pinotlover

As an Airborne Ranger, we often set in the hot sun, or under a shade tree, with both parachutes strapped on and a heavy back pack dangling between my knees waiting for the USAF plane to show up, often a couple hours or so later than scheduled. My love of hurry up and wait differs from yours. My primary comment centered around that if you are a self profess early boarder, don’t complain if/when things so badly after intentionally showing up early. It was your decision to do so. Enjoy boardamania to its fullest! As to susiean’s comments, I have never stayed in a hotel ( at least in the past 30 years) that wouldn’t watch our bags after checkout while we explore the city.

I agree wholeheartedly. It will be quite awhile before they diminish further. I believe the expectations should be that they will occur.

On a separate issue, we learned aboard that Lisbon is one of Oceania’s (NCL) major refurbishment ports, second only to Miami. While ships bring on food and some other supplies at other ports, a large percentage of needed staples are boarded there for future segments. We were docked in Lisbon for two days giving the ship plenty of time to load all supplies necessary for our next 10 day segment and the TA out of BCN thereafter. Supply shortages and supply chain issues were still reported by the staff after departure from Lisbon. I’m guessing you’ll encounter the same from Miami, but hopefully not as badly.

We talked to maybe one couple that was continually on past Miami from the TA. If the ship is full, that means effectively everyone is getting on in Miami. We don’t participate in boardamania even on normal cruises and couldn’t imagine doing so in Miami after an international TA turnaround! If you show up early, or during early boarding at the dock, don’t come crying over the results of your personal decision. We arrived at the Sirena at 3:00 pm in Bilboa to find one couple ahead of us in line. An easy 5 minute check in and off to an awaiting ready cabin. Some of the decks hadn’t been called even at 3:00 however. Your decision, your choice.

We bought some great Spanish wines and port at spectacular prices. No room in the suitcases for bulky bath towels! 🍷

Be aware that not all disembarkment ports are terminal facilities. That may means your only way off the ship, with all your luggage is down the stairs on the ramp, often from Deck 5. The lower deck options may not be available when the ship first docks. So the question becomes, can you manage all your luggage and carry on materials down the steps of the gangway? The ship does not have crew there to assist you. They are off loading checked baggage to the designated luggage area.

We just got off the Sirena on a 17 day cruise which was actually two segments. A 7 day and a 10 day. The ship was booked full the total time. All the Specialties reservations for the first night of the second segment were gone before the newbies boarded. They had either been pre booked as guarantees or snatched up early that morning. Those claiming that a Specialty reservation on Embarkment Day is a surety are living in the past or cruising on an empty ship. All Reservations for Specialties were completely booked out at the reservations desk early each morning. The Maitre De didn’t even waste time talking to those wandering in looking for cancellations.

If one’s currently booked cruise is already predominantly booked, I wouldn’t expect any new sales deals being offered. If you booked a cruise that is not in demand you may be in luck. We have four (4) cruises booked through 4/24. All are either fully waitlisted or nearly so. I don’t expect any deals to be offered.

A lot of O cruisers are totally capable of completely zoning out their surroundings. Take today for example on an O cruise, our tour guide gave us implicit instructions on what to do when we off loaded the ship. Repeated it three times. Several got off clueless, then did exactly what he told them not to do. I’m not so sure that “ talent “ of yours is a blessing. Some of us were taught/trained to absorb our surroundings.

How old must one be to have ever seen blue suede shoes on the dance floor? Perry Como put me to sleep 40 years ago. Listening to him over the speakers now is tiring, or perhaps a Rip Van Winkle moment.

I’m just guessing, but I firmly believe that by mid March 2023, when bookings might open if the ship is actually sailing, it’ll all be worked out and everyone will know. No La Reserve on the ship for competition, why the trepidation over not knowing months in advance? I’m concerned over whether the ship will even be sailing and the loss of airfare. Worry about booking a Specialty months before bookings open isn’t on my list!

OCA said the 2025 itineraries for the new ( y et unnamed) Allure Class ship will be released May 2023. No mention if that is when the other itineraries will come out. Still claiming Vista will sail May 2023. That’s the word until it’s changed.

We are booked for a Mid June 23 cruise on the Vista. Clueless on whether it will actually sail. Our booking window for Specialties will open around 4/1. There will be a lot of water to pass under the bridge between now and 4/1, so I can’t currently get excited about this topic in the least bit right. I think time will tell on the subject.

I honestly believe no one on CC has a clue. At this point, if you utilized a professional Travel Agent it is best to direct the question to them so to get an answer from the higher echelons. I seriously doubt you’ll get an accurate answer from calling Oceania directly.

Our OCA has indicated she has no intention of giving us a hard copy of the newly released cruises. Tells us to go on line! 😂😂 We can’t download a pdf or access the website because the wifi is so slow or sometimes non existent. We just guess O is uninterested in onboard passengers booking them aboard. This goes with ex CD Julie telling everyone to fill out their cruise review online, while the ship went two days without internet in Lisbon! 🤪

Ate in Tuscan Steak tonight on Sirena. Several blatant violations of dress codes. Obviously Oceania no longer chooses to enforce the dress codes. It is what it is. End of Dress Code ( feeding the trolls) discussions by me.

The problem may not have been your butler , but the timing. The Specialties only do between 100-125, depending upon venue, diners per evening total. All passengers have a guarantee of at least one visit to each of the Specialties. The top suites get what they want when they want. They pay dearly for that privilege. It’s altogether possible the timing of your request was poor and Jacques, typically the most sought after reservation, was already fully booked for the time and/or date you requested. I do believe the butler should have explained the situation for you.

Nope, that’s the latest reservations made! Restaurants stay open until those are finished.

I can tell you that on this completely full ship, there are NO walk ups!! Everything is fully booked for the day shortly after the reservations desk opens. Maybe if you’re sailing an empty ship.

8:30-9:00 p.m.

Currently on the Sirena having departed Lisbon yesterday. There were shuttles in Gijon, Portimao, and Lisbon into town. Due to weather, we missed the other listed ports unfortunately.

Time to destroy a popular current myth. We are on a full ship. Our 17 day cruise is a combo of a 7 and 10 day segments. People got off and on in Lisbon, but we’re still full. As with the half, or less than, full cruises one should no longer expect to go down in the mornings and make additional Specialty restaurant reservations . Even those with butlers are learning they can’t book a Specialty every night. Lots of guarantees to be filled and heavy demand. Those that waited to book aboard are finding that even sharing is often only available at a later hour. Full ships change the dynamics of recent earlier experiences. Being on an unsegemented 15-20 day cruise may be different, but this is the new normal on a full segmented cruise.

Enrichment speaker was at 09:30 this morning, and I arrived at 09:20. Music over the system was all late 40s and 50s. I asked Peter Crowley, our speaker, if O was trying to put us asleep before he even got to begin! I will add that the last cast show of our first segment was Elvis and early Elton John. Inching forward.

They haven’t made it to 3 Dog Night or the Grass Roots yet. Afraid some of the more modern (70s) Groups are probably a decade away. However, one lady piped in a said they were playing Anne Murray and Olivia Newton John on the pool deck a couple days back. Progress is being made! 😂

Yesterday we had the OCA cruise reviews and sales pitch for currently offered cruises. The new preview will be available on 10/26, and we’ll get another pitch for them next leg. She was rather matter-of-fact about the entire thing. She said “you have all probably seen our 2025 ATW and Grand Voyages for that period for all the ships. The new release will just be those segmented. “. Doesn’t take a lot of Oceania experience to guess where the Embarkment ports will be for those segments.