Jan 2016 World Cruise live report

Welcome to my “Live From” travelogue of the fabulous Oceania l80 days world cruise.

I know there is other post on this and I am quite late but I have had various problems that are now getting resolved.

I hope that through this travelogue that each of you will get an idea of what experiencing a World Cruise is like and that you will feel that you are part of this journey with us.

I have been keeping a diary while I had no computer access. In order to catch up, I am going to do a series of post over the next few days, each representing what I would have posted that day. Some of my post will be on the long side but for me it serve as a permanent record which I need considering my memory and hopefully will help others in the future.

To start I’ll give a little of our personal history in order to give some perspective of where we are coming from an experience point. We are a couple of Canadians, lifelong in Toronto, 62 and 60 years old. Our first cruise was a 5 day Caribbean on Royal Caribbean in 2000. We now have 1 Carnival, 4 RCI and 32 Princess with the Princess totaling over 370 days. This will be our first cruise on Oceania. (A 180 day cruise is a lot for a 1st cruise on a new line but the reviews we have seen have been for the most part quite excellent).

My wife (Freda) has trouble standing for any amount of time so will be using a wheelchair or scooter around the ship and in ports. (her wheelchair and brand new walker were damaged by Air Canada in transit and the Air Canada baggage claim people in Miami said we would have to handle that when we get back to Toronto – they would not supply any help on the process even though we told them we were gone for 6 months)

Our itinerary is:

Ports (dates not shown are sea days / ports highlighted are segment ends / T = tender)

Jan 4 – Miami - embark – sail - 5pm

Jan 7 – Oranjestad, Aruba – 10am – 11 pm

Jan 8– Willemstad, Curacao - 8 am -11.59

Jan 9 - Kralendijk, Bonaire – 8am – 3pm

Jan 11 – St George’s, Grenada - 8am -7pm

Jan 12 – Castries, St. Lucia – 8am – 11pm

Jan 13 – Fort-de-France. Martinique – 8am – 6pm

Jan 14 – Bridgetown, Barbados – 7am – 6pm

Jan 15 – Scarborough, Tobago – 8am – 5pm

Jan 17 – Devil’s Island, French Guiana-8am – 4pm (T)

Jan 18 – Belem (Icoaraci), Brazil – 8am – 5pm (T)

Jan 19 – Fortaleza, Brazil – noon – 8pm

Jan 21 – Natal, Brazil - 1pm – 9pm

Jan 23 – Recife, Brazil – 8am – 5pm

Jan 29 – Lome, Togo – 9am – 7pm

Jan 30 – Cotonou, Benin – 8am – 5pm

Feb 1 – Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe - 8am – 4pm (T)

Feb 3 – Luanda, Angola – 8am – 6pm

Feb 6 - Walvis Bay, Namibia – 7am – 6pm

Feb 7 - Luderitz, Namibia – noon – 8pm (T)

Feb 8 – 9 – Cape Town, South Africa – 7am – 6pm

Feb 12 – Port Elizabeth, South Africa – 8am – 6pm

Feb 13 – East London, South Africa - 7am – 5pm

Feb 14 – Durban, South Africa – 10am – 9pm

Feb 15 – Richards Bay, South Africa - 7am – 4pm

Feb 16 – Maputo, Mozambique – 8am – 3pm

Feb 19 – Nosy Be, Madagascar - 12 – 7pm (T)

Feb 21 – Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania - 10am – 8pm

Feb 22 – Zanzibar, Tanzania - 8am – 7pm

Feb 23 – Mombasa, Kenya - 8am – 7pm

Feb 26 - Victoria, Mahe Island, Seychelles - 8am - 8pm

Mar 1 – Male, Maldives - 6am – 6pm (T)

Mar 3 – Mangalore, India - 8am – 6pm

Mar 4 – Cochin (Kochi), India – 8am – 7pm

Mar 8 – 10 – Rangoon, Burma (Yangon, Myanmar) – 2pm -4pm

Mar 12 – Penang, Malaysia - 10am – 7 pm

Mar 13 – Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) Malaysia – 9am – 7pm

Mar 14 – 15 – Singapore, Singapore – 10am – 6pm

Mar 17 – Ko Samui, Thailand – 8am – 4pm (T)

