Tranquility Base

Which cruise ? (Got it, just saw your roll call) We are doing one of the longer ones next year, so always looking for up to date reports on ports / ship. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

Thanks for the updates. A couple of non-urgent questions please as you head south. 1. I assume the promenade deck has chairs as opposed to loungers. If so, are there just a few chairs or numerous ? Are they padded ? 2. I don't know if this repo is under US or Aus rules. If smoking is allowed inside IE: Casino; is the smell noticeable much around that area ? 3. Are there many people utilising One5 lounge in the early afternoon... ie around 2pm ? According to my weather chart the seas look OK for your passage over the next few days.

For info: construction of a cruise terminal in Papeete has commenced.

Old Speckled Hen......Yum.

Are Martinis during happy hour in locations such as Horizons served in smaller glasses than the regular Martinis in Martinis ?

Whilst that is usually a factor it isn't necessarily the case with all cruises. Some embarkation ports are where the large majority of passengers are off the ship as it's just a normal port day for them. Hence there may only be a relatively small number of joining passengers. Happens variously on the 'hop on hop off' type of cruise itineraries.

Ours is: 3 Cruises; GV...cruise....GV. 5 segments in total. I think I just answered my own question anyway. If online check in doesn't open till 21 days prior I'll already be onboard prior to the 2nd cruise opening.

Thanks. If doing a B2B2B I assume after completing the 1st online check in that the following two are redundant and can be ignored ?

In order to complete online check in it mentions taking a photo on your device. Is the photo essential in order to be issued an online boarding pass ? Is an online boarding pass essential prior to arriving at the terminal for check in ? Boarding port is Civitavecchia.

Coral is doing a World Cruise next year.

Or Catamaran from Valdez (ex Copper River).

Did you notice if waiters were replenishing drinks orders in a timely manner ? Or were people often having trouble finding drink waiters outside on the Terrace ? I recall there were some reports about a year ago which mentioned that area as 'good for teetotallers' . With wine now be automatically included in the new pricing there may well be an increase in demand.

Plus of course it would be Autumn Downunder not Fall. Very little cruising done in Autumn Downunder, so I guess they mean their Northern Hemisphere months.....IE: starting in September. Less confusing if people use Months instead of non specified seasons. It's also why the guidelines for starting a roll call ask for the Month to be spelt out in full. None of this confusing 3/7 or 7/3 stuff.

I agree entirely. Flexibility on deciding the pace in port during port intensive cruises is also an important factor for us. Especially important for us when on longer cruises. I think, (someone will correct me if I'm mistaken), that those taking the 25% discount shorex package, don't (didn't) realise that ALL shorex become non-refundable once onboard under that package. (I think that's correct under both O Life and SM) ???? Selecting all those excursions whilst back home is easy, however some only come to realise what it involves once they are experiencing it onboard.

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Does Oceania regularly serve lamb dishes in the GDR for lunch or dinner ? IE: Rack, leg, chops, curry ?

Thanks very much. If we did go we would simply get a cab between Sidney & Museum. I'll do my research and then leave it to the weather to decide. Otherwise we are more than happy to wander Victoria for the afternoon. Cheers.

Hi, after a bit of local advise please. Next year we are in Victoria from noon to midnight. Looking at perhaps taking a local bus up to Sidney .....looks to be about an hour each way. May look at popping into the Aviation Museum whilst there. Any advise on pottering around Sidney for a few hours and somewhere nice for lunch / drink please ? Thanks.

Do you know if they were filling up any spare seats with independents after any early shorex was called to board ? IE: If only one or two shorex were ready to board, and there where 10 seats spare, whould the first 10 independents be called down to the tender deck ?

Correct; I think Royal leaves next week for NZ & Aust. So, as you say, no smoking inside. Churchills onboard Coral Princess is currently a GREAT area. Comfy chairs, large windows overlooking promenade deck to the ocean, and right by Crooners for a drink. It was a VERY popular area to sit.

Any indication onboard as to the reason for that ?

Not necessarily. We have cruised on ships (non Oceania) which serve 4.0% alc / vol Ginger Beer.

Thanks for the reply. The reason I ask is when we did 4 Alaska trips in '15, (2 north, 2 south, all from / to Vancouver on Princess) we were inside both ways. We are doing the same next year, and I know we'll be slightly disappointed if we end up outside. PS: Yes, (for others), I do know there are numerous reasons why these may end up going outside and am prepared for that to happen. I was just wondering if that was normal for Oceania as opposed to other cruise lines who may use the inside more often. Or perhaps it's a Victoria vs Vancouver thing.

Is it normal to go outside Vancouver Island when Southbound on this schedule, as opposed to inside ?

Yes, I understand. However, for the benefit of visitors, cash is generally accepted if you wish to use it. Neither country is a cashless country. One can generally choose between using card OR cash.