ShopperfiendTO
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Posts posted by ShopperfiendTO
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On our most recent cruise, every time we went to the Main Dining Room (which was most nights - we like table service and the variety offered there), the Maitre D' asked us for our room number and if we would like to share a table or dine alone. This question was asked of people in front of us as well when there was a line so I think everyone is asked the question.
If you would like to share a table, you will always be sharing a table with other diners who also wish to share a table. What is not certain is how many others you will be sharing with, and I don't think you have an option over that.
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On every Oceania ship, we have worn shorts to breakfast and lunch in the MDR. Every once in a while the MDR will be closed for lunch but its usually because of something special or unique about the day or the port.
This has been our experience as well.
On a 10-day itinerary, the MDR was closed one or two days (but closing wasn't for any particular reason, perhaps expectation of mass day-long excursions like when in Livorno or Civitavecchia?). There were no brunches. Shorts were fine.
Not sure what impact Sirena's new lunch direction would have on the current MDR lunch system.
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As you said recently:
When did you experience the Azamara food? Just askin'...
Not Flatbush Flyer, but I think it's fairly accepted that overall O has better cuisine that Az.
We were just on Az this past fall and on an O R ship this past spring and had no doubt that O was superior to Az in every respect at every venue, except maybe Aqualina vs. Toscana. In addition to food quality, there is just more selection in the MDR/GDR. Further, we have never been impressed with any of the dessert offerings on Az's MDR/GDR.
Yes, the drink prices hurt (O's wine prices are a bit on the high side and we don't drink enough to justify a drink package so that part of Az we miss) and drinks are part of the meal experience, so it's not perfect, but certainly the meal itself was great on O.
This spring cruise was a bit of a relief because on our last O cruise (on an O ship) the food was only good, with some distinctly underwhelming meals. O is safely back on our list of preferred cruise lines.:)
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Visiting the above ports while on the Sirena in August. Do I need an excursion?? Is there enough to see right in the towns? Thanks for any help!!
CATANIA
A lot of cruisers use this port to go see Taormina, which is a picturesque village to the north that has a Roman ampitheater with views into the sea.
If you haven't been to Taormina, you might want to see if you want to go there instead as it is a popular excursion.
However, there is enough to do in Catania for the day if you like leisurely strolling and taking in the city. It has great baroque architecture and its downtown area has lots of cobblestone pathways, including the roads, but you should know that the buildings and city generally is on the sooty side (this is sometimes taken for dirty). There is a huge seminary a bit of a distance from the main square where a guided tour takes 1 hour 45 minutes!:eek:
We took a hop-on-hop-off bus from just outside the port area and felt it was a good value (I think it was 7-10 euros per person) except for the waiting of the bus to just leave the port... it seems to wait until it has a minimum number before starting the route so the start was unpleasant but the rest was OK.
Apparently Catania is known for its cannoli and we had a great time at a cafe just north of the main square enjoying a delicious cannoli and cafe latte. :p
Alternatively, if you've done Taormina and think that Catania is too urban-rugged for you, you could go to Siracusa at the southern tip but you would need to arrange private excursion/driver there because there are not good public transportation offerings for day trips there, at least none that we could find on the internet.
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Q: Do I have to obtain a visa if I do not leave the international transit area? Go
A: No. You do not have to get a visa if you are not going to leave the international transit area.
The Airline that is flying us to Istanbul does not fly from Istanbul to Athens
Therefore all those who do not have any experience with this type of issue
The checked bags will go to Istanbul
We will have to collect the bags and find our way from arrivals to departure area and then check-in with the new airline
I Think that just may mean we will have to leave the International transit area
The question I was asking is to call the airline and and ask how much to change from Sydney to Istanbul to Sydney directly to Athens, not how much to add Istanbul to Athens to the fare to tag onto the Sydney to Istanbul flight.
In other words, change the itinerary completely but still within the same geographic area.
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Generally, you don't need a visa if you are staying "In Transit" at the airport. But don't take my word on this. You will want to check this for yourself.
Here's what it says on the official government of Turkey site for visas (near the bottom of the FAQs : https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/info/ ):
Q: Do I have to obtain a visa if I do not leave the international transit area? Go
A: No. You do not have to get a visa if you are not going to leave the international transit area.
OP, did you book your flights by yourself? Why not call the airline and ask how much it would cost to change your flights to/from IST to ATH? You would still be able to salvage your cruises and the benefits that you applied to them.
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We were recently on Az in the Mediterranean and the night life at the bars was about the same as on our O cruises in the Mediterranean.
There was a bit more activity around the Mosaic cafe, and perhaps due to the snacks available there :p , but that was about it.
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We booked a shared shuttle with QLS for after our Riviera cruise. Tried to book a private ride with the company, but they could not pick us up on our date. We have used both shared shuttle and private rides with them and have so far been pleased. $30 total for 2. No line waiting.
Could you tell us when you scheduled pick up for and if it came on time and what time you got to MIA?
Our cruise disembarks at 8:00 a.m. but am concerned about delays in getting off the ship due to customs/immigration - i.e.:
1. too early a time booked so delay getting through disembarkation process results in shuttle leaving without us?
