su-arizona

I believe the original poster was asking about ditching a tour from Trieste to Venice.  Our May embarkation was just moved from Venice to Trieste, so I've done a bit of research.  There are about 30 trains daily between Venice-Trieste, but Italian trains are not always the most predictable, and typical time is 2-3 hours.  The drive is about 1.5 hours on the Autostrada, which is not always the most fun to drive.

Venice is a lovely city, but not the easiest to navigate.   And you can't just grab a taxi to get back to your meeting point on time. 

In the previous discussion, I thought it reasonable to ditch a tour from the Marseille cruise port to wander Aix...but I wouldn't make the same recommendation for Trieste-Venice.  It is more chancy to get to your meeting point on time in Venice, and your options for getting back to Trieste on you own are more difficult. For this one, I'd stick with the ship tour...

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See the recent news post that FDR announced cancelling all St Petersburg stops for all NCLH ships.

Some of the "missing" Vista cruises were great itineraries and sold out quickly as a previous poster said.  When I considered wait listing on two of them, the wait lists were already > 60 for most all categories.  Just recently inquired again, the the wait list was > 70 for penthouse and concierge.  I am booked on an earlier Vista itinerary Venice->Athens (which will hopefully not depart from Trieste like my 2022 Marina cruise!)

Oops, should have said our current hotel and flights are for Venice...

We just received notice that our 14-May itinerary will embark from Trieste.  I made independent air arrangements and we have booked a hotel for 3 days pre-cruise.  Our notice says that "complimentary transfers between your arrival airport and embarkation port will be provided", so DebbyMA's post is disappointing.  Until I hear otherwise, I am assuming that Oceania will provide me with transfers from the airport to Trieste on embarkation day - and that I am responsible for getting myself back to the airport at some designated time.  There are not nearly as many flights to Trieste as Venice, so I expect O will not reroute all their flights to Trieste.  

My TA and I will both follow up on this.   Not much point in asking this weekend...it will certainly take awhile for O to figure this out, especially as they are also rerouting all their Baltic and Black Sea itineraries.

If you are using O air, please post here what O has told you about your arrangements!

And BTW, I'm totally with JazzBeau on Ravenna.  I would have been thrilled with embarkation there, and the opportunity to see that city.  Trieste, not so much... If you've enjoyed Trieste, please enlighten me!   We've been to Venice many times (profile pic was taken near the San Basilio port departing on a Windstar cruise), but always enjoy it.

It's a sad day for the world.  Macron's comments were especially sobering.

Certainly Russian ports will be cancelled, but I am also wondering what other ports might be affected if the armed conflict grows.  Balkan ports are likely, but maybe Croatia?  After two years of Covid cancellations, I'm sure we're all itching to get away, but concerned about an already ugly situation growing larger....

There's more discussion of this one page earlier entitled "Embarkation in Venice".  JazzBeau provided some great detailed info about this.

BTW I absolutely hate the recent changes to CC.  Suppose it happened with the TA acquisition, but it makes it more difficult to reference or find responses (among other user-unfriendly changes)

We did exactly what you are proposing on an Oceania tour to Aix from "Marseille", so it is entirely possible.

First, and most important, Oceania DOES NOT PORT IN MARSEILLE CITY.  It ports in the Marseille Cruise Port, which is in the middle of nowhere some distance from Marseilles. I have not found any tours from the cruise port, and I think it's about 30-45 minutes to Marseille (and back!).  But when we last ported, there was a long line and wait for a free ship bus to Marseille.  All the tours I have found leave from the old Marseille Port which is in the city of Marseille.  I was unable to find a car rental in the cruise port, and there is nothing to do or see there.  Maybe there's some new stuff there now, but I won't chance it...

I've verified that this is where we will port on our spring 2022 cruise on Marina, and we will take a ship tour from there again this spring.  It's really the only option.

So, as for leaving the ship tour in Aix, after walking with the group for awhile, we spoke with the guide and asked if we could take off on our own.  We agreed on a meeting point and a time and there was no problem that I recall.  We have done this several times on ship tours, and make sure that we are at the designated meeting spot at the required time.  I think I recall the Aix tour may have had some free time in the tour description anyway.  It's never been a problem for us, but I do remember some tours where we did have to wait awhile for others.  

So IMHO, it's a sensible thing for responsible adults to do.  We would much prefer to do an "on your own" tour,  but I don't believe it's offered for Aix.  And hiring a private driver is too costly for the two of us.  BTW, the train station is in the city of Marseille too.

We're cruising from Venice on Marina in May.  I (perhaps foolishly) assumed we would embark in Venice as we have in the past, and booked a hotel for 3 nights pre-cruise.  As we get more info regarding where we'll embark, I'll post it on the boards.  I will not be a happy camper if we are to sail out of Trieste, but I'm hopeful that won't be the situation.  Oceania ships are not very large cruise ships....

