Photographers on board?

[DrJW]

Does O have photographers snapping away while on board and then displaying the photographs at the photo gallery the following day?

Edited November 12, 2014 by DrJW

[Travelcat2]

Thankfully, there are no photographers on board! :D

[DrJW]

Perfect !😄

[Bowie MeMe]

Only photos are for the DVD "Cruise Memories" which has some current photos inserted into maybe a standard or stock set of photos done by someone on the cruise staff. No poising or photo boards. The day in Cozumel when parked next to NCL with 6 "characters" prancing around and clogging the way as a swarm of photographers snapped away and a stilt walker loomed above us and 2 huge speaker systems battled out different "tunes?" was enough to tell me that the quiet, calm, serenity of "little" Insignia was indeed a slice of pure vacation Heaven.

[Mura]

The only photographers we've seen have been fellow passengers...

 

Mura

[jakes47]

....The day in Cozumel when parked next to NCL with 6 "characters" prancing around and clogging the way as a swarm of photographers snapped away and a stilt walker loomed above us and 2 huge speaker systems battled out different "tunes?" was enough to tell me that the quiet, calm, serenity of "little" Insignia was indeed a slice of pure vacation Heaven.

 

LOL - :D

My NCL experience was the same.

I will be looking for another cruise line if they introduce that to Oceania.

[roothy123]

LOL - :D

My NCL experience was the same.

I will be looking for another cruise line if they introduce that to Oceania.

 

Me too!

[Mura]

I wouldn't go that far myself.

 

No, I don't like the photographers (and I teased one on our NCL cruise a few years ago and his reaction was "it's a job" so I didn't think he liked it any better). But Ren had them, and I don't recall if when O started out they had them -- maybe yes, maybe no. Most of us regulars were delighted to see them go.

 

BUT if the only difference is they bring back photographers, I can live with it.

 

I'm waiting to see how they treat the "bring on your own liquor" policy, among others. I'd be very unhappy to see that change. OTOH, if they lower the prices of ship's tours, that would be a GOOD thing.

 

What will they do with the smoking policy? The trend has been away from smoking, and I don't recall what NCL's policy was in this connection when we were on board in April 2010.

 

So for me photographers are the last thing that would drive me away. After all, most of us here don't like the art auctions but O did bring them back (even if they aren't on all sailings).

 

I am taking heart that FDR and Kamal will be sticking around.

 

Mura

Edited November 22, 2014 by Mura

[kekilia]

When I'm on a cruise line that has photographers and formal nights, I get all into it and find a smashing red carpet gown (budget, of course). When I'm on an adventure cruise, I wear khakis and am down with the natives, when I'm on O, I'm into the food and itinerary!

[Travelcat2]

Mura, NCL changed their smoking policy this month (coincidence?) My eyebrows automatically raised when I read that "active players" in the casino can smoke. There is something very strange about that. Anyway, here is their new policy (per their website):

 

What about smoking on the ship?

 

 

As the health and well-being of our guests and crew is of the utmost importance, Norwegian Cruise Line will institute changes to its smoking policy for all sailings on or after November 1, 2014. The specific changes prohibit smoking on stateroom balconies and limit smoking in the casino to players. On Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway, smoking on The Waterfront will be permitted on the starboard side, except by the outdoor dining areas.

 

Guests in the Garden Villas may smoke in their private garden and on their private sun decks.

 

Public areas throughout all our ships are smoke-free. If you smoke regular or electronic cigarettes, you can do so in designated areas only. If you prefer pipes or cigars, you can smoke in the Cigar Bar or designated smoking lounge. Smoking cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, cigars and pipes is permitted in outdoor public guest spaces and open decks where designated by the ship's management based on the ship's specific characteristics and arrangement. Smoking, including electronic cigarettes, is prohibited in or near venues serving food, the jogging track, outdoor sporting venues, The Haven outdoor areas and children's pool areas. On ships with The Waterfront, smoking is permitted on the starboard side excluding any food service areas. Active Casino players may smoke cigarettes in the Casino during gaming hours. Cigarette smoking is not permitted in any other indoor venue or location.

 

Guests are not permitted to smoke cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars or pipes in their staterooms or on their balconies. Cigar and pipe smoking in staterooms and on balconies is prohibited. Smoking inside your stateroom or on your balcony will result in a $250 cleaning charge added to your onboard account. If cigarette burns on furniture, linens, towels or carpeting are detected; guests will be advised and charged for the damages.

 

Electronic cigarettes cannot be used in public areas where there is a No Smoking policy in force; simply because these cigarettes look so realistic and therefore other guests' perception is that we are not enforcing the No Smoking rule.

[njhorseman]

Mura, NCL changed their smoking policy this month (coincidence?) My eyebrows automatically raised when I read that "active players" in the casino can smoke. There is something very strange about that. Anyway, here is their new policy (per their website):

 

What about smoking on the ship?

