Rainbow3fe

28 minutes ago, klfrodo said:

If time allows, I'd request a "Stay Over" (i believe it's called)

If flying BA, ( your airline may allow this also), You can stay over for a limited time with no additional fees.

Wife and I did this a few years back when flying to Marco Polo with a change in LHR. We stayed in London for 4 days, then headed back to the airport.

 

Thanks 

Nice suggestion.  We need to get to Capetown the next day.Maybe another time.

1 hour ago, Zach1213 said:

In normal times, absolutely. I'm the king of "let me pop in to the city for lunch on my layover", even if it's a city I have been to 100 times. But in these times, there are just too many unknowns and potential pain points. As someone who just got back from Europe yesterday, and has been to Europe a couple times this spring/summer already, it's still a mess. It will still be a mess for a while, sadly. I would recommend staying in the airport, as unexciting as that may be. 

Thanks.  I really appreciate your insightful comments. Yes, unexciting airport but we won't have to worry about missing our connection. 

     Is it advisable to go into London for about 4 hours?

     We have a layover at Heathrow from 9AM to 4PM on our way to Capetown for our upcoming Oceania cruise. Not sure if staying in an airport lounge for 7 hours is pleasant but the anxiety of getting back into the Terminal and going thru security may not be worth it.

     Would like your feedback. 

Thanks 

19 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

We are currently booked for the Hong Kong to Bangkok segment of Viking’s multi-segment cruise from Vancouver to Sydney.  We are scheduled to board in Hong Kong on October 27, 2022. Fingers and toes are all crossed that the cruise doesn’t get canceled. 

Hi Clay 

 Thanks for telling me this. I would be interested in knowing what happens. We are booked on an Oceania cruise next March. We too will board in Hong Kong. We were planning to stay pre-cruise in Hong Kong for 4 nights. We are worried that Hong Kong won't reopen and don't know what to do.

    Stay safe  

Felice 

Just now, Flatbush Flyer said:

SBC? It’s right there on your Oceania invoice under “Amenities” (if you’re getting it because of your O Club status)- “shipboard credit” aka SBC.

     Hi,

   Sorry I realized it as I was writing the post. Please explain why you say don't take it. Our TA usually adds some. We book "cruise only" price. For our upcoming South African cruise we paid for Unlimited Excursions because of the high cost of the excursions we chose.  I asked Oceania and there is no YWYW offered for this cruise. Then we used our SBC to offset the cost of the excursions.  

    Please let me know if you have a suggestion about a different way I should handle this. 

    I really appreciate your expertise. 

Stay safe 

Felice 

39 minutes ago, RJB said:

We have taken quite a few O Life tours and for the most part O is doing a very good job with them. Will take them in the future when we find one that goes where we want to go.  Some are just as good as some private tours we have taken.

     In Europe we usually book private small group excursions. We decided to book Oceania excursions while on the cruise in South Africa. 

     We wanted to make sure we'd be able to get open air safari vehicles in the game preserves as opposed to traveling in a tour bus. Oceania does offer them on this cruise.  I am sure there's a limited number of those vehicles available in each park. We've been on Safari in the past and it's incredible to be so close to the animals in the wild. I was leery of booking privately because the game preserves are over an hours bus ride from the pier. Getting back to the ship on-time is a concern. 

    Maybe I am worrying too much but being older comes with certain issues.

   Stay safe,

Felice 

16 minutes ago, susiesan said:

If you were going to use miles for your flights you could go ahead and book them now. If you have to cancel, award tickets can be easily cancelled and the miles redeposited.

Thanks. I understand. I appreciate your input.

     We used most of our miles for both ways First Class JFK to Capetown for January 2023.

     We need to pay $$ for our flight to Hong Kong . We plan to book with miles for the return from Tokyo. Not time yet but a bit cautious. 

3 minutes ago, susiesan said:

Your cruise may or may not happen in that part of the world. Celebrity cancelled all of their Japan and China cruise itineraries for 2022-2023. 

 

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/celebrity-cancels-2022-23-asia-season-due-to-uncertainty.html

 

Japan is supposed top open to tourists this September. As soon as it does I am jumping on a plane and doing a land trip. The yen is at a 20 year low so this is a great time to go to Japan. 

