Please join us - Spain to the New World on a new ship - LIVE from Oceania Riviera

[ORV]

Jacqui, funny you should mention turkey being available in all restaurants, we ate in Jacques and the waiter never mentioned this. I would have had it, although I did enjoy an excellent Iberia de Bellota pork chop.

[kazu]

and here is Toscana...

 

 

[janecambridge]

Am I right in saying that Privee has a fee and has to be pre Booked? Do you book it as a couple and meet others or do you have to book 10 people in?

[ronrick1943]

Yes you have a fee, you book it as a room for dining. You can have it to yourself or have up to 10 guest which includes you (total 10 people). We've done it and it's really a nice evening. They met are party in are suite and took us down as a group. I'd do it again. You should book it asap, sometimes it's booked for the whole cruise, other cruise only a few times....but why take a chance.

[StanandJim]

Am I right in saying that Privee has a fee and has to be pre Booked?

 

Yes, booking Privée is similar to the process of renting out a private party room in a restaurant ashore. The fee is $250 per evening.

 

Do you book it as a couple and meet others or do you have to book 10 people in?

 

Once "rented" for the evening, Privée is yours for the entire evening and will be available for up to ten guests. How many are invited, or whether you use it as a couple, is a personal decision. The $250 fee remains constant, regardless of the number of guests, and the food is provided from the menus of the adjoining specialty restaurants.

[kazu]

Jacqui, funny you should mention turkey being available in all restaurants, we ate in Jacques and the waiter never mentioned this. I would have had it, although I did enjoy an excellent Iberia de Bellota pork chop.

 

I was chatting with the Chef at pool side ORV and he was talking about turkey. When I told him we had Privee so our American friends would miss it, he said no - that Turkey would be avaialble at every restaurant on board.

 

Bummer, you missed it.

[CruisingCleo]

There are a lot of magazines in the Executive/Concierge Lounge. DH was enjoying them the other day.

 

I don't recall seeing them in the library but I will do a double check to see and let you know.

 

I am sure the ship will be deep cleaned before you get on, but by all means wash your hands, use the sanitizers and use your knuckle to press the elevator buttons. ;)

 

Jacqui, Thank you so much for taking all that trouble, you are very kind! Don't forget you are on holiday! :)

Regards, Mirjam

[Krazy Kruizers]

All the restaurants look lovely.

 

And the food looks wonderful.

[kazu]

Tomorrow was supposed to be our Bermuda day - actually two days with a lovely overnight.

 

The captain has come on to announce that we have been refused entry to Bermuda by their Ministry of Health.

 

So our 5 days at sea has now turned into 7 days at sea and instead of one day in Nassau we will have two days in Nassau.

 

Nassau? Not worth two days IMO but there isn't much we can do about it.

 

I suspect there are a lot of unhapy campers on board. I know I am disappointed. We had a lovely catamaran tour planned for the roll call and now it is by the way side.

 

Now I will RANT about the Noro precautions on board. I don't understand why they shut down the laundry when they are leaving the rest of the stuff open which is much more high risk - the pool, hot tubs, casino, library, salt and pepper shakers still on the tables for everyone to touch, etc.

 

<sigh> at least we are still healthy and so are most that we know - so that is a good thing.

 

But, I was looking forward to Bermuda.....

 

[LHT28]

OH NO so sorry you will miss Bermuda :eek:

 

Are they getting a grip on the Noro or are more people being stricken with it ??

 

Keep well

 

Lyn

[Cruzin Terri]

Jacqui,

I am so sorry you have to miss Bermuda. It is a lovely island and I am sure you are disappointed.

 

I am also sorry that you have sickness on board.

 

I do want to thank you for all your lovely posts and all the time and effort you have taken to post the pictures and commentary. It is very helpful. We will be on the Marina in August in the same category stateroom and all this is very helpful to us, who are also first time Oceania cruisers.

 

I hope you enjoy the rest of the cruise and that they are able to get the Noro Virus under control so that the rest of the voyage is uneventful.

 

Terri

[wally_bushy]

Keep posting about the food please.

I believe it is important to eat in order to stay alive😉

Imagine if we all withdrew into solemnity every time someone is sick.😞

[kazu]

OH NO so sorry you will miss Bermuda :eek:

 

Are they getting a grip on the Noro or are more people being stricken with it ??

 

Keep well

 

Lyn

 

I don't think they are getting a grip on the Noro Lyn.

 

If they had we wouldn't have been refused entry to Bermuda IMO.

 

I have been on ships with Noro before and we were never refused entry to a port ever. So, this tells me that either there are a lot or this is a very bad strain?

 

I think there are a lot.

 

Sadly, sitting by the pool and it is raining early this morning and chatting with another passenger I have heard that there is a passenger on board that was going to be taken off the ship in Bermuda as he has been struck by Noro quite badly and is quite ill. He now has a long wait unless they do an air lift?

