s1amblue

We didn't! But we were in Celebrity suite rather than Sky...

Hamburgers, hotdogs, salad, fries, assorted toppings (grilled onions, mushrooms, cheeses, etc) & I think veggie burgers.....

Have used several times - all were exactly as described - most larger groups than we generally like though...

Packing suggestions are great! Here's a few more specifics: wear your heaviest & bulky items on the plane! Like your hiking boots! You can always tuck slipper socks into your 'personal' size item. Go to AMAZON and order two Chico Bag packable duffle. Get a Patagonia LS black base layer & a exofficio or other packable waterproof rain jacket. Have DH wear sport coat on plane - looks great with jeans & hiking boots! Check out 'oh my Gauze' or 'cotton ways! For black & white cotton pieces that are feather weight, shed wrinkles & pack easily! also Chico's Zenergy slacks.... 8 weeks, two climates, 1 carry on & personal item..... Black & white. :)

Meclizine hydrochloride is the generic name of Bonine that has been around for years, and we are talking about it here on Cruise Critic for years. Why did you need a prescription if both Bonine and Meclizine are over-the-counter? Of course it's a good idea to talk to a doctor before taking any pills, but why prescription?

Because she didn't know the difference (or the sameness!) & antivert is available by Rx - and in 50mg tab.

Unless they recently changed... SW allows credits to go to the cardholder(payee) for use on future flights, did not have to be same as original passenger.... Worth double-checking!!

#1) Le Havre to Copenhagen with stops in Brugges, Warnnemunde, Riga, Tallinn, St Petersburg (3 full days!) & Denmark.... Flew to Paris first & did 3 nights pre cruise & stayed 2 more nights in Copenhagen to cruise islands, visit museums etc.

#2) Sydney up the north edge of Australia, Great Barrier Reef, Darwin, on to Komodo, Indonesia, Bali, Singapore ending in Bangkok.

#3) Venice to Barcelona - loved the Kotor, Montenegro stop on this one + hill towns in France...

Starboard side seems to have more smoking areas - we now book all our cabins port side - love mid to aft.... (Aft favorite) be look at what might be above you on 10....

You are so welcome! I received this info. 18 cruises ago & they are now such wonderful experiences!

I too use the transderm patches on every cruise, but am getting such bad dry mouth and it interferes with my contacts, am actually considering trying Bonine but I don't feel confident enough to switch, yet [emoji33]

Don't be afraid to switch.... Take it at bedtime, start 2 nights b4 cruise & continue through cruise & 2 nights after... Also order online if your pharmacy doesn't carry Hylands Motion Sickness tabs - on super rough seas, tenders, diesel busses etc just dissolve 2-3 under tongue & not a bit of headaches or queasy appear! I use precautionary but Hylands works even if you have symptoms appearing!

Having done lots & lots of laundry (one of those carry on only fanatics) I have noted that my biggest issue is arriving with the machines done but not emptied and their 'owners' not around. I will ALWAYS carefully and respectfully empty the 'done' laundry into a basket (on Oceania always have baskets) to do mine. Usually this is the dryer but he happens with washers too.... I note time to be back and arrive back at least 5 minutes head of time - many times the basket of laundry I removed is still sitting there! Where is that elusive launderer I wonder, caught up in the casino??? At the buffet??? I always bring Shout color catcher sheets too, that way I can consolidate colors & works well!

[quote name=jenn-;44564347. Then again' date=' maybe I should try taking them. I get reverse motion sick and feel like poop while off the boat in ports. Once it was so bad we had to hurry back on the boat so I wouldn't get sicker.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/quote]

I used to get seasick on the ferry going over from Sausalito to San Francisco! And on a curvy road? Forget it! All sorts of motion sickness for me! And the land/leg/world shifting under your feet on shore excursions & after cruise was a great reason to not cruise much! Then I discovered the miracle solution: Meclazine 25 mg (Bonine, Verticalm, etc.) Take 1 each night beginning two nights before, continue during & through 2 nights after. No sea or land sickness! But, just in case, I also take along Hylands Motion Sickness tabs & dissolve 2-3 under tongue if rough seas or tender.

Oceania has classical music every night in the lounge outside of MDR, concert every evening!

Water should be fine in Barcelona! Will read your posts with interest since we're doing same cruise next year! Not sure what to do yet in Valencia & Canary Islands, interested in what you do & see as 'on the dock' options! Have a great time!

