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We are arriving on the Oceania Riviera on 1 Feb. 2024 in Puerto Princesa, Philippines. We are flying from PPS to CRK, Angeles City, Luzon, that morning. We will be renting a car to visit two WWII former POW camps and renting a hotel room in Angeles City. The next morning, we are meeting our tour guide for Bataan. We will be returning the rental car the same morning. After the overnight tour to Bataan, we will meet the cruise ship in Manila. Question: What are the entry requirements for the Philippines? Is there anything else we need to consider? Any hotel recommendations in Angeles City? Thank you.

My DW also advised me that it is National Laundry Day. It so happens, Thursday is our laundry day. Quite the coincidence.

I checked again, especially the overland section, and the answer is NO. I did check the Insignia and Nautica and I see what you are talking about. However, it is not scheduled for my particular cruise.

No tour listed by Oceania excursions. My cruise in on the Riviera in January 2024. Thank you for your response. Bill

We were also on that cruise. Nice guys. All ex-Special Ops soldiers. The at sea transfer was interesting. They were also onboard a recent Regent cruise down the coast of West Africa that we were on. Yes, there are pirates in the Gulf of Guinea.

I agree and the State Department has the same Level 4 travel advisory for Myanmar.

If we do get into Myramar, how did you get to Bagan? Did you use a specific tour company? I would really like to go there. Thanks. Bill

I have been asking the same question on the Asia Ports Board. An Australian posted about their Foreign Ministry advising a similar Level 4 alert against traveling to Yangon. My original question was about something different, however. I was also thinking of going to Bagan but it is 8 hours+ by bus and up to 2 hours by air. The situation in Mandalay Province is much worse than in Yangon. We are on the Riviera in January 2024. Things have a tendency to change radically, like the situation in Peru. I will follow your post and see what Oceania says/does.

We were supposed to call in the Azores last September. The port was cancelled because of Hurricane Danielle and the captain had to turn more southerly to avoid the hurricane. The seas were still a bit rough but nothing I, personally, couldn't handle. Was I disappointed, yes. Was I mad and upset, no. You reach a certain age, and you can't let things get to you. It isn't worth it. Just my two cents.

You can always sneak into the second one if you go to the first one. LOL

Sorry, we do not know them. May have seen them around but no.

Thanks for the tip, but I called Dorset Tours and they are booked up.

Is anyone aware if there will be independent tour guides and/or taxis at the port of Portland, UK? I am looking for a taxi or someone to take us to the Tank Museum for a few hours in September. And once we are done there perhaps a drive around the Jurassic Coast. Thanks for your help, Bill

I will make it a point to stop and have a pint or two. Who cares about food. Beer has three of the four major food groups, LOL! Thanks for the tip.

So, you do need a reservation to visit the Book of Kells? I did not know that. Does anyone know a link to make a reservation? Greatly appreciated. Bill

Yes, I did check with the US State Department and they are also recommending what you say. Backpackers are a different breed from me and I admire what they do. But sometimes they can get themselves killed for being stupid, like crossing into Afghanistan or someplace like that. I will reach out to you if Oceania makes a decision. I copied and pasted your earlier post to our roll call just as an FYI. Not sure if anyone else looks at this particular board. Thanks and stay safe, Bill

Thank you for this information. We will be there in September. Being of Irish descent, I will definitely visit the Heritage Museum. I guess there is no reason to go elsewhere in the area. Can you recommend a good place for a pint and some lunch? Thanks, Bill

Question: How did you pay for the taxi rides? Was it by credit card or British pounds?

Thank you for your advice. Sounds like some parts of Mexico. I will have travel insurance. I never leave home without it. There has been some speculation that if the "troubles" continue, the port call to Yangon will be canceled by Oceania Cruise Line. So, my guess is not to go to Bagan no matter what. Is that correct? Did some google map searches and I see that the port is about one hour away, depending on traffic, from the city center. That is not too bad of a commute. My TA is working with an agency for some off ship excursions and they selected the Lotte Hotel. Perhaps we will just do ship excursions. We are there 3 days/2 nights, so I don't want to sit on the ship. (BTW, it appears that any cruise ship calling at Yangon has to spend 3 days/2 nights in port. Must be some type of requirement placed on the cruise lines in order to visit.) I guess that I will wait and see what Oceania does. I really would like to visit Myanmar as I doubt I will be able to do so again in the future. Thanks again, Bill

"Get Over It Day" and "Panic Day" Don't they offset each other? While one is panicking, someone else is telling them to get over it. I don't know.

Well, if we were going to Newcastle, which we are not, I would go to Hadrian's Wall for a visit. I have no tour info but I am sure there is something on the internet.

I was wondering what the distance/time is from the cruise ship port for Yangon, Myanmar, to the city center. We are there for 3days/2nights on the Oceania Riviera in January 2024. I asked my TA for suggested tours and the company she deals with has us staying in the city at the Lotte Hotel and Resort (which looks very nice indeed) and doing tours of the city from the hotel. I am asking this question because I was wondering if it is worth the cost of a hotel instead of going back to the ship each night. Thanks for your responses. Bill

I DW called it the "Pitter Patter".

Thanks.

I guess I can always ask, thanks.