WESTEAST

We sail Oceania on a regular basis and did a British Isles cruise in 2019 and loved the ports of call with two days in Dublin plus the ship's cuisine and service. Next month, we embark on another British Isles cruise with different and smaller ports of call than in 2019. The new Simply More program aka "all inclusive" starts with October 1st, 2023 cruises onward. We will have to wait till our next cruise to experience it.

We have the Excursion PDF that our TA sent us for this cruise in 2024 when we booked sometime ago and are well versed on the OLife program thanks. It is pre-SM, We went to our online booking to see how excursions were now displayed with SM and that prompted the question. We also want to see how prices compare, etc.

On the subject of shore excursions, we were looking at one of our 2024 cruises that is currently with OLife Shore Excursions selection to see prices and times. Took a screenshot of what is displayed on the new page for one excursion. We're assuming that SM Package is where the permitted Shore Excursion value is calculated (deducted) along with other selected excursions and if reached the min for the 25% off, the reduced total price will show? Tour Pricing has nothing stated on the (?) notation so not sure what it means? Haven't tried adding excursions to our cart to analyze further and will call Oceania for an explanation and find out where the OLife excursions will display and have them book once we have made our selections.

The reference to Tartan books may relate to the cover of the Oceania Cruise Document with luggage tags. Our upcoming cruise (not Vista) is to the British Isles and the cover is a Scottish Tartan Kilt. Believe this Vista cruise is also to the British Isles.

We recently booked our Speciality dining reservations and was surprised to see a new webpage for booking. It has improved and was easy to book all restaurants within a few minutes!

Checked our booked 2024 cruise and it still shows our free Land Tour under Land Programs (O invoice states Promo with 0.00 charge) and under Shore Excursions states the same minimum to obtain the 25% off. Haven't compared individual Shore Excursion prices.

Well not totally surprised. We have always relied on CC for excellent feedback/guidance (pro or con) and will continue to do so and skip over posts we might suspect.

Thank you again and so noted. Put it in Google Maps and states, "This route has restricted usage or private roads." - we will wait to see when we arrive and perhaps there will be complementary shuttle to the City Centre as is often the case when in an industrial or restricted dock area.

Thank you very much for this info as didn't see when googling! This works out perfectly now just have to figure out which bus stop is closest to where the ship will dock - Dundee/Forth Port website states "Cruise passengers and Naval personnel enjoy being so close to the city centre from the ship, with the walking time being only fifteen minutes, or five minutes by taxi." By chance, do you know what bus stop is closest to where the ship will dock - really appreciate your assistance:

ORV hope you don't mind asking if you visited the port of Dundee in Scotland? Would like to know if there was a complimentary shuttle to town? Many thanks.

Thanks for this clarification. Did another search and found on Xplore Dundee website that the 99X bus which I believe is the only direct bus has been cancelled (see below). Mon 3rd Jul onwards Due to changes to Fife School services from the start of the new academic year in August, the following school day only services will no longer be operated by Xplore Dundee: 99X, GF1, MD1, MD2, MD3, MD4, MD5, MD6, MD9, MD10, MD11. Have emailed Xplore Dundee for alternate bus routes but expect we would have to make a connection. Not sure what taxi company to contact for advance booking - do you have a recommendation?

Per Google maps, it is approximately a 20-25 minute drive from Dundee to St. Andrews. We are arriving at the port of Dundee and would like to know if taxis are readily available at the cruise terminal? Other than a taxi, there doesn't seem to be non stop public transportation and not interested in taking one or two buses. Thanks.

Yes, let's hope the system functionality will work well!

We hope Simply More doesn't change O's bring your own wine and related corkage fee policy for the transition period of having both OLife and Simply More and future only Simply More (as we often enjoy our own selected/purchased wine at dinner). O's website on July 1st will be changed and will be interesting to see how one navigates both offerings for the transition period of both offerings. If one stays with OLife on a booked itinerary, we will need to access OLife Shore Excursions page...

Thanks for this update. Yes it was pre-Covid in 2019 and did find the shopping mall then a little tired looking.

Great thank you and hope we are lucky to have the good weather that you enjoyed!

Thank you. Did read that some times in port were also adjusted - what ports specifically as think your itinerary is similar to ours?

Our ship provided a shuttle bus to the Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre which was about a 5 minute drive. The Visitor Centre is on the 2nd floor of the shopping centre to purchase tickets - we had purchased online prior but there was no line-up when we arrived. We enjoyed the tour and there is a nice souvenir shop. Didn't spend any time in the Shopping Centre so can't comment on shopping or lunch venues.

Enjoyed reading your posts and that Riviera is in good shape as we board her in August. Our past two cruises have been onboard Regatta so we are looking forward to our favourites that you mentioned at Jacques - Dover sole and Choux Chantilly Cream😋. We do a mix of O excursions and independent and curious if you had difficulty booking O shore excursions as we found many were closed/waitlisted. O indicated that the waitlist will probably clear but have options prepared - the option in Killybegs is to take the local bus to Donegal Town - did you stop there on your tour in Killybegs and if so, any recommendations for a nice spot for lunch?

Thank you and have noted for a future port of call in Israel.

We will be stopping in Killybegs this summer and we are planning to go to the Donegal Town for the day - here is info:

Read your post on pricey Rare wines and doubt many O regulars (including us) will order from this list - rather bring our own wine and pay corkage. We had booked this cruise onboard Vista but had to cancel. Will be watching the new itineraries for one similar in the future. Do wonder if you had any delays at the ports of Haifa and Ashdod with local authorities? Understand authorities may board the ship for a face-to-face with each passenger as was done in St. Petersburg? What do you have planned for Salerno (non O excursion)? Thanks.

Agree we often leave a note on the bed for soft drinks we prefer, extra soap, etc. and always promptly provided.

FYI, found out that it is a 15/20minute walk all on level ground from the pier where ships dock to the bus stop. Information Office said if your ship is providing a shuttle bus it normally stops at our office and the bus stop is only a few minutes walk from there.

Received confirmation from tourist office that there's a local bus service from Killybegs to Donegal that takes approximately 35 minutes. Example: departs Killybegs at 9:55am and arrives in Donegal Town at 10:30am and bus returns to Killybegs at 13:00, 14:45 and 16:15. Link to the bus timetable: https://www.transportforireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/293-Glencolmcille-to-Donegal-Town-July-2021.pdf