arima22 Posted February 10, 2014 #1 Share Posted February 10, 2014 We're sailing on Marina, Viking Trails, Aug. 21, Baltic cities. Just noticed that Oceania has changed the arrival time for St. Petersburg from 9:00 AM to 8:00 AM, Aug. 23 - This is very good if it holds up, makes it easier for the first day tour times, but can we expect this new time to hold up? I've set up a group tour on CC Roll Call, Marina Aug. 21, with SPB Tours and the timing for St. Petersburg arrival day was tight at the original 9:00 AM arrival. Oceania also changed the arrival at Gdynia from 7:00AM to 8:00AM- shortens the stay to 8 hours- touring time to about 6 hours. Is changing port arrival, or departure, times common? Here's the criuse page I'm looking at: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/findcruise/balticandscandinavia/mna140821/default.aspx Another item I noticed on this page is that previously all of the Cat. C, F and G Staterooms were on "wait list." Now all of these Categories are open for booking. Unsold staterooms turned in by TA's?? Herb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShopperfiendTO Posted February 10, 2014 #2 Share Posted February 10, 2014 In my experience, cruise time changes is part of cruising you just have to roll with. Tour operators generally know this as well and usually adjust as appropriate, which is why they need to know the name of the ship you're on! Can't really say it's common, but it certainly has happened in the past, and don't be surprised of a port even gets cancelled/changed the night before/morning of. Given this possibility at any port, really the best you can go on is that what they provide is what it will be... until they change it. Not sure how regularly this gets updated, but maybe check this once in a while for updates?: http://ships.cruisett.com/schedule/Oceania_Cruises/Marina/August_2014/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arima22 Posted February 10, 2014 Author #3 Share Posted February 10, 2014 ShopperfiendTO: Thanks for the cruise schedule site. Will check in the future, it still has the original times. Have also notified the local tour company and they will check with the port for updates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orchestrapal Posted February 10, 2014 #4 Share Posted February 10, 2014 We're sailing on Marina, Viking Trails, Aug. 21, Baltic cities. Just noticed that Oceania has changed the arrival time for St. Petersburg from 9:00 AM to 8:00 AM, Aug. 23 - Oceania also changed the arrival at Gdynia from 7:00AM to 8:00AM- shortens the stay to 8 hours- touring time to about 6 hours. Is changing port arrival, or departure, times common? Here's the criuse page I'm looking at: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/findcruise/balticandscandinavia/mna140821/default.aspx Herb This is a very common happening and you are lucky the changes are only an hour either way. This should not effect anyone very much..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgesGal Posted February 14, 2014 #5 Share Posted February 14, 2014 On our Sept 6 Monte Carlo to Southampton, our arrival time in Bordeaux was changed from 0830 to 1400 due to tides. So we will be stopping at LeVerdon for 2 hours starting at 0700, then continuing up-river to Brodeaux. Stuff happens sometimes when planning and not paying attention to tiny details like TIDES! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted February 14, 2014 #6 Share Posted February 14, 2014 Stuff happens sometimes when planning and not paying attention to tiny details like TIDES! Could be the TIDE tables were not out when they planned the itinerary ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted February 14, 2014 #7 Share Posted February 14, 2014 On our Baltic cruise last summer, they not only changed the time, but the port. Oceania appears to have a very low priority on berths on the Baltic route. This past summer, the ship always stayed the farthest from town, in some pretty glum looking areas, as compared to other lines. Not sure if it was a decision of what they wanted to pay for, or being a relatively younger cruise line, they have a low priority for berths. If one of the other cruise lines wants to change and be where the Marina was planning, the Marina go moved. It was worst in Germany, where we got moved out of one town altogether and docked in a distance town with the slag heap of the power plant on one side and a dilapidated warehouse building on the other side of the boat. Not exactly a scenic location. The tour people did find their people wanting to make the Berlin run. The change in docking area did add over an hour to their already exhausting run to Berlin. The ship docked in timbukto also in both Copenhagen and Olso. They did provide buses into town, but not into Gdansk. They dump you off in Gdynia, and if you want to go elsewhere, you take a tour or a taxi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CintiPam Posted February 14, 2014 #8 Share Posted February 14, 2014 (edited) I highly recommend that everyone take a look at their cruise itinerary on the Oceania website a few months in advance of sailing. On our upcoming Riviera Istanbul to Barcelona cruise, all the port times have changed except for our three ports in Italy. These time changes definitely have impacted our plans for private tours and car rentals. We made final payment last week and, of course, the current port times are listed on that Oceania invoice as well. Edited February 14, 2014 by CintiPam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now