Serge1

Thanks! The names just came back to me.

I have found their details on their website: http://www.fourseasonsbridge.com

Davina and Harold Schacter. Thank you.

As I am unable to edit the thread above - it was on the Nautica in April (not May as stated).

Thank you.

Hello

I wondered if anyone had the email address of the wonderful bridge directors who were with us from Mumbai to Athens in May this year (2016). I believe they got on the ship earlier in Shanghai.

Unfortunately I lost the pen drive with their contact details and all the lesson notes.

Thanks very much for the help.

Serge

Hello

I see a lot of people mentioning taking a power strip on board. What types of sockets are available to plug the strips into.

I need a small three pin and wonder if they are all US type? I will take a multiplug anyway.

I am travelling on the Nautica (Oceania).

Thanks.

Not sure of your nationality but several things to look out for,

1: You may need a physical visa (not e visa ) to board ship.

E visa may be OK to get to airport in Mumbai but Indian bureaucracy is inflexible and approx 50 Azamara passengers had to disembark before arriving in India or stay on to Sri Lanka as they did not have correct visa.

2: Unless Oceania arranged flights and transfers with Indian bureaucracy and inefficiencies I would fly in the day before.

3: If flight is late how will you get to next port of call.

 

Good luck

Thank you for the information. I am just taking a short domestic flight.

Slightly off topic ...or perhaps terribly so!

Would someone tell me what are the best public places to camp and enjoy the view (or privacy) for us folks without balconies please?

I am sailing on the Nautica and it will be my first cruise.

Thank you.

Hi.

I was thinking of taking a taxi from one of the counters at the airport directly to the Ballard Pier, but am not sure if they are allowed inside, which would be a problem given our luggage.

On the other hand perhaps I can get to a hotel where there may be a shuttle by Oceania to the ship?

I come in at 2 PM and the ship departs at 6 PM so there is plenty of time, I think.

I couldn't agree with you more!

Terri

I was only trying to be helpful. It has nothing to do with what you can and cannot afford. in fact the train is very clean and comfortable and is the most expensive train journey (based on the price/distance) in the world today. I and the others who have significant experience with traveling in and out of London only suggested it as it is the difference between sitting in a cab for up to two hours and being in the center of town in 15 to 20 minutes. There is a porter service at Heathow that will look after your baggage.

However, the issue is moot. The OP has booked a car service and I can vouch that most of the car services are really good.

Have a nice trip.

Hi!

Does anyone have a recommendation for a car service in London that will pick us up at Heathrow and take us to our centrally located London hotel? Two days later, we will need this service to take us to Southampton.

Thanks.

Rhea

Hello. I have lived many years in London and really do not recommend taking a taxi from the airport. You may be stuck in traffic for hours if you are unlucky and anyway it just takes far too long.

By far the best way to travel into town is to take the Heathrow Express train. The tickets are sold just as you exit the baggage claim and if you miss that then there are both ticket machines as well as a counter at the dedicated station.

You can put your luggage on a wheelie baggage cart and take it down the lifts and up to the entrance of the platform. There are two platforms so just check on the overhead signs which side goes first into town. The journey takes only 15 minutes and it is a dedicated train with no stops.

Once you get to Paddington you can get a taxi from the huge taxi rank adjacent to the exit directly to your hotel.

Hope this helps.

Serge,

 

Click on my email below. I'm happy to check for you if you will let me know what you are looking for.

 

Mura

Thank you Mura. Have written to you.

I just did a check on our June 7 sailing, yes, after final payment. Checked the B1 category as it is one with a large number of cabins. Still 46 cabins available.

Took about 3 minutes to go through the process.

I am unable to do this from the O website outside of the US (in Asia). It just shows up as Available. No option to purchase either, just a button to Request a Quote and view all fares. I would love to check the availability of suites as well.

Thank you. Everyone has been very helpful on the forum.

Since making the original post I have done a fair amount of reading and believe the situation as such: The ship will take your passports and hand you a receipt for it at initial boarding. The ship will organize visa specifically in ports where advance visas are not required and issued on arrival, which of course is determined primarily by your citizenship, type of passport, residency etc. These visas may not be standard visitor (tourist) visas but could be special transit visas. The ship may charge for this service.

I have heard conflicting information on charges. Some have said the ship charge nothing (like in the case of Oman and Jordan), some say they charge at cost (which in some cruise lines is mentioned in their terms - I couldn't find it in Oceania), and some say they add on a fat profit and charge handsomely for the service.

Oman: Ship arranges this prior to disembarking - no cost for less than 48 hours

Jordan: Visa obtained by ship. It is free for UK citizens but the ship may charge

Egypt: Quick Stop visa arranged by ship at no cost usually.

I believe they give you a disembarkation card and eventually when you pick up your passports on board the ship later all the visas appear stamped there.

This information is what I have been able to find out specific to UK citizens and subject to change. I will update with what actually happens once I have completed the trip in case it will help others.

It would be great to have some clarity on the ship's prices for this service and also whether one can choose to disembark and get the visa on arrival at the port oneself, if the service is offered there. I will also update this post if the cruise line insists on the passenger signing an agreement allowing them alone to get the visa. I understand that this actually would be the most convenient option anyway for most cruisers.

Thank you.

We are on same cruise.... but from Hong Kong to Athens (O broke this into two segments after the cruise was initially published).

 

You might check with your TA if Oceania is offering these ports as extra charge Visas. If not then they are likely Gratis transit visas. The Visa requirements are stated on the O invoice.

 

For us Yanks -- the only ports that O is charging for shipboard issued Visas is Myanmar and Vietnam.

Thank you. I have dropped them a note to ask them to find out from Oceania.

Thank you. Good idea to check whether these are available at the ports of call (Salalah, Aqaba and Safaga) ....

I will call the respective embassies here.

Make sure you have correct visa for India as 40+ members on Dubai Mumbai cruise were not allowed off in Mumbai to take flight home and had to

1 Get off early or

2 stay on until Sri Lanka with horrendous air fares to return to UK or USA .

Thank you. I do have the appropriate visa for India.

Hello

I wondered if someone could enlighten me on Oceania's policy and approach to citizens travelling with them who can get visas on arrival at some ports of call. I will be taking the cruise between Mumbai and Athens. As far as I have found out, as a UK citizen, I do not need visas for Greece and Israel (free travel) and that the authorities will stamp my passport as I go through immigration formalities.

However, in the case of Oman, Jordan and Egypt, I can get visas on arrival. In the case of Jordan the visa is free, I believe.

I have heard of some occasions when the Oceania crew have not allowed you to board without signing an agreement that you will use their own proprietary visa service to obtain the visas before disembarking. Is this true in your experience.

I understand that it would be safest to commence travel with these visas in your passport, but it would be infinitely more convenient to just walk up to the appropriate counter in each port and have them issue it there and then.

I look forward to hearing about your experiences in this matter. Thank you.