Rob the Cruiser

On 5/9/2022 at 2:59 PM, njhorseman said:

That's my take on it. 

It's really easy to be a cynical wise guy and accuse anyone who makes a recommendation of having an  ulterior motive. In this case the agent was presenting a simple fact...that Vista will have more specialty restaurants than Sirena, including two that are totally new to Oceania. I know I would find that attractive.

I'm not a cynical wise guy. Far from it.

I simply suggested that it is a possibility that the agent is ill-informed or there is a financial incentive for booking Vista..

My initial thought is that either the agent is ill-informed or there is a financial incentive for booking Vista.

We have sailed on Marina and Sirena. The food on both ships was outstanding.

You're nervous now. Think about how that dreadful feeing will intensify as your departure date approaches. Arrive the day before your cruise and enjoy the anticipation of a wonderful trip.

We've had great results in getting additional reservations for a table for two on shore days. Getting additional reservations on sea days was a challenge. 

47 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

You don’t want to do these extended balconies! The extra space with both lounge and regular chairs give you way too many options for enjoying this extra value. And the worst of these balconies are the four corner ones that are open on two sides. Oh the horror!

 

As a courtesy to unknowing folks who may book the same cruise as we do, we will always try to book one of those four corner ones (which for some strange reason are grabbed on the first day of a cruise opening for booking). In that way, we will spare them the unknown problems they would surely encounter. 
😉

 

We like B3's with extended balcony also. Oops... I mean we hate them. Too much room. They are terrible.  😀

On 3/8/2022 at 8:47 PM, pinotlover said:

Anti dress codes is a game a tiny minority want to play.

 

Oh,! why can women wear capris and men can’t?? Oh my!! Here’s a question: why can women wear bare shoulder blouses and men can’t?? No one wants to see men in wife beaters in the Specialties that’s why!! It’s bad enough seeing them in the Terrace!! 
 

The majority of dress code questions are trolling!! Enough already! 

Something along the lines of "But my jeans aren't just jeans. They are very expensive designer jeans."

Glad you're having a great time. (Except for your fried Waterpik. 😁 )

Another vote in favor of the Miso-Glazed Sea Bass from Red Ginger. Amazing.

On 2/15/2022 at 9:12 AM, lel5344 said:

On embarkation for the Riviera, can we get lunch any place besides the Terrace Cafe? Is Waves Grill open?

Yes. Waves will be open.

We board as soon as permitted and head to Waves for amazing surf and turf:

It's not worth it to us.

We stayed in 6093, which is an aft cabin with a huge veranda. Yes the cabin is small and the bathroom is tiny but we didn't care. The extra space on the veranda, the fantastic view and the sound of the props churning the ocean was perfect for us.

On 2/12/2022 at 5:33 PM, ronrick1943 said:

Wouldn’t at this time.  Even before would want to meet someone first (lunch/coffee)before wanting to share a dinner table.  Could be a long evening.

Especially long evening if someone insists on talking about politics. I don't want to hear it even if I agree with their opinion.

I have so many favorites that I would probably list half of the items being offered.

But, for the most unusual dish - seared lamb chops for breakfast! The first time I saw it on the breakfast menu, I thought it was a typo. They are incredible. 

11 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

The datum is my vote.  What other data do politicians react to?

Lobbyists with buckets of money.

12 hours ago, XCoastie73 said:

If the only tool you have available is a hammer ("Disease Control") then everything looks like a nail.  And every nail must needs be fully pounded in.

 

Forty-eight years in government at fairly high levels.  The risk-averse culture in any agency, especially at the DC/HQ rather than local level, is to avoid at all costs opening the agency up to a black-eye.  The best way not to be criticized for a disease that might linger in ANY degree is to allow NOTHING until it is (essentially) fully pounded in.

 

We depend on elected politicians to weigh the risks and rewards across competing disciplines in a sophisticated, complex, multi-dimensional manner, and to make the best rational overall decision.  Silly us.  (Flamers: N.B., this last is non-partisan.)

Politicians don't make rational decisions. They are guessing. They are intoxicated by how easy it has been to control our lives. 

6 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

Let me be clear.  We do not think waiting five years or one year to return to cruising without masks is 'fine'.  We think it's time to emphasize vaccines and de-emphasize masking.   We do not agree with those who say we can meet in small groups for the 4th of July if all have been vaccinated.  We do not believe we should rely upon government or the CDC to tell us what we can or cannot do.  It's time for the CDC to tell the cruise lines that if everyone is vaccinated on the ship, then none of the other rules apply.  It's time to return to normal.  Not in five years, not in one year, not in six months.  Now.

Let me be clear. I agreed with your statement "we will cruise again when there is no requirement to wear masks or social distance". 

I didn't state that you would be "fine". 

On 3/8/2021 at 4:46 PM, RocketMan275 said:

Timing of the vaccination won't determine when we cruise.  What will be determinate is this: we will cruise again when there is no requirement to wear masks or social distance.  

That's our thinking as well.

