rojojacko

Rusky beat me to it.

Online check in and seat selection should be available at no charge 24 hours before flight if it is with BA.

Rob

Many thanks. We are on Poesia's Grand Voyage from Genoa to Barbados this November with an Allegrissimo package so I assume that this will apply to us for the whole voyage.

Rob

According to my guru, Martin Lewis of moneysavingexpert, you should ALWAYS pay in the local currency on your credit or debit card, but be aware that some cards are better to use abroad than others. There is money to be saved by using the right card if you are a frequent traveller who spends money abroad. Check out the website.

Rob

Thank you Frie.

From the above post it seems as though some aft cabins can suffer various problems! Fortunately we are on the port side so shouldn't have these affect us. Really looking forward to our itinerary so hope that yours is as good. Never had any noise problems of any kind on the Magnifica so not expecting any on the Poesia.

Rob

We have twice used Airlynx at Southampton Airport. Very reasonable price and only a short transfer from there to the port and back, allegedly the closest off port parking. Worth a try.

Rob

Forgot to say that we have been on many cruise lines and rate MSC highly, so we have a reasonable level of experience and it compares well, but is very different to Royal Caribbean. Not tried NCL or Carnival or Cunard but pretty much tried all of the other mainstream lines.

Rob

While I can't help with this question directly, there is a very good review on the ship from early in September which you will easily find by searching this forum. We are on the Grand Voyage to the Caribbean on the Poesia in November and very much looking forward to it after reading this review and from other research. We have also been on Magnifica, a sister ship to Poesia, and very much enjoyed it. If it's a good price, I would go for it and, if you drink even moderately, the Allegrissimo package is a great buy.

Rob

I'm sure that you will find at least two different now on hop off buses on the waterfront near where you dock and there are two different routes. It will give you the chance to see more of the island and hear some of the history. Get off in Mdina for an hour or so as it is a lovely ancient walled city.

Rob

Thanks Goldenbonny. Once we get on board I will see if I can pursue that. We have nearly 4 weeks on board to sort it out!

Rob

We are travelling transatlantic on Poesia, ending our voyage in Barbados in December, with a flight back to the UK departing at 17.10. The whole package is booked through MSC direct and includes transfers. What is likely to happen in Barbados? Will we be sent to the airport at about 9am and have to kick our heels or will they let us stay on board until about 2pm then transfer us? We are black card holders and our friends are gold, will that have any influence on the arrangements?

Can anyone help with their experiences. Many thanks.

Rob

Just checked on the phone and the balance due date is as originally quoted, also confirmed by e-mail so no need to pay out yet!

Thanks

I had the same e-mail and checked my Cruise Personaliser and it clearly shows 19/9/2016 as the balance due date. Just read your post and checked the e-mail and attachment again and it does say that it should be paid within 7 days. I will ring them later!

Rob

Hi. I think that we are on the same cruise as you and I don't think this drinks package is available on European/Transatlantic cruises. When you look on your Personaliser you will be offered the chance to buy some packages so you will see if it is offered there. If not, you may be able to buy drink vouchers on board which may include the drinks you want. We and our travelling companions have pre-purchased the Allegrissimo drinks package and, from memory, the package draft beer is Heineken with no other canned or bottled beer in the package, however it is a great package and excellent value!

Roll on November! Good luck.

Rob

We are on an Oceania cruise in August/September and have just booked a full day tour to Cairo from Port Said with Ramasside. Visiting the Pyramids, Sphinx, felucca on the Nile, lunch and sightseeing which was just what we wanted but plenty of other options. Process was very quick and easy by email and we are hopeful that Egypt won't be pulled from the itinerary. Pay at the end of the tour in £, €, $ or Egyptian pounds so all is covered. Looking forward to the cruise and this visit.

Rob

There may be more recent information from others but, in my experience, you will not get the chance to purchase anything at Barbados airport as you will get off the plane and immediately board the bus to the port without going near the terminal. You won't even need to clear customs or immigration and your cases will be delivered to your cabin for you so no need to collect hold luggage.

Also, your package may well include a coach transfer from Southampton docks to your departure airport to collect your car. Ours certainly did.

If you have time before sailing, you should be able to buy alcohol, wine and/or spirits, ashore in Barbados before sailing.

Rob

Thanks for the correction. Got my date slightly wrong! Hoping that the offe will be on.

Rob

We are on the 22nd October sailing and Atul Kulchar is supposedly onboard. We love Sindhu and are sailing with family and want to introduce them to it. On previous cruises, we have taken advantage of the early bird offers and received a free bottle of wine with our Sindhu booking. How likely are we to have early bird offers available on this seven day cruise?

Many thanks.

Rob

We are a group of four who disembark in Valletta, probably by 9am, but our airport transfer is not until 2pm. Has anyone any suggestions for storing our cases and hand luggage for those few hours while we wander into the town and kill that time?

Many thanks.

Rob

Hi. Just booked this package for a 23 night cruise this November for £28! It sounds a real bargain as they have also offered 20% extra data. Anyone know exactly how it works and why it is so cheap as it is 9.90 euros a day or 29.90 euros a week usually. I did ring up and query the price before booking but was assured that it was correct.

Thanks all.

I knew that there would be some knowledgable cruisers out there. Thanks for your help. We are looking forward to our trip.

Rob

Hi

After 20+ cruises with numerous lines, we have just booked with Oceania for the first time, a 15 night med cruise on Insignia. As part of the deal we have elected for the House Beverage Package.

My wife is happy with the drinks with meal concept but I also like pre-dinner and post-dinner drinks so it makes sense for me to upgrade to the 'anytime' package. Is it possible for me to upgrade and leave my wife on the standard package, as you can on Azamara, or do we both have to upgrade?

If we stay with the standard package, do the drinks come only whilst at the dining table or is it during meal times, or can it be stretched?

Is it possible to pre-pay the drinks upgrade and does it make financial sense to do so?

Is Port included as a dinner drink on the standard package?

We are traveling with another couple and obviously wish to try the speciality dining venues and understand that we can pre-book some of them. How do we link a reservation with our friends to share a table?

Lastly, the gratuities seem very expensive at $16 pppn. Is there a consensus about just leaving them as they are as I appreciate we will encounter a variety of waiters or reduce the amount and treat the cabin steward separately?

Many thanks for the help and advice which I am sure I will receive. To date, our favourite cruise line is Azamara so we are keen to see how Oceania compare.

Rob

Will look at that, thanks.

Rob

It sounds as though I need to go for the two days to cover all of the sights so I will now get back to the drawing board (or Internet) to see who offers the best two day package.

Thanks for all of your observations on this matter.

Rob :)

There are only six of us and private tours are very expensive. I need to liaise with my fellow travellers and the tour operators but it may be that a two day tour is the best choice as we may not pass that way again.

I have seen the tours offered by Alla, SPB and another but we can also think about a ships excursion or shorexcursions dot com, who both seem to offer one day tours, but, as you say, what will we do on day two.

Thanks for your observations.

Rob

A small group of us are on Eclipse in St Petersburg on 6th June 2015 and wanted to do a one day tour taking in the sights. I have found several companies who appear to offer a complete one day tour at a good price but, when contacted, will only offer us a two day tour as we are there for two days. Is there a good reason for this or is it a money making ploy to a captive (ie visa less) audience.

Any suggestions as to one day tours or should I just accept that we need to do two days?

Thanks

Rob