On 11/28/2022 at 3:15 PM, janecambridge said:

 

Am I reading this right? No wrapped gifts from Uk...

 

We had our luggage searched by HM Customs. They made us unwrap gifts that we had taken.

On 10/6/2022 at 1:29 PM, roberts2005 said:

Saw a post on another travel site.  Not sure I could mention it so I cut out part of their story.  Tried to find a link on Oceania.  Has anyone seen a full list.  Here is a partial example.

 

• A three-night "India's Crown Jewel" tour that visits Delhi as well as the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah in Agra, India. It's available for free as a pre- or post-cruise add-on to an 18-night voyage from Cape Town, South Africa, to Mumbai, India, starting on Jan. 18, 2023, and a 14-night voyage from Mumbai to Bangkok, Thailand, starting on Feb. 5, 2023. The sailings are on Oceania's 684-passenger Nautica.
• A three-night tour to the temple complexes of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom in Cambodia. It's available as a free pre- or post-cruise add-on to a 14-night voyage from Mumbai to Bangkok starting on Feb. 5, 2023, and on a 10-night voyage from Bangkok to Singapore starting on Feb. 19, 2023. The sailings are also on Nautica.
• A three-night "Glimpse of Arabia" tour that visits multiple sites in the United Arab Emirates including the waterfront Museum of Islamic Civilization in Sharjah, the Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi. It's available as a free post-cruise add-on to a 21-night voyage from Cape Town to Dubai scheduled for April 5, 2023. The sailing is on Oceania's 684-passenger Insignia.

Just be aware that Agra is a long way from New Delhi and the roads and traffic in India have to be seen to be believed,

On 10/6/2022 at 6:57 PM, PirateShark said:

Thanks!  I'll hold my horses for now.  With someone having a coronation next year in London 😉, I'm anticipating that plans could get upended so I'm hoping they announce the date of said coronation shortly.  Makes planning a little easier then.

May 5th ! I'm leaving the country! it'll be a nightmare

Hi

On our last cruise (on Nautica Aug15th) I noticed that the doors between our neighbouring stateroom and the next one were opened . Two families.

There's no harm in asking

Good luck

Josie

On 9/12/2022 at 8:59 PM, jonthomas said:

yes I also agree with that...

 

unless others start saying that  the food on other cruise lines is now better than O and O cant make that claim anymore...

 

so far I have not found anyone that could say that.....

 

again, a very subjective issue....so it has to be a generalization...and even that is very difficult...

 

We stopped cruising on Celeb and food was the main reason. Unless you are in a suite, and dine in areas separate from the rest. The food in the regular dining areas was no longer acceptable to us. 

Dine in an area seperate from the "rest"  what on earth does that mean and who are "the rest?"

On 7/30/2022 at 3:25 PM, bbtondo said:

I'm also on your cruise and was questioning the test requirement for boarding in Barcelona on the paperwork sent from Oceania.  I  thought a negative test was not required, but yet there it is in black and white!  I would imagine they'll have a lot of people presenting their negative covid test!  And what about people who are still testing positive, yet had covid a month ago?  They may be cancelling when they don't have too! Crazy!

I am going dizzy with all this! I have our proof of vaccination and I thought that was enough!

Trust me!

You know what thought did? followed a muck cart and thought it was a wedding!  They are now reccomending that we travel with the latest smart phone or tablet! I'm 75 an don't have the latest anything. 

Stressed out and very unhappy

Josie xx

BTW we also join in Barcelona

Hi

We are sailing out of Barcelona (on board Nautica) on August 15th. We are taking Oceania (reccomended) Hotel (included in our booking) it's called : Hotel Ohla Eixample .. . On sailing date we will be picked up by O and taken to the ship. Is it possible for you to book this? 

In addition to this we are having our luggage collected from our home in Manchester and taken to our room on board.

There is also a company called Sun Transfers, who do exactly that.

Why not look on a booking site for hotels?

BR

Josie

8 hours ago, Silver Sweethearts said:

This is how it worked for Regent, and we suspect O is the same:  In multiple experiences in Miami with Luggage Forward. we tagged our luggage (as everyone does with the colored O luggage tags) and left it outside our door the evening before departure.  We next saw it when we disembarked and went to the luggage storage area on shore.  We took the bags through customs right at that area and proceeded outside the building.  A Luggage Forward representative was just outside holding a sign that said "Luggage Forward".  We handed the person the bags and left.  That's it.  Our luggage showed up at our home a few days later.

