Riverpig Posted May 3, 2013 #1 Share Posted May 3, 2013 DW and I are eagerly looking forward to our first Oceania cruise (on Riviera), but would like some input on the cocktail venues. We like a leisurely cocktail before dinner at night, and are wondering which bar/lounge is most enjoyable. From what I can learn from the brochures and websites, the three options are Horizons, Martinis, and the Grand Bar. Our questions are: Do all three have live music before dinner? What kind? Do all serve canapés? How about snacks like chips, nuts or popcorn? Do any have games like Trivia or Name That Tune? Is dancing appropriate anywhere? Are any so popular as to be standing-room-only, or any so unpopular as to be mostly empty? What is the general ambiance? Raucous or relaxing? We would appreciate any input from veteran Oceania cruisers. Thanks - Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 3, 2013 #2 Share Posted May 3, 2013 We enjoy the GDR Bar (hallway) where the string quartet plays about 6- 9pm There is also the casino bar (purple bar) Martinis is also nice after dinner with piano player Some snacks (nuts, pretzels) during Happy Hour 5-6pm I am sure other have more info Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no fuss travel Posted May 4, 2013 #3 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Horizons has the dance band and yes people (a few) do dance. Chips, etc served at Happy Hour They had an accordion player and a violinist playing in the Grand Lounge on our cruise. Hardly anyone sat there until they left and a string quartet came on board. At that time it became very busy. Passengers did in their interim review say that they wanted the string quartet instead of accordion music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shedevil Posted May 8, 2013 #4 Share Posted May 8, 2013 From what I can learn from the brochures and websites, the three options are Horizons, Martinis, and the Grand Bar. We would appreciate any input from veteran Oceania cruisers. Thanks - Charlie Our questions are: You are cruising on the Riveria and there is a bar or two you missed: Waves out by the pool. The perfect spot to get the required frozen adult beverage and they usually have a drink of the day. La Reserve by Wine Spectator which will give you an opportunity to experience wine during the day during their tastings in an upscale setting. This is a small venue with only 24 seats. Casino Bar which has a decidedly modern feel. Marina Lounge is more of a entertainment venue with a bar in the back of the venue. Barista's for the caffeine fix. Do all three have live music before dinner? What kind? The Grand Bar is just outside of the Grand Dining Room and they have a quartet before dinner. Martini's has a piano player. They have music during the high tea. And I will admit that I usually enjoy a class of champagne instead of tea. Do all serve canapés? How about snacks like chips, nuts or popcorn? Nuts in Martini's, Grand Bar and Horizons (during happy hour) Do any have games like Trivia or Name That Tune? Martini's Is dancing appropriate anywhere? Horizons is the spot to dance. But on one cruise in Martini's the crowd was having a great time and dancing ensued. Are any so popular as to be standing-room-only, or any so unpopular as to be mostly empty? The ship never really feels crowded. Martini's can get a bit crowded right after dinner and right after a show. The Grand Bar will be a little crowded just before dinner seatings. What is the general ambiance? Raucous or relaxing? There is not much raucous behavior on most Oceania cruises due to the age being older that some cruise lines but the highest energy is usually in Horizon's or Martini's. And it all depends on the passengers. We like to have a great time and sometimes get a little loud....Horizon's is the spot for this. During the day - you can't get a better view with an adult beverage than the front of Horizons...especially if you are on a transatlantic or it is a cold rainy day. It is usually really empty during the day but I like to go up on a sea day about an hour before they serve Afternoon Tea and grab a table and enjoy an adult beverage. I love the feel of Martini's - sort of like getting invited into a small private lounge/club in Chicago or New York. And you can do a martini tasting.... Hope this helps..... Sharon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy The Wanderer Posted May 8, 2013 #5 Share Posted May 8, 2013 No hors d'oeuvres in the lounges before dinner? I'm a bit shocked if that's really the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Caroldoll Posted May 8, 2013 #6 Share Posted May 8, 2013 I would say Martinis is the best, but it gets very crowded. No, Wendy, no hors d'ouvres, but what we do if we are a little hungry is go up to Horizons at the end of the tea time and have a few of their lovely sandwiches and then listen to the singer who starts right after tea time. I was made aware that in Martinis they hold some snacks behind and the people who are in the know will ask for them. In all their snacks--whether in the room or in the bar are not their strong suit. We