ohmark

Thanks

Thanks for the reply. We sailed on Vista for 15 days September 2023 (in a Deck 7 towards aft PH) and heard no noise from neighbors, just as we heard no neighbor noise on our cruises on Marina and Riviera. We did experience an unusual vibration or engine noise on Vista but assumed this was simply a problem with a new ship which would be worked out. But as to neighboring cabin noise being "pervasive" on Vista, not saying it's not happening, but we didn't experience that problem. Maybe we just had quieter neighbors or maybe not pervasive?

How do you believe the design of Vista, as opposed to the design of Marina and Riviera, would cause excessive noise from adjacent cabins?

Indeed, the Allura deck plan on O's site shows the same arrangement of the Library, Barista's, and The Bakery as on Vista. Allura Cruise Ship Deck Plans Details | Oceania Cruises

Assuming the various info provided in this thread is accurate, as a Marina veteran it looks like Vista will be our sweet spot. (No bakery on Marina, reduced library on Allura.)

Thanks for the update. ☹️

Thanks for the info. On Vista, the library/Barista's/Bakery area has been extremely popular--at least on the cruise I was on. Deciding not to include The Bakery in the Marina refurb is a bad decision IMO. Any info on whether the Marina refurb will bring a library comparable to Vista?

Would be a truly horrendous decision to move (and downsize?) the gorgeous library that is such an asset on Vista. Library/Barrista's/bakery arrangement is perfect.

Thanks. Will look for you additional report. The Bakery/Barista's/Library area on Vista is a highlight and significant upgrade from that area on the (pre-upgrade) Marina.

Question as to The Bakery/Barista's/Library. As you probably know, the Vista has a very nice are devoted to "The Bakery", Barista's, and a re-imagined library. Assume this will be the same in Allura. Question as to whether this area will be included in the renovated-to-be Marina or included in the already renovated Riviera. Thanks in advance. Mark

September 2022, our Marina cruise docked one day in Ashdod, and then 2-days in Haifa. We booked the same private guide for all three days through Tours By Locals. The guide only guided, but provided the driver. We paid via Tours by Locals for the guide and paid the driver directly each day. Looking at a map of Israel, it was clear that spending the first night at a hotel in Jerusalem would save us hours of driving. So, the guide picked us up at Ashdod port. Toured the desert, Masada mountain, and the Dead Sea, and then dropped us at a hotel in the Old City of Jerusalem. Guide picked us up the next morning and gave us a walking tour of the Old City. In late afternoon the guide had his driver take us back to the ship in Haifa, where it had sailed to. The third day, the guide picked us up at Haifa port, and took us through Galilee, including Nazareth, and a kibbutz. The guide and driver were both fine and we enjoyed every minute. There is no question in my mind that the private guide was significantly better than a cruise excursion. In fact, I got aboard one of the excursion buses for a few minutes as it returned to Haifa port, and observed what appeared to be a bus full of exhausted and unhappy travelers. But, in our case, the expense was divided among three travelers. Dividing the expense this way made the cost for each of us in the neighborhood of the ship's price for its large bus excursions. If you can find a couple of people to go with, there is no question that a private guide would be a far better choice. Good luck.

Thanks for all the replies.

True, and they probably prefer to deal with the situation on an individual basis. B/T/W, I looked at the post you linked to earlier, and it does say what you say. But it cites no Oceania, cruise agent, or other source for the information.

Thanks for replying, Mark. I looked at the link you provided, but it still contains the asterisk for the administrative fee, and does not say that O no longer allows the credit for the administrative fee. (I say asterisk, but it looks like a "+".)