Fam_Cruise

Highly unlikely -- the cost of O life is the other perks. If you have not done a final payment you can always switch to cruise only.

Yes! This is the end of OLife Choice IMO unless they positively enhance Olife in some manner as the included Internet was what was being added at no cost. I use the term "positively" as O has proven that when they use the term enhance (recent Oceania Member level benefits), they don't necessarily mean "make better" or "offer more".

 

So a person who has chosen OLife Choice without airfare pays (for example) $400 more than Cruise Only and gets a non-refundable OBC of $400. Well without any other included amenities, in the future they can book cruise only and won't have to find a way to use the non-refundable OBC, they can just use their own fully refundable $ to buy stuff. This coming from a non-drinker who doesn't do O's shore excursions.

Was this a last minute docking change?

I don't know, but I doubt it since this was a disembarkation/embarkation port.

Does O tell you what port you will be docking at before you are sailing or is it left up to the passenger to guess?

No Oceania does not tell you, but most of the time you don't have to guess as the port usually has a vessel schedule which will tell you where they berth. Here's the one for Copenhagen: http://www.cmport.com/ships-in-port/calls It really didn't matter which port it was in my case as my flight to ARN wasn 't until noon. FWIW, June-Sep of this year, 4 times at Langeliniekaj, 3 times at Oceankaj, and 3 times at berth V14 (Visby).

Only Langelinie pier is close to the Little Mermaid. Oceankaj definitely is not; it's five miles from the city center. We've docked at Langelinie on the compact Nautica but at Oceankaj on the larger Marina.

 

Since opening in 2014, Oceankaj has been Copenhagen's primary cruise port due to its long pier, two modern terminal buildings and dedicated wastewater handling facility. Inexpensive public bus service (#26) is available to and from the city, plus there are always taxis around.

My cruise on Marina last spring ended in Copenhagen and I was expecting that we would dock at Oceankaj but was pleasantly surprised when we docked at Langelinie pier instead. Taxis were extremely slow to appear, so with 20+ people in line and a estimated 1-2 hour wait I ended up walking to the train station and taking the train to the airport instead.

See attached.

We took the train down to the port last year

The OP's subject is Airport to Rome city Center,

 

But yes, it sounds like you were probably on a regional or intercity train from Roma Termini to Civitavecchia, and your experience would be correct. For port to Roma Termini I would recommend first class FrecciaBianca service where you will have more room for in carriage luggage storage. It's as low as 9,90 € if purchased in advance.

 

The Leonardo Express is exclusively an airport train and has plenty of in carriage storage space for luggage as everyone is going to or from the airport. Pretty much the same as Heathrow Express, Hong Kong Airport Express, or Shanghai Maglev (but slower).

 

Only you can decide if what you travel with can be managed by yourself. FWIW, I too only do carry-on, but then again my trips are only 4-8 weeks long and everywhere I stay has laundry or laundry services so I don't need that much.

Do you not mean Speednet?

No, see Bronze benefits in the attachment. Also notice the reductions in OBC for all levels coming in November 2019.

FaceTime works, but would drop during peak usage times. Internet speed in general should improve greatly when the new WaveNet internet services goes live. Speaking of which, does anyone know anything about the rollout schedule fro WaveNet?

Yes, numerous times. Piece of cake

Leonardo Express - Trenitalia

Based on schedules I would guess Barcelona April 16-26, 2019.

A question about the refit. When is it happening on the reviera and what are they changing.

Based on schedules I would guess Barcelona April 16-26, 2019

I think I might be the only one in the world who has no interest in seeing an old Viking ship.

am I crazy??

Yes. You might actually enjoy the Vasa Museum as it does not contain anything Viking, much less a Viking ship for starters. It does contain the world's only preserved warship from the 17 century, about 600 years after the Viking age.

Bitob noted earlier on this thread that the Marina has the daily GDR dinner menu posted on the TV. I definitely agree with that being an enhancement, belated, but nevertheless an improvement.

Joanne mentioned that this was probably because Concierge cabins can now order in from the main dining room menu. Makes sense.

 

Follow-up on Executive concierge:

 

Due to last minute change Juan Carlos is on board until the 6th and Diego will come on board to replace him on the 8th.

Exec Concierge: Juan Carlos Cortes

Unless something has changed in the past couple of days, according to Juan Carlos he was departing Marina today and Diego Coletti is coming on board as the Executive Concierge.

