pinotlover

You’re lucky! We hit Colmar and there must have been 20 tour buses! Ten, at least, from Viking, then every one else. Too many tour buses for such a delightful small tour.

And there are the tour buses regardless of how docked! How many tour buses does it require to make some of those river towns unappealing to visit? Those limits have been tested.

Yes! Unsolvable. As I posted on an earlier thread, on inclement weather days the chair hogs move to the library and hog chairs there. Several do it regardless of the weather. One of the advantages of the Spa Deck. I can typically find an available lounger there. Happily many don’t like going there.

I thought I had read that many of those already highly visited Cities were in the process of limiting, or reducing, the number of river boats coming in. Viking seems to be saying “ We’re going to raft them 5 deep”! Someone is not on the same page or singing from a different song book! Who’s going to drive all those tour buses? Just what many of these towns need, 4-6 more tour buses picking people up and dropping them off every 200 meters!🙄

First of all, what Oceania did pre Covid/pre billions of $$ in debt may have little to what they may be willing to do today. Second, this isn’t the first time this has occurred. If memory serves, Turkey got into everyone’s crosshairs around 2015 or 2016 and cruise lines cancelled Turkey ports. I remember one Oceania Embarkment getting moved from Istanbul to Athens. Seems to me that Oceania bought a bunch of discount airlines tickets for all from Istanbul to Athens. Don’t remember what they did for those disembarking. Of course past performance doesn’t guarantee future performance.

A Simple Question. Have we FINALLY settled the question as answered by two (2) different Butlers to me, and the Chief Purser by poster # 55? Monies given as tips directly to individual crew members are theirs to keep. They are not pooled. Is there any one that can’t grasp that? Are there those that want to argue none of them know what they’re talking about? Can we agree this issue is closed?

Ditto for us! Spain, Portugal, and France. All land based. No cruise ship required.

Jacques is what I remember of French food back in the 1970s. Having been to France multiple times, for extended periods since the 90s, I ‘ve found that version/style of French food has mostly died out even in Lyon and Paris. Kind of like saying eating cracklings and hog jowl is American. Perhaps, but see how often you’ll actually find it still served. Days gone by.

I agree with your comments. Concerning service, as that is the issue at hand. We enjoy the leisurely paced meals served aboard. For us, even as Americans, 1.5-4 hour meals is nothing unusual with friends. I realize this is unusual in American culture and even abhorrent to some. Anything over 45 minutes for them is drudgery and indicative of poor service. I meanwhile find the Flip that Table routine in many American restaurants as abusive. Service expectations are highly subjective.

All food, in all the restaurants, is highly Americanized, including Jacques. The food is toned down to meet most senior American tastes. The new Ember makes no claim as being anything but American. That’s why we search out great authentic local fresh cuisine for lunch on port calls. We can always eat Americanized food at home. Others prefer Americanized food all the time. Each to their own.

If what qualifies as good to very good food is subjective, then what qualifies as good service is even more so. Since we have posters here that declare every Oceania meal as being excellent; Oceania Specialty restaurants being Michelin star level; and O’s restaurants being better than any land restaurants in their area ( I’ve often wondered where they live!) ; then differences in opinion on what constitutes good to great service ( and therefore tip worthy) is also likely to vary. Do whatever you feel like, and I’ll do likewise.🥂

Let’s not over think this. Remember Oceania is not the employer. All these staff members work for an employment agency in their home country, on contract with Oceania. They are contracted workers. Oceania is likewise the customer as well as the passengers.

I have twice. Two different Butlers. Both replied “ what’s paid into the pool, goes into the pool and Oceania decides how to distribute it. What’s given directly to individual staff is theirs to keep.”

FDR, Sr has already stated that the R ships will see no future refits. The current plan, in the near future is the two “ O” Class ships and three (3) A Class ships. The R Class will be aging out. It may take 5-6 years for all of them to go, but come 2030 ( or earlier) they’ll all be gone. For those R ship lovers Show your Love! Book the r ships. Ever notice how often the R ships need the big SALES to fill? First glimpse. Watch the next cruise release currently scheduled for next March/April and see if all the R ships are included.

A couple comments about the Vista Library . 1. On sea days, it can be the worst place for chair hogs on the ship . Far surpassing the pool deck. I believe they should allocate one area to a thirty minute time limit. Let people come, browse, look at reference materials, and have a place to sit. The readers, nappers; etc, can have the other sections. 2. They only had travel reference materials on where the Vista is cruising. Since the Vista will do the 26 ATW, I suppose that section will increase, but wish they had more resources now. 3. It is a nicely laid out facility. Nice to use.

Here’s my experience, and it isn’t one size fits all. The Terrace has the exact same number of wine stewards working at 18:30 as the do at 19:30. If you’re one of those that must eat at 18:30, and the place gets slammed, you may feel “ The Terrace is for Teatotallers “. Some nights you might never get served during that early time slot. Same night, come in at 19:30, most of the crowd having cleared by 19:15, and service is good. Same restaurant, same night, vastly different results. This same situation is played out in the other restaurants likewise. I’ve seen nights where it appeared the entire ship wanted to eat in the GDR! People were waiting to get a table. Service levels ( drink refills in this case) were vastly different from other nights. Service on Oceania is typically very good. Oceania doesn’t do assigned eating times, except for the Specialties, so that cruiser freedom of choice can sometimes lead to imbalances of staffing and service. I’ve likewise seen where, via system glitches, they overload a Specialty. Service likewise goes to pot there when that happens. Fortunately not the norm.

I believe the greatest problem is that people book Oceania with outsized expectations that can’t, or won’t, be met. The marketing machine far outpaces the operating side of the company. Personally see no cure for this dilemma. People still go on blind dates expecting to meet Miss America. Nature of the Beast.

I can take a whack at part of that question. The menu items in Ember are far simpler to prep for and prepare than the items in Jacques. I willing to guess this item alone probably saves them 3-4 cooks in the kitchen which in turn saves them money. Then there is the delta with ingredient costs.

Let’s keep the two questions separate. Question 1: Is champagne, wine, or beer at breakfast included in the SM, OLife, or basic drinks package? Answer: NO Question 2: Might I be able to order champagne or other drinks at breakfast? Answer: Maybe. In theory yes, but if the GDR or TG is out, then none is available until the bars open. Sometimes they have it, sometimes they don’t. Same goes with Bloody Mary’s at breakfast. Sometimes in the Terrace they have a Bloody Mary bar set up and they can be ordered at a cost . Other days they are not available. Now the kicker I have forgotten. I’m not sure that the special breakfast Bloody Mary is even included with the Premium Package. Seems to me we had to pay for it even with the Premium Package. I don’t totally remember, but it could also have changed over the years.

You are correct! Breakfast not included.

I always bring a sports jacket, and my wife a sweater. On different parts of every cruise they have been worn by necessity. Be prepared.

Vista, and soon to sail Allura, are new ships for a new era of cruisers. A new era of restaurants and stage productions. I’m sure some are likewise crying the demise of the Brill Bldg, Peggy Lee, and other 1950s oriented shows, along with Perry Como on the speaker system. They are all still there for you on the other ships. Just aging out! FDR, Sr. said there would be no more refits for the R ships. Just aging out When the new “ A” line was first announced it was stated that there would be no Jacques, but we were getting a hugely updated Barrista. Even though We didn’t get the new reimagined steak house, the menu there on the Vista does delete some items and add others. The only thing constant in the Universe is change.

Typically the wine by the glass list includes a CA Chardonnay along with normally a French one ( Macon Village). On occasion the French one is substituted by a South African or Aussie. Unless out of stock, at the moment, an American Chardonnay is almost always available on the by the glass menu.

Bragging?😂🥂

Oceania did away with plastic lids, stirring swivels, plastic water bottles, etc, several years before Covid. If you need a walk around mug, you need to bring it.