Doughty3

We found a big difference in waiting times for a table for two in Freedom dining on Oceana between late September/October 2016 and late September 2014.

On the earlier cruise we were always given a table for two within 10 minutes or so maximum, if we felt we didn’t to share a table that night. We usually arrived at the dining room between 8 & 8.30.

Last year getting a table for two was far more problematic and involved long waits. We waited over an hour one evening. This spoiled our whole night on an evening when we were very tired after a busy day ashore and did not feel like socialising with new table companions.

After this experience we dined in our cabin as we didn’t feel we wanted to risk this happening again.

It was all a bit rushed as we were on the late flight from Gatwick.

I think the wines were Maltese only & I didn’t notice which beers were available...sorry.

Last September passengers were directed through the Valletta cruise terminal duty free shop after registration & before embarking Oceana.

We bought a litre of well priced Tanqueray gin, some Maltese wine...not to our taste, tonic waters & snacks of some sort.

You might find what you are looking for there & avoid having to carry heavy shopping from a town shop.

We had similar timings with a late Gatwick flight last year.

Our hold case was left outside our cabin on the last night & on the final morning we left our cabin bags in one of the theatres assigned for left luggage until we picked it up before leaving for the airport on the bus.

This left us free to leave the ship, explore Valletta on our own on foot & return for a late lunch on board.

On Oceana last September suite passengers were a able to enjoy breakfast in a small secluded area of the main breakfast/Dining room...a few extra choices on the menu I think.

Senseo machines with decaf. coffee available on request on Oceana last year.

All comments most welcome and useful.

It is the cruise details which we are most interested in.

We love Alaska.

5 years ago we hired a motor home in Anchorage and travelled around for 2 weeks. We stayed at a camp site right in Denali for 4 nights and spent some time in Kenai.

We also saw the brown bears feeding on salmon in Katmai NP during a camping trip.

Now we would like to see the parts of Alaska which you can only see from the water and as we are both in our 70s we think a bit of comfort is overdue!

We’ve enjoyed 2 Med cruises on Oceana over the past 2 years but would now like to plan an Alaskan cruise. We don’t really know where to start.

What do P&O ers who have done this think are the main considerations/differences?

We can do without formal evenings and prefer Freedom Dining but we do enjoy good quality food.

We would also want a cabin with a balcony.

How do the various lines compare with P&O and each other?

I’ll be posting on the Alaskan forum but thought asking for advice from P&O ers would be a good place to start.

I agree that you might be more likely to be allocated fixed Dining on an Early Saver fare on a ship like Oceana with only a single Freedom Dining Room.

We requested Freedom on Oceana at the end of September but were allocated late fixed Dining on boarding. Two years before we got Freedom as requested on Oceana on an Early Saver.

We were recently allocated Club Dining after having requested Freedom Dining on an Early Saver on Oceana. Being in a Suite seemed to make no difference to the outcome of our expressed preference when booking.

Two years previously on Oceana we had been given the Freedom Dining we wanted in a Mini Suite, also booked by Early Saver.

Luckily our Butler was able to change us to Freedom Dining but we don’t know if this is often the case.

We think one of the great pleasures of a Med cruise is to sample local wines when ashore and buy the odd bottle to drink on our balcony. (This makes no difference to the amount of wine we buy onboard in restaurants).

We’re independent types, always exploring on our own, and do not want to be treated like naughty children and have bottles confiscated until the end of the cruise in future.

Yes we know other cruise lines have similar rules and that’s why we have chosen P&O in the past.

We’ve just enjoyed a lovely Med cruise in a suite on Oceana but these new rules are making us wonder whether we want to book another.

Sort of connected to this thread...we were very disappointed to find that there was no classical musician on board our Oceana Med late September fly/cruise this year.

2 years ago we listened to a talented young Romanian pianist on each of our 4 sea days on a similar cruise on Oceana.

Dumbing down by P&O do you think?

There are buses from the train station at Taormina Giardini up to the town but when we arrived last week the buses didn't let any passengers board at the station as they were already full of cruise passengers from 2 ships in port.

We shared a taxi with another couple...15 Euros per car with 4 pax.

We recently walked from our berth in Civitavecchia to the train station in about half an hour at a brisk pace. We followed the pedestrian markings in the port, exiting by the old gate near the fort. This is only possible from berths 10 to 13 I believe and we couldn't find out which berth we were going to use until we were alongside. We were one of the furthest ships from the fort so you might be closer and have a shorter walk.

Thank you John...I understand now.

I'm a bit confused.

We will be returning from a day trip from Civitavecchia so won't have any luggage. We haven't been to Termini Station before.

What are the advantages of using this side entrance and how do we find it?

Do the local buses still run from the train station up to Taormina?

Is it compulsory to carry original passport everywhere in Italy?

We're DIYing on the train from Civitavecchia to Rome and would be worried about security. Is any other ID acceptable for U.K. citizens?

Any advice welcome, thank you.

Next week we arrive in Malta on a late afternoon Gatwick flight. Will there be an opportunity to buy a bottle of spirits etc at the cruise terminal before boarding?

Thank you.

Is there anywhere in/near the port where we can change U.K. Pounds Sterling cash into Kuna or do we have to find an ATM/ Bancomat? If we can exchange cash will the rate be favourable?

We are visiting several places in Croatia on our cruise.

Thanks.

I think that formal nights are usually held on sea days. Our 14 day Med cruise at the end of the month has 4 sea days for the 4 formals but one is the night before we arrive in Malta and some pax disembark. I can't see that would work.

My interest is that I am thinking of booking speciality restaurants and don't want these to clash with black tie nights.

Can anyone help?

Will this arrangement also apply to Oceana in September?

At the end of September we plan to walk the walls then travel by ferry to Cavtat, returning to Gruz by bus.

If the weather is too windy for me to feel comfortable on a boat, which is the nearest No 10 bus stop to the old city so we can travel to Cavtat by bus from there?

Thank you.

Has the new Room Service menu materialised on all ships now?

We are in a suite on Oceana in late September and would like to know if we will be charged for all room service meals apart from breakfast.

On our last cruise 2 years ago we enjoyed listening to an excellent young pianist on Oceana on sea days.

We've heard that performances by classical instrumentalists/singers have been dropped.

Has anyone any up to date information please?