thebsinmiss

Set your phone up for wifi calling (look in settings) Alternately you could buy an esim like Airlo who sell local and regional data sim cards. They are easy to install if your phone is set up for esim's and the Europe regional card is $13.00 US for 3 GB good for 30 days and covers all your countries. You have to use wifi/computer calling as its strictly data. If you have Whats App on your phone that is VOIP and you would be good to go. The advantage of the data plan is you can use google maps/Waze etc in real time to navigate while walking cities Do NOT turn your cellular (regular voice calling ) connection on at sea as it might connect to the Satellite systems and there are posts about huge cellular bills if that happens.

Sorry to hear about the issues with the cruise but glad you enjoyed it overall. We are on the Riviera in June and I really hope they address any issue of unseasoned/under seasoned food before then. The reason we booked on Oceania again (and why our friends are joining us) is the food. If we wanted uninspired tasteless food aimed at catering to the lowest common denominator then we would have booked on one of the mega ships at a far lower price. I'm very concerned about this and hoping it is a one off and not a corporate mandated on going issue. Time will tell I guess

I know we can use shipboard credits for shore excursions and the FAQ says we can use it to book services at the spa once we are on board and underway (ie can't book before cruise) . We had an adjustment to our account due to a sale price shortly after booking and we have large shipboard credits on our account. We have already paid in full for our upgraded beverage package and prepaid our gratuities. My question is what else can we use it for 1) excursions - It clearly says we can use SBC for excursions but none of the remaining excursions appeal to us 2) premium bottles of wine ? DW might get a bottle or two at best 3) Under way spa treatments (read another post saying the spa attendants fought the use of ship board credits for a massage) 4) Casino credit ? the question was asked in another post but never answered. 5) merchandise at the various shops on board ? I believe they can be used in the shops but we really don't need any more jewelry, overpriced clothing etc..If it comes down to it we will spend it on gifts as they are non refundable at the end of the trip. 6) Future cruise booked on board ? We booked via a travel agent and when I asked about retroactively applying the shipboard credit to the paid for gratuities & drink package they did not think that was possible and recommended I ask once we are on board. Note that these are not shore excursion credits which we still have some remaining. Any help would be appreciated.

Perhaps someone else can comment with current experience on the specific ships as I can't do that. Both SS and O deliver very good/excellent products and services. We are looking forward to our June cruise on Riviera and I am going to try and avoid "looking" for how things may or may not have changed. Each trip is unique and thats the way we want it.

I really hope it doesn't become the norm like on the mega ships where some cruisers take it as a personal challenge to "beat the system" and drink their body weight in booze every day so they can justify in their minds what they paid for the drink package. The license in the elevators does not mean you can legally drink there !

Several years ago we did a silver seas cruise shortly after a cruise on the Marina. Our personal observations were - ship. Preferred Oceania as it was slightly larger but felt less crowded even though the passenger count was higher on O - staff Call it a wash. One thing we found is the butler service on SS was of little value to us and we rarely saw them/used them. Saw her on embarkation day and then the night before getting off. - food - definite win for O. More options and food seemed fresher for some reason - Entertainment - neither offered mega ship level entertainment (not expected to) but there seemed to be a bit more on O - Ports - seemed way easier/faster to get on/off SS vs O (driven by passenger numbers ?) If ports are basically the same and costs are similar I would pick Oceania

The butler is a nice add on but make sure that you will actually use their services on your cruise. We had a butler on our Silver Seas cruise and did not use the service very much which was our fault/omission. Use the forums to determine everything the butler can do for you and confirm in your mind that you will actually use those benefits and services. If the room size/bigger shower and hopefully a few more specialty dining reservations are worth the extra cost (in base fare and higher gratuities) then go for it and fill your "bucket" Enjoy the trip no matter which you choose.

No idea, best to ask Oceania directly. My "guess" is that if you booked it as a designated balcony suite that was NOT part of concierge then you would not benefit from the concierge designation. Cynically if they can't get more dollars from you they aren't going give you the concierge perks ! Either way enjoy your cruise

I would assume if you have booked a cabin and put a deposit down then they would have to honor the contracted price for that room. If you haven't put a deposit down or it is a new person booking now then the new pricing for that particular cabin would likely apply. I would expect basic contract law to apply (offer/acceptance/consideration ie $$) I would expect the terms of the contract buried in the O fine print very few people read fully (I didn't !) to be slanted in O's favor though

Their boat, their rules, our choices !

ORV I searched online, on the O website (not a lot of help) and called the O number and asked. Was told they did not see any notes about a O shuttle/transfer in to town. I will ask again once we are on board as I assume they should have better/more current information. Just to be safe I am assuming there won't be one and I want to make sure of all of our options. The tourism offices shuttle sounds like a reliable and known option

Perfect ! Do you remember where you caught the shuttle (ie: right outside port terminal?) and did you have to book anything or was it just hop on the bus.....first come/first served. Shouldn't be that crowded as far as cruise passengers go since it currently shows just Riviera in port which is 1250 passengers. The O "mosaic shore excursion" is $136.00 Cdn p/p That's a lot for a bus ride, a guide for part of the time and I assume entry tickets (12 euro on line). We are really looking forward to this based on the various youtube videos

We are stopping at Ravenna cruise port on our June 2024 Riviera cruise. Dock at 11 am and depart at 9 pm. Looks like we are the only ship in port on that date. My issue is we want to do a self tour of the 4-5 main mosaic sites in the old town/downtown and O does not offer a shuttle service. From other posts (I've searched cc and googled it) It sounds like there are about 20 taxis in the whole town and they are more interested in long trips from the port to Venice etc... I also see a city bus option (walk 15 minutes from the port then catch the bus which takes about 30 minutes) I found that info on the Ravenna tourist visitor site. Anyone have recent experience/recommendations on the best/simplest way for 4 people to get from the ship to downtown and then back ? Sounds like catching a cab at the railroad station back to the ship is not as problematic as from ship to town? Appreciate any personal experience.

Perhaps close the area one day and put down an epoxy coating with silica applied to it while its wet just like they do for concrete around pools. I recall Home Depot redoing the floors in a store a few years ago. Polished them and they were amazing looking. Only problem is they were so slick everyone was ending up on their bums. Got fixed really fast before the lawyers got involved 🙂

There is also another currency game covered in a youtube video. When you go to withdraw money from some ATM's in europe the screen is carefully presented and worded along the lines of "check account balance and withdraw funds" . You have to decline this option as by checking your account balance you are allowing them to charge an outrageous fee for the "service". You only want to withdraw money which is an option shown only on another screen. Car rental firms are also a major user of DCC. Usually its at the airport and you are in a rush to get your bags and check in and they just present the machine to you to confirm payment. READ everything before making a selection