Mar 18 –19 – Bangkok, Thailand – 9am – 4pm

Mar 20 – Sihanoukville, Cambodia - 11am – 9pm

Mar 22 -23 – Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam 9am – 3 pm

Mar 25 – 26 - Hanoi (Ha Long Bay), Vietnam – 2pm – 5 pm

Mar 27 - Sanya, China – 10am – 6pm

Mar 28 - 29 – Hong Kong, China – 5pm - 11pm (T)

Mar 31 – Xiamen, China – 8am – 7pm

Apr 2 – 4 – Shanghai, China 8am – 5pm

Apr 6 – 7 – Bejing (Tianjin), China – 9am – 10pm

Apr 9 – Seoul (Incheon), South Korea – 8am – 6pm

Apr 11 - Hiroshima, Japan – noon – 7pm

Apr 12 – Kyoto (Kobe), Japan – 8am – 9pm

Apr 14 – Okinawa (Naha), Japan – noon – 8pm

Apr 17 – Manila, Philippines – 8am – 7pm

Apr 18 – Boracay Island, Philippines – 10am – 6pm (T)

Apr 20 – Kota Kinabalu (Borneo Is.) Malaysia – 8am - 7pm (T)

Apr 21 – Muara, Brunei – 8am – 8pm

Apr 23 – Kuching (Borneo Is.) Malaysia – 8am - 4pm

Apr 26 - 27 - Bali (Benoa), Indonesia – noon – 3pm

Apr 28 – Komodo, Indonesia – 9am – 3 pm (T)

Apr 30 – Darwin, Australia – 11 am – 7pm

May 3 – Cooktown, Australia – noon – 10pm (T)

May 4 - Cairns, Australia – 8am – 8pm

May 5 – Townsville, Australia – 8am - 4pm

May 8 – Newcastle, Australia – 8am – 11pm

May 9 - 10 – Sydney, Australia – 6:30am – 6:30pm

May 12 – Hobart, Australia – 9am – 7pm

May 16 – Picton, New Zealand - 8am – 4pm

May 17 – Napier, New Zealand - 8am – 4pm

May 18 – Rotorua (Taurangai), New Zealand - 10am – 8pm

May 19 – Auckland, New Zealand - 8am – 6pm

May 23 – Apia, Samoa – noon – 11pm

May 23 - cross dateline and repeat the day

May 23 - Pago Pago, American Samoa – 8am – 5pm

May 26 – Raiatea, French Polynesia – 10am – 8pm

May 27 – Bora Bora, French Polynesia – 8am – 6pm (T)

May 28 – Papeete, French Polynesia – 6am – 11.59pm

May 29 – Hauhine French Polynesia – 8am – 5pm (T)

May 30 – Rangiroa, French Polynesia – 8 am – 6pm (T)

Jun 1 – Nuku Hiva, Marguesas Islands, French Polynesia – 8am – 5pm (T)

Jun 6 – Hilo, Hawaii – 8am – 5pm

Jun 7 – Honolulu, Oahu - 8am – 11.59pm

Jun 8 – Lahaina, Maui – 8am – 5pm (T)

Jun 9 – Nawilwili, Kauai – 8am – 4pm

Jun 15 – Los Angeles, California – 7am -9pm

Jun 16 – San Diego, California – 8am – 4pm

Jun 18 – Cabo San Luca, Mexico – 12pm - - 9pm (T)

Jun 20 – Acapulco, Mexico – noon – 9pm

Jun 22 – Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala – 8am – 6pm

Jun 23 - Corinto, Nicaragua – 9am – 6pm

Jun 24 – Puntarenas, Costa Rica – noon – 9pm

Jun 26 – Panama Canal transit - 6am – 5pm

Jun 27 - Cartagena, Columbia - 10am – 5 pm

Jun 30 - Key West, Florida – 9am – 5pm

Jly 1 – Miami, Florida – 7am – no sail-away for us

We have been looking forward to this voyage for 30 months. We were booked on the original world cruise scheduled to leave Miami last Jan 10 but due to a fire in the engine room in Dec 2014 the cruise was heavily truncated and we, like many others changed to this full world circumnavigation. My understanding is there was around 400 guest signed up for the full Jan 2015 cruise but only 150 ended up doing the full truncated voyage.

Wayne

Passengers doing the full voyage got a free hotel room for last tonight.