 

 

As the health and well-being of our guests and crew is of the utmost importance, Norwegian Cruise Line will institute changes to its smoking policy for all sailings on or after November 1, 2014. The specific changes prohibit smoking on stateroom balconies and limit smoking in the casino to players. On Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway, smoking on The Waterfront will be permitted on the starboard side, except by the outdoor dining areas.

 

Guests in the Garden Villas may smoke in their private garden and on their private sun decks.

 

Public areas throughout all our ships are smoke-free. If you smoke regular or electronic cigarettes, you can do so in designated areas only. If you prefer pipes or cigars, you can smoke in the Cigar Bar or designated smoking lounge. Smoking cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, cigars and pipes is permitted in outdoor public guest spaces and open decks where designated by the ship's management based on the ship's specific characteristics and arrangement. Smoking, including electronic cigarettes, is prohibited in or near venues serving food, the jogging track, outdoor sporting venues, The Haven outdoor areas and children's pool areas. On ships with The Waterfront, smoking is permitted on the starboard side excluding any food service areas. Active Casino players may smoke cigarettes in the Casino during gaming hours. Cigarette smoking is not permitted in any other indoor venue or location.

 

Guests are not permitted to smoke cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars or pipes in their staterooms or on their balconies. Cigar and pipe smoking in staterooms and on balconies is prohibited. Smoking inside your stateroom or on your balcony will result in a $250 cleaning charge added to your onboard account. If cigarette burns on furniture, linens, towels or carpeting are detected; guests will be advised and charged for the damages.

 

Electronic cigarettes cannot be used in public areas where there is a No Smoking policy in force; simply because these cigarettes look so realistic and therefore other guests' perception is that we are not enforcing the No Smoking rule.

 

The changes to NCL's smoking policy were announced on July 15, 2014, 2 1/2 months before the plans to acquire PCH were announced.

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=5916

 

It seems as though you want to attribute everything NCL has done to the PCH acquisition.

 

There's nothing strange about limiting smoking in the casino to active players. As NCL has gradually clamped down on the places where smoking is allowed over the past couple of years, the casino has increasingly become a hangout for passengers who aren't playing and are just there to smoke. They want to cut down on that, although it's likely to be very difficult to enforce.

Edited November 25, 2014 by njhorseman

[kekilia]

I can unequivocally state that I will NEVER cruise on NCL, and if they change their policies re O, I will never sail again with O.

 

Enough is enough. I like casinos and some excitement at night, but that doesn't mean smoking, drugs or alcoholic mayhem!

 

I will go back to Celebrity and Crystal and any other civilized operators.

[Flatbush Flyer]

Does O have photographers snapping away while on board and then displaying the photographs at the photo gallery the following day?

 

 

You must be kidding!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[LHT28]

In the early days of Oceania they did have photographers & the photos were in the space behind Martinis (R-Ships) in the hall ..(there is a secret cupboard there ;)

Anyway no photographers now another good thing about Oceania to love

[njhorseman]

I can unequivocally state that I will NEVER cruise on NCL, and if they change their policies re O, I will never sail again with O.

 

Enough is enough. I like casinos and some excitement at night, but that doesn't mean smoking, drugs or alcoholic mayhem!

 

I will go back to Celebrity and Crystal and any other civilized operators.

 

I'm no fan of smoking and I wish NCL would ban it in their casinos (although I admit that I'm probably saving some money because they allow it) but what does that have to do with "drugs or alcoholic mayhem"? Last I checked, Oceania still sells alcoholic beverages on its ships (and of course alcohol is included at no additional charge on Regent). Do Oceania or Regent suffer from "alcoholic mayhem"?

 

RCCL owns Royal Caribbean international, Celebrity and Azamara (as well as Pullmantur) and each line has its own policies. Smoking is permitted in Royal Caribbean International's casinos, but not Celebrity's or Azamara's. The point is that NCLH's acquisition of PCH doesn't foretell Oceania or Regent smoking policies changing. You call Celebrity a "civilized operator" but it's part of the same family of cruise lines as the apparently "uncivilized" Royal Caribbean International.

Edited November 25, 2014 by njhorseman

[hondorner]

We do sail on NCL from time to time, usually in a full suite (we can afford it on NCL, not always on Oceania and never on Regent). We carefully choose their smaller ships (although still larger than O), choose cruises longer than 7 days, carefully choose itineraries when school is in session, and choose cruises in Europe or transAtlantics. These choices generally assure us of a clientele very similar to Oceania.

 

We don't gamble so simply stay away from the Casino and the smokers. They are easy to avoid otherwise. We simply ignore the photographers and other silliness. The only real negative is the alcohol policy and the naughty room.

 

NCL can be what you make it.

Edited November 25, 2014 by hondorner