Hambagahle

Gary - I just read your "magnum opus" which made excellent reading!  Thank you so much for the effort and time you put into it.

We have done 3 Oceania cruises and are booked for another 21 April Valetta to ??  (We booked a cruise Valetta to Trieste via Turkey.  Turkey was dropped a month ago.  Today on the O. site the cruise is listed as Valetta to "N/A".  )  Interesting...I have never visited that port!!  It is bizarre to say the least to take us on a mystery tour.   Anyway I shall adopt your attitude and wait...and see!

10 hours ago, jw_406 said:

I get the feeling no type of “complimentary” bag would be your taste. 

Probably true.  I prefer to choose things for myself.  But from others' descriptions it looks as though this one might be useful for grocery shopping.  

6 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

Just an fyi, with a mention of Catalonia:

 

Prostitution in Spain - Wikipedia

 

The big issue there apparently "pimping".

Might be the same here...I have never asked!  I sort of doubt it though (doubt there would be pimps here...not that there are in Spain!!)

Maybe you should come to Switzerland to eat ??

10 minutes ago, GeorginaSpica said:

I thought the same thing but hubby was quite pleased and has been using it quite a bit.  Though where we live, we mostly walk to the stores and it's fairly sturdy for carrying back heavier items for those times when it's a hassle to bring the buggy.

That is certainly an idea for us.  We walk to the supermarket etc but I do use shopping bags in the car for my weekly shop.  (I also have one of those trolley bag things for the market.). Maybe I will just put it into the boot when I get home!!

5 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

Of course, some of us are in G-A cabins, without any butler. We were A3 and B3. And we may prefer to do our own laundry knowing how we want our clothes done. (I find it relaxing on a sea day.) We spent 3 nights in Venice before the cruise and 3 nights in Barcelona after the cruise, so we needed to do laundry early in the 1st cruise and near the end of the 2nd.

It is nice I suppose that O. has the laundries on each floor and that they are free.  I hear on some lines they are not...  We will be in Zürich for a night and then fly to Malta for 3 nights before our cruise so I am planning to send laundry at the hotel in Malta so we can board with at least mostly clean things.  Then we spend 2 nights in Murano afterwards...but no hope there (!) laundry will be carted back on the train with us to Switzerland. But I will get as much as possible done on the ship.   It is always something you have to plan for.  (and I prefer planning excursions and meals to laundry!) 

On 12/2/2023 at 5:05 PM, MEFIowa said:

I absolutely love to check out local grocery stores, esp. the small local ones. We had one a few "streets" down from our BnB in Venice that I used a lot for our 3 nights before the cruise started. And the "hole in the wall family" one in Heraklion was a nice treat. By a couple churches off the beaten path I was looking for. She didn't speak English so she has to hand me the bottles off the shelf behind her and the cash register for me to see the prices on the bottles. Bought the Creten brandy:

 

"Tsikoudia in the eastern part of Crete, is an alcoholic beverage, a fragrant, grape-based pomace brandy of Cretan origin that contains 40% to 65% alcohol by volume.^[1] Tsikoudia is made by distilling of pomace, what remains of grapes pressed in winemaking. The pomace ferments for about six weeks in a tightly sealed barrel, and is then distilled."

 

Though sometimes I do wander into the oddest of places... Wife and I were looking for a church on our map in Barcelona on a Sunday evening. Went a couple blocks west off the beaten baths. Barcelona turned into N. Africa, with Arabic signs, a mosque, women in full black chadors, and more. Then there were the prostitutes near an alley with the lookout in front and the two male guards by the door. We reversed course immediately. (I went back in the afternoon the next day and the woman lookout was still in the same spot. As were the door guards. She didn't like me taking some pictures!)

I don't know if prostitution is legal in Spain - it might be.  it is totally legal here in Switzerland and around Zürich there are a lot of Russian/Eastern European prostitutes (or so I hear!).   We don't see any Chadors or burkas here.  In fact the burka is not legal.  Veils of course are...

2 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

All food, in all the restaurants, is highly Americanized, including Jacques. The food is toned down to meet most senior American tastes. The new Ember makes no claim as being anything but American. That’s why we search out great authentic local fresh cuisine for lunch on port calls. We can always eat Americanized food at home. Others prefer Americanized food all the time. Each to their own.

I disagree.  I am Swiss and live 45 minutes from Chamonix in France, 50 minutes from Evian-les-Bains.  The food I get there AND the local food here in the Suisse Romande (where we speak French) is close to what I remember Jacques being.  I know that my husband and I really enjoyed it.  The only "American" things we are looking forward (a lot!) to eating on board are Eggs Benedict and corned beef hash.  My husband likes hamburgers - I don't much.  We both love lobster and that is a real treat for us (not too many lobsters in our lakes here!!)

