lj77346

I was on the May 3 Regatta cruise and the dress code for Polo seemed to be other than men wearing long pants for dinner, there were no rules.  (Toscana was not open during the cruise.)  Very casual attire was prevalent throughout the cruise and no one seemed to mind.  I would not be stressed about the fashion police being concerned about what your 6 year old son wears.  Enjoy your cruise.

46 minutes ago, jimmcs16 said:

I think I would be able to obtain a letter from my doctor stating I am fit to travel after recovery from COVID. But I am stranded in Spain still testing positive after having symptoms but am asymptomatic now. I do not think any person at the airport will acknowledge this letter and just send me away. I am not alone. Lots of people I am sure got off the Oceania ship in Barcelona that should have tested positive, or did so soon  after departure. I am tired of testing everyday see those two lines . Not knowing how long it will take to turn to one line is hard to deal with .

If you have not contacted the U.S. consulate in Barcelona, you should give them a call to see if they can provide some assistance.  Their contact information is:

U.S. Consulate

Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23
08034 Barcelona, España
Phone: (+34) 93 280 22 27
Fax (+34) 93 280 61 75

Also, contact your airline to see if they accept a doctor's note as described in the CDC guidelines and if so, what procedures you need to follow to get through the airport. 

Sorry to hear of your problem and hope you can return home soon.

I booked a number of cruises this year in the 30 day window prior to an upcoming cruise to get the onboard booking benefits, but I booked directly with Oceania and everything was credited correctly (lower deposit, onboard booking discount, and onboard credit).  If you worked with a travel agency, make sure your agent let Oceania know that they were making an "onboard" booking -  don't assume that just because a booking is within 30 days of an upcoming cruise Oceania will automatically treat it correctly. Did you get the lower deposit and onboard booking discounts?

At Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, if you are connecting from a flight within the EU to a flight to the USA, after disembarking the EU flight you have to go through security and passport control to get to your flight to the USA.  Most likely the EU flight and flight to the USA will be in different terminals.  If memory serves me correctly, there is a fast track lane you can use if you have a tight connection, if your flight is listed on the monitor.  However, a 55 minute connection time even if everything goes smoothly would not make for a stress free connection.

15 hours ago, dancingcgal said:

Thanks. We’ll both really enjoy “Elton John” ! What about the band? Will they be playing nightly? Will be awfully  disappointed if no band on 3/5  cruise.☹️ And hope the production performers too will perform! 

The group that plays at the pool during the day and at Horizons at night is leaving when this cruise ends in Miami. I’m not sure of the status of the band for the March 5 cruise. It looks like the new production performers were getting their orientation tour of the ship today as we could see them following the cruise director around as he was explaining what their duties will be.

We are also on this cruise. Needless to say, service is great as there are only about 360 passengers and a crew of over 700. We spoke with a member of the cruise director’s staff who mentioned that there are no Covid cases on the Marina. Incidentally, the cruise director is Peter Roberts.

There are no production shows this cruise (and if I heard correctly, next cruise either) because a new production cast just came on and they are in a mandatory quarantine that I believe ends today. There are a few performers from the previous cast who have been running the various activities during the day and will be involved in the “handover” to the new production cast that apparently will be rehearsing during the next cruise.

We attended the shows in the Marina Lounge each night and they have been very good. There are 4 “headliners” performing - a comedian (Darrell Joyce), a guitarist (Greg Rodman), a vocal group (4 Other Guys, who did a 4 Seasons tribute in their first show), and a pianist/vocalist (Martin Kaye and his second show was an Elton John tribute which was fabulous - high energy with great piano and vocals).

From what we heard, the next cruise will have about 400 passengers and the trans-Atlantic will just about be sailing at full capacity. 
 

On this cruise, specialty restaurant reservations were easy to get as at lunch someone would be going around asking if you wanted a reservation for that evening.  This is our third cruise since September and had by far the lowest passenger numbers, so it was an unusual but fun experience. As someone mentioned previously, masks are no longer mandatory, but still encouraged. It appears that many passengers (us included) are still wearing masks in the Terrace Cafe and Waves while ordering food and in the restaurants until orders are taken as well as in elevators and indoor activities with many participants and while heading to the lounge for shows.

