2022-07-04 11:15:11

An absorbing cruise To Canada in which we experienced the tail of a hurricane. The weather damage ashore resulted in changes in ports. All the disruption was managed well with good communication throughout. Replacement ports were well chosen and we received great welcomes. The need for some additional sea days was also well handled as was the COVID protection requirements necessary for a longer cruise and Canadian Authorities. The colours of Fall and scenic landscape all added to making it a successful cruise.

Oceania is a customer focussed company, the paperwork we received before our cruise was very clear as to what we needed to do, embarking was easy especially with our preprinted proofs of vaccination, Spanish health form and negative Covid test. Our main gripe (which is very unusual for Oceania) was in the Grand Dining Room. My wife and I prefer the buffet, however on our 14 night cruise we visited the Grand Dining room four times, only once did we get the meal that we ordered, one of us was always waiting for something missing or for a change due to the wrong meal. The issue seemed to be the use of electronic devices to communicate with the kitchen and a combination of a lack of staff with a lack of suitably experienced staff. We are back on Sirena in September and really are looking forward to an improvement. This was our 20th cruise with Oceania and have never experienced dissatisfaction as this before.

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An autumn Danube river cruise was a tempting idea, so we chose and booked an AMA waterways river cruise on AMA Verde, especially when we could fly from a regional airport to join this charming ship. We had to get the inevitable tests at a local pharmacy , wear masks for the journey , and do the extra health questionnaire paperwork , but small prices for the joy of being back on water. The flights were painless, as were the transfers to join the ship. Our vaccination records were checked at several points. We saw nobody without masks at airports , and it was clear that Europeans took travelling safely very seriously. We happily joined the ship at Linz, and noticed that several other river ships were lit up, and had guests. We were welcomed aboard Verde with a pleasant sparkling wine and plates of canapés. Formalities were few, and we were directed to our cabin. To our surprise our chosen cabin was unavailable and we were shown to one on a higher deck, with a huge French window. The cabin was a marvel of planning, the bed comfortable , with cosy bedding, two chairs by the window for watching the river flow by, a well planned bathroom and plenty of storage space. We decided to explore the ship, discovering a beautiful sun deck with shaded area and two small pools, one deep for diving tuition, a busy bar, and stairs leading to a higher area overlooking the river, plenty of comfortable loungers ,for which a crew member would bring beautiful thick blankets. The interior spaces were magnificent, very classical in style with galleried tiers, curved staircases and charming decor. Tables were assigned as guests entered the dining area, busy waiters bustling around. Daily menus were varied and excellent; dining far exceeded our expectations, meals beautifully prepared and presented, and accompanied by quality wines , generously poured. Low key evening entertainment was in the comfortable lounge , with an excellent pianist who played wonderful classical and popular selections, and a talented duo who sang popular show music. The bar was kept busy serving all evening, and guests helped themselves to hot drinks from a high tech machine tucked in one corner. After busy days touring and sightseeing, most guests retired fairly early and the ship moored for the night. Daily tours departed through the days that followed, when the ship moored in the pretty towns of the region interspersed between sailing along the busy river and navigating the complicated Danube locks . There was always so much to see along the banks of the river, so much to watch as the ship sailed upstream , so many choices of places to visit and activities to sample at the daily moorings. We couldn’t have chosen a better river to sail in late autumn, with beautiful autumnal colours, fascinating river life, all on a pretty, welcoming, ship.