This cruise was a classic P&O fly-cruise around Italy that left Gatwick to join the ship in Genoa. 2016 was the last season that Oceana was to be based Genoa and Venice as she will be home ported in Valletta, Malta, in 2017.
The itinerary of the cruise was Genoa-Venice-Genoa. Other passengers were travelling just Genoa-Venice or vice versa or indeed Venice-Genoa-Venice. This made for interesting conversations with fellow passengers at the breakfast table.
The cruise left Genoa stopping first at Livorno (for Florence and Pisa), then Naples followed by Dubrovnik and finally Venice for two days. The return journey to Genoa called at Kotor (Montenegro) then Civitavecchia (for Rome) and finally Ajaccio (on Corsica).
Day 1 Wednesday 5th October Gatwick then Genoa
It was a busy journey to Gatwick airport with slow downs and traffic jams along the M25 and then when joining the M23.
We left the car at the ‘Summer Special’ parking which was sort of valet parking. Once in the North Terminal we joined the queue for checkin-in at the BA desks. After 45 minutes we went to security to go airside – amazingly we had no queues and just sailed through.
Breakfast was porridge and a blueberry muffin from Starbucks. Despite the terminal being very busy Starbucks was suprisingly empty. Perhaps this was because it is situated at the end of the mezzanine.
Our flight was from Gate 101 on a BA A319 and although leaving later than scheduled the short flight passed off without incident except for the usual issues with space in the overhead lockers. Despite being a flight over lunchtime we were only served (once) drinks and a packet of crisps. No complaints as the G&T was served with Fever Tree tonic.
We passed close by to Paris and flew over the Alps before landing at Genoa.
We approached the runway over the sea and had ships and boats as well as a quay at the side of the plane as we landed. Immigration was quick and then it was a wait of 20 minutes for our luggage. As our P&O flight was a scheduled one we had to collect our own luggage and this raised eyebrows with some of our fellow passengers.
Once through the small terminal building we gave our suitcases to be put in a truck and we boarded a coach for the journey to the ship. Once out of the airport we were in traffic jam, the high point being when the coach had to negotiate a roundabout which had TWO-WAY traffic on it!
Being in Italy our coach driver had his Gant jumper tied around his neck, his earphones in and took every stop as an opportunity to check his phone.
The passenger terminal was dilapidated where we left the coach …
… but once inside was rather splendid.
A very late lunch in the buffet at 4 pm of chilli con carne was followed by a fruit. Then at 5.30 pm it was time for the obligatory passenger muster. This cruise our meeting point was in the casino.
Sailing out of an Italian port did have its downsides as all purchases in the shops, photo gallery and spa were to be subjected to Italian IVA (VAT).
This was set at 22% and would be charged until the ship left Venice on the 12th October.
Sunset in Genoa was at 6.57 pm and I did spend some time exploring the images that I could get after the sun had gone down.
Oceana set sail for Livorno just after 7.30 pm and this was when I went to Winners Bar to try some of the British Ales. I had Love Lane from Liverpool and Oxford Gold – more about these ales later.
Dinner was at 8.30 pm and I had my favourite of steak preceded by salad lyonnaise and followed by honey and ginger ice cream.
The concierge postal rate was £1.50 and the last post went from the ship at 17:30.