Travel So much to see & do Another enjoyable way to burn calories was on shore excursions. In most cases, our ship docked footsteps from town but, if the ship moored farther away, Oceania Cruises provided complimentary shuttle transfers to city centres. We spent many hours sightseeing on foot, both on our own and onOceania Cruises’ guided shore excursions. Destination Services staff helped passengers select the best shore excursions for their interests, walking abilities and budgets. The choice was vast, from guided coach tours to easy, moderate and extensive walks. Some tours had a food and wine focus. Others were evening trips. Oceania Choice excursions were one of a kind. Canyon Ranch offered wellness excursions, such as visiting an apiary to learn about therapeutic honeybee products. The excitement on board was tangible as we approached each destination. Passengers gathered on the top decks with their cameras for panoramic previews of the newest port of call. After our ship docked, local tourist office representatives came on board to distribute maps and answer questions for passengers preferring do-it-yourself exploration. Interesting lectures on sights, art, history and photography prepared us for each destination. We could listen to live presentations in the lounge or view rebroadcasts on the TV in our comfortable stateroom. Suite dreams We loved our concierge-level veranda stateroom. Relaxing here was easy with balcony chair views, thick terry robes, 24-hour room service, a mini-fridge stocked with cold soft drinks, a large menu of DVDmovies and documentaries, and a selection of Bulgari amenities. Oceania’s Tranquility mattresses induce such restorative sleep that the cruise line addresses requests for its bed collection and 1,000 thread count, 100% cotton linens with a website for online purchases and delivery. Along with the dark Belgian chocolates on our pillows each night, we received a copy of Currents. The newsletter included the next day’s weather, destination highlights, daily activities and entertainment. Passengers gather on decks as ship approaches each new destination Passengers enjoy guided shore excursion Concierge-level veranda stateroom with Tranquility bed CSANews | FALL 2017 | 21
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