Jump to content

sammiedawg

Members
  • Posts

    3,483
  • Joined

Posts posted by sammiedawg

  1. I’ve been off the boards for a quite a 

    while.   Always considered myself to be reasonable.  We are huge O fans with a sour taste in our mouths.

     

    we fall into a small window of cruisers who “cancelled “ a few days prior to O cancelling.  We canceled after hearing the US STATE DEPARTMENT ORDERED AMERICANS to stay off cruise ships.   Of course the CDC had already issued similar prohibitions. 
     

    We accepted the FCC after being told nothing else to chooser from.  
    a few days later full refunds were issued to those who canceled after  Oceania did.

    My follow up   communication with O Keeps telling me I made the mistake canceling and I should have known O would be issuing a policy in a few days. But I’m not a psychic.

     

    the FCC is of limited to no value due health issues.  Oceania is very vague about transferring to a third party but I think the answer is no.

    I am very sad at how this ended. 

    • Like 4
  2. You could not pay me to sail the veendam.   Did that once and we knew better. 

    I don’t think there is a big difference between the masmarket lines but the physical plant veendam would be nicer.

    on the non veendam ships.   Working plumbing.     And ventilatin are expected by us.  

    annd I am happier living on veendam.  at hverses veendam.     I refuse to pay money to lack adequate cooling and ventilation.  

    I can get an Olive Garden lunch for ?99

  3. The lines are not comparable and Oceania will cost twice the per diem of Princess.  But you get a superior product for your money.  I have not regretted any Oceania fare paid.

    i also like Princess, certain ships and itineraries.  We love their Alaskan itineraries on the coral Princess, considered a premium ship for the line.   More space per passenger.

    Panama Canal on Coral is also well done. 

    i disliked my one trip on a super grand class ship, crowded and noisy.   
    Their Grand class ships are OK, but aging. Good values. 

    Have not been on any of the newer Princess ships launched in the last six or seven years. 
     

    We have  had very good service on both lines.  Princess treated us royally when something happened to us on board.   I will always have a soft spot for them.

     

    Food is absolutely not comparable with Oceania being a couple levels higher than any mass market cruise line.  
    The specialty restaurants on Princess  are relatively cheap and are good.  
    great entertainment on Princess. 

    • Like 1
  4. Thanks to those who corrected the misinformation about Oceania free cruises.  Especially the statement that a free cruise is limited to an inside cabin.  In our experience and from talking to fellow guests, Oceania slightly upgrades the level of the free cabin but generally you get the average of what you previously booked.  It certainly is not free, 20 cruise credits will cost quite a bit.  But it is a fun reward. 

    As far as getting into O specialty restaurants, everyone is guaranteed a minimum number of seatings, depending on cabin level and length of cruise.  Extra reservations are available on board, we’ve gotten quite a few.  

    We love Oceania but I would say if someone is stretching their budget to sail a premium or lux line, they will probably spend a lot of time critiquing just about everything.  

    Back in the day when we were paying for multiple college degrees, undergrad and graduate, weddings, helping newly marrieds get started,  we sailed a lot of Princess.   It was a good value, much like Holland America. Other than their Alaska program,  there is nothing on Princess that I would judge to be superior to a premium line.  You get what you pay for.   

    i wouldn’t try to compare reward programs.between mass market and premium /lux lines.  Their pricing structures are night and day.  When passengers are getting on board for $399 a week, rewards will not amount to much.  

  5. You won’t gain an ounce.  Dinner options were limited and portions small.  

    There will be apples available, cookies snatched up very quickly.  A few evenings a late night dessert or soup was served,

    Food on Viking river was  average to mediocre.  Their always available chicken and steak had a freezer to microwave consistency,  

  6. The ferry is easy to walk to from the cruise ship area in Sorrento and Naples, not sure about getting there from Amalfi.   Everyone advises to buy round trip tickets and allow sufficient time to get back to the ship.  