OOOOO!  Thanks!  I have beden umming and aaring about luggage forward for upcoming cruise. I was interested to know how it works for disembarkation ! And now I know 

Thank you

Josie

Hi

My Oh family is from Wales (Hughes) he thinks that he can speak Welsh! 

Dear Valued Guests and Travel Advisors,

We have an important update to share with you about revisions to our embarkation testing policy. Effective August 1, 2022, Oceania Cruises will no longer require guests to produce a negative covid test to embark their cruise, subject to local regulations.

Please Note: Voyages embarking from Canada and Greece as well as those sailing to Bermuda, will still require a negative covid test at embarkation, until further notice.

The relaxing of this policy is in line with the greater travel industry around the globe as society continues to return to a post-pandemic state of normalcy. Testing is not required to fly or stay in a hotel or dine at a restaurant, and now, as a general rule, guests will no longer be required to test to board one of our ships.

With the advent of vaccinations and widely available therapeutics, travelers can and should travel with confidence and peace of mind. While this requirement is relaxed, Oceania Cruises continues to strongly urges all guests to test at their convenience prior to travel and intermittently during their travels.

Of course, should the unlikely need arise, this policy may be revisited and revised as necessary, and we will endeavor to keep you informed of any changes.

This from my travel agent yesterday

Hi All

We fly Manchester /LHR Barcelona two days before we board Nautica in Barcelona.

Great we thought! Barcelona is not that far, we can do some exploring.

But wait!  Good old BA (check in staff) are planning strike action Arrrrrrrgh! 

I will speak to out TA tomorrow to aske about Jet2 or Easy Jet and pay O for flight "deviation"

This is to be our first cruise since Covid put paid to earlier plans. 

Jx

On 6/23/2022 at 8:04 PM, NewSalty said:

We just booked a Norway cruise on Sirena that includes a stop in Alesund, followed by a day of cruising the "Norwegian Sea", and a following day arrival at 11 am in Hammerfest.

 

My question is this -  is it likely that that "sea day" will include cruising the Trollfjord/Geiranger?

 

Hi

We visited Norway on board Nautica in 2014(I know!)  it was a 20 day voyage (path of the midnight sun) We anchored at Hellesylt  in the morning and sailed to Geirangerfjord in the afternoon. 

What is the name of your voyage please? Then I can find your route.

best regards

josie

17 hours ago, SophieM said:

We are flying into FCO n 8/26 and will be going straight on to Civitavecchia prior to our cruise. Would appreciate feedback from anyone who has made this transfer recently. We have done the train before from Trastavere,  but we’d prefer not to take that option this time. We’ll be staying in a hotel in Civitavecchia for a couple of days before we sail. Thanks so much!

 

check with your hotel in the port,many of them operate a mini bus from the airport to the hotel( you might have to hang around at the airport for a while for other passengers arriving. ) they will then transfer you to the ship on sailing day.

HOTEL SAN GIORGIO CIVITAVECCHIA

this is where we stayed

best regards

Josie

On 6/23/2022 at 2:36 PM, LHT28 said:

Maybe call the airline directly

 I am surprised  O does not book air for UK PAX

Indeed!  We are flying from UK for our next cruise (O air) If you don't take O air you get a smail reduction in cost for the "air waiver".

I would never fly on sailing day, particually at the moment when there's complete chaos at many airports.

best

Josie x

where are you flying home from?

Some hotels in Southampton run(or used to) a shuttle bus to the port, Ask the concierge and they will arrange it for you

5 hours ago, TravelLoverbySea said:

I have used Luggage Free several times.  I had good service each time. Pleasant to work with. 

Thanks!  I have found a blue book and I shall contact Luggage Free

5 minutes ago, Sny said:

We used one that was advertised in the brochure/book that Oceania sends a few weeks before the cruise.  The pick-up at our home was on time and efficient.  Our bags were in our room when we boarded the ship.  The problem came when we disembarked.  No one seemed to know where those bags were to go in the terminal; as no one appeared to be responsible for them.  After more than an hour, and a missed transport to our hotel, it was sorted out.  They arrived at home on schedule.

That said, it's a great convenience and we plan to use a luggage forwarding service for our upcoming cruises.

Thank You. I shall wait for the blue book !

Hi all

We are sailing Barcelona/Istanbul/Jerusalem(we've not decided where we will disembark yet) on board Nautica in August.

We will be flying to/from U.K

Has anyone had experience with luggage forwarding companies ?

