Tranquility Base

Onboard my wife uses Messenger and I use Skype. I use Skype to call any landline or mobile as it costs only a few cents. Skype to Skype voice calls work well most times, and video calls work better during off peak times.

Precisely our approach also. For the OP. We have yet to cruise under SM, all ours so far were O Life. That will change mid year when we cruise using SM. The drinks package has a value for us. The Excursions credits have a value for us. When we book our excursions using SM credits, and other credits, we are trying to make sure we book to lessen the chance of having them unusable at the end of the cruise. If it happens, whilst frustrating, it will not be a huge deal for us in the big scheme of things. Will it make us switch to another line ......No, that factor would not cause us to switch. However, we may well switch occasionally, as shown in Hank's post which I quoted above. But it wouldn't be any unusable SM credits that caused that.

I have two 15 day cruises booked. One has 7 ports and requires 4 excursions for the discount. The other has 11 ports and requires 6 excursions for the discount. Your cruise has 11 ports; so 6 excursions looks consistent.

I have tendered a few times at the Bay of Islands, but not with Oceania. Yes, that is why I asked if your tour was fixed timings or a private one arranged for you. As you say, the tour will not wait for you. Yes, the Russell option is too complicated for your timings. Are you arriving from overseas ....ie: Nautica in March ? There may well be extra clearance time required, especially from Agriculture Authorities. Hopefully they will arrive on the pilot boat, so in reality that may not make make too much of a difference . I don't know for sure however. The actual ride in the tender is about 15-20 mins if you are at the normal anchorage. So with loading / unloading it can be 30 mins. Nautica appears to be the only ship in if you are on the 11th March arrival. There will be plenty of shuttles, but hopefully you'll be on one that is almost full and will leave soon. Being early off the tender will assist. I have walked from Waitangi pier to Paihia, it is about 2.3km, but a shuttle should be quicker. I would explain what you are trying to achieve to the staff onboard. Getting on the initial tender which carries the onshore set up crew would be great. But I don't know how flexible they are with that. One possible advantage is that often the Ship's tours utilising the large Cats out into the Bay are allowed to board directly from the ship. So that may reduce the number of early Ship's excursion passengers a bit. Good Luck.

Is your excursion fixed timings, are is it a private tour for you ? At what location will you meet the excursion, the tender pier or in town ? What time does the excursion leave versus the ship's scheduled arrival time ? What is the previous port ?

I guess Riviera changes will be next. A huge task with many changes coming up. Riviera's May 29th, Trieste - Trieste, 29 day cruise originally was ALL ports. Not a single sea day in the 29 days.

Check out the roll call. There is the new itinerary posted....although they are still working on two options towards the end.

According to their website, Vista has stops at Turkish ports starting this May.

Check when scheduled to arrive versus when the early ship's excursions are scheduled to report at the lounge. Then, on the morning, check visually when the 1st and 2nd tenders are looking as though they are about to start their runs ashore. If earlier than the earliest shorex report times then you should be good to go on those. Well, that's the plan anyway.

Do you know why Turkish ports were cancelled ? Oceania had two of their ships there about 3 months ago.

Wine during dinner at the Lodges. Does the wine by the glass menu have a reasonable selection ? I know that alcohol is not included, only the meals. If you purchase a bottle of wine on the 1st night, will they store it for you for the 2nd night as they do on the ship ? ( 2 night stays at each lodge ) Can you BYO and pay a corkage fee ?

@Queen of DaNile I see you are now docked. After your visit, if you are able, I would be keen to know the shuttle info from this port please. IE: Did you hear passengers talk about how long the shuttles were taking into town & back to the ship ? What time was the last shuttle back from town on the first night ? Just trying to plan a DIY day on Day 1. Many thanks.

Correct. Plus, just like the "first night speciality restaurant reservation query" it depends on the cruise type. Are 20 % of total passengers embarking at the port in question or 90 %. ? Big difference between Miami on a standard Caribbean turnaround; and Riviera which was basically one continuous 'Hop On / Hop Off" schedule bouncing around the Mediterranean for months.

Also on the 15th Norwegian Spirit is due in. (07:45) Two days prior on Wed 13th Nautica is due in. (06:45)

Minder and Rumpole of the Bailey.

Actually, Riviera is stilled scheduled for 20th May and Insignia is 22nd May.

When you visited did you go to the Initiation Well in the Qinta Da Regaleira ? On our last visit to Lisbon we were intending to go there but the timings didn't suit.

True. Merely an interlude until the bathroom is free, which is when 'er indoors heads off to a bar for her 24K Margarita and I join her soon after for my Chairman of the Board.

Perfect time to pick up a couple of cold beers on my way back to the balcony to wind down.

Can the SM credits be used for these ?

Sure; however if often depends on what type of cruise you're boarding. I've joined cruises where our 'first night' has simply been a regular port day for 70-80 % of the passengers onboard.

Three on a regular basis. The forth very occasionally.

And the advantage is, no more people removing them once onboard. IE: no more threads such as this one.

Princess, in certain countries. Celebrity, in certain countries. Oceania, in certain countries. Seaborne, in certain counties.

Princess is not operating a restaurant on land. People cruise on numerous cruiselines (including Princess) which do not charge them auto daily gratuities. They stay in hotels around the World which do not charge gratuities. They eat in restaurants around the World which do not charge gratuities. When people are spending the amounts they are on cruises, especially lengthy cruises, I think they are smart enough to see through the 'Cabin + Taxes + Fees + Gratuities' pricing system. Looking at the price advertised inclusive of all of the above is what many people around the World are used to on a daily basis. Build gratuities into the fare for everyone. Let Princess sort out staff renumeration