Our hotel for the night was the EPIC Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel. Note from their web site - As a Kimpton hotel, EPIC, it is arguably one of the only hotels in downtown Miami that artfully blends urbane intersect with tropical perfection. As one of the trendiest boutique hotels, in Miami, you can surround yourself with the Magic City’s shimmering lights from your private balcony (every guest room and suite has one). Splash into two rooftop pools. Enjoy locally sourced global cuisine at two restaurants, then hand-crafted cocktails and live entertainment at our lounge. Take a breath (or work up a sweat) at exhale spa. As hotels in downtown Miami go, EPIC is designed to provide you with a luxurious sophistication with a playful lifestyle spirit. We’re a global destination where leisure and business, relaxing stay.

The hotel is located on the bank of the Miami River where the river meets Biscayne Bay. The Port of Miami (officially called PortMiami) is within view from the 16th-floor pool terrace as well as many hotel balconies. A Sunday night at this time of year start at $499 per night.

Oceania provided a hospitality desk in the hotel lobby to provide assistance while at the hotel and information for getting to the ship.

Those on our roll call meet and greet Sunday evening for drinks in one of the bars. The hotel was very nice but the weather in Miami not so much – bit rainy and bit cool for Miami.

I’m going to do a quote or thought of the day at the end of each day. I will try to make a lot of them at sea/vacation related but some will be general ‘life’ thoughts.

Today’s is - “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney. The 30 months of talking and planning is over, now it’s time to get this voyage going.

"Cruuuuiseday!!!" has arrived. Let the good times roll!

There is an old saying – “If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up” - well so far so good; we’re awake and ready to get going on this dream voyage. We had a cabin booked a minute after they opened booking for the original voyage back in July 2013 – it has been a long wait but Jan 4, 2016 has now arrived.

We awoke this morning with great anticipation for the start of our grand circumnavigation adventure. Based on our very active roll call this is looking to be a fun cruise with lots of interesting fellow passengers.

Oceania provided free breakfast this morning. Down in the lobby there is a great sense of excitement as passengers wait for the shuttles and start meeting each other, the chance to be back at sea on this special voyage has everyone smiling.

We had a wheelchair accessible taxi to the port and got there about 12:30

Planning/preparation–

Oceania has made much of the job of planning and preparation much easier. The cruise fare included, first-class air fare, pre cruise hotel, transfers, luggage handling (home to ship delivery), and all visa requirement processing allowing us time to concentrate on what to do in each of our exciting ports and what to pack including the medicine we will need. The visa we got last year for Brazil was still good but from the time we sent our passports in it took about 3 weeks to get visas for India and China. Other visas will be processed on the ship. We needed at least 10 blank pages in our passport. For a voyage like this, the more effort you put into planning and preparation, the more successful your adventure will likely be. We start this grand voyage with a plan for most ports, some is to just wing it but tours are planned in many. Reading about the experiences of others that have been through world cruises voyages as well as tips shared by fellow passengers here on CC has been a great help.

There will be days (especially the next couple) where I will cover a range of topics. I will package these into multiple post – each its own main topic. Hopefully this will prevent the posting of long chapters of unrelated thoughts except from a time point. Also if you are not interested in a subject you can skip reading that post and move on to the next. The more familiar you are with Oceania’s little ships, the more this will be so.

Embarkation process

Sailing out of Miami on Oceania is different than for other cruise lines. As you come out of the city and cross the bridge, on the left side (Main shipping Channel) there are 6 berths, but on the right side behind the Royal Caribbean office (Fisherman Channel) is another berth. This smaller berth is the one used by Oceania.

For boarding they had various lines including 1 for those doing the full 180 days. We were on the ship by 1PM but our cabin not until after 3:30.

We checked out the buffet and then found a table out by the Grill. In the buffet at all times all food is served to you. Plates are given to you from behind the counters and cutlery was on the tables. For our first introduction to the renowned Oceania food we had a couple delicious burgers. It was also very nice to be able to order any soft drink or other non-alcoholic beverage - it is all included including milkshakes and malts. Our plates were delivered to the table by a waiter. After lunch we relaxed in the wonderful lounge chairs and lazed until an announcement told us the cabins were ready.

