cjwags

I know this question has probably been answered countless times, but I couldn't seem to find anything current. Last June on Vista, 6:30pm was the earliest dining reservation.  We will be on Riviera in March and our dining reservations have not yet opened as we aren't in PH or concierge this time. 😞  Does anyone know if 6:30 is still the earliest? 6:00 pm? Also, is there even any hope of getting a 7 pm? I know that is usually the most popular? Thanks in advance!

Thanks for the information on these tours. We are really interested in both of them. I don't see the Nara one listed.  Did you book directly through the website? via email? other way?  I reached out to them a few days ago but have not heard back.  

We will be docked in Kobe overnight in March.  We have a full day guide reserved in Kyoto on our fist day and are planning to maximize the day to see as much as possible. (I know Kyoto deserves way more than a day!)  We have the choice of spending the night in Kyoto and being back to Kobe by 3 pm th efollowing day, so giving us a longer day and a morning the next day.  This option gives us the longest time in Kyoto.  Our other option is to return to the ship on the first night and spend time in Kobe the next day.  If we did this, we would do some sake tasting and maybe lunch (Kobe beef?)

I am looking for opinions and recommendations. Is the sake tasting in Kobe worth it? Better to spend longer in Kyoto? There is so much to do in this area, that we would stay a week if we could!  Next trip I guess.

I think we are on the same cruise. (Oceania, March 20?)  I was really surprised to see these sold out already.  We will start looking for a guide that will pick us up in Kobe as well.  Maybe post on the roll call board to see if others have had luck.

We did "Passport to Italy" on Vista in June 2023.  We made the following:

Arancini

Eggplant Involantini

Gnudi with brown butter sage sauce

Fresh pasta with lemon and garlic

Tiramisu

It was great fun and the food was delicious.  We made the dishes again when we got home for a dinner party with friends.

Thanks for the review.  We will be on Riviera in March in Japan.  Just off the Vista in June.  We would agree that the food ranged from great to good.  We had a couple of not so good meals.  I had lobster in PG which was terrible.  Inedible.  Took three bites and knew it was bad.  My stomach reminded me just how bad a few hours later.  No more lobster ships for me!

Barristas was fantastic! Room service breakfast on our veranda was a great way to start the day.   

All in all, a fantastic cruise on a beautiful ship.  Looking forward to the next one...

11 hours ago, SATaxman said:

Is there an event for first timers? When is it usually scheduled?

There was a first timers cocktail party on our June Vista cruise.

6 hours ago, ORV said:

I guess I'm confused. Did you accept the air or not? You do know you can counter also?

Did not accept the offer.  Yes, I know we can counter.  Did that on our last booking with OAir.  Went back and forth for quite a while before finally agreeing.  Just not sure I want to do that again and watch time pass by and prices go up. 

We found great nonstop LAX to Narita on Singapore Airlines for less than the air credit from Oceania.  Don't want to loose the transfer, but it may be worth it. We could also request this flight form OAir, but will have to pay the custom air fee.  Oh my!

Our O Air booking experience for our June Vista cruise was a long and tedious one, but we ended up with decent flights on the dates we wanted.

Just this week, our TA just requested custom air for us for a March voyage on Rivera in Japan. We sent flights we would be interested in, flying in two days early.  They sent back one leg we requested, and a different one for the return flight - Along with a $398 custom air fee and a $1598 differential!  

We know that O Air will charge the custom air fee if you don't just accept the flights they offer. The high priced differential seems just too much.  We will start shopping for air ourselves and see what we can do! 

I agree with others that there are much easier ways to do this.  We have booked air with Celebrity on their online booking engine before and found it to be so much easier and more reasonable!

There are not many.  Maybe five to eight.  There is an open space at the far end of the bar that could have a couple more seats, but there were no chairs in that area.  Lots of seats in the lounge portion of Martini's however.  

We met and spent time with one of the vocalists from the  entertainment team.  According to her the cast is on a six month contract.  Not sure that applies to the piano player, but it might be similar.  

I think it was Ryan North on our June Vista cruise.  Hope I remembered the name correctly.

We thought most of the spaces were a comfortable temperature, but did experience a couple of dinners where the venue was a bit chilly.  The theater was the same for me.  I was glad a took a light wrap (silk/cashmere scarf) with me to dinner and the show.  Easy to put away if I didn't need it, and had it if I did.  

Vista is a beautiful ship.  Enjoy your cruise!

We are in 7108 in Japan next March on Riviera.  Just off Vista on July 5.  We were in concierge and appreciated access to the Aquamar Spa Terrace, but never used the concierge lounge or most other perks of concierge level.  We did have laundry done once, but could do without it.  Had room service breakfast on early days.  We are thinking the extended balcony will be worth giving up the other perks of concierge. Thanks to all of you in this thread!

We used Kalista Tours.  Our guide's name was Sontos and he was amazing!  We booked through Project Expedition, at our travel agent's suggestion.  

Just back yesterday from ten days on the Vista.  Yes, ports are crowded!  People are traveling more than ever, and not just cruising!

