JimandStan Posted July 24, 2011 Author #26 Share Posted July 24, 2011 I haven't talked to O, or even my TA, but it doesn't sound (from the article) like the taxi cab guys are going to be backing down any time soon. I'm due to be in Athens in late October (on Marina) and I'm thinking that the odds are good that if the itinerary isn't changed (if so, very likely at the last minute) that we will just opt to stay on board. In our case, it could be worse ... they upgraded us to a VS on Marina. There are worse places to be! But I've been looking into private tours in Athens and I'm very hesitant to book anything. People on earlier cruises than ours have a more serious problem. Maybe Riviera won't have this problem, assuming things settle down by next April. I do think that if I were the chief honcho at Oceania, I'd be avoiding Greek ports for the next 6-9 months. But that's me. Mura Mura- One thing about the Vista Suites on Marina, is that you have to be very firm with your Butler about where the cushions for the outdoor furniture are stored, or they will fill your "gym" up to the rafters with it every night. The good news is that your terrace is unbelievably comfortable; the bad news is that they never planned where to store the gol-darned cushions! Enjoy the Marina, and please order the Lobster Pad Thai in Red Ginger.......absolute heaven! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhohea Posted July 24, 2011 #27 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Enjoy the Marina, and please order the Lobster Pad Thai in Red Ginger.......absolute heaven! I second that Mura. I had it on all 4 visits to Red Ginger during my B2B in May. It is to die for & I can't wait for April to come around to have it again on Riveria. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
findacruise Posted July 24, 2011 #28 Share Posted July 24, 2011 for the lobster and a vote for the sea bass, too. And I suggest trying the duck and watermelon salad. I'm not a duck person and never would have tried it if someone else hadn't suggested it. Sorry we are OT for Athens.. but I do miss Red Ginger! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted July 24, 2011 #29 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Mura- One thing about the Vista Suites on Marina, is that you have to be very firm with your Butler about where the cushions for the outdoor furniture are stored, or they will fill your "gym" up to the rafters with it every night. The good news is that your terrace is unbelievably comfortable; the bad news is that they never planned where to store the gol-darned cushions! Enjoy the Marina, and please order the Lobster Pad Thai in Red Ginger.......absolute heaven! Thanks for the warning! I noticed a similar problem in the OS and VS on the "R" ships except that they did manage to find nooks and crannies for hiding the pillows and such. (Not that we have been in such lofty quarters all that often.) Since so many people have ranted and raved about the Lobster Pad Thai, I'm sure to have that. I've already made reservations for Red Ginger and Jacques ... Mura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted July 24, 2011 #30 Share Posted July 24, 2011 for the lobster and a vote for the sea bass, too. And I suggest trying the duck and watermelon salad. I'm not a duck person and never would have tried it if someone else hadn't suggested it. Sorry we are OT for Athens.. but I do miss Red Ginger! +1 I love watermelon and I love duck - but I would have never tried them together, nor would I think that they would be good together. However, it is a great salad and I had it several times. Same for Sea Bass - I don't normally order it but as people raved about it, I tried it - outstanding! Sorry Athens :mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CintiPam Posted July 24, 2011 #31 Share Posted July 24, 2011 +1I love watermelon and I love duck - but I would have never tried them together, nor would I think that they would be good together. However, it is a great salad and I had it several times. Same for Sea Bass - I don't normally order it but as people raved about it, I tried it - outstanding! Sorry Athens :mad: +2 The duck and watermelon salad was such a wonderful combination of both textures and tastes, a truly memorable winner. If you enjoy lobster, the lobster thermidor in Jacques is fabulous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted July 24, 2011 #32 Share Posted July 24, 2011 If you enjoy lobster, the lobster thermidor in Jacques is fabulous. Agreed - had it a couple of times:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPR Posted July 25, 2011 #33 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Mystifying how we got from taxi strikes in Greece to lobster thermidor... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubysue Posted July 25, 2011 #34 Share Posted July 25, 2011 OMG! I snorted cheap Merlot through my nose at your comment, JPR! It all comes own to the food, doesn't I? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubysue Posted July 25, 2011 #35 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Geez, Rubysue - it must be really cheap Merlot! DOWN, not own, moron! :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CintiPam Posted July 26, 2011 #36 Share Posted July 26, 2011 Mystifying how we got from taxi strikes in Greece to lobster thermidor... The Athens forum of sister website tripadvisor does a fantastic job updating all interested travelers daily regarding taxi strikes, airport slowdowns, metro shutdowns, etc. in Athens, so why talk more about them? This is an Oceania forum and food is Oceania's greatest claim to fame!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkiemomjn Posted July 26, 2011 #37 Share Posted July 26, 2011 +2The duck and watermelon salad was such a wonderful combination of both textures and tastes, a truly memorable winner. If you enjoy lobster, the lobster thermidor in Jacques is fabulous. That's what I had, too. It has long been a favorite of mine and I was excited to see it on the menu!!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubledobles Posted July 27, 2011 #38 Share Posted July 27, 2011 I am guessing that if you take Oceania's transportation to the airport, there will be no problem, since the drivers and busses are hired privately. That's what we will do if there's still a problem with taxis in Greece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveling mama Posted July 27, 2011 #39 Share Posted July 27, 2011 Check out the Fodors bb also ...things seem to be getting organized taxi strike wise and movement is possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spindrift Posted July 27, 2011 #40 Share Posted July 27, 2011 I have another question about getting to the airport in time. My last time in Athens, my flight wasn't until around noon, and we had to wait some time for the airline desks to open. This time, we will have an 8 a.m. flight. Will we get to the airport in time with docking in Pireaus? I had thought about staying overnight at the airport, but we are going on another trip right after the Maiden and will be flying to Zurich and want to leave the day of ship's arrival. Comments for those who have had the early flights. Thanks (And yes--RED GINGER--it is ALL good. Love the presentations as well. Great restaurant). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted July 27, 2011 #41 Share Posted July 27, 2011 I have another question about getting to the airport in time. My last time in Athens, my flight wasn't until around noon, and we had to wait some time for the airline desks to open. This time, we will have an 8 a.m. flight. Will we get to the airport in time with docking in Pireaus? I had thought about staying overnight at the airport, but we are going on another trip right after the Maiden and will be flying to Zurich and want to leave the day of ship's arrival. Comments for those who have had the early flights. Thanks (And yes--RED GINGER--it is ALL good. Love the presentations as well. Great restaurant). I am assuming that the ship is in Piraeus overnight. If there is no taxi strike, a big IF at anytime, the traffic should be minimal that early (5:30-6 AM). Otherwise there is a very nice (though pricey) Novotel(?) at the airport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spindrift Posted July 28, 2011 #42 Share Posted July 28, 2011 Nope, no overnight at Piraeus. It is the maiden voyage. Hmmmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted July 28, 2011 #43 Share Posted July 28, 2011 Hmmmm Hmmmmm is right! You have a lot more courage than I - I would never schedule an 8 AM flight, regardless when the ship is scheduled to arrive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted July 28, 2011 #44 Share Posted July 28, 2011 I agree with Paul So many things can happen to delay your trip to the airport I could not take the stress of making an early flight should some glitch happen but then again everything could run very smoothly & you make the flight no problem But we are talking about Greece;) Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spindrift Posted July 28, 2011 #45 Share Posted July 28, 2011 I felt that way as well. However, if I were to return to Houston all flights leave around 8:15 a.m. and I would imagine if I use O's air, that would be the flight as they would not put me up for the night because of the early am flights. We, did, however, book a river cruise to follow the Maiden since I couldn't connect up with another O trip and to do a B2B involved all ports to which we had already been. I still think I will listen to you all and plan my flight the morning of the 25th. I can surely enjoy a night in Athens even if it is at the airport. If the taxis are running, then we can head into town, I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted July 28, 2011 #46 Share Posted July 28, 2011 I felt that way as well. However, if I were to return to Houston all flights leave around 8:15 a.m. and I would imagine if I use O's air, that would be the flight as they would not put me up for the night because of the early am flights. We, did, however, book a river cruise to follow the Maiden since I couldn't connect up with another O trip and to do a B2B involved all ports to which we had already been. I still think I will listen to you all and plan my flight the morning of the 25th. I can surely enjoy a night in Athens even if it is at the airport. If the taxis are running, then we can head into town, I suppose. Don't be so sure O would fly you out at 8 AM CO has this flight at noon: Athens (ATH) to Houston (IAH) - Tue, Apr 24 Athens (ATH) to Newark (EWR) - Tue, Apr 24 United 105 Dep: 12:00pm Arr: 4:00pm 11h 0m Boeing 767 Coach (Y) OPERATED BY CONTINENTAL Layover in EWR 1h 25m Newark (EWR) to Houston (IAH) - Tue, Apr 24 United 63 Dep: 5:25pm Arr: 8:10pm 3h 45m Boeing 757 Coach (Y) OPERATED BY CONTINENTAL IIRC, you are flying to Zurich - why not use the Swiss flight leaving at 2:10 PM arriving to Zurich at 4 PM? Athens (ATH) to Zurich (ZRH) - Tue, Apr 24 SWISS 1831 Dep: 2:10pm Arr: 4:00pm 2h 50m Airbus A321 Coach (Y) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CintiPam Posted July 29, 2011 #47 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Otherwise there is a very nice (though pricey) Novotel(?) at the airport. The nice, but pricey, airport hotel is a Sofitel, but even with one day only in Athens, I personally would prefer to stay downtown and take a taxi, the metro to the airport (which does not run in the wee hours of the morning) or the X95 bus to the airport, which does run 24/7. This year, Athens established a set rate of 35 Euros for a taxi to or from the airport during normal hours, inclusive of tolls, luggage, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meow! Posted July 29, 2011 #48 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Thinking back, we had been so lucky to be on the Nautica Eastern Mediterranean voyage in October, 2008. We visited quite a few Greek islands and disembarked at Athens right at the turn of the world economic tsunami. It was still happy jolly when we were there, but just a few weeks after, riots started. Things have not recovered and there is no end in sight. How sad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted July 29, 2011 #49 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Thinking back, we had been so lucky to be on the Nautica Eastern Mediterranean voyage in October, 2008. We visited quite a few Greek islands and disembarked at Athens right at the turn of the world economic tsunami. It was still happy jolly when we were there, but just a few weeks after, riots started. Things have not recovered and there is no end in sight. How sad! It's the unpredictable nature of these things that makes us do as much as we can while we can - for all sorts of reasons (politics, health, etc). One year you can visit Lebanon, Syria, Libya - the next year you cannot; and who knows if and when you can again (or what's left to see, as in the case of Libya). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spindrift Posted July 29, 2011 #50 Share Posted July 29, 2011 PaulChili, thank you for that info (you can tell I'm not a TA, right?). I did try to find flights but did not see any, and usually I'm pretty good, well let me say "fair," at finding good flights. I'm back on the web again, looking at it all. I guess because I went to an unnamed general travel site and looked at flights meant I was limited to what they chose as "options." We've stayed in Athens twice, and I really would like to go to Zurich & Basel for a few days (hadn't been there since 1957--probably changed, huh ;)). If we didn't do the river cruise from Zurich and return to Houston, the UA flight would be our choice even tho UA is not on our "favorite" list. I really, really appreciate your input. (See, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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