nikless

2 hours ago, sbsmutoni said:

We were scheduled to stay at the Hilton for a few days prior to the cruise (great hotel, btw!).  Our TA sent us information for the free transfer to Trieste, but the pickup for the transfer is at the airport, not from the hotel….you still have to get yourself from the hotel to the airport.  Our TA said the transfer pickup times started at 11:00 and the last one is at 1:30.

 

In the end, my husband and I decided that because we’ve been to Venice several times, and we really don’t relish the idea of the multi-step transfer the morning of embarkation, we are just going to spend some time in and around Trieste before the cruise.

 

So we have a car meeting us when we land on the 5th, and we are staying at the Sovonia Excelcior Palace in Trieste, which is right across the street from the cruise port.  Also - and back to this thread’s topic - the hotel offers onsight testing so we won’t have to deal with self-tests before the cruise.

 

happy cruising everyone!

We were booked at the Savoia but moved it to the Doubletree because their rates were better, including the transfer from Marco Polo.  Plus it's a Hilton property.  We asked them about testing and they gave us the names of a few pharmacies nearby who will test but you need appointments.

Cost is about EU 15.  

I was not aware that hotels conducted testing....

They do sell them as a two pack, ordered them twice (most recently last Friday) and they arrived in 3 days.  Haven't used them yet.  

In addition to being tested by a pharmacy on Friday before the cruise (probably Walgreens) to meet Italy's 72 hour requirement for arrival on Sunday, we expect to use the proctored test at home on Saturday morning before our evening flight, to meet Oceania's recommended 72 hour time frame prior to boarding on Tuesday.  Then bring the other kit with us...

4 minutes ago, Norseh2o said:

Flying from USA (Pacific time 7:30am) on 11/6/21, arriving in Italy 11/07/21 around noon Italy time, boarding Marina on 11/09/21.  When does the 72 hours start?  

From everything I read and to be safe, it ends when you board.  So calculate the time difference and back up 72 hours.

We expect to board around 3PM on the 9th.  For us then, the 72 hours start at 9AM eastern on the 6th...about 12 hours before we take off.  

15 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Thanks for the update. 
Perhaps a bit more clear in finally mentioning “embarkation.” Might you agree that the next iteration will say only “embarkation”?

In any case, the only “safe” choice (healthwise and legally) is test w/I 72 hrs of embarkation.

Agree...I bet it's another clerical proof reading miss.  I will have to search the forums to see what was said before, because I know it was posed somewhere...

25 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Not “just,” the most recent version is 9/27/21. In any case, 

The FAQs change from time to time. The most recent version is dated September 27, 2021 and it’s very clear about the consequences of not having negative test results within 72 hrs of travel. Note that it has removed any  mention of “at home” which was included in the August 10, 2021 FAQs version:

Here is the August 10 version:

Oceania Cruise strongly encourages all guests to take a COVID-19 PCR test at home, 3 to 4 days prior to traveling to the ship, as an added precaution. If a PCR test is not readily available, then we encourage guests to at a minimum take a COVID-19 Antigen test at home, prior to travel.

 

And here is the latest FAQs  9/27/21 statement:

Am I required to test for Covid prior to traveling?
.......Even if the country where your cruise embarks does not require a negative Covid-19 PCR test for entry, Oceania Cruises strongly recommends you obtain a PCR test not more than 72 hours prior to travel. If a PCR test is not readily available, then we encourage guests to at a minimum take a laboratory administered COVID-19 Antigen test not more than 72 hours prior to travel. Guests that fail to test prior to departure or cannot provide proof of a negative laboratory supplied test result and subsequently test positive for COVID-19 upon embarkation will not be reimbursed for quarantine or return travel arrangements.

Again, note that any mention of “at home” has been removed from the FAQs. Note also the term “prior to departure” (in this case, aka embarkation). Also remember that negative test results prior to 72 hours before embarkation are absolutely useless. Clearly, what O is saying is that they will cover Covid related costs only if you demonstrate that Covid is not a PEC.

My website says they are dated October 13 at the top.  The footer wasn't changed, still says Sep 27. ( bad proofreading, which will doom us all)

From what I gather, it removed clinical trial vaccines as accepted by O.

