Your "Dream Oceania ship"

[auldlassie]

I am posting this question on the different forums of the lines I cruise and am really keen to hear what you think. Perhaps some cruise lines will be much more inventive than others, we shall see. So please tell me, what would be added or subtracted from the current Oceania ships to create your "dream Oceania ship"? I don't mean free cruises, free flights, free anything, or brand new ships and cabins etc every day when you wake. No fantasy stuff. No magic. I just mean tweaks or changes or additions to what is already on offer.

 

In another thread about chair hogs, Suite Travels made me realise that I would love to see the creation of a "Table of Shame" for pool chair hogs. After 30 minutes of absentee chair-hogging, your stuff is gathered up and placed on the "Table of Shame" - a table very prominently set up on the pool deck (in full sun so your book page-glue melts and your suntan lotion leaks) where the hogs have to go to re-claim their belongings under the full glare of the fellow travellers' disapproval. ;)

 

I am still working on the small refinements - perhaps necessitating a grovelling apology, perhaps a loud (but somehow not disturbing to others) klaxon of shame going off as repeat offenders approach the table just to ensure everyone looks over to see them, perhaps community tut-tutting etc etc - Yeah, I know it needs work :D

 

All in the hope that it would actually soon stop the chair hogging altogether, of course.

 

So come on, tell me what would you like to see on your "dream Oceania ship". Unless, you are a persistent chair hog. In which case, don't talk to me at all. :eek:

[LEESRE]

On more luxury lines I would like to see either a ban or at least someone on board, Officer etc, that would enforce the rules they set out clearly on notices etc. ie Unruly children.

On our recent Oceania cruise we had three boys who took over the pool in the afternoon, dive bombing into the pool from the jacuzi and hogging the jacuzi with no parental intervention. It clearly states on the jacuzi no Children under the age of 16 unless accompanied by an adult.

It seems by posts on Cruise Critic that luxury lines including Seabourn and Oceania are not enforcing these rules.

[LHT28]

no children under 10 on the ships

no smoking ANYWHERE

food served hot not lukewarm

shorter time for meals to be served in the dining venues... under 2hrs would be nice

Glass fronts on the serving stations in the Terrace right down to the counter so people cannot reach under the glass to get food

chairs that are not so low you need a hoist to get up from

change the name of the "A" cabins on the R class ships from Concierge level to something else ...at least on the O class ships you do have a dedicate Concierge at your disposal

people with beverage packages get a wristband ...then they can stop complaining about having to show their seapass card when they order a drink :rolleyes:

[mafig]

I'm booked in the Yacht Club on MSC. I booked there because I read there were few children there and that those who were there were well behaved. Now I'm reading that several people think their children have every right to take over the pool with splashing, screaming and dive bombing, especially if they were there first.:(

 

OK, so I see an itinerary on Oceania that I like.

Surely, Oceania does not have the same problem with unruly children (or so I stupidly think). Now what?

Edited August 13, 2016 by mafig

[LHT28]

so I see an itinerary on Oceania that I like.

Surely, Oceania does not have the same problem with unruly children (or so I stupidly think). Now what?

 

Sorry to off track here

 

after several O cruises I can say I have only once we had some unruly children & they were part of the entertainers group...the crew quickly curtailed them from running around the pool deck

I am sure it must happen on occasion but not on every sailing

Try P & O they adult only ships

[tropicalkerry2002]

That huge mirror at the foot of the bed on R ships removed, and a flat screen TV in it's place. My neck gets so sore watching it where it is.

 

Movies on demand.

 

Stairs into the pool on R ships.

[mafig]

Sorry to off track here

 

after several O cruises I can say I have only once we had some unruly children & they were part of the entertainers group...the crew quickly curtailed them from running around the pool deck

I am sure it must happen on occasion but not on every sailing

Try P & O they adult only ships

 

P & O? I don't think so.

Actually, I'm glad to her that the crew curtailed the unruly children (although they were not guests, but part of the entertainers group).

I have to say we really haven't been bothered by disruptive children in the pool on any cruise, in other places,yes, like the hallways at midnight (where are their parents)?

So I may be overthinking this a bit.:o

 

One time, however, a girl came into the hot tub. She was sent there by her mother to soak her injured bleeding foot.:(

 

 

Oops, I think I've hijacked this thread. Sorry.

Edited August 13, 2016 by mafig

[bitob]

Improved tv selections

Improved merchandise in shops

No children under 10 in speciality restaurants

[LHT28]

Improved merchandise in shops

Yes that one too

more larger sizes

[orchestrapal]

no children under 10 on the ships

no smoking ANYWHERE

food served hot not lukewarm

shorter time for meals to be served in the dining venues... under 2hrs would be nice

Glass fronts on the serving stations in the Terrace right down to the counter so people cannot reach under the glass to get food

chairs that are not so low you need a hoist to get up.

 

Ditto to the above + NO children

Nothing free, just a NET price of a cruise to which you can ad your extras such as liquor, air and excursions, none of which we make use of.

[sammiedawg]

Ban smoking on board. Definitely get rid of the smoking area in the corner of the pool deck as smoke blows every which way. I mention this on every end of cruise survey and I always complain about smoking on my mid cruise comments.