We were booked for the Star Legend cruise leaving St Maarten on January-15.  We cancelled.  We have cruised on Windstar many times and always loved it, and we look forward to using our Future Cruise Credit to cruise on Windstar again - when things are more "normal".  Really appreciate all the posts on this board about the Wind Surf Covid outbreak.  It helped my decide that it's wise to cancel.  But the new January 3 wording on the Windstar site really sealed the deal.  When a cruise line tells me that if I should test positive on a cruise, they will disembarked quarantine

me on some island according to that island's rules, and getting back to the US is my problem...sounds like time to cancel.  Not exactly cruiser-friendly.

Don't think the end of cruise tests are optional if you live in the US.  I believe that a negative test is required to enter the US unless you have recently recovered from Covid and can produce your positive test results and a doctors letter saying you have recovered. 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

We've cruised a number of times with other cruise lines, and I purchased this trip to "try out" Viking Ocean.  I called the customer service line today to question a charge for transfers, and took the opportunity to question this whole "guilty by COVID association" situation, and ask that Viking be more open in discussing the situation with booked passengers. 

The rep was aware of the situation, and only said Viking was conforming to all the requirements of the Bermuda government.  I've now been reading the "Royal Gazette" regularly and it appears that the Bermuda government has no interest in tourists returning to Bermuda.  And the various government websites are less than helpful.

I asked that Viking be more transparent (as has Celebrity) in posting a synopsis of the incident, and letting future passengers know what the rules are for EXPOSED passengers and how they will be handled.  Their health and safety talks about what happens for positive tests but it DOES NOT address how situations where contact tracing shows exposure to OTHERS testing positive.  I (and my insurance) am prepared for what happens if I test positive - but not for the possibility of a lengthy quarantine if I am in proximity to another passenger who tests positive!

I am really disgusted by this whole situation - disgusted with Viking, disgusted with Bermuda.  Like many others, I was lured by Viking's safety protocols...but I never considered what might happen if another passenger tests positive in Viking's regular onboard testing.  From reading the Royal Gazette, it also appears that Viking has agreed to quarantine the ship if 3 passengers should test positive.

I was willing to take the risk that I might test positive for COVID...but not that I might face significant problems  if I go on a Viking shore excursion with someone else who tests positive.

As always, there's a lot of noise on these boards - VIKING PLEASE use MVJ to give booked passengers more information regarding what we might expect if OTHERS test positive and we DO NOT.

I bought Nationwide Cruise Choice through InsureMyTrip, as I have for all the cruises I've taken since 2017.   It includes pre-existing condition coverage if bought before final trip payment, which is pretty unique - most require buying within 14-21 days of initial payment.

Also use them because in 2017 I had to cancel for a medical problem a couple weeks before a very expensive Silversea cruise.  Nationwide customer care was very kind and helpful, and my entire claim amount was paid within several weeks after submitting, with no questions or problems of any kind.

Can't give a better recommendation than that; you might give them a look.  

We booked the July20 sailing, assuming that there will be lots more information posted by earlier cruisers.  We also wanted to escape from the late July heat in Florida (which is where we live now).  We have cruised frequently on Oceania and Windstar, and I have wanted to try Viking Ocean.  This seemed like an interesting opportunity.

I booked our air directly with Delta, because we wanted to make sure we had only one stop and we could avoid New York area airports.  Customs/immigration have often been a nightmare there and I suspect Covid has not improved things!  Had some Delta miles so I was also able to upgrade to first class on the outbound flight (yay!).

We visited Bermuda years ago, and there wasn't a whole lot to see (played a lot of golf then) so we didn't expect to do a lot of touring.  But I'm disappointed (but not surprised) to hear that there will be no independent shore visits allowed.  Didn't use a TA to book this, so this is the first I heard this.  I did see that Bermuda has 40% population vaccinated, so perhaps things may be less restrictive by July.

Look forward to hearing all about the cruise from you earlier sailors!  Please post lots of info & photos!!

Gosh folks....the subject was crowded cruise ports, wasn't it?  

I'm not sure there are any "back alleys" in St. Barts.  We enjoyed it the first time we were there in the 80's and could rent a mini moke - driving was an adventure.  If you spend enough for a fabulous lunch at a fabulous hotel - it ought to be enjoyable and folks ought to be polite.  Unless it's high season of course...

As I mentioned before, crowding isn't exclusive to cruise ports, or even remote locations.  

I'm on the AA flight BCN-MIA next month, booked through O air.  I believe it is true Premium Economy, but will certainly report back if it isn't!  

BTW, in defense of O air, they were careful to point out that my DL flight to BCN was Comfort+ and that it is not true Premium Economy (though DL costs about as much!).    I was willing to suffer to get an overnight non-stop to Europe from TPA (not many of those from TPA, and my go-to LH flight was full).  Maybe I'll feel differently after the flight!

Before someone jumps on me for the previous comments, we don't use FF miles and are currently without a good TA....

