steamboats

10% is the reduced VAT rate of Spain which applies to beverages or food. For other items like from the shops the rate is 21%. This applies to the whole cruise when it starts in a Spanish port and does not have a non EU port on the itinerary (then it´s just for the Spanish ports). It´s the same for cruises starting in Italy with no non EU port. This is not a new thing but up for years now. While all other cruise line do not charge the VAT on a single beverage when you have bought a package NCL does charge it on every single beverage even when you have a package. And yes, NCL is doing this for years too. So nothing new... steamboats

None of the Oceania ships is allowed to sail into Venice port. Anyway the embarkation will be at Stazione Marittima and you will be bussed to the ship in the industrial port area (which is Fusina). There there is no cruise ship terminal. Therefore the embarkation process is done at the Stazione Marittima. MSC is doing the same. steamboats

We had a string quartet on Mariner last year too. As this Sunday brunch was really extraordinary we did ask and were told it´s only on 14 nights or longer cruises and only on Sundays which are sea days. BTW, the "electronic thermometer" mentioned is the air condition and no thermometer (we had issues as it first didn´t work, then it worked full power, then it didn´t work... and finally they got it repaired). steamboats

Yes, we were told that they wanted to give a faster option but still three or more courses. So an average dinner at Ember should be app. 90 min. It´s more a casual dining option and can be also family style dining with sharing plates. But I think that many people still think it´s a replacement for Jaques and expect a fine dining option with a nice long dinner. steamboats

We had a forward cabin... therefore I never used the aft elevator and didn´t see that it doesn´t stop on deck 5. But actually when you check the deck plans... the elevator/stairs would end up in the galley on deck 5. So there is no place to go there for passengers. Some collegues had the large balcony and asked for loungers and were told the same. No loungers, everyone gets the same furniture. They still need to communicate that Ember is ment as a "fast dining" option. steamboats

Comparing my Vista photos with my Marina photos, yes there are two rows in the shade underneath deck 14 on Marina and - I´d say - one and half rows in the sun (half because the first row next to the pool is not a full row). On the Vista there is one row in the shade underneath deck 14 but also those "cabana" type seating along the windows. So actually it´s two rows there. The "one and half rows" in the sun next to the pool are "missing". But Vista has less passengers than Marina/Riviera and it didn´t feel crowded. There´s still plenty of space on deck 14. steamboats

Thanks, we´re doing fine! I´m on frequently but not mainly here on the Oceania board. steamboats

No walk-in closet in Veranda cabins. The PH has "sort of a" walk-in closet. It´s not a separate room with a door but a nice you can walk in and have a closet with doors on both sides. Photos can be seen here. And a Concierge Level Veranda with lots of details here. steamboats

You can see my photos here. TechnoGym is the brand for the fitness equipment onboard. steamboats

No, there is no Patio or Sanctuary area on Vista. On Vista there´s the Waves Grill and the Aquamar Kitchen covering this space. You can see my deck by deck photos here. steamboats

The stops at Bramante/Molo del Bicchiere are for disembarking/embarking passengers only as there is a parking lot there. It´s not served on a regular basis (believe me, I stood there for half an hour an no bus did stop in the afternoon). The other bus "ordinary service" is usually for ferry passengers only. And when you made it to the Fortezza already the walk to the cruise terminals (10 to 13) is not that far anymore. It doesn´t make sense to take the bus from there to Largo della Pace and then the bus goes the same route all the way back. It only makes sense when your ship is at 25. It´s a 20 min walk from the train station to Largo della Pace through the city. And there is still a public bus running there. steamboats

It depends... on the MSC Grandiosa we had an outside and some even had an inside. steamboats

Unfortunately most menus did not have any pricing due to the special event. Only bottles were priced. Just the Maritinis had prices on the menu. steamboats

I think the sign on the deckplan is just a sign but does not show the real location of the connecting door. You never have to move any furniture for the connecting door. It´s always accessible. Here you can see a connecting door in 7066 (the view from the French Balcony into the cabin on the left side after the TV and paintings on the wall). steamboats

Yes, there are cabins to the front and aft which have larger balconies than those cabins in the middle. Anyway, although there is enough space for a lounger you will only find a chair and table on those balconies. Those larger balconies are not limited to deck 9. You can see the size of the balcony here. Although 9130 is a Concierge Solo Stateroom the balcony has the same depth as the regular cabins. You can see only one chair as it´s a solo cabin. steamboats

You may be the first paying passenger in your cabin 😉 - but as there is the christening cruise starting on June 6th in Amsterdam til either June 9th or 10th there might have been someone in your cabin already. steamboats

BTW in the meantime the cruise out of Kiel on June 10th isn´t the first bookable cruise anymore. Now you can book a 2-nighter out of Copenhagen starting June 9th to Kiel and back to Copenhagen. MSC cancelled the 1-nighter from Kiel to Kopenhagen and offered all passengers the 2-nighter out of Copenhagen. steamboats.

Although the promende on deck 6 is accessible on both sides (but no walk around the ship) it is basically for accessing the life boats. It´s too narrow for seating and there are only some spots which aren´t blocked by the life boats. So the answer is no, no seating on deck 6. The Aquamar Spa Terrace is accessible for Concierge Level and up. A daily pass is available for 25 USD. The golf putting green is above the Aquamar Spa Terrace and forward. No seating in that area but a level below on deck 15 facing the pool. There´s an open aft area on the aft sports deck but no seating there either. There you will find the running track, bocce, shuffleboard. The Terrace Café has an aft outdoor area as well. But anyway I think there is plenty of outdoor space on the pool deck and on deck 14 above the pool deck with lot´s of loungers. steamboats

Unfortunately they only opened up an Oceania Suite and a Penthouse Suite for viewing. No other suite categories were open for viewing. steamboats

I thought both the 18under and 65plus were EU citizens only. At least this was the fact for minors under 18 as I did have to provide an EU ID for my daughter back then. steamboats

Starting today the entries are covering the cruise itself... including all food photos ;-). steamboats

@DrKoob, there are three drawers in both nightstands plus the very big ones in the desk (two big ones, one smaller one and one smaller one underneath the desk itself). And there are two shelves in the corner cabinet over the safe. Plus there´s a big drawer underneath the sink. And there´s the corner cabinet in the bathroom with three drawers and three shelves. Compared to other ships I´ve been on recently this is a lot of storing space - especially compared to the Norwegian Prima (as it´s the same "family" although not the same ship size and level of luxury). Todays entry will be the other cabin categories we were allowed to visit. Sorry, the photos are not that good. We had to rush through and make space for others who wanted to see the cabins. steamboats

Here's the direct link to the cabin details. steamboats

I was really surprised by the storing space. Almost 30 hangers in the wardrobe and lots of long hanging space (which I appreciate for my dresses). There´s another bar which can be folded down so you can transform half of the wardrobe to two bars with shirt length hanging space. Plus there are a lot of drawers and more. steamboats

Yes, there´s no card room anymore. The library is still a library. I think they mentioned that the new LYNC Digital Center can be used for board / card games. This consists of 3 rooms which can partly combined as conference rooms too. steamboats