    Rick Steve’s guidebooks have precise instruction on how to quickly see all levels of Capri from the ferry landing site.  We followed his precise directions, starting with buying a funicular ticket at ground level.  At the second level you buy a bus ticket to get to the top and ride the chair lifts.  

    Most of the ferry crowd runs to the Blue Lagoon launch area, we’ve never done this. 

     

    I think Oceania will offer an excursion to Capri but you can DIY. 

  7. We did our one and only river cruise with Viking five years ago.    At the time, Viking had the most visibility and other river boat lines were somewhat unknown.  I didn’t care for the river boat regimentation as compared to ocean cruises. Viking had set dining times and everyone went on excursions at the same time.  

    We picked up a last minute pricing deal that included a nice air itinerary and well organized  transfers. 

     

    The biggest weakness was food, limited choices and very small portions at dinner.  We didn’t have to worry about weight gain. The always available menu included chicken and a cheap steak, both had a freezer to microwave consistency.  But one night they had a superb German buffet with the best roast beef I’ve ever eaten.  

    Lunch was soup, pasta, salad every day.   A chef made the pasta to order. Quality was decent.  They also had a handful of menu items. 

    Breakfast buffet was decent. 

    A few evenings they served a late night dessert or soup but otherwise no food options after dinner.  The previously mentioned cookies were quickly snatched up.  They usually had apples out.

    For lunch, on a couple days they had tasty burgers or shish kabob at the Aquavit Terrace.  

     

    Tours were generally excellent, quite varied in content.  Nothing cheap about the included tours offered.  We upgraded a couple and went to a memorable concert in Vienna. Local entertainers and lecturers came onboard a few times. 

     

    Service was adequate. 

     

    There are are too many passengers on board for the size of the ship, 190.  They brought in folding chairs for the evening meetings or lectures.   Seating on the sun deck was not comfortable, cheap mesh and metal loungers. 

  8. 8 hours ago, Paulchili said:

    Except for the fact that she is a fanatic Steelers fan  (this objection comes from a former Browns and currently 49ers fan) 😁

     

    I was born into a Steeler family so I understand Dottie.  I broke away.  

    Preseason  debut tonight- go Baker, go Browns!   We have a good team,  come back to the dawgs.  

     

    • Like 1
  9. 57 minutes ago, Hawaiidan said:

     

    Thanks for the wonderful and humorous  insight into HAL.     I am forced to take a HAL cruise next month because its  the only darn ship sailing to Saipan , Iwo Jima , Wewak and Guadalcanal

    Thankfully, it will be on their smallest 1300 pax ship as I could not tolerate being on one of their seagoing ant farms.  2000--3000.

    Its been 15 years since I left Hal and discovered Regent and Oceania.. settling on Oceania as better.      I expect nothing more than running water and a dry bed.    I expect nothing from their food... even though they gave me a free dinner at their  Chef Boyardee inspired Italian restaurant .    

    The one saving grace is I do not now expect anything but  a floating best western and Appleby's/ Golden Corral  dining.     

    Maybe after sailing O for almost a decade, it will make me appreciate it more..... when faced with the stark reality of what mass market ships deliver... What  truly amazes me is the overt zeal of the HAL loyalists who flaunt their silly pins and flock to the special functions  like lemmings.waiting with great anticipation... for the  Gala lobster night and  the amazing people ordering multiple plates of everything... 

    Does HAL let the passengers serve them selves in the buffet or  have then served?

    Thanks.....pray for me     

     

    I believe HAL still serves most of the buffet food. 

    I get a kick out of some HAL loyalists who post on. CC.  Let me tell you, those pins and meetings where the pins are awarded mean everything to some.  And they literally rush the doors to get into a loyalty lunch where standard food is served. 

     

    You our will be OK since you lowered your expectations.  

    Applebee ‘s food is tastier but same cheap ingredients and cheap cuts of meat.  

