pinotlover

We’ll be in our late 70’s by then and perhaps past our cruising window. Some here will be much older. I’m certain whatever they have planned is for a different demographic than some of we posters belong. The two O ships still probably have a decade left which may surpass our sailing exploits.

I’ve only been aboard two (2) days at lunch time on this cruise so probably not a good source but, witness ice cream/ milk shake/ malt line here on Riveria stretching to 45 minutes. People complain their food is cold before they get back with their shakes/malts, or if they stand in that line so long, it’s finished before they get their Wave meal delivered! 
 

1. The product is obviously very good ;

2. You should see the line!! 😳 No way I’m standing in it for anything! 🙄

As I understand the issue as explained, the O ships cabins were stick built, meaning built out aboard ship. The new A ships, as well as most recently built ships, have their cabins built modularly, off ship, and then slid into place individually as modules. This process is highly cost efficient, but eliminates most of the sound proffing between the cabins. The only effective fix requires a massive amount of sound proffing material added to each pre constructed cabin module. This equals more construction costs. 
 

Pray for quiet neighbors.

Besides the availability of certain ports, I see the larger changes being in dining? Do they make the GDR and Terrace larger yet? How about the Specialties? With 200 more passengers I’m guessing extra Specialty nights, except for top suites, will mostly disappear.

On 4/7/2024 at 10:02 AM, ORV said:

That's what I was asking Pinot, I don't think he's getting ALL the same benefits. 

You’re correct. I only get the $100 SBC because the new release is 4 days after we disembark vs $250 if we could book aboard. Everything else is the same. I should have specified that originally.

I can only report as to what’s happening now aboard. My experience, with well over a decade with Oceania is that policies change regularly based on the dynamics of what’s happening at the time. We have all those folks with 2:30 boarding times showing up at the ship at 10:30 expecting to be accommodated. Perhaps too many with 8:30s were showing up at 6:45 expecting the same! Don’t know, but currently it is what it is. People are being made to wait until their assigned times. Nothing shocking or adverse.

Currently on the Rivera, those showing up early are being directed to the provided chairs, outside the restaurant, to await their reservation time. 
 

I don’t believe the restaurants want to get into the habit of facilitating early arrival. They don’t want to start the avalanche of those with 7:30s showing up at 7:10 or 7:15; nor those with 7:00s showing up at 6:30. 
 

The early arrivals are seated with those with no reservation hoping for a cancellation spot.

Continuing on. We headed too Pusan, SK today. South Korea blocked all our ship board wifi while in their waters. Being without internet for nearly twenty four (24) hours for us isn’t a bid deal. However, for those of you that it is, you need to plan accordingly. According to our butler, this happens most every cruise into their waters. Just plan for it.

Fwiw, ate in Jacques tonight. No jacket required, but in excess of 90 percent of the gentlemen wore them.

Cruise Critic posters represent a small percentage of passengers aboard the O ships.

The Captain just came on the intercom over the entire ship and personally read out the names of the Oblivious and ordered them to Reception! This is pass the request stage! 😳. The ship can’t leave dock until they go through the immigration checkpoint. We need to get them off the ship, then leave them here! 

As an update, we all got a letter in our cabins giving us notice of today’s immigration check and procedures. The CD has made announcements on this several times. The CD just made the announcement inside all cabins. We are just 5 minutes from “ all aboard “ and the Oblivious are still not responding. Search teams are now going around to the cabins and escorting the Oblivious off the ship to the immigration center! So the question is: Would the Oblivious reacted earlier if the announcements had been made earlier directly into the cabins ( and interrupted some poor soul’s tv show), or would the Oblivious just ignore those announcements also? I’m guessing the facial recognition system is also scanning the public areas for the wanton souls.

I suppose part of the issue is in the definition of critical or important. Take today for instance here on the Riveria. We were told twice over the PA system to (1) take our passport with us on our shore excursion and; (2) everyone had to exit the ship to go through S.Korean immigration. We were on a ship tour and numerous fellow passengers didn’t bring their passports. Was that announcement important enough to be carried into the cabins, or may that have inconvenienced those wanting to watch tv? Or would it matter with the oblivious anyway? 

On Riveria now. I have booked all the current release cruises I chose to take. There will be a new cruise release for booking on 4/17 which is four (4) days after we disembarked. I can buy a FCC now anboard, getting all its benefits, and have my TA book our newly selected cruise on 4/17. This is the primary advantage of a FCC. 

I believe we all have different degrees of risk aversion based upon on our physical limitations, abilities, and personal choices. Some people won’t cross a street unless mommy Oceania is there to hold their hand. They’ll pay ridiculous prices to stay in Oceania hotels and/or take all O land tours. Other people have different views and ack according. We sometimes take ship tours based on a number criteria. The obsessive fear that some have of missing the ship is rarely one of those. To each their own.