 Both to/from cruises?

Any caveats?

Thanks

Josie

11 hours ago, pinotlover said:

We are scheduled for Basel to Amsterdam in June and Bilboa to Barcelona on the Sirena in October.

 

I’m more concerned about the latter. Ukraine is the food basket of Europe and a major supplier of wheat. Therefore, the actual fighting, which will drag on, may not directly affect my itinerary , but there might well be wholesale food shortages across Europe. Visitations to those areas removed from combat may be restricted because of the necessity to feed the local population without the burden of demanding visitors.

Hi

The Blue at the top of the Ukrainian flag is the sky and the yellow is the wheat. Although here in the (dis) United Kingdom we do produce a lot of our own wheat! And you will see similar in France and Spain.

My main worry is if they start tossing Nuclear weapons around!

   Portugal/Spain and Southern France are someway from the Black Sea.Although Greece and her islands    are not too far.

We visited in 2005 and were lucky to visit Crimea and the beautiful port of Odessa.

St Petersburg and the Baltic ports are some way from the fighting ( at the moment!)  

Well after Covid and the shenanigans of the mad midget ( yes! he wears high heels! 5'7") Putin ,I wonder if we're going to be destined to cruise again!

Living in hope and expectation!

Josie xx

Hi

We flew in from London Heathrow to LAX some years ago,our flight was on time,but baggage collection and customs/passport control was a nightmare!

We were picked up by Sun Transfers https://www.suntransfers.com/los-angeles-airport   €116.20 

Who had monitored our flight and were waiting with cold water to speed us on our way to our hotel for an overnight stay.  Double Tree by Hilton , San Pedro. who also has a shuttle bus to the cruise port.

Have a lovely cruise

best wishes

Josie (and Brian)

On 2/12/2022 at 3:34 PM, cruisingxpert said:

How loud a sound does it make? My sister's husband has vascular dementia and she worries that he might go out of the house when she is sleeping.

There are various levels that you can set the sound at ( I always try to take into account the proximity of other guests) Check Amazon or one of the (many) dementia web pages.

I also try to hang a pair of trousers (by the belt loops) on the door handle! Fiddling around in the dark to unhook it ususlly wakesme!

Best of luck

Josie

Thank you all so much and your kind replies.

They are all so helpful.

Here in the U.K We have "hidden disabilities" web page and I have bought a couple of Lanyards and a scarf. They have also sent a couple of cards : " I care for someone and support someone with Alzheimer's" and "I may have memory problems.I might have difficulty communicating with you and can become anxious". Please be patient with me.

They have sunflowers on a green background are easy to spot. He has a dementia clock and I will take this and a battery operated wedge for the door,if the door is opened and I am sleeping the alarm will sound.

Good luck LuAnne I hope that all goes well for you.

My agent has sent a questionaire from O : Check list for clients with reduced mobility. Has anyone seen this before? I don't really think that it applies (at the moment!) but who knows?

Once again....Thank You

best wishes Josie x

-

I don't know what I'm expecting,but here goes !!!!

My lovely hunband has developed(early onset) dementia.

At the moment it's under control and liveable with, he has small memory problems.but not enough to worry about. He's forgetting the correct names for things .

We have a cruise booked on board Nautica 15th August Barcelona/Jerusalem (I will try to get it changed to disembark in Istanbul as Turkish Air flies directly into Manchester wheras air from Jerusalem is via the hell of Heathrow Airport to Manchester.)

I have to decide before the end of March when our final payment is due.

We have cruised with O many times and we're familiar with the layout of the ships(important for hubby as he remembers this kind of things!)

Anyway after the ramble there is a question:

Has anyone any experience , ideas or tips for cruising with Dementia passengers?

I did ring O and was told to stop worrying as our lovely staff will help with this kind of thing,but I'm still not sure. I also have a check list from O : Checklist for passengers with reduced mobility,but this really doesn't cover our situation.

Any tips/ideas will be welcomed

Thanks in anticipation

Josie (AKA Ben Murphy)

I am just packing for a five night stay on the English Riviera !

Inside one of the bags I found some odds and ends from our Christmas Cruise onboard Sirena two years ago! (sob)

Little did I think then that events would overturn our future booked cruises and we would be marooned on our little island Great Britain for the next couple of years! 

We are booked on Nautica next August , D.V

So on the day after the Winter solstice :  We wish you a Merry Christmas and a sailtastic 2022

Best Wishes 

Josie and Brian