Review of Nautica 7/14 Istanbul-Venice

[Daw6id]

My review has been posted by Cruise Critic http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=20350

for those interested.

[shoshona2]

Wanted to compliment you on your unbiased review of your cruise on Nautica. Glad you had an enjoyable time. We were on Nautica in March and I see that Destination Services is still the very weak link on this cruiseline. This was our third cruise with Oceania and we do all private tours. We will be in Venice next May and were looking for something new to do. Thanks for the mention of the Opera house. Do you remember if the tours are done at certain times of the day? If not, I will email the hotel and ask. We are sailing the Dalmation Coast on a 95 passenger yacht and will stop in Kotor and Dubrovnik. We are planning on visiting the Synagogue in Dubrovnik, also. The Dalmation Coast is new to us and we look forward to our cruise.

Sheila

[Margy]

Thanks for the interesting review. There was some helpful information there for us - first time cruisers leaving in Sept on O's Insignia.
Margaret

[drwong]

Great review! If I might ask a few follow-up questions, however. Previous posters have commented on the wind over the bow and noise from the deck crew working at the bow. On which deck was your cabin?

Also, some posters have complained about the quality of the onboard enrichment lectureres. Who was the enrichment lecturer on your cruise, and what presentations did he or she make that contributed to the enjoyment of your cruise?

[avidtraveler92583]

Sheila,

Where is the synagogue in Dubrovnik and do you need advance reservations to go visit? I'd love top see it when we go in May. I know with so much heightened security around the world the synogogues have had to have much more sercurity to keep it and its visitors safe. I appreciate any info. Thanks

[orchestrapal]

We too are going in May and would love to visit the synagogue.
Is it within the walled city?
More information would be very helpful.
Thanks.:o

[Daw6id]

Thanks for the compliments. The synagogue in Dubrovnik is in the walled city, to the right of the main street, about five streets from the entrance. It's on the map, open at 10 - I don't remember how late. Costs 20 Kuna - and they want Croation money.

The cabin at the front (6001) was noisy when the anchor dropped, and a little noisy when the ship was being docked. Other than the day in Mykonos with 50 kt winds, the wind noise was not noticable.

The enrichment lecturer was a woman who had lived in Venice and was a personal friend of Benny Hill. She gave one lecture on Benny, and two on Venice. They were good - not great. She also gave a running commentary as we cruised through the lagoon, that we listened to while sitting on our deck with the fabulous view.

[Daw6id]

oops - forgot one.

The opera house in Venice (La Fenice) had tours at different times in different languages, but only once a day in English. We bought our tickets the day before for the 11 am tour [I think it was 7 euros each], and when we got back at 10:45 the next day they were sold out. Before you go, read The City of Falling Angels, which tells all about the fire and aftermath. Makes the tour much more interesting

[shoshona2]

To Daw6id,

Thanks for the info. I printed it and will take it with me.

Sheila

[drwong]

Wow! Benny Hill was one of my heroes growing up! It was particularly tragic when I heard about the way he died, alone and broken-hearted because the BBC cancelled his programme. What did she say about him?

[Daw6id]

He was one of her close friends, but was reclusive and hard to reach. She too was heartbroken when he died.