I appreciate your help. Because of this we haven't booked our flights. Trying to be aware of Covid restrictions. 

    Sad that we may have to cancel this sweet cruise.

3 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Limit is $199 with no OS/OE.

OP would do themselves a favor by using the CC search feature to find the zillion threads about O Life strategies in general and excursions specifically (incl the relationship to “YWYW” [also searchable]).
Hint: NEVER take the SBC.

Hi,

  I would like to know what SBC stands for. I know you're knowledgeable about Oceania excursions. We mostly go on TA cruises so we don't usually take lots of ship excursions.

    Thanks.  I  did take your advice when booking the excursions for our Capetown cruise 2023. We ended up doing Unlimited and saved about $200.pp. We were able to use our, OH I UNDERSTAND,  SBC =Shipboard Credit and apply it to the cost of the Unlimited.  If that's not appropriate,  please advise me of a better strategy. 

Thanks for your help. 

Stay safe,

Felice 

6 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

March 23 is nearly a year off. Plenty of time to decide before final payment is due. I wouldn’t buy plane tickets!

 

I’m not a risk adverse type, however I wouldn’t plan trips to China in the foreseeable future. We are planning a 24 trip to Japan.

Thanks.  I appreciate your input. We haven't purchased our flights yet. We are still hoping it's a go but don't want to get stuck with an airline credit that has to be used within a year of original purchase.

Hi,

   We are booked on Oceania from Hong Kong to Tokyo March 2023. We're worried because of the China Covid reports about both Hong Kong and Shanghai right now.  Is anyone still planning to go there? 

    I would love some feedback as to whether you're canceling or waiting.

      Although our cruise stops at ports in Japan, we really want to go back to Hong Kong and Shanghai and that's one if the reasons we booked this cruise.

Thanks for your help 

Felice 

Hi,

   We are booked on Oceania from Hong Kong to Tokyo March 2023. We're worried because of the China Covid reports about both Hong Kong and Shanghai right now.  Is anyone still planning to go there? 

    I would love some feedback as to whether you're canceling or waiting.

Thanks 

59 minutes ago, Julma said:

I found the body wash and lotion to be fine.  Pretty neutral spa like smell that didn't linger.

 

Neutral is fine and it saves me from carrying an extra 3 weeks worth of heavy liquids.

❤😎🌊

26 minutes ago, Julma said:

I was just on for 3 weeks and the Bigelow fried my hair and stripped the color.  I've never had shampoo do that.  I used the Bigelow last year and it seemed ok, not great, but it didn't do to my hair what this stuff did.  I was in two different rooms too, so it wasn't just the product in one room.  I ended up buying stuff in the shop.  

Thanks.  I was really thinking about shower gel and body lotion.i bering my own sulfite free products.  I won't use generic shampoo or conditioner because they will strip color and dry out your hair.  

I do appreciate your help. 

3 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Slightly OT:

Before I took early retirement and moved to Philadelphia I worked at Chase Bank in Manhattan. At one point in my long career with them I was a Branch Manager for one of their branches in the Greenwich Village neighborhood.One of my business customers  was the original Bigelow Pharmacy on Sixth Ave.. Never thought they'd grow to become an International brand. 

Oh yes. I know that shop. It's still there. ( last time I looked before COVID. )

My son has been using their products forever.

Such a lovely neighborhood to work in. 😎

1 minute ago, Jim_Iain said:

You will only get the Labo Santal in AQ if you are Zenith.   Otherwise you will get Bigelow.    I like both products and would not carry any extra product with me. 

 

If it doesn't work for you pick up some product at first port of call.

I appreciate your advice. 

     Bigelow will be good for me. Now that I know they don't have generic garbage, I won't have to schlep 3 weeks worth of products. Our TA leaves from Rome and we'll be vacationing in Italy before The Edge trip back to the US.

8 hours ago, drakes2 said:

The shower products are very poor quality in dispensers on the wall but you can shave your legs with the conditioner. I had some Bvlgari shampoo gel products from home which I brought but you won't even find these in aqua class.

Thanks for letting me know. 

