Jan.and.John

Got a chuckle over the mention that CD had already checked out - we disembarked Riviera in Barcelona (cruise prior to yours) and believe me he was pretty much MIA for our entire cruise from Athens. Worst we’ve had in 10 O cruises.

Still, we booked another cruise 🤦🏻‍♀️
 

Jan & John

I was surprised to learn from Oceania recently that my Shareholder Benefit (normally $100 OBC for a cruise of the length we're embarking on next week - our 10th) was not available to me because I'd received a "special price."  I was not aware that I'd gotten such a great deal.

Anyone else run into this?  I was not particularly happy, especially when I saw the amount of FDR's annual compensation ($21.2M) during the latest NCLH earnings report.  Not that I begrudge him any, except maybe my paltry $100 - would not have wanted to be in his shoes in 2020-21.

Thanks and happy travels!

Jan and John

Is there anything I can do?

Thanks everyone for your input.  What I don't understand is why I can't get a definitive yes-or-no answer for whether a pre-embarkation Covid test is required at Piraeus. I know Oceania doesn't require, but that apparently is not the issue.  I've looked at numerous websites, for the Port Authority and as stated above, see that a test is NOT required for cruisers "passing through" but that's not my question.  

Hasn't anyone embarked in Athens in the last month or two?  I'm asking because (1) I have a nasal problem that is greatly exacerbated by the test, and (2) am afraid of a false positive.

Thanks again (12 days until Riviera!)

Jan & John

Answering my own question, our TA contacted O (I gave up after way too long on hold) which replied "O has NO testing requirements. If there ARE any it would be the local jurisdiction."  So I checked on Greece, knowing that their Covid test requirement (only for cruisers, not for land travel) lingered much longer than other in other EU countries.

According to the internet (I know!) "Greece removed all Covid-19 testing for cruise passengers on 10 October 2022."  That was 6 months ago.

Thanks, Flatbush - hopefully my relaxed attitude won't cost us each 90 bucks in Piraeus!

Hi everyone - 

I just checked in for my Athens-to-Barcelona cruise (Riviera) 5/11/2023, and on reading the fine print saw that we MUST bring proof of a negative Covid-19 test to the cruise terminal.

Seems like we noted this on our Riviera cruise last October and were told it was just old boilerplate wording, but at that time we DID need to provide vaccination info. That was easy, a test? not so much.

Does anyone have up-to-date information on this requirement?  Would it be specific to an Athens sailing? We will have been in Athens for a few days prior to embarkation.

Thanks, everyone!

Jan and John B

AK, this will be our tenth - but we made final payment last month (I think that, plus our escalating the matter today) may explain why the cruise shows perks already.

Update: my login now shows silver status for our upcoming May cruise. MANY thanks for all the support and hints from my fellow cruisers! 🥂

Update for us: our TA checked with O last night, and they told him we only have 7 credits - because I sailed twice with my son (Cuba and St. Petersburg) when my husband didn’t care to go. So apparently -even though I have always planned, booked and paid with my credit card - we go by my husband’s total, so our May cruise will be #8, not #10.

I’m not happy about this! Ten cruises is ten cruises.

Wow, this is timely - our tenth is coming up in May (already made final payment). Same situation - $100 OBC showing today - so I had just asked my TA this very question, and he replied that i need to wait until cruise #11.

Do I need a new TA?  I just sent him this thread, hopefully I won't have to contact O myself (but I will).

Thanks, everyone!

Thanks for these updates, Joe!  We board in Lisbon 10/13, can't wait!

Jan & John

I emailed my form and broker stmt on Tuesday, OBC was on my account for our October sailing the next day. I’d forgotten until The Points Guy article that day.  I picked up our NCLH shares in April 2020 and prayed they’d avoid bankruptcy

Also glad balance isn't due until May... so many unknowns, even about when Iceland will open up.

Sea Day on Nautica in Bay of Biscay today so must add my two cents...itinerary makes quite a difference. On this particular cruise we’ve seen more jackets at dinner than previous 5 Oceania voyages - still not 25% though. We wonder if it may be due to the number of European pax this time, plus a bit cooler temperatures (at least until tomorrow).

At any rate, even though DH wears nice slacks and dress shirt (no jacket), we enjoy the more dressed-up atmosphere. I pack one black dress plus black slacks with 2 dressy tops for a 14-day Cruise.

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I’m pleased...I surely won’t miss those stateroom paintings that looked like a swath down the middle was missing - or the shower curtain! But first, two more cruises on Nautica before her makeover.

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Not Cornish, but recently took our 5th, and yes - credit was already there, plus one of those little cards on the desk, when we embarked.

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Our Buena Vista Social Club tour was cancelled last month (May 4 cruise). Only other ship tour we did was Birthplace of the Revolution in Santiago. As O tours go, we felt it was hot, long and forgettable, especially the part where we sat in hard church benches in a classroom (many flies, 2 fans - no a/c) and listened to a lecture en espanol ( guides translated) on development. And the part where we stood in the square (no shade) forever waiting for the bus and were beset upon by people begging for money, some with some very contagious looking ailments (disclaimer: not an MD). Very interesting cruise. Looking forward to our next in France/Portugal/Spain though. Jan

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Beautiful! thanks for sharing - can't wait for our first trip in September!

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AlexandNessa, we love your attitude!

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Still coming to me in CA at 8 pm!

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Ditto on Chip and Stingray Sailing, if I'm not too late. Just back from a fantastic day with him last week. He definitely has the touch with the rays - those girls just drape themselves all over him - reminded me of big cats! Snorkeling was best we've done on Grand Cayman too.

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Fascinating. Looking forward to hearing more about this and appreciating chengkp's perspective.

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Travelcat, you've convinced me to add the Amazon to my Bucket List. Fascinating!

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Me too, for both Morocco and around Sicily!

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We must have been on the following cruise - got off Sirena (reluctantly) in Barcelona on Friday. It was our second cruise on Sirena, after Panama Canal last Nov/Dec., and I agree with the OP. If anything, this cruise topped that one. We enjoyed every minute aboard what was always the most beautiful ship in each port. Food and service, we felt, was a bit improved over the previous cruise - so instead of an 8/10 I'd give the Venice-to-Barcelona cruise a full 10/10.

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Ok, Nautica not Nautical, and LIST not a "lust" in your room!!

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