ToxM

13 minutes ago, Benita said:

I tried 2 different travel cpap machines, but at my pressure of 15, both were pretty noisy. My husband told me he would gladly carry my full size Resmed airsense 10, as the others kept him awake. I keep waiting for a quiet machine to come out, but even the sales rep at cpap.com told me the travel cpap machines are too noisy for those using pressures above 8. 
    My TA notifies Oceania of the need for distilled water and the cabin steward kept refilling the bottle. He gave me an extension cord while on the Marina- the outlet was on my husband's side of the bed on Marina. Vista has outlets everywhere, so no extension cord is needed. 

I have my pressure at around 15 as well - the air mini is noisy with the provided hose, but you can get an adaptor so you can use a normal hose - that with an added hose cover makes it about the same noise level as my Airsense 10. The adaptor was about £10 from amazon or ebay. 

But a husband who is happy to carry your Airsense 10 is also a great win! 

I will also say that there is an option within the framework that Oceania offers to get access to one’s stateroom earlier, and that is to book a higher grade of cabin. 

33 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

Since we rarely board by 2:30, typically 3:30 or so, I’d say anytime by 3:30 is timely. 😎

 

I can walk out the door and eat typical American food off a buffet line or fast food joint anytime. Our next cruise embarks in Tokyo. Can’t understand why anyone would pass up the great local cuisine and all the sights to just sit on a ship and eat Americanized ship food! 🤔  If that’s all you really want to do, why put your body through the time changes and grueling flights? Just fly to Miami, as Oceania serves the exact same food in Miami as they do in Tokyo, Sidney, Istanbul, Athens, NYC, etc. Each to their own. 

What is atypical to you may be untypical to others. 

Miami is certainly not a short hop for me whilst Monaco is a short hop for me… 

Everything is splendid and new and different and exciting to someone. 

1 minute ago, seasickphil said:

Are you saying that there are no loyal cheerleaders on this board then.

Nope, I am saying there are a lot of cheerleaders on that board  😄

2 minutes ago, pappy1022 said:

I don’t follow the Crystal boards since I have no intention of sailing with them in the near future. Are you saying that Crystal deletes less than stellar reviews or customers are afraid to speak their minds? I am not sure a cruise line has that power of deciding what does and doesn’t get posted on these boards. 

I think bitob means that there are a lot of very loyal cheerleaders on that board. 

24 minutes ago, safarijm said:

Returned call to NCL about visa issue & Daniel said hundreds still waiting and nothing Regency (NCL ) could do! Since they obviously have contacted the BZ Embassy (financial affidavit) suggested they forward BRA evisa app numbers by departure dates. Reply: can’t help!

maybe RSSC(NCL) looks at this as a way to boost profitability being able to redirect the problem at Brazil and if ship sails with 50% those pax will think service is superior to others!

The load is already pretty light for the 12th Jan Voyager Cape Town to Rio 

9 minutes ago, Nashna said:

I will be traveling on O at the end of January.  If the rooms are not available before 3:00pm, I will question O. corporate why they have difficulty in providing the rooms in a timely manner while other cruise lines can open their staterooms before 2:00 pm.  On our Edge sailing last January our arrival time was 10:30 am.  We were on board the ship at 11:15 am.  The announcement that all rooms were ready was made at 1:00 pm.  

 

The delay in getting into my stateroom will not make or break a cruise for me.  This will be my 57th cruise.  I'm confident, I will enjoy the sailing as I have done on all but one...a disastrous Costa cruise.

Have a lovely time on your cruise, please do a full report for us, I am eager to savour it. 

9 minutes ago, Nashna said:

I have sailed on four different cruise lines since Covid.  The very latest we were allowed into our room was 2:00 pm.  If the poster is correct and room access could be as late as 3:30, I find that unacceptable...unless there is some mitigating issue, such as a late CG inspection.   

But it’s not going to ruin your cruise is it? I have to say that I find your use of unacceptable (all 3 of them) interesting. 

If memory serves the latest I have had access to a cabin on O (it was an oceanview, but I think the call was for all cabins below PH) was 2:45 - this was before covid (if that makes anything acceptable or not). 

It wasn’t an imposition at all, there are more than enough places to sit and relax 🙂

9 minutes ago, mrlevin said:

Destinations has arranged tours to Seaside to ride their zip lines; quite a hit. Only issue is that the zip lines are pretty slow. 

That is hilarious! 

I was on O Riviera last Christmas and spent an enjoyable afternoon floating around the pool watching people flail around on the zip line of one of the MSC ships. 

I was once challenged by a waiter at the pool when he saw I was drinking a can of root beer (that I had requested be in my fridge in my cabin), I explained what it was and he was satisfied. 

I like to be aboard early because I love being on a ship. I don’t mind waiting for my cabin because there’s more chance of my bags also being there - my carry on has wheels and it’s not cumbersome, I grab my customary meal from the Terrace and then sit and relax somewhere pleasant. 

