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55 minutes ago, Classiccruiser777 said:

What’s lacking? Well made ships have service lives of 40+ years. The R-class are midlife and new ships will run about $500 million. The customers foot that bill.

More like 30 years useful life for any kind of an upper premium or higher market ship. Crystal is trying for an exception to that rule and results are mixed. Oceania senior leadership has stated that R ships' complete renovation done between 3 and 5 years ago is the last. Perhaps Azamara will make theirs last longer...who knows? I find the ridulously small bathrooms below PH level and fewer specialty restaurants a deal breaker. Others disagree.

9 hours ago, CruisingWalter said:

And they are operating with only R-Class ships for now. 

And they may be operating with them well into the future. Owners have stated that newer ships will be part of Azamara only when current operations begin to show a profit.

16 minutes ago, hubofhockey said:

Our first Oceania cruise is on the Vista, but I have no problem with R class ships, but their useful lives have to be ticking down

I have spent 28 nights on Vista. It is a quirky ship..not my favorite Oceania ship. Sound barriers between cabins is nearly non existent. If you have quiet neighbors who rarely play their tv, you should be good. In two cruises we were not so lucky.  Bring along white noise apps on your phones or earplugs, just in case. 

36 minutes ago, cruiserchuck said:

 

The Azamara Pursuit, fka Renaissance 8, was completed and delivered to Renaissance Cruises early this century, in 2001.  I was scheduled to sail on it in December 2001.  Fortunately my credit card refunded the cruise fare after the bankruptcy, and I was able to book a similar cruise on Seabourn that arrived in Vietnam the exact same day, so my prepaid visa was still valid.  

Technically you are correct, then. Design and most construction occurred prior to Jan. 1, 2001 which was when century began, but either way, I stand by my general point. We have been loathe to cruise on them or Oceania's R class ships due to the ridiculously small size of bathrooms below PH level. Also, I enjoy playing in a casino in the evenings and that cannot happen on Azamara.

1 hour ago, CruisingWalter said:

 

I met Dondra, the Azamara CEO at an event last month. She's incredible down to earth and the vision she has laid out for that cruise line is awesome. Good things are coming from A. 🙂

Hard to get excited about a cruise line that operates with zero ships built in this century.

1 hour ago, ORV said:

Here’s the deal, the hardware was installed in May, it’s “supposed” to be operational in November. I hope so as we’re on in December for 20 days. 

Fits an unfortunate corporate pattern. We were on Regent Splendor in March. Several workmen boarded in Miami and installed Starlink during our transatlantic. Family member was on the same ship in August. Learned that Starlink will not be operational until at least October....although fully installed, waiting for contract with old internet carrier to expire. Understand same sorts of delays due to contracts are occurring on multiple Oceania and Regent ships.

22 minutes ago, basor said:

Whether under OLife, SM or new - if gratuities were included on a cruise due to an O promotion or from your TA, you received a $250.00OBC so nothing has changed......except as a Silver or above, you will still receive the $250.00OBC in addition to gratuities on every cruise...thus as a loyalty member, you receive $250.00OBC more than new cruisers or lower loyalty.

Your point seems to be that currently when gratuities were included Silver members receive $250 credit. Just because gratuity inclusion will now change from sometimes to all the time Silvers will now get the $250 credit all of the time, so really no big difference. Correct?

Many of us do not see it that way. I just came off of a 25 night cruise in PH category. I just gained Silver status and I enjoyed the additional value of gratuities worth about $1000 plus wine and beer with meals plus nearly $2000 in shore excursion credit. All of that goes away under the new program in exchange for $250 and cruise pricing remains the same. Not good.

8 hours ago, ak1004 said:

We also love the loyalty program with O, that would be hard to give up and gain what? Seems like nothing to be gained.

The above point is candidate for CC poorly timed comment of the decade award, given changes made < 48 hours after it was posted. 😂

Just now, itzfitz said:

Do the PH suites have larger shower with tubs removed like on Riviera?

