Janet-

If the vast majority of people were taking the auto tips off, P&O would have altered the process to make up the shortfall, to ensure the staff received the correct remuneration.

P&O have altered the process, ..... they increased the amount of tips.

They were £3.60 in 2011 before the waiters went on strike on the Grand Alaska voyage. That's quite a big increase in 6 years.

We are considering a Regent cruise and are shortly on board Insignia.

Can we book Regent on board Oceania?

Does anyone know the earliest time you can drop off your cases?

Two years ago we stayed precruise at Parkroyal on Pickering, not the cheapest hotel but we booked a club room and did not have to pay for dinner. The food in the club lounge was excellent, the evening canapés were just like a buffet dinner. Afternoon tea was also included.

Illuminated make up mirror

Tea and coffee making facilities in cabins

Oceania would then be almost perfect for me

Hi, we did that one last year -- the wine tasting after was much needed. Had no poles last year though, and have learned that lesson!

 

Am guessing that you have sailed from Southampton for your cruise as we did last year. We are doing the fly / cruise this year, so are thinking that they will have to go in the cases now though - if they don't fit it looks like we'll be climbing up the walls of Kotor on all 4s!:D

I don't know what brand of poles you have but if you give our Leki ones a sharp tug they split into three sections which easily fit lengthwise in the suitcase.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply

Can someone help please

Is the ship board credit per person or per stateroom?

Can it be used to offset gratuities?

Hi Kroeni

I've just looked at the UK web site for these 2 cruises.

2017 "full price" is £4309 reduced to £2809

2016 "full price" is £4199 reduced to £1439

Both are for the cheapest cabin and both include airfare from the UK. We saw this offer and booked, we got free wifi and the drinks package included. For us in the UK Oceania will reduce the price if we don't take the included airfare.

I guess on the one going next month Oceania are trying to sell the last few cabins. On the one for next year the reduced price will go up and down according to demand. One big difference in booking in the UK to booking on a US website is that in the US if the price reduces before final payment you get the reduced price ( if cabins are still available in the same category). In the UK and I suspect in Germany too, the price you book at is the price you pay irrespective of any later price differences.

If you are looking at a US web site the prices you see will include air from the US.

Last year, we used the vouchers from the wine package which we bought on the first cruise on the second cruise on a b2b. I didn't know we couldn't!

From the horses mouth as you might say.

 

Note the paragraph which says ignore your Eticket time and turn up for 13.00.

 

http://www.pocruises.com/the-peninsular-club/tiers-and-benefits/caribbean-tier/?sisearchengine=399&siproduct=78888&utm_source=affiliatewindow&utm_medium=affiliates&affiliate=siaffiliate&awc=1938_1447369196_2e8513bbf10f49a0fd7ffa9418ee32af

Hi Dai

I've just tried your link but can't find what you are referring to. The link takes me to the Caribbean page but I can only see where it says

" You will be allocated an early Arrival Time of 1pm* " with nothing to say what the asterisk is for. Funnily enough when I look at the Baltic page there is no time given for embarkation.

Am I missing something?

Park Royal on Pickering, the snacks and canapés are that good you won't need to buy any other meals.

How did 4000-4007 get to 4051 et al?

 

Cruiser has legitimate concerns which I can't answer, but why not let someone who can give an opinion?

OP in post 8 says 4055 is free but is worried about the noise. We are simply telling of our experience with nearby cabins.

We've had 4052 and didn't hear any noise. It was very handy to stick your head out of the door to see if the local tourist office had set up their desk.

P & O do offer a behind the scene tour which includes a bridge visit, there is a charge though.

You could but at a terrible exchange rate. Try and take as much as you will need with you, or use your credit card. Try and take as small denomination notes as you can (I assume you are going to the Caribbean) otherwise on the islands you may get their currency back as change.

Do you mean they have ATMs in the Caribbean which dispense American dollars

If you like to enjoy your own wine, are not bothered about the entertainment and organise your own excursions have a look at Oceania Cruises.

We "discovered" them last year and they are now our cruise line of choice. We went to Alaska with them in May this year. Somewhere above your post another poster (Simonpjd) is comparing Oceania with P&O

Silky6

Yellow Fever's a killer so don't take any risks with bite prevention. Have you thought of anti mosi clothing from someone like

http://www.craghoppers.com/nosilife-collection-aw15

It's now our cruise line of choice.

Simon you forgot to say that you can take booze on board for cabin consumption with Oceania's free mixers, although we've been lucky enough to get free drink packages with our cruises. Also captains cocktail party is not 30 minutes long but free bars for 2 hours- hic

The only downside for me is that there is no tea and coffee making facilities in the cabins and the entertainment is basic.

I do love being able to eat lobster twice a day and every day:D

Thank you Loeb and ROCruiser for taking the time to respond.

No dance hosts, but on all the P&O cruises I've been on the dance instructors were very proactive inviting singles to dance.

We used Alla Tours and were very satisfied. We had to give them our passport details in advance. We took our emailed confirmation with us through immigration and had no problems.

The very first Rogue wave ever confirmed by scientific evidence, the so called Draupner Wave of 1995 was in the North Sea, and not to put too fine a point on it, they are well past due for another.

The last reported "Rogue" in that area was in November of 2000:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rogue_waves

 

Apologies to the Dramamine set ;)

Really wish I not looked at this, much prefer to be an ostrich

Hi

Has anyone used public transport to sightsee around the city. If so how easy would a non Japanese speaker find this.

Has anyone used the hop on hop off bus and how did they find their way to a bus stop.

Hi Judith

Thank you for posting.

What a stressful start to your holiday. I find that the older I get the more the journey to the start of the holiday bothers me, perhaps the solution is to have longer ones :D

I'm quite envious of your suite, we've not managed to aspire to that yet. Are you still in love with Oceania or has the 2 less than satisfactory dining experiences put you off. We had our second trip earlier this year to Alaska and although not as magical as our first Oceania cruise enjoyed every minute.

Can't wait for your next post

Janet