Marebear

Regardless of the place in which the current research finds itself, it is clear that many municipalities and regional governments treat e-cigs the same as regular cigarettes and ban them in bars, restaurants and most other public places. See previous posts in this thread for a variety of sources verifying that.

 

I believe that Oceania has made a significant error in allowing e-cigs. Their marketing research may say differently but, I am convinced that their customer base is fairly well-educated with many individuals including the former restrictive smoking policy as a plus in their choice of cruise line - we certainly did.

 

At this point, letting Oceania's management know that a considerable number of O loyalists on CC are opposed to this change.

 

If you are a very frequent traveler, you may have knowledge of Chris Elliott who is the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine. He also writes a travel column, which we follow in the SF Chronicle. Chris has a website that lists the contact info for corporate executives across the travel (and other) industries, including cruise lines. Here is the link to Oceania contact info:

http://elliott.org/company-contacts/oceania-cruises/

 

If you are concerned about this O change to allow e-cigs, please send a short note to each person listed indicating something along the lines of...

 

"Recently, I learned that Oceania Cruises has decided to allow the use of E-cigarettes throughout each of its ships except in dining venues. Ongoing research has shown that e-cigs rival regular cigarettes in producing many similar ill effects for the smoker as well as for those subjected to the second hand vapors. Many municipalities and regional governments have chosen to include e-cigs to their ban of tobacco products.

 

In looking at the wonderful travel product we have enjoyed with Oceania, please understand that its restrictive smoking of recent years was a significant factor in our choice of cruise line and loyalty to it.

 

Please subject E-cigarettes to the same restrictions as for all other tobacco products. Thank you."

 

Perhaps if enough of us say something, things will go back to normal, at least as far as tobacco policies go.

Ditto ! If this is true that Oceania allows e-cigarettes anywhere on the ship, I will have to cancel my cruise!

If you have to keep the pens cold you must get the solid freezer packs instead of the gel packs which will be confiscated. Please make sure you have the freeze solid packs!

I have taken spinning classes for a fee on both size of ships (Regatta and Marina). Please make sure you sign up for the classes. Sometimes people just show up and those that are signed up get the bikes.

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I got very tired of having to replace the TSA locks which cost $10 to $15 each and replaced them with zip ties which I can carry in my carry-on and have had no trouble since.

This is hilarious !!! Thank you so much !

I'm sorry but I really can't understand why someone would book a certain cabin knowing they won't be happy with it. As you can see, I've been a member of cruise critic for a long time - my first "cruise" was a transatlantic crossing in 1958 - so I've been at this for a long time. I don't cruise constantly but always in a cabin I like and want. Thank you! And this opinion applies to all whether Americans or Europeans or Aussies!

PS I have never been upgraded and that's fine!

This is the exact wording in the Cruise Vacation Guide prepared for passangers before they travel.

"Although Oceania Cruises accepts Guests of all ages, the unregimented lifestyle and upscale ambiance onboard are designed for adults and do not provide for the care, entertainment, or supervision of children."

Yes, it was early but was a great sail-in because we were in a vista suite and we invited the people down at our end of the hall to watch it with us. We all enjoyed it !!!!

Correct.

 

Here's what "live and let live" means to me.

 

Nothing you or I write or say is going to change the way folks dress on a cruise. If they want to embarrass themselves that is their business. It has no effect on me or my cruise experience (although it does seem to affect a few posters). Smoking affects it. Bad behavior affects it. Screaming children affect it. Alleged dress code "violations?" No way.

 

As for my husband and myself -- we are dressed to the nines in the evening. I am a fashionista and an overpacker. I bring my fabulous costume jewelry collection (I am a collector -- a jewelry junkie) as I rarely get a chance to wear any of it here in Tucson. I probably have a different outfit for each night. Crazy, huh? I have it and I want to wear it and the cruise is the place. There are other women who do the same -- exquisitely dressed and accessorized in the evening. Others are in simple capris and tops. Neat and plain. Do I care? Should any of us care? They are happy and comfortable. That is what is important IMO. I envy those women -- they travel with just carry ons LOLOL

 

Some might consider me "overdressed" but I do not care what others think about the way I am dressed (and I am guessing those who dress down don't give a hoot either). We have choices. I get the feeling some here think their choice is the only choice.

 

Bottom line: I don't give a hoot about how the rest of the passengers are dressed and I doubt they should or would care about my opinion or anyone else's.

 

So -- I say "live and let live" because you are not going to change anyone's mind or their wardrobe or their style.

 

As far as giving first time cruisers advice on what is customarily worn on Oceania, that is fair game. But apparently, opinions are divided on that score. If you are driven by what others will "think" then listen to the 'rules" as stated by some of the posters who believe there is a strict set of rules to be followed.