Luggage/Special soda request -About 45 days pre cruise I sent an e-mail to special Services with a request list of a few types of soda not normally carried on board. I had asked for Vernors ginger ale but was told as they normally carry other brands, that would not likely be done. I also asked for a 12 pack of Dr. Pepper and was told they don’t carry that also. The other drinks I requested were also not in the cabin but our steward said he would get some and keep us stocked.

Luggage delivery - We had 4 suitcases picked up at our home back on Dec. 21 – they made it direct to our cabin before we did – very nice to have this service for this voyage. This service did not allow any liquids and other items so we had 2 small suitcases that were transferred from the hotel – they arrived around 6pm. I was down at reception and quite a few people were getting upset about late delivery.

Muster drill was at 5.15. We assembled in Muster Station A, were checked off a list at the door and were assigned Lifeboat No.3. We were asked to wear our lifejackets and after the usual announcements were led, in boat groups, to our lifeboat so we knew exactly where we had to be in the event of an emergency.

We decided not to unpack most items until tomorrow which was a mistake – Oceania had informed us that we could store excess luggage somewhere else on the ship but by the time we were all unpacked there was no spaces so we have 6 suitcases and 2 carryon items in our cabin plus a scooter, wheelchair and walker.

Our cabin (Home Sweet Home) for the next 180 nights is an inside cabin up on deck 7. Last year we had a better cabin booked but when we switched to the 2016 voyage we lost it. For us it's like real estate. Much better to have the cheapest cabin on a nice ship than the other way around.

Cabin amenities include bath robes, slippers, soft drinks and small bottles of water in the fridge, two large bottles of water on a tray with glasses and bottle opener, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, hand soap, bath soap (Bulgari brands), umbrella, hairdryers - one fixed in the bathroom and a hand held one, plug-in nightlight, TV and DVD player (DVD's available free from reception, catalogue in cabin and for us a chair for the shower). Best of all, the bedside lights had an ordinary lamp and an additional reading light on a flexible stalk, which could be switched on independently. Storage includes one large double wardrobe, and one half robe with half hanging and 4 drawers. One side of the dressing table/desk is a cupboard with 4 more small drawers and the other side a cupboard with one shelf. Under the flatscreen TV is a corner cupboard with shelf and a safe. We have a sofa, very comfy padded headboard and huge mirrors. O is known for having the best beds at sea – will confirm later.

I think I speak for a lot of passengers doing the full circumference – we need a larger medicine cabinet.

Captain Dimitrios Flokos will be our captain on the World Cruise. Captain Flokos is Oceania's longest running Captain. He oversaw the ‘R’ ships while they were in "moth balls" and has been the captain on almost all of the inaugural sailings of the Oceania ships. He has been a captain for 28 years. He hails from the northern part of Greece in the seaside town of Volos.

Cruise Director – Andy Heath (US)

General Manager – Victor Conceição

Staff Captain – Stjepan Zuzir

Oceania Club Ambassador is Jennifer Faust from United States. (Although this position does have to deal with some complainers, it is the job I would take on a ship.)

It’s official (delayed until 8pm)…. Oceania Cruise Line inaugural full World Voyage is underway! The gap between ship and shore slowly grew to a huge gulf and finally our last glace of the USofA has come and gone for the next 5+ months.

As far as I know, no other major cruise line has done a cruise like this. At the welcome aboard first show the CD said this was the 3rd world cruise by Oceania but in reality, it is the first full circumnavigation and cruise. It was mentioned there are 240 doing the full voyage and about 660 passengers currently on are board.

I’ll summarize our first impression of meals tomorrow while we are at sea. We did have some interesting table mates in the main dining room tonight. One lady was telling us about how many cruises she had done on Oceania including her last one on Insignia last summer. When the waiter came by she noted “you know it’s been 6 months since I came in here’ “Don’t blame me” the waiter replied “I just joined the crew today.”

Today’s thought for the day - "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." - Lao Tzu

Happy Tuesday everyone, as we smoothly sail southward towards our 1st port Oranjestad, Aruba. It’s nice to have a couple sea days to start – gives everyone a chance to get settled in and for Oceania newbies like us to get a better feel for the ship.

For those coming along for the ride and are not familiar with this ship specifically or Oceania’s history here is a rundown on our new home for the next 6 months –

Insignia

• Year Made: 1998

• Year Last Refurbished: 2014

• Gross Tonnage: 30,277

• Length: 593.7 ft.