Welcome to Cotton House. We're heading out in 5 minutes to Park Güell. Enjoy your day!

It varies, but it always means that it is non-refundable. For international fares it usually means there is a change fee so you are able to use the fare for another journey within 12 months of original purchase date (not travel date) for a change fee ranging from $150-450 (depends on rules of the actual fare). If you are looking at this on the airline's web site, on one of the pages you navigate through there will be a link to the fare rules. Click on that link and follow other links until the fare rules are displayed. The search (<Ctrl> F) on Change and you will eventually find what the change fee is. Some have exceptions to the rules, death, death in family, or illness, but again not all fares, so check the fare rules.

 

If you have a subscription service like Expert Flyer (the one I use), you can actually search on the fare rule if you can find the 6 character fare rule for the ticket you are considering.

 

I hope that helps.

March

I travel solo a lot. If you are used to traveling solo it works great. One can always meet people on their cruise's roll call and do shore excursions together if you like.

 

As noted by Barrheadlass many cruises are 100% single supplement, but they also run Single Supplement specials for single supplements as low as 25% (most are actually 50%). To find these click on Offers | View all offers |and then scroll down and click on the Single Supplement Available Cruises. Right now there are only 15 cruises that are available. hat should increase come November 1, or December 1 at the latest, when they load up the upcoming cruises over the next 6-8 months for which they will offer low single supplements.

Reservations open on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at 8:30 am Eastern

Also, where do you all put the "liquids" that must be put in the hold. We got stopped in security with a tiny pot of honey which was accidentally left in the carry on from a non fly holiday. Make up, toothpaste etc, not allowed in the cabin.

Literally LOL (at the honey) I don't travel with honey, never have and probably never will.

 

Well since you asked. As a man I don't have any makeup, but I do take travel size shave cream, of which a fresh can lasts about 4 weeks (I take 2 if the trip is longer than 4 weeks), and larger than travel size 2.8 oz Colgate which lasts a good 6-8 weeks, and stick deodorant which doesn't need to go into liquid bag, and 3 oz Neutrogena Sunscreen. If I run out of anything I buy new on the road; sunscreen being the only thing I've ever run out of. I also carry a few other small things like the Aesop anti-oxidant hydrator cream which I get everytime I fly Cathay Pacific first class. Note the larger, but legal, Colgate 2.8 oz toothpaste sizes are difficult to find. My Safeway, Walmart, CVS, and even Wegmans didn't carry them so I ordered a 12 pack of them from Amazon which should last me about 6 years.

 

As far as fighting for overhead space, I never have had to as I fly first, or business if there is no first cabin. Now the flight I just took from HDS to JNB yesterday and CPT to HDS last weekend was turboprop and only economy and I tarmac checked the larger carryon which was waiting for me on the tarmac when I deplaned, no need to go to baggage claim.

 

As far as those who are mobility challenged, I would imagine they would, and should, check their luggage. I doubt the OP is in that category, otherwise s/he would not have asked the question.

 

Also I am not thin by any stretch of the imagination, but not fat either (although I often feel that way after eating a meal on O). I'm within 10 lbs + or - of my BMI. So 38" waist and a few extra pounds around the middle. Many would say average body type.

 

Carry on travel is not for everyone, but I highly recommend it if you think it may be for you. While most of you have surpassed me in the number of cruises, I would venture a guess that I probably fly more than most on this site. I fly from 24 to 36 flights each year. I take 2 major trips each year ranging from 4-8 weeks each, sometimes with an O cruise as part of the trip. My current 7 week trip alone includes 22 flights, to 16 countries, on 3 continents, and a 10 day cruise (7 of the 16 countries).

 

Another benefit of doing carry-on is that along with online checkin you don't have to go to the checkin counter, and can just proceed through security and straight to the lounge.

My question is why would you bother? It gets down to spending a bit of time at the airport waiting for your luggage versus a lot of time spent in the laundry.

I send out laundry. And there are so many other reasons for a carry on. Disembark when you want. No lost luggage. And the latest example, in Copenhagen when I disembarked Marina last month, taxi queue to airport was 20 deep and one taxi would only arrive every 5 minutes or so, hence a 1-1.5 hour wait. I walked to the train station instead of waiting with the added plus that I got in some exercise on a travel day when I otherwise would have not. I met up with a couple from the cruise with only carry on who were doing the same thing, although they weren't sure where they were going. Having been to Copenhagen a few times, I acted as guide. We had a wonderful visit as we walked to the train station. Nice thing is, the walk actually goes through all the nice parts of town.