Our OCA said that the itineraries would be available for viewing on April 10 and available for booking April 17.

Oops! Excuse me. They are now called Future Cruise Specialists FCS. OCA are no more.

Further discussion on the tours. We were advised of this by the Asian Adventurer (AA) rep in Tokyo. The Japanese are extremely safety conscious. With the large crowds visiting many of the popular sites, this means that the buses are most often parked a good distance from the sites. Yesterday at Osaka Castle, for example we had already walked 300 meters or so when we reached the sign that said the castle was 1 km (0.62 miles) away. That was to be done before reaching the stairs at or near the castle. Then to be duplicated on the return. We have had significant walking every day. Yesterday, my wife’s iPhone said 5.8 miles and 13 floors. This was a ship tour.

Today on our sole sea day, it’s upper 50s and rain. Not a single lounger hog to be found 😂😂🥲! I feel quite certain some of the cheerleaders would gladly tell you loungers hogs wasn’t a problem on the cruise. That’s without giving you the rest of the story.

Lunch today in the Terrace. People must have sunburn fears! Lots of baseball hats being worn in the restaurant with some on backwards! 🙄. Many of them aren’t the 30 year olds either!

I likewise touched on the long walks to get to sites and the very steep stairs in a companion thread. Our current cruise is a bit unorthodox. We likewise have a larger than normal contingency of mobility impaired passengers along with 226 Go Next group, many of which are in their 30-50s on their first O cruise. When sharing the same tour conflicts happens.

Trying to continue this thread and keep it distinct from the other Japanese cruise thread.

Since the start of our cruise, we had a day of 58 degrees F and rain, 60 F and cloudy, and 61F and cloudy. Today is similar. Although slightly cooler than normal, it’s Spring time in Japan and this weather should be expected. Pack accordingly. As far as the ship goes, no one is eating outside on the Terrace, and rarely more than 4-6 outside at Waves, with those eating coats. Those temperatures are daytime highs, not breakfast or dinner temperatures. One might guess the impact this has on seating in the Terrace.

Ninety percent of Japan’s population lives along the coast. This is because the interior of the country is very mountainous and those are abnormally steep mountains. What this means for tourists is there are lots of stairs . Those steps can be very steep with inclines of 60-80 percent! Additionally, at the numerous world or national heritage sites, those steep stairs can be knee high making them more difficult to climb. Many don’t have hand rails. If you read your tour descriptions saying there are 150 stairs to negotiate, don’t assume it’s like going up the stairs on the ship. Also reframe from stupid comments about the ADA, you’re not in America! Choose your tours carefully. Some of our mobility limited fellow passengers have been quite agitated paying money to go to sites they can’t navigate. Those three walker destinations on tours have a meaning here.

Speaking of not being in America. The Japanese are extremely polite people. If they want to do a selfie with you, they’ll always ask your permission first. Remember to return the politeness, especially if you want that selfie with a geisha! They may not want to be in your picture! Also the country is extremely clean. Not only do the Japanese not litter, but many will stop and pick up a piece of litter they find while walking. Americans shouldn’t believe it’s OK to leave empty cups, bottles, etc, sitting on walls or beside benches because that’s what they do at home. I have witnessed death stares, while a local will come in and pick the left trash up and cart it away.
 

Politeness can also be a sharp weapon. At the hotel, pre cruise, one of the ( fortunately) Regents cruisers always talked extremely loudly which they also consider rude. It was his first time in Japan and the group was eating in the hotel Japanese restaurant, assuring everyone it would be just like Benihana at home. It wasn’t. In his loud voice he ordered fried rice with dinner. When it came, he started again proclaiming loudly he had never seen fried rice that looked like that and was showing it to all at his table. I’m not sure he ever tasted it. So finally the very attractive young waitress comes over and asks if everything is OK. The tourist goes loudly into his routine of how he’s never seen fried rice look like that. Then the exchange:

Waitress-  Ohh! Very sorry ( and a bow) Where are you from?

Guest- Atlanta, GA, USA.

Waitress - OH. This is Japan. Chef doesn’t know how to make Atlanta, GA. USA fried rice, only know how to make Japanese fried rice. So very sorry. ( another bow) Maybe someday I will go to Atlanta, GA and eat Atlanta, GA fried rice. I bet it’s very good! Can I get you anything else?