Well - we travel with a laundry bag so we don't need another one. I don't do laundry and ironing when I am on holiday - I have enough of that at home.  So everything goes to the butler and he takes care of it.    (And the new bag looks tacky to me!)

On 11/30/2023 at 6:12 PM, jw_406 said:

I just got off of the Riviera on 11/19/23 and received the blue bag — here’s a picture. I really like the bag! One caveat, the snap didn’t work on mine, but the Reception Desk replaced it for me. 

 

If that is what we get it will stay on board when we disembark...

Apples to apples in fact.  I would be horrified to find myself on a ship with 2000+ guests.  My "ideal" size is 750-1200 I suppose.  And I do not think you can compare life on a 2000+ ship to that on a smaller one.

2 hours ago, Harters said:

I had never heard of Jacques Pepin until we took a cruise on Marina in 2017. Thought the food was fine. I suppose its plus point is that it serves the sort of dishes that foreign tourists expect to find on restaurant menus when they visit France  - but rarely will, as French restaurants are generally catering to a French customer base and not stuck with the traditional. I'm looking forward to trying Ember as another restaurant serving "foreign food". 

I live 45 minutes from France (in Switzerland). To me Jacques served pretty good "bistro" food.  And I liked it.  And the restaurants I go to do not cater to tourists.

1 hour ago, pinotlover said:

You are correct! Breakfast not included.

So - if I want a glass of champagne at breakfast - I pay?  Or I don't get?  I think last cruise I took on O. I did ask once and was told bars open at 1100.  Maybe that explains it...

5 hours ago, pinotlover said:

Typically the wine by the glass list includes a CA Chardonnay along with normally a French one ( Macon Village). On occasion the French one is substituted by a South African or Aussie. Unless out of stock, at the moment, an American Chardonnay is almost always available on the by the glass menu.

In my experience there was not always a California Chardonnay but when I asked - I got it !  But (thank you Covid) I have not sailed since 2017.  Cruise in 2020 was cancelled...

On 11/23/2023 at 1:41 PM, Vallesan said:

If you don’t like the offered wine ask for something  you’d prefer. We don’t like  Californinan wines so usually ask for a Spanish Rioja or Chilean or Argentinian wine and it’s never been a problem.

We have done the same on past Oceania cruises - when a California Chardonnay (a particular treat for us) was not on the list we asked for one and got it.  With a smile!

On 11/23/2023 at 11:42 AM, Cjohns16 said:

We are back on Oceania Marina for the 4th time this year. Previously enjoying  O-life flexibility,  now cruising  with Simply  More

On the alcohol,  ie. drinks, they offer Champagne,  a selection of wines and also beers. These are available for lunch and dinner. Not tried so far at breakfast,  may also be possible. The ship charges for drinks in their bars are slightly expensive. A 20% service charge will be added and unfortunately if you are in Spanish,  Brazilian,  Italian,  waters then the ship adds in the local government tax. We spent 11 days on Marina  in Brazilian waters earlier this year and they added a 23% tax. 

On day 2 the Captain greets you with a 2 hour open bar. This includes cocktails but not premium liquor such as single malts. Also as a repeat Oceania  cruiser you will  get another 2 hour open bar from the Oceania  club team, later on in your cruise.

Oceania are generous with allowing passengers to bring on board alcohol to consume in your staterooms. In total , if you like to drink, then the Oceania  Simply  More is fair and a good package.

Finally,  you can upgrade the Simply  More to access the premium  wines and Spirits but the daily rate is expensive,  I think usd 39 per day per person.

 

 

We have upgraded the basic Simply More package to the Premium one and I have our final invoice - $30 pp per day has been added.  We are on a 10 day cruise and the total was $600 pp.  (I think we can drink that and more given the service charges etc added!)

Those planes operate at capacity.  I have been on flights like those.  In Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.  I wouldn't risk it but I do hope if you do all works out well.  Where is the ship stopping next ?

Does anyone have Harry Sommer's email ???

I think what you plan is risky.  Not on the Oceania side but you are flying internationally late on the day you are supposed to board.  If the plane has a mechanical and you can't fly and don't get to BKK till the following day who is going to stop the ship from sailing without you? OR the car that is taking you from Ankor Wat to the airport in Siam Reap breaks down and you miss the plane?

I suppose I have travelled so much internationally (including in SEA) that I am "risk averse" but I would not dream of doing what you want to do.

14 minutes ago, thetravellingta said:

Hello all.

I am yet another cruiser on the nov 29th oceania riviera sailing doing research on what my options are in terms of cancellation etc.

Unlike most, I booked my cruise after the change of itinerary that resulted in the days in greece followed by 9 sea days. I was going to be nearby in rome anyhow finishing up a month long trip a few days before this ship sailed, and me and my fiancee had yet to travel to Greece and were vary interested.

In terms of safety concerns, I was not concerned about going through the suez canal and red sea. There is a clear difference between stopping at a port and going through international waters in terms of safety in the area. I also contacted a family member who works high up in USAID, with specific knowledge of Africa & Middle East. At the time (around oct 24th) they also had no concerns about transiting through the area, which brought peace of mind.