Just now, Rainbow3fe said:

54 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

On our recent cruises in AQ  and  CS we had Bigelow and Le Labo Santal  in RS and PS.   Having said that due to being Zenith they changed out our products to le Labo Santal even in AQ.

 

If you get the Le Labo Senta you will have to read the labels they are very entertaining with little quips e.g. For Shower Gel -  Invite someone into shower If using this product.

Expand  

I looked at Le Labo Santal and it apears that they are both plant based and cruelty free. Looks like they're certainly worth trying.  I appreciate your help. 

Felice 

53 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

On our recent cruises in AQ  and  CS we had Bigelow and Le Labo Santal  in RS and PS.   Having said that due to being Zenith they changed out our products to le Labo Santal even in AQ.

 

If you get the Le Labo Senta you will have to read the labels they are very entertaining with little quips e.g. For Shower Gel -  Invite someone into shower If using this product.

49 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

On our recent cruises in AQ  and  CS we had Bigelow and Le Labo Santal  in RS and PS.   Having said that due to being Zenith they changed out our products to le Labo Santal even in AQ.

 

If you get the Le Labo Senta you will have to read the labels they are very entertaining with little quips e.g. For Shower Gel -  Invite someone into shower If using this product.

Thanks. We're Aquaclass. Will look up Le Labo Santal products.  Sounds quirky.

I do know Bigelow.

1 hour ago, kwokpot said:

Did you have a higher category than a Sky Suite? On the Apex Sky Suites had Bigelow toiletries.

We have an Aquaclass Stateroom if that's helpful.

    I really want to know if they're decent enough for me not to bring along 3 weeks worth of products. 

Thanks 🌊😎

      I have a question about the quality of the bathroom products on Celebrity.  We're doing Celebrity Edge for the first-time. I usually don't bring shower gel or body lotion  with me because I am accustomed to Oceania's Bulgari.  I love using them. . 

     That being said, I would like some feedback 

    Thanks and Happy Valentine's Day, 

Felice 

1 hour ago, Lucas Mom said:

My husband and I took this cruise in January 2019.  We stayed in Cape Town for 4 nights before the cruise and stayed at the Cape Town Hollow Boutique hotel.  We used PG Tops Tours and had a private guide each day - who also met us at the airport and brought us to the ship.  Our tours included a full day city tour which included Table Mountain and Kirstenbosch, a Cape Penisula tour including Simonstown, a Cape Winelands tour including 4 wineries and morning high tea at the Mount Nelson Hotel.  We did all private tours except in one port.  Most tours we organized with others from our roll call board.  In Mossel Bay we did the Point of Human Origins tour, in Richards Bay we used Heritage Tours and went to the Umfolozi Park for safari and lunch.  In Durban we did a Tours by Locals to the Zulu Valley with safari at the Tala Game Reserve.  In East London we had a tour (not sure of tour name) to the Mpongo Private Game Reserve.  In Port Elizabeth we had a private tour to the Addo Elephant Park.  In Walvis Bay we booked through Namibia Tours and did a full day Sandwich Tour which included the salt flats and sand dunes, the next day we toured more of the country with the same guide.  Then after the cruise we spent one night at the Cape Verde Hotel right at the airport because we flew out early the next morning to Victoria Falls for 2 nights before heading to Chobe for 4 nights for safari.  Please let me know if you'd like any other detailed information or have any other questions.  Be ready for rough seas around the Cape of Good Hope.  We were gone a total of 28 days and it was a wonderful trip.  Michelle

Thank you Michelle.  This is so helpful.

     We booked ship excursions for every port. Many of them go to places you went to. We will revisit our decisions when the time comes closer and people start to organize private tours. 

    I definitely will bother you again when we need advice. 

Stay safe 

Felice 

Hi,

    I'm interested in feedback on experiences in Walvis Bay. Looking forward to going in Han 2023.

3 hours ago, boerneDQ said:

We did this cruise in 2017, so things may have changed.  We did the Overland excursion to Phinda Game Preserve and it was excellent!  We left the ship in Richards Bay and returned in Durban.  If it is offered, I highly recommend it!

Sounds wonderful.