Sirena 29/3 Barbados - Barcelona

[Host Jazzbeau]

3 minutes ago, Cruze4Ever said:

Did you have to have a PCR test 3 days before the cruise and COVID test before going on the Sirena?  We had to do that in February before getting on the Riviera.  We are going on the Sirena in 3 weeks.

 

Enjoy the cruise and keep us posted.   Thanks!

 

As I noted in response to your earlier post with this question:  Unless the rules suddenly stiffened at the same time the mask rules were loosening, in January and February was saying that IF you got a test before the cruise [which could be either PCR or Antigen] they would cover your costs if the port test was positive.  It was not a requirement that you do so.

[njhorseman]

16 minutes ago, Cruze4Ever said:

Did you have to have a PCR test 3 days before the cruise and COVID test before going on the Sirena?  We had to do that in February before getting on the Riviera.  We are going on the Sirena in 3 weeks.

 

Enjoy the cruise and keep us posted.   Thanks!

 

 

13 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

As I noted in response to your earlier post with this question:  Unless the rules suddenly stiffened at the same time the mask rules were loosening, in January and February was saying that IF you got a test before the cruise [which could be either PCR or Antigen] they would cover your costs if the port test was positive.  It was not a requirement that you do so.

Here are the current rules, directly from Oceania's website:

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/health

 

FOR SAILINGS EMBARKING AFTER MARCH 1, 2022, Oceania Cruises will require that all guests arrive at the embarkation terminal with a negative COVID-19 PCR or Antigen test result from a third-party verified laboratory or pharmacy, taken within 48 hours of arriving to the terminal for cruises beginning in a U.S. port or within 72 hours for all other cruises. All guests must provide proof of a negative test result at embarkation in a digital or printed format. Guests not in possession of a negative, third-party Covid-19 test result will not be allowed to embark for the voyage. Additionally, we strongly recommend that all guests consult with local government websites to determine the country-specific information for your port of embarkation as many countries require a negative COVID-19 PCR test that is not older than 48 or 72 hours prior to arrival in-country. 

Even if the country where your cruise embarks does not require a negative COVID-19 PCR test for entry, Oceania Cruises strongly recommends you obtain a PCR test not more than 72 hours prior to embarkation. If a PCR test is not readily available, then we encourage guests to, at a minimum, take a laboratory-administered COVID-19 antigen test not more than 72 hours prior to embarkation. 

Guests that fail to test prior to departure, or cannot provide proof of a negative laboratory-supplied test result, and subsequently test positive for COVID-19 upon embarkation will not be reimbursed for quarantine or return arrangements.

[Cruze4Ever]

20 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

As I noted in response to your earlier post with this question:  Unless the rules suddenly stiffened at the same time the mask rules were loosening, in January and February was saying that IF you got a test before the cruise [which could be either PCR or Antigen] they would cover your costs if the port test was positive.  It was not a requirement that you do so.

Thank you!  I think I missed your previous answer.

[ToxM]

It’s 5am … am awake, so best to update you all 🙂

 

Embarkation was fine, a little disjointed which is why I chose an 11am embarkation as I thought it might have some crinkles to iron out. Arrive at port, sit in some chairs and wait til the check of your documents part was ready, queue for that, then they check vaccination status and test results. I think if you hadn’t had a test then you went to have that then had the doc check. 

 

You get an O sticker for passing your doc check, then go to another desk where they give you green a green armband. 

 

They laid on buses for the trip roughly 200m to where the ship was. I didn’t want to go in a bus so we walked it. Gave us a good chance to see the lovely Sirena and take a couple of pics. 

 

The band was playing as we arrived and there was staff waiting to help with bags and crew on the side of the ship cheering and waving. I had a tear or two. Captain and CD were inside with other officers to welcome aboard. 

 

Then ushered to the Sirena Lounge to actually complete check in. This took a while because its clearly a very new system for them all. 

 

As we left we passed what turned out to be the checkin point for our muster station so we logged into there. 

 

Straight up to our suite as of course they were all ready. Dropped our carryons, had a cold drink (I ordered root beer in our fridge a few months ago and it was there! Very happy me!). Penthouses are lovely!

 

Went down to Terrace, got some lunch, turkey green beans and mash and gravy (its a tradition!) and a bit of everything for himself. 

 

Masks are a personal choice, I wore one last night when making initial choices at the buffet as it was a little bit crowded, but apart from that not wearing them, if we go to a show maybe if it is busy. There are 390 on board so nowhere is going to be that busy. I will carry on mainlining First Defence. 