Yes. Just disembarked PH on Marina 3 weeks ago. Beautifully redone. However, I have heard there are 8 PH3 cabins on Marina where they kept the old design with a bathtub and small shower. Someone posted on CC a few weeks ago that those cabin numbers are: 9138,9145,10002, 10003, 10005, 10008, 10010, and 10011. 

14 minutes ago, basor said:

Why doesn't everyone wait until the details of the program are announced and then decide if they fit their personal cruising style.....the endless speculation is ridiculous!

If you don't like the "speculation" tune out. We already have enough credible information to have some discussion. I just turned "silver" and recently completed a 25 night cruise at PH level. I already know that had the new "no more SM" been in effect under same pricing I would have theoretically lost at least $250 in value with having tips included and getting just $250 in OBC as a replacement. Also would have lost beer and wine with meals and excursion credit. In principle I love that the SM excursion credit is going away because the restrictions on it caused resentment and confusion. So cruising with Oceania will now be more expensive, period. We will see how they do in the marketplace with their new higher pricing/less value scheme.

So does it look like wine and beer with meals is going back to a purchased package or will that remain included?

36 minutes ago, gaeltrav said:

Just back from a cruise on Marina and there was a LGBTQIA+ get together every 2-3 days alternating with solos.usually at 5.30 or 6.30. I don’t know how well attended the events were but there were quite a few same sex couples on board.

We also just disembarked Marina last month and agree with your comments.

1 hour ago, IDL said:

Relatively minor annoyance was at breakfast at the Terrace on the Vista typically getting a first cup of coffee was relatively expedient but sometimes flagging someone down for a refill was more challenging than it should have been as the venue is adequately staffed.  A couple of time I would have just gotten up to refill my own coffee cup but understood that is not the protocol.  

It certainly is fine according to "protocol" for guests to go to the coffee machines in the Terrace and get a fresh cup of whatever they want.

9 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I was noticing the same in one of the videos.... I believe there is a breakfast station with boxed Cereal and Individual Yogurts.    Are these type items self service or do you wait to be served? 

Wait to be served for boxed cereal. Can grab yogurts yourself if you wish IME.

On 12/29/2023 at 3:25 PM, ak1004 said:

grill is actually better sometimes than MDR because it's really fresh and hot, and it never feels crowded

After three cruises totaling 53 nights on O in last 8 months, I found the opposite to be true. Although we enjoyed evenings in the Terrace Cafe a few nights, the lines at the grill area and confusion and delays with orders was frustrating. Since over half of those nights were on the new Vista, I was especially disappointed that there was zero improvement in the layout of the grill area and the (very) nearby dessert area. Some love the "safety" of Oceania's staff served vs self service buffet area on other cruise lines, but the Terrace design which creates a crowded food service with guests standing close to each other seeking attention from staff to serve their choice of dessert or steak/lobster is far from ideal.

2 hours ago, Mrs f. said:

Is O still doing the art scavenger hunt?

We'll be on in November.  Lots of sea days to wander around Riviera. 

We enjoyed it twice on Marina over the past few weeks...back to back cruises. They move the art around after every cruise, so new game each time.

3 hours ago, SATaxman said:

The Platinum card holder is able to access the lounge for a guest several times each year for "free", meaning a credit shows up on your card.

No longer IME. Only way I know of to avoid the fee us to charge $75,000 per year on the card, then you can bring a guest at no charge for the remainder of current year and all of the next.

Just now, -Lew- said:

 

On a 55 day Viking Ocean Med + TA cruise last fall we used them on just about every shore excursion.  They were provided by Viking and we found they functioned very well.

Viking has its roots in river cruising and is an exception to point I made above about microphone and speaker systems  ot being common on ocean cruise excursions.

3 minutes ago, frankpc123 said:

Does Regent currently have a listening device for passengers on a Shore Ex? Something like a Quiet vox?

 

A search here indicates that a bluetooth enabled app was tried early last year and that was withdrawn. Since then (pun intended) its been quiet.

 

Thanks,

Frank

Not normally. They are dependent on local tour providers and listening devices are not the norm in most of the ocean cruise industry. Regent is no exception.

