Cruise Critic headed out on Marina on Aug. 7 -- any questions?

[BarbaraM]

12 hours ago, njhorseman said:

 

 

Edited August 11, 2022 by BarbaraM

[JRIH]

13 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Must be a mistake. Marina is busy, at least into December of this year.

I hope so, because I am on it in December.

[jonthomas]

Both ships will go into drydock for the retrofit, Riviera in Genoa for 20 days beginning November 17; Marina in Marseilles for 22 days beginning on Oct. 22, 2022. Riviera will debut its new look on December 7, 2022; Marina on November 13, 2022.

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=6896

 

please correct this if you have more recent information.....

[MEFIowa]

52 minutes ago, jonthomas said:

... please correct this if you have more recent information.....

From the press reporting originally:

 

"Debuting in December 2022 and November 2023 respectively, Riviera and Marina will become better-than-new ships in a re-inspiration. ... Riviera will debut on 7 December 2022, on a 16-day Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Caribbean cruise from Rome to Miami. From there, Riviera will reprise her popular 7- to 14-day Caribbean sailings from Miami to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America for one final season before returning to Europe in late March 2023. Riviera then charts an inaugural season of Far East explorations during later 2023 and early 2024. Marina will debut on 13 November 2023, on a 7-day cruise from Barcelona to Lisbon. From Lisbon, Marina will bound her way to Miami, where she will kick off her annual South America season on 3 December 2023." 

 

Oceania Cruises to overhaul Riviera and Marina (latteluxurynews.com)

[1985rz1]

1 hour ago, jonthomas said:

Both ships will go into drydock for the retrofit, Riviera in Genoa for 20 days beginning November 17; Marina in Marseilles for 22 days beginning on Oct. 22, 2022. Riviera will debut its new look on December 7, 2022; Marina on November 13, 2022.

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=6896

 

please correct this if you have more recent information.....

 

20 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

From the press reporting originally:

 

"Debuting in December 2022 and November 2023 respectively, Riviera and Marina will become better-than-new ships in a re-inspiration. ... Riviera will debut on 7 December 2022, on a 16-day Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Caribbean cruise from Rome to Miami. From there, Riviera will reprise her popular 7- to 14-day Caribbean sailings from Miami to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America for one final season before returning to Europe in late March 2023. Riviera then charts an inaugural season of Far East explorations during later 2023 and early 2024. Marina will debut on 13 November 2023, on a 7-day cruise from Barcelona to Lisbon. From Lisbon, Marina will bound her way to Miami, where she will kick off her annual South America season on 3 December 2023." 

 

Oceania Cruises to overhaul Riviera and Marina (latteluxurynews.com)

Chris (the OP of this thread) also posted a confirmation of 2023 refurbishment of the Marina, above

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=7063

[LHT28]

1 hour ago, jonthomas said:

Both ships will go into drydock for the retrofit, Riviera in Genoa for 20 days beginning November 17; Marina in Marseilles for 22 days beginning on Oct. 22, 2022. Riviera will debut its new look on December 7, 2022; Marina on November 13, 2022.

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=6896

 

please correct this if you have more recent information.....

See post #58 here

[ToxM]

Very excited to see the refit on Riviera. I didn’t travel on Sirena prior to her refit, but they did a wonderful job on her, she is truly beautiful.

[Flatbush Flyer]

7 hours ago, 1985rz1 said:

 

Chris (the OP of this thread) also posted a confirmation of 2023 refurbishment of the Marina, above

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=7063

Perhaps O’s proofreader for the “SailSafe FAQs” is moonlighting at CC 🤔😉

[Cruise Critic Chris]

Port stop: Lithuania, a new country for me (and many). I took the excursion to the Soviet nuclear missile site of Plotskine. Fascinating. and sobering, especially for those of us who grew up during the Cold War. Our tour guide had a good sense of humor and kept things interesting. Recommend. 

 

 

[Cruise Critic Chris]

We did the California Cabernet wine tasting - it's $95 per person. I was a bit surprised by the leader - she was nice and is taking WSET training but she is not a somm. The wines were ok - nothing you haven't heard of - but people had fun. 

 

 

[Cruise Critic Chris]

Dinner was in Polo Lounge. I forgot both how much I like the space and how extensive the menu is. 

 

The oysters Rockefeller had a bit too much cheese for my taste - hard to find the oyster! But the veal chop was delicious. Love the dessert sampler at the end. 

 

 

[mj_holiday]

Great about the zero proof drink offerings.  I didn't see, but do you remember if any of the zero proof and NA liquors  ie Monday, Seedlip

[Cruise Critic Chris]

45 minutes ago, mj_holiday said:

Great about the zero proof drink offerings.  I didn't see, but do you remember if any of the zero proof and NA liquors  ie Monday, Seedlip

 

The ones they showed and talked about were the Lyre's brand. 

[Cruise Critic Chris]

Today we were in Riga, Latvia. What a great port! I am really enjoying these lesser-known cities that have been added since Russia was dropped from Baltic itineraries. In every port, there are multiple things I want to do. I'll have to come back. 

