Michaelsbuddy

We board sirena next week August 19. Barcelona to Rome. I was surprised to read that due to bad weather you could not dock in St Tropez or Monaco. Both ports are on our itinerary. Were the seas rough ? Did you stay overnight at the one port ?

I'm hoping some of the issues who wrote about are resolved. Still looking forward to a beautiful vacation

Cindy

I am on Sirena for the next 9 days if anyone has any questions

Let us know how she is. Cruising Barcelona to Rome August19

Sailing on her next week, so will let you know my opinion when we come back

Let us know how your cruise was !!

Thanks you for your response. Yes I was referring to terrace cafe or waves not MDR or Tuscan grill or red ginger. Those I know would require pants for men

Looking forward to our trip !!

Cindy :):)

Thank you. Yes first cruise ever. We are travelong with our 17 year old son so needed the extra space

:):)

Hi. Will be on Sirena August 19-29 barcelona to rome

Are nicer shorts with dress /polo shirts ok for men / 17 year olds to wear to terrace cafe for dinner ?

Thanks

Cindy

We will be on sirena in August Barcelona to Rome. How was the cruise and how is the ship? This is our first cruise. We are in a PH 3

Thanks so much

Cindy

Didn't do O excursions in Valencia, but did take public bus (or cab is possible) to Arts and Sciences complex not too terribly far from port. If you're a photographer, you'll love it.

This will be our first real cruise. We are on Sirena saints and Stars Barcelona to Rome Aug 19-29 2016. Have you done excursions with O? I'm liking the Valencia one which goes to old town and the aquarium. We have 4 free excursions with O life so might as well use them.

:)

any favorites in Luca? Have a private tour arranged...but would love some suggestions.

Thanks,

Hi. Check out this website regarding Lucca.

Has anyone done Oceania shore excursions in Valencia ?

http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/allthingstuscany/aroundtuscany/autumn-day-trip-to-lucca/

It is my understanding the O life benefit must be used on standard tours, you don't get a partial credit toward upgrading to exclusive or choice excursions.

Very rarely do we book cruise line excursions and I've never done one with Oceania. Their excursions are laughingly overpriced. Generally a ship excursion is a bus ride to somewhere and you may not care for the time allocation.

You can do better on your own or with a private guide. Look for guided walking tours in your ports. Research each port for what interest you, often you can DIY. We think half the fun is planning what to see and do.

Get involved in your roll call, see if anyone has offered private tours to share. Or set up your own, CC and trip advisor are great sources for private guides and DIY information.

 

You made a great choice, you will love Oceania.

Your cruise will be wonderful.

Thank you so much. not sure to do with the included excursions. Bus ride maybe useful I guess Have to so my research. Lots of reading. Good thing I have 11 months

my two cents - if you are happy to stay in Marseilles and haven't been there before - there is lots to see. Contact Marseilles greeters. They don't give a final confirmation until a few weeks out but we did it and it was fanstastic. We probably lucked out. But we left a huge tip and donation to the foundation.

 

Their tours are free. They work on donations to the foundation and tips.

 

We say everything in Marseilles, went on buses, went to intimate neighbourhoods after the key sights and then a lovely typical café (very small) where everyone ate. Food was fantastic. Day was a dream!

Thank you so much for this info. Very helpful

All the PH's are the same size

the designation PH3 PH 2 PH 1 is the location & price

GTY designation is you will get a PH cabin someplace on the ship

 

You may get lucky |& get an upsel offer to a VS or OS but not likely :D

 

I would look at the deck plans & choose a cabin that has room for 3

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/ships/sirena/deck-plans/

 

Look at the cabins with ** in the box

 

YMMV

Yes I saw the plans and the differences are location. As long as GTY means a penthouse I'm good. Am upsell would be icing on the cake but not counting on it

Also is it worth the extra $$ to do Oceania exclusive or Oceania choice excursion ?

The Sirena is pretty small and there are 3 of us so there are t too many cabin choices. I think for PH3 only 2 cabins do TA said we would likely be bumped up to PH2 or PH1 Just as long as I'm not downgraded , we will be fine with whatever cabin choice. GTY does mean that cabin level correct ?