I purchased travel insurance through Oceania (which unfortunately does not have a cancel for any reason clause) and proceeded, with the idea that if things got worse and the state department specifically recommended a level 4 avoid travel to an area the ship was going through, the travel insurance would be usable.

However, the hijacking by Houthi Rebels from Yemen of a car carrier a day ago in the red sea has flipped things around for me.

My current thoughts & knowledge; I am very curious to hear from fellow cruisers going on the same voyage as me on their thoughts:
1) Iran & Iranian backed groups have targeted ships before. A ship by the same Israeli businessman that partially owned the company that owned the car carrier had another ship in 2021 that was blown up off the coast of Oman by suspected Iranian's. Iran has targeted ships off its coast, and its been cargo ships, mostly oil, in response to U.S. sanctions, never cruise ships. 
2) One of the only times a cruise ship has had an attempted hijacking in recent memory, was off the coast of somalia by somali pirates, but the quick thinking of the captain and the faster more maneuverable cruise ship (in comparison to cargo ships) ment that the ship got away. The Houthi situation is different. What U.S. officials have said, is that the rebels came down from a helicopter and took control of the ship that way, which is a completely different situation that the speed of a ship cant due much of anything for. 
3) From looking at cruise mappers, there are some cruise ships that have recently went through this very passage, and have come out unscathed.
4) The Houthi's have stated that any Israeli owned ships are targets. Oceania is not israeli owned per my knowledge, and will fly no israeli flag (however, neither did the car carrier, and it was being managed by a japanese company with no israeli crewmembers onboard). This could in theory give me piece of mind, but that would mean I would trust the Houthi rebels to follow their word, and I most certainly do not. 
5) there are hundreds of cargo ships passing through the same area at this very moment, seemingly without issue, but I dont want to be the random ship chosen by these groups.

...The Hebridean Sky passed through the area on nov 17th, and if anyone per chance knowns anyone on the boat, it would be interesting to know what the line did security wise (of course it went through the area before the car carrier seizure)
 

Why don't you post the question about the Hebridean Sky on the boards for that company?  You are more likely to get an answer...

Personally with the current Oceania situation I smell a rat.  Our cruise is no longer going to Turkey.  The Vista will drop us at Trieste, as scheduled, on May 1 and the board passengers - who are going to Turkey.   I fail to understand this logic nor the reason for it.  If Oceania, in its infinite wisdom, doesn't want us to risk going to Turkey (which BTW was lumped with "Holy Land" ports in Ortega's letter) why is the Vista dropping us off, turning around and then going to Turkey.  Something else is afoot...the rat.  But what sort of rat ??

21 minutes ago, Vallesan said:

No we had a place in a Valle San Lorenzo … hence the name!

Another place entirely!!  Thanks for the explanation though.

We have the same situation but for a 24 April cruise which ought to have been Turkey and Greece.  Now - no Turkey.   And also no news at all about changes to the excursions, refunds, new ones etc.   So we are waiting...  (and we switched to SimplyMore too!)

I thought about that as well - we are obviously in the same boat! -   but I seem to remember from the past that the cruise lines won't reduce existing booking fare just because they have a promotion.

I have been in touch with my TA in Texas.  She says that everything at Oceania is frantic with loads of changed itineraries and ports, tours etc.  She expects (read "hopes") that I will hear something in early December.

Right now, on the SimplyMore programme, I have $800 in excursion credits for our suite (2p) and have used some for the Delos Excursion from Mykonos.  That must still be happening though the site shows it on the wrong day.

I also have a cooking class booked on 27 April.  Which is now a sea day.  Originally it was supposed to be on 28 April I think.  But it hasn't been changed.   I suppose they will make all the changes at once though.

What a mess!  And so unnecessary...

4 hours ago, Vallesan said:

We were in Kusadasi in September but there had been rain and Ephesus was deemed unsafe because of the road surfaces. So you can never be sure of visiting certain places even if the ship does dock! Land trip might be surer.

Very likely and perhaps we will do that...  however I have a question for you.  Your screen name has a familiar "ring" to me because I am a Valaisanne.   Any possible connection ?

We are sailing on Vista from Malta to Trieste 21 April 2024.  2 weeks ago Oceania cancelled our two ports in Turkey and added ports in Greece and Montenegro.  But so far they have not indicated what excursions will be available and when I go to "Manage my Booking" I cannot book them there either.  My record shows I have one booked (but with the itin. change it is now on the wrong day!).  However it also shows I have no SM credit left.  Which is clearly an error.    

So my question - if you are sailing in the Med. in late March/early April and have had ports in Turkey or elsewhere cancelled have you had your account updated and can you now book excursions?  I am just trying to get a fix on the timeline involved!  Thank you very much!