JoePDX

Happy Anniversary!   💗

Unfortunately no.   And no steam or sauna that is included in the fare, all have a cost (unless included like with Aqua Class).

Miss that a lot.

Joe

We stayed at Sutton Place Hotel.   Nice hotel in good downtown location.   Lots of restaurants nearby.    Easy walk to Canada Place to see the ships.   Quick cab ride on embarkation day with luggage.   
 

Joe

17 hours ago, Bea Hambrice said:

Is sauna free on Sirena?

 There is not a sauna on Sirena (or any of the R Class ships).  Only a steam room.   Located in the mens & ladies changing room.  Seat 4 comfortably, six cozily.

Marina and Riviera have both a sauna and a steam room, also in the changing room.   Steam room is smaller than Sirena, seats four cozily.   Sauna is larger holds 6-8.

Joe

Hi Jan   😀

I use a couple.

The Weather Channel   www.weather.com  is good for current and 10 day forecasts.

Weather Underground   https://www.wunderground.com/  is a great site for historical data, but limited to averages by year.

Holiday Weather https://www.holiday-weather.com/ gives you true multi-year averages of temperatures and rainfall by month.

Good luck!   Enjoy all those cruises.   Our next one is in October, another transatlantic.

Joe

For Bilbao I assume you will dock in Getxo.   When we were there on a Celebrity Cruise there was a port operated bus that took you to the center of Bilbao, dropping off a couple blocks from the Guggenheim.  I believe it was 12€ for a round trip ticket.   You can also Google the subway route which if I remember correctly leaves from about a 10 minute walk from the port terminal.   Bilbao is easily walkable and quite lovely.   We spent a few hours at the Guggenheim and then wandered the city center and had a nice lunch.

Not sure of the logistics of getting to Bordeaux from the port as we were on a land trip, but Bordeaux is easily walkable.   The Museum of Wine (La Cite du Vin) is very interesting, showing the history of the wine trade in Bordeaux.  If offered as an excursion, the Lascaux II Caves are incredible, despite being a re-creation of the original caves which have been closed to the public since 1963 to ensure they are preserved.

As others have noted Bruges is easily handled on your own.   Be sure and take a canal boat ride to see the homes and buildings from the water.   Many years ago when we were there on a cruise we took a train from Zeebrugge to Bruges, I believe it is less than 15 minutes and then a 10 minute or so walk to the city center.

LeHavre is easily walkable - but keep in mind mostly post WWII era buildings as the port was heavily bombed.   We took the train to Rouen - a lovely alternative and easily walkable.   With Joan of Arc history.   Honfleur might be an option too.

Joe

What dates are you wanting to travel?

3 hours ago, SATaxman said:

Is there an event for first timers? When is it usually scheduled?

I believe there was an event for first timers on our last two Oceania cruises....  It is by invitation only so I can't confirm on the dailies.

Joe

On 7/23/2023 at 7:03 AM, Hanoj said:

How are “jeans” defined? By material (denim) or pant design? They’re a 5 pocket style pants (with and without rivets) made from exactly the same material as chinos. The only difference is often in the pockets design.

I regularly wear a five pocket pant to the GDR - they are khaki, olive, blue or black in color and made from a chino like fabric.   Never a problem.   They do great double duty as a off the ship pant as well.   The English Laundry brand from Costco are always packed....  😀

Joe

A lunch suggestion…

Alaire Terrace Bar

https://www.condesdebarcelona.com/en/alaire-terrace-bar-paseo-gracia/

On the top floor of the Condes Hotel on Passeig de Gracia.    Incredible views, amazing craft cocktails and good food.    It is open air with some covered areas so consider that based on weather.

We will be boarding Symphony in Barcelona on October 29 for the transatlantic.   Take good care of her.  😀

Joe

For Astoria -  Ship will dock right near the downtown area.   There are lots of shops and galleries.   Also near the small streetcar line.   Visit the Maritime Museum which is very good.   Also the Flavel House.   Fort Clatsop (recreation of Lewis and Clark winter home).   I would assume there is a local bus or shuttle that would take you to Flavel House, Fort Clatsop and up the Astoia Column with spectacular views.

Astoria does a very nice job welcoming cruise ships.  There were be Ambassadors all over the downtown area to direct you and there is usually a vendor area right near the exit from the ship with local handicrafts and food items.

Excursions to Mt. St. Helens are often offered by the cruise lines.   Make sure the excursion goes all the way to Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center, otherwise you will be miles away from the volcano and no where near the blast zone.   Note:  Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center was reopened for this season due to a bridge washout.   Johnston Ridge Observatory is closed until the bridge is replaced, which is a shame as that visitor center gives you a full on view into the crater.

Joe

Reception area is always nice and quiet.....

Joe

16 hours ago, Livethedream100 said:

I have loved reading this thread.  We are going on the Sirena in July Venice to Monte Carlo.  Can you please share how the women were dressed at dinner?  For instance in the specialty restaurants and grand dining room?  I'm planning on black dresses and for my husband slacks and a button up.  How dressy did you feel they were?  Thank you for your help.  I have never understood Casual and Elegant in the same sentence so I tend to dress up a bit more but do not want to over pack.  Thank you for your help!