2. too much cushion booked in shuttle causing us to freak out about missing our international (well, to Canada) flight departing at noon.
We would appreciate getting experience on a good time to schedule to not have to deal with the taxi lines.
Maybe it isn't as much an issue with the R ships?:confused:
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Do you know how many ships will be in port that day? If not many, especially the smaller ships, you'll likely dock at Molo Capitaneria, which is to the north of the base of the Via Grande. This is where we've docked the times we've called to Livorno from R ships, the last one being in late Fall 2015.
This area's not the industrial port part, but it is still a bit of a trek to the town centre where the shuttles from the ships berthing in the industrial part go. However, I think there is a bus stop for the bus to the Train Station near the base of the Via Grande (so 10-15 mins easy walking from the ship), but I don't know where you could get the bus tickets near that stop. Hopefully this link gives you an idea on the docking spot and the bus stop:
You can take the train, but if not going there the first day so that you can leave Florence as late as the trains will allow, it will eat into your time in Florence if you don't catch it during the peak early period where the wait/wasted time is low.
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Yes, I meant Cannes, my mistake:o
Thanks for the responses and reading my mind.
If one needed to get to shore at 8:30 a.m., which time/slot should be reserved and is there an issue in getting the early preferred time/slot?
Don't want to be the last ones to join the group.:o
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Hello,
For those who have been on an Epic-class ship that has called into Nice, France, do you recall how long it takes to get from the ship to the wharf in Nice?
I am trying to figure out how early one has to get to the tender station on the ship to meet a tour guide for an excursion that starts at 8:30 a.m.
Thanks in advance.
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I called my TA who checked with Oceania and no such luck for our February 2,2016 Mayan Mystic cruise. What's disappointing is there are 6 Mayan Mystic cruises from November to April and only 3 of them have this offer available. I was hoping they would offer us something but so far, nothing... oh I forgot - they are giving us free internet, which I probably won't use.
Those cruises that don't have the offer are probably selling well and so O feels that there is no need to offer incentives on them. There must be a reason why you don't want to switch from the Feb. 2 to one of the other ones that have the offer?;)
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That's what I'm saying.
When online, select print to PDF, which only saves the file as a PDF and doesn't actually print anything. Then go off-line and print the PDF as a normal? :confused:
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Have also a question about the xpress passes.
When I open it I can't save it to my computor for printing later. I haven't access to a printer when I'm on line and I cant select "print to a file" either....
Wonder why they don't convert the xpress pass to a PDF as they do with the edocs? Would be much easier to handle.
Have tried to copy paste but the result isn't good, as the layout is done in a table format that looks horrible. Not sure that it will be accepted...
Has anyone any ideas?
Do you have the option to print to PDF? That should work.
If you don't have the option, you can install PDF995 (free: http://www.pdf995.com ) or something similar.
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As a non US national here is what I have experienced in Miami:
We got off the ship and went through Passport Control. There was a separate line for US and non US nationals. My husband (Swiss Resident but with US passport) came with me. Going through the whole business took about 3 minutes. Then we wended our way to where the luggage was, collected our bags and went through Customs. There was a small queue - maybe 8 or so people ahead of us. the Customs officer asked how long we were staying and stamped our declaration. That was that.
In Ft Lauderdale (which Oceania doesn't use anyway) it took a bit longer but not much.
In Key West when en route to Miami - you have to go through Immigration at the FIRST US port you reach - Non US nationals were asked to go the Horizon Lounge at a certain time. (I think it was around 0900). There were about 20 people there waiting for 2 Immigration officials when I walked in. I showed my World Card (suite key card) to the people at a desk and obtained my passport which Oceania had kept. then I was asked to sit down. A minute or so later an Oceania staff member asked me to come forward and he escorted me to the Immigration fellow. He asked a few questions and stamped my passport and that was that. Apparently people in Suites (we were in an Oceania Suite on that cruise) get preferential treatment... but I did not have the impression that anyone was waiting more than a few minutes in the queue anyway. It was all very perfunctory.
Colour me confused. Did you have to go through US Customs and Immigration twice, once in Key West, the first US port you reach, and then again when debarking in Miami?:confused:
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Thanks for the information everyone.
Wonder if it makes sense to use O Air for this if there's a delay disembarking LOL.
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We usually get the 12:20 flight OK
Non US citizens are usually up at the crack of dawn to meet with the Officials in the lounge then once everyone has been cleared you get off the ship
Last trip in 2014 into Miami we went off the ship & cleared in the Terminal with the US citizens ..Not sure why or if this is a new thing
One time we were delayed & the ship was not cleared until 9:30 & the rush was on to exit the ship & the taxis were few & far between
Most of the time we are at the airport by 9:30 am
Hi LHT28,
Thanks for your response!:)
About the part I bolded, how does breakfast work? Do you mean that non-US citizens get some reminder to go to the lounge at 6:00 a.m. or whatever and then once they're cleared, they can do as they normally do (i.e., get breakfast!) and then leave the ship per the ship's standard guidelines?
