WESTEAST

Thank you and seems port of Kobe isn't listed on their site - have sent an email to inquire.

We are also looking for recommendations for a day tour to Kyoto. Our ship will be at the port of Kobe and having difficulty finding options leaving from Kobe. What port of call did you depart on the tour from?

We are researching an all day shore excursion tour to Kyoto from the port of Kobe in March 2024 and seems like our cruise excursions are now waitlisted and most independent tours are private ($) from Kobe. We would appreciate if anyone has tour operator recommendations? We are interested in seeing the standard tourist sites: the 'Golden Pavilion', Nijo Castle and perhaps a Shrine. Would be wonderful to train to Kyoto versus by bus. We have a second day in Kobe and would also like to see Nara and Todai-ji Temple. Appreciate any recommendation of tour operators.

Once again thank you.

Added a few more from our August Riviera cruise and kept your Sept and our Aug updates in bold.

Oceania Shuttles List Please feel free to copy and paste the list, and add updates or corrections directly to it. ========================================================== Free shuttle buses are generally offered when: The ship is docked a long walk from the main thoroughfare Taxis and or public transportation are not easily accessible from the port. . The port is industrial and not pedestrian-friendly. The decision on whether free buses will be offered will be based on the port used and will be made closer to or during the sailing Once on board, a list of ports that will offer a complimentary shuttle into town will be provided / shown in daily Currents ___________________________________________________________ Abidjan, Ivory Coast.....Shuttle to city business centre (post 647) ... April 2023 Acapulco (Mex)............20 min walk to market, lots tours/taxis outside gates -... 04/2023 Acajutla, El Salv...........Free shuttle to Botanical Gardns half hourly - April 2023 Adelaide Aus...............Tram right at port goes to centre city, no shuttle ...Dec 2019 Agios Nikolaos ............Don't need a shuttle as dock near town centre ......update 2020 Airlie Beach (Aust.) .....Tender, then $5AUD pp each way shuttle Akaroa NZ ...................Tender of centre of town. ...... Dec 2019 Alanya (Turkey) ...........Taxis take you to the top of the hill . . update 2020 Albany West Aus .........Shuttle to town centre ...........Dec 2019 Alesund Norway............Dock at town so no shuttle Alexandria ....................Shuttle to city square Alicante Sp ...................free shuttle .............update 2022 Amalfi .......................... No need for shuttle Antigua..........................dock in town ..no shuttle Antofagasta ................. Free shuttle to town Antwerp ....................... Dock in town - no shuttle needed ... Aug 2017 Aqaba ...........................Shuttle Arica, Chile....................Shuttle out of port, town opposite port...April 2023 Arrecife (Canary Is.)......free shuttle .............................per Currents 2014 Ashdod Israel .............. Shuttle to Sea Mall ... April/June 2022 Astor (Oregan) .............Shuttle to town - the trolley bus to 39th St for $1 is fun 07/2023 Athens (Piraeus)...........Shuttle to outside port area in Piraeus - need tour to Athens (2022) Bangkok .......................Free shuttle to town Banjul, The Gambia......Shuttle to Royal Albert Market, #647 recommend tour...04/2023 Bar Harbor ....................Dock at town so no shuttle Barcelona .....................O ships often dock at World Trade Center (Moll de Barcelona). Private company often offers free or paid shuttle from WTC & other terminals to near Drassanes Metro Basseterre, St. Kitts .....Dock at town so no shuttle Belfast ..........................Free shuttle to town (near City Hall) Bermuda (Hamilton)......dock in town .no shuttle Bermuda (St George)....dock in town Bermuda (Kings Wharf) shopping area Bilbao ...........................Free shuttles reported