I’d never leave it to the last minute to be back onboard because I feel it is a little rude and it also leaves a chance for there to be a delay to your journey back to the ship. At some point I can imagine the luck running out. 

But we are all different, and if it is an annoyance to you that you may have to wait to get to your cabin then enjoy the first world problem and revel in the fact that things could easily be inestimably worse for you.

I have been to that beach and it is breathtaking, and the drive down to it is amazing!

49 minutes ago, vaitape said:

There is a casual dining option on Regent, weather permitting. It is at the pool. Menu is a bit limited but it's lovely to sit there and watch the sun set, the service is excellent as it is everywhere on Regent, and food is good. Also the Italian resto is pretty casual in my opinion though no shorts or flip flops.

I heard that was stopped after the WC this year 😞 I hope they do have that option. 

I have fat chubby feet that aren’t comfy in anything but slip on Skechers, Hotters, or Rocket Dog. I have a couple of pairs of these which are black with black soles that just end up looking like run of the mill loafers, and the rest are white or cream or multi coloured with rubber soles that match. The trick is to wear wide long trousers in the evening, which cover a multitude of sins. Luckily I am not built for dresses. 

I’m really sorry the OP had this issue, If the restaurant manager had approached me I would have explained the plight of my chubby extremities and promised not to put them on the table for the duration of the meal. 

We are on Regent in 2 weeks which has no casual dining in the evening (already a minus for regent and I am not even onboard yet) so my footwear indisrections will be put to a good test.

8 minutes ago, DaveFr said:

The lunch menus in Compass Rose on the Voyager feature dishes from the specialty restaurants including Pacific Rim. Hope this helps.
 

Dave

Dave that is an absolutely top tip - thank you!

1 hour ago, GMIAC said:

 

Have you made your advance dining reservations yet? If not, I'd prioritize Pacific Rim if you're interested in that restaurant, especially if you want a two-top. They're rare.

We are on Voyager so sadly no Pacific Rim (am a big fan of Red Ginger on Oceania) I have managed to secure 2 tops for Chartreuse and Prime 7 🙂

Any other tips to grease the newbie learning curve on Regent? I think I got the message about taking the table number now (this is quite normal in gastropubs and the like in the UK so I don’t think I will be phased by it). I am a noob for Regent but an experienced cruiser (mostly Oceania). I am not scared to ask for things, and respectful enough to not make a nuisance of myself to other guests, or be unkind to staff.

We embark on the 12th. I will probably do a Live From (that may well peter out halfway through dependant on how much of a good time I am having!). 

8 minutes ago, Snaefell3 said:

Plan 'A': Via TA.

Plan 'B': If no TA, via SpecialServices@oceaniacruises.com

Plan 'C': Once aboard, your room steward/butler can make it right.

 

PS: 20 years on CPAP tells me that if you don't let the water chamber run dry and dump the leftover water each day when refilling, two weeks on ship tap water isn't going to hurt the device.

This is very true - before I got my travel cpap machine, I used my home one with a humidifier and frequently had to use tap water and the occasional blot isn’t going to hurt things - ship water is very ph neutral anyway - but they will give you a big gallon jug of distilled 🙂

I would also reccommend a travel cpap - even if just for ease of transportation - one of my best travel purchases 🙂

Agree with everyone above - have never had a problem as long as they know via Special Needs - you get sent a form to fill out (most will not apply to the CPAP). My CPAP doesn’t need distilled water, but it’s always been there for me when I embark. 

1 hour ago, flossie009 said:

Try the Executive Concierge when on board. They may be able to assist.

 

Thanks Flossie (as ever 🙂 )

Hello Regent experts!

22 days and counting before I embark Regent Voyager for my first experience with the line. 

I have been keeping an eye on the cruise on the RSSC website and the load seems very light with all levels apart from the top two suite levels marked as available. I have counted at least 30 cabins in different grades available. 

I rang my TA yesterday to enquire as to availability of a paid upgrade to a different suite and even my TA was shocked at the answer we got - no discount at all and no wiggle room. 

My TA has suggested I ask once on board. Does anyone have any experience (good or bad) with this. I have to admit I have never done this before on any cruise so  I am curious as to how effective it has been for others?

Not desperate for a move, but I am willing to consider a reasonable offer, if such a beat exists within this realm. 

Thanks for your time!

No experience to speak of, but over on the Oceania board there are comments about the walls between cabins on Vista (their newest ship) being thinner than on other ships. As both lines are owned by NCL and both ships are very new, this issue should be noted. 

8000 or 8002 if you can get them, but they are a prize. 

It certainly looks like a lot of hassle. My Jan 12th Voyager TA to Rio is wide open cabin wise - wonder if the visa situation is anything to do with it. 

Lucky for us we are in the UK so have no issues with a visa. 

4 hours ago, scorpiony3358 said:

Hi I am on the Voyager Capetown to Rio Jan 12th. The post cruise hotel is the Sheraton Grand Rio. 

Are you going the post tour? 

We are there for two nights but booked independently.

See you onboard!