bbtondo

Of course carrying one. Lol

I am not interested in exercising or listening to lectures on vacation. Lol if you like a more academic environment, take viking ocean. Lots of teachers there. Lol The nice eze and Monaco excursion was excellent. The aix en Provence excursion was just ok. Everyone was not happy with the tour guide. St tropez today was done on my own with friends. Walking the shops, stopping for marina view lunch with prosecco! Oo la la! Tomorrow is florence on your own with friends. More shopping, wandering, lunch. I have been there already and so have my friends. Weather has been sunny and 85ish.

Currently on the Riviera. No totes bag a3. Don't see anyone carrying on.

This is just what I have experienced and my opinions. passengers and employees are more fun than Oceania. Employees on oceania were excellent. knowledgeable, professional, fun. Overall viking employees didn't seem to know what they were doing when I went on the viking sea. Food on Oceania is superior. Viking has more of an educational vibe. I enjoy learning about where I visit, but I felt it was a bit too much for me. I think viking is more geared to teachers.

Having a wonderful time on my first Oceania cruise. Have been told there are 1100 guests. Nothing seems crowded. Red ginger has the miso sea bass. Not cod. It was yummy. Jacques was delish and servers were great! Fyi Not many masks worn for those wondering. My cosmos ordered in the specialty dining restaurant were included with the premium drink packing. Service has been good. Superior to viking . Passengers very friendly. Compared to my viking med cruise last November, I vote for Oceania again!

So, are spirits/liquor included in the Specialty restaurants? If not, and things have changed, that's pretty bad... What's the point then?

I'm going to ask her hubby about this. LOL She's pretty knowledgeable about Oceania, so I was very surprised when she told me.

I appreciate everyone's response. I questioned my friend about this and she was very exact. She said every specialty restaurant. The only thing I can think of is the possibility that she only had the cheaper drink package with wine and beer included at lunch and dinner and then ordered liquor. Less than a week and I'll find out for sure! Thanks again!

A friend of mine just got off a Med Cruise on the Riveria a few months ago. She told me even though she had the Premium Drink Package that while dining at a Specialty Restaurant the alcohol drinks are not included. She said she had to pay for all her alcohol drinks. This is the four included specialties, not the extra charge ones. I have never heard of this. Is this true?

The larger bag that I check is a Travelpro Max 5 Lite I got in Kohls. The smaller bag is a Travelpro Platinum Magna 2 that I carry on that I got in a Travelpro Outlet in Florida. It is "European" size. Last November after a Viking Med cruise at FCO I checked in with Iberia for a FCO to Madrid flight before my Mad to MIA flight. The Iberia check in was taking EVERYONE'S carryon bag. When it got to me I told the woman at the desk that I had a euro sized carry on which would fit in the overhead. She let me keep it. The ironic part of this is the plane was the same size that Southwest uses and could easily accommodate most carry ons in their overhead bins. I love both bags and I can handle them myself along with a Travelpro under the seat personal sized bag that fits over the handles of my Magna 2. Yes, the Magna 2 is smaller than a "normal" size carryon. It has compression straps in it and can handle all I need. Just took them out of my closet for my upcoming Med cruise on Oceania.😁

The unvaccinated people are all over! Stores, restaurants, planes, trains, buses, cars, hotels, museums, some people's homes, you name it! It's crazy out there. 😂

I bought fully refundable air tickets on United for my next Med Cruise. Thought was the best choice for me.

Oh oh! I'll find out next week! And yes, I understand that there are worse problems in this world. 🤣

What's right and what's wrong, who knows! It's all about money. Time will tell if O has more bookings with this new rule or less. Time will tell.

I thought Red Ginger had Miso Sea Bass, not Cod. Is this change just for your cruise with the media? I'm going on my first Oceania Cruise in just over a week and am looking forward to the Sea Bass. Have a wonderful time and thanks for sharing!

JMHO I have to disagree. Look at Viking. They took testing and contact tracing to a very high level. Now, nothing. Why? I believe the answer is $$$. At this point I think most cruisers find this overkill and are booking other lines and not Viking. I am one! Curious if my first cruise with O is full, or mostly empty like my Viking Ocean Cruise was last November. And again JMHO

Your insurance that you purchased from your TA most likely starts the first day you were going to leave. If you have added days before your original leave date, I would image your insurance purchased from your TA wouldn't be available on those added days. Just a thought...

When I cruised out of BCN on Viking in the Med last fall I had every form, etc printed out on good old fashion paper. I found that I went through the lines much quicker than some people who were fumbling on their phones. This was my experience flying out of MIA with AA, entering BCN showing their health form/Vac cards and boarding a Viking Ocean ship.

In my experience, booked Bora Bora on Regent with a "great" agency and TA as spoken about on these boards. Turns out when I get the tickets, I was booked on another Island. Really? Couldn't reach the TA and spent hours on the phone dealing directly with Regent and straighten things out myself. I believe she's still working and one of the "top" agents. Also booked an Oceania cruise (which was cancelled due to Covid), with a different agency and one of those "top" TA's spoken about here. I knew more than them and again, spent hours straightening things out. Needless to say, I am very gun shy on using a TA.

Agree 100%. It's ridiculous that Oceania has this requirement on a boarding pass if it's no longer required. Who's running ship? lol

I'm also on your cruise and was questioning the test requirement for boarding in Barcelona on the paperwork sent from Oceania. I thought a negative test was not required, but yet there it is in black and white! I would imagine they'll have a lot of people presenting their negative covid test! And what about people who are still testing positive, yet had covid a month ago? They may be cancelling when they don't have too! Crazy!

Thanks so much! I know it's a silly question and appreciate your response.

Started my Spain health form. After filling out the first couple of questions, it then said I had to wait until 72 hours before my flight to Spain to finish the rest. Is this correct?

So, as of today, I still have to fill out the health for when arriving by air before my cruise out of Barcelona?

OP: I can tell you what the advantage of booking air with Viking Ocean last November in the Med was. Yeah, I know it's not Oceania Air, but I assume that Oceania Air has an emergency number you call if you have trouble in the airport. I booked my air with Viking Ocean last November because of the airport problems that were occurring. It was my first time booking air with a cruise line. As DH and I were boarding our flight in MIA, American cancelled the flight and others. Hundreds of people lined up for the American desk, couldn't get through on the phone and internet was swamped! We got on the long line to speak to the American desk. Then I called the emergency air number that Viking Air gave me. They had me rebooked in a few minutes! So it was definitely worth it for me at that time. Everyone on that line was listening to my call and asking me who I was talking to to get rebooked. Another option, if you are flying business or have access to your airline's lounge, people at the desk there will help you without the crowds. At some lounges you can buy a day pass to enter. I highly recommend doing it. For my upcoming Oceania cruise to the med this August, I booked United Business, so will have access to their Polaris Lounge if I run into trouble. 😃 Good luck!