WESTEAST

Thank you for your post as this trip has always interested us - looked at Vancouver to Toronto route departures up to June 2026 that is last month on website and all of the Prestige cabins state 'sold out'. Do you know how many of these cabins onboard and surprised sold out a year in advance.

If one is in a Concierge Stateroom or above, you receive an included blue/white bag which serves well as a beach tote, laundry bag or, just going to the pool. Convenient to pack your books, iPads, water bottles, etc. Staying in a PH, you do not have to be concerned.

Agree 100%

p.s. realize the OP stated embarking and disembarking in Southampton - one rationale is that your itinerary stops outside of the UK - Ireland hence, one is leaving UK and then re-entering UK. A call to TA or Oceania may provide the answer. Countries have unique border controls and after going through numerous checks in Japan, we always follow requests (with paper back-ups)😀

As mentioned in post #8 -- when embarking outside of the UK as we did and at some point entering the UK by ship, believe Oceania has no way to confirm that you have a UK ETA embedded in your passport. Believe it is Oceania just validating so that all passengers have else, they will be refused entry to the UK. Having paper copy of approval email was not an issue for us nor anyone else in queue when embarking outside of the UK.

We recently embarked in Lisbon and was requested to display a paper copy of approval emails for our UK ETAs which both Oceania and our TA had reminded us frequently. Not a big deal as always carry paper back-ups. The UK ETA is embedded in one's passport however, suspect the rationale is that Oceania does not have ability/technology to determine if a passport has a UK ETA embedded in the respective passports. We disembarked in Southampton and had a face-to-face with officials but they did not ask to see our UK ETA. When we embarked in Sidney, AU for another cruise to NZ, it was mandatory that we present a paper copy of approval email for the NZeTA.

New approach for Allura's Godmother announced - it will a group of chefs from the Food & Wine Best New Chefs alumni serving as godparents rather than a single Godmother: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/media/2025/OCEANIA+CRUISES®+NAMES+A+COLLECTION+OF+FOOD+AND+WINE+BEST+NEW+CHEFS+AS++GODPARENTS+OF+NEWEST+SHIP+OCEANIA++ALLURA™+/

Well said and agree 100%.

It did surprise us as we were always in Japan (other than departing/arriving to South Korea). Disembarking also in Yokohama though not a long queue.

Agree with above posters, first port arriving in Japan. On our cruise last year, we arrived at Haneda airport. Japan is very serious about immigration/border security: requires face to face with officials upon entry (even exit when we sailed from Japan to South Korea), photo verification, passport scan, fingerprints taken. Furthermore, at each Japanese port of call, we had to go thru passport control lines - most were quick and sometimes again upon returning to the ship the same day. Assume same protocols exist this year.

This is a valid point as perhaps Oceania could have checked with each passenger at time of embarkation: do you have 10 blank pages in your respective passports? One poster mentioned Oceania had sent out reminders by email. For our cruise last month, we received at least 4 (or more) emails from Oceania and our TA reminding us that it was mandatory to present a paper copy of our UK ETA email that stated we were approved; yes the UK ETA is embedded in your passport however, they required to see the paper email to board the ship. As well, on another cruise when we boarded in Sydney (enroute to NZ), we had to present a paper copy of our NZ visas. We always travel with paper copies of important travel documents (even our airline document).

We flew AF out of YVR last month non-stop to CDG in Business class (Airbus A350). Unfortunately, we found that the Air France cabin service not up to same level when we flew with them pre-covid: no hot towels, no table cloth and interior looked tired - scratches etc. The food was ok and the flight attendants were good but again not as good as previous flights. We then connected from CDG to LIS and found the lounge also was not great compared to the past.

We were onboard Vista last month and can confirm there was no prime rib in Polo (and no Dover Sole in Toscana). When we complained to maitre'd, he shrugged and said it is a new menu! Also included this comment in our mid-itinerary survey and end of cruise survey but never received any response.

You would definitely not want to miss visiting Juno Beach and other key Canadian locations. We found the area very impressive, touching and a good reminder of how successful our Canadian troops were and how the French have never forgotten our contribution to their freedom 🇨🇦 We were not on a cruise but on a land tour that concentrated on the US sites which did not interest us - we contacted Overlord Tours and we arranged a private tour from Bayeux (our hotel was close by) and it was just excellent. Perhaps if you contact them, they could offer options for you to rendez-vous at a half-way point (?). Their website for the Canadian Tour states: "A usual private tour runs from 8.30am with pick-up at your hotel in Bayeux or vicinity (further location can be priced accordingly) or a RDV point, such as a car park, if you are coming from another location by car." https://www.overlordtour.com/product/canadian-tour-8b-specialized-tours/

In addition, it is Canuck not Canuk 🙂

We recently returned from a cruise that disembarked in Southampton. We were reminded many times by our cruise line, Oceania (and our TA) to bring a printed copy of the email received from UK ETA stating that our UK ETAs were approved. When we embarked in Lisbon, the cruise line requested to see our printed copy of emails (mandatory to board). As Southampton was the first port of entry to the UK from the EU, we had to line-up for a face-to-face with UK officials who checked our passports but they did not require to see our printed copies of UK ETA approvals (presumably as they are embedded in our passports).

We were onboard Vista last month and stopped in Bordeaux for two days. Can't help out with an independent tour. We took a ship excursion to St. Emilion and were disappointed - spent far too long at winery in our view as like you have visited many wineries. Our visit to the St. Emilion was cut short which was disappointing - it is a very hilly cobblestone village so go prepared with proper shoes. Loved Bordeaux - like a mini-Paris and the sail in on the river was very pretty (pilot arrives by helicopter).

@ak1004 Look forward to hearing your feedback!

We recently returned from a cruise that stopped in both La Coruna and Bilbao - both were wonderful. We had a walking tour (ship excursion) of the Old Town (there are many hills) with stops for tapas in La Coruna - lovely port of call. Bilbao - the ship shuttle dropped us off within walking distance to the Guggenheim museum - flat walk beside the river of about 15-20 minutes.

Thank you for this post as we've sailed countless times and never knew that you can request Dover Sole at the reservation desk (or perhaps the Concierge?) 24 hrs prior! This means you can pre-order/request Dover Sole for Toscana as well?

We enjoyed our stay at 71 Nyhavn Hotel and the location was perfect - right on waterfront, walking distance to the Little Mermaid and also into the main shopping area. Many choices of restaurants and cafes at your doorstep. Their breakfast was delicious and historic building. https://www.71nyhavnhotel.com Also recommend the free walking tour: https://copenhagenfreewalkingtours.dk

They were attractive sitting on the bathroom counter similar to below:

Not sure if only for Concierge staterooms as assume it is for all staterooms other than Penthouse and above. No small bottles all refillable pumps. They are in transition to changing brands and expect that is why our shampoo was a different brand.

The bars of soap were by Bvlgari as my understanding they are in the midst of transitioning.

We disembarked Vista last week and in our Concierge stateroom, we had L'Occitane Shampoo and Acqua di Parma Conditioner, Shower Gel and Body Lotion in the Blue Medierraneo scent.