If you are comfortable with yourself and your choices, pack what you will feel comfortable in and enjoy your cruise.

 

I would hate people to think that the fashion police on on board Oceania -- because they are not. There will be a wide range of attire on board.

Well said !

I took my older children on planes from ORD to DCA to visit grandparents and there was a built-in booth table in the back of the plane (either EAL, United or maybe American) that I would get where the children happily sat with coloring books, etc. for the length of the flight. This was from 1962 to 1969.

Marebear

 

We were down at South Queensferry last week when an MSC ship was in and there was a constant stream of taxis all day. There might have been a few minutes occasionally when the rank was empty but then a few more would arrive. I wouldn't bother booking in advance. If you look at my Post#1, you will see a white building in the 3rd photo and the taxis line up there. It costs around £25 to get into Central Edinburgh (depending on traffic and drop-off location) and I would advise you ask to be dropped off at the castle as it would be a difficult walk uphill for you. There is also the shuttle bus option, a photo of which is also shown in Post #1 in the fourth photo. The buses are also waiting at the end of the pier and take you into the city centre, but if you were unable to walk uphill you would still need to get a taxi or a hop-on, hop off bus from there.

Here is a photo of the castle above the town. Everything is downhill from there!!

 

Thank you so much !!!!!!! Mary

We will be in Queensferry in late July and are too old to do all that walking uphill. Are taxies readily available to take to Edinburgh or should we arrange a taxi in advance, and, if so, can you please give me a name to contact? Thank you, Mary

On one of my last trips to London I put my ATM card next to my day pass for the tube and stripped them both !!! Be careful where you keep your cards and tube passes !

All the people are nicely dressed and, simply because of their age, they don't look like Chico's models. I have cruised on Holland America and they certainly don't look like the Oceania people!

I must say I am super sad I cannot wear my jeans to dinner. They always go with a dressy top; I hate dresses and skirts. I guess it's the Aussie in me. And I am not sure I am a 'Chicos girl'.

In the summer. I always wear nice white jeans to dinner with an elegant sort of top and beautiful sweater and sandals. No one has ever stopped me and I have been doing this for years. In the cooler weather I have all sorts of jeans including velvet ones! But never plain blue or black denim.

I buy mine through Magellans catalog and they are wonderful. I also bought this winter some called SOCKWELL. They do have wool in them and are different colored patterns so they don't look like compression socks! They are wonderful to wear in Colorado winters!!!!

I have over 900,000 miles actually flown with United and will soon hopefully reach the 1,000,000 mile mark. I have been retired since 12/31/1998. When I retired, I kept my status for a year and then it was dropped, which is as it should be. I have been flying regularly since the early 1950's. I have never depended on airline food as my only meal on a long flight. And, I have regularly flown in first class or business class. I have flown to Europe only twice in economy class and have used my points to upgrade only. I still have a lot of points and do not rely on credit cards for most of them. I am usually at the bottom of the list for meals, etc. and do not mind at all. I had my "time in the sun" and it is time for someone else!

Has flying changed much in all those years - YES!!! - but "so what" - so has everything else. I am very happy with United but don't expect too much. By the way, I am a female and heard a lot of "What's she doing up here" years ago when I would be in first class or "Lady, I think you're in the wrong line" when I would stand in the very frequent lines at ORD or any airport that had them.

I really think some people need to "get over it"!

Thanks for letting me "rant"!

I don't know about other airlines but United has been doing this for many years in first class. I recall they were doing this in the 1980's when I first became Executive Premier.

It's way too long. Maybe the constant posters could stop!!!

To Travelcat2,

My husband and I started traveling to Europe and other parts of the world in the mid 1950's! 1982 seems like just yesterday!!!!

yes !!!!!

Don't forget all your prescriptions and medications - they should never be in your checked bags!

Before you leave the US, get enough currency that you will need until you can find an ATM machine. The ships charge a much higher fee to exchange US dollars into euros, etc. than the ATM's offer you. Notify your credit card companies that you will be traveling and tell them which countries you will be in. Also notify your bank that gives you the ATM card. I only use ATM machines that are in a bank because of the fraud gadjets that are put on ATM machines everywhere. And I only carry a small amount of cash anywhere because credit cards are so widely accepted. Try to get one that does NOT have an exchange rate - I know that Chase offers them along with some American Express cards and Capitol

One cards.

I have never had any trouble with the in-room safes!

Enjoy your trip!!!

Yes, we tipped the cabana attendant for his excellent service and extreme care and friendliness above and beyond the regular tips. Don't gorget, he or she is there to serve you however much you use the cabana!!

Does the $100.00 fee refer to one person or is it $200.00 per couple?