Santorini felt the most impacted with four ships in town. We took first tender off the ship n the morning, and there was no line at the cable car.  Had plenty f time to walk around before meeting our private guide at 10 am.  He brought us back at 4:15 and the wait for the cable car was about 45 minutes.  Line was long, but moved rather quickly.  One person in our group decided t walk down.  She said it was tough (and she is an avid hiker).  We were down the cable car, in the tender, and back on the ship before she was on her tender.  Given the huge crowds, it didn't seem that bad.  Oia was severely impacted with thousands of people.

Istanbul was crowded as well, but given that it was a muslim holiday when were were there, it was to be expected.

Malta was manageable, even with a huge MSC ship in port with us.  

We were in the Amalfi Coast for a week prior to our cruise and it was packed!  All the locals are appreciative of the business, but are seeing more tourism than the infrastructure can handle. 

We studied the cruise port schedules ahead of time, and planned accordingly.  We opted for ship excursions in ports where it would be helpful from a crowd and transportation perspective, and local guides in other paces.

Still an amazing trip, crowds and all.

Hoping someone can help here.  Everything we have read on Oceania and here on CC say priority embarkation for concierge class is at noon. We are booked in an A1 Concierge Verandah. The web site says noon embarkation.  Our official documents say 1:00 pm.

We are trying to finalize our driver and would like to know which time to plan for.  I am guessing 1:00, but if it can be earlier, then even better. We will be leaving on Vista from Civitavecchia on 25 June.  We have a private driver from Amalfi Coast that morning (I know long drive!) and need to plan for our departure.  While I know we can always arrive later, we'd like to board as soon as we are able.  If we get there early, I am guessing we will be waiting a bit.  

Thought the celebration was an homage to FDR and a "passing of the torch", with lots of nods to family and colleagues.  While I do wish there had been more content about Vista, what was there was impressive.  Can't wait to sail on her in June.  Design looks stunning.  Snapped this shot as the champagne bottle broke.   

Getting quite excited to be on Vista June 25th! The pictures make it even harder to wait!

We will be on the Vista in June with an overnight in Istanbul.  Here is what the e-visa website says:

"According to the Law on Foreigners and International Protection which entered into force on 11th April 2014, those foreigners who arrive at sea ports and intend to visit the seaport city or nearby provinces for touristic purpose are exempt from visa provided that their stay does not exceed seventy two (72) hours. However, if you arrive in/depart from our country by air for your cruise tour, you must obtain a visa."

As I read this, no visa required, as we will only be there less than 72 hours, and not leaving Istanbul.

This is such an interesting thread!  We certainly all evolve and grow as we age. 

My first cruise was in 2000, when kids were young. It was Celebrity in the Caribbean.  Whole family loved it so much we booked another Celebrity to Alaska soon after. Food was great back then, or at least I remember it that way. Then joined friends on Royal back to Caribbean. Royal was a bit too "theme park", even with preteen kids.  Next we tried HAL in Mexican Rivera.  A bit too sleepy for us.  We booked private excursions in every port on every cruise that were amazing and created memories that have lasted for years.  

Fast forward to 2019, kids grown, new marriage, 50 something, and a return to cruising.  Celebrity again in Alaska.  It was my husband's first cruise ever so it was fun seeing it through his eyes.  Fantastic aft veranda cabin. Never ate in main dining room, instead enjoyed specialty dining every night. (Didn't love the up charge every night!) Once again spectacular excursions in every port - helicopter to glacier, dog sledding, float plane to fjords, whale watching.  While there was nothing negative about the trip, we are ready for something a little different.

Usually we are independent travelers to Europe at least once a year.  Over the past ten years we have been wine tasting in every corner of Italy and France, hiking in Switzerland, theater in London...all great trips full of adventure.

But now we are in need of another cruise.  We have decided on O for this one, based mostly on the prospect of great food, a laid back atmosphere, and a good itinerary - all on the new Vista, this June.  We will spend most of everyday off the ship, on a combination of ship and private excursions and tours.  We are excited and a tad bit nervous about trying something new, but are very ready to "upgrade" from Celebrity.  Would have considered Regent, but too big of a cost leap.  We have also booked O for Japan in 2024.  

Will certainly check back in after the voyage to share our experience. I so appreciate hearing everyone's take on other lines and am impressed with the loyalty to O!

We absolutely loved this hotel on Lake Como.  Incredible views.  http://www.borgoleterrazze.com/

We were not able to "stack" our prepaid gratuities with the O Life Ultimate.  We did the math and realized we were still better off with Ultimate so did it today.  Got my revised bookings today and we are all set!

@seascot The pricing on our trip is still the same as when we booked.  From what I can tell it has not increased.  Maybe that is why O says they will honor O Life Ultimate.  My TA is off today, but should be sending the new booking with Ultimate added in the morning.  Hope this helps.

Oceania kept our original pricing and added O Life Ultimate to our booking. No change in price. Our TA did it all for us.

Yes.  having same problem.  Booked cruises not showing up.  Not able to add again.  Looks like technical issues on the part of O.