specialty restaurant reservations and wine carry on

[miketheExbaker]

It's slightly disappointing that we are only able to book 1 res for each of the 4 restaurants on a 10 day trip. Has anyone had any success getting more than 1 each? And, are the specialty restaurant menus available for the in suite dining? That would be nice and make the res limit not matter so much.

 

I read on the O site FAQ that you are allowed to bring 3 bottles of wine on the ship at a port of call. No liquor though? And 3 bottles....5 ports of call = 15 bottles, right? That should be enough so we wont have to buy any bottles on board. Am I reading that rule correctly?

 

Finally what does "DH" mean in a cruisers review?

 

Thanks folks!

[StanandJim]

It's slightly disappointing that we are only able to book 1 res for each of the 4 restaurants on a 10 day trip. Has anyone had any success getting more than 1 each? And, are the specialty restaurant menus available for the in suite dining? That would be nice and make the res limit not matter so much.

 

I read on the O site FAQ that you are allowed to bring 3 bottles of wine on the ship at a port of call. No liquor though? And 3 bottles....5 ports of call = 15 bottles, right? That should be enough so we wont have to buy any bottles on board. Am I reading that rule correctly?

 

Finally what does "DH" mean in a cruisers review?

 

Thanks folks!

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic, Mike! :D

 

Don't look at it as "limited to four reservations", rather, try to see it as "being guaranteed four reservations", so that everyone on the ship may have a chance at visiting the Specialty Restaurants before others start making multiple visits ;)

 

Once you are on the ship, "extra" reservations may be available on a first come, first served basis. If your ship has four Specialties that means that you are booked on either Marina or Riviera; you will find a Specialty Restaurant Reservations Desk on the lower level of the Embarkation Lobby.

 

Food From the Specialty Restaurants is only served as Room Service in the Suites, so if you have booked one of those, your Butler will supply the proper menus. Otherwise, there is a 24 hour Room Service menu in every cabin.

 

Unlike other cruise lines, Oceania does not confiscate wine or liquor, regardless of quantity, at the gangplank. The 3 bottle rule is there for their protection in the case of misbehavior, but they don't enforce it.

 

Oceania asks only that you confine imported alcohol to your cabin, and not bring it into any of the public rooms or out on deck.

 

DH is an acronym for Dear Husband.

Edited February 3, 2015 by StanandJim

[DaisyUK]

We have been on only one Oceania (Riviera) cruise to date, so our experience may not be typical. However, for what it is worth, additional dining reservations were readily available at the specialty restaurants, but only at shared tables. Our butler persuaded us to 'order in' (as we didn't want to sit at a shared table). Although we weren't keen and only really agreed because we didn't want to hurt his feelings(!) it worked out really well and I would/will do it again on our upcoming trip.

[G&G]

It's slightly disappointing that we are only able to book 1 res for each of the 4 restaurants on a 10 day trip. Has anyone had any success getting more than 1 each? And, are the specialty restaurant menus available for the in suite dining? That would be nice and make the res limit not matter so much.

 

 

Finally what does "DH" mean in a cruisers review?

 

Thanks folks!

 

Oceania only allows a specific number of reservations prior to boarding depending on your type of cabin.

 

Once on board you can try to book additional nights. You need to be flexible with time and willing to share a table.

 

On a 14 day cruise two years ago, they was a couple who were able to eat at the Specialty restaurants 11 of the 14 nights even though were booked in an inside cabin. They worked at it and were very flexible about their dining arrangements.

[sitraveler]

FWTW, the specialty restaurants are nice, but after a while its nice in either the GDR or Terrace. Many of us forego all the specialty availability for the other venues. You miss a lot of the experience if you don't try all Oceania has to offer.

[StanandJim]

FWTW, the specialty restaurants are nice, but after a while its nice in either the GDR or Terrace. Many of us forego all the specialty availability for the other venues. You miss a lot of the experience if you don't try all Oceania has to offer.

 

I agree, particularly because the menus in the Terrace and the Grand Dining Room change every day, while the ones in the Specialty Restaurants are static.

 

Of course, the OP is sailing on a ten day Cruise, so with six Restaurants to choose between, menu variety isn't likely to be an issue :p

[pinotlover]

One slight correction to Stan&Jim's point on alcohol. Oceania does allow one to bring their own outside bottle of wine to dinner with them. The cruiser will be charged a corkage fee by Oceania for doing so. One must decide if the combined costs of the wine and the corkage fee makes it desirable to utilize this option.

 

Oceania does discourage people from bringing their own liquor, et.al., to the bars or other public areas.

[StanandJim]

Oceania does discourage people from bringing their own liquor, et.al., to the bars or other public areas.

 

I would say that "discourage" is putting it lightly.

You can be asked to leave the ship permanently for doing a thing like that

[LHT28]

Maybe we should say wine, beer or spirits rather than just alcohol

Some people do not differentiate between them

 

Wine can be taken to the dining venues & pay a fee

Spirits (the drinking kind) must stay in your cabin

 

 

JMO