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/sites/default/files/2021-10/sailf-safe-health-program-v17.pdf

And it says this...

And they just updated the Sail Safe FAQs

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/sites/default/files/2021-10/sailf-safe-health-program-v17.pdf

They just updated the Sail Safe FAQs

Read 'em and weep...

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/sites/default/files/2021-10/sailf-safe-health-program-v17.pdf

21 hours ago, goletans said:

Here's a bit of other related and not surprising news from Oceania: "With regards to the tickets please note that due to Covid-19 situation and due to the constant flight cancellations and schedule changes, we issue tickets at 30 days or less before sailing." 

 

 

We are 27 days from flying, 30 days from sailing.  Yesterday the Air department said tickets were issued and we should get an email...the email only showed that arrival time for the first leg had changed and nothing about tickets.  I had to go to the Lufthansa website and look up my booking to find that the tickets were issued, and saw the e-ticket number.  Should we get anything else?

28 minutes ago, Jockocruiser said:

I’ve read that it MAY be.  Abbott six pack AG card from emed is $150 - $25 each.  No direct assignment, so one would have to submit for reimbursement.  Which, of course, is subject to deductibles, T&Cs etc.  I didn’t bother.  There was also a label on the shipping box with a notice that the expiration date was extended from that on the individual test kits. 

Bought a 2-pack for $70.  Shipped same day as ordered, supposed to be here tomorrow.  Out of pocket...but it is insurance for a 10K plus investment, so IMO worth it.

We are going to use it as a backup, as we will be tested the day before we fly out and that should meet the 3-4 days prior timing whether that meant departure from home or embarkation.

11 minutes ago, lorimay said:

I can't find that wording on the Oceania website. I'm not saying it's not there - I just don't see it. Can you tell me where it might be? I have a private tour from Salerno that I might need to cancel. Thanks!

Under Travel and Entry requirements at top of website page

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/sites/default/files/2021-09/Travel-and-Entry-Requirements-28-September-Update.pdf

48 minutes ago, mexicobob said:

That would be a major disappointment for me as Kotor is one of the main reasons I was considering a similar cruise next year. Hopefully, Bari will turn out to be acceptable. 

And Oceania posted on their website 2 days ago that for now, no independent tours in Italy - only ship excursions....

1 minute ago, basor said:

We are not sure so figurered we would take the test within 72 hours of embarkation so no question as to 72 hours timeline

Got it thanks.

Asked you a question on the roll call for our cruise...

1 hour ago, basor said:

As long as your test is within 72 hours of embarkation but if you are spending several days prior to embarkation in Italy, your step 1 test results could be fine for entering Italy but too old for Oceania embarkation....see post #53 for our solution to this problem.

Saw your post.  thanks for the tip.

The O website FAQs were updated 9/27 and state:

What does "travel" mean?  departure from home, or time of embarkation (in which case a PCR result will not be available until after you depart from home)?  We intended to get rapid antigen tested on a Friday afternoon,  depart Saturday, arrive in Italy on Sunday afternoon, embark on Tuesday.  If there "travel" means home departure, we are covered.  If it means embarkation, I guess we better buy that test you have and use it on the day prior to embarkation, because our 72 hour window will have run out...

27 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Let’s look closely at three O items that make the pre-cruise “recommended” Covid test essential for refunds et al. (I’ll add my analysis in bolded talics.) BTW, I am not questioning O’s complimentary provided Covid onboard care under any circumstances. My concern regards coverage for (during/following the cruise) land-based Covid quarantine, treatment and MedEvac).

From the SailSafe FAQs:

Am I required to test for Covid prior to traveling?
......Guests that fail to test prior to departure or cannot provide proof of a negative laboratory supplied test result and subsequently test positive for COVID-19 upon embarkation will not be reimbursed for quarantine or return travel arrangements.

Of course, this is critical for anyone flying to embarkation since there can be substantial costs related to air tix, accommodations, etc. But, the same holds true for those who drive a long distance requiring car expenses, hotel (enroute) etc.

