susiesan

I just saw the article about this on TripAdvisor. I have contacted the TA who is getting in touch with the local operator. I have 3 months to think about this. The only deposit I have made so far I have pays for the gorilla trek permits which are not refundable.My airline tickets are awards so they can be cancelled and the miles re deposited at no charge. If it is still unsafe at Queen Elizabeth NP in January, where we are scheduled to be for 2 nights, I'm sure the safer operator will go somewhere else in Uganda.

I know that. I am going to be on a private safari with a local ground operator. There will be 4 of us traveling together, we will not be wandering around anywhere without our guide. A large reason for the warning is Uganda's stance on LGBTQ issues.

See my post 134. There are travel/security warnings for Turkey. I'm glad my next vacation in January is not a cruise, it is a safari in Uganda.

The US State Dept. puts this kind of generic vague warning out all the time. I have seen this warning come and go over the years. It is actually common sense when traveling internationally. For those on this itinerary you have a security alert for Turkey/Istanbul October 18, 2023 Location: · Throughout Turkiye · U.S. Consulate Adana Event: · The U.S. Consulate in Adana will remain closed to the public until further notice. U.S. citizens can reschedule their appointments to the U.S. Embassy in Ankara. · Large demonstrations related to events in Israel and Gaza are expected throughout Turkiye for the next several weeks.

If travel insurance companies start excluding countries in the Middle East then cruise ships and travelers will stop going there.

Yes, it's common on Oceania cruises to cancel ports. It's more common for them to sell an itinerary and then after final payment is made to start lopping off an hour or two on a number of the ports, reducing the time in port and altering the itinerary from what you bought.

With the current wine package, can you have your glass filled at dinner and then take it with you to drink later in your cabin?

I'd be curious to hear from anyone who did not have any port times reduced off their itinerary from the time they booked to the time they took the cruise.

As Oceania is always cutting hours from port times, do a comparison with Azamara. I suspect you will find AZ has much longer port times. Also be aware that the port times for O that show now are likely to be reduced after you have made the final payment. This is their new modus operundi.

Be prepared to have your first try at your claim being paid to be denied. That's how insurance companies operate. Then you will have to go to battle with them to get your legitimate claim paid no matter how accurate your documentation is. They always say "no" at first, hoping people will just give up and won't pursue their claim. Be firm, don't roll over and accept their outcome.

No, they are not currently taking temperatures. I boarded in Barcelona 10 days ago.

Is it enclosed or just completely covered?

I asked again at reception, now that the cruise is almost over. I got a call from engineering saying the poolside hot tubs on Sirena are the only ones in the fleet that have never had a button to push to turn them on. Supposedly the ship came this way when O got it from Princess. The captain can turn on the jacuzzi jets from the bridge and they are allegedly on all day. I told him they are not on, he insisted they are. I stopped arguing and said I've been using the hot tub outside the spa that does have a button to turn the jets on and off. Sigh.🙄

Another Sirena fact: it is the only R ship that the poolside hot tub jets have never had a button by them to turn them on. The jacuzzi jets have never actually worked, or so I was told by engineering when I asked about turning them on.

Someone onboard speculated that another passenger complained that the jets were too strong and knocked him over so management just turned them off.

Update to original post: it is now 3 days later and the hot tubs still are disabled. I have not received an explanation or response to my question as to why. I used the hot tub off of the spa and will continue to do so.

Yes, the food is fine. There is still a large variety to choose from. Most dinners have been at Terrace so we can dine outside. Last night in Grand Dining dinner took over 2 hours, and the water got lots of orders wrong. I'm not happy about the nonworking hot tub jets by the pool so I'll go use the jacuzzi by the spa. All excursions are private so I have no comment on them. We have a great fun trivia team and we are winning a lot of big O points. CD Peter is a hoot, he should have his own comedy show.

I just went up to the spa to check out the hot tub situation. The jets are working and I can use it. This rules chengkp75 theory invalid.

Don't you have to be in a concierge or suite cabin for access?

Pool deck. I don't have access to the spa deck. I'm waiting to hear from engineering for an explanation.

If that is the case then the hot tubs should just be removed completely. A big vat of still hot bathwater is just as likely to breed all sorts of nasty germs and bacteria. I don't see my gym or any other place that has air jets for their hot tubs disconnecting them. I don't know if the jets in the spa deck hot tub have also been turned off as I don't have access. So far, no one from engineering onboard has got back to me with an answer.

After returning from walking at the Alhambra yesterday I grabbed a drink and was going to relax in the hot tub late afternoon. I discovered there are no buttons to turn on the jets. I asked a pool attendant how to turn on the jets, he said you can't. The hot tubs on Sirena are now just big outside bathtubs. I'm disappointed as this is my afternoon ritual, soak my sore back and feet while sipping a cocktail. If the hot tubs don't work they should just be removed. Do the other ships have usable hot tubs?

Yes, I did. Same company that O uses for more than half the price. I highly recommend them. We were told they do these trips to Granada all the time. Put together a group from your roll call and if 16 people sign on you go for free as the group starter.

I arranged a private tour for 17 from the roll call. It took 45 minutes on the bus from Motril to Granada. Alhambra was spectacular, not too crowded. We are the only ship in today.

When I booked this cruise the original time for Motril was 8:00 to 6:00pm. Earlier this year when O started lopping off an hour here and there to save the planet and fight climate change the new departure time is now 5:00pm, that's where the hour was lost.