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I was on a webinar with O this afternoon where it was announced there will be a rate increase for all sailings on April 1st.

We knew this before our first O cruise and we are set to be on board again in a few short weeks. BTW we missed a port on Celebrity and the port fee was never refunded. No OBC was offered nor was there any visible weather issue nor viable explanation.

We normally use Blackberry as well but this time we have an earlier flight out of LHR and think it's best to use a local company that won't face the common traffic problems a London based company might face.

It's best if you have an early flight to find a company that calls Southampton home. I have found four, Totally Driven UK, Twelve Transfers, West Quay Cars and Radio Taxis. There may be more. The only one I am familiar with is West Quay. International Friends and other companies out of London share drivers if that matters to you. We are looking for this summer and rates have really gone up since we did this a couple of years ago. One way to control costs is to share the ride with other passengers on the cruise.

In the past, as part of RCCL, other documents including pictures taken during the cruise showing the ship, or a picture with the staff or captain etc. have been accepted. I don't know the Sycamore Partners approach but it's worth a shot. Pardon the pun! This happened to us in the 1980's and now we keep documentation, including photos, sea pass cards, and our cruise docs.

Welcome to Cruise Critic I am ex Celebrity sailor too. Yes the menus do change. There are, of course, some repetitions like your always available selections on X. Don't forget you have the 4 specialty restaurants in addition to the MDR too.

Jim_Iain, We have usually been able to take advantage of certain sales. Some are targetted, some are restricted etc. but overall we have saved substantially and/or upgraded our cabin. We have also had to cancel and rebook to get around the fine print. Since you generally sail in suites you may not have the same offers that are applicable to less lofty cabins. It's always worth a call to your TA!!!!!!

I also recommend you use both with the understanding that your travel agent will handle almost all of the arrangements with Oceania. We often book onboard and transfer to an agent particularly familiar with Oceania. There are multiple agents like connoisseur agents and preferred agents who can guide your booking and also offer assistance and perks to enhance your cruise experience. We have booked cruises with many different lines doing this routinely. The one thing I would also suggest is avoiding group bookings. You should get this information from your agent. There are little things that could affect your fare and alterations to upgrades, price adjustments etc.

Please consider letting the staff take your luggage down to the terminal. It will be much easier. Toting one's luggage may entail steps within the ship or ramps disembarking. Too many passengers choose to remove their own luggage and it creates chaos in the elevators and hallways on the ship. A disembarkation time of 8:30 to 9:00 is very reasonable and less crowded than anything earlier. We have used Rome in Limo and recommend them too.

Thanks for the review. We will be onboard shortly and it's always great to get current reviews.

Think also about moving the items in your safe. We were able to access the new cabin's safe immediately. The cabin steward, in our case, moved all the luggage and we were on our way off the ship. You will meet staff who will handle the turn over process and issue new keys.

You will have plenty of time to get a true appreciatlion for the great project that will always be a engineering feat. If you haven't read David McCullough's "The Path Between The Seas" grab it when you get home. It's a must read for anyone who has any interest in the Panama Canal. We've gone through several times and will be returning in just a few months. There is really no bad exterior viewpoint. Follow the recs to move decks and from port to starboard. I prefer watching the mules from the aft though. Enjoy!!!

Do contact Special Needs. They will arrange the distilled water and an extension cord depending on the ship. These items may not be in your cabin when you board but just ask your steward or butler and everything will be provided.

We stayed at the Avenida Palace last year. The location was great. We thought the hotel was rather run down. There are some very good restaurants within easy walking distance and unlike most of the sidewalks in Lisbon the streets were paved not beautifully covered in Portugese tile shards. Last year's visit was not our first. You will wish you could stay longer it's such a wonderful city.

Just as an FYI. Aruba's airport regiment can be arduous. Be prepared to stand outside in a long line as many US flights leave about the same time.