Section 5f and 5g of Oceania’s Ticket Contract:

f. Known or Suspected COVID-19 Case Before Boarding. You agree that if at any time within 14 days prior to scheduled embarkation, You test positive for COVID-19, exhibit signs or symptoms of COVID-19, have had close contact with a person confirmed or suspected as having COVID-19, or We otherwise determine in Our sole discretion that You are unfit to board because of any communicable illness, We will deny You boarding. Under these circumstances, unless We determine that You have failed to comply with Our COVID-19 Policies and Procedures or this Ticket Contract, if You are denied boarding because of a known or suspected infection with COVID-19, You will be entitled to a future cruise credit equal in value to the amount You paid to Us as Cruise Fare, or if required by law, a refund equal in value to the amount You paid to Us as Cruise Fare, subject to Your providing verification satisfactory to Us of results of tests administered by providers other than those retained by Us. Under no circumstances shall We have any other liability for any compensation or other damages whatsoever, including but not limited to compensation for lodging or travel.

 

Whether you intend to drive or fly: if you can’t prove you tested Covid positive within 2 weeks prior to the cruise, you are SOL for a refund).
 

 

g. Known or Suspected COVID-19 Case After Boarding. You further understand and agree that if, after boarding, and even if You have fully complied with all COVID-19 Policies and Procedures, You test positive for COVID-19 or exhibits signs or symptoms of COVID-19, We may disembark, refuse re-boarding after a shore excursion, or quarantine You as well as members of Your travelling party, or take other steps which We determine, in Our sole discretion, are necessary under the circumstances to protect the health and well-being of others. Under these circumstances, if You have a known or suspected case of infection with COVID-19 and You are disembarked, refused re-boarding, or quarantined, You shall be entitled to a prorated future cruise credit for the unused portion of the Cruise Fare or if required by law, a prorated refund for the unused portion of the Cruise Fare. You are responsible for all other related costs and fines, including without limitation travel expense. Under no circumstances shall We be liable to You for any other costs, damages or expenses whatsoever incurred by You.

 

IMO, Ticket contract 5g contradicts the SailSafe FAQs: If you test positive onboard, the Ticket Contract says “you’re not covered” while the SailSafe FAQs say “you are covered” for Covid related expenses beyond the fare refund.

Further complicating the issues is this statement in the

Introduction to the Ticket Contract: In addition, in the event of any conflict between the COVID-19 policies, procedures and conditions set forth in Clause 5 or elsewhere herein and as those policies, procedures and conditions are set forth at www.oceaniacruises.com/health, the website controls. 

Surprise! ALL of these documents are on the website!!!

 

And, by error (or intention), there is no mention of what happens if you test a false negative at embarkation as evidenced by symptoms soon after boarding and a positive retest??? Your evidence of the  negative “recommended” pre-cruise test within 72-96 hours prior to embarkation would sure come in handy in that “whizzing match.” Thus, what happens once onboard really can be affected by whether or not you established (prior to the cruise) that Covid was not a PreExistingCondition.

 

Bottom line is: “Slice it or dice it” any way one wants but, Without a non-O negative Covid test within 72-96 hours before embarkation, one can be SOL on all sorts of fronts.

Great detail but my head is spinning.  Right now I am only concerned with step 1 - getting a neg result 3-4 days prior to embarking. That will get me into Italy and establish that any result after is not due to a PEC, which should then protect my investment...  Correct?

13 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Perhaps you’ve not read the FAQs on the O website (and the T&Cs).

O will test you at embarkation. But, if you want O to assume responsibility for land based quarantine and medevac associated with Covid contracted on the cruise, you must test negative in a “recommended” Covid test 3-4 days prior to arriving at the ship on embarkation day. That would establish that Covid was/is not a PEC.

3-4 days is ambiguous.  If you were embarking on a Tuesday, what day would be within the 4 days? (I know how to count but...).  It makes a difference for folks flying in early....

5 hours ago, pinotlover said:

You may be surprised at the number of seagulls on Oceania. Those that rarely get off the ship; or if they do, they’re back on for lunch. The islands look the same to them because they rarely get more than 500 meters from the dock. It’s their dime. They’re paying for what they want to do, but it doesn’t mean it helps the locals at all. I’m betting you’ll hear “ the ship is the destination “ on this forum far more than on the mass market line’s forums.

First time I have ever been labeled as a "seagull".  

I loved watching those annoying creatures as they grabbed hot dogs right out of the kids' hands at the Jersey shore.  

Now they snatch money from the pockets of the locals?