Currently on the Feb. 23 Marina cruise in an extended balcony on deck 7. However, it appears that anything on deck 7 forward of the aft elevators is not available as both the odd and even corridors are blocked at that point and signs indicate that only authorized personnel can enter that area. However, if you are in a cabin aft of that area it appears that many extended balcony cabins are occupied.

I don't know if Oceania offers a shuttle to FLL.  However, I usually fly home from FLL after the Oceania cruise ends in Miami and I use Uber to get to FLL.  It's not very expensive and I've had no problem getting a ride.  Depending on traffic, my experience has been that the ride from the pier in Miami to FLL can take from less than 45 minutes to a bit more than 75 minutes.

1 hour ago, reposado said:

Great info.

 

Did you get the upgrade offers directly from O or via your TA?

O sent the offer to my TA who passed it on to me.

For anyone who might be interested, here is the upgrade offer we received for the Feb. 23 Marina (once upon a time Sirena) 10-day cruise.

We currently have a B3 veranda with an extended balcony towards the aft on deck 7.  We were offered an upgrade to a concierge veranda for $150/person or an upgrade to a penthouse for $650/person.  IMO there is nothing to be gained by going to a concierge veranda especially as we would lose the extended balcony.  If we had not cruised in a penthouse previously, we might have been tempted by that upgrade, however, although the room would be larger, we would be getting a smaller balcony and the executive lounge and access to the Aquamar deck area is not important to us.  In addition, as the cruise likely will have only around 400 passengers, getting additional specialty restaurant reservations should not be a problem.

We have 4 cruises booked on the Regatta from May through September of this year, so it will be interesting to see if we'll get any upgrade offers for those cruise, which I doubt if passenger capacity increases.

gardenbunny - We're on the Marina's Feb. 23 cruise.  With the low passenger count on your cruise, are the usual daily activities like afternoon and evening trivia still being held?  We were on the Riviera in December with a little over 700 passengers and the ship felt uncrowded, so with less than 400 passengers, it must feel pretty empty.  Probably not a problem to get additional specialty restaurant reservations?

Thank you for posting, enjoy your cruise, and looking forward to reading any additional observations you have of your cruise experience.  Cheers!

To get some stairs into my walking, I like to do a lap on the walking track, then walk down the stairs to the deck above the pool, walk up the steps towards the bow, walk around the mini golf area, go back down the steps to the deck above the pool, and then back up the steps to the walking track and repeat.  I have no idea how far that is, but I walk for 30-45 minutes and this route is less boring for me than walking in relatively short laps.

You can complete the online check in and get a boarding time 21 days prior to the date of the cruise.  i am on the Marina's Feb. 23, 2022 sailing and was able to compete my online check in today (Feb. 2).

Sign into your account on the Oceania website.  For your cruise that is within 21 days of the sailing date, click on the button that says something like "manage this reservation."  When the next page opens there should be a blue button that says something like "online check in."  Click that button and the process should start - first you review your personal info (name, date of birth, passport, etc.), then enter a credit card for onboard purchases, next take a picture of each person sailing, select a boarding time. watch a safety video and then the process is complete and you can print your boarding pass.

This topic is a great example of how misinformation can easily get circulated on the internet.  I know I was sure hoping that the Regatta was not for sale as I have 4 cruises booked on her in 2022.

Here's the email.

Dear Valued Guests and Travel Advisors,

I would like to provide you with an important update to your Caribbean cruise vacation that is scheduled to sail aboard Sirena.

As a result of a recent change in voyage schedules, your cruise will now sail aboard Marina. There is no change to the voyage itinerary and there is no action required on your part. All guests will be accommodated on the revised itinerary at the cruise fare reserved/paid (no change in fare).

Traveling aboard Marina, you will find a wider range of and larger public spaces, ultra-spacious guest staterooms and suites, and a total of ten dining venues including four specialty restaurants. Dining venues include The Grand Dining Room and Terrace Café plus Polo Grill, Toscana, Jacques, Red Ginger, La Reserve, and Priveé. For quick and casual fare, Waves Grill is adjacent to the expansive pool deck and Baristas, which sits atop the ship with commanding views, offers up fresh-baked pastries along with gourmet snacks and sandwiches throughout the day.

