WESTEAST

Yes realize what is stated however, many posts from cruisers receiving notices from O that Turkey is cancelled.

Reviewing the release, confused as still shows three itineraries with Turkey so not sure what changed perhaps removing only Israel or O IT hasn't finished updating(?): July 7: 10 days from Athens to Istanbul aboard Riviera September 28: 10 days from Athens to Istanbul aboard Riviera Nov 24: 18 days from Istanbul to Dubai aboard Riviera

With the war in Israel and uncertainty in the nearby countries, Israel and Istanbul have been cancelled. This is not news as many on this board have stated. Just noticed today, that Oceania's new Media Release states ".... O has revamped its 2024 Mediterranean schedule to replace ports of call in Israel, Egypt, and Jordan with perennial favorites and compelling new destinations alike. The 42 revised itineraries range from 10 to 58 days - detailed itineraries can be viewed online." New cruises are also detailed in the release. Interestingly, O's IT Department didn't review their web postings before releasing -- as the heading on Oceania's Media page (https://www.oceaniacruises.com/media/) shows date of November 11 with incorrect paragraph; however, once you click on this post, the date shows November 2, 2024 with accurate wording (https://www.oceaniacruises.com/media/2023/Oceania+Cruises+Releases+New+2024+Itineraries%2c+Highlighting+Many+of+the++Mediterranean’s+Best-Loved+Ports/)! Guess someone rushed to post without double-checking! Screen shots below.

Good luck. We did this tour years ago and remains one of our most unique and interesting tours.

@ToxM Agree with you as during those long days, it was always refreshing to scan the site for new itineraries for our future travels and revisit ones we have great memories of.

@MVPinBoynton Thank you for once again providing a stellar review. Your site is always one of our 'go to' sources when researching upcoming itineraries 😀

Just a note re lounge access, many airlines are now restricting time spent in the lounge - one can enter only 3 hours prior to flight time. However, if your flight is delayed, you can stay past the 3 hours which we did on a very long delayed flight. Lounge access is offered to many preferred credit cards, etc. which makes most lounges very crowded and this is an attempt to control the number of guests in the lounge.

We have iPhones so will do as you recommended and save them to our photos. Will look into a Suica card. Enjoy your cruise. Much appreciated 😀

Fabulous thank you for clarifying and no fingerprints which is good. Presume my husband and I need individual registrations e.g., separate QR codes (no family QR code)? Was it easy to access wifi at airport to log-in to VJW to access your QR code?

Your info on Visit Japan Web interests us as appears it was very efficient at your airport. We will arrive at the Haneda airport and would be curious to know what airport your arrived at? Your experience of only having to scan your QR code is encouraging - did you not have to have photo and fingerprints taken at kiosk? Was there a different queue for VJW with QR code? Thank you.

Saving this info along with all of your previous replies. Many thanks for taking the time to respond with such detail - very generous of you 🤗

Hi Michael, Sometimes Business Class has a fast rack - does that apply at Haneda Airport? If using VJW doesn't provide a fast track, assume that your processing time is shorter with VJW when you reach the immigration officer? We will be stopping in South Korea and then re-enter Japan before departure. Do Japan Immigration staff board the ship for processing or, is it done at the cruise terminal port - our first re-entry into Japan is Hiroshima?

Beautiful photos thank you. Hope weather is good for walking! We will be in Kobe end of March so hoping for some cherry blossoms during our cruise stops in Japan.

For our August/Sept cruise last month, the narrative 'dock' and 'anchor' were posted beside each port of call on page 1 in the Your Voyage (General Travel and Onboard Information) booklet in the Cruise Vacation Guide.

Use of blue book maybe confusing to ones new to Oceania. Post Covid, blue booklets no longer exist and have been revamped and folder is now in paper with a velcro closure and called Cruise Vacation Guide.

Michael, How thoughtful off you to provide this walking tour and the Shin-Kyoto Map👏

We also thank you as gathering all the instructions for when we are ready to register.

FYI, a useful site is whatsinport.com that identifies information about the port of call and links to the cruise schedule calendar where you can find out what ships are due in port on your day.

You are the very best source for great information! Noting the travel distances you've provided, do you have another favourite Kyoto sight to recommend (no doubt there are many)? We had thought to go with a tour guide but now that we understand how to navigate the public transportation, we will do it on our own and then can pace ourselves and pause as needed.

With much appreciation, we thank you for outlining in such detail that we can now successfully navigate Kyoto's public transportation. Our first visit to Japan and all of your responses have been very helpful.

This is terrific information and thank you for posting the Japanese translation! Today found the Sky Hop Bus Kyoto https://skyhopbus.com/kyoto/. Another choice for transport that stops at both of the above sites and gives us an overview of others. We visit in late March next year and expect crowds/line-ups may be factor for cherry blossom tourism. Not usually a fan of the hop on hop offs but may be easier/cheaper than taking taxis. Have you ever used?

We plan to purchase our one day return ticket the day of at Shin-Kobe to Kyoto and yes fare is not inexpensive but we would like to experience shinkansen. Once in Kyoto Station, an option we are looking at is taking taxi to Kinkajuki and then taxi to Nijo Castle before returning to the Station. Taxi ranks seem available and no doubt more expensive than buses though should save us time (traffic dependent) - have you experience with taxis in Kyoto (do most drivers speak a little English)? Thanks.

Really appreciate all of your info! Just wondering, is your cruise stopping in Beppu as other than hot springs and spas not much else to see and just curious if you would stop there and found something interesting?

Thanks again for more great information. Looked it up and seems that the Subway/metro is in the same station as the Kyoto Station and the Karasuma Subway Line is two stops to the Kyoto’s city center at Shijo Station (no connections). Is that the line you will take? Will have to look up how easy it is to get a one day ticket now!

Did consider overnight in Kyoto but then want to see either Osaka or Nara on our second day. Thanks and good point as our respective ships could dock late (or early!). Think we will wait to purchase our ticket upon arrival at the Kobe station. We need to be in Kyoto at a specific time to meet up with our guide from GoWithGuide so will book our Kyoto tour with a few hours lag time. How do you plan to transit from Kyoto Rail Station to your Kyoto hotel as thinking it might be best for us to meet our guide at a Kyoto city hotel? Thanks again😄