Thanks guys! Very helpful, much appreciated!

So here's my thought.... Why NOT Caribbean? The point is for family gathering so you get to be the port 'guru ' & choose to enjoy your 'resort' ship or port as much or as little as you want! These tend to be more economical for the budget minded. Plus air is far better for US departures. Call the group department of at least two lines and see what they can offer you for what size block.

Anyone ever done a river cruise with them? French based, looks like they have more options than most... What were your thoughts & experiences? Thanks!

Thanks so much for all of your suggestions! Much appreciated... Looking forward to researching & booking some of these!

Stitch removal - ease depends on the stitch used! If it's single with knot for each, easy enough. If it's a running stitch, much more complex & easy to screw up! Have the office give you a suture removal kit & then have the clinic on board take it out. If you decided to do it yourself watch a u tube video specific to the type - 3 or 4 times. My medical ins would cover it on board if I had it done, don't. Know about yours... Have to pay then get reimbursed after....

Retired & Cruised Caribbean, Med, Baltic, Alaska, South Pacific, Australia, NZ, Indonesia & Hawaii & TA's... Primarily Oceania & Celebrity... Not adverse to repeating but - what were cruises ypu would do again & again or consider 'do not miss' this? Port, experience or entire cruise? Thanks!

Seriously? Tip the dining table seating staff member on the first night? We have never done this & have consistently been greeted with smiling welcomes, accommodating, friendly & great warmth! I find that the staff does their job and extremely well! In fact I wonder sometimes how they manage to be so great when we've observed not so friendly, gracious or understanding passengers!

My husband and i have worked hard . We are now empty nesters:) We took our children when young on holidays with us always. Now as they are adults we like to cruise with them when life permits ...

 

But right now we are enjoying the two of us and adult conversation

 

Last year we went on a cruise and they did not enforce the NO KIDS in the adult zone. I have no problem cruising with kids i just want to find a cruise line to go to who enforces there rules.

 

Nice to lay in the sun and no" Maro Polo " :rolleyes:

Haven't read the other posts but on 10 Oceania cruises might have encountered 4 kids,,,,

Thanks for the concise and helpul review. We have been getting many brochures from Oceania and are tempted to try them mainly because of a more varied itinerary selection..even in the Carib, but not yet sold on the idea. We'll see what X offers for the next booking releases.

 

 

 

so far BLU works for us with visits to Specialty rest as a break. Does Oceania have options for lunch other than the buffet? We mostly avoid any buffet. Also disappointing that you saw folks dressed not so nice. We like country club casual..sounds you did not see much of that,

 

 

 

As much as we dislike Celeb's trend to louder music/DJs, and being more about bars and drink packages than in the past, seems Oceania would be too quiet for us,,

 

 

 

Appreciate your taking time to post....good choice of title for this thread...

We reached Bronze (10 cruises) with Oceania before we tried Celebrity. We were actually shocked at the price difference between the two for the comparisons are so similar!

Lunch on Oceania - You can eat in the MDR, buffet or grill - all are open each day.

Our comparisons:

We did find Country Club Casual to the norm on our O cruises.

No self service laundry on Celebrity.

Penthouse Suite on Oceania Marina was significantly pricier than Celebrity Suite on S class ship. (May have been just the sailing but I keep comparing & seeing bigger $$ on O) Plus, the Celeb suite was bigger with private bedroom, double door bathroom, extra closet and designated living room separated from bedroom with a bedroom door!

Coffee in MDR & buffet horrible on both but worse on O. BUT, free specialty coffees on O at Barista vs pay for coffees/teas at al Bacio on celeb. However, pastries & cookies free at both coffee shops are free and Celeb wins for selection & taste hands down.

Because we had a suite on B2B Celeb sailings it allowed us to get to Elite quickly. (In 5 cruises!) There are far more perks for Elite on Celeb than there were at Bronze on Oceania.

We loved Oceania but we get so much more on Celebrity. Plus, we can cruise 2-3 times a year with .celebrity for the $$ saved....

Look for the wristbands - they worked great in Guatemala jungle....

Just remembered - They seem to switch out the donuts at 10am for pies & cakes - almost missed out as I was trying not to not have my morning 'fix' & waited almost too late! Glad I'm cruising in January!