Disembark Monte Carlo

This is our first Oceania cruise- we've been on many Norwegian due to having kids along and wanted to try an 'adult' ship. I may have erred in booking the ship to airport transfer from Monte Carlo to Nice. We were provided tags and told to be in the lounge at 7a for a 1p flight. Of course, did not look up distance to airport as I assumed Oceania would provide good service and get us here at right time.

We will be sitting in the Nice airport lobby for 3 1/2 hours as we cannot check bags until two hours prior to flight. Not only could we have enjoyed a bit more of Monte Carlo and a leisurely breakfast, but a couple hours extra sleep would have been nice too

I understand they want to boot you out to get ready for the next group but this is honestly horrible customer service.

Does everyone else just book their own transport and skip this mess? Or is this to be expected?

LOL, it's always a drag after having been treated as "special" for the entire voyage to realize that our "time in the sun" is coming to a close, but all good things, as the poet says, must come to an end.

I'm not sure that the rush to the Airport was prompted by their desire to get you off the ship, so much as the fact that it was a SHARED Transfer.

When mass market ships are sending a number of buses to the Airport on disembarkation day, there is more opportunity for customization.

On a small ship, the Transfer simply must be scheduled for the passenger with the earliest connection.

That said, most people do book their own transfers on Oceania, with the exception of very out of the way ports.

 

Does everyone else just book their own transport and skip this mess?

Yes. If I want to be treated individually and control my own schedule, I make my own arrangements.

This is our first Oceania cruise- we've been on many Norwegian due to having kids along and wanted to try an 'adult' ship. I may have erred in booking the ship to airport transfer from Monte Carlo to Nice. We were provided tags and told to be in the lounge at 7a for a 1p flight. Of course, did not look up distance to airport as I assumed Oceania would provide good service and get us here at right time.

 

We will be sitting in the Nice airport lobby for 3 1/2 hours as we cannot check bags until two hours prior to flight. Not only could we have enjoyed a bit more of Monte Carlo and a leisurely breakfast, but a couple hours extra sleep would have been nice too

 

I understand they want to boot you out to get ready for the next group but this is honestly horrible customer service.

 

Does everyone else just book their own transport and skip this mess? Or is this to be expected?

For an international flight it would never occur to me to be at the airport any LESS than 3 hours before departure. The 2-hour bag check restriction isn't O's doing.

 

I understand they want to boot you out to get ready for the next group but this is honestly horrible customer service.

I don't think that this is the case at all as latest disembarkation time is at 9 AM.

This has nothing to do with customer service but with arranging "mass" transfers to a distant airport for passengers with different departure times (not just yours)

In the future, you may choose to arrange your own individual transfer that will be more at your convenience. Not only will it be more on your schedule but will also probably be less expensive - especially so if you choose to share the transfer with others from your roll call.

Consider this a lesson learned.

as already mentioned you will be asked to leave by 9 am anyway

Research is key

see where the airport is in relationship to the dock,

how long does it take to get there, traffic on the day

what time MUST I check in with the airline,

what can I do after disembarking & before heading to the airport with luggage in tow

taxis or private transfers are usually cheaper than ship's transfers

may or may not get there any faster once on the road but with ship's transfers you are on the bus waiting for others that are still enjoying their breakfast ;)

Private transfer from the pier to NCE is about 80 Euro. It is about a 40 min drive as NCE is on the far side of Nice. Believe it or not, taxi's are even more expensive

You can take the train, but it is a pain as there is a long walk from the station to the airport and you also need a taxi to get you to the monaco station.

Best way is helicopter. 7 min transfer

Where did you get the information that you couldn't check your luggage until two hours before your flight?

I believe you might be misinformed. There is a certain amount of time before you can use the self serve check yourself in kiosk, but if there is someone at the desk you can check your bags sooner and go on in through security. I just did this a week or so ago.

Depending on what country you're in and what airline you're on this might be different, but in most places it's not.

I have disembarked in MC . Several blocks to bus to Nice. Easily done if not an excess amount of bags. 2E or less.

Private transfer from the pier to NCE is about 80 Euro. It is about a 40 min drive as NCE is on the far side of Nice.

That would make it around 40 Euro/pp for 2 people.

While I do not know how much O charges for this transfer, I wager to say that it is more than 40 Euro/pp.

That should make one's choice very easy and clear :D

Where did you get the information that you couldn't check your luggage until two hours before your flight?

 

I believe you might be misinformed. There is a certain amount of time before you can use the self serve check yourself in kiosk, but if there is someone at the desk you can check your bags sooner and go on in through security. I just did this a week or so ago.

 

Depending on what country you're in and what airline you're on this might be different, but in most places it's not.

We flew home from Nice on Sunday via Air France. Arrived at 7:30 am for a 10:30 flight, was told by the ticket agent we could not check bags until 8:30.

We booked a private van transfer with viator dot com for under $100 US (Monaco to Nice).

