This was the maiden voyage for this crew following the long Covid-induced hiatus and it was clear to us that this ship and crew was not ready. BIg things and small were problematic.

We can start with our return flights which were changed without consultation or notification. I discovered the change when I reviewed the embarkation package. Then Oceania insisted that it was a schedule change made by the airline, a blatant lie as the original flights were still scheduled and after a week of back and forth, our travel agent was able to get us rebooked on the original flights.

Then there was the mask mandate implemented 1 week prior to embarkation. I fully understand that Covid is a fluid situation, but it seems unfair that Oceania can change the rules while we had no opportunity to change our plans except to not show up and lose our money. To add insult to injury, the crew didn't enforce the mandate putting us all at risk AND THERE WERE COVID CASES ON BOARD. I brought the matter to management and customer relations, but never got a satisfactory response and the mandate was never fully enforced despite proclamations from the CEO that there was a zero-tolerance policy for non-compliance. The General Manager actually said to me "We are not the mask police." Under these circumstances, he and the crew most certainly were and their lack of concern for their policy and our safety was a flashing red light. Read more