Apr/May 2023 from Getxo port to Bio's Plaza del Museo near Guggenheim OR Fine Arts Museum near Old Town Bordeaux (city) .............Dock on river, no shuttle, tram close. April 2023 Bordeaux (Le Verdon) ..If ship making technical stop only, need shore excursion in area ending in Bordeaux to leave ship..Some itineraries offer shuttle to nearby Soulac sur Mer. Stop is due to tides. Brisbane (Aus) ..............Free shuttle to town Bozcaada, Turkey..........Short tender to small city, no shuttle needed .... April 2022 Broome (Australia).........Free shuttle to town Bruges (Zeebruge) ........Free shuttle to port gates ... August 2017. see #670 May 2023 Burnie Tas Aus...............Shuttle to Makers Workshop (meet tours etc) & to town - 2020 Buenos Aires .................Free shuttle to town / Plaza Hotel .......... update 2020 Busan, South Korea.......Free shuttle all day.....April 2023 Cabo Frio, Brazil............Tender, walk to town ......April 2023 Cadiz .............................Dock at town no shuttle. Need train/transport to Seville 05/2023 Cairns Aus .....................Dock at town so no shuttle Callao (Lima) ................ Free shuttle to town Canary Islands ..............Shuttle to terminal then walk ...update 2020 (Tenerife? unreported). Also see Arrecife Capetown......................NO shuttle - walk or cab. (E berth, Terminal, Duncan Rd 01/2019 Cartegena Columbia.....shuttle to port gates/handicraft village Casablanca ..................Free shuttle to town Castries, St Lucia .........Dock at town so no shuttle Chania (Hania), Crete (Greece)....shuttle to city center April 2022 Civitavecchia (for Rome)...Free shuttle to Civitavecchia Cobh.............................Dock at town so no shuttle Colombo ......................Free from ship to Port Gate 1. (local taxis available there) Jan 2019 Concarneau .................Dock at town so no shuttle Copenhagen ................Free shuttle to town – but reports of it being difficult see #301 Coquimbo ....................Free shuttle to a hotel in town...updated April 2023 Corfu ............................Free shuttle to town Corner Brook ...............Dock at town so no shuttle Cotonou, Benin............Shuttle to town April 2023 Crete............................Shuttle ....Update 2020 ...Oceania stops in several places in Crete; see Chania Daka, Senegal.............Shuttle to Independence Square......April 2023 Dar es Salaam.............Free shuttle from pier to Hyatt Regency in City Center. Long walk from ship to exit gate. There are several gates which may be confusing. Very busy working port (Jan 2019) Darwin Aus .................Free shuttle to town Dubai ..........................Free shuttle from the port to the Dubai Mall Dublin .........................No shuttle provided (June 2023) Dubrovnik ...................Free shuttle to town Dunedin NZ ................Free shuttle to town East London, SA ........Free shuttle from pier to the Hemingsway Mall (Jan 2019) Edinburgh (Leith) .......No shuttle - Closest port to town but still a distance to city centre. Edinburgh (Newhaven)...Free shuttle from pier to Leith terminal see #701- July 2023 Eden Aus ...................Tender then shuttle but only short walk Ensenada Mexico.......20 min. walk into townwith wheelchair, shuttle $4 April 2023. Ephesus (see Kusadasi) .....Quite a drive from Kusadasi - need a tour ..update 2023 Esmeraldas .................Shuttle to Playa de las Palmas (docked or tender) Mar 2019 Exmouth (Aus) ............Free shuttle to town Flam Norway................No shuttle needed - dock in town July 2018 Forteleza, Brazil...........Shuttle to downtown hotel opposite beautiful beach....April 2023 Fremantle/Perth ..........unsure, nearby ferry dock, train station very close to dock..... update Dec 2019 Gdansk (Gydnia).........Shuttle to Gydnia but Gdansk required excur/transport (date unknown, but old) Geiranger ....................No shuttle needed - Dock at town Geraldton West Aus ...Shuttle .................Update Dec 2019 Gijon SP .....................Shuttle to Rodriquez San Pedro ("Las Letronas"), then 5m walk to old town Gisbourne NZ .............Free shuttle to town but short walk Gothenburg ...............Free Shuttle to Gustave Adolf Square.......September 2023 Great Stirrup Cay (Bahamas) - tender to island. No shuttle needed. Greenock ...................No shuttle needed - Dock at town (15-20 minute walk to train to Glasgow) Haifa ..........................shuttle to port entrance only (April 2022) Halifax ........................No shuttle needed - Dock at town Halifax pier 31 shuttle to Pier 22 pavillion April 2019 Hamburg ....................Shuttle provided by Port to City Hall ....Aug 2017 Harvest Caye..............ferry to mainland *not* operating for independents when there Mar 2019 Havana, Cuba ............Dock in city. walk off on main street.... April 2017. Helsinki .....................Free shuttle to reach Market Square September 2023 Hiroshima....................Free shuttle all day......updated July 2023 Hobart (aus) ...............Dock at town so no shuttle ... Sep 2017 Holyhead ....................Free shuttle to town (really to end of dock) ... Aug 2017 Hososhima..................Free shuttle all day.....April 2023 Imzir (turkey)...............Shuttle to town .......July 2023 Invergordon ................Dock at town so no shuttle .... August 2017 Kirkwall (Orkney Is)....Shuttle to visitors centre Castle St .... update July 2023 Killybegs, Ireland......Dock at town no shuttle August 2023 Kobe (japan) ..............Shuttle to town July 2023 Koper .........................Dock at town so no shuttle Kotor ..........................Dock at town so no shuttle Kristiansand ...............Walking distance to town ...(South coast Norway) August 2017 Kristiansund................No shuttle - dock in town (West coast of Norway) July 2018 Kusadasi (for Ephesus) - no shuttle, shopping available nearby in city. April 2022 Kyoto/Kobe..................Free shuttle all day......April 2023 La Coruna ...................Dock at town so no shuttle Langkawi......................Free shuttle from pier to Cenang Duty free Mall Jan 2019 La Rochelle .................Free shuttle to town Le Havre (for Paris)......Free shuttle to city center (Le Havre)... September 2023 Le Verdon ....................Free shuttle to town (Soulac Sur Mer) sometimes offered. Take excursion if not. Also see Bordeaux above Lerwick, Shetland Is...Dock Mair's Pier, free shuttle to town near Tourist Ctr/Victoria Pier. Aug 2023 Lima ...........................Free shuttle to Marriott at Larcomar (Miraflores area) 03/2019 Lisbon .........................Free shuttle reported for some cruises; none for others. Dock below Alfama near transportation/walk opportunities (updated Apr 2022) Liverpool ......................Dock at town so no shuttle ... August 2017 Livorno (for Florence).. Free shuttle to town but need transport if going to Florence Londonderry Nth Ire ...No shuttle provided (June 2023) Luderitz, Namibia.....No shuttle needed - town an easy walk.......April 2023 Male, Maldives.........tender port.... guides waiting + tours there. Walk in town Jan 2019 Mahe, Seychelles.....no shuttle . Jan 2019 Malaga ....................Shuttle ..............update 2022 Manta Ecuador .......Shuttle to main square (longish walk); drops at port gate Mar 2019 Manzanillo Mexico...Long walk to shuttle bus cost $3 (see post 647) April 2023 Maputo ...................Free shuttle from pier to City Center (feima market) Jan 2019 Marcello, Brazil.......Shuttle ->town, shopping, need taxi for interesting places .. 