jerseyflyer

Hi all as a holder of a UK passport this is the reply I got from Costa UK regarding visas. I share for information but this may vary depending on your passport origin.

Dear Sirs
Thank you for the email.
This is the answer to your questions
Oman in tranist

Visa NOT required within 48 hours stay. On arrival each pax/crew will be issued a shore landing ID card. Ship to submit pax list in advance. Landing card is to be returned after being back onboar

Jordan

Landing permit to guests who do not need visa will be issued on arrival. Vessel has to submit the passenger list in advance to the Port Agent.

Nothing required for Israel
Thanks
Best regards xxxxx

Sparkle he was there some time ago so his transport information would not be current. He used to drive to the mountain areas. Trip..advisor seems to be offering East of Salalah tours on their lists of things to do in Salalah they look reasonable and do mention Jabal Samhan but you would need to check the itinerary was actually going there.

Wow that must have been great!  Im going on my first Carnival cruise this year out of New Orleans.

Hope you enjoy your cruise sounds super. Come and see us soon.

17 minutes ago, MortgageChick said:

Jerseyflyer    Can I assume you live in the Channel Islands?   I actually spent 10 years of my childhood on Jersey. My family moved to Canada in the 1970's.

 

 

 

 

Yes you presume correctly.  The original!  Born and bred...

Ahhh you have gone to the colonies...Jersey has a slightly dark past of taking advantage of the Acadian community in eastern Canada but we were very grateful for the Canadian food parcels sent out of Halifax NS during our German occupation.  They even got as far as my mother who was interned in a camp in Germany, deported from Jersey as her father was English! She spoke highly of them.

Just to clarify for others Jersey is a " peculiar of the crown" and like the other channel islands, not part of England not part of the UK and not part of the EU. It's complicated! If you moved in the 70s we probably are roughly the same age. You didn't go to St Brelades school did you?

20 minutes ago, maryann2 said:

No visas needed.  At least last year we didn't need them.

Just beware they changed things last year...

45 minutes ago, Lindybb said:

Last time we cruised I stumbled upon a site that gave wonderful port information with maps and walking instructions. I can’t remember its name and searching hasn’t brought up anything. I haven’t a clue how to pm but will give it a go.

Only suggested pm as I assumed they block posts to other communities.  I use ....whats in port... All one word with the post name eg whats in port Salalah they are v good. Also  "the telegraph" with "cruise port xxx" 

Costa is a great European cruise line. It will be different to your US based cruise line experience as Im sure you are aware as they accommodate a wide spectrum of passenger from all over the world.

I have had no problems regarding getting drinks when on packages. I have found the bar, cafe and wait staff extremely nice once I have had time to chat and find out more about them.  

We did one cruise with the pranzo and one with the basic all day drinks package and on both occasions they gave us whole bottles of wine between the two of us to save themselves time.....:)  We occasionally took the final glass out of the dining room with us to a bar.

We don't tip in addition to the service charge but do give physical gifts for our favourite staff, wallets, purses etc. at the end of the cruise. Wrapped with a personal message.

To my knowledge Costa do not allow anything brought aboard on embarcation but as I have not tried I can't comment about the leniency aspect.  The search I would hope to be very thorough just for safety reasons.

Costa is more my vibe. Can't really explain it as they are both European style cruise companies.  I have done long repositioning cruises with both.

MSC used to match status from other cruise lines and if they still do that could bring substantial discount on certain cruise itineraries and OBC. 

Sparkle I think you are based in UK?  Costa are a European style cruise company. I like them, the vibe is good for me but cruising style is a personal thing. This is not American style cruising like NCL.  I love celebrity for its feel but don't enjoy RCL so much but again it is a personal thing.  Costa highlights include the hot chocolate in the cafe where it is so thick you can stand your spoon up in it!

Regards Jerusalem I didn't see a tour from the ship so would be interested in more detail on that.

In Eliat we may go to Coral Beach just north of cruise boat as they have a coral reserve there. You can visit informational area then snorkel so I understand.

We are missing information about cruise ship shuttle availability at each port. Some ports are easily walkable some will have compulsory shuttle to port gate some will have payable shuttle to town so until we are on ship I am a bit flexible.

Lindy, for port info I use the port information section of cruise critic but others also. If you pm me I am happy to share websites, etc. I haven't seen mention of a HOHO in Eliat but you would have to research.

Regards protocol on cruise critic. It seems to me that Costa section is not as formal and ordered as say celebrity or carnival where roll calls are ordered in a separate section.

Hopefully others will see your thread and join and share in the discussion informally.