 

We sorted out a weeks worth of Barbados laundry and sent some free laundry off and some more priority items, unpacked and stowed the rest of the stuff - honestly I will admit I bought too much stuff but the suite coped with stashing it all very well.

 

We didn’t do a show tonight, it was a lovely trip to the Terrace again for sushi, calamari, snails, a very nicely cooked steak and some sneaky dessert.

 

The staff are happy to be back the ship feels happy. I am overjoyed to be back, and for my first trip on an R ship I think its going to be an interesting comparison with my Marina trip in April. 

 

The overwhelming feeling is that it’s good to be home. 

 

 

[ToxM]

Up this morning bright and early … over night pressing is back before 8am 😮

 

Just about to go get some brekkie if marital unit can shift his behind…. 

[mauibabes]

It is so GREAT TO HEAR YOU ARE HOME AGAIN.  That is exactly how we felt October 16 when we boarded Riviera. Expect a hiccup here and there but it will be wonderful. You have to remark about your experiences with Humphrey Slocumb, absolutely the best ice cream 🤪👍

Have a fabulous trip on Sirena AND on Marina. 
Mauibabes

[ToxM]

29 minutes ago, mauibabes said:

It is so GREAT TO HEAR YOU ARE HOME AGAIN.  That is exactly how we felt October 16 when we boarded Riviera. Expect a hiccup here and there but it will be wonderful. You have to remark about your experiences with Humphrey Slocumb, absolutely the best ice cream 🤪👍

Have a fabulous trip on Sirena AND on Marina. 
Mauibabes

yesterday’s flavour was after school which had choc covered potato chips (crisps to us) so we steered clear, but we notice that todays is Meyer Lemon Pound cake which we will definitely be trying 🙂

[ToxM]

Definitely home, the eggs benny this morning was fabulous. 

[ToxM]

Nice day in St Lucia, we visited the Basilica, but the rest of town was just too busy for me to feel comfy in. 

 

Came back and ate at the Terrace, standard is very good and lots of staff to help out. Whilst wearing masks is now a personal choice, hubby and I have decided that in pressure point areas on board we will wear masks, and the buffet when it is busy is one of them, and it would appear that lots of people agree with us and are doing the same. 

 

Came back to the room for a relax and then I headed to the spa hot tub and had a bit of a soak. It was very very relaxing up there - even though every bed was occupied. 

 

Came back to the cabin and watched sail away and a very very nice sunset that I will try and post here internet allowing.

 

We lazed about til about 8ish and then popped to the terrace again (that time seems to be great for less people). Our cabin door appears to have a bit of a wind leak, and they have just been in to tape it up and will try and do a repair tomorrow. We are motoring it a bit to Antigua tonight so we are rolling a little bit but nothing too exciting  

 

Everyone is very happy on board - crew and passengers, it feels very safe on board. 

[ToxM]

Dinner in Tuscan Steak tonight, superlative service and very nice food. Antigua is lovely, and we would consider a land based holiday there. We got a can driver to do a tour for us … 3 hours for 120 US in a big air conditioned minibus to ourselves, lovely driver - I have his details if anyone needs them. 

 

Rain this afternoon which sent everyone running from the pool deck, apart from me who went into the pool and enjoyed it all to myself!

 

4 hours out of Antigua we are turning around because we need to do a medical evacuation, very sad for the individual - but lucky for them we were only 4 hours out. 

 

Small issue with our balcony door last night - a broken seal which we noticed as we were motoring a bit out of St Lucia as we appeared to be in a wind tunnel - we let the butler and steward know and returned from dinner to find the door taped shut, and they had it fixed by 10 am. 

 

Have heard some grumbling that we are on a shakedown cruise as there are a few teething problems, but this is a new crew, everyone is trying very hard and I have no complaints at all.

 

We are just about to dock at Antigua again. Hope the poor individual who is unwell is ok. 

 

The olive oil trolley is alive and kicking and there is a very nice bin end list of wine. 

 

I continue to find myself stopping, looking around and failing to wipe a huge grin off my face. 

 

[Kate-AHF]

About the Humphrey Slocum ice cream..... even if it sounds weird, you might want to give it a try anyway.  I was really (pleasantly) surprised every time I did. I'm so happy with this new vendor.  Before that both of us thought O had the worst ice cream at sea until they added this.

 

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by Kate-AHF

[ChadnKate]

A quick question for those onboard who are still posting: do you know who the cruise ambassador is. We join the Sirena in Istanbul on May 6th for a B2B. Wondering which of our friends are staffing the ship. Know Dottie (ask her to tell her "ugly baby joke!"  Would like to know who will help us with a 2024 Vista booking. 

