SEASwim

59 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

The Spa terrace  really does not have any shade

The lounge chairs have pull-over shades, don't they? I guess it's a question of how much shade you want.

9 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Access limited. Try the Sanctuary - open to anyone (and few folks know it exists).

She said she's in concierge, so will have access.

The Spa Terrace at the forward end of deck 14 would be my #1 recommendation.

10 hours ago, patty1955 said:

Yep, that's my husband. You'll notice his hands in several more of the pictures

Impressive diversity of food. I tried my best during the cruise, but I think you've got me beat! Thanks for the photos.

20 minutes ago, patty1955 said:

Try this instead: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmX6SunY

That link works. I even recognize your husband (?) from the cruise!

FYI, I've got highlights from the entire cruise added to my album on Flickr now. Use the link from post #9.

23 minutes ago, nursinadream said:

Wow you've got work ahead.  Do you find Flickr user friendly?  I see you have loads of albums.  Your captions/descriptions are nice too.

 

I find it quite easy to use, but on the other hand I've been using it for a long time so have probably lost track of the shortcomings. I find myself using and looking at Instagram a lot more these days, but Instagram isn't really intended for bulk uploading photos, while Flickr is.

Thank you. I took over 1,000 photos, so still working on going through them all!

I've started adding some of my photos from my Trieste to Barcelona cruise to my Flickr page. Here's the link (click the photo): 

Hope you enjoy them!

These requirements certainly make things challenging because you also need enough time to get your results back prior to your flight's departure. Not a whole lot of wiggle room built in.

Interesting. I would have assumed the standard tip for something like an all-day tour would be $20 minimum.

12 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

These books are printed at least a month or two before embarkation

I have a feeling they may have shrunk down the lead time due to all the port changes, etc. due to COVID and that may be why people are receiving them later than usual. For example mine shows the current itinerary even though there have been three changes in the last couple months.

I just received mine less than two weeks out from my cruise, so I wouldn't panic yet, especially considering it needs to go to Canada. The mail hasn't exactly been speedy lately!

It's got to be a delicate balance for Oceania. They want to ensure as close to zero people board the ship who have Covid as possible. This means getting an accurate test as close to boarding as possible, but they also need to give their customers time to get tested, get results, and get to the ship. Personally my plan is to schedule a PCR test for Wednesday with my flight departing on Friday.

On 9/14/2021 at 4:44 PM, Norseh2o said:

We travel to Venice from the USA on 11/6/21 and arrive 11/07/21.  Our airlines added a stop and plane change at CDG from our direct JFK-Venice flight. We wonder do we need some test in France

No, you do not. You are considered "in transit" unless you leave the airport.

FYI, I did get some clarity on this. If you remain on Heathrow Airport grounds (i.e. stay in one of the airport hotels) you are considered to be "in transit." With this option there is no COVID testing requirement, but I think you'd more or less be stuck in the hotel. Once you leave Heathrow it's considered to be a stay in the UK, and then you are subject to the normal rules. For vaccinated travelers coming from the US that means no required quarantine, but you must schedule and pay for a day 2 COVID test even if you're only going to be staying in the UK for one day. It appears that the tests can be purchased starting around £20, so it's not a massive expense. 

24 minutes ago, Jancruz said:

Did you see the people in Hawaii who got into trouble because they had fake vaccine passports..they couldnt spell Moderna  (Maderna)

Now that is dumb..LOL

Jancruz1

Didn't they also have a child who was too young to be vaccinated, yet somehow had a vaccine card? 🙄

9 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Followed your link and found this, which is the same advice as on the gov website:

• Amber List –
• UK, EU and US residents who have been double vaccinated are not required to quarantine on their return to England, however will still need to take a pre departure test and a PCR test on day two of arrival back to England. 
• Passengers who have not been double vaccinated will need to complete a mandatory 10-day self-isolation period in addition to booking an approved Government testing package for day two and eight of their isolation, and they will have the option for an additional “test to release” on day five to end self-isolation early. Passengers must also take a pre-departure test before returning to England.

That's the guidance for passengers whose final destination is the UK, though. Please see the section just above for the guidance for "Transfer Passengers." It's all a bit fuzzy to me. It does seem that the distinction is whether you are going to be in the UK for less than or more than 24 hours. If it's less than 24 hours, it seems to me that they are at least strongly suggesting that you shouldn't leave the airport (see post #11).

7 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I don't know where you found this, but it is NOT what the UK gov official website says:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england

 

Visitors from the US (amber) who are vaccinated do NOT need to quarantine.

Interesting. This is where I found it: https://www.heathrow.com/customer-support/faq/coronavirus-covid-19#govt-restrictions

It does seem to conflict with the information in your link. Man, all these COVID rules are difficult to navigate...

Thanks to mountain grandma for pointing me to the Heathrow site, because it looks like my idea is dead in the water. Passengers arriving from "amber countries" (the US is amber) with a connecting flight on a different day are subject to quarantine. Here's the appropriate section from the Heathrow website: "Passengers arriving from an amber list country with a connecting flight on a separate day must complete 10 days quarantine in a separate location."

^ Excellent point. It would be under 24 hours, though.

Edit: based on the following guidance what I'm proposing may not be allowed.

When you transit through England to international destinations

You do not need to quarantine on arrival or take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 and day 8. This applies if you are transiting airside or landside.

You must either:

• remain within your port of entry until your departure from England, or
• travel directly from your port of entry to another port of departure in England

By the leaving Heathrow would I technically be leaving my "port of entry?" I would think so...

8 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

With London traffic, getting back to Heathrow could be nerve wracking.  Our plan is to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Airport in Hounslow, which is a short walk from the Hatton Cross station on the Piccadilly line – 44 minutes to Piccadilly for sightseeing, a few minutes taxi ride to LHR for check-in.

My plan would be to use the Heathrow Express train, or the Tube if I have lots of time. The express train takes 15-21 minutes from Heathrow to Paddington station depending on which terminal you're going to.

By the way, I definitely wouldn't stay at Heathrow. I'd take the train into London and see as much as possible there and stay at a hotel somewhere near central London!

Okay, thanks. I'll contact my TA. And, yes, it's British Airways.

By the way, I dispute your assertion that it had zero to do with the E.U. decision. The airlines need to forecast future demand, and that decision certainly would be a factor in that forecast. And, as I said, I read an article yesterday specifically stating that decision led to some airlines adjusting their schedules.

Yes, I am going through a TA, so would you suggest contacting them rather than O directly? I'm new to this, so please bear with me.