With more space per guest for social distancing combined with controlled capacity, and 800 crew to pamper you, we believe this will provide you with a most memorable and relaxing experience.

In the coming days, you will receive an updated cruise confirmation with your new reservation number and new stateroom or suite assignment. All guests will be accommodated in staterooms or suites with private verandas.

Warmest regards,

Carlos E. Ortega
Vice President, Guest Services

Just received an email from Oceania that the February 23 Sirena cruise is now on the Marina.

Flatbush Flyer - I looked at my old emails and found that the email to register for Eurofins came on December 8, only 5 days before the cruise.

Yes, the Dec. 13 Riviera cruise was from Miami.  Prior to the cruise I was confused because people on the previous cruise were  referring to the Eurofins registration and it's never mentioned when you complete the online stuff 21 days before the cruise.  When you register with Eurofins, closer to the cruise date, you get a barcode which you show at the first desk in the testing tent.  Then, you are sent to a tech to get tested.

I was on the Dec.13 Riviera cruise.  About a week before the cruise I got an email to register with Eurofins for the Covid test at the pier.  This was separate from the boarding pass and check-in time that that you get when you finish registering at 21 days to the cruise.  Nowhere do they explain that the Eurofins test registration occurs much closer to the embarkation date.

We usually sit in the Terrace Cafe. If you are sitting there, they give you a sign with a number to put on your table and a server will bring it to you in the Terrace Cafe.

Last day of the Riviera cruise and we were not able to go to Great Stirrup Caye because wind and wave conditions did not allow for safe tender operations. Started heading towards Miami around 1 p.m. At least it’s a beautiful sunny day.

Yesterday as we were heading from Costa Maya, we had to divert towards Key West because of a medical emergency onboard. A small Coast Guard ship came alongside around 6 p.m. and after a short time, someone in a stretcher was passed to the Coast Guard staff (to cheers and applause) and they headed back to Key West.

This was our second cruise since sailing resumed (the other was on Celebrity to Alaska in September). We had a very enjoyable time on the Riviera - lots of space with only a little over 700 passengers onboard. From what we heard, the Christmas cruise is about a full ship.  We’re looking forward to our cruise on the Sirena in February 2022.

Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy 2022 to all!

On the Riviera now, it’s one of my favorites. I like it medium rare. The mahi mahi is very good as well.

The Riviera is at Harvest Caye today. After a cloudy arrival, the weather cleared and it is bright and sunny now. However, due to windy conditions this morning, we could not dock so we are anchored and need to ride a tender to get ashore.

On 12/15/2021 at 6:48 PM, pilgrimage said:

If anyone is on board Riviera now and could post the room service menu for non-suite staterooms, we would love to see that!  We're going to be on the next cruise starting 12/23.  Curious to see what's available now that they've added hot breakfast for those of us in steerage 😉

Room service breakfast is available from 6:30 to 10. Besides the usual continental breakfast items, you can order scrambled eggs, fried eggs and omelettes as well as pancakes and French toast.

Can’t post a picture of the menu because the internet is so bad that the picture would never load. 
 

On the regular room service menu, it looks like omelettes are available all day as well.

We had smooth seas sailing from Miami to Cozumel. It’s in the low 80’s and partly cloudy in Cozumel today.

Except for all the crew members wearing masks, everything else on the Riviera seems like pre-pandemic cruising. The ship is nicely decorated for Christmas. All the usual activities are taking place - games, trivia, etc. and are well attended. A notable change in trivia is that teams score their own papers, which cuts down on the amount of time it takes to complete the game.

Not sure of the number of passengers, but think I heard the cruise director say about 700. Masks for passengers are optional and we only wear them when an activity is crowded or on an elevator with others which seems to be a process others are following as well.

It’s great to be onboard again - the staff are doing their usual great job and we’re enjoying the food (nice to have someone else cooking for us). Last night was the welcome aboard cocktail party and drinks were readily available in all bars from 6 to 8.  Time to get back outside - will post again in a few days.