cruisingisfun

Had all the products in a regular veranda room but felt the scent was too strong and lasting.

On our recent cruise in April (Oceania, but would have been the same on any line) none of the several couples we traveled with was charged the phone charge you found and expect, same as we expected and were told prior to trip. Both ATT and Verizon customers represented. We were told partway through cruise by ATT we needed a cruise package ($100 total, I think) not the $10 per day international plan - they detected we were in multiple countries and not always near a tower I think. Several of us thought the $10 /day would be capped at $10 x 10 days in a month (or $150 for two phones) but some friends learned it was per billing month not calendar month (Verizon), and the cruise was in parts of two billing months. After the trip when we all called to clarify our bills, we had a variety of explanations from a variety of reps between us. We were all able to get adjustments in our favor but all still ended with significantly higher bills than we expected. I will research again before we cruise again, but I think pre-arranging the cruise plan and then using ship internet as well may have been better than what any of us did. We met some fellow shipmates who were happy with the inexpensive foreign SIM cards they bought and have since learned that E-SIM cards may be the way to go. This all was not a big deal, but a surprise.

We like the Jazz. Were there last month. Good location, nice room, good rooftop deck and sangria, friendly staff, good breakfast

Last week they were lined up at SF. It was less than 10 EU to the place 2 blocks off Las Ramblas we went.

Kotor, this spring - took a private taxi tour to Perast, and the driver took us to a free boat ride to the Lady of the Rocks and then drove us up into the hills for a view. We arranged with him how long we wanted to stay each place - he was part of a company selling taxi tours at the dock. Very talkative and friendly, taught us lots. Then we walked around inside the walled town for an hour or so, using an online written walking tour I found Argostoli, this spring -walked around, then took a 5eu trolley tour around the town. Mykonos, a few years ago, walked in the town, then took a city bus to a beach area, rented a couple chairs and umbrella, took the city bus back. Athens, a few years ago - took a taxi tour, arranged destinations and times with driver. Driver helpful, talkative, and friendly. Self toured the Acropolis and Parthenon with Rick Steves audio guides we put on our phones. Went to lunch at a Greek restaurant and then went to some other sights and views.

Loved the Hotel Canal Grand this month in Venice. Room overlooked canal, nice amenities, helpful and friendly staff, and great breakfast. Took water taxi with luggage from airport right to dock at hotel. Near train station and Piazzale Roma. Paid a porter to take our luggage and we walked with him when we went for transportation to Trieste. Very reasonable and easy.

We did the same thing for flights this year, booked 2 months earlier, as did our travel companions, when we received change notices from the airline. There have been additional flight time changes since. Changed our flights, connection cities, length of layovers. Have better times and connections now. Kept same price. The seat selection was not as good as the original, but we did well enough.

If friends invited us in to share their table at a specialty restaurant and then they decide to eat in the main dining room that night (because they want to be able to attend something else announced on the ship and there is a time conflict), will we lose our specialty reservation too? If not, can we invite someone once on board to join us at the reserved table? Traveling with a group.

We have train tickets booked for our group for the start of cruise but have now learned there is a possible strike that day (Apr.14). Any ideas for new transportation from Venice to Trieste besides flixbus? Any idea of the likelihood of the train strike happening or not happening, or when we would find out? Thank you!

Is there a way to tell if you are on a shore excursion waitlist, and if so where you are on it? When we booked online many shore excursions were sold out, but one let us check to be on waitlist. Don’t know if that was a glitch or if we are on a waitlist.

Hi, Do shore excursions typically start on the ship or on land? New to Oceania. I am wondering about the possibility of doing some morning DIY touring at a port and then joining the afternoon shore excursion at its beginning on land, without tendering back to the ship

There are more than just website issues. Almost half of our excursions were cancelled (for a cruise this spring) we learned this week (don’t show up on shore excursion online brochure now either). I only learned this by looking over our reservation page - a few hundred dollars worth, not refunded to us, also we dropped under the 5 excursion discount threshold. The rep said it was surprising and they would look into refunding. Almost all other excursions are full. We are going to look into independent Shore excursions, but as first time Oceania cruisers, we and our friends are especially disappointed at this first look.

Any suggestions for a Marseille - Aix-en Provence shore excursion? We did have one booked through the ship but it was cancelled. Thank you

We used Trenitalia and opted to get tickets we can print.

Mapleleaves, Thank you very much for this info!!! We have just booked the train from Mestre with reserved seats (for a good price!)as you suggested. We would not have even thought of this without your suggestion!!