just 7 days. Or $243 per person per day. ($486 per couple per day.) No "sale" here. For SALE, see O's periodic sales for President's Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc.

On one try, found his Peru reporting, HST: "Democracy Dies in Peru but Few Seem to Mourn Its Passing" https://archive.org/details/HSTSouthAmerica/Democracy Dies/mode/1up

Though can anyone say they've truly experienced most S. America nations without some ongoing political disturbance or agitation? The smell of tear gas in the morning. Of course, we pray this too comes to pass peacefully. Likely in new elections that will...lead to future disturbances and agitation. (The history of Peru just back to say 1980 quite sad in this area.) Anyone going to S. America might read Hunter S. Thompson's serious journalism of the continent from 1962-63 when he freelanced from Columbia thur Ecudor, Peru and Bolivia down to Paraguay and then across to Rio for the then National Observer. (Thinking he may have stopped in Buenos Aries or Montevideo, too.) The articles are available on line.

Filming info: "The Greek island of Rhodes provided locations—the unit was based on there from April to July 1960. Quinn was so taken with the area that he bought land there in an area still called Anthony Quinn Bay. Some further scenes were shot on the islands of Gozo, near Malta, and Tino, in the Ligurian Sea." But the BOOK and MOVIE are about Leros, Greece. Though legally part of Italy at that time, since the Italo-Turkish War of 1911-12: "The 1957 novel and subsequent 1961 film The Guns of Navarone by Alistair MacLean was contextually based on the Battle of Leros." And: "The Battle of Leros was the central event of the Dodecanese campaign of the Second World War, and is widely used as an alternate name for the whole campaign. After the Armistice of Cassibile the Italian garrison on the Greek island Leros was strengthened by British forces on 15 September 1943. The battle began with German air attacks on 26 September, continued with the landings on 12 November, and ended with the capitulation of the Allied forces four days later."

As ORV said above, "What we don't know here is what your room category is and how many days out you were able to book. Always makes a big difference."

Only time and financial results will tell. Shoring up the bottom line by addressing excesses of debt a place to start. And that does mean cost controls. Ensuring operational efficiency.

Oceania has set daily paid gratuities per your cabin level. BUT whether you tip and to whom or how much and when is entirely up to you.

Seems rather simple. Tip someone, anyone, if you want to. Do it because you find it of some value to you and the person you tip. Because they did something over and above your expectations. But NO ONE is being forced to tip. So if you don't want to, don't. Just don't harp if others choose to. To each their own. A simple case of MYOB?

Wife and I were so glad we brought ours on Sirena 11/18-28/2022 (originally acquired from Riviera 12/21). Love how strong it is and how much it can hold, with its multiple compartments. We took it all over St. Vincent, Dominica, St. Barts, San Juan and Puerto Plata. That blue bag is in nearly all of our photographs as we did our excursions and walk abouts. PERFECT for bringing back all the beer and rum from the ports. In places like the Caribbean where they are desperate for tourists and tourist money, being seen as a tourist isn't an issue as long as we're talking daylight hours, you're respectful, and not intoxicated. The locals and the law enforcement have every desire and incentive to protect you. We had more people looking out for us in Belize City in 12/21 than we had O cruisers who left the ship or tourist area. I certainly found that to be the case during my 2 weeks in Paraguay in April-May 2022. There were no tourists there but me. I stood out like the proverbial American, literally at 6' 2" and wearing shorts & t-shirts. I never felt any problem would happen. The people were so friendly and so happy to see a tourist! I accidently left my camera & CP at the Cambio (currency exchange) down the street from my hotel and when I went there at 0830 the next morning when they opened up, the woman behind the plexiglass who had served me immediately motioned and pulled out my purple bag and slid it to me.

Though BEFORE we ever talk about money and tips, we should discuss human dignity and work. The first "tip" we give is to treat them with respect and dignity, thanking them in time for their work for us. Acknowledging their presence and efforts. Getting to "know" them in what little time we have as best we can. Thus, I "learned" "Thank you" in Tagalog so I could say that to the many Filipinos I interacted with, including the lovely room stewardess Mary who cleaned our toilet. I was so pleased to remember Steven, who was our room steward on Riviera in 12/21 when I serendipitously ran into him on Deck 4 of Sirena in 11/22. (Later after I mentioned it to my steward Salvio, he told me they worked that deck on the last voyage before they go home at the end of the contract. Both Salvio and Steven are from India, so he knew Steven.) We remembered each other. Shook hands. Yes, I did leave him an additional "tip" in a Thank You card in 2021, but I'd like to think that we remembered each other because we interacted as human beings first and foremost. I truly appreciated all he and the others did for me.

