karscott

>>Also note that Oceania has two, “2 for 1” happy hours a day so if you just have an occasional drink, review the programs carefully. Thoroughly enjoyed your detailed review and "cup half full" attitude, @Sthrngary. Thank you! Do you happen to remember if the "2 for 1" happy hours were always scheduled at the same times each day on board? Or did they vary from one day to the next? We are sailing soon on Insignia and I'm curious.

Our TA just confirmed that there will be no air deviation fee applied for flying in a day early. Thanks again @LHT28 for the information. We end up losing a transfer in the process but that's minimal in the whole scheme of things. Karen

Thanks - I'm checking with my TA and hoping that it applies to Canadians as well!

Thanks for this info, @LHT28. I can't find anything on their web site about the new program. Can you tell me where this is stated?? Karen

Hi there, I just learned that Oceania (which we're trying for the first time after cruising with RC/Princess and Celebrity in past years) is charging $299 per person air deviation fees. My TA says that although she disagrees with the extra fees, "all cruise lines are doing this". We have a S. Caribbean cruise booked for December and simply want to arrive in Bridgetown the day before the cruise instead of 2:20pm on the day of embarkation. You know how it goes with delays, cancelled flights and winter storms... as it is, we have to overnight in Toronto to get there. The thought of having to pay $600 on top of hotel costs in both TO and Bridgetown makes me feel ill. We're already shelling out enough for this cruise. My TA said she did the calculations and that it's still more cost-effective to book the flights through Oceania than to do it independently. Does anyone have any insight into air deviation fees and policy? TIA Karen

Thank you @debbyma @MEFIowa @jackdeb and @CAG - I appreciate your replies. 🙂

Hello, Finally making a leap from Princess/RCL/Celebrity 4000+ passenger cruises and giving Oceania Insignia a try later this year. I have a couple of basic questions to which I cannot find answers on the O web site: 1. Are the walls and doors in staterooms magnetic? I've become used to bringing along magnetic hooks/clips for various purposes and would like to know if they'll be useful on Insignia. 2. What type of stateroom entry does Oceania use (e.g. card/medallion/key?) I can't seem to find this info anywhere. Thanks in advance, Karen

My husband and I have cruised six times over the last ten years or so. I have recently retired and have all the flexibility I want to be able to travel the world, whereas my husband continues to work. He is able to do so remotely but requires robust wifi because he uses a VPN to access his company's files. I'm not a techie but during our recent Mediterreanean cruise with Princess ("best wifi at sea" 😉), he was frustrated because everything he could typically do in 5 minutes at work was taking an hour or more. We didn't know if it was poor ship wifi, problems with the VPN, or what. I awoke each morning to see him sighing and shaking his head - not enjoyable for either one of us! When we are on land and he works remotely from a hotel or relative's house, there is no problem and he can finish up work early and enjoy the rest of the day. Unfortunately, he works on his own and cannot leave work behind for someone else while we travel. My husband is speaking with his IT contacts to see what might be improved on his end but I thought I'd throw it out here as well... are there cruise lines that have really strong wifi? Areas of the world to visit that would present less of a struggle for working remotely? Do I give up on cruising until he retires? Any ideas appreciated. Karen

I think we signed up about a week before our trip to Europe. You input your regular sleep hours as well as flight numbers and it uses them to generate the details of the "time shift" to minimize jet lag. Ours started two days before the flight, suggesting when to use/avoid caffeine, get light, times to go to bed and wake up, etc. Then there was another set of recommendations starting two days before the return (which you won't need - lucky you!) Karen

@FroufieWe did give Timeshifter a try and it was a game-changer. I wouldn't hesitate to use it again. The advice is solid and it customizes it to your specific flight times and locations. We followed it as closely as we could - it was a bit more difficult on the return trip since we had to wake earlier than it recommended, to be on a shuttle to the airport - but we both experienced very minimal jet lag overall. It's an excellent app. Hope your upcoming international flight goes well - safe travels! Karen

Thanks @broberts@LHT28 @Jack1 @*Miss G* @ski ww @ALD18 @em-sk @iancal @Fouremco @Magicat @Milhouse @ShopperfiendTO for all your tips and tricks. Much appreciated! Karen

I'm looking for any tips from seasoned travelers: We have a 9.5 hour flight from Toronto to Athens, leaving at around 6pm local time in TO and arriving at about 10:30am the next day in Athens. Since we will "lose" seven hours due to the time change, I'm thinking it will feel as if it's 3am or so upon our arrival. Are there methods to use to mitigate jet lag or adjust more easily to the time difference? Do we try and go to sleep early on in the flight? Sleep at a time that is usual for us? I hate the thought of missing out on what Athens has to offer because we're so thrown off that we can't really enjoy it. The good part is that we fly in a day before our cruise so it gives a little more time to adjust. The bad part is that we're in our 50s and have noticed we don't recover from time changes as easily as we did in our 20s! 😉 Any advice appreciated! Karen

Hello, We are in Genoa for one day during our cruise on the Regal Princess at the end of September and it's the only port for which I have no plan (yet). We prefer small group private tours to ship excursions, and have spent time during a previous trip in Florence, Rome and Venice. Does anyone have a recommendation for the day? We are there from 7am-9pm and are open to DIY or a semi-private shore excursion. Any suggestions much appreciated. Karen

Thank you for the tips, @cruisemom42, @ski ww and @ISLABONITA! Much appreciated. It will probably be an afternoon that we're venturing out in Athens, so perhaps the HO/HO is our best bet, especially if it's hot. During a previous trip to Rome in July, the heat was so intense that we filled our hotel tub with cold water every day and stood in it to cool off! The room was air conditioned but not at all like we are used to...😉 Karen

We are arriving pre-cruise for a night at the Grand Hyatt in Athens in mid-September 2022, and will have about enough time/energy for a half-day tour. I checked with a tour company but the cost of a private half-day tour is very expensive. We're mostly interested in the Acropolis and maybe a stroll through Plaka. Our flight from Canada is a long one and we'll be adjusting to the time change before boarding our cruise. We're just looking for something relatively easy but that will allow us to get a taste of Athens. Any recommendations are appreciated. We are in our 50s, with no mobility issues, and I'm wondering if we can visit both the Acropolis and Plaka on our own. Karen