    Olive Garden beats the HAL “Italian restaurant”  which has a surcharge.   Pay the surcharge and you will reek of garlic for at least a day. 

     

     

    • Like 1
  10. CD’s are not important to us.  I recognized most of the names in this thread and liked each one well enough.  

    I like Dottie and Tom a lot and don’t find her annoying.   Maybe she has a couple extra announcements.  She works very hard and is an all around pleasant person.  

  11. 34 minutes ago, sail7seas said:

     

    DEAL   Breaker  !!

     

     

     

     

     

     

    On Oceania, they  insist  one must   share a table.?  

    So much for  hospitality !

     

    If a solo  cruiser said they did no wish to share a table,  they would be told to leave and not be seated?

     

    Do they make that clearly known on their  website  and  in  their a HUGE number of  brochures ... dozens of  which  I have tossed out unread ?

     

    sail.noordam@gmail.com

     

     

     

     

    No and no. 

     

    GDR is open dining,  no reservation system and no fixed times.   At the podium, you are asked if you wish to dine alone or share a larger table.   We often say we would like a four top, knowing one or two people will join us.   We’ve had solo travelers seated with us to make a threesome.  

     

    Specialty restaurants are by reservation. 

  12. 1 minute ago, GrammieK said:

    Hi Lana,

     

    im sorry you had that experience in the GDR, but, as far as I know, sharing has been allowed as long as we've been sailing on O.  It's been my experience that when we approached the podium we were asked if we wanted to dine alone or join others at a larger table. We've done both. I get how you feel....if you wanted to eat alone, room service would be the answer. 

     

    Glad you found a better fit than O on regent. 

     

    Not a solo traveler but in almost 200 days on board Oceania, we have always been asked at the GDR podium “ do you wish to dine alone or share a table.?”   All open dining in the GDR, there is no reservation system.  I don’t recall seeing anyone sitting alone.  

    We have been at GDR four tops many times and have had solo travelers seated with us, for a threesome. 

     

    in contrast, access to the specialty restaurants is controlled by reservations.  Every cruiser is guaranteed a certain number of specialty reservations.  How many you get depends on the length of the cruise and your level of accommodations.  Two tops are hard to get unless you are in the early group to reserve. 

     

    I am scratching my head on this report.

     

    Regent is good for solo travelers. 

  13. I have been aware of this restriction but only because I’ve read cruise critic for years.   Doubt the average American knows anything about it.  And why would an American do extensive research before they enter Canada?  I never have and we are Alaskan affectionados, we’ve taken multiple trips that involve a port in Canada.  Travel agents never mentioned this issue and never heard a word about it on board a ship. 

    I know someone with a DUI history x 2 or 3.   This person has  taken several Alaskan cruises and never mentioned a hint of a problem.  

    My impression is hodgepodge enforcement.  

     

    No DUI’s here. 

     

    • Like 1
  14. Many cruise  lines from luxury on down have relaxed dress codes because people do not want to dress up on vacation.  They can look as nice or better in country club casual wear,  nice fabrics, collared shirts or nice blouses. I have worn nice khaki capris on multiple cruise lines and have never been turned away from a dining venue. 

    Not sure if your boys could get away with cropped  khakis or whatever trendy stores call young men’s pants.  

    But if you are sure they won’t wear pants I would cancel the reservation. I don’t agree with those that advise you to eat dinner in the buffet.  I wouldn’t relegate myself to evening buffet meals. 

     

    If if you have plans to do a lot in port I wouldn’t worry too much about entertainment.  But more active lines would be more fun for your kids.   Royal Caribbean will be more expensive but much more active with lots and lots to do.  

  15. We’ve done several private tours in this region.  All were good but the most memorable was Marcello  Maresca from seesorrento.com.   He took us to a fantastic Mom and Pop restaurant between Amalfi and Ravello.   Previous guides took us to Mom and Pop places in Positano, all were great.  

