KS&JW

8 minutes ago, ORV said:

Where is the Sirena at this point? 

 

Edit, Just looked that up. It's already hanging around outside La Spezia. I actually thought one of the reasons the Marina was taking over for it in the Caribbean was so it wouldn't have to come over here. Maybe I'm missing something. 

I had not realized that.   Who knows about the TA then.

17 minutes ago, ORV said:

With Marina taking over the Caribbean cruises for Sirena is it still doing that TA? 

If Sirena is going to do any cruises in the Med this summer, the ship needs to get over there.  I don't see them canceling the TA unless things really go south. 

yes

4 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I can tell you from October that it is definitely an Italy requirement, not a ship requirement.  I was on Noble Caledonia, which includes all shore excursions in the fare – so they have no incentive to prevent private touring – and I saw them tearing their hair trying to get us even a little free time as part of their tours.  Italy was very strict.  I don't know why the tour companies keep putting out this false information, unless it is to keep your booking in the hope that Italy will relent.

I can easily keep the booking as I have just a 1 Euro deposit down and if things change before April, then I will have my preferred excursion.  However, to reserve an Oceania excursion, I need to pay for the  excursion in full. I am trying to decide if it is worth paying to have a backup plan.   Not pleased that Italy Day tours is lying to me. 

Roll call for your cruise - 

35 minutes ago, RCD1952 said:

CDC warns 'avoid cruise travel' after more than 5,000 COVID cases in two weeks amid omicron

 

I bet they get that many from the attendees of the Peach bowl today.  

On a B2B April 4th.  Due to the length of the cruise I've already made final payment.  However, I was informed that I could now cancel, penalty free, up to February 2nd.  

14 minutes ago, ShopperfiendTO said:

Curious how this would work if it's an excursion selected as part of the OLife excursion package.

 

Has anyone done this before? 

 

I find it odd that you would have to call or get your TA to call O to cancel it (assuming the cancellation is more than a month before departure).

Yes, it is odd and a pain.  All excursions, OLife or not, must be handled this way.  

7 hours ago, njpln said:

 We missed our window to book, clearly.  We had company when the window to book reservations opened up, and then went on a Mediterranean cruise.  By the time I sat down to do it, all they had was shared tables or 9 o’clock seatings.

 

Its clearly our fault, But I’m just trying to understand who we go to when we get on board because I believe they always hold some tables.   We’re celebrating a big anniversary, and I would like to get one night for just the two of us.

You will likely have to share a table for some of your reservations.  However, you will very likely will get a table for two on your anniversary.  This is one of the reasons Oceania likes to have wiggle room.   To help you out in cases like this.  

15 minutes ago, Guppy99 said:

So then the online reservation system is a scam to some extent?

They don't fill all the tables prior to boarding for lots of reasons, including to allow some for those who are not computer savvy.  Plus it gives them (Oceania) some wiggle room.  Even doctors offices leave some appts open to give them wiggle room. 

Like anything we will have to wait and see.  However,  currently you can just use your vaccine card to get into restaurants etc.  The pass sanitaire was nice, but I know many people who did not get one and were still able to do indoor things that require vaccination. 

3 hours ago, isnowman said:

Also a newbie, never having cruised with Oceania before, but I think the $200 maximum for the free OLife excursions might have changed. We just booked our shore excursions for an upcoming Sept 2022 Baltic cruise and the four that we chose were valued at $261 x2, $234 and $221 ( my DW and I are doing both so 8 per cabin ). We had 3 others valued at $156 so the 4 most expensive were used. We called an Oceania consultant to confirm this and they even booked them for us while on the phone. Same total cost as what I figured. I should add that the funds are in Canadian currency, but even with the horrendous exchange rate it's still over $200. 

Hope this helps, happy cruising!

 

 

The rule is not based on the dollar amount but on having letters after them, OS, CD, WT etc.  It just so happens that the unlettered excursions are under $200 USD. I suspect that the exchange rate is the reason excursions price being higher than the typical $200 USD

13 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

We are scheduled for a Rhine River boat cruise next June. 