2023 Marseille ................Free shuttle to town (Fort Saint John) Melbourne Vic Aus ...Tram 109 is 5-10 min walk from port, buy ticket at convenience store, no shuttle. Trams within City Centre free, no shuttle ...... update Dec 2019 Messina (Italy) - ship docks at City Center; no shuttle needed. Miami ......................... Free shuttle to Bayside Marketplace (*not* on embarkation day) Mar 2019 Mindelo, Cape Verde Shuttle to Marina Mindelo (downtown.....April 2023 Mitilini..........................This is tender port near town centre....... update 2020 Monte Carlo ............... Dock at town so no shuttle Murmansk .................. Need to book a tour either O or private for visa Muscat ........................Free shuttle to the Souk Mykonos.......................No shuttle needed, dock in town ...update 2020 Naha (Japan) ..............Free shuttle to town .........July 2023 Napier NZ....................Shuttle to ISite info centre on Marine Parade .... update Dec 2019 Nassau, Bahamas ......dock in town Natal, Brazil ................Shuttle to building with some shops -taxis - NB security see post 647.. Apr 2023. New York .....................no shuttle (Manhattan cruise terminal) Mar 2019 Newcastle ....................Free shuttle to nearest metro station (limited timing) Nosy be, Madagascar...Free shuttle (tender port) from pier to Town Market Jan 2019 Okinawa (Japan) ..........Free shuttle to town ....... July 2023 Oporto (Porto)...............Free shuttle to Parque de Alfandega (riverfront transport parking lot) Apr 2023. Walk left as face water about 10 minutes to get to Ribeira/bridge Oslo .............................Dock in town so no shuttle .... Aug 2017 Paphos, Cyprus ......... ? no shuttle. About 10 minutes walk to shops etc April 2022 Palma de Mallorca......Free shuttle to town (cathedral) Paris - see Le Havre Patmos........................Dock in town - no shuttle needed .... update 2020 Perth see Fremantle Phillip Is Vic Aus.........long tender ride in, shuttle to beach /boardwalk, limited car hire/taxis....Dec 2019 Phuket, Thailand........no shuttle Jan 2019 Picton NZ ..................Dock at town so no shuttle Piraeus (Port for Athens)...Shuttle to outside port in Piraeus, need tour to Athens (2022) Pisco ....................... Free shuttle to town Pointe Seraphine..... Walking distance (500 metres) or harbour water taxi to main area town..April 2023 Port Arthur Tas Aus . Tender in to PA Penal Settlement - (no real town so a guess) no shuttle needed updated 2022 Port Elizabeth, South Africa....Free shuttle from pier to the Boardwalk Jan 2019 Port Klang................... Shuttle to Bukit Tinggi Mall. Break from 11:45 - 1:30. Jan 19 Port Stanley (Falklands) Dock visitors center - 10 min. walk through town.....April 2023 Porto - see Oporto Portofino ................... No need for shuttle Puerto Limon............. No shuttle, tours by the local taxis & shops on the pier, walk to town Mar 2019 Portland UK ...............Free shuttle to town Praislin .............. ........No shuttle . Jan 2019 Puerto Arenas.............Shuttle to Handicraft Market....April 2023 Puntarenas Costa Rica no shuttle ride only to port gates Puerto Chacabuco......Tender then shuttle to get out of port...April 2023 Puerto Chiapas Mex....$10 RT shuttle or $60 RT for 45 min. drive to town (post 647)...April 2023 Puerto Limon...............No shuttle, tours by local taxis & shops on pier, walk to town.....March 2019 Puerto Montt Chile.......Tender to tours & taxis, suggest early tender (post 647) .. 2023 Punta del Este.............Tender docks right in centre of town........April 2023 Quetzal, Guatemala.....No shuttle, many tour operators, small souvenir shops... 2023 Recife, Brazil................Shuttle to terminal where many tours/taxis available....April 2023 Reykjavik, Iceland........Shuttle to Harpa Conference Center, even on disembarkation day...July 2023 Rhodes ........................Dock in town. no shuttle - longish walk to port gates. .April 2022 Roatan ........................No shuttle, Oceania docks in Coxen Hole, many port shops etc Mar 2019; can also dock at Mahogany Bay resort port Richards Bay............... Free shuttle from pier to Boardwalk Mall. (Jan 2019) Riga.............................?no shuttle; easy walk to HoHo bus/Rifleman Statue Rio ...............................?? Free shuttle to town. Terminal with tours & taxis outside....update 2023 Rome ..........................