JoePDX

We did a 21 night transatlantic on Sirena in March 2023 from Aruba to Barcelona. It was an incredible trip. At the time it was our fourth transatlantic. Since then we have completed two more and have two more booked. We love TAs and the sea days. We also adore the R-Class ships. There were two lecturers on board. One did a series of lectures on photography - mostly focused on how to take great photos with your cell phone. I learned an incredible amount. The other lecturer was geared toward talks on our destinations and history. In addition to the other activities mentioned, one day there was the Oceania Country Fair where all departments host a table with games related to the work they do. Knot tying, pillow stuffing, spice identification, etc. A lot of fun. You get a raffle ticket for each win. The other activity usually only done on longer voyages was the boat building competition. Some pretty good creativity. Trivia was well attended. There were about 12 teams. Our team won for most points for the whole voyage. Tip - get an international team put together. We just lucked into ours. With flexibility additional reservations were available in the specialty restaurants. We really enjoyed our meals in the Grand Dining Room - we found a waiter we liked and requested his section every night. He took incredible care of us. Joe

Thank you @babysteps for sharing your experiences. I am sorry this thread had taken such a combative tone.... We will be on Vista in November and can't wait! Enjoy your cruise!!! Joe

This reminds me how lucky we are all to be able to travel in the manner that we do.... And that our complaints about this or that are so just trivial.... Joe

Should be like the Oceania smaller ships as they are all sisters. Same sex steam room in each changing room. Seats 4-6 and is quite hot. No sauna. Joe

Good to know. We also have a mid ship hump cabin now. Good luck to both of us. This will be our sixth transatlantic. Love them! Joe

Hey ORV - Thanks for the great thread... When we flew out of Santiago back in 2009 it was the same routine... So some things do stay the same. 🙄 Joe

That was what I "read through the lines" as well. Thanks! Joe

Hi - I am on the Silhouette TA leaving Port Everglades on 4/22. We are currently in a partial view veranda. On 1/26 we received an email regarding MoveUp and I placed bids for Aqua Class and several suite categories. When I went into the MoveUp offer page today, it showed all the suite category bids as "EXPIRED" and the Aqua Class as "PENDING". I can no longer click on the "PENDING" status and modify the bid, nor can I get into the full list of MoveUp categories. What does this mean? Why would they expire all the bids this far out from sailing? I checked and all the same suites I was bidding on are still available. First time I have used MoveUp so just confused.... I checked our credit card and no charge has been made there.... Joe

Being in a suite, I don't think you will have problems securing reservations, so logging in at a more agreeable hour should be fine. For those of us who typically book Veranda or below, the 12:01 log in can make the difference between eating really late or having to share. Joe

I really like the Riverside Hotel. Right on Las Olas Boulevard which is lined with shops and restaurants. I think our taxi from the Port to the hotel was less than $20. The restaurants attached to the hotel are very good and very reasonably priced. Staying there again in April before we board Silhouette. Joe

It is in the mens locker room. I don’t recall it being hard to find.

You didn’t mention sticky buns….. I’m left wondering. 😳 Joe

Jim (and Iain) - Have followed your Celebrity travels for years. Our first Celebrity Cruise was almost 22 years ago. May 2002 on Constellation's third voyage. We loved it. Then, away went the Michel Roux food, then the "classes" and the overall reduction of services and increased prices and ships getting bigger and bigger. We have a total fit with Oceania. We love the Regatta Class ships. Not everyone does, but we do. Marina and Riviera are fine too and our next Oceania Cruise is on Vista. We find the experience low key but elegant, excellent food and service, TRIVIA!, just a lovely experience overall. Mostly no children. I don't drink so everything is essentially included for me. That said we are returning to Celebrity after 5 years for a TA on Silhouette in April. More about itinerary in that choice, but we will be very much be comparing to our Oceania experiences...so see if we would return again.. Joe

Link works with no issues. Thanks for the nice review. Joe

I haven't been on Beyond, but have sailed on sister ship Edge and no free sauna or steam. Only the Co-Ed Persian Garden concept.

Will be on Vista in November/December for 24 nights. Oceania is our favorite cruise line. Beautiful ships, excellent food and great itineraries. A refined experience overall. Was on Riviera for 19 nights in the fall of 2022. Steam and Sauna setup appears to be the same on Vista. Steam is smaller holding four men cozily. Sauna is larger holding six men easily and eight cozily, Lockers in the main space. Two showers one a small stall with frosted glass door you would dry off in the main locker area. Other shower is a nicely tiled experience shower with various settings that had no door but shaped like a teardrop for some privacy. Across the hall is another changing/locker room with two showers with frosted glass doors with attached dressing area. Very private, never saw anyone in there. My experience on Riviera most of the men followed spa etiquette going nude with a towel. A couple times when a man entered in a bathing suit and found others of us nude, would often ditch his suit and go with the crowd. Found there to be a regular crowd, well travelled and good at chit chat. Was a nice relaxing time each time I went. Looking forward to similar experiences on Vista. Joe

@Sthrngary - Based on the pictures I have seen, I think you will be happy with the smoking lounge on Vista. Leather chesterfield sofas, cane and leather chairs and striking green walls. It also appears to be a very large room as compared to the lounges on the R and O class ships. Mike Preisman, in his detailed review, describes it as one of the most attractive rooms on Vista. My husband, a native of Birmingham, and an avid cigar smoker is very happy with what he has seen in the photos. Scroll nearly to the bottom of Mike Preisman’s review (page 2) to see several pictures. https://www.thepreismans.com/vista23_2.htm His reviews are amazingly detailed, so be sure and check out the other pages. Joe

Cigar smoking is allowed in the smoking room on Vista. I had this confirmed by a trusted onboard source. Joe

As a transit passenger you do not actually enter Turkey, you stay in the secure transfer zone of the airport. So as others have noted, no Visa or e-Visa is needed. Joe

The above is the same for Oceania Marina. The steam room is small, seats four tightly, any more would be standing or really, really close. The sauna seats 6 comfortably. The photos I have seen of Oceania's newest ship, Vista, show a very similar setup. The smaller Oceania ships (Regatta, Insignia, Nautica, Sirena) have steam rooms in the men's and ladies changing rooms. They seat 4 comfortably, six closely. No sauna. Joe

Great photos. Thank you for sharing. Husband and I will be on Silhouette in April for the eastbound transatlantic. Joe

Baristas no longer has lids for their to go cups. I bring a travel coffee container that has a lid. Like this one: https://www.starbucks.com/menu/product/2123716/single I get lots of compliments on my ingenuity. 🙂 Joe

We are currently in Europe. A bit west of Rome, currently in France. No concerns at all and all feels normal. We will board Symphony on 10/29 in Barcelona for the transatlantic without hesitation. Joe

Oceania has become our first in line choice. We love the small ships and the great itineraries. I rarely drink so the included soft drinks, coffee, smoothies, etc. works well for me. We shall see for the future as the Simply More scheme is not of value to me, especially since I do all private excursions. That said, we are open to trying others. Doing our first Royal Caribbean cruise in a few days. It is a trial as I paid less that $700 a person for a 14 night TA in a boardwalk balcony. I am looking at Holland America for their transpacific itineraries from Australia to the West Coast. Joe

If they have the BLT finger sandwich, it is not to be missed. Tea on an Oceania is truly a special experience. Joe