don't let it bother us as we feel we have more than enough to eat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy The Wanderer Posted May 8, 2013 #7 Share Posted May 8, 2013 I would say Martinis is the best, but it gets very crowded. No, Wendy, no hors d'ouvres, but what we do if we are a little hungry is go up to Horizons at the end of the tea time and have a few of their lovely sandwiches and then listen to the singer who starts right after tea time. I was made aware that in Martinis they hold some snacks behind and the people who are in the know will ask for them. In all their snacks--whether in the room or in the bar are not their strong suit. We don't let it bother us as we feel we have more than enough to eat. Hmm, well that's a real difference from Regent. Except for the in-room canapes, which also aren't particularly appetizing to me (and I don't need the calories anyways.) But I do like the teeny-tiny hors d'oeuvres they serve in all the lounges in the early evening. Oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 8, 2013 #8 Share Posted May 8, 2013 They did have some sort of snacks in the bar after happy hour I am not sure if you had to pay for them or they came with the drinks we never tried them We always have enough to eat at dinner & before dinner did not want to fill up Maybe someone will comment on them Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babysteps Posted May 8, 2013 #9 Share Posted May 8, 2013 Baristas usually has some kind of snacks during their service hours, at least breakfast through mid-afternoon. Didn't actually check if there are nibbles there right before dinner. On our Sep 2012 cruise the snacks were just outside the Baristas service area, toward the library (close to where the doors to the outside deck are). I didn't see actual hors d'oevres near Baristas, more like mini sandwiches, cookies, fruit etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DOJO466 Posted May 8, 2013 #10 Share Posted May 8, 2013 They did have some sort of snacks in the bar after happy hour I am not sure if you had to pay for them or they came with the drinks we never tried them We always have enough to eat at dinner & before dinner did not want to fill up Maybe someone will comment on them Lyn They do have a tray of small hors d'oeuvre in Martinis and Casino bar which the bartender will sometimes just put it in front of you or you can ask if there are any. There is usually a dip, let's just say hummus, black bean, pinwheels, assorted cheeses , olives. It is not the same everytime. I am sure Horizons has these also. To be honest I am not a big fan. They have not changed the suite canape' menu in years..same old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindilouwho Posted May 8, 2013 #11 Share Posted May 8, 2013 Theres a strange combination of words....Favourite and Bar. :confused: Any one that serves a good martini!!!!! Hell - when you are on vacation ......ANY ONE is my favourite. No - not true - my favourite bar is where I am drinking and someone else is PAYING!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Caroldoll Posted May 8, 2013 #12 Share Posted May 8, 2013 like nuts and chips. However, I know in Martinis they have stuff behind, and you have to ask. If they have not used them up, then they will give them to you. I never had them as I would go up to Horizons just at the end of the tea and grab a few sandwiches. That stuff in the room is sub-par in my estimation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 8, 2013 #13 Share Posted May 8, 2013 That stuff in the room is sub-par in my estimation. In a suite can you not request something of your choosing??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shedevil Posted May 8, 2013 #14 Share Posted May 8, 2013 In a suite can you not request something of your choosing??? You sure can. But the canapes have never been spectacular. Even when we have been in the owner's suite...the afternoon hors d'oeuvres has never been great. We usually just opt for cheese to enjoy with wine. The best canape or hors d'oeuvres I have had was on our anniversary on our last cruise. They brought us a plate with chunk of the wonderful wheel of parmesan cheese (my favorite) from Toscano and some chocolate covered strawberries. The butler did it as a surprise. But the original poster was wondering about the things served in the bars...and those, again, are nothing to write home to mom about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tansy Mews Posted May 9, 2013 #15 Share Posted May 9, 2013 On our last cruise, we were offered them twice in the Grand Bar before dinner. First time, we were flabbergasted by the amount. Second time, we only accepted the offer when another couple agreed to share with us. Complimentary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted May 9, 2013 #16 Share Posted May 9, 2013 We're usually in a suite -- more likely a PH, not an OS or VS -- and while we often order in the afternoon canapes just to make use of the butler (!) they are just okay. If we're in one or the suites with the liquor set-up I would just as soon have a drink