We booked a private van transfer with viator dot com for under $100 US (Monaco to Nice).

Just out of curiosity - do you know how much O charged per person for this transfer?

Just out of curiosity - do you know how much O charged per person for this transfer?

Not exactly sure but I would guess around $199.00pp. As mentioned previously, we paid around $100.00 total for a party of 4.

Not exactly sure but I would guess around $199.00pp. As mentioned previously, we paid around $100.00 total for a party of 4.

My point exactly for OP.

It is interesting that Uber can go from Nice airport to Monaco, but not in the opposite direction. That may change in the future.

When is your cruise? Is it too late to cancel O's transfer and arrange your own?

There is an express bus to/from Nice Airport to Monte Carlo and Menton. It runs about every 20 minutes and is very reliable, comfortable and quick. As I recall, it's about 18euros per person. It stops at Place d'Armes which is quite near the port as well as a couple other places in Monte Carlo, think maybe the casino and train station. You can find info on Nice Airport website,

Is it too late to cancel your transfer and re-arrange privately? If you can do that, arrange to stay on the ship until a later time, close to 9am. That should give you enough time to have a good breakfast on the ship, as the food in both NCE terminals - including the premium lounges - is, almost without exception, dismal.

I travel a lot through Nice airport, but only with BA or Easyjet and am always able to check in bags more than 2 hours before, at either terminal, but as other posters report they couldn't, perhaps it depends on the airline?

Never tried to check them in nearly as early as you might be trying to do though.

One thing is for sure, if French airport officialdom tells you you cannot do something, there is little point in arguing, even if it seems rather arbitrary. Try smiling, even pleading, as there is a small chance that might work, but be prepared to do it their way in the end. Take a good book to read in case you have to wait.:(

To answer a few questions. We were charged 119 euro per person- so a whopping price unfortunately. Delta check in counter told us they could not take our baggage until two hours prior in Nice. Lesson learned, next time I book something directly for ourselves. Thanks everybody for the feedback.

To answer a few questions. We were charged 119 euro per person- so a whopping price unfortunately. Delta check in counter told us they could not take our baggage until two hours prior in Nice. Lesson learned, next time I book something directly for ourselves. Thanks everybody for the feedback.

So has this already occurred?

Delta check in counter told us they could not take our baggage until two hours prior in Nice. Lesson learned, next time I book something directly for ourselves.

BUT.... if you had to be off the ship by 9am anyway, and couldn't have checked your bags with Delta until 11am for a 1pm flight, and you'd need to leave Monaco by 10:00 or 10:15 to arrive in Nice at 11:00.... how much more of Monaco could you really have seen in that one hour between 9:00 and 10:00, especially considering that you'd have your bags with you? :confused:

Still better than a shared shuttle that deposits you at the airport 3.5 hours ahead, but you still don't really get any additional sightseeing time to speak of.

For an international flight it would never occur to me to be at the airport any LESS than 3 hours before departure. The 2-hour bag check restriction isn't O's doing.

Having had a few European flights under my belt, I now always ask if it is a non-stop flight across the Atlantic that the person is catching or if it is connecting through another Shengen country's airport.

If it is a connecting flight, then the first segment is treated as a domestic flight for check-in purposes and you don't really have to be there 3 hours before the flight unless you need the extra time for mobility reasons or as an uncertainty cushion.

There's no point waking up at 6:00 to catch a 7:00 transfer only to twiddle one's thumbs for almost 3 hours waiting for the 10:30 flight to another European hub (like we have done previously). The only tricky issue is construction/rush hour delays in getting to the airport.

In all my years of travel, for business as well as cruising, I have tucked a paperback in my handbag or carryon. I recommend the latest best-seller, or your favorite mystery writer, or any book you have always wanted to read (or re-read).

You will be amazed how quickly the time will pass--and how low your blood pressure will remain!!

In all my years of travel, for business as well as cruising, I have tucked a paperback in my handbag or carryon. I recommend the latest best-seller, or your favorite mystery writer, or any book you have always wanted to read (or re-read).

 

You will be amazed how quickly the time will pass--and how low your blood pressure will remain!!

Not sure if this is a response to my post, but if it is, my post was to point out that one does not need to wake up at an ungodly hour to get to the airport for what one might feel is an international flight but is treated by the airline as a domestic flight.

With the lesser time requirement for a domestic flight check-in, I would rather be in bed for the extra time or have a less hurried early morning breakfast than to hurry up and wait (with a great read).:cool:

We nearly always make our own arrangements to the airport or to a hotel post cruise but in this case i don't really think you are missing out on much in Monte Carlo. In my experience, it is a city that is much more of a nighttime port and not much is really available to do before 10am except perhaps have a nice cup of espresso, etc. and with the hassle of your luggage, etc you are probably better off to be headed for the airport once you disembark the ship.

All that said you could have likely had a bit more leisurely morning for about the same price or less by making your own transfer arrangements or booking transfers with your travel agent.