• Beam: 83.5 feet

• Max. Draught: 19.5 feet

• Stabilizers: Yes

• Cruising Speed: 18 Knots

• Guest Capacity (double occupancy): 684

• Crew Size: 400

• Guest-to-Staff Ratio: 1.71 to 1

• Nationality of Officers: European

• Nationality of Staff: European

• Country of Registry: Marshall Islands

History of R ships

Renaissance Cruises, originally founded in 1989 operated year-round cruise itineraries to the Mediterranean, the Greek Isles, Tahiti and the South Pacific, Northern Europe and Scandinavia. The company ceased operations on 25 September 2001. While the company had been in poor financial health for quite some time, the economic decline resulting from the September 11th terrorist attacks is credited with the demise of this cruise line.

The pride of the fleet was the line's 8 brand new 684-passenger R-Class ships named R One through to R Eight. The ships in this class were built between 1998 and 2001. The "R" class ships while constructed in France were designed by John McNeese in England, who developed what came to be known as the "Classic British Manor House" style.

A company called Cruiseinvest purchased 6 of the R-ships at auction, with plans to lease or charter the vessels to existing cruise lines. The remaining 2 ships were re-possessed by the French Polynesian government.

In 2002 Frank Del Rio, former CEO of Renaissance and Joseph Watters, former president of Crystal Cruises, founded Oceania Cruises.

Oceania has owned 3 of these ships for about a decade and has recently purchased a forth from Princess Cruise Line.

The ships are true sisters and at an outside glance all still look alike except for the paint jobs. As they joined new families they have gone through various upgrades but much of the interior layout is still the same from one ship to another. If you have been on one, you will easily find your way around on another. Most cabins remain the same size, guest capacity is very similar, places like the guest reception, dining rooms, pool grills, theatre, shops, casino and bars are the same but each line as stamped its own personality on the look and feel of the ship with their own level of service and guest to staff ratio.

To round out the current fleet, Oceania took delivery of Marina in 2011 and Riviera in 2012, (each 1,258 passenger capacity).

Oceania Cruise Line, together with Regent Seven Seas makes up Prestige Cruises International, Inc. That company was owned by Apollo Holding until sold to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. in September 2014 (sale completed in November).

I mentioned earlier a bit of our cruise history – our longest cruise to date is 60 days. We have also done a 48 day followed by 6 days on land and then another 21 days at sea. Patching together 4 cruises we have circled the world – Fla to Rome, Rome to Sydney, Sydney to LA and LA to Rio (same trip) plus Fla to Buenos Aires – a total of 144 days while just duplicating Rio to BA. So in our combined trip we went around South America and used the Suez Canal to bypass Africa and this time we use the Panama Canal to bypass going around South America while going around much of Africa.

The Fla to Buenos Aires cruise was the start of my love of longer cruises and vacations. I say ‘MY love’ as Freda does not share it to the same extent but thankfully she agrees to come along. A lot of people have asked how we can go away for such a long time voyage. We will certainly miss a number of things, but we feel there will be a lot more of upsides than downsides.

My love of travel came from my parents –I got the wanderlust early, some of my greatest childhood memories are travelling with my family. I was fortunate my father was in the airline business and we travelled a couple times a year back in the late 50’s and 60’s on his free passes at a time when not many people we knew could afford air travel.

Well we are unpacked with everything put away and we have been all around the public areas of the ship. There are only 2 small smoking areas with definitely no smoking on the balconies which is all very fine for us.

Food has been very good so far. Will go into more detail later.

There are handicap washrooms on deck 4 and 9 which are very helpful.

One more addition to the stateroom amenities is the Belgian chocolates delivered each night at turn down.

Last time we sailed south from Fla to Brazil a major topic on board was the difficulties many passengers had dealing with Brazilian consulates to get visa. Although it can still take a couple weeks we did not hear of any problems this time.

There are two different alcoholic beverage packages

HOUSE SELECT $39.95 (Gratuity Included) This package includes beer and a selection of wines by the glass during lunch and dinner in any dining venue or through room service.

PRESTIGE SELECT $59.95 (Gratuity Included) This UNLIMITED package includes beer, a selection of wines by the glass, most top shelf spirits and cocktails. Unlike similar packages on other cruise lines, the drinks can be ordered through room service.

Those buying the package get their card marked either -BIA - Beverage Included, plan A (House Select)

BIB - Beverage Included, plan B (Prestige Select).. This plan is also known as ‘Booze In Bulk’.

We are not big drinkers so will not be going with those options.

There is also a package where you get 7 bottles of wine from a selected list, each prices at $7 including tip. Individual drinks - bottles of wine start at $32-34, then add 18% on top of that. Glasses of wine start about $9 without gratuity. Beer is around $6.50 per glass, again add 18%. Cocktails start around $10. There is one daily cocktail special at $6.50. Happy hour prices are 2 for 1 from 5pm to 6pm in Martinis and in Horizon from 10 -11pm

At 10 this morning we had our Cruise Critic meet and greet meeting in the Horizons lounge. We had an excellent roll call. Doing a roll call for a world cruise is difficult. You get a lot of people doing the full voyage while others are just doing segments. It becomes a matter of forcing those doing the full voyage to jump to several roll calls and post general items to each or have those doing just a segment follow the big roll call even if much of it is not relevant to them.

In the end we have 59 people CC members doing the full voyage and over 100 doing segments.

We will continue with a M&G for each segment at 10am on the 1st sea day of each segment.

At 11 am there was a meeting in the Insignia Lounge for those doing the whole voyage. Various senior staff were introduced. Most of them will be leaving at some point during the 180 days but coming back later. The Captain also referred to this as the 3rd world cruise by Oceania.

We went to Trivia in the afternoon run by the CD . Staff are going to have a great challenge doing trivia – lots of games to do without repeating questions .Trivia seems to be very popular (11 teams). Oceania does their trivia games different than other lines we have travelled with. Instead of a daily winner, here you accumulate ‘O points’ that are awarded for each game to top 3 teams. These can be exchanged for O logo merchandise at the end of the segment or whole cruise. This means if winning a prize is important to you have to show up for most games.

We have 2 lectures on board for this segment. I will cover them as we go.

It rained a bit in the morning but nicer in the afternoon but windy enough to cancel shuffleboard on deck 11. The main dining room did not seem very busy tonight.

One activity that was not listed for after lunch was ‘happy hour’ but looking at all the people around the pool participating it was very popular ‘Happy hour’ / ‘nap time’ seem to be synonymous.

There was a welcome aboard party with an open bar from 5 – 8. Tonight’s show was an ABBA impersonation group – they had a lot of people singing along.

Think I’ve hit my limit for posting in a day. Time for some for “pillow islands”.

Today’s thought of the day - When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money. -Susan Heller

Well, that's our story for this first full day – sweet dreams to everyone.

The weather was a good mix of sun/cloud and the seas were a meter+- or 2- 4 ft. Temp was 27C or 80F.

So far getting around the ship has not been too difficult in her wheelchair. Some heavy doors are hard to get through on deck 9 but staff and guest have been helpful. From our cabin to the elevator we often have to squeeze by a steward’s cart but that is not much of an issue.

I will not say too much on the subject of food yet – suffice to say after 2 days onboard everything if quite satisfactory – I will go deeper into a food review in a week or so after experiencing more options. Note what we have enjoyed most so far. Only downside was no coffee offered at end of diner.

One further point on our itinerary - We expect mostly warm to hot weather – will be in China, Japan and South Korea in April as well Tasmanian and part of New Zealand in May all of which may be on the cool side.

There are 4 newspapers in the lounge each day: USA today, WSJ, something from Canada, something from GB. There is a list of papers available for purchase at $6.50 per day. OVO suites do get 1 per day.

With embarkation day and 2 sea days I can report that so far there has not been a problem with availability of lounge chairs. We will see if this changes much as people get more settled in on their new home away from home.

On other lines that offer World Cruises there will be passengers that have travelled on previous W/C together and have become friends over these previous grand voyages as well as getting to know some of the crew very well. As this is Oceania’s inaugural world cruise, this will not be the case but there will be some passengers that have met each before as well as know some of the crew from prior Oceania cruises. On several of the Princess cruises we have done we have met passengers/crew from previous cruises but as first time O cruisers and first time w/c cruisers we don’t except to meet anyone we have travelled with before but do very much look forward to getting to know many of our fellow passengers.

Based on our roll call and my people watching skills, most of the passengers appear to be retired baby boomers and are generally an active group of experienced travelers. I heard another passenger refer to this as their SKI vacation--Spending Kids' Inheritance.