In 2014, did you mean everyone on the cruise or just Canadians were cleared in the terminal with US citizens? Is this faster than getting cleared in the lounge, because it would seem slower because you now have to line up US citizens, which I would think would make up the large majority of people on the cruise?
I guess in either case you are still saying that barring a ship-made delay (and not a Customs line-up), it would still be plenty of time to make a noon flight?
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Hello,
Hoping for recent experiences from O R-ship cruisers who have debarked from Miami.
Will there be enough time to catch a noon flight out of MIA on an R-ship disembarking that morning?
I am particularly asking about how long it normally takes for passengers on an R-ship to go through US Customs when leaving the ship, before you get to leave the terminal and catch a cab or whatever to get to the airport.
It shouldn't matter how many ships are in port since O has its own terminal and presumably dedicated US Customs officers, no?
Does it matter that we are Canadian citizens, so maybe we will be funneled through a longer/slower line?
Thanks in advance for any insights.:)
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Mmmmmmmmmmm just wondering if this is legal. If this happened on shore you would be entitled to some kind of refund as they have not "sold" the goods paid for and promised.
We were on Riveria (B2B) last month and we lost many port hours.
regards
Is a cruise a good or a service?:confused:
Anyway, I suspect the general view is that it is legal per the cruise contract terms but very shady practice if the shortenings just to save fuel costs come after final payment (i.e., cannot cancel without penalty).
If the time shortenings come before final payment, then you can cancel - no harm no (great) foul.
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Having been to two the African ports of your cruise and personally there no way that I would get off the ship in either Dakar or Banjul.
On my last visit to Dakar about 10% of the ships passengers were robbed there are gangs around the port entrance and they surround you pull down your trousers and push you over and go through your pockets, I saw this happen on a ships tour to a couple that were walking a few yards in the rear of the group.
In Banjul two passengers who took a taxi were taken into the country and robbed at knife point .
I have not been to any of the other ports of call but I cannot see them being any different as these are some of the poorest countries in the world.
In conclusion may be the shortening of timings are a safety issue ???
If safety was a concern it seems to me that the port would be skipped rather than shortened.:confused:
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I agree with you
Some people like Azamara but so far what I have read over there their tactics are worse than O
We are not formal night people & all inclusive ships do not appeal to us
I am still looking for something that comes close to O
After sailing on Oceania it is hard to adjust to larger ships
Maybe it will be back to land vacations for us :(
Which tactics are you referring to? You can easily ignore the art sales and cameras (the photographers eventually get the message that you don't want your photo taken). Upselling on the liquor does appear to be creeping to be par for the course though...
Honestly, Az is probably the closest you're going to get to O at this time, and frankly, they are pretty close.
Certainly, their itineraries are better (now with O's shenanigans, much better) than O's.
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Yes, we used them a couple of years ago and we were very pleased with their service. We expected a mini bus to meet us at the port. Instead, there was a driver/guide with a very comfortable Mercedes.
It may depend on the number of people who have signed up for the tour.
When we used them in November a couple of years back for the West Island tour, we were met by a minibus that fit about 16 (or 18) and then went driving about Funchal picking up others at their hotels for about an hour before finally hitting the road on the actual tour. To be fair, some of the delay was due to people not being at their meeting point when they should have been, so the whole bus was kept waiting.
The tour was good (not great), but we did feel rushed at times. For the price it is a reasonable value.
Perhaps the East Island is not as popular and you will get a smaller touring vehicle.
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Perhaps it's the same issue someone mentioned upthread - worries not enough people would order a sparkling wine and it would go flat, leading to much waste?
I don't see this as being a real issue if the bottle is spread across a whole dining venue... Perhaps just offer it at dining venues during meal times as a compromise?
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Is the food that bad in the MDR on Oceania? It seems that it is the norm for people to want to eat in the specialty restaurants every night! Or at least, get as many reservations as possible.
Just because I order wagyu beef every time it's offered doesn't mean that the Angus beef filet mignon is terrible, does it?
If the specialty restaurant reservations are at no cost but in limited supply, why wouldn't you try to get some if you could? It's the same as those on Azamara suites eating at Prime C or Aqualina every night. Unless you mean to say that the food in Discoveries is bad as well? ;)
The recent developments on Oceania make us less eager to book an O cruise (i.e., we are not O cheerleaders) but there's really little point arguing that the food must be bad in the MDR just because everyone tries to get bookings at the specialty restaurants.
We like Az and we like O, both have their goods and bads, but we like the food on O more, even in the MDR.
Disembark Monte Carlo
in Oceania Cruises
Posted
Having had a few European flights under my belt, I now always ask if it is a non-stop flight across the Atlantic that the person is catching or if it is connecting through another Shengen country's airport.
If it is a connecting flight, then the first segment is treated as a domestic flight for check-in purposes and you don't really have to be there 3 hours before the flight unless you need the extra time for mobility reasons or as an uncertainty cushion.
There's no point waking up at 6:00 to catch a 7:00 transfer only to twiddle one's thumbs for almost 3 hours waiting for the 10:30 flight to another European hub (like we have done previously). The only tricky issue is construction/rush hour delays in getting to the airport.