pinotlover

Buenos Aires to Lima 2/27-3/19 Embarkment- arrived at cruise terminal at assigned time, 2:00. Argentina security/immigration was running about an hour behind, so we sat. Not Oceania’s fault. Since Chile had just changed entry requirements requiring either proof of vaccination or a Covid testing, Oceania required it for boarding. This added to the problems. People paying the port for a Covid test and awaiting results. No pre warning of this from Oceania. Ship’s condition- overall I found the ship to be in very good repair. No real visible shortcomings. The heating/AC was most always messed up however. The Lounge could be freezing cold as well as the GDR. One day at lunch the staff in the GDR were wearing their lined winter’s coat while serving guests. More on this later. Service - I found the staff to be friendly, enthusiastic, and energetic. Peter, the CD, was the exception. He and his sidekick ass’t CD can’t spell communications, no less practice it. Food - I found the food on this cruise to be overall significantly better than on the Sirena in October. Significant inconsistency still exists with several delightful meals and a few very poor ones. Both La Reserve dinners, the Dom P and Bourgeoisie, were excellent. PG and RG seems to get overall good reviews from passengers. Toscana struggled and Jacques disappointed many. Remember that A/C temperature problem on Deck 5 above. Jacques was an icebox. Result was cold soups and cold dishes being served to the tables along with often overcooked dishes. Expectations were definitely not met. GDR did fine most evenings. The Terrace was good if one stuck to the cold bar. Whatever the meal, the warmers in the supposed hot line was serving cold dishes. This lead to long lines at the grill. Enrichment- two different speakers did an excellent job. Entertainment - Very good contract entertainment. Oceania crew still doing Peggy Lee and unfortunately brought back the Brill Bldg show that should have died in 2019 when I first saw it. The team did a “Fav Night” with each performer singing their favorite songs. I thought it would be good. They didn’t add the songs would be from the 40s and 50s. Some I didn’t recognize they were so old. I’ll omit comments about our 3 missed ports. One, Pisco, of which we were told about upon boarding. Iguazu Falls, on the Oceania pre cruise, was excellently done. Oceania cancelled Manchu Picchu. Some were able to book it privately. We waited and couldn’t find an operator with passes for the site. I’ll take comments or questions.

This menu was discussed on our Marina cruise by several. The consensus is that this restaurant, and its menu, is designed for that multitude of Oceania cruisers that want to be served ( no diy buffet line), but also wants to eat in 30-40 minutes and exit. Sit Down Fast Food on Oceania. Will probably never go there myself, but I’m sure all those complaining about 1.5 + hour meals and other people ordering 4+ courses will be thrilled with this new option. Something for everyone.

At least my money is where my mouth is. I’ve reported on recent cruises, while someone keep posting and it’s been how many years since they’ve been on an Oceania ship! 😂

Enjoy has nothing to do with it. Oceania saved a lot of fuel = money by not going to the Falklands. Their financial gain was our Travel experience loss. The great weather conditions lie only added insult to injury.

It would be nice if this thread was locked along with any other dress code thread for the next six months.

Except they flat out lie about the weather. Oceania cancelled our Falklands tour three days before we were to arrive and said nothing. Tour operators sent messages to passengers that their tours were cancelled. Destination Services told all inquiring that the ship was going to the Falklands as scheduled. The ship never set a course to the Falklands from Punta del Estes. A day before planned arrival the Captain came on and said the Falklands were being cancelled. In a letter he wrote the cancellation was due to 40 ft seas and high winds at the tendering location. I received an email directly from Patrick Watts saying the seas were calm with only a light breeze as had been forecasted. Two other ships came into port and had easy tendering operations. I can tell another similar story of the episode in skipping Chacabuco. Our three missed ports don’t include the ports where our stays were cut short earlier.

I’ll add to this thread that the ships have significantly reduced serving sizes, except where specifically stated, and this is a welcome change imo. This makes half portions even more reasonable. We don’t mind if people order 5 portions as long as they aren’t just wasting massive amounts. This Oceania change has helped in these regards.

Basically as much as you like. Before buying the upgraded Premium Package, check at the bar and see what is still actually left in inventory!!! The Marina was already out of Knob Creek, for example, when we boarded in Buenos Aires and the ship wasn’t restocked. Many of the call brands were gone in several categories leaving mostly well brands. The bar staff didn’t believe the ship would be restocked with wine or alcohol until Miami. Most of the better wines disappeared during our cruise leaving very poor selections in several categories. There’s a reason those remaining wine brands were still in stock. The menus continued to list wines that were long gone. Publishing a current updated wine list was obviously not in the ship’s budget.

Just ( thankfully) off the Marina. Clothing report. 2 La Reserve Dinners: All the men wore sports jackets. Women very nicely dress, some with bling. Specialties and MDR: Mostly everyone nicely and appropriately dressed. Maitre d turned away those with shorts or inappropriately dressed very early on, and the word seemed to get out. One gentleman at our table wore a shirt that might have been acceptable if freshly cleaned and pressed, but after obvious multiple days of wear, not so much. Only bizarre events surrounds not men wearing baseball hats, but women! Men would be asked to remove theirs, but some women would wear them ! 😳 Captains Reception in Horizons: most people nicely dressed, others couldn’t get into the Terrace dressed as they were.

