Tranquility Base

Great; thanks ORV for the quick response.

Query re making an online booking with "invite guest" option. Both will be using 1 of our allocated reservations, same cabin categories, I have their booking number. When doing this online do we select private or share and then add in their details ? If selecting share, is there anyway to request a table of 4 for that booking ?

On the Promenade, do they still have the full length loungers with padding ? Any issues with swapping out items in your minibar with items you prefer ? Thanks.

AEDT ? Doesn't DT finish on the 2nd ?

You are currently cruising Japan & South Korea I guess. Can you share with us the revised timings in a couple of the ports which affected you most please. Thanks.

We were on another cruiseline about 6 months ago. We were docked for the day at a very nice city for exploring. We ended up docked there for 2 overnights due to a storm between us and our next 3 ports. We received: 1. A detailed letter explaining the situation when we returned to the ship on the 1st day; 2. A detailed letter with a further update when we returned to the ship on the 2nd day. 3. The revised itinerary required missing 2 of the next 3 ports.......totally understandable and accepted. 4. An FCC of 15 % of the fare paid; 5. $100 OBC. We received excellent communications from senior staff onboard. Even though the situation was obviously outside their control we received a generous goodwill gesture. It helped being docked at a nice port, but I am sure the reason we heard only disappointment and NOT complaints and grizzles was down to the communication and the goodwill measures.

Is it the description of the overland tour you want ? Both Insignia & Nautica are scheduled to visit in May. The descriptions are showing on their overland section on the website.

To entice the passenger back for a future cruise despite their previous disruption. This is not my idea, it was happening just 3 months ago on a mainstream line. So I guess they did their sums. Although, I don't know whether that is still their policy. Plus, if it helped motivate some passengers to accept isolation then that would enhance the onboard experience of both the other passengers and the crew.

Sure......but cruiselines need to do their bit as well. Mandatory no charge testing when the number of cases reach certain criteria; Awarding a future cruise credit for days spent onboard in isolation; Meals delivered from the main dining room menu, not just room service menu. These measures will assist in passenger compliance.

Thanks for the info. In my opinion, and in my experience on another line, there should not be a charge for Covid testing onboard. This may help reduce the spread onboard.

Was there any cost to the passenger for any Covid testing done onboard ?

Rome - Trieste ? Are you sure A4 doesn't have cabin availability ?

Are you looking at the 20 day ? Would they permit you book both 10 day segments ? Yes, higher cost, but if you can get the cabin(s) you wish ??? Plus I think the 2nd segment still has O life ultimate attached to it. So, overall it may work; if permitted to book.

I would be OK with Oceania saving some money by not mailing documents. Perhaps they could then redirect those savings into reinstating some of the hours lost whilst docked in port. Being able to print off luggage tags online would be fine with me.

Back onto the question asked by the OP. Although it's been about 5 years since I visited those ports in Vietnam, I wouldn't expect there to be many tour operators just waiting at wharf 'on spec'. Taxis perhaps, IF you know want you want to do. With the shortish time ashore at those ports (especially Nha Trang being a tender) being organised beforehand would be my recommendation. Having said that, Nha Trang does have a nice beach and plenty of restaurants a few blocks back. It's a short taxi ride (6km) into town if you are doing DIY there.

Regarding your stops in Vietnam. Your time in the ports are not lengthy.....especially when you take into account ship's clearance procedure and all aboard times. Therefore, if it were me, apart from 1 exception (arrival day in Saigon) I would organise tours before hand. Whether they be ship's tours or private. Two additional points. 1. Da Nang. Check that you are actually docking at Da Nang and not Chan May which is to the North. If Da Nang you are closer to Hoi An (a great tour destination). If Chan May you are closer to Hue. 2. Saigon. I would do a ship's tour on the last day due to the early all aboard time. Hopefully you MAY be docked 'downtown'. Nah Rong is the closest to town. If so, it's a great opportunity to explore on foot on day one, without time pressures if you are out late.

There is a current rollcall for Auckland - Los Angeles (Feb - Apr 2024). This covers your segment. They are already discussing Fiji & French Polynesia ports.

I am not on this cruise, but have been to all these ports. So a quick overview of what appears popular. Sydney: Spend a few days there. Many interesting spots around the harbour. Use the ferries. Napier: Many art deco buildings. Easy DIY. Wine tour....but check as some wineries may have suffered recent Cyclone damage. Tauranga: Most popular is Rotorua for Maori culture; or to Hobbiton. Docked at Mount Maunganui a lovely seaside town (Harbour side & Surf side.) Hence a walk off and easy DIY. If you wish you can climb the Mount or walk around the base to end up at the surfside. Auckland: Parked downtown so easy DIY. Bay of Islands: Tour to 'Hole in the Rock' If DIY; tender to Waitangi, walk or shuttle to Paihia, ferry to Russell, walk up to Flagstaff lookout, lunch at 'Duke of Marlborough' over looking the bay, ferry back to Paihia, visit Treaty House at Waitangi, tender back to ship. Lautoka: Take a tour somewhere. Suva: Take a tour. If DIY. Parked downtown, wander the sights, have a drink on the veranda of the Grand Pacific Hotel. Apia: Walkable to town. Tour to the South side of the Island. Visit Robert Louis Stevenson House. Pago Pago: Tour to the East side or the West side of the Island. Tour to the National Park. Jump on a local bus to look around the coastline. Bora Bora: Water activities such as snorkelling, swimming with the stingrays, lunch on a motu. Raiatea: Snorkelling (perhaps over at Taha'a) Walk up the large hill behind the town to the right. Great views down onto the fringing reefs. Island tour. Moorea: Similar water activities to Bora Bora, or an Island tour. Papeete: Take a tour to the highlights of the Island. Hopefully someone onboard will reply when they are able; but the info above is a basic overview. PS: May also be worth checking out the roll calls for this year's Papeete - Papeete cruises, as they may be posting about tours.

Thanks for the 'Live from' Did you specifically book a cabin with a bathtub, or did it just work out that way ?

About 7.5 km from the cruise terminal to the harbour in town.

I take it from this that it was pay at the shuttle ? So it wasn't able to be charged to your onboard account ?

Was that for a PCR or a RAT ?

Have a read of the 2022 Skytrax World Airlines Awards. They list their best PE, as well as a separate category their best PE seats. Then head to seatguru and also your airline website, select aircraft type AND model, and compare to what you have selected. This should give you some basic idea as to your selected flight adds up compared to what else may be out there.

Thanks cruisemom42 ......your info is very helpful. We are on 3 cruise back to back, all of which visit Istanbul. Two of the cruises are overnight, and the other one is a double overnight. During our visits we will cover the 'must see' sites, however we also want to do some DIY. One our arrival times is not till 1pm, so we would like to do some DIY wanderings in an interesting area and then stay for an evening meal. Do you have any suggestions for a couple of areas of the city to do some wanderings and eating ? Thanks.

What were the temperatures in Israel, Luxor and Petra at that time of year please ? Thanks.