Redtravel

Thanks.

Nam is an amazing place. It’s mainly a young country with hard working, polite people who are thrilled to have the tourist business. There is very little talk about the American War. We call it the Vietnam war.

When we first got to Saigon, our guide gave us a lesson in how to cross a street. Wait at curb until you gather at least 15 people who also want to cross. Form a wall or mass together and walk as a group. Traffic is crazy. They don’t stop or stay in lane. It’s a free for all. Motor scooters carry entire families and their stuff. Good luck in Vietnam. It’s an amazing place.

On Vista now. Cabin B is good. It is set up similar to Riviera/Marina. Closet opens in the entry way instead of next to the bed. It’s smaller, but adequate. Above the safe are 2 deep shelves. The desk has 4 drawers. In the bathroom there is a cabinet with 3 shelves. Elbow that there is a counter with 4 drawers. Under the sink, there is a huge drawer. We had no trouble finding storage for our clothing. We have lots of unused drawers. Like the blue night light and the under vanity lighting. The digital do not disturb/ makeup room replaces the old signage. Bathroom is spacious with a big walk-in shower. Water pressure is good. Still getting Bvlgari toiletries. No sewing kit. Veranda has 2 comfy chairs and a table.

My spouse uses canes and walkers. When driving to a cruise port, bringing the walker made a great difference. Hesitated to bring the walker when flying, we left it home. As time progressed, using a walker has become essential. Now we fly and take the walker. On cruises, it makes getting around easier. Great in the buffet. Put food on seat and roll to a table. Use a DRIVE rollator. Got it at Goodwill Medical Store. Cost $100. It was in perfect condition.

In Barbados. No shuttle? We told it isn’t far. That’s absurd. For those people who are handicapped, it’s an enormous distance. Add the heat. You have a recipe for disaster. We walked to the terminal. We got a taxi back to the ship. What happened to FREE Shuttle? RCL ship next to us had free shuttle.

After reading the negative comments on this board, I was not expecting a great dinner. However, we ate there last night. It was very good. Best steak on a cruise. I understand you like Jacques. I like it too. Like the variety on the ships. Haven’t tried Aquamar. It has been very crowded most days.

When guests come from various countries, it’s a nice experience to enjoy a variety of restaurants. What pleases one guest may not please another guest. I try not to compare the restaurants with those I go to at home. As long as I am not cooking, they are all fabulous. Enjoy!

On Vista now. It’s very nice. I really like Marina. Next cruise is on Marina. Enjoy any ship. Being able to cruise is a luxury. Appreciate it.

I do love Jacques. I have eaten there many times. Yes, I miss it on Vista. However, Embers is very nice. In the GDR, there are nightly selections from Jacques. We experienced the same thing on Sirena. I like variation. If all ships did exactly the same thing, it can get boring. My next cruise is on Marina. Looking forward to Jacques. Just maybe, I will miss the ribeye from Embers. That ribeye was amazing.

Some California wines and a few mixed drinks. No beer. It was even more restricted than Simply More meal drinks.

Best to take a ship tour. We did. Traffic is outrageous. Be careful crossing streets. Motor scooters are everywhere. Had a fabulous time in HCMC.

Been there. Cute town with lots of wine shops and boutiques. If you have only one day in Bordeaux, stay in Bordeaux. Bordeaux has lots of interesting venues.

Ate at Ember last night. It was excellent. Loved the decor, food, and prompt service. We had lobster roll, potato soup, ribeye steak, and key lime cheesecake. Everything was delicious. Steak was prepared perfectly. It was outstanding.

Most comments are from cruises before 2024. In past, we just ordered anything and got it. There was no event special menu. Things change. Now they take away the usual bar menu and put an event menu on each table. Accept the change. Changes are happening. The cruise is still very good. We are enjoying being on Vista.

I didn’t take a photo. In retrospect I should’ve. There were some cold pickups. There was wine and about 5 mixed drinks. The list was very short. My spouse commented that Celebrity Captains Club pre dinner nightly cocktails included way more than Oceania.

Up until now, we always were able to order anything during the Captains welcome party. Not sure when it changed. Obviously it has changed and not for the good. Simply More is becoming Sadly Less. Cruise is still very nice. Changes happen. Accept and go on. I am curious to see if the same thing happens at the repeaters reception.

Are you n a ship now.

We thought that we had resolved the dining reservation problem. Nope. Tonight we appeared at Embers at the time written on my reservation card. The maitr’d could not find our reservation. He told us that we were reserved in Polo tonight, not Embers. I showed him the ship reservation ticket. He said that the concierge had made a mistake. We were seated and had a nice meal.

You are making assumptions that the server was misinformed or lazy. That wasn’t the case. I was not misinformed. This is new to me. The server was very polite. He explained the menu concept. He wasn’t misinformed. He was just doing his job. I did not order a specialty drink. On your next Oceania cruise, you’ll likely encounter the same thing. It’s what it is.

Yes, things have changed on Oceania. We sail on Oceania often. Up until now, our experiences were amazing. During the Captains welcome party, you could order anything complimentary. Imagine my surprise when I watched the servers remove the usual bar menus. Shortly after an event menu was placed on each table in the bar area. It is very limited. I don’t know when this change started. Last year we sailed on Marina twice. Most recent cruise was June 2023. There were no limits on that sailing. Nothing stays the same.

On Vista now. Men in collared shirts with trousers is the norm. Many wear knits. Some wear jeans. Few wear ties or jackets. Women are mostly in pants and nice tops. Some women wear dresses. I did see a stunning couple last night. She wore a sequin gown. He wore a suit with a tie. If dressy is your thing, do it. However, don’t be surprised if people look at you.

Not seeing the list, I asked for a martini. Server said it’s not on the list. He said that I couldn’t get it. What? Just bring it. I will pay for it. That was the welcome party!

I was comparing 2 O cruises out of Miami. I prefer sticking to a specific checkin time. It was one of the good things that was started because of the pandemic. It spaced out people. Now, it’s get in line. We arrived @1. Line was long.

Last year, if you showed up before your assigned boarding time, you were shown to a waiting area. As traffic slowed, you were allowed to check in. Things are now unrestricted. As you enter, you are directed to a line.