Vineyard View

Cannot disagree with you. Absolutely the truth. There are very few places we sail to that we would feel more comfortable with an organized ship group. Tunisia is one of them, so we will need to be extra careful. The boat in Santorini I am much more comfortable with.

Well that is good to know! Thank you! First cruise with O and it was part of a promotion.

We were required to place $1k deposit on a cruise for next year. We are not in PH. Not close. I think they are following Viking to a certain degree, although you used to be able to transfer it with them. Do not know current status

We booked one using the credits for Tunisia 16 and under. Wouldn’t have really wanted to explore that port independent. Using the rest of the credits I used for a boat - not sure if it’s a yacht as described or a catamaran as someone else had, but it’s not a bus. It’s DIY or private on the rest of the ports for us.

Seabourn is not the only line that has had this issue in the past year+. I think it is a struggle due to ADA rules that people flout for their own advantage using false claims. The difference here seems to be that this is the same “privileged” woman being allowed to flout the rules. That only makes me wonder/think she has a high up connection someplace within the organization.

Just one more reason for us to not take bus tours. We have always avoided them. We took an excursion tour earlier this year using an bus early on our first sailing since Covid (not Oceania) and it just reminded us how much we dislike that situation. No one was coughing for the most part on the entire cruise. Towards the end two women were coughing everywhere, going into all venues, and never covering their mouths. The entire cruise though we avoided crowded areas, used stations, ate outdoors or at tables away from others. Towards the end of the cruise we ended up in a crowded situation in a lounge after we had ordered caviar, where one of those women sat near us and was coughing her head off and not covering her mouth. We should have walked away from the caviar. I caught it for the first time with symptoms starting on the plane as we were almost home. Isolated 10 days, took paxlovid. This after being so strict no one came in our home for a year during the beginning and only entertaining outdoors for extended times, only for an inconsiderate, selfish human who decided she cared only for herself. Who knows how many people she spread it to. I guess my take away is that if we want to travel, we have to accept that there are selfish people in all walks of life about a lot of things, including illness. We risk this or hibernate and stop traveling. DH and I did that long enough, and we aren’t getting any younger. So hopefully we still have some great adventures coming up. We can’t control what others do.

We will be there in May. 4 ships. 10k pax. I really wish it was a different story on our day, but wishing can’t change that.

From what I have researched, there is absolutely nothing to do if you don’t take the cable car up, and subsequently back down….or Donkey trail down….or an excursion that gets you out of this conundrum - We are taking a boat excursion to avoid this even though we are not excursion people. Only other option is water taxi to base of Oia, then shuttle bus up…..then public bus back…then cable car down..or a private excursion and I don’t have the details on how all that works in this place

Thank you so much for these further details. This is everything I have been reading. As much as I want to see Firá and Oia, what you describe and what I read is not worth it. Not sure if it’s port authority or local govt who controls this, but maybe someday they will figure out it is a huge negative on multiple levels including local. Our excursion says “private yacht”. Personally, I hope it’s a catamaran! Either way, it sounds like a great day! So thank you

Thank you for your review. We have Santorini on our schedule. Have sailed the Greek islands before but not here. 10k cruise ship pax the day we are there. No thank you. We booked an excursion described as a “yacht” for this port. Not planning on going to Firá afterwards based on everything we read, including this. Was your excursion described as a catamaran or a yacht? I am fine either way, and actually prefer cat sailing, but curious? And how did you enjoy that excursion? Thanks!

Thank you. I did see those. In our traveling window 16 of those are repositioning. Those remaining have one or two that may be of interest. Our sweet spot is 14 days (dog sitter). No less than 11 but that feels a bit short even with time added on front or back. I will keep looking. I know we can do B2B, which could work. The one we have booked next year is a straight 14 day. I don’t see too many of those on Oceania….as well as others. I do appreciate the information so thank you again

Thank you both. Either the Med, western coast, or British Isles. Special anniversary and not sure of cruise or land, but definitely Europe again. The flights seem to feel longer each year and have a few bucket lists still to check. I looked at what is posted so far, and will wait for more to be added.

When does Oceania typically load their 2025 sailings? There are a few in the system now, but I do not think all are loaded yet for Spring in Europe. Thank you

That is really interesting to me. What would that be is my question? Why make it complicated. Yes, it’s not big deal to ask, but why not be consistent. And if the bartender knows you have the upgraded package, wouldn’t that person mention that it’s not on the list before pouring? Not a huge deal in the scheme of things, but keeping it simple should be easy to do imo.

Even if you could freely walk to and from, there’s really no area that we drove through to get to the port that looked like where we would want to explore. Not at all. Have fun!

On the Ovation class, are the bars designed for the TK diners that evening, or for anyone onboard? On Quest there was, as mentioned, no such thing and it was our first SB cruise.

We have looked at Azamara. For us that requires an upgraded cabin as it would with small O ships. I know this isn’t true for all pax but would be our choice. Quite honestly, Azamara Evenings isn’t a draw for us, but again, personal perspective. Regarding Viking food vs Oceania, I cannot compare. But Viking food/cuisine compared to Seabourn and I can. SB is superior. How is the food on Azamara vs Oceania?

We never ate there on our trip. I read this thread and amazed that everyone is willing to dress for arctic weather outside to eat here. Sounds like we really must have missed a great option, as our sailing wasn’t even in cold weather!

We have a 14 day booked next year on SB that is two seven days. Have become pretty worried about it since reading on multiple threads here the impact. There is a solid 14 day on Oceania that I found when a post Seabourn debacle was occurring and has me pulled as a result (never sailed O). I do not want to pay the price for SS and Regent included excursions when we are DIY so they are off my radar. Looked at Explora and they aren’t sailing where we want to be at the time we need to next year. Maybe as new ships are added they will.

We have not experienced any problems on Viking getting into specialty restaurants - multiple times - once on board - just as we were able to obtain an additional TK rez on Quest. Viking’s Mediterranean itineraries are mostly the same they have been for years, and once you have sailed them a few times, it’s very redundant. I think that is why we started looking elsewhere in the first place. If you do not like bus rides or following lollipops - as we do not -then the total price per day on Viking far exceeds their competitors, and in some cases Seabourn. Particularly if you compare like sized cabins. And overall SB experience is better in our opinions. But again, right itinerary, right price I would sail them again. That is not out there right now for what/where we wish to travel.

We have been to most of the places you are traveling. Great itinerary. I do not take my hiking boots to these types of ports. I do take breathable shoes with good soles. This year I wore a pair of sketchers and they worked just fine. Enjoy your trip!

Thank you very much! This is very helpful if we are sailing from Tarragon. That seems a reasonable quote to me.

Seabourn does. We found it useful on our sailing. We also used Vikings when we sailed them pre Covid. I understand it’s not a necessity, but it can be a benefit for those who wish to use them.

We took tests with us as well. I left two in the stateroom in case it might be helpful. I didn’t get sick until on the flight home, and we flew directly so I had to have gotten it from onboard coughing uncovered mouth individuals. First time getting it. I guess it’s one of the variables now in addition to Norovirus and all the other long standing ailments.

One of the reasons (main is the itinerary) we are traveling on Oceania for the first time is the repeated discussions that their food is better than others in the segment. Whether it is true or not I guess we will find out. We won’t have a yardstick to compare with. We sailed with Viking multiple times pre Covid, and their food was pretty good. We were happy with it. We sailed Seabourn this year and found their food definitely a step up from Viking. We were impressed with most meals. I guess that will be our yardstick as I would not think to compare ship cuisine against small, land based, high end restaurants.