We crossed Miami to Barcelona on Splendor this past Spring. Our cruise started March 31, so a little later, but we had warm gorgeous weather with zero rain and calm seas the entire trio. Loved it so much we are booked on the March 13 Rio to Lisbon trio in 2025.

11 minutes ago, Harters said:

It would seem, from the very small sample above, that most have been fortunate to have had very quiet neighbours. Neighbours who must pretty much whisper all the time and not have the TV on at even a minimal audible level. If that's an accurate assessment, then I wonder how common is the knowledge of the problem, amongst O's customer base the vast majority of whom do not follow cruise forums or Facebook groups. Presumably it must be a high level of awareness of the issue, otherwise folk would be speaking normally and having their TV on at a normal level. 

I respect your viewpoint. GM told me all insulation is same throughout the ship and that they get complaints from all locations. I disembarked Marina last week and was told by the concierge that he and many crew members who have been on Vista also have noise problems with poor sound insulation between crew cabins. He reiterated that when he was on Vista he dealt with complaints and occasional arguments between neighboring guests on Vista due to the noise issue and they came from locations all over the ship.

7 hours ago, Harters said:

I had half an hour to kill this morning, so took my own advice. I'm not sure it's really any help to anyone but these are the cabins mentioned by folk on "noise" threads and whether they experienced any issues (N/Y). 

 

7017 – N

7077 – N

7107 - N

8015 – N

8048 – Y & N

8099 – N

8121 - Y

8130 – N

9009 - N

9018 - Y

9019 – Y

9029 – Y

9034 – N

9063 – N

9114 – N

9123 – N

10018 – Y

10028 – N

10029 – N

10055 – N

10060 – Y

10087 – N

 11037 – N

11044 – N

11073 - Y

 According to senior officers I spoke with on the ship, soundproofing is equally problematic among all cabins. IME and from talking to both senior officers, reception staff, concierge and other staff, they get complaints from all over the ship. It matters who your neighbors are, not which cabin you are in. 

22 minutes ago, MisterBill99 said:

 

How do you propose that they fix it?

I assume they will have to better insulate the walls. Someone posted that Vista senior crew told him they would be working on it "soon," but I would guess it would have to wait until a major drydock which could be years away. NCLH really has a two ship problem with this issue. Regent Grandeur, bult soon after Vista in the same ship yard is reported to have the same problem with lack of soundproofing between cabins.

1 hour ago, KingJamesFL said:

Prob very subjective. 

Not true. It is absolutely pervasive throughout the ship! Makes zero difference where your cabin is located. What makes a difference is whether you have neighbors who speak in tones that are not very quiet and whether they turn on their tv, even at low volumes. Vista GM, Concierge and Concierge have confirmed to me that lack of proper sound insulation is equally a problem for every cabin on Vista. I have had crew tell me that crew cabins have same problem and crew often has trouble sleeping. I have spent 28 nights on Vista in two different cabins on different decks. Same problem. One of my neighbors had TV on at all times he was awake in the room. He showed me his volume was only at 7%. He turned it off only between 11:00 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. and only then could I sleep. Will never travel on Vista again unless they remedy the problem.

On 8/22/2024 at 1:13 PM, -Lew- said:

 

I'm not seeing anything in the Costco policy requiring full cost of the trip be insured under their policy in order for pre-existing conditions to be covered.  See the waiver as copied from the policy below...

 

WAIVER OF THE PRE-EXISTING CONDITION EXCLUSION

 

The Pre-Existing Condition Exclusions for Emergency Medical Expense Benefit, Emergency Dental Expense Benefit, Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation Benefit, Pre-Departure Trip Cancellation Benefit, Post-Departure Trip Interruption Benefit, and Travel Delay Benefit, if included in this Policy, are waived provided the Insured meets the following requirements:

 

a. the Insured's premium for this coverage is received within 21 days of his/her initial Covered Trip payment; and

 

b. the Insured is not disabled from travel at the time he/she pays his/her premium.

Unfortunately this Costco more affordable coverage is not available to those of us in NY state.  Grrr.