Oceancruiser2023, Welcome to Cruise Critic. Scroll down the home page and you will find a Ports of Call/Destinations forum for Europe.or the Mediterranean. Many of your questions can be researched there. A sister site that will be helpful is Trip Advisor. If you booked with Simply More reconsider taking a tour to Rome. The one day tours, while long, will hit the high spots. Logistically this is the optimum way to get a taste of Rome. Rome is not a wandering city for a day. I have not been to Argostoli so I can't help there. All the other towns are easily walkable if you can manage the terrain. Please join the ROLL CALL for your sailing. There will be other passengers who may put together small group excursions.

This should act as a firm committment from a holding company not truly aware of Azamara's unique place in the cruising industry. Perhaps the rumors of new builds now have a chance. We love Azamara just not the bathrooms!!!

Connecting cabins are notoriously noisy. It wouldn't be my choice on any ship. Have you looked at the itineraries for the newest ship VISTA? It's passenger complement is smaller than either the Marina or Riveria although the ship is about the same size. And, it's shiny new.

The original question was asked if anyone had had itinerary changes. We sure have, We will now embark from PC and go through the Canal instead of embarking from Cartagena and hitting some of the lower islands for longer port stays. This is a Sirena sailing in March 2024. We were originally scheduled to sail on Sirena in '21 from PC and ended up on the Marina for the same itinerary.

Just as an FYI............. Many cruise lines are in the same situation. We were just on an X cruise embarking in Vancouver. The same issues were persistent.

We sail both lines but have done a Marina in SA but not the Antarctic. I would seriously compare the itineraries and time in each port. For example, you want the longest port time you can get in Ushuaia. Are there multiple ports to see the penguins? What other experiences do you want? With O you now have the excursions as part of Simply More. Of course you don't have to use them but you are paying for them. We prefer to do our own excursions and the last trip we used EcoUruguay for every port in January '23. There are other companies of course. Happy planning. Either would work for me.

I too recommend the Dec. 3rd itinerary. We have done both but this is the one I never tire of. I too thought it was strange with a sea day between Aruba and Curacao. Bonaire is just a short sail between. When you get to Cartagena tour with Dora. She operates the best tours in Cartagena. She is sensitive to the needs of her clients too. If you haven't been to Aruba take an island tour that takes you all over the islands. Some tours only go to the east. Try to find one that goes to Baby Beach on the west coast. My best advice on Bonaire is to avoid the temptation of picking up salt! There aren't many signs but it's a big no no. I found out the hard way. We've been to Curacao three or four times and are finally going to take an island tour when we are there in '24. The ABC islands are famous for their water sports. You will have to choose since it's almost impossible to tour and snorkle, swim or dive in one day. Choices............. You should think about going to the Canal visitors center and museum in Panama. If you have time consider a visit to the Embera Village. There's lots of information on the Ports of Call boards. Enjoy!!!!!

If you are sailing a one way cruise think about your flights too. Sailing from Whittier/Seward and disembarking in Vancouver brings you 1500 miles closer to your lower 48's. There are also more flights with better times from Vancouver. FYI Hubbard Glacier is an ascending glacier while Glacier Bay is not. If you choose a Seward embarkation ships sail into Hubbard in the afternoon after the morning fog has lifted. Unless it's an extended cruise (more than 9 days) and you like sea days in the outer passage don't select Seattle,

Sorry to hear of your plight but dang, if you TA can't get it worked out, it's on him. Don't take it out on the crew and staff.

Thanks for the suggestions. The original itinerary did not include the canal zone. Actually we were just there on the Marina in 21. We were scheduled to be on the Sirena which to our glee, was changed to the Marina. We are traveling with friends who, while not cruise noobies, have never sailed on Oceania. We wanted them to experience O. They are already balking at the cost of the cruise anyway. As cruise planner, I didn't check Explora. They would not be comfortable on any Silversea sailing. It's going to be hard enough to keep them out of jeans as it is. We are way past RCCL.....been there, done that. We earned our loyalty + rating more than fifteen years ago. Oceania is a better fit for us. Again much appreciate your responses.