cats & bub

[cats&bub]

greetings from downunder, this is our first time cruising and we are sailing on the Nautica August 6th 2006, Barcelona to Athens, and then doing a back to back Athens to Istanbul,and looking forward to it. One question is it better to organize some excursions before hand or can you do it when you get on board, and do you have to book the restuarants and the time for the seatings. many thanks

[frankpc]

You've made a great choice for a first time cruise.

A lot of folks here organize their own tours ahead of time. We often do as we are not big fans of the tour bus experience.

Oceania has four dining rooms on each ship. The Grand Dining Room is open seating - like a restaurant. You show up when you want to eat and are seated. Tapas on the Terrace is the same but offers outside seating. Both Toscana and the Polo Grill require advance reservations that you make aboard ship. No extra fees for any venue. While individual tastes vary, no one venue is really "superior" in my opinion. They're all excellent choices.
Oceania has also recently upgraded the dining experience - here's a link to more info at their website:

http://*******.com/p4fzg

Frank

[cats&bub]

Thanks Frank for that information, if was most helpful, we have looked at some of the tours offered by Oceania and are a bit reluctant to book as we don't want to be locked into something, is it possible to organize something when we arrive in port or the day before when we see how feel. Our cruise leaves on th 11th August not the 6th as I said in my original, thats the day we leave Sydney.
cats&bub:p

[Paisley12]

Hi Cats and Bub,
While my group was on the Athens to Rome cruise in May we were able to book tours a couple a days ahead while on the ship. You don't need to book before the cruise. In fact, I booked mine when I got on the ship. You can pick which one you want. The ship gives you a daily paper, the Currents, to tell you what's going on and reminds you to book tours coming up.
We met a couple of women from Australia and New Zealand who were the friendliest people. We really enjoyed their company at our table. They were on a month long tour of Europe ending in London and the cruise was just one leg of their tour.
I am sure you will love Oceania and the pampering. We had a great time on the Insignia!! I am sure you will also.

[drwong]

I don't know how Oceania works the "free air" for folks down under, but if you're doing a back-to-back, I'd suggest getting an air fare credit for both cruises and purchasing your airline tickets on your own. You might just come out ahead! :)

[cosmo49au]

Oceania Downunder isn't generous, even as return customers we found enticements virtually non -existent, free air or anything resembling a credit will not happen!
Nevertheless, we are booked again for the Med in November thanks to Jancruz who was a great help to us.
Meg

[china addict]

Hello, cats & bub. We are looking forward to meeting you aboard the Nautica, Aug 11th Barcelona to Athens. Although I'm a Brit and my husband is from California, we got married in 1998 in Ballarat and spent honeymoon on Great Barrier Reef. Absolutely loved all the folks we met Down Under. We look forward to meeting you on board the Nautica. Regards, Denise Berry

[cats&bub]

Hi Denise Berry, hope to catch up with you on our trip, my partner is a brit also, although now a aussie, we will spending time after our cruise with his family in Dover regards Carol & Bern
also thank you to everyone for their replies to my questions, they were most helpful.:) :p

[drwong]

Oceania likes to know how many people have booked each tour in advance, so that they can make the necessary arrangements with the shoreside tour operators - at a minumum, they ask for 24-hours advanced notice.

That being said, we've been able to book tours as late as the evening before, provided that there are empty spaces still available and somebody is at the Destination Services booth to issue your tour tickets. Usually they're left in the mailslot on your stateroom door the night before or early the next morning. If the tourbus or van is full, or the tour has to be cancelled because of a lack of participation, you might have to make another choice.