ReligBookFreak

Two hours after you disembark the ship, which varies from ship to ship. Just keep in mind that your hotel in Venice won't have your room available until after Noon sometime. Alan

If you like blown glass, I'd recommend taking the Vaporetto to Murano and going to a glass blowing demonstration. Also, if you like Prosecco, look for a tour to Prosecco wineries. I would definitely go to St Mark's Square to see Doge's Palace, the Basilica, and the bell tower. Some highly rated tour companies include: See Venice: https://www.seevenice.it/en/tours/ Ways Tours: https://waystours.com/ Taste Venice: https://www.tastevenice.it/my-product/patries-chocolate-and-tiramisu/ Andrea Tour Guide: https://andreavenicetourguide.weebly.com/tours---english.html Venice Tours: https://www.venicetours.it/ Alan

I cannot recommend those places. I searched the hotels I know, from July 3 to July 6 (3 nights), and unfortunately, they are all booked solid. If you stay one night in Trieste, and then go to Venice, you might have better luck. I highly recommend Hotel Al Codega. It's easy walking distance to Saint Mark's Square, plus it's hidden on a side street (away from all the noise). Also, it includes a wonderful buffet breakfast. They offer both VERY small rooms to a large Junior Suite (My wife and I booked the Deluxe room last year and it was VERY nice). Here is its website: https://book.hotelalcodega.com Alan

Hotel Principe might be the closest but its reviews on Trip Advisor are mediocre. Carnival Palace Hotel (https://www.venicecollection.com/carnival-palace/fr/?utm_source=tripadvisor&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=business_listing&utm_content=link) gets MUCH better reviews but it's a one-half mile walk to the train station, including some bridges. Alan

You mentioned one person is a senior. Can that person walk to the Trieste Train Station? If not, you will need a taxi. Have you traveled on European trains before? Are you physically able to lift your heavy luggage and place it in the storage rack above the seat, assuming it fits? Venice is a wonderful city with LOTS to see. Staying just one night provides no opportunity to see everything. We were there 4 nights last year and still did not see everything. Although staying near the Venice train station should be fine, I would NOT recommend staying near Termini (the Rome Train Station), unless you like lots of homeless people and prostitutes at night. Alan

We do a LOT of transatlantic cruises where we are in the ocean for 7 days straight. This, waiting until we are on port to make a call does NOT work for us. Alan

You don't need to upgrade your Wifi if you use a Mobile Hotspot. Alan

For me, gratuities and Wifi are an absolute must. Regarding Wifi, if you are sailing in Europe, Africa, or Asia and need to remain in contact with family, then purchasing Wifi is NOT an option but mandatory. Wifi Calling and Mobile Hotspots can be VERY useful if you don't want to purchase an international plan from your cell phone provider. Alan

Keep in mind that Cancel for Any Reason refunds ONLY 50 to 75% of your money, depending on the policy. I just learned a trick from my broker, Steve, at TripInsuranceStore.com. If you make a cruise deposit well in advance of the cruise (for example, a year in advance), then purchase travel insurance within 14 days of your initial deposit so you can get the pre-existing conditions coverage. However, do NOT purchase enough insurance to cover your whole trip (for example, $40,000), but only enough to cover the deposit (for example $1,000). The cost of insurance to cover your cruise deposit should be minimal. After you make final payment (a year later), you then have 14 days to increase the amount of your insurance to cover the entire trip. (NOTE: If you make multiple payments -- not just the initial and final payment -- then you have to increase your insurance within 14 days of each payment to cover the additional payment.) Doing it this way enables you to get the benefits of pre-existing medical conditions (which is really important as we get older) without requiring us to spend several thousand dollars on insurance a year before we depart. If you cancel the cruise for medical reasons, you get back your refundable deposit from the cruise line, PLUS the insurance company refunds whatever portion of your cruise deposit that was non-refundable. Alan

No. Some travel insurance policies are primary and others are secondary. You would need a policy that pays primary and then verify with the company that they pay the foreign doctor or hospital directly. Some insurance plans do this, including GeoBlue medical plans and other travel insurance plans, but many do not. Alan

Do you have a Chinese VISA? If not, you will NOT be allowed to leave the ship.

I noticed that the Azamara Onward is not listed. It's the same size as the other R-class ships in Azamara's fleet, so I assume it can also use the original locks. A previous poster mentioned Oceania's Insignia, Nautica, Regatta, Sirena, Marina, and Riviera. What about the Vista and Allura? Alan

For medical coverage, you may want to check into GeoBlue's annual policy (Blue Cross' overseas medical insurance). Alan

What if you need the pre-existing medical clause? Then you have to purchase insurance within 14 or 21 days of your initial deposit. Alan

I don't see anything on Trip Cancellation. Alan

If you ever arrange hotel or airfare on your own (rather than through Norwegian), your Norwegian travel insurance will pay NOTHING towards the lost airfare and hotel costs. Alan

The reason AIG Travel Guard's annual insurance is so cheap is that it does NOT cover Trip Cancellation. If someone in your family gets sick or dies and you have to cancel the trip, your annual insurance plan pays NOTHING; you lose all the money you paid. Alan

With luggage, I would suggest the Vaporetto or private water taxi to the Train Station. Alan

If you want a hotel easy walking to St Mark's Square and LOTS of shopping and restaurants, yet in a quiet area (with its own courtyard) and a great breakfast, I highly recommend Hotel Al Codega, a 4-star hotel. We stayed there last year. https://www.hotelalcodega.com/ Alan

If you have difficulty walking, then you will probably have difficulty getting in and out of the private water taxi. My wife had great difficulty. Alan

You have two choices: 1. Take the train from Trieste. Your hotel is just down the street from the Venice train station. This is the cheapest, BUT Italian trains are notorious for going on strike frequently. 2. Hire a transportation company (most use SUVs). This is expensive: 300 Euros to 500 Euros. If choosing this method, you may want to share the expense with one or two couples (just make sure that all your luggage will fit). You can use this link (Trip Advisor) to find a transportation company: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187813-Activities-c59-t182-a_attractionType.SUPPLIERS-a_trating.40-Trieste_Province_of_Trieste_Friuli_Venezia_G.html Alan

If you examine the cruise contract that you are REQUIRED to sign in order to board the ship, every cruise line states that they can change the itinerary without compensating passengers. Having said that, frequently, cruise lines will indeed compensate passengers if they make major itinerary changes, but NOT if they have to skip a port or two because of weather, local uprisings (e.g., the one in Peru in December 2022), or other reasons. Alan

If you have NOT made final payment yet, then the most you could lose is your deposit -- depending upon whether it's refundable or not. Alan

Oceania announced that it has canceled ALL cruise stops in Israel through the end of 2023. Alan

Oceania Marina April 19, 2024: Barcelona to Venice -- Barcelona, Marseille, Monte Carlo, Civitavecchia, Amalfi, Taormina, Argostoli (Cephalonia), Igoumenitsa, Kotor, Split, Venice. Alan