To us, cruising fantasyland. Wearing masks, social distancing, etc. is the harsh reality of the steps we must continue to follow indefinitely.

If it takes another year to get back to "normal", that's fine with us. If it's five years, that's fine also.

17 hours ago, Shawnino said:

Starboard 100%.

 

If you're flying from the US/Toronto and want to save a little money, consider Copa Airlines.They are Panamanian and all their flights hub up in Panama City at roughly the same time. They seem to pretty much run the aeroport, so departing flights will wait for any late arrivals so that people make their connections. It also means that their longest flight is only 5.5/6 hours. I've always found staff to be very gracious. 

 

Economy class is what it is, but on Copa, it's less expensive.

 

Pre-pandemic the Business class was about half the cost of the US carriers. To be sure, it's business-class-minus (no flat bed, no pods, minimal IFE) but the recliners are comfy, food runs roughly equal to other carriers, drinks flow, and there is ample personal space.  

Agreed. We're satisfied with Copa for our Denver - Buenos Aires flights. Business class seats are like domestic first class but there's a connection in Panama City, so we weren't subjected to 14 continuous hours of torture. The "Copa Club" for frequent flyers and business class is spacious and as nice as any I have visited. 

Edited just now by Rob the Cruiser

53 minutes ago, Hawaiidan said:

well it is summer time and the warmest  Feb is their August.    Fog is present many times in coastal waters at that time.     I had an outside cabin  and because of the constant cold we could never get the cabin warm and transferred to an inside.   

 

  Many ports are very" third world" with crime a big factor.   Most uprising was that the highly touted Buenos Aires was scary with bums and con people everywhere.  Many fellow passengers were victims.   Have fun but remember they are having hard economic times and many are turning to "alternative incomes".  You have to be very situational aware...more than normal.

DW and I have visited Buenos Aires three times and never encountered "bums and con people everywhere". It's a fabulous city. 

The only victims we ever encountered on a cruise were those who ignored advice to leave their jewelry in their cabins when going ashore. 

14 hours ago, pinotlover said:

1985rz1;

 

Thank You, I will try to do better! 🍷

 

Perhaps my reply should have been along the line of : What do you think will happen to those ports that won’t allow otherwise healthy vaccinated cruisers in? 
 

There will be some.

 

Don't let other people tell you what to think. You are who you are. If someone doesn't like what you have to say, they can ignore you. 

14 hours ago, azdrydock said:

I feel sorry for the disabled and knowing many challenged people, I am sure if O Staff just mentioned it they would comply. O not R ship so there is plenty of room in the cabin. In retrospect this is the same cruise that I mentioned earlier that the Hotel Manager told us they don't enforce the dress code because it might disturb or embarrass a guests.

DW and I were on that cruise also. While I sympathize with those who have disabilities, storing mobility devices in the hallways was dangerous. Add the housekeeper carts in the morning and the hallways became an obstacle course. 

On 2/5/2021 at 3:53 PM, tgg said:

I've cruised on both Celebrity and Oceania.  Oceania's food is now so far above Celebrity's in both quality and presentation, we've decided to avoid Celebrity in the future.

 

We thought we would be fine booking Celebrity's Aqua Class and eating in Blu for breakfast and dinner, but it was a huge disappointment on our last cruise. Celebrity's lunch buffet was a madhouse. No more Celebrity cruises for us.

Were you afraid of being trampled by hundreds of passengers behaving as if they hadn't had a meal in days? 

18 hours ago, marieps said:

They have snow in Colorado?  😁

It never snows in Colorado Springs...in July.

We are Elite Plus on Celebrity. Although we enjoyed our cruises on Celebrity, we feel that Oceania takes the cruise experience to a much higher level. 

Looking at the comparison from a different perspective, here are a few things that Oceania doesn't have:

• Agressive photographers.
• Roving staff members trying to sell/upgrade drink packages, shore excursions, specialty dining, etc.
• "Art" auctions.
• Massive shopping promotions.
• Crowds or long lines.

We were shocked to find that the food in the Grand Dining Room on Oceania is as good, if not better, than similar dishes served in Blu aboard Celebrity. Imagine having lamb chops cooked to order at breakfast. When I first saw lamb chops listed for breakfast I thought it was a typo. 

As soon as you are aboard, head straight for Waves and order this:

SURF & TURF - Grilled Florida lobster medallions, sliced black angus filet mignon, tomato, toasted ciabatta, roasted garlic jus, remoulade dipping sauce. The dish also includes truffle fries.

The longest we've done is 37 days. We loved every minute of it. In fact, we tried to extend the stay for the next itinerary but it was sold out.

OK. It's a special restaurant. 

On 1/15/2021 at 12:07 PM, TrulyBlonde said:

Actually, I was explaining  that I like Luminae better than the O main dining room. Just providing my opinion because I have cruised on both and you stated you have never cruised on X. 

I like both cruise lines. Luminae is smaller and more intimate that O main dining room.

All specialty restaurants are smaller and more intimate than main/grand dining rooms.