Oceania vs Azamara thoughts

Great forum to read, thanks everyone. It has come at a most opportune time. We are loyal Azamara clients, however this week our travel agent has extended an invite to a small dinner hosted by the Australian Business Development Manager for Oceania at a VERY fancy Brisbane restaurant. This forum has been very informative and reminds us of what we love dearly about Azamara.

One great way to stay well onboard is to use the stairs (very doable on AZ ships). We almost never use the elevators, as you don't know who might've coughed or sneezed all over in a very small space, and we can usually get there faster by walking, plus its good exercise to take the stairs, anyway. My apologies to those with mobility issues who must use the elevators. Just throwing this out there for those capable of taking the stairs. :)

Don't touch the handrail

No. It usually takes about 7 days from when a cold virus "bug" gets into my system until my body starts demonstrating reactionary symptoms such as a scratchy throat. Up until then all is good. This is usually the time it takes for most folks for their bodies to react to a cold virus bug. However, sometimes if it's a weak bug, the scratchy throat goes away and all is fine while other times if my immune system isn't strong enough to deal with a particular strain, I get to deal with what follows as is the case with most folks I believe.

You are correct. Some may take 14 days, but those can be more serious.

The second evening of the cruise we were at Jacques at a table for six. The servers brought out some "finger food" on a single plate and placed it on the table for folks to pass around. They had also placed a bread bowl on the table as well for folks to pass around. But, you're right, in the Terrance Café there was no self serve.

 

However, I will also say that cruise taught me a good lesson, one my wife already knew, but you know us guys. We're a little slow when it comes to personal hygiene. Not any more. When I'm on a cruise, I'll wash my hands before I go into any restaurant as well as when we get back to the room. I'll also squirt my hands before and after going into a restaurant as well as when walking into and out of the theater, just in case some little bug decided to make my hands their home along the way. It might be over kill, but I haven't gotten sick on a cruise since then whereas I used to start getting sick about 7 days into a cruise on many occasions. But I've also found once you do it a few times, it becomes somewhat automatic like fastening a seat belt when you get in the car.

 

But anyway back to the point. About 7 days after eating at Jacques I started getting a scratchy throat. I may not have picked up the bug there, but I can't rule it out either. Thanks for asking me to clarify that point.

Hand Washing—How long to rub your hands together with soap on them? I read somewhere that it was recommended that one sing the Happy Birthday song through twice for timing. Sing at normal speed. That came out to about 17 to 20 seconds. I found that if one recited the Hail Mary (a Catholic prayer) twice the time was about the same. If you recite the prayer then you get the good mechanical effect of the soap and help from above to stay well. Soap is removing the oils from the hands that may be harboring the viruses.

The 62% Alcohol squirt from the machines kills bacteria if left in contact for a time, but the alcohol also helps to clean the oils off the hands, so it is good to use it even after eating.

We are trying to get dust and oils off the hands that may harbor viruses. Viruses need something to ride on. Wash their ride down the drain.

Hand Washing—How long to rub your hands together with soap on them? I read somewhere that it was recommended that one sing the Happy Birthday song through twice for timing. Sing at normal speed. That came out to about 17 to 20 seconds. I found that if one recited the Hail Mary (a Catholic prayer) twice the time was about the same. If you recite the prayer then you get the good mechanical effect of the soap and help from above to stay well. Soap is removing the oils from the hands that may be harboring the viruses.

The 62% Alcohol squirt from the machines kills bacteria if left in contact for a time, but the alcohol also helps to clean the oils off the hands, so it is good to use it even after eating.

We are trying to get dust and oils off the hands that may harbor viruses. Viruses need something to ride on. Wash their ride down the drain.

Interesting! I've wondered if soap and hand alcohol weren't doing the same job. And just the other day I quickly rinsed my hands with just hot water (I was in a hurry), and wondered if soap was really necessary. So your post is a timely reminder, at least for me, to not skimp on the soap and the time spent rinsing under the hot water. Thank you.

I prefer my alcohol taken internally to ward off colds instead of on my hands. A good hand soap should do about the same thing externally.

I prefer my alcohol taken internally to ward off colds instead of on my hands. A good hand soap should do about the same thing externally.

Gargle with it before you swallow. HA!!:) Be sure you don't use the same alcohol that you put on your hands to take internally.

we have been on 3 O'S and this will be our 2nd A.

O fav HK - BEJING 4 countries ALL ports overnight INCREDIBLE

A athens to dubai great ports, we booked our own tours, armed guards 5 days on suez to oman.loved dubai. hard to get over it was 15 hrs nonstop to washdc then another 5.5 to sfo. long

now someone said A ports were the same[ it only means you travel ALOT]... if you want dif ports with tours included in med/europe try Voyages to Antiquity one ship Aegean odessey, all inclusive with lectures every night. we