 

Today I did the Culinary Collection tour where you visit a market and then cook a dish back onboard. I've done these excursions on other lines (Viking, Seabourn, Silversea) and generally enjoy them. This one was notable because the guide assigned people in the group to buy the ingredients which forced us to interact with the vendors. (We were given a cheat sheet of what to ask for and what to pay). 

 

The Riga market is extensive and full of sights and smells (and very clean - no flies like you see in some markets). Loved my time here, both with the guide and free time. 

 

Back in the kitchen, we made Latvian meatballs. We were also fed many items we bought in the market, along with local drinks and beer. The cooking lift was easy and the food was pretty good! 

 

My only sadness is that I had to miss most of Old Town Riga to do the market tour. Riga has over 700 Art Noveau buildings. Gorgeous. 

 

As I told my husband, the Baltics are the new Med (haha!) Weather has been outstanding too. Mostly 70s, blue skies. Beats sweating in Rome. 

 

 

[BWV]

Thank you so much for your posts - we'll be on Marina next July in the Baltic and are deciding which shore excursions to do. Is the old town Riga within walking distance of the port?  Thanks.

 

 

[HiFi43]

We will be on Marina in a few weeks from Oslo to Lisbon (our LA to Tokyo cruise was canceled Monday). Can you tell me the names of the GM, Cruise Director and Food & Beverage Director currently on the Marina? Thank You…

[Cruise Critic Chris]

6 hours ago, BWV said:

Thank you so much for your posts - we'll be on Marina next July in the Baltic and are deciding which shore excursions to do. Is the old town Riga within walking distance of the port?  Thanks.

 

 

 

No but there was a shuttle that went between the ship and Old Town regularly. 

[ChadnKate]

On 8/9/2022 at 12:04 PM, Gee & Gee said:

Hello Chris! I disembarked Marina in CPH the day you boarded. I was just down a few doors, in 11028. Jude was our butler — I can’t tell if that’s him in your photo but he was a very pleasant guy. 
 

Last week we had very good dinners in Red Ginger and Polo Grill. However, we had dreadful food and service in Toscana and the main dining room (just 1 night apiece in those venues). Service in both seemed totally disorganized and hot dishes weren’t even warm. My ‘shrimp cocktail’ in the main dining room were the 3 tiniest, limpest, room temperature shrimp I’ve ever been served. All I’ve heard is that food is top notch on Oceania so we were pretty surprised to have such slow, poor meals. I’m curious to hear if you have similar experiences. We were also unimpressed by the same dry, bland goodies day after day in the floor 11 Executive Lounge. (As you know, right by our room and yours so we kept going back but found it lacking). 
 

We are still considering giving Vista a try next year because it looks lovely. But our 2 cruises prior to this were on Seabourn and we found those to be much better in terms of food and personal attention. I was expecting Oceania to be comparable but it just wasn’t. With the bigwigs and press on your cruise, I will be curious to hear whether Marina steps it up from one week to the next. 

Gee & Gee: a quick question. We will be in 11028 for a month from Miami to Buenos Aires. Is there an electrical plug in the bathroom? 110 or 220? Wife wants to know! I think there may be one used at night for that little square night light. 

Thanks

[ChadnKate]

On 8/9/2022 at 3:15 PM, bbtondo said:

Oh oh!  I'll find out next week!  And yes, I understand that there are worse problems in this world.  🤣

We were on the Sirena for 28 days from May to June. Its Red Ginger substituted cod for sea bass for the first 14 days, then got the sea bass, which we always love. Was told it was a supply-chain issue.

[ChadnKate]

Chris - am wondering if Oceania addressed the precruise book ability of the specialty restaurants. Right now for all 4 of our Vista bookings the Manage Booking section states they will be availability for Polo and Toscana but no mention of Red Ginger or Ember.

Thanks

[mauibabes]

Kate,

it looks like you will get off in BA and we will get on for a trip to Santiago.  
in May we were on Marina and there is a plug in the bathroom but it was used for the night light.  If you are concerned about a hair dryer, I don’t think the wattage will work in the bathroom plug but not positive.  My wife used the hair dryer at the plug by the make up desk in the bedroom. 
we brought along some adapters to plug into plugs by the bed and at the desks so we could plug in lots of electronic devices. 
We will be testing out 10025 when we board. 
Enjoy the cruise. 
Mauibabes

[roberts2005]

Chris

 

Did your guide explain the history of the building the market is in.  If I remember correctly they date back to WWII.

[andrcan]

1 hour ago, roberts2005 said:

Chris

 

Did your guide explain the history of the building the market is in.  If I remember correctly they date back to WWII.

Those actually used to be the German Zeppelin hangars in WWI. 

[LHT28]

1 hour ago, mauibabes said:

there is a plug in the bathroom but it was used for the night light.  If you are concerned about a hair dryer, I don’t think the wattage will work in the bathroom plug but not positive. 

I believe the plug in the bathroom can only be used for  a shaver  or an electric toothbrush  & the nightlight of course

NO hairdryers allowed  there

[Cruise Critic Chris]

6 hours ago, andrcan said:

Those actually used to be the German Zeppelin hangars in WWI. 

 

Yes, the tour went through the history of the market and its significance. I've had good guides on this trip (doesn't always happen as this group knows).