 

Glad you liked the thread.   I have a lot of fun doing it, plus it serves as a record of our adventure.  🙂

As for dress, for Jeff and I, slacks and a nice buttoned shirt (long and short sleeved) most evenings.  We also each take a sport coat and usually wear them when we are in the specialty restaurants, although certainly not a requirement.

As for the women on board, a nice dress, slacks, blouse.   As LHT28 suggested, wear what you feel good in.  For the GDR wear what you would wear for an evening out to a nice restaurant.   I don't remember encountering any one "dressed to the nines".

Enjoy your time on Sirena.   She is a lovely ship.

Joe

Just found these sites with photos of the original specialty restaurants on these ships.   They were pretty special places - where we shared many happy meals.

Olympic Restaurant on Millennium:   https://entrepreneursodyssey.com/speciality-dinner-in-the-olympic-restaurant-on-celebrity-millennium/

SS United States Restaurant on Infinity:   http://www.cruisetotravel.com/2014/05/11/s-s-united-states-celebrity-infinity/

Normandie Restaurant on Summit (these panels are the ones now on Edge:   

Ocean Liners Restaurant on Constellation:  

13 hours ago, mahdnc said:

 

Sadly, I never got a chance to eat at the Ocean Liners restaurant on Connie because last year's cruise was our first time on her.

Ocean Liners did not have a singular feature like the other specialty restaurants - like the wall panels from the original Olympic or Normandie.   Instead there was at least one showcase as you entered the restaurant that displayed items from several different lines/ships.  I seem to remember silver items from Cunard.  There was also a short video playing on a loop narrated by the late maritime historian John Maxtone-Graham.   

Joe

Thanks to information from other members, I present the correct list of the original specialty restaurants on the Millennium Class ships:

All four of the original M-Class ships have had their launch specialty restaurants removed.

They were:

Millennium - Olympic

Infinity - SS United States

Summit - Normandie (Carved wall panels from the French Liner Normandie are now in the Normandie Dining Room on Edge)

Constellation - Ocean Liners

Joe

Original specialty restaurant on Infinity was Normandie.  I think it has been gone for nearly a decade.

All four of the original M-Class ships have had their launch specialty restaurants removed.

They were:

Millennium - Olympic

Infinity - Normandie (Panels from the French Liner Normandie are now in the Normandie Dining Room on Edge)

Summit - SS United States

Constellation - Ocean Liners

Joe

1 minute ago, Blazerboy said:

Nearly?  I'm only an inch taller, and I had to stoop. I hit my head on the ceiling every day!  (Hope you guys are doing well!)

I was being delicate.  😂😂 I was going to add washing hair was a stooping maneuver…

We are well….Jeff retired in March….me sometime next year. 😊.  Hope all is good with you both….

Joe

If you are tall (I'm 6'2") standing the in tub results in nearly touching the roof....   

Joe

7 hours ago, Pearl64 said:

Thank you.

 

if you have some future cruise credit for a cruise but not totally free, can you still get the shareholder credit? I’ve read the exceptions but I am confused thus the question. The cruise in question was booked several times but always cancelled due to pandemic. Thank you for all insight.

Only way to really know for sure, is complete the request form and send it in.

Joe

1 hour ago, Sujormik said:

Thanks.  Is the perk (OBC?) decent? How’s the stock doing 🤣? I could see mentioning to my broker that I want 100 shares to get a drop of a benefit😂

Stock is up.   I bought at $11.05 last July I think, it is currently over $17.   In my case just the OBC has been a 45% gain.   As of today the stock is up over 53% since I purchased.   So yes the perk is decent!   And it keeps paying every time I cruise Oceania.

Joe

23 minutes ago, Pearl64 said:

Once you have submitted your request, where do you look on the invoice to see if it is there? Is it listed as Shareholder benefit or some other wording?

 

Thank you.

I have not seen it online in the cruise booking.   My TA sends me an updated Oceania invoice and it shows there.  Note if your brokerage account is a joint account with your traveling partner they do divide the OBC amount in half with half showing for each of you.   
 

Joe

14 minutes ago, Sujormik said:

Can anyone expound on this shareholder perk? Must you own minimum number of shares to qualify? Presumably a brokerage statement showing you’ve purchased the shares suffices since there are no stock certificates anymore.  Wonder if a mutual find owning some shares would count?

You need to own 100 shares.  And yes, sending your brokerage statement, with account numbers blacked out is acceptable.   Mutual fund owning does not qualify.

Here is the perK:

$250 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 15 Days or More.
$100 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 7 to 14 Days.
$50 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 6 Days or Less.

NCLH is up 53% since I purchased last summer and I have used the $250 perk twice, so I have paid for my shares nearly.   🙂  And I have two more Oceania cruises booked that will qualify for the $250 perk.

Joe

1 hour ago, KS&JW said:

There is still Privee,  These are just in addition.  If you search on youtube for Vista full ship tour you can see all three spaces

Current information is Privee is not bookable for a group.  Only for the wine pairing dinners that are in La Reserve on Marina/Riviera.

Joe

I have used www.suntransfers.com for two different pick up at Barcelona cruise terminal to airport.

In both bases the driver was spot on time.   Sun Transfers also offers a large variety of vehicles to accommodate couples up the large groups, for very reasonable pricing.

Very pleased with their service and prices.

Joe