[auldlassie]

Orchestrapal, I might have this wrong, but I thought drinks, air and excursions were all optional extras to your cruise price. They seemed to be on mine, but things can change.

 

But that aside, I can cure one issue many of you have because, as luck would have it, I know a very good game that keeps children nice and quiet. All you need is some sellotape, some keys...............and a few small cages.

 

I know some would say that is a bit harsh, but hey, it's my "dream ship" :D

[beachmudhut]

On our last Oceania cruise, the chair hoggers took the books out of the library, "reserved six beds" and disappeared for most of the day. Staff wouldn't move the items so an angry passenger did! As the books came from the library, the returning culprits didn't need to reclaim their "belongings."

[beachmudhut]

I'm booked in the Yacht Club on MSC. I booked there because I read there were few children there and that those who were there were well behaved. Now I'm reading that several people think their children have every right to take over the pool with splashing, screaming and dive bombing, especially if they were there first.:(

 

OK, so I see an itinerary on Oceania that I like.

Surely, Oceania does not have the same problem with unruly children (or so I stupidly think). Now what?

 

Cruised oceania Riviera last August. 50 children onboard. It was bedlam. Some were beautifully behaved but others were completely out of control. I requested one kid to stop dive bombing and I cannot repeat on here the gesture and language used in reply and he was only about seven years old. One parent next to me told her very young brood to go away and not return until teatime. Crew do not enforce the rules which are clearly displayed.

 

Have sailed many times outside school holidays and it has been fine. Generally children of crew are very well behaved.

[PaulMCO]

+ get rid of the casino -- there has to be a way for O to use this area that would also provide equivalent revenue. Could make a small Jacques restaurant here on the R ships. Could also make a small culinary center in the space.

 

+ offer La Reserve on the R class ships -- certainly they could use the back of Toscana or Polo for this on or two nights on a cruise.

Edited August 13, 2016 by PaulMCO

[bitob]

Agree on the casino. Wasted space

[LHT28]

Agree on the casino. Wasted space

some of us like the casino

:p

[LHT28]

Cruised oceania Riviera last August. 50 children onboard. It was bedlam. Some were beautifully behaved but others were completely out of control. I requested one kid to stop dive bombing and I cannot repeat on here the gesture and language used in reply and he was only about seven years old.

Ok then I will amend my comment on the age of children

how about NO CHILDREN under 18 :D

 

Not going to happen but I can dream :)

[mafig]

some of us like the casino

:p

 

]I like the casino, too

Edited August 13, 2016 by mafig

[JMBobB]

Have to agree with Paul and Bitob about doing away with the casino. That's one of the few 'vices' that neither SWMbI nor moi have. :(

 

Paul's suggestion to turn it into a La Reserve venue on the R Ships would certainly improve my opinion of them. :D

 

My request would be to increase the size of the Penthouse Staterooms on the R Ships to equal that of the O Ships. :rolleyes:

 

We both hope to make a cruise with NO smokers aboard. It seems a shame to pay the prices (I know, TAs are a bargain) on O to travel on what seems a floating ash tray at times. Maybe in heaven... or wherever I end up. :eek:

 

The only cruise we've seen children (that I remember) were on our two previous TAs in Nov '13 and Mar '15 on Riviera. Both times the younger ones were good as gold. We particularly remember a young girl we saw in Jaques with her parents. You would have sworn she was a perfectly mannered adult. :)

 

Oh, an a couple more US 110 V outlets would always be appreciated. But then, we yanks like ice in our booze too. Uncivilized to the end I suppose. :mad:

 

Ooh-oooh---ooh: I am a real sucker for the 'O' logo Cutter & Buck polo shirts. But more times than not all they have in stock are small and extra large up to GP Large Tent sizes. There are several pricey sales that O has subsequently missed out on.

 

JMBobB

Edited August 13, 2016 by JMBobB

[buggins0402]

More menu offerings in the MDR and Terrace that are reflective of the ports of call...other than that I'm a happy camper on O.

[cathi]

Having just spent 180 days on Insignia, I would love more variety on the TV (FOX news drove us to dvd's!! but then I got to watch movies that I never do at home), change the towels to something a little less scratchy, and improve the internet capability. That would do it. The rest can be left just as it is!!

 

And yes we had chair hogs but we learned how to deal with them. And we did have several children on segments along the way. Every one of them was very well behaved.

[Paulchili]

Interactive TV with daily MDR menus available, up to date shipboard accounts, maybe even making specialty restaurant reservations?

Definitely better program selections, especially in sports.

Edited August 13, 2016 by Paulchili

[LaCroisiereS'amuse]

P & O? I don't think so. .[/b]

 

Oriana and Arcadia are both adults only, as was Adonia (R Class now with Fathom).

[Cruise-y]

Mercy. I'm a grandma and children don't bother me. They are just children having fun. Come splash on me, it's ok.

 

I know everyone likes to make fun of Royal Caribbean here - but they do have a very nice, calm, shaded, upscale adults-only pool so you can avoid kids if you want to. It's the area where we usually hang out, with windows open to the sea - so lovely. And truly, no kids.

 

And I don't understand the chair hogger problem. In reality, there should be enough chairs available that this is not an issue. If there aren't enough chairs for your pleasure, then you are on the wrong ship. IMO