Oceana Review

4.0 / 5.0
0 reviews

Repositioning Cruise Let Down.

Review for Italy Cruise on Oceana
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Pembrey
10+ Cruises • Age 70s

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Sail Date: Mar 2015
Cabin: Inside Twin with Shower

We had a wonderful cruise on Oceana and enjoyed our time on the ship and the different ports of call: Lisbon Cadiz Gibralta Barcelona Cannes Livorno Genoa, back to Livorno Naples Dubrovnic and overnight in Venice.

Cabin good, food good, entertainment good. Weather was perfect apart from showers in the afternoon in Naples. Sail in to Venice with a very good commentary was wonderful.

Our only complaint and it was a big one: Lack of communication regarding transfer back to Southampton from Gatwick. We booked online following an email about the cruise and checked to see how we would get back to Southampton from Gatwick. No problem, there would be a coach transfer. No there wasn't! We only found out by talking to someone at dinner (freedom dinning is great) We asked at reception about a coach and were passed to future cruise desk. The lady didn't know but said she would look into it and to come back next day. When we returned the next day we were told by a very smug man Lee Mudkins that there wasn't a coach and that their contract with us ended at Gatwick, end of story, however he knew straight away the cost of a taxi £150. No help, advice, assistance given whatsoever. We were not the only ones in this position and one poor lady only found out as we disembarded. Poor show P & O. Lesson learned....phone and check everything!

Cabin Review

Inside Twin with Shower

Cabin OC

Very small but ok if you have twin beds.

Port Reviews

Southampton

This was our port of embarkation which was very speedy and once onboard we were sent to the Ligurian restaurant for a buffet lunch which was very nice until cabins were ready.

Lisbon

We took the open top hop on and hop off bus. This has two routes red and blue. When we reached the middle of the city and the bus park we went on the other route and saw a lot of the outskirts of the city before getting back to the bus park to transfer back to the port. We had 20 minutes to wait so decided to walk back to the ship. It was downhill all the way and the bus didn't pass us.

Seville

This was a very clean place and pleasant to walk around. We followed the coast all around and saw a lot of Cadiz which we enjoyed. Easy to walk and felt very safe.

Florence (Livorno)

As we had been here before we didnt book a trip to Florence or Pisa but took the shuttle bus into town. We didn't like the town very much and after a while took the shuttle back to the ship.

Genoa

Again we had been here before so just took an open top single decker bus for a tour around Genoa and got off along the port where there was a large market and a pleasant walk back to the ship.

Dubrovnik

Having been here before and been up the cable car and sightseeing trips we thought we would like to go to the old town and walk the walls all around as this was something we hadn't done before. We took a cab from the port that cost 15 euros. Once we had walked all around the old town we went to the steps up to walk the wall. They are now charging 100 of there currence(can't remember the name) but they wouldn't take euros. Only credit cards. So we didn't bother. We walked back to the ship.

Venice

The sail into Venice was wonderful and we were given a full commentary by the cruise director. The ship sold water taxi tickets to take you to St. Marks square for 15 euros each unlimited use. However, we found out next day that you could have walked a little further and got the train into the square for 1.30 euros.

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