Neliska

Hi,  I just have a few questions to ask prior to our first cruise with Oceana on the Insignia next week out from Singapore.  We were to have done this cruise in March 2020 & then Covid struck & it was cancelled. Really looking forward to this one. We have done a few cruises but after going on the Panama Canal cruise on Pacific Princess & a Baltic one on Azamara several years ago now, we prefer the smaller ships & I know the bathrooms are on the small side but it didn't worry us previously on the other smaller ships.

What are the electrical outlets in the rooms?  American I presume?  Just so I  know what adapters I need to bring for our NZ plugs to work.

Hair Dryers - presume they are not attached to the wall (those were ghastly ones!)

Does the Aquamar Spa have a pool & spa pool for use?

We were just assigned a room a few days ago in which we were allocated  a Concierge Level room on Deck 7 so have gone up a deck from our booking & the bonus of a few extra's. 

Any other helpful information would be appreciated.

Thank you 🙂

Pleased to say the full refund for our 4 March cruise was paid into our account yesterday by our TA.

We were notified last Friday that the money had come through to the wholesaler in NZ who was then transferring it to the

Travel agency we used.

Our cruise was cancelled on 20 February by Oceania.

We hadn't paid a deposit as when we decided on this cruise full payment had to be made in November when we booked.

We didn't receive the US$300 pp for airfare cancellation in the refund but TA is going to be chasing this up.

Still waiting on refund from our 4 March cruise. 🙁  (In New Zealand)

Anyone out there in Australia received refunds yet? 

Has anyone that would have been on the 4 March cruise from Singapore to Hong Kong (then changed to Singapore) had their refunds from Oceania for the cruise?

Our Travel Agent was told it would be about another 8 weeks before we would be refunded as told to her by the Oceania Rep a couple of days ago.  Our refund would have to be paid to the travel agency first.

We are in New Zealand.

On 2/19/2020 at 1:18 PM, Flatbush Flyer said:

I checked again today and was told CC01. I will check again in the morning. Nautica will also be there overnight on March 3.

In any case, the March 4 cruise is going (from/to Singapore) with or without the handful of couples (on the various virus related CC threads) who, though it means tossing thousands of dollars down the drain, honestly think/fear/whatever that they will directly be exposed to the virus. As 'I've posted earlier: way too much viewing of zombie apocalypse movies and/or gullibility when it comes to the biased/selective data analysis being peddled by a particular couple of CC naysayers.

There are 6 million people in Singapore who do not have Coronavirus and all sorts of increasingly restrictive policies designed to keep it that way.

Folks here on CC need to maintain a sense of perspective before deciding what to do.

On 2/19/2020 at 1:18 PM, Flatbush Flyer said:

I checked again today and was told CC01. I will check again in the morning. Nautica will also be there overnight on March 3.

In any case, the March 4 cruise is going (from/to Singapore) with or without the handful of couples (on the various virus related CC threads) who, though it means tossing thousands of dollars down the drain, honestly think/fear/whatever that they will directly be exposed to the virus. As 'I've posted earlier: way too much viewing of zombie apocalypse movies and/or gullibility when it comes to the biased/selective data analysis being peddled by a particular couple of CC naysayers.

There are 6 million people in Singapore who do not have Coronavirus and all sorts of increasingly restrictive policies designed to keep it that way.

Folks here on CC need to maintain a sense of perspective before deciding what to do.

My travel agent mentioned this morning your cruise will now finish in Dubai !

I felt you were a little too critical to some on this board .

Although not thrilled at being in Asian ports we would have gone on this cruise as it had cost us a lot of $ but it was more the worry of being quarantined on the ship or elsewhere or on a cruise to nowhere or worse coming back to NZ (which is Coronavirus free at present) & possibly passing it to family & friends in our community.

This virus is already having an impact here in NZ in our tourism sector.

Good news. 😊
 

Our travel agent has just rung to say that Oceania have cancelled our cruise 4 March

She had advised me yesterday that Oceania we’re having a meeting and an announcement was going to be made, but at that stage she didn’t know what was happening. 
 

In August last year we were on the Journey and did a 3 day tour with TJ Travel.  Highly recommend them.  We did their 3 day tour with the 2nd day going to Moscow on the train.  Yes it was a long day but totally worth it.  A representative from the TJ office met us when we got off our ship and accompanied us to the train station and on the train to Moscow (4 hours)  We were then met by the Moscow guide and delivered back to the train and  met up with the TJ representative for the trip back to St Petersburg.

Both guides from TJ were excellent, as were the drivers.  The first two days we had 12 on our tour but the last day there was only 6 of us.

Our guide was able to change things around a bit to suit us. 
The guides and driver spoke good English.  Lunches were provided.

TJ sorted all the paperwork and their communication via email was excellent.

Hi PoohUnderstands

We found the Andersen Hotel great. We had booked a "Wonderful" room which was a bit bigger & had a long sofa in it & walk in shower. There was air con in the room which was greatly appreciated as it was rather hot in Copenhagen. There was no air con in the reception area but they are apparently going to be doing renovations next year (not sure when) and will have it then.

We found our room quiet & clean.

At the landing of each flight of stairs there was a reward - a tin of biscuits, help yourself to a cookie. We were on the 2nd floor so only saw the biscuits.

The staff at the front desk were very helpful sightseeing etc etc.

In the late afternoon (5 to 6 pm) they have a wine happy hour which is a nice way to chat to fellow guests, some who were on the same cruise as us and others who had just come off a Baltic cruise.