17 hours ago, LGW59 said:

Venice proper seems highly unlikely now.  I am hoping they make Trieste the port now.

The port is Trieste.  I was just referring to the original booking.  My bad.

3 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

Katie;

 

I believe the current rules for extended journey/ grand voyage is:

 

1. Pursuant to your cabin class, you’ll be allowed a certain number of early reservations for your entire cruise.

 

2. If/When you are authorized multiple reservations in each restaurant, the reservation system will require you to spread those reservations out across the entire cruise.

 

3. Therefore, based upon the number of reservations you have in each half of your total cruise, you can invite who you like ( with their booking number) for that portion of the cruise.

 

A btb cruise does not generate two (2) sets of reservations. One does not get a new allowance of reservations for each segment . The number of reservations allowed are set by total cruise length and cabin categories.

 

Hope that explains it.

For our 22 day voyage which has two "legs," (Venice to Barcelona and Barcelona to Miami) but we booked as one cruise (Venice to MIA) we were allowed 2 reservations for each restaurant....BUT...it could only be 4 for the first leg and 4 for the 2nd leg.  And booking a restaurant on the transition day (Barcelona) caused issues in being able to book 2 days for that restaurant.  So we broke it up to be 4 and 4, and nothing on the Barcelona day/evening. 

59 minutes ago, macaroni said:

When is your sail date?

Just now, nikless said:

got it fixed....

Sail date is 9 Nov on Marina

1 hour ago, clo said:

Well, it wouldn't be the end of the world if you had a dinner on your own.

The problem had nothing to do with inviting others....

44 minutes ago, babysteps said:

We had same issue - then I tried making sure each restaurant had 1 reservation in the 1st leg (nights of Nov 9 - Nov 18) and the other reservation in the second leg - did get all 8 booked for us. Might work for you? Or maybe it was a system glitch - many things are possible 🙂

Thats the answer!  By booking a restaurant on the 19th, you couldn't book it again as it apparently counts as both legs.  I moved them around and was able to get all 8, with 4 on each leg.  Thanks!!!

14 minutes ago, shepherd really said:

Are they in the same category as you?  You may not have maxed out on reservations, but they may have, in which case you can't make a reservation exceeding their limit. 

Yes, same category.  We were allowed 2 reservations per restaurant for the cruise (22 days- 8 total reservations).  Was able to book 7 reservations with them as an invited party.  It would not let me book the Polo for a second time on any date.  I had them try making the reservation with us as invitees, but they got same message.  And we both show "1 of 2" reservations made for Polo, so we haven't maxed out.

There was plenty of availability at the restaurant.

Whatever...hopefully the agent can fix it.

The Specialty restaurants opened up for us today...I was on at midnite (after a few glasses of wine) and was able to secure 7 of the 8 reservations we were allowed, with our traveling partners....not sure why it would not allow me to book the 8th-it said "invited guests had reached the limit for this restaurant", which was incorrect.  I have an email to my O agent to try and sort it out.

Now I'm waiting for the date when check- in is available.  The site said 21 days prior...

11 hours ago, 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, we wonder how the 72 hours is calculated as we will leave San Diego on 11/06 at 7:00am, stop at CDG on Sunday, 11/07 at 8:00am for 2 hours, and arrive in Venice at 11:50am, 11/07/2021.  If we manage to find a test on 11/05/21, Pacific time, how will that play out with the 72 hour schedule??

We are arriving Venice on 11/7.  Plan to get tested 11/5.  Assuming on time arrival in Italy is scheduled for 1430 their time, that equates to 830AM eastern time.  So anything after 830AM on the 5th is well within the 72 hour requirement.

Bigger question is whether it fulfills the 3-4 day (not hours) requirement by Oceania for protection against negative results on board...

19 hours ago, Norseh2o said:

Our next O cruise is on the Marina, Trieste to Miami, 11/09/21. Last week I sent the Shareholder form & a copy of NCL stock (with account number blocked) via email to Oceania. I used the O email address from the bottom of the form - thank you cc people for providing the form! Last night I looked at my reservation on the O website and saw the OBC listed as $125 for DH and $125 for me. Yay!

Same for us.  Took 2 days.  And I thought it was split because the brokerage account was a joint account.