there (since DH doesn't drink hardly at all there's no point in going to a bar), and I'd just as soon forego the canapes unless we missed lunch! We don't want to be feeling full when we go up to dinner. If we're in a cabin that doesn't have the liquor set-up, I probably will have brought on some vodka for my cocktail and then we'll have wine with dinner. And if I forgot to bring on the vodka, I'll do without. But the nibbles in the bars or in our room are for us a minor consideration. To each his own! I can certainly understand wanting some nice canapes with your drinks. I would just say this is NOT one of O's strengths ... Mura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Caroldoll Posted May 11, 2013 #17 Share Posted May 11, 2013 in the suites. They have a menu and you choose every morning. We like to leave early and dance in Horizons and then maybe visit Martinis, so we just don't have the hors d'ouvres which are really kind of..really...sub par. Like I said, if we are a little hungry, we go at the end of tea time and grab a few sandwiches or a sweet--they are really good. You can leave them on a plate or bring them with you I suppose. All much better than the stuff in the room. This just isn't Oceania's strong suit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted May 11, 2013 #18 Share Posted May 11, 2013 in the suites. They have a menu and you choose every morning. We like to leave early and dance in Horizons and then maybe visit Martinis, so we just don't have the hors d'ouvres which are really kind of..really...sub par. Like I said, if we are a little hungry, we go at the end of tea time and grab a few sandwiches or a sweet--they are really good. You can leave them on a plate or bring them with you I suppose. All much better than the stuff in the room. This just isn't Oceania's strong suit. First of all, there isn't any need to retrieve your own goodies from Horizons, or worse yet traipse around the ship with a plate of them. The Butler will be very happy to bring you a selection, or do the full blown tea experience privately in your Suite. Secondly, the Canapé Menu is only a jumping off point. If you give your Butler the authority to go rogue in the hors d'oeuvre department, you may be very pleasantly surprised. We always have to do this because poor Stan cannot abide cheese in any incarnation, and let's just say that the Cocktail Hour is something of a centerpiece of our cruises. The chef's enjoy being challenged, and the Butler's entire reason for being on the ship is to make your cruise special. Let them run with the ball and see if they don't knock your socks off... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CintiPam Posted May 11, 2013 #19 Share Posted May 11, 2013 So, Jim, what is your favorite bar on Riviera?:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 11, 2013 #20 Share Posted May 11, 2013 in the suites. They have a menu and you choose every morning. We like to leave early and dance in Horizons and then maybe visit Martinis, so we just don't have the hors d'ouvres which are really kind of..really...sub par. Like I said, if we are a little hungry, we go at the end of tea time and grab a few sandwiches or a sweet--they are really good. You can leave them on a plate or bring them with you I suppose. All much better than the stuff in the room. This just isn't Oceania's strong suit. I am not sure I understand You cannot ask your butler for little sandwiches from Tea time ? You cannot ask for something other than the hors d'ouves that you do not like? I know others have mentioned they order shrimp or cheeses from room service menu to have with drinks in their cabin Surely someone in an OS could get their butler to bring whatever they wanted :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 11, 2013 #21 Share Posted May 11, 2013 So, Jim, what is your favorite bar on Riviera?:D Begins with an M & has lots of vowels :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shedevil Posted May 11, 2013 #22 Share Posted May 11, 2013 Begins with an M & has lots of vowels :D but does it have an olive?:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrammieK Posted May 11, 2013 #23 Share Posted May 11, 2013 Yes, you can get whatever you want from the butler. Little sandwiches and tea at tea time, appetizers before dinner. Almost anything within reason of what is available on the ship. At least that has been my experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CintiPam Posted May 11, 2013 #24 Share Posted May 11, 2013 Begins with an M & has lots of vowels :D I never walk pass Martinis without thinking of Jim. The place seems empty without his presence, and we only sailed with him once (so far, hopefully)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted May 11, 2013 #25 Share Posted May 11, 2013 So, Jim, what is your favorite bar on Riviera?:D Hands down it is Martini's I love everything about it, from the gorgeous Italian furniture to what I consider to be the most interesting and important art on the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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