 

I don't think he is seriously ill enough for that? Just what I am hearing mind you, and not a proven fact.

[kazu]

Jacqui,

I am so sorry you have to miss Bermuda. It is a lovely island and I am sure you are disappointed.

 

I am also sorry that you have sickness on board.

 

I do want to thank you for all your lovely posts and all the time and effort you have taken to post the pictures and commentary. It is very helpful. We will be on the Marina in August in the same category stateroom and all this is very helpful to us, who are also first time Oceania cruisers.

 

I hope you enjoy the rest of the cruise and that they are able to get the Noro Virus under control so that the rest of the voyage is uneventful.

 

Terri

 

Thanks Terri and all for the kind words.

 

With two days at sea, you may well have to put up with more of my posts ;)

 

I am up WAY too early this morning. I made the mistake of taking a nap yesterday and I think that threw me off. Kazu is not a napper by nature!

 

But it was a dreary day and the ship was rocking ever so nicely that it just put me to sleep.

 

If the rain pouring down is any kind of a sign, it is going to be another dreary day. Hopefully this is just a storm we are passing through.

[kazu]

I just saw that Mxm had posted on Orv's lthread that they had asked at reception how many people were sick and they were told 6% of the passengers (around 2,000 on board with passengers and crew).

 

So, assuming this number is not a low one, it sounds like Noro is not under control but growing since the original announcement was 2%.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Kazu

 

Sorry that you missed Bermuda.

 

Hope your weather improves.

[kazu]

Here is a little look at the specialty restaurant Red Ginger and some of the art right around her for those that might be interested...

 

 

 

[kazu]

and some of the art

 

 

 

 

[Gsel]

Thanks so much for your Pictures and daily "reviews" of your first "O" trip. We are also veteran HAL cruisers and tried our first "O" cruise last April. We did not have the same problem with NORO that you are having, but fell in love with the smaller ship and the elegance of the Regatta. We will be returning the HAL in the future, but only because of an itinerary Oceania does not offer. and we also have another "O" trip booked for next year. Now, if we could just figure out how to take our butler with us on the HAL trip!

[CruisingCleo]

Tomorrow was supposed to be our Bermuda day - actually two days with a lovely overnight.

 

The captain has come on to announce that we have been refused entry to Bermuda by their Ministry of Health.

 

So our 5 days at sea has now turned into 7 days at sea and instead of one day in Nassau we will have two days in Nassau.

 

Nassau? Not worth two days IMO but there isn't much we can do about it.

 

I suspect there are a lot of unhapy campers on board. I know I am disappointed. We had a lovely catamaran tour planned for the roll call and now it is by the way side.

 

Now I will RANT about the Noro precautions on board. I don't understand why they shut down the laundry when they are leaving the rest of the stuff open which is much more high risk - the pool, hot tubs, casino, library, salt and pepper shakers still on the tables for everyone to touch, etc.

 

<sigh> at least we are still healthy and so are most that we know - so that is a good thing.

 

But, I was looking forward to Bermuda.....

 

 

I am so sorry for you that you are not going to Bermuda. After so many sea days I can only imagine how much you must have been looking forward to this stop, especially with the catamaran tour planned... :(

But you sound like a 'glass half full' kind of person so I'm sure you will still enjoy the rest of the cruise, together with he 1850 passengers and crew who are not ill.

 

Mirjam

[RJB]

Great pictures. Maybe they could open some of the specialties for lunch. Would be nice.

[Ivy Blake]

I am so sorry for you that you are not going to Bermuda. After so many sea days I can only imagine how much you must have been looking forward to this stop, especially with the catamaran tour planned... :(

But you sound like a 'glass half full' kind of person so I'm sure you will still enjoy the rest of the cruise, together with he 1850 passengers and crew who are not ill.

 

Mirjam

 

Also disappointed about Bermuda, but thankful not to be sick. Never been to Bermuda but Nassau many times. Guess I'll have time to catch up on the computer!! Loving the photos Jacqui! It is a beautiful ship!

[kazu]

Great pictures. Maybe they could open some of the specialties for lunch. Would be nice.

 

 

It would be nice if they did. But O doesn't do that.

 

The staff of the specialty restaurants work in the Terrace Grill during the day. Our favourite Jacques waiter is often there.

[gigianne]

The weather has improved and we are actually seeing some sun. Hopefully those with Noro get better soon so they can enjoy the last couple of days of the cruise!

[kazu]

Want to go for a tiny tour?

 

Since I am stuck on board for another day or two, I thought I would try to get a few pics here and there in between stuff.

 

Here is the internet room.....

 

 

And here is Barristas where the fancy coffees are served

 

 

Normally at Barristas there are some nice pastries and treats. With the Noro outbreak (and yes, it is an official outbreak), rather than keep them behind a counter and have them served to the guests, this is what you find...

 

 

and here is the library. By the time the afternoon comes it is hard to move around in it as there are so many people sleeping and snoring - LOL