Insignia Caribbean Melody 18-28 December 2019

[Postcontact-Cub]

Hello Everyone,

Sporadically live from Oceania Insignia, I thought I'd give back to the cruise critic community with my thoughts and comments of my first Oceania cruise. So, here we go.

 

Day 1

I left my current home of Kingston, Ontario, Canada 17 December 2019 at 5am to catch the train to Toronto. ooff, early morning, andlong day of travel. Flew from Toronto to Chicago, Chicago to Miami, I arrived in Miami around 18:05. I had booked a super shuttle to the hotel instead of taking a more expensive cab. I stayed at Holiday Inn Port of Miami, not expensive and perfectly serviceable for an over night stay. The hotel is across from Bayside Marketplace so there is plenty of eating and shopping opportunities. 

 

Day 2

Took a $6.35 (plus tip) Lyft to the Terminal J, check in and embarkation was painless, I think I was on board by 11:30am or so, certainly before noon. Couple of things to note, there was a questionnaire asking if you had a cold or cold-like symptoms and the coast guard was inspecting Insignia that day. Took my time to look around, get acquainted with Insignia, take photos, had lunch at Waves Grill (had the Wagyu burger). Due to coast guard being on board there was a staggered release of cabins, I was in my cabin, 6049, around 15:00. 

 

Evening was a solo traveler get together and dinner at Toscana. 

 

Insignia is the smallest ship that I've been on (previously the smallest was Jewel of the Seas), it is a charming and lovely ship. During embarkation there was a quartet of carolers singing at different locations around the ship, it was a nice touch for holiday cruise. So far we're (I'm?) off to a great start. I'll follow up with more shortly and a link to more photos. For the moment, I have final exams to mark and a tea to get to.

 

cheers!

 

 

[Paulchili]

Thank you for taking the time to post about your cruise and your impressions.

Looking forward to reading more - enjoy your cruise.

[LHT28]

thanks for sharing

enjoy the cruise

 

BTW  the lower cat cabins are not usually open until 3pm   has nothing to do with the inspection

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

I will be following your posting and might have some questions. 

We board when you debark on the 28th.  

 

But wait!  Let me know what Insignia has for transfers back to MIA when you debark.  

Edited December 20, 2019 by ATSEAMYLIFE

[LHT28]

15 hours ago, ATSEAMYLIFE said:

But wait!  Let me know what Insignia has for transfers back to MIA when you debark.  

Just take  a taxi  flat rate $27 per car  plus tip

or use UBER or Lyft 

[Paulchili]

9 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Just take  a taxi  flat rate $27 per car  plus tip

or use UBER or Lyft 

That is GUARANTEED to be better than what O will offer (which, BTW,  will be PER PERSON)

[Mura]

Plus just just because one cruise offers various options, at the next departure port it can well be different.

 

This may have been said already -- I apologize for not having the time to go back to the beginning to check on what has been said earlier!

 

The ship will send around a form for you to fill out requesting your information regarding departure.  Some people are independent travelers, for example.  They will ask when you are leaving, how many you are.  Are you going to the airport?  To a hotel?  Etc.  (Not that I think the ship will provide transport to a hotel unless you are using their hotel package.  That would be terribly cumbersome.)

 

The main thing is that if you want to use their service to the airport you tell them the time you want to leave.  As Paul said, this is FAR MORE EXPENSIVE than using a cab or car service.  Not to mention that if you are on a bus delays occur the more passengers there are using the service.

 

We always transfer ourselves!  Usually by taxi but I have finally figured out how to use Uber ... but that was at home when DH was in the hospital!

 

And when we book online for a cab, car service, whatever from the ship -- we usually do it online from the ship a day or two earlier.

 

Mura

[RJ2002]

Looking forward to your reports.  Thanks for sharing your cruise with us and Happy Holidays.  

[Postcontact-Cub]

That is GUARANTEED to be better than what O will offer (which, BTW,  will be PER PERSON)

I agree, my hotel had a $10 off Lyft coupon that will be using to transfer to the airport.

Sent from my VOG-L04 using Tapatalk

[Postcontact-Cub]

thanks for sharing
enjoy the cruise
 
BTW  the lower cat cabins are not usually open until 3pm   has nothing to do with the inspection

Thank you! I wasn't aware of this. :-)

Sent from my VOG-L04 using Tapatalk

[Postcontact-Cub]

Let's talk about cabin 6049.

This cabin was selected for me by the Oceania booking agent with whom I worked. It is an (unobstructed) obstructed ocean view. Rather than explain it I'll just share the pics :-)

St Barts today, so many yachts in the harbour. Loving Oceania, just booked my next cruise (December 2020 on Sirena)

Sent from my VOG-L04 using Tapatalk

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

Thanks, I'm a big fan of Uber so will probably use them hotel to port and port to airport.  Probably have to use a XL as my brother's wife packs large.  

How long of a trip from Hilton Blue Lagoon to port?  If we can board at 11:00 AM time to leave hotel?  

 

 

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

Trying to figure out what to pack.  How does Insignia serve beer on deck?  Assume no glass bottles.  But do they have aluminum cans or plastic glasses?  I'm trying to see if I need to pack my Yeti cup or insulated bottle holder for use on deck.  

[Postcontact-Cub]

if I remember correctly there were bottles of beer and canned soft drinks. I am not sure if there was canned beer.

[LHT28]

On 12/23/2019 at 2:00 PM, ATSEAMYLIFE said:

Trying to figure out what to pack.  How does Insignia serve beer on deck?  Assume no glass bottles.  But do they have aluminum cans or plastic glasses?  I'm trying to see if I need to pack my Yeti cup or insulated bottle holder for use on deck.  

IME  they serve most drinks in plastic type glasses in the pool area   including sodas

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

23 hours ago, LHT28 said:

IME  they serve most drinks in plastic type glasses in the pool area   including sodas

 

Nope just brought me a New Castle at Waves in the bottle  

 

[LHT28]

3 hours ago, ATSEAMYLIFE said:

 

Nope just brought me a New Castle at Waves in the bottle  

 

OK  then

 I am wrong

I do not drink beer  but when DH had one it came in a plastic glass

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

maybe draft as they brought me a bottle and a plastic glass for the New Castle