If you mean Olife airfare, you should know what flights you want before you book through O.  Then you can make a comparison.  We usually do the premium economy upgrade and it has most always been less expensive than booking on our own.  Seat selection is the same as buying airfare on your own - you should choose your seats as soon you have your confirmation number.

I generally check seat availability when I check on the flights I want before talking to O.  If there aren't good seats available on your own, O booking can't help.

On 5/6/2019 at 5:42 PM, warburg said:

Right on, Hawaiidan.  Fab photo. We live on South Beach, South of Fifth. This neighborhood is neglected by hordes because it has very few inexpensive bars and restaurants,  By contrast, in The Season, north of Fifth Street resembles Dante's Inferno. However, off season, all of South Beach is nice but warmer. Therein lies another anti hoard strategy. Visit places when the main industry shuts down, For example, ski areas are still pretty nice off season, especially if you like mountains. As travelers, checking out destinations is fun and pays off. Our next land trip is to Phoenix this July. In this case we are attending a big event and this is when it is. I am guessing that it is off season there. I've already checkout the hotel. Great air conditioning, You are correct about west/east TAs. Much more comfortable.

 Ummmm.....

I'm not sure travel in the off-season is a great solution....After 20+ years in the Phoenix area I can't say I recommend it in July.  Staying in a nice hotel is fine, but you may not wish to leave it in the daytime.

Large crowds are not limited to cruise ship ports.  No cruises to Walt Disney World, but over the years the crowds have grown oppressive there too.  I once had these apocalyptic visions of what overpopulation would look like - but now I think we are seeing it everywhere around us in everyday living, in crowds and traffic and touring.  I just finished buying timed admission tickets for the Alhambra and Sagrada Familia months in advance...and remember giving tickets to the Anne Frank house to others in Amsterdam last year when we could not even purchase tickets to the museums on site - much less the Anne Frank house.  And being unable to see the flowers in Giverny over all the other heads.  Or the Sistine Chapel ceiling through the hundreds of iPads photographing the ceiling by Japanese tourists.

Sadly, there doesn't seem to be a solution, or such a thing as spontaneous travel anymore.  And right now, I can't even add one person to specialty dining reservations on Oceania for a single widowed friend who decided to join us about a month before the cruise.

Now THAT seems to be something that could be resolved.  I am finding it really sad that Oceania is so unresponsive to such things.

On our Riviera cruise Oct-2019, we booked La Cuisine Bourgeoise in La Reserve by calling Oceania.  This La Reserve option didn't appear online in La Reserve dining - it had to be booked by telephone.  Perhaps this has changed now, but our June Riviera cruise doesn't show it online either (it may not be offered, haven't asked).

We thought the dinner and the wine pairings we excellent, and the dinner is certainly worth the price.  The wines alone are worth the price, and they are very generous with the pours.  I'm sure the "Dom" dinner is fabulous, but don't overlook the other options - they're great too!

It would be nice to have a coffeemaker en suite...but...Since I know I won't have one on Oceania, I book a cabin with easy access to the Concierge/Executive Lounge so I can easily grab a couple cups of coffee to take back to the cabin.  Less fuss than going to Horizons, Baristas etc early in the morning.  

Also, coffee ordered the night before usually arrives very promptly at the scheduled time in the morning - with or without butler.

We're on the same cruise with you - also in Concierge - and we've chatted on the Roll Call.  No sea days, and there are three days in a row that I expect will be very long, tiring days of touring - I know we are both touring Seville from Cadiz and Granada from Almeria - and Malaga also has many full-day tours.  So I won't book specialties for those nights, as we probably will choose to dine casually in the Terrace.  But that's just us...we rarely dine in the GDR and head to the Terrace Cafe when we're tired and don't want to get 'dressed up'.  Most dishes from the GDR are also available in the Terrace, plus the grill options.  Like others have said, specialties are rarely booked on the first night and the last night out is usually a Terrace/packing night for us.  

Gosh...that doesn't leave much time!  I don't usually enjoy sea days, but this is our first with NO sea days!  

Riviera is my favorite ship - the only one I'd consider for a TA.  Small enough to get to know others, but large enough not to be bored by many sea days.  Also (having cruised in really bad weather) large enough to feel comfortable in rough seas.  We cruised Greece last Oct on Riviera, and will return to visit Spain in June.

I was just discussing this topic with an Oceania sales rep a couple days ago...

A number of posts here said that an "extended voyage" or B2B cruise only counts as one Oceania club cruise credit (not two as in booking two separate cruises).  She confirmed that was correct.  So I assume that is why it isn't 'allowed'.

There is no real pricing discount on doing a B2B, but there is some savings since it's charged as one way air for each cruise segment.  I would also assume that's why you need to cancel and rebook.  It wasn't enough of a deal for me to book the extended voyage though...

I always load up my iPad with a selection of new movies...the onboard movie content is pretty limited, and tends to repeat frequently.