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LIVE - Marina Jan 22-Feb1 - Back to the Future

sldispatcher

By sldispatcher,
in Oceania Cruises

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Iamthesea

Iamthesea

Posted
Posted

As I said, it was just a guess. They did not start out checking our staterooms numbers on our cruise until a few days after our cruise started. And it doesn't have to be certified as Noro. Could be any stomach problems that caused a passenger to be quarantined. Perhaps the OP can ask why the cards are being checked.

 

Now, on Celebrity, our room cards are always checked when going to Blu or Luminae. For the MDR at a Tradition seating, they are not. For select seating, they are checked.

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LHT28 Holiday Sharing Rare

LHT28

Posted
Posted

I think they ask for your cabin # so they can learn your names or they want to see who eats where ;)

I am just guessing though

 

We do not cruise often

in May 2015 no names requested

April 2016 names requested for the GDR at dinner ..did not get there for lunch or breakfast so maybe requested then also

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sldispatcher

sldispatcher

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Today has been brought to you by the letter O.

 

Oceania is starting to hit on all cylinders on this trip. Deck chairs are out and covered. “Lines”, such as they were, have disappeared with more empty chairs at Terrace this morning than people. The MDR had a scattering of people for lunch. Waves Grill seemed popular. The casino was bursting at the seams with 6 (six) people in it.

 

Oceania’s captain has us doing something that I’ve always wanted to participate in but can never find. We are basically circling in calm waters. A cruise to nowhere today.

 

Oceania sent a special climate package out to the cruise today. The air has a hint of springtime humidity combined with ocean moderated air making the shade just a tad cool and direct sun quite tolerable and bone warming without searing. The sky is cloudless.

 

Oceania has opened the library, returned cloth towels to the restrooms, and full setups in the rooms and on the balconies are back in place.

 

Oceania has a good lecturer this trip with energy, information and not overbearing. She did well in the Roatan presentation in keeping it interesting.

 

Oceania also put the Marina into the relaxation station. We are all now getting put into that special groove that is intangible but important for what draws people to “the O”. When you find yourself wanting to go back to sleep after just waken up from an 8 plus hour night, you know you are starting to relax. When the threat of lowering the lights in the theater for the lecture creates a primordial reflex to close your eyes to go back to sleep, you know you are getting relaxed. It just took some time to get there.

 

Oceania poured aqua blue food coloring into the Gulf early this morning and sprinkled it with an occasional cinnamon colored sprinkle of marine plant life. No white caps. No big swells. Just giant blue bathtub of tropical water reflecting a blue sky back onto our pristinely white ship. I must say that the paint job is very clean.

 

Oceania has started to open the eyes of the seasoned suite traveler trying her for the first time. As the fog of the cold virus lifts, he has been able to more clearly see the differences between this and other lines.

 

Oceania, for the relative new cruisers, the food has surpassed expectations in terms of “cleanliness” for one, and tastiness for the other. New things are being tried. But like an old friend, Waves Grill stands by to fill a true hungry spot.

 

Oceania is different. If it wasn’t different, Celebrity, which is a nice line, would not have made efforts to move in a direction to appeal to the same customer base. I am reminded of how HAL’s Koningsdam came across as a watered down version of the Marina/Riviera to me. At one point, Oceania was the predator and they were the prey. Now those lines have changed course and are now in pursuit of Oceania’s business. Hopefully, Oceania will pay attention and not be lulled into complacency. I could go there with some things, but this is not the post to do that in.

 

Oceania’s Taste of the World is a hit for me. The Greek today, and the Asian yesterday, were great shareable platters for trying new things or different presentations of familiar classics. Those are the small dining innovations that make them stand out for me. I hope they continue. I do wish there was a bit more differentiation between the MDR and the Terrace for the overall menus. It is understandable as to why they are so similar, but that does remove a little bit of the “choice” factor in choosing a dining establishment.

 

Oh, by the way, Oceania is doing all of this with a zero calorie effort.

 

Okay, I only lied once in the whole thread.

 

Oh well.

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Paulchili

Paulchili

Posted
Posted
Truth or Dare

I am personally tired of the need to get room numbers before seating a party. How about this…seat the party and then collect the room numbers. Holland America or Royal Caribbean should not be able to seat people faster than an “upper premium” cruise line. Either change the process or add someone else checking in diners.

 

I wonder what the answer would be if you asked them why they need your room # before being seated in the MDR.

Maybe you can ask?

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RachelG "Live from...." Rare

RachelG

Posted
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I wonder what the answer would be if you asked them why they need your room # before being seated in the MDR.

Maybe you can ask?

 

They have started doing this recently on Regent as well. I asked, and was told it is to know when guests are dining. So your room steward knows when to make up the room for the evening.

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RJB

RJB

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I wonder what the answer would be if you asked them why they need your room # before being seated in the MDR.

Maybe you can ask?

What is the big deal if you give them your room number? Who cares. Give them the number and go have dinner.

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blambition

blambition

Posted
Posted (edited)

I just called my husband over to the phone, to show him the picture of the sticky buns! I am not one for going to breakfast, but that doesn't mean, it is not beyond me to ask my husband to bring me something back from Terraces! Yum[emoji4] I am guessing they do not serve those from room service, so I can always request hot coffee which would go great with those buns!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Edited by blambition
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sldispatcher

sldispatcher

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94fa85cd2155b5efced0030f3a4bb39d.jpg

 

Polo filet. (Getting smaller all the time)

 

0d701f3df923d78c6c5f17076547574c.jpg

 

Polo Queen's Cut Prime Rib

 

cb4e6749c6fd139f3c131058919b071f.jpg

 

Polo Ribeye (about a 1/4 inch thick)

 

 

 

(Not shown.....alleged porterhouse)

 

Polo 20 oz 'porterhouse'.....ummm, no way this thing hit 20 oz, without the correct sized filet it doesn't even qualify to be a porterhouse...and no way was that a 'prime' piece of anything. Sorry, but I'm not giving them a free pass on this one.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Edited by sldispatcher
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HeatherInFlorida

HeatherInFlorida

Posted
Posted
Hint for the suite guests regarding breakfast. If you enjoy breakfast in the room but not sure what time, fill out your card but LEAVE THE TIME BLANK. Your butler, when called, will have most everything prepped and won't have to write things down. Makes for faster service and easier service.

 

Never even knew we could do that! GREAT tip! Thank you!:)

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Crow&Heron

Crow&Heron

Posted
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sldispatcher, it's great you are posting all of this good info. We will be on the Marina starting February 8 so the blog and tidbits are very timely. This will be our first time on Oceania and I am sensing from your food pics (and some of the comments) that the portions are generally small. That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially if the food is of great quality, but I was wondering if one were so inclined, could they ask for a secondary portion? My intention, at least in the Polo Grill was to order both the lobster and the filet. Judging from the size of your filet, I don't think I would be going too far wrong.

 

Your thoughts?

 

Mitch

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ORV "Live from...." Rare

ORV

Posted
Posted
sldispatcher, it's great you are posting all of this good info. We will be on the Marina starting February 8 so the blog and tidbits are very timely. This will be our first time on Oceania and I am sensing from your food pics (and some of the comments) that the portions are generally small. That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially if the food is of great quality, but I was wondering if one were so inclined, could they ask for a secondary portion? My intention, at least in the Polo Grill was to order both the lobster and the filet. Judging from the size of your filet, I don't think I would be going too far wrong.

 

Your thoughts?

 

Mitch

 

I'm pretty sure there is a surf & turf option, check the menu. Or you can order two entrees if you choose.

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Paulchili

Paulchili

Posted
Posted
sldispatcher, it's great you are posting all of this good info. We will be on the Marina starting February 8 so the blog and tidbits are very timely. This will be our first time on Oceania and I am sensing from your food pics (and some of the comments) that the portions are generally small. That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially if the food is of great quality, but I was wondering if one were so inclined, could they ask for a secondary portion? My intention, at least in the Polo Grill was to order both the lobster and the filet. Judging from the size of your filet, I don't think I would be going too far wrong.

 

Your thoughts?

 

Mitch

 

Instead of a surf &turf (smaller lobster and fillet) you can order a whole lobster AND a regular larger fillet (as long as you can handle it :D)

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Crow&Heron

Crow&Heron

Posted
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Instead of a surf &turf (smaller lobster and fillet) you can order a whole lobster AND a regular larger fillet (as long as you can handle it :D)

 

OK, but if the ship lists to the starboard side on the night we eat there...well that would be my fault. ;)

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gwesq

gwesq

Posted
Posted

Thanks for the posts. We board O for the first time in march, also in a PH.

Usually cruised on crystal or regent.

 

Being in FL I can understand the terrible seas you went through. That front moved through here from the Gulf with a vengeance. My dog hid in closet for 2 days for it!

 

Enjoy the cruise!

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