Asia 2006

[FreesiaE]

hi all,
I'm new to "this set" of boards! I got an email from Oceania today regarding 2006 2for1 cruises with airfare in Asia. I am interested in learning a little more like
Is this the first time they will be doing Asia?
Is Asia (HK area) super cold in January?
Is 15 days on Nautica too much ?
Thanks!

[ClaudiaF]

hi all,
I'm new to "this set" of boards! I got an email from Oceania today regarding 2006 2for1 cruises with airfare in Asia. I am interested in learning a little more like
Is this the first time they will be doing Asia?
Is Asia (HK area) super cold in January?
Is 15 days on Nautica too much ?
Thanks!

Yes this is the first time they will be doing Asia. It will be on their newest addition to their "fleet" Nautica.

[narob]

The 3/16/2006 Beijing to Hong Kong looks facinating with all the varied ports, so we booked her. China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, just to name a few!
We know it's far out, but we couldn't help ourselves.

[digby]

Check the weather at weatherbase.com.

[narob]

We know. It's very cold, but if you look at the itinerary, it finishes up warm.

[FreesiaE]

Thanks for the advice; I'll look at the weather website. Would one think they would need a visa, or would a passport suffice? Does Oceania included any "complimentary" alcoholic beverages (like wine at dinnner, etc)? Thanks!

[new_cruiser]

Assuming you are a US citizen, you will need a visa for China. Unless China has changed their requirements since last spring, you will either have to use a Visa service or go a consulate/embassy in person.

We used Zierer Visa Service
http://www.zvs.com/

You can check the visa requirements for other countries there.

[ClaudiaF]

looks like visa is only required for China and maybe Korea .. you best check with US embassy or a company as suggested Zierer..got our visas for Brazil back yesterday only took 7 biz days with them.

[Andee]

Oceania does not include free alcohol, except at the Captain's Party or the party they sponsor if 20+ people sign up on the yahoo board.

We spent 14 days on the Insignia, and didn't think it was too much.

[new_cruiser]

Claudia, I believe that currently South Korea only requires a visa from US citizens for business travel - tourist travel less than some time (30 days, if memory serves) requires only the passport. Vietnam was on the January cruise the original poster asked about and I think it does require a visa. I don't know about any of the other stops on that trip.

Of course, with these trips being more than a year away, requirements may change. It would be wise to recheck a couple of months before sailing.

[shoshona2]

Hi Narob,

Yesterday, we booked the same Asian cruise as you. I see from your recent posts that you took the Black Sea Cruise on Oceania in September. We are booked for the July 2005 Black Sea cruise. I'll have to check with you when it gets closer about the tours.

We just returned from Tauck's Asian tour of Vietnam and Cambodia and most of the ports on Oceania's cruise are new to us. After we returned from the October Asian tour, I promised myself I wouldn't go back to Asia, but after looking at Oceania's website, I changed my mind.

Sheila

[narob]

Dear Sheila,

At least you have a shorter plane ride to China! We, also, took a trip to Cambodia this year, along with Thailand. We just loved Siem Reap and all the temples. Are you taking the free air? We decided to book without the air and try to use frequent flier miles. We just love the diversity of the itinerary on that cruise. Although, it's going to be very cold in the first part of the trip. Have you been on Oceania before? All in all, a pretty nice experience. I know how you feel about going back to Asia, soooo much flying, but oh, so spectacular experiences. We'll have to keep in touch!

[shoshona2]

Hi Narob,

We are doing our own airfare also via United Airlines. We've been to Beijing before so we will arrive the night before the cruise starts and pay Oceania to take us to the ship. Yes, we were on the Regatta in August 2003 -- we went to the Baltics and Russia. It was a wonderful cruise. We met two other couples on the Yahoo Board and shared a Red October tour in St. Petersburg.

We are in the middle of putting our Cambodia and Vietnam photos in an photo album. We have more photos from this tour than any other we have taken. This will be my fourth or fifth trip to Asia and most of the ports are new to us.

Are you posting on the Yahoo Board, also? I think we can email each other from there. Our son and daughter-in-law live in the Ft. Lauderdale area and took us for a drive to Naples. It is a beautiful area.

Sheila

[narob]

We will watch for you on the Yahoo boards. We are leaving next Friday for Quito, Equador for two nights there, then flying out to the Galapagos to catch Celebrity's Xpedition for a week and then one last night in Quito at the JW Marriott. We were able to book the cruise through a discounter, before Celebrity started with the new policy. Since then, the prices on these cruises have hit the roof! Still not quite sure of exactly how to pack, with Quito's temps and elevation and the Galapagos balmy breezes----sort of like the Asian cruise. Also, am limited to approximately 30 pounds for aircraft to Galapagos. Cruise is quite casual, however.

Nancy

[shoshona2]

Hi again,

Have a great time in the Galapagos. We did Machu Picchu and the Galapagos with Tauck several years ago. You really only need bathing suits, shorts and casual attire on the ship. Do you two have Teva sandals or similar for the wet landings. Tennis shoes get too wet.

We seem to be doing the same areas of the World. You did the Black Sea this year and we are doing it next -- then Asia on the Nautica in 2006. Our Black Sea cruise seems to be almost sold out. All the large suites, Penthouse Suites and category A & B are gone.

Sheila

[ARTGRL]

we did not find that it was too cold for comfort in March, so you shouldn't worry.............in fact, the only chill was when we were on the great wall with rain/no sun/wind......otherwise, although a little gloomy, it added to the mystical feeling you get with the asian landscape. Bring layers, raincoat (with hood) and a scarf- I always travel with socks too! Inside the ship you will have no worries!:rolleyes: