wally_bushy

I think learning to spell stationery (not stationary) would be a good correction as well

So enjoyable to see your photos of our favourite ship

Thanks,,

Not a problem at all

9 hours ago, CVA34 said:

Has anyone stayed in any of these PH suites....10022, 10024, 10026, 10027, or 10028? as they are close to the elevators , how was the noise?

We were on Marina and no problem..

Brief periods of noise when shows finished but nothing to worry about.

On 1/21/2020 at 1:56 PM, drkitkat123 said:

BTW, this TA rebate thing seems to be unique to certain countries. I have never heard of it in Australia. Has anyone? Any experience in other countries?

I hear you. The best we get is PPG (better than nothing)

17 hours ago, Mura said:

It's a long time since they have wanted the booking number of your dinner companions, NOT the cabin number!  The name also ...

 

I have had success booking on my own with friends who were in a lower cabin, and I was able to book the table at our booking date ... supposedly we had to wait until THEIR date was open, but that was not our experience. On a few occasions (some years ago I had to call an Oceania rep (by specific name) to do this, but more recently it wasn't necessary.

 

The worst case is you book your table in the higher suite, then add your friends to your table when they are "eligible".  But I've not had to do that as far as I recall ...

 

 

Hi Mura

This was in place in 2012 on our Baltic cruise and is the only way we have done it.

I am sure your history with O goes back longer than ours :)

Just now, corpkid said:

Hi all - long time no post (been working overseas for past few years).  Anyways - about to go on our 5th O cruise after a several year hiatus and I can't for the life of me remember when the Maître D' is available to take requests for extra dining reservations. We will be in a B2 and won't have a butler. Many thanks!

Welcome back. I didn't think I had seen your posts for a while 😊

Good video for potential Oceania cruisers

Good memories for existing Oceania cruisers

Our next cruise is a year away but that made me want to book a "squeeze in " cruise 😊

4 hours ago, TERRIER1 said:

I think you accurately and very well summarized the situation. When I started sailing on Oceania in 2008 I raved about the line to one and all and it was our go to cruise line. Times have changed and so has Oceania. It is in the mix but no longer a first choice. If you look at the reviews on CC over the years they tell the same story. In the beginning, all the reviews were stellar and now they have declined significantly. Today it it a matter of itinerary and value before I consider Oceania whereas in the past I wouldn't have reason to really look at another cruise line. I have noticed cost cutting over the last several years as well as an attitude change in the wonderful staff. 

Well stated 😊

Still our preference but the gap has narrowed significantly 

First cruise in 1985 on PO Canberra. It had been used in the Falklands war and repaired and we were on its last cruise in Australia before heading to the UK (I think).

Small porthole which was difficult to see out, bunk beds (we were in our 20s 😢), shared bathroom down the hallway, set table and dining. Regardless, it was our first cruise and enjoyable.

The price was AUD $600 for 14 days and I still have a price list of drinks etc which make my kids jealous.

5 minutes ago, DoulaAnn said:

Wally, we're on a Barcelona - Rome- Athens tour in Sept. 2020.

 

Close 😊

We are October 2020 on the Marina -Venice to Rome and then Rome to Monte Carlo 

Steve

4 hours ago, DoulaAnn said:

 

Our cruise ends/begins in Civitavecchia, so I'm guessing your experience will mirror ours, Mura.  We plan to do an independent shore excursion that day, so shouldn't be an issue, as long as we can disembark at a reasonable hour. Thanks for your help, as well as yours LHT28.

Just curious, which cruise are you on 😊

Barista's on Oceania is very good and included in fare

Thanks for replies so far 😊

For some they have value, for us they offer little. In fact they can be annoying with their announcements and believing how good they are.

Again, everyone has different views and that is ours 😊

2 hours ago, ORV said:

Make sure you go to the ports of call to understand the costs of transportation to some of these properties. For some it’s inconsequential. Others hate to pay those amounts for taxis. Venice is a whole nother kettle of fish when it comes to transportation. 

Good point!

Arriving by train so should not be far to go.

Do you have an English site for reference, as all the sites I go to are in Italian?

I have read they can be expensive

Thanks for replies

I enjoy this part of planning whereas my wife hates it as there are so many choices 😊

Any suggestions for an authentic place to stay in Venice for a few days pre-cruise (October 2020)

You will get answers that cover all the restaurants being favourites

Book them all particularly as a first timer. There are lots of options and choices to eat your way through until you have done most of them. We still like to eat in them as we have a few of our favourites at each.

17 hours ago, roothy123 said:

Just keep in mind with this list that things change, and in some big cities, there are multiple docking locations, which might affect the availability of a shuttle.  Also, on occasion there are shuttles that stop running during a certain time (lunch break, for example).  Once on board, Oceania will give you information about availability/hours/etc. of shuttles, often with a caveat that the shuttles are not controlled by them, so there is no 100% guarantee that they will run as described.  We've never had a problem, however, but I like to have a Plan B ready just in case!

Ok thanks

I will use it as a general guide 👍

7 hours ago, LHT28 said:

they do make clotted cream & whipped cream

you have to ask for the clotted or they give you the other one 😉

That's good to know

If you doing it, do it properly 😊

Enjoyed your video with mixed feelings

Good to watch 😊

Jealous I am at work😢

A year to go until our next cruise

2 hours ago, Paulchili said:

While the Nautica can dock at the English Embarkment (and ours did in 2006) there is no guarantee that you will dock there as well.

It depends on number of smaller ships that may be in port that day (Seabourn, Silversea, etc)

I think you’ll soon regret your decision to get your own visas - it’s a protracted and complicated process. Better to book your tours with a private agency who will get your visas and you can arrange with them to spend as much time at the Hermitage as you want.

Agree with this and loved how easy it was for in 2012 using agency

I am sure all the main operators are similar but we used Red October for our three days in SP and they allowed us to plan where and how long we wanted for each attraction

Ok, understood

I thought might have been a list provided by Oceania

Thanks for quick reply 😊

8 hours ago, LHT28 said:

The latest  was on page 19

Thanks Lynn

I actually meant the original source of the list