Next June?  Things will change several times between now and next June

36 minutes ago, ORV said:

I guess I look at it a little different, but I don't consider an 8.5 hour flight that long. Well if you're cramped up with no leg room it's a bit to deal with. But the length is really no more or less than a flight to Europe. This is assuming you depart from the West Coast, so if you are anywhere other than there, you should take a flight into LAX a day early. 

Exactly, it is a 12+ hour flight from SFO to Europe. But that certainly does not stop me from going. 

On 10/31/2021 at 12:07 PM, Eight_Paws said:

Well, drat.  If you took multiple short cruises and strung them together as a DIY long voyage, you'd get the benefits for each cruise, but if you booked the one larger voyage you don't?  Hope there are significant enough pricing benefits on the larger voyage to make up for it..

You should price out the individual segments of the ATW cruise and compare the cost to the ATW cruise cost.  The ATW is a bargain.  And that does not include all the perks that the ATW world cruisers get, laundry, first class airfare, gratuities, special onboard events, etc. 

17 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Nice try.

IMO, the only time someone should get cruise credits for a “cruise not taken” is when YOU cancel during the 100% penalty phase. In that situation, you’ve completed “your end of the bargain.”

 

I think you need to talk to @LHT28 about this.  I recall her mentioning that they canceled the day prior to boarding due to a health issue, were out all the money  yet did not get credit for the cruise as they did not step foot on the ship.  

13 minutes ago, clo said:

Are these people also paid anything approaching a livable wage? In the US it's been as low as $2 and a few cents an hour. I don't know what it is now. But I do know that in cities like SF and SEA it sometimes requires four people to live in one apartment or a two hour, one way commute.

In California there is no tip wage of $2.13. All waiters are paid standard minimum which in SF is $16.32.

18 hours ago, PhD-iva said:

Hi ORV, I didn’t notice your post earlier. My cabin 3025 is kinda midship, but more aft than forward. What do you think?

14 hours ago, ORV said:

I think you’ll hear engine noise and feel some vibration. But you get used to it. I’d bring ear plugs for sleeping. 

I have been on Deck 3 before, cabin 3019, and I remember it being super quiet.  I don't recall any engine noise or vibration.  Because those cabins can only be accessed from one direction, there is no through-traffic of people walking down the hall. The only people down there are the people in those cabins.  

Have you talked to your TA to see your position on the waitlist?

59 minutes ago, lorimay said:

We are new to Oceania. Today is the day that reservations opened up for our upcoming cruise. We're booked in just a regular verandah cabin so I understand that there are lots of people ahead of us. I forgot all about it last night so didn't get on the computer until 9 this morning. Other than for one restaurant, there were no reservations available before 8pm any night and most only had 8:30 - 9 pm left. Not the end of the world, but not our ideal time to eat. I was just wondering if the times can ever be adjusted once you get on board. Is that even a possibility? Thanks for your help.

48 minutes ago, Roccaforte said:

I’ve had that happen.  Very disappointing.  Did you try sharing a table?  We were  able to get a reservation when we offered to share.  Turned out to be a great evening.   Good luck!

Sharing tables should get you lots of options.  There are limited tables for two in the specialties.  However,  things can be booked, changed while on board the ship. 

https://ocievents.com/immersion/register

1 hour ago, jgd3rdbcfd said:

Did anyone see an article on CNN.com or USAToday that Italy is requiring a 10 day quarantine for vaccinated persons?   

https://www.esteri.it/mae/en/ministero/normativaonline/decreto-iorestoacasa-domande-frequenti/focus-cittadini-italiani-in-rientro-dall-estero-e-cittadini-stranieri-in-italia.html?

Persons travelling from Canada, Japan and the United States of America may enter Italy by presenting a ‘Green Pass’ (or equivalent certificate issued by the local health authorities attesting that they are fully vaccinate with a European Medicines Agency (EMA) validated vaccine), a negative swab test carried out within the previous 72 hours and a Passenger Locator Form.

As others have pointed out, that is not correct. 

Is this Red list from the UK government or the US government?

12 hours ago, patty1955 said:

That will be too early to help us. I'll have to keep looking.

Have you contacted your hotel in Barcelona to ask if they can help?