Thanks for the feedback so far. I've looked on CC port of call section. I will check out the tom Google site as well as the Rick Steve book

Any more suggestions ?? Kerp adding my friends

Thanks for all the replies. We are currently rebooked on Sirena Barcelona to Rome 10 nights aug 19-29

An Internet TA was able to knock $2k off the price. Since newbies at this , just unsure of how this GTY room

oH3 on Sirena works ?

Also. Amy comments regarding Oceania excursions world be appreciated ?

Am I better off on my own ?

I get 4 free excursions via O life

Should excursions be booked in advance or on board?

Yes it is port port port unless of course for Some reason we can't get into one of them

Barcelona

Ibizia

Micora

Valencia

Marseille

Monaco

La Speza

Livorno

Port San stefano

Rome

Ok so I just rebooked sirena Barcelona to Rome august 19 2016. Love the itinerary. We are excited. First real cruise for us. My son not a typical teen. Prefers adult crowd and company. I think Oceania is perfect for us. Although I wanted to sail Rivera , her sailings did not fit our schedule for 2016. Maybe next time around

do you mean July 2 Barcelona to Rome on Windstar?. August 19 Serena my favorite trip however out of my price range for the three of us. We would need a penthouse suite and price on the trip 18,000

leaning towards Windstar July 2 Barcelona to Rome sailing on Seabreeze

After our last two Windstar cruises (the last one on Star Pride - one of the Seabourn ships) we will now cruise only on Oceania. I won't use this forum to talk about Windstar, but it's just not up the standard of Oceania anymore. I think a young person would find the "new" ships very boring despite the sports platform (see my review in the Windstar section for specifics).

 

For a young history buff, Rome and Athens are the top of the list - preferably an itinerary that begins in one and ends in the other, since neither can really be seen in a one-day port stop.

Hi. Still trying to decide. Was looking for Barcelona to rome trip but unfortunately only Oceania trip is June 2 and my 16 year old still in school. Windstar has the poets of call and sail dates that fit but I don't want to be disappointed

I guess I should have clarified. My son is 16 but has asperger so perfers company of adults. He is NOT a typical teen. He perfers to be on his own Or with us. He would never do clubs or programs on a boat. Last year we took him on a small tour of Italy with 11 people and he was the only teen. He had a fabulous time and that trip even included a wine tasting lunch at a castle in Tuscany. we are really more destination travelers rather then cruisers hence the only reason we've only been on one short cruise in 2008. We were looking to explore different Mediterranean ports and looking for a higher end cruise without thousands on board. We are deciding between Oceana and Windstar. I had a booking in Sirena In a penthouse suite for the Saints and stars tour August 19, 2016 but looking for something less expensive. We are now considering some seven-day Mediterranean cruises on the Riviera next summer

I'm trying to decide between Rivera or the new R class sirena for 2016. Sirena has the itinery we want but also much more $$$$$. We are three traveleing with our 16 year old son. We are fairly new cruisers. Have only been on the Disney Dream jn 2008?

Any preference?

Concern is state room size on the R ships

Thank you for the information. We have been to Rome , Venice , and Florence

My son wants to go to Barcelona so we thought saints and stars Oceania aug 2016 a perfect trip for us. Thank you for the feedback everyone !!

Thank you for your reply. We are still considering all 3 lines. I like the oceania itinerary. The one most interestingis next year 2016 on new Oceania Sirenia August 19 2016 Barcelona to Rome. We have friends however who have been on windstar and loved it.

Hi. No. My son prefers the company of adults over peers And is a total history buff. I was just trying to get a feel for which cruise line might be most appropriate for us.: Oceania , Windstar or Azamara.

Hello. We have only been on Disney wonder in 2008. We are new to crusiing but looking to celebrate our sons high school graduation in 2017. Ports of call and private excursions most important to us. We are not big drinkers. I like the azamara longer times in port but so far only one mediaterrean cruise in 2017 appeals to us. Any insight ?

Thanks so much

Cindy