WESTEAST

Yes Post #3 above stated this information and we are all hoping changes for cruises happens.

Our cruise that stops in Haifa and Ashdod is not until next year. It must be very disappointing to lose one day of touring. Let's hope the Government relaxes their entry requirements for cruise ships soon as it will be a deterrent for many whose itinerary includes Israel.

We enjoyed our tour of Ephesus and the Terrace Houses. Like other posters have mentioned, the tour included a stop at a carpet factory - at the beginning of the tour we informed our guide that we would forgo this part of tour as it was close the port and happily spent the remainder of the day browsing Kusadasi.

We agree that the Grand Bazaar was disappointing to us and found the merchants overbearing. On our next visit, we plan to visit the Basilica Cistern and the Spice Bazaar to check off the remaining sites we've not seen and will look into the museums you've mentioned at the port.

We originate from Quebec and weather at the end of October is cool and depending upon how much rainfall, the beautiful foliage may be gone. Early to mid October is a better choice IMO.

Our first cruise since Covid is in September and if service is not up to the standard we are accustomed to, we will revisit our future bookings. Hopefully, O Management receives enough negative feedback to investigate and remedy.

How unfortunate of a cruise experience for you and certainly not the standard we have been used to in our many O sailings. No excuse for having to repeatedly request plumbing/safe fixes and without immediate response with apology. On a past cruise, we had a pipe flood in our closet area and the staff, Executive Concierge and General Manager were proactively apologizing with complimentary offers. On another cruise, we did receive an email the day prior to boarding (via our TA) from O identifying that our embarkation would be delayed due to a deep cleaning on the previous cruise as a result of Norovirus. Why this didn't occur if they knew it would be a prolonged embarking is not acceptable. Perplexing and very unfortunate.

We are contemplating a cruise Cape Town to Cape Town which sails in May. May is deemed a shoulder season and the first month of winter and can be rather wet/stormy with cool nights in Cape Town and the Garden route. Weather is always unpredictable however we are curious to know how travelling and in particular safaris were during this time of year?

Our cruise in September stops in Eureka (8am - 5pm) and understand there is a nice Old Town along the waterfront with Victorian buildings and Clarke Historical Museum. As well, there is a Wildlife Refuge. We have never been and would appreciate recommendations on top sights.