Solar Yellow

I want to say we had a at least a couple of hours. It seemed like enough time to me. The guide took us all the way to the top and gave a tour of the abbey. I was shocked she was willing to make the climb every time she took a tour there. It wasn't just a "here ya go" kind of tour where they just drop you off and you have free time.

I was on the same cruise as a solo cruiser. This was my fifth Oceania cruise and probably my last. The food definitely wasn't as good as I remember (my last Oceania cruise was in 2019). Everything looked, smelled, and tasted the same, somehow. No, I didn't have COVID. It seemed like every dish in the Terrace and GDR had a long list of fancy ingredients but it just didn't taste all that great. There was also way too much veal, lamb, and suckling pig. I watched a woman squeal (no pun intended) with delight as she asked for the cheek of the suckling pig on the buffet. I'm from Iowa (30 million pigs) and it grossed me out! I often had trouble finding anything I was excited to eat. Perhaps I'm a luddite, but Embers on Vista actually sounds good to me. I don't drink so I can't comment on the bar service but I found the crew to be great! Everyone around me was drinking a lot of beer and wine and refills seemed to be coming quickly. The condition of the ship was very good but it is difficult to justify it as a premium/luxury line when the bathrooms are so tiny. Don't get me wrong, I knew this before booking and got along fine with the tiny bathroom but it can't help but impact the impression of a premium/luxury cruise line. But here's why I won't be back... Simply More ruined the cruise for me. I booked six tours and four of them were absolutely awful. The tour of the Alcazar Palace in Seville and the tour to Mount Saint Michel were good but the rest of them were beyond boring - especially the one in Falmouth. I like to book private tours with folks I meet on the Roll Calls but Simply More has made the Roll Calls irrelevant. As a result, I really struggled to meet anyone to hang out with. For me, it was a fairly lonely cruise. Simply More also made this the most expensive cruise I've ever taken and far and away the worst value of them all. I'm sure Oceania is still a great cruise line for many people, just not for me anymore.

I did a little amateur googling and I wonder if he's "retired" from maintaining his website because he turns 83 years old in September and his house is for sale. Thank you to Tom Sheridan for all the hard work. The guides were so helpful!

Norris, Von from Iowa here. I was on Azamara Quest in 2021 with you and Carol. Have you looked at Oceania for Istanbul? It appears Marina, Riviera, and Vista visit Istanbul in 2024. Vista is their brand new ship and probably the most expensive option. Riviera has been recently refurbished very nicely and Marina will be refurbished in April 2024 or thereabouts. They're lovely mid-size ships with 1200ish passengers and good food. Even standard veranda cabins are a good size with nice bathrooms. Entertainment is not their strength but sometimes the shows are remarkably good for a smaller ship. Their new Simply More package includes internet, drinks, and some tours. No extra cost for premium dining restaurants, always country club casual, and no photographers or art sales. Gratuities are extra but if you find the right travel agency, you'll often get more OBC and gratuities covered. Istanbul is top two or three for me of the cities I've been to. I agree with the poster above that says at least one or two nights in a hotel before embarkation even if the cruise starts with an overnight. Be forewarned that the Galataport is a hot mess. You'll see the ship 40 feet way from you but will have to walk a mile to get to it and probably get a little turned around on the way there.