What cabin level are you in?

Yep, brought my 6 bottles on board Sirena (11/22) as I did on Riviera (12/21). And brought back beer, hard liquor and wine from port excursions. Oddly, the wine opener in our room by the ice bucket worked great for the wine but not so much for the beer bottles.

As I said in my post, was our very first cruise. Ever. We didn't think we'd enjoy a cruise so never had thought of one. Then COVID. So we did ours 12/21. We were spoiled and pampered on this cruise. Only 719 passengers and 780 crew. But we loved the food, the ship, the staff, the crew, our room (concierge veranda), etc. Didn't have to worry about small kids or infants or drunk college students. We loved the laid-back atmosphere. And had fun in all the ports (we don't stay on the ship but get off and out and really try to do something unique at each one).

Wife and I did our first cruise ever on Oceania on Riviera 12/21. Loved it so much we just came back from our 2nd (Sirena, 11/22). Have our 3rd-4th booked for Med in 2023. And our 5th booked for the Baltic in 2024. I doubt I'll do a Viking cruise. At least no other cruise line even being considered until 2025

From the O web page right now for Marina: " Marina 1238 Guests 776 Staff Members Year Refurbished 2023 Currently At Sea Best Cruise Ships & Luxury Experiences | Oceania Cruises

Memories of the late great Rodney Dangerfield! Though I don't do reddit my wife does and for "tough" they seem like a constant anarchic civil war. She loves to read me some of the more comical and incendiary posts. A reddit for anything and everything. I will say this for CC generally, if you want an answer to something, the level of knowledge here is quite impressive. But, yes, they don't suffer fools kindly.

The brief material on Marina starts at about the 6 minute 28 second mark.

Did the 10-night on Sirena in the E. Caribbean 11/18-28/22 so be glad you have the Artist Loft and the extra two specialty restaurants on Marina. (We did a 10-night W. Caribbean on Riviera late last year.) Our guest lecturer gave 5 lectures over 4 sea days. She was quite good. Hard to assess whether it is age or location in regard to passengers staying on board. Being in our late 50s, we did serious excursions/activities for all five of our ports/islands. [Personally, I went stir crazy with the extra sea day when we had to make an unscheduled stop in Puerto Plata going south so a passenger could go to the hospital; captain then skipped St. Kitts. For the life of me, I can't see the attraction of spending days on a ship. I only want the port-intensive cruises. Can't wait for our 20-day BTB in the Med later in 2023.]

Of course, they make sure to mention that the bathrobes will be removed by the stewards on the last evening. And who has space in their luggage to fly around with any hairdryer? My checked bag came down at 29 pounds but then came back on the Delta scale at exactly 50 pounds! All that Caribbean rum and some Cuban cigars for a friend. I carried a 3-foot oil canvas tasteful nude painting from the DR rolled & wrapped up like a present as my sole personal item carry on. 😉

Guess that's ANOTHER new question? I don't remember seeing any such price list in my cabin. I don't think they can reuse them, since they touch socks in shoes. And they come wrapped in plastic.

Though speaking of that... I've never seen one on the O shoehorn in the cabins. Took mine back home from the recent cruise on Sirena. Shaped differently than the Famous Footwear one I've used for years. Like the dark blue color but there is no regular "Handle" just the hole to pull up with and shaped a bit more straighter and deeper. Wonder if anyone else uses theirs regularly.

Of course, as my wife tells me, the joke is on me... "If you want that painting hung up, we've got to buy a new house. It just can't go on any of the walls we have now. Unless you want it in the basement." So the headline: "Man buys painting, wife gets new house"? 😉 I was a bit nervous unrolling and laying it out at the framing shop. But the proprietress seemed to appreciate it. I had to have her put it on the stretcher rods/frame when I came back. BUT when I called to pick it up, I immediately saw it, for it had its "back" to us. No one was in the shop when I paid for it, so she turned it around and we discussed it bit. My "Caribbean beauty".

Riviera and Marina have an Executive Lounge (Deck 11) for the PHs and a Concierge Lounge (Deck 9) for the A1-A4 Concierge Verandas. They are restricted access, so you have to use your room card to go in (as with the therapy spa pools on both, too).

The key is the WHERE. The dress code is only truly applicable in the Specialty restaurants. NOT by the pool or the smoking areas or at Waves Grill or the Terrace Cafe. Nor even at the shows. The repeater party and captain's welcome party did have the more restricted dress code in the Horizon's Lounge and Martinis.