(see Civitavecchia) Ronne, Denmark........Free Shuttle to St. Nicolai Church.......September 2023 Rotterdam...................Free shuttle to Markethal, Rotterdam ....September 2023 Safaga ,Egypt .............Shuttle to downtown Saint John NB .............Dock at town so no shuttle Salalah, Oman ............shuttle to the Souk Salaverry......................shuttle to Trujillo/or shuttle to port gate - private tours. Tours in Trujillo Mar 2019 Salvador de Bahia, Brazil.....Walk off ship, tours & taxis at terminal....April 2023 San Antonio de Chile.....Shuttle out of port, then 10 min. walk to town (huge market) post 647 Apr 2023 San Sebastion de la Gomera ...........None needed ........ update 2020 Santa Cruz De Teneriffe ........Shuttle to terminal ....................update 2019 Santander SP docked along waterfront Almirante Quay near Botin Center Apr 2023, no shuttle needed Santiago de Compostela SP - see Vilagarcia Santo Tomas, ...............no shuttle, tours in the terminal, walk into town Mar 2019 Sao Tome & Principe....Tender, shuttle to main square, taxis available....Apr 2023 Santos ..........................Free shuttle to town - San Paulo (1hour drive). ? 2017 Seward .........................Loop shuttle ARR station and around town - July 2023 Shimizu.........................Free shuttle all day......update July 2023 Skagan Denmark..........free shuttle to town July 2018 Singapore.....................no shuttle Jan 2019 Sorrento .......................Free shuttle to town Split ..............................Dock at town so no shuttle Stavanger ....................dock in town July 2018 Storoway, Scotland....Tender port. August 2023 St Barts ....................... tender to town..no shuttle St. Lucia ..................... Castries: Dock at town so no shuttle. Pointe Seraphine: ........walking (500 metres) or harbour water taxi to main area town. St Malo ........................Dock at town so no shuttle St Jean De Luz ...........Dock at town so no shuttle St Petersburg ..............Need to book a tour - either O or private for required visa Stockholm...................Free shuttle bus to Stromgatan.......September 2023 Sydney N.S. ................Dock at town so no shuttle Sydney Cove/ Circular Quay Aus ......Free shuttle to Darling Harbour centre ..... 2018 Sydney White Bay (Aus) ...turnaround day . no shuttles, taxis available ..... Dec 2019 Tallinn, Estonia..........Free shuttle to reach Mere Boulevard ...September 2023 Tauranga /Rotorua......Believe was shuttle to Tauranga city center; Rotorua requires excursion or transport ..............Dec 2019 Tokyo........................Free shuttle (July 2023) Trapani, Sicily ..........No shuttle; docked very near downtown June 2022 Ushuaia....................Shuttle to town (also walkable) see post 647.............April 2023 Valencia .................. Free shuttle to town Valletta .....................Dock below town. Take elevator return for €1-€2. April 2022 Venice ......................Free shuttle to town (may be outdated; ships not allowed in city May 2023, but may be possible to dock in nearby Fusina, Maghera now or soon?) Vilagarcia (port for Santiago de Compostela) Port authority provided free shuttle Apr 2023 to tourist info center downtown at O Cavadelo (closed at 9 AM). Local buses & cab stand nearby but not much open/few people around. I took cab to train, train to Santiago, walked back to shuttle, shuttle to ship. Walvis Bay, Namibia..Shuttle to Dune Mall (shopping).......April 2023 Warnemunde, Germany.....Short walk to town & train for Rostock & Berlin September 2023 Wellington NZ..............Free shuttle to several places city centre ...... Dec 2019 Zakynthos, Greece .....Tender port, no shuttle, smallish island. Walk to small town - 2022 Zanzibar.......................Free shuttle from pier to Kelele Square (Jan 2019) Zeebruge (for Bruges)..Shuttle to port gates ... Aug 2017 Zihuatanejo.Mexico......Easy walk off pier & you are in town...............April 2023 Updates in bold Aug-Sept 2023