When Happy Hour finishes they have an honesty bar for spirits, wine etc.

Breakfast was good. Buffet style.

We could walk to Tivoli.

There was no self serve laundry there but you can go across the road to their sister hotel "Absalon" and use the laundry there (only 1 machine & drier) for a small fee.

I would stay there again.

Cheers

Jan

We recently stayed at Andersen Boutique Hotel in Copenhagen. What a gem of a place to stay.

There was air con in the room we had & so pleased we booked a hotel with it as it was very hot.

At the moment there is no air con in the reception area but they are apparently refurbishing that area & air con is going in so I was told.

Each night they have Hygge 5 - 6 pm (Wine Hour)

Close to Tivoli.

Thanks for the information. Perhaps might try the train & hope we don't end up in Sweden!!!

Next month we will have 3 nights in Copenhagen prior to a Baltic cruise.

Approximately what cost would a taxi from the airport to our hotel near Tivoli cost (Andersen Boutique Hotel) and also from hotel to the port at Oceankaj.

Are you able to get a pass out at Tivoli if you wanted to go back for dinner on the same day or do you have to pay to enter again?

Thanks :):)

Hi Marilyn

We (husband & myself) are on this Azamara Baltic Cruise & also staying at the Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel.

We could possibly share a taxi, but it would need to be a van I would think with suitcases to fit in. We will have 2 large ones & small carry on.

Regards

Jan

We have booked the Andersen Boutique Hotel for August. According to their website all 69 rooms are air conditioned. One of the reasons we decided on this hotel.

Thanks for the suggestions. We have booked at Andersons Boutique Hotel in Copenhagen & the Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel in Stockholm. Will let you know what they are like - next year as we are not going until August 2018. At this stage there is no Roll Call for our cruise up.

Host Grandma thanks for the tip about the Baltic forum. Lots of information there.

If a cruise is departing at 6pm what time would the earliest for boarding be?

Cheers

Hi ... I am looking for suggestions for hotels in Copenhagen for our Baltic cruise in August 2018 for 2 or 3 nights. Probably around 4 star. I have possibly narrowed it down to 3! A few months ago someone recommended The Adina Apartment Hotel.

Also looking at Absalon Hotel & Andersons Hotel. Has anyone stayed at these? Prefer hotel with air con & lift & not too small a room & in a good location for walking to attractions.

The Radisson Blu Waterfront in Stockholm with a room higher up for the water view looks to be our number one choice so far. Any other suggestions?

Thanks

Hi ... I am looking for suggestions for hotels in Copenhagen for our Baltic cruise in August 2018 for 2 or 3 nights. Probably around 4 star. I have possibly narrowed it down to 3! A few months ago someone recommended The Adina Apartment Hotel.

Also looking at Absalon Hotel & Andersons Hotel. Has anyone stayed at these? Prefer hotel with air con & lift & not too small a room & in a good location for walking to attractions.

The Radisson Blu Waterfront in Stockholm with a room higher up for the water view looks to be our number one choice so far. Any other suggestions?

Thanks

Hi we have booked for the Baltic cruise in 2018 , a room with a window on Deck 4. I think the Promotion was Nights On Us. I see now they are having another promotion with upgrading rooms.

I have just checked our room & it has gone up NZ$5500. That is a lot! We would never have booked it at that price !! Originally the Balcony rooms were quite a lot more than a window room, so far too much. Now it looks like the balcony ones are cheaper! Strange.

So it seems for an extra $2190 we can have a balcony room.

Being from NZ I don't think we get the price drops etc that the USA people talk about.

I will have to talk to my Travel Agent tomorrow about this. If I was able to change the booking, A V1 room on Deck 7 would be a good spot? I think that is mid ship.

On another note can anyone suggest places to stay in Stockholm. Mid range I guess. Previously someone on here (hubofhockey) recommended the Adina Apartment Hotel in Copenhagen which looks just what we are after.

Thanks :)

do you want help with hotels? price range helps! I slept in both cities as many guests have. I also like using Frommers book for hotels and dinners.

Hi Robin

Yes would appreciate any hotel recommendations for Copenhagen & Stockholm. Middle of the road prices I guess.

We have booked our trip & allocated Cabin 4044.

Thanks.

Thanks everyone for the advice. Recommended hotels in Copenhagen & Stockholm would be appreciated. Middle of the road ones I guess. At this stage I haven't even looked at any. I will be in touch with out travel agent to sort our trip out!

Cheers

Hi, we are looking into going on a Baltic cruise next year on the Azamara Journey.

In more recent times we have previously been on Celebrity Equinox (Med) & a few months ago the Infinity (Alaska) and last year did the Panama Canal on Pacific Princess. We prefer a smaller ship hence looking at Azamara and the itinerary looks good starting in Copenhagen and finishing in Stockholm giving time to look around these places before and after the cruise.

Can anyone suggest a good deck / cabin to try for. Just a window would be fine.

Are the bathrooms / cabins the same size as the Pacific Princess and these ships were originally from the same company years ago I believe?

We had a balcony on the Alaska cruise and hardly used it, whereas the Mediterranean cruise we used it a lot with the warmer weather.

Are the seas generally calmer on the Baltic cruises being more sheltered? I realise sea conditions can change, but perhaps those who have done this area could comment.

With the drinks complimentary does that include pre dinner wine / beer or is it just with meals?

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks :)

Are you able to upgrade from the Classic Package to the Premium Package after a few days onboard if you find that the Premium would suit better?