All of us sitting in tables all around were snickering and laughing at the jerk. With extreme politeness she had thrust the dagger into his throat. His voice dropped several levels the rest of the meal!😂 He could speak in a normal voice when he wished! 😂

Differently from other countries, we have been required to take our passport and clear immigrations at every port, even when we haven’t left Japan. The Agents will often ask “ where are you going?” Oceania bus #2 isn’t an answer. Know where your tour is going! Some of the oblivious nont knowing have been pulled out and frisked to ensure they aren’t carrying a weapon or carrying large sums of cash. Don’t know how typical this is, just beware.

I just queried my butler on this question. Oceania does provide a large size bathrobe upon request. It is not the standard bathrobe normally put in the cabins. Ask your butler or your room attendant for the special large size.

Just an update to explain some past comments.

Received our luggage a bit after 4:00 yesterday. Seems the issue was the forward service elevators are out of service and have been for a bit. This means everything has to be loaded aft, meaning luggage was competing with loading food, hard and soft supplies, etc. Additionally, everything was behind schedule because getting the luggage off the ship of those disembarking was a priority .

As I stated in my first post, this year has been abnormally cool and it remains so. Yesterday was cloudy, misty rain, and very cool. In the Terrace, people were certainly not sitting out on the outside deck. Nor were people eating outside in Waves . Everyone wanted to eat indoors. This created issues that some of the unpleasant passengers taking larger tables and refusing to share made extremely worse. Current forecast is things aren’t going to change much. For those dreaming of eating under the stars, it would require a winter coat.

We have found the Riveria to be very nice after her redo. Still not fond of the chairs built for Hobbits and Halflings, but that has been discussed before. Biggest change we’ve seen so far has been in the Red Ginger. They completely changed the layout, even different from Vista. It is now a big open hall with tables aligned in straight lines. Very commercial feel and not comforting or welcoming. A completely different feel.

Off for our first port. Everything still on schedule with Day 2 👍

As a guess, these price increases are merely an effort in price equilibrium between these cruises and the soon to be comparable new releases later this month. I doubt they want to do a new 25-26 cruise release at prices $$$ more expensive than those currently available.

7 hours ago, ORV said:

I see, I didn't see the part where you were on an O precruise tour. Since you are on their transfer I guess you'll have to deal with boardomania. 

Boardamania SUCKS! People that enjoy Boardamania must likewise enjoy root canals without drugs.

If I ever sign up for Boardamania again, I’m obviously too senile to cruise. Lines for everything. Cabins not ready for occupancy until after 1:00. Luggage? at 3:00 pm.  The perfect picture of Oceania Boardamania is the foursome that took the 8 top in the Terrace and placed their bags in four of the chairs so no one else can sit down. People wandering looking for seats among the jerks. Staff finally opened up La Reserve for lunch seating.

Boardamania is not the way to start a cruise!! People have been standing in the Dining Reservation line for over an hour and the DS line for much longer. Nothing I need to do warrant any such line. I’m having an old fashion and chilling. 
 

The ship looks fine and elegant. First time I’ve seen her since her redo. The bathroom change in our PH is nice.

Future cruises, back to our routine of leisurely shore lunch and late ship arrivals. Nothing in the buffet line warrants Boardamania. The bus from the hotel left at 11:00 and we arrived at port shortly after 12. Already a significant check in line that got worse. A fellow cruiser on our bus said they were in the checkin line for over an hour. This is the third of three repetitive cruises around Japan, so guessing few passengers from earlier cruises aboard. Will learn occupancy at Repeater Party.

One example may mean nothing, but the ship ( Nautica) did leave a passenger, on a ship’s tour,  in 2019 in Edinburgh. Or at least tried to!😂. Lady had walked away from a tour already and gotten lost. The tour guide and tour group spent an hour looking for her. Later, she walked away again. Ship left the inner harbor, but the harbor master stopped the ship in the locks to get her back aboard the ship. The lady was so bat crazy, I doubt the local authorities wanted to deal with her. After another episode in the next port, DS banned her from all further ship tours. The ship couldn’t mandate she had to always remain aboard, but she was on her own. I think she was then placed on the No Sail list.

That ship had sailed without her. She was lucky to get back aboard 

3 minutes ago, ORV said:

I see, I didn't see the part where you were on an O precruise tour. Since you are on their transfer I guess you'll have to deal with boardomania. 

Unfortunately true! First time in a long time! 🥹. 

6 hours ago, ORV said:

Did you purchase your transfer to the ship from O? I see you said you did your own air. 

No. We flew in on our own air a day early before the pre cruise tour with Oceania began.Therefore, Oceania wouldn’t provide the airport to hotel transportation. I booked with Blacklane which did an excellent job. Oceania is providing the hotel to ship transfer today as part of the pre cruise tour package. 
 

We will take private transportation from the ship to the Yokohama train station at cruise end.