There are a few passengers that have not yet hit age 30, the majority have celebrated the 30 years old mark at least 30 times.

Even on shorter cruises Oceania does not have any programs for children. While a cruise like this would certainly be a great education opportunity for some young people, I don’t believe there are any on board – maybe later for a segment or two. I remember when we did 48 days from Rome to Sydney (same size ship) there was a family with an 8 year old son and 16 and 18 yr old daughters. They stayed on for a few weeks more than us – the young boy certainly got a lot of attention while on board.

Oceania technically has a limit is 3 bottles to bring on your own wine and other spirits but we saw several people with cases in Miami with no issue. This is for consumption in your cabin or you may bring a bottle of wine to dinner but you'll pay a $25 corkage fee.

I played shuffleboard and mini golf followed by both us joining a team for trivia. The show for tonight was comedian Jeff Harms – excellent.

A screw fell out of my glasses so that the lenses would not stay in – Fortunately I brought a backup older pair.

Today in our cabin we received a nice white outdoor jacket – each passenger doing the full voyage gets one. We were able to switch sizes.

For those not doing the full w/c, internet is $27.99/day or 200 minutes for $160.

At night we get the next days ‘Currents’, a 4 page Canada newspaper plus menus for lunch and dinner next day. We also get a 1 page tourist help sheet to the next port unless the next day is a sea day.

Today’s thought for the day - The traveller's-eye view of men and women is not satisfying. A man might spend his life in trains and restaurants and know nothing of humanity at the end. To know, one must be an actor as well as a spectator - A. Huxley

Look forward to meeting you when we board in Sydney!

Enjoy for us until then!

Marian and Ted

Thank you for taking the time to share your journey with us. I look forward to reading more of your posts! :)

Nice words of wisdom on clothing and money amounts!

Sent from my KFTHWI using Forums mobile app

Joining in and enjoying your report and writing style.☺

Am loving your reports. Keep up the great work. Wish we were there, just in a bigger cabin.

Enjoying your report. When we get back from Myanmar, I am going to have some great reading to catch up on.:D

Thanks for starting to post -- I thought I remembered you mentioning you'd be posting. Looking forward to your shipboard and shore ex experiences and impressions.

Wayne...thank you for being so generous with your time, putting together this excellent report....Barry

Hopefully with the onslaught of post I have done so far (it will quickly slow down) I have answered many potential questions but feel free to ask away anything of interest to you – I will try to get to them when time and internet access permits.

From here on for each port we visit, I will do two main post – the first will introduce the port generally from a historical, economic, political and geographic perspective. Various sources will be used for this info but Wikipedia will be the main source. The second post will be a more typical tourist what we did post.

Originally today was to be the start a very busy stretch of 9 Caribbean ports in a row without a sea day. But our stop in Isla Margarita, Venezuela was cancelled so we have 1 break. We look forward to a mix of new and very familiar Caribbean port with their tropical landscapes, inviting beaches, turquoise waters, lush jungles and lovely natural wonders.

Aruba is a 33km (20mi) long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27km (17mi) north of the coast of Venezuela. Together with Bonaire and Curacao, it forms a group referred to as the ABC Islands. Surrounded by white, sandy beaches with blue-green waters, Aruba is a generally flat, riverless island.

Oranjestad (Dutch, literally "Orangetown") is the capital and largest city of Aruba with a population of around 30,000. The city is named after the first King Willem van Oranje-Nassau (William of Orange-Nassau) - the first heir to the Dutch House of Orange. The Spanish occupation started when explorer Alonso de Ojeda discovered Aruba in 1499. -Aruba was occupied by the Dutch in 1636. The Dutch developed the local economy through the Dutch West India Company. In 1986, Aruba seceded from the Netherland Antilles and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, under the Dutch crown. The Port of Aruba is conveniently located within walking distance of restaurants and shopping.

Dutch and Papiamento are Aruba's official languages, but most Arubans speak at least 4 languages, including English, Spanish and Portuguese. The white-sand beaches, cooling trade winds and warm, friendly people draw a lot of tourist. Fuel is much cheaper here and therefore it is a popular cruise port.

Average high temperature in Jan is 30C (86F). The island averages less than 50cm (20in) of rain each year with most showers being over in a short time.