Day 27 Thursday April 2nd (93 days to go) — A sea day on our way to Fiji. It started pretty much like what our sea days have become, waking up late, missing breakfast and then grabbing lunch before deciding what we will do with the rest of the day.
Right before going to lunch, we received notice of a meeting for all Around the World passengers at 1pm. The notification did not provide the reason for the quickly called meeting. So, after a quick lunch we filed into the Vista Lounge with the other ATW passengers. The captain, general manager and cruise director walked in, all three with a gloomy look on their faces, which raised the passenger anxiety in the lounge. The meeting started with the cruise director announcing this was not going to turn into a complaint session, which is fine although this is the second time he has done this in a week and personally at my age, I am getting tired of the lecture. The captain then spoke letting us know they were here to provide additional bad news. You can feel the air leave the lounge as passengers sunk in their seats. He then went through the reasons for the itinerary changes because of the Middle East issues and passenger safety was his number one concern and the company made these decisions, and he could not do anything differently. So, we sat there wondering what was to come as his demeanor was down and I think we were all anticipating the worst, whatever that might be.
The general manager then spoke and said there had been a meeting in the past few days with some passengers to discuss the itinerary changes. The passengers (he did not identify them or how they were selected for the meeting) had made suggestions for the changed itinerary. He had sent the suggestions to The Oceania Miami office, and all the suggestions had been denied. But the Oceania office was kind enough to offer a second offer. You can disembark the ship in Singapore and rejoin the ship in Southampton, UK. Like I mentioned in a Facebook comment it came across as stay on the ship and STFU or get off the ship. Those were your two options. The meeting continued with passengers asking softball size questions and everyone was nice and peachy until one gentleman decided enough of the softball questions and began to ask tougher questions. Other passengers began hissing and booing the passenger asking the questions. At this point the meeting was called off.
Really no different news from what we knew before other than the Oceania office is aware that passengers were complaining. Not complaining about having to change an itinerary but not taking into account an itinerary that passengers were in favor of. My best guess is that 95% of the passengers would rather skip the west coast of Africa and proceed directly from Cape Town to the western side of Europe as originally planned. I am at sea, so I am not aware if the war in the Middle East moved to the west coast of Europe. We will see in the coming weeks how many passengers will take the Oceania offer and disembark in Singapore. My last comments about this are: EVERYONE knew since last summer we were not going through the Suez Canal and everyone that boarded the ship for The World Cruise understood this. The problem I have is that Oceania should have been proactive and surveyed ATW passengers last summer with alternative itineraries and then go with the itinerary the majority of passengers wanted. My second comment is that something like this happens and look, this cruise is not cheap. I would think that Oceania would fly a couple of executives to Sydney to board the ship and have meetings with passengers to fully discuss this situation. Regardless I am on an Around the World cruise and I will enjoy myself despite Oceania corporate trying to force me to do otherwise.
The Currents for the sea day
In the afternoon we attended a presentation by James Grant-Peterkin on The Mutiny on the Bounty. We really enjoyed his lecture as he framed and covered it perfectly. It was interesting to learn exactly what happened before, during and after the mutiny. I have never seen any of the three movies made covering this story and now I am not sure if I want to see the movie as his presentation will be better than any movie. The presentation was perfectly timed for the meeting that was held just two hours before…laughing
In the evening we attended an Oceania Club function with Kevin and Holly Guidry of Houma along with David and Marta. Kevin and Holly had dinner reservations at Jacques, so we ate in The Grand Dining Room with David and Marta. I am laughing as I have a few photos from dinner although I know that I missed some of the meal in my photos.
Chicken truffle pastry (Jackie’s appetizer)
Lane’s appetizer was a lobster and scallops dish
Lane also had a sweet corn soup
For our entrees Jackie had dover sole, and I had a tenderloin (I forgot to take the pictures, but both looked good). My tenderloin was cool and is the first time this has happened on the cruise where the food temperature was really off.
Jackie’s dessert
Lane had butternut souffle. Think I am addicted to the souffle now as it is available every night with a different selection.
Tomorrow is Good Friday and we are in Fiji, so another country coming off the board.
2 thoughts on “Day 27 April 2 – At Sea”
Thanks for posting the letter. Interesting that “some passengers” were given the opportunity to provide input, but not surprising Oceania had their own ideas. I don’t really get the “disembark the ship in Singapore and rejoin the ship in Southampton, UK” option. Where do you ‘hang out’ for 48 days and you have to incur the additional cost for new accommodations/food/excursions, plus last minute flights!!! The FCC doesn’t help you now. And nothing like a last minute scramble to plan 7 weeks off the ship while you’re on the WC. I’d be surprised if many people choose that option.
For the 48 days I would think most people would return home although one lady asked a question during the meeting that was thought provoking. You can use the FCC and book another cruise during the 48 days to see locations that you want to see. She mentioned doing Europe during these 48 days although I am not sure if Oceania has any European itineraries during this time period. I think when someone sits down and calculates the cost of flying home (at last minute) or elsewhere, along with the cost of flying to London it is best to stay on the Vista and make the most of it. Our FCC is in effect now so we can use it to book cruises (have to book by March 25, 2027) and have until March 25, 2029 to take the cruise.