We missed 3 of 9 ports. We were informed one was being cancelled, 16 days later when we boarded. Oceania also cancelled our Manchu Picchu post cruise tour. Lots of very unhappy passengers. Far too many sea days and am happy to be getting off the ship. Since Oceania is content on flippantly canceling ports, a number of us will be canceling entire bookings when we get home. That’ll leave plenty of availability for all those Cruisers that just care about the ship and not the ports.

This is what I did for our June Vista cruise. My TA booked it for me even though nothing shows on the website site.

Last two days here on Marina all crew has mandatory masking. The buffet lines in the Terrace has been wrapped up tight. Cruisers have been forced to ask for food again. No sticking one’s arm under the shield and pointing and grunting. Nothing can be touched by the passengers. This should always be the case imo. Covid is rampant abroad. A healthy percentage of guests are now under mask. Lots in quarantine. Coughing and hacking so prevalent in public areas, many are just hiding in their cabins. The ship should have done mandatory Covid testing for all passengers several days ago to get this under control. To address an above comment, I’ve repeatedly heard fellow passengers say” I’m not going to Medical and shell out $1000 and possibly be locked down for a week!” Every time I read certain posters talking about Oceania’s sophisticated travelers it starts a gag complex. This cruise is missing a third port tomorrow. Lots of very unhappy cruisers. From responses, a lot more cruises are going to be cancelled after this cruise than have been booked aboard. The OCA hasn’t seen much business. The Captain flippantly cancelling ports has created some very strong ill feelings.

We boarded Marina on 2/27. The cost to upgrade from the OLife Drinks package to the Premium Package is $30/day. There is no 20% discount on La Reserve dinners on an upgraded package, only on an original purchased Premium Package.

Chile changed the rules for entry two days before our boarding in Buenos Aires. Everyone entering the country must be vaccinated and boosted or have a negative test within 48 hours. Oceania required everyone to either show their vaccination cards upon boarding or be tested at the dock since most were unaware of the new requirements before departure from the States. Some had foolishly left the cards at home believing they weren’t needed. The cost for the test , at the dock, at the dock was $100 each. They were again required to be tested before entry into Chile while aboard ship within 48 hours of Chilean entry. Cost aboard ship, $250.

I booked it about 6 months ago, before the price hike. I believe it was around $120+ grats. It’s now $180 all in. You asked a subjective question, but it is an outstanding evening. The food and wine quality surpasses that of the old Connisuer (sp) Dinner that was higher priced.

Last night, we did the new Bourgeoisie Dinner in La Reserve. They gave Pepin credit for the original menu but plainly said they had “ moved on” from his recipes. The new menu is fantastic and far far superior in both food and wines presented to the original menu. I’m guessing Jacques has a date stamp even on the O ships.

If the ship opts to have 6:00 shows, that would be fine. However, it should be announced well in advance, before Specialties reservations are made. If this change turns a ship in ghost ship by 8:30, it will be a bad change. Past CD’s have discussed this before.

To eliminate any potential issues, after completing cruise #9, have your TA to have Oceania issue you a new invoice for cruise #10. By doing so, all of your new Silver benefits should be clearly displayed. This has eliminated issues for people in the past.

If I couldn’t dress appropriately for an occasion, I wouldn’t go. At the Captain’s Reception, drinks are also free, and appetizers provided In Martinis. The CD always announces it. The decision to show up under dressed is a personal one.

But it may well have impacted those people routinely posting here that sign up for the infamous 10:00 flight out of MIA to wherever. I bet I’ve seen 50 posts from people, over the past 5 years, wanting to know if the should ( or should have) booked that flight. You might be surprised at the number of responses telling them it’s fine, NO problem.

On the Marina NOW, 3/3/23. ALL shows are starting at 9:15, which iss change from my Oct/Nov cruise when they started at 9:30. Things change! 🥂

Let’s remember than the Air Dept is a profit center for O. If this change in policy drastically increases the number of guests utilizing O’s Air, it will obviously more than offset the loss of the $175 deviation fee.

This has to be true! 🤗 Just look at all the 20 & 30 year old lovely women hanging out with old 70+ year old geezers! 😳. Has to be the stimulating sophistication FF refers to ! 😂 If you’ve got the money honey; I’ve the time!! Who’s your Daddy? Where does Daddy want to go? 🥴🥂

I don’t think the cost of the experiment justifies the probability of outcome. Brenda Lee shows in the Lounge. Perry Como, Anne Murray, and when they go mod some 70s music around the pool! Let the young ladies be young and enjoy the company of their peers on cruise lines that cater to their age group.

When we opt to eat at the buffet, we typically go around 7:00-7:15. We often meet people ( even at 7:00) that have snorkeled and are leaving as we enter. The perfect venue for those that like to “eat and get it over with “. Some rave about the venue.