Thank you for this information. Still not sure what we will do for this port of call. Will look into taking a bus or a train for the day. Where did you take the train in Beppu?

Will do and appreciate all of your helpful information!

Perhaps however, only select amount of cruises apply for the promotion.

Yes found the wording interesting as expect it means SBC as Oceania doesn't accept cash on board - marketing lingo!

Looks like promotions are continuing - a new offering on Oceania today: Europe 2024 From the beauty of the Mediterranean to the magic of Northern Europe and beyond, experience Europe with up to US$1,000 Onboard Cash on select 2024 sailings plus simply MORE with 2 for 1 Cruise Fares, Free Roundtrip Airfare & Airport Transfers*; Free Shore Excursions; Free Champagne, Wine and More; Free Gourmet Specialty Dining and Free Unlimited WiFi. Limited-Time Offer. Book by November 20, 2023.

We are not particularly interested in hot springs, thermal pools nor spas. Looking for suggestions to see in the town of Beppu that are easily accessible from the cruise port.

Thank you!

Thank you and will review the pamphlet you provided!

We will be in the port of Kochi for one day and from what we can gather, there is usually a shuttle bus from the port to Kochi Bus Terminal near Harimaya Bridge. A visitor information centre is close by. Our plan is to walk to Hirome Market to browse local food and shops and then head to Kochi Castle (about 20 mins per Google Maps). Would appreciate learning if anyone has taken this shuttle? Let us know if there are other recommendations in the same area we should see?

Thank you once again 😄

A follow-up question for you: our cruise stops in Busan, South Korea before re-entering Japan. Assume we have to complete another Visit Japan Web?

Wonderful clear information thank you very much.

We will be in Japan next spring, a few questions re Visit Japan Web: - how far in advance should one register/log in? - for required contact information in Japan, did you input Cruise line/ship name? - can one use a Mac or just a smart phone to register/log in? Thank you!

We sailed on the Regatta in September 2022 and just returned from sailing on the Riviera this month and the food in all venues was excellent with insignificant changes that did not impact our dining in the least: no fresh parmesan wheel in Toscana, no bread roll with 'Jacques' written on in Jacques and the breakfast croissants may have been a tad smaller.

Sorry to hear that you have cancelled your upcoming cruise. The demographics on this cruise and the constant coughing, disrespect for fellow passengers, etc. were not what we have experienced in our many past cruises. We did include our comments in the mid-cruise survey and the end cruise survey so hopefully O will take note and make required changes e.g. Cruise Director and his side kick. Enjoy London.

We were on the cruise starting in Portsmouth and agree 100% that passengers were coughing in all venues and do feel Oceania could have communicated the importance of hand washing etc. On our many past cruises pre-Covid, we have heard numerous times announcements from Cruise Directors the importance of hand sanitation, etc. This Cruise Director, who we felt was the worse one in all of our cruises, provided minimal communication. The ship had a high percentage of very senior passengers with canes, walkers and wheelchairs that we joked we boarded the British Geriatric Club Cruise. We kept to ourselves, did not attend Captain's Cocktail nor Oceania Club night, used only stairs, ate at tables for two, and wore masks on the two shore excursions. There were three medical emergencies on our cruise and one involving a helicopter ambulance transfer and we quickly learnt what 'Code Mike' meant. We still managed to enjoy the itinerary, the excellent dining and the renovated Riviera especially the new bathroom and the expanded Baristas. As mentioned in numerous other posts, dress code adherence and lack of enforcement continues... Do hope for our future cruises, fellow passengers are more respectful and don't board if sick, cover your mouths when coughing, etc.

We have experience with taking OAir transfers. Upon arrival at the airport, we were met at the airport by a private car service presumably because we were the only O passengers on the flight. It was at Heathrow around noon so a busy airport and we had no issues in finding the driver with the O sign after departing customs with our luggage. Timing for embarking was straight forward as it was late mid-day by the time we reached the port and our stateroom was ready. Otherwise, we would have found a quiet spot to wait (we like the Library for this purpose). A few days prior to departing, you will receive a Disembarkation Form to complete (where you include/confirm your flight details) and they will advise what time you are to disembark with colour coded luggage tags. On this form, Oceania will often offer a tour for passengers who have a late flight e.g., your will board a bus, take a tour and then they drop you off at the airport. If you are not taking a tour, you will board the designated bus to the airport. Considering crowded airports, traffic conjestion in large cities, we rather have more time at the airport than being in a panic to miss our flight.

Just completed online check-in for our cruise later this month and only 11-11:30 was posted to check off - no choice. Same as last year's cruise.

Yes we have noticed minimal mailings in the past months. Another change is our Oceania Cruise Vacations Official Documents folder (with luggage tags) for our upcoming cruise has been streamlined to only one document inside (no shore excursions document) and sent by regular mail. Previously it was always sent by FedEx which was the case on last year's cruise. These are areas they appear to be cutting back on (to save $) and really don't miss the old Blue Book format nor the frequent mailings.