Sad about the medical emergency. That happened while we were on the Regatta off Mexico's west coast, and again on the Nautica in the Seychelles. 

 

Thank you

[ToxM]

Sorry for the lack of updates…. Iwona Goodman is the cruise ambassador and she has been very busy!

 

So a quick update - my goodness are we having s good time! I have a bunch of pics on my p[hone I will update when we are at out hotel in Barcelona, but it’s awkward to do the board on a phone for me. 

 

There is no covid on board as far as I can tell and we are all very happy with very minimal mask wearing (a busy buffet area etc). Weather and crossing have been great (we are on day 6 of our crossing) -  Tenerife tomorrow. We are running a little late because of our return to Antigua, but apart from that everything is great. 

 

Crew is outstanding, I have won 2 poker tournaments, hubby has won 2, one was won by someone else and one didn’t run due to lack of players. Bingo has got started after a couple of days of not enough people. 

 

We are 390 passengers and are a happy lot, the crew is also very happy and it’s been wonderful. Food has been outstanding after a few grumbles on the first couple of days (they are allowed a little rocky start - it’s been 2 years!). We have had one bad course, but no biggie. Service has honestly been outstanding. Caribbean buffet that was excellent and last night a sublime Indian buffet. 

 

Nowhere is crowded, everyone is being very good about distancing (I think it’s maybe second nature to sensible people) and everyone is religiously sanitising. We see no signs of any problems with covid. Honestly feel extremely safe and it’s easy to think that the last two years never happened - we may come down to earth with a bump tomorrow when we are in Tenerife with a TUI ship, a Saga ship and a Windstar ship. Saga and TUI have had terrible covid problems so we shall see what happens. Right now we are in a safe bubble and it’s down to the hard work of the crew and the good sense of the guests. 

 

I like Sirena a lot, I appear to be addicted to transoceanic cruising and Oceania is still superb. 

 

I will cry when I leave, and I only have 10 days to wait after that til I go on Marina!

 

 

[ToxM]

Totally rubbish about updating about this trip. We are now home, which is bittersweet as I am now washing and repacking for the marina cruise. 

 

Honestly this cruise was a literal breath of fresh air. 

 

Crew were superb, food was superb (we had one duff course in two weeks). Crew and guests all appeared to be sensible regarding Covid. We were not covid free, but I think cases were minimal and started after our first landfall in Tenerife. I heard of multiple cases, just from a report during a trip in an elevator, but know no details on numbers. 

 

We are testing negative and all fine.

 

6 days at sea were wonderful, we were a safe bubble and the last 2 years were erased for us. 

 

Loved our penthouse, butler was great, but we didn’t ask a lot of him, but he was very very good at making sure all our additions to the breakfast menus for breakfast in the cabin were never a problem. 

 

Pizza chef on Sirena is a magician, and I worshipped every lunchtime at his altar 😉

 

The themed buffets in Terrace were very very good - the Indian Buffet made every Brit on board very happy and it was excellent and the Caribbean and Spanish buffets were scrumptious. 

 

Strudel, Doughnut and Cupcake afternoon teas were lovely and the Sea Day Brunch was magnificent. 

 

Because Marital unit has a very large and unruly beard, all crew knew our name by the third day and we were greeted by name constantly. 

 

No queues for anything really (we ate later and this worked very well for us). 

 

Casino staff were great and very accommodating for running Poker Tournaments for us even when we only had the bare minimum needed - didn’t run on just one day, which is pretty good as I think we managed it more than the bingo!

 

I did hear grumbles about Tom Drake and his shows; purely on reports of him being racist and using low humour we decided not to go see him, heard reports of people heckling him the first night he was on and he threatened to leave the stage. I know comments were made in the mid cruise and final survey about his act.  

 

Lots of first time cruisers on Oceania; all I spoke to were thrilled with the cruise and pretty much everyone visited the Oceania Ambassador to either book a specific itin or get a certificate. 

 

Here are some pics that will undoubtedly be upside down but you can cope 😉

 

I look forward to comparing Marina (my first O love) and Sirena (who has stolen my heart). 

 

I did cry when I left the ship. On the air bridge, in the taxi and at the hotel in Barcelona. 

[nannycheryl]

Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to boarding on Tuesday in Rome 😊

[babysteps]

Great report, thanks for taking the time. And looks like only 1 of the pics is upside down from here - victory! 

[Cruze4Ever]

Thanks for the great pictures!!!  We will be on the Sirena on Tuesday!  Safe travels home.