Yes, I do it routinely on 4-8 week trips of which 10-16 day cruises are a part. I would have absolutely no issues with doing it on a 21 night cruise, and probably will do it on a 36 night cruise next year. FWIW, I am single and male. 21" rollaboard and small Pacsafe backpack.

I can't shake the feeling that this has become something personal...:mad:

Nothing personal, just plain greed. Or to put it more softly, change the rules to suit their financial self interest. That sounds way better doesn't it? I am truly sorry for your experience.

A couple of observations. I just returned from a cruise on Marina and it was wonderful, BUT...

 

Familiarity breeds contempt. I am much more critical and observant than I was when I first cruised Marina back in 2012. There was the wow of no formal nights, no photographers, no art shows, awesome meals, service, furnishings, etc. which was a vast improvement from experiences on mid-range cruise lines I had cruise previously. Now, having done a half dozen O cruises I'm a bit more critical and the wow is more subdued.

 

Still a great cruise and I look past the few shortcomings.

 

I also don't have any desire to do any of the high end cruise lines that include alcohol as I don't drink, and as such I like OLife choice the way it is as it sets Oceania apart in a good way. It attracts clientele who don't drink or don't drink enough to find alcohol inclusive cruise worth the extra cost. Now I have looked at those cruise lines, and only Silverseas seems competitive for ME as I often cruise solo; as such their attractive low single supplements are enticing and still come out ahead in isolated cases. The only problem with that, and also with O's lower single supplements, is that they are often released much later than the 1.5-2 years in advance when I actually book cruises. So I have yet to actually book Silverseas; perhaps some day when I do a last minute thing.

 

While I do not wish anyone harm, in a way it would be eye opening for a younger person to have surgery on a knee, for instance, have to use a walker for a week or so and then a cane for a while. It changes your perspective greatly!

Well I am not a younger person, but just having had the ACL in my right knee replaced for the second time exactly 6 months ago I can tell you that a walker and cane never came into play as a result of my February 28 surgery or the previous one on March 18 2009. Crutches for 4 weeks and knee brace for 5 weeks did. While I don't, and never have used a walker, I AM a walker. About 2-3 months ago I returned to my usual daily walking of 8 and 16 miles a day and will be ready for ski season come November 28. Due to my injury and resulting surgery last season I only skied 48 days. Hopefully I'll be back to my regular 80 +or- ski days this coming season. After all I'm only 61 and it's difficult to keep up with my 75 year old neighbors who do 100+ ski days each year. :)

 

One will find people on any cruise or cruise line with mobility issues and also many more who lead sedentary lifestyles. In my limited experience I think you find a more active group of people on Oceania than many other cruise lines. JMHO

 

BTW Christian, the Jacque's Maître D and Terrace Cafe breakfast and Lunch supervisor is one stand out staff member who has always greeted me by name no matter where I see him.

We've been in a concierge cabin which had the white box. Our cabin was all the way aft. I wouldn't say the box made much difference.

Was your experience after last summer's Internet infrastructure upgrade? I found that the internet speed and connectivity was much better after the upgrade. Also, how did you your Wifi performance compare with your cabin door open? Attempting to use Wifi in steel encased cabins is similar to trying using Wifi or mobile phones in elevators,

 

I work for a software company and telecommute, so YES I work when I'm on vacation. BUT, I get to take as much vacation as I like, which ends up being 3-4 months a year, so a nice trade off. The irony to all this is that our area of expertise is IT Performance Management and Capacity Planning. We monitor IT infrastructure resource utilization and related performance, including network performance.

I will add that there is a daytime option on the Copa flights departing at 11:20 AM and getting in a little after 1 AM. For a daytime flight there is little need for a flat bed seat, so this competes well with the US majors that do the daytime service IMO. I know that Copa's business class fares are some of the lowest to/from South America. Also, for low business class fares check out Aviance as their fares are very competitive and they have 787 overnight service from LAX to BOG and then 330 onward service to Lima. I flew Aviance last year on their 787 service from BOG to MAD and it was quite nice and very nicely priced.