Tsunami74

1 hour ago, Pcardad said:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/second-passport-book.html

 

This is 3-5 weeks  We have only 3 between trips

I wish some one, our TA or cruise line, would have warned us to count blank pages. We know to have the 6 months post trip validity, but no one ever mentioned blank pages until I mentioned to TA my book is getting full.

All opinions are welcome

But still trying to find an expedited service!

My TA does not know any

How??

Any recommendations for expedited service?

The passport office just refers you to the required blank pages per country chart.

For this cruise it would be 11!

Soooo still looking for recommendations for expedited passport services

3 hours ago, sunlover12 said:

3 pages is most likely enough for your upcoming cruise so I wouldn't worry about it yet. However you should get a new passport when you return home. It shouldn't matter if they're not consecutive blank pages.

 

If the current expiration date is more than a year away, you cannot renew. I am fairly certain of that. The expiration date has to be within a year in order to renew. Depending on when your passport expires,  the passport office would issue a new passport with the same expiration date.

 

I would contact the passport office for a clear explanation rather than relying on what your TA or Oceania says.

We are very careful to have 6 months + on our passports.

However, we did not keep track of blank pages.

Going on a trans Atlantic and only have 3 and 5 blanks.

Cruise line and TA recommend renewing early, but we have other travel in between with only 2 -3 weeks in between.

Has anyone used Fed Ex rush/my/passport.

We do not have many expediting options here.

We are very careful to have 6 months + on our passports.

However, we did not keep track of blank pages.

Going on a trans Atlantic and only have 3 and 5 blanks.

Cruise line and TA recommend renewing early, but we have other travel in between with only 2 -3 weeks in between.

Has anyone used Fed Ex rush/my/passport.

We do not have many expediting options here.

Has anybody used Fed Ex rush/my/passport?

A related question.

Since we will be using our passports (to Mexico) before the cruise, has anyone used the postee note on the blank page to ask them to not use it?

Would hate for an agent to randomly pick a totally blank page and use it up. We have plenty of pages with one little stamp so there is plenty of room for more stamp marks.  

Does anyone have any experience in wearing out passport pages before due for renewal?

We are on trans Atlantic on Riviera in March.

Our passports are down to about 3 blank pages each, and some of pages are not consecutive.

Our TA contacted Oceania but did not get concrete answers.

Unfortunately, we are traveling in February/early March so need the passports.

Hate to pay for a rush renewal job  (which may not work) since after the trans Atlantic cruise we have lots of time to renew.

Why do you say this "shepherd really"   Port Out/ Starboard Home?

Thanks for the info

We are taking our first trans Atlantic cruise on the Riviera in late March. Miami to Madiera, Portugal

For anyone who has crossed the Atlantic, what should we expect temperature wise?

If we would want to walk the deck, would we need winter coats?  I have no idea what temps we should expect! ( And no city site to google for weather.)

We prefer Regent if we are going from USA to asia/australia.  The business class up grade for Oceania is much more. (included on Regent)

In  many other areas, such as South America, Regent's included (I do not like "free") shore excursions are a good value compared to the limited Oceania.

For other cruises, such as Caribbean,  all things considered, Oceania food is better.  Regent food is very good.  No complaints.

However, several meals at Oceania are MEMORABLE.  The sea bass at Red Ginger. The scallops gnocchi  at Jacques.  The pea vichyssoise at Jacques (where i first understood "depth of flavor") make us reconsidering Oceania.

And Cindivan, the $5000  difference between Oceania and Regent is more than made up by flying business vs. coach.

Certainly how you would want to do that from NC!

Agree that they are pretty much twin ships.

What we did find different is the spa hot tub area.  On Marina it was two traditional smallish hot tubs.  On Riviera, it is one bigger hot tub with really nice water massage spouts that massage your neck or shoulders.  Therefore, all things consider if itineraries are comparable. would choose Riviera.

Thank you eroller.

The pics of 860 are especially meaningful since that is our cabin on our next two Regent cruises. October 2023 to Japan and January 2024 Sydney to Singapore.

Just happened to get assigned same cabin both times.  We always request this deck because we like to use the stairs, and deck 8 is centrally located

When we did it in March you had to upload a photograph.

There maybe better ways, but we took one on cell phone, sent to ourself by email, downloaded to computer. (I do not like to try to fill out forms directly from phone)

We agree that 1.5 hrs. is not enough layover at Heathrow.  We have recently twice traveled through it, and most of the people with us said they would do anything to not go through London again. 

On our last trip (in May) we literally had TWO different bus rides, a very packed train and multiple long escalator rides to get to next flight.  Running, being business - so first off flight, it took our whole 1 hr 40 minute layover and barely made it. 

Although we like the general the Oceania experience, we have been avoiding due to frustrations with wifi. (Have been using Viking or regent)

We would like to book on Oceania again.

Since covid shut down, had the wifi improved any????

More than one device at a time??

We were recently on Splendor, and the laundry rooms were open.  You got the detergent (supplied) separately and added.  Therefore, you could add your own detergent.

With the Oceania policy that I mentioned at the start of this, I never saw anyone expressing upset about their belongings being moved to "the table".  They had two warning notes. And no passenger touched their stuff, only crew.

With as much stuff that was on the table off/on during the day, it must have been a fairly frequent occurance.

With that said, I think 1/2 hour is a little short. Giving people an hour would not be unreasonable.  My concern is with people who leave a bag or book unattended for HOURS and HOURS - just about all morning or all day.

We were on the March 7-17 Splendor cruise. We really enjoyed the ship, food, service. Top notch!

However, after the second day, we gave up on acquiring a deck lounge chair in the shade.

We dined with a woman who said she went out at 6:05 A.M. and got the last spot.  An exercise I would rather not partake in.

On our walks around the pool deck and 12th deck, we found that much of the time the only thing occupying the lounge chair was a book or bag.

 Obviously more shaded chairs are needed, but would be difficult for the ship to provide.

Just before co-vid shut down cruising, at the end of February, 2020, we were on Oceania Riviera.  They had a method in which the crew checked the loungers on the hour and 1/2 hour. If no human was there, they left a note reminding them of not leaving unoccupied for what ever the rule was - I do not remember 1/2-1 hour? 

The next 1/2 hour, if still not occupied, another note was left stating that belongings would be removed the next time.

They had a table that they put the belongings on with a sign saying they were removed by the staff.  This table had various amounts of stuff on it that changed during the day so it was evident that the staff was doing what they said they would.

This made finding a shaded spot not too difficult but not guaranteed.  

I think if people felt they had a decent chance of getting a spot, they would not be so inclined to be a "chair hog" in the first place.

Maybe Regent should look into this procedure.  It seemed to make a more pleasant pool area experience!  (although I have no idea if Oceania is still doing this )

Thank you!

We will be on the Splendor on Monday with a few sea days, and my husband will appreciate having the organized bridge available.  

My husband used to enjoy playing bridge on sea days. Hopefully, we are sailing soon.  Does anyone know if it is currently offered?