    Marcello is very blunt and to the point, especially when it comes to  shopping stops.  He tells you up front not to book him if you want to shop for trinkets.  He has extensive knowledge of the area and is one of our favorite guides ever.  

  16. I used to buy lots of gift cards but now consider them mostly a nuisance.  Unless it is purchased for an 80% discount at the warehouse store or directly from the vendor.  

    The two grocery chains offering fuel perk,  fuel reward programs both devalued the program.  

     

    We have analytic people in the family who advise that the best travel deals are in high end credit cards.  Benefits include travel insurance and reward points that are actually worth something.  

    Also,  I constantly receive cash back offers, including travel companies.   I get ten percent cash back offers all the time from Crystal cruises, max $450.  It is per card, we have individual accounts.   Travel insurance is per account as well.

    I would not mix and match credit cards, gift cards. 

     

     

  17. Car services will add on tolls. Drivers choose the routing depending on traffic and exactly where you are going, east side, west side, etc.  Time is money.  Tolls vary by bridge, tunnel and a couple bridges are free to cars- Queensboro or Brooklyn bridge had no tolls the last I knew. 

    Carmel had a flat rate charge LGA to midtown that was reasonable.  You will see their signs all over the airport with the current fee.  

    Uber offers terrific service and no extra tipping is required, I’ve been told this over and over by family living in NYC.  The app will give you a range of pricing,  choice of vehicle.  On occasion, we have done a shared ride within the city for very low cost, never waiting more than a few minutes but you might have to cross the street for the shared vehicle.   Always memorize license plate info that will be on the app, I memorize the last three digits, make and model and you will see the drivers photo.   The app will tell you where to meet the car, depending on which terminal at LGA.  

    Sometimes a discount code appears when you first download the Uber app.  

     

     

  18. Sunday morning is fairly quiet, unless it is a holiday weekend like Columbus Day. Uber will be readily available.  We’ve also used Carmel- you can call the 800 number for Carmel and an get immediate operator or use the app.  

    The taxi line is across the street from the terminal.  I’ve seen lines there but taxis frequent the area. 

  19. We’ve been on both lines.   Viking has a nice product, beautiful ships.  We enjoyed their specialty restaurants.  Food in the Restaurant  was above mass market level.  

     Oceania gets our vigorous vote as superior in food, service and ship comfort. Especially Marina and Riviera.  

    Viking includes an excursion in every port which is built into the price.  We are not fond of this amenity.

     

    • Haha 1
  20. Lovely port, we were there on another cruise line last year.  Lovely sail in.

    The locals put major effort into welcoming cruise ship passengers.  The best deal is a HOHO bus that takes you to a couple neighboring towns, we rode two circuits for ten or fifteen dollars pp.  buy tickets at the terminal area.  Nice narration on board.  

    • Thanks 1
  21. $1000 a day for the Prinsendam. In American money???  

    I have land to sell, please call me.  

     

    This was a chopped up aging ship, I didn’t feel the charm over 14 days on board and we were not in bargain accommodations.  Got tired of stuffing wash cloths in between dresser drawers to stop rattling.  We were never able to stop a pocket door from rattling.  Got tired of the AC going out every day.  Got tired of the musty odor we had in the stateroom.  Got tired of the tremendous volume of stinky cigarette smoke permeating the library and other public areas.  Never got used to the chopped up traffic flow, we had to walk through a dining room over and over to get places.  Some doors from the promenade deck led into the dishwashing area of the kitchen, then you had to walk through the cooking area and into a dining room to get out.  

    The decor was dated and a little tacky with hundreds of port plaques covering wall space.  There was very little outdoor shade, pool side chairs were cheap mesh and plastic and in full sun.  We paid for every bottled water we drank- even Fairfield Inn type places provide a couple free water bottles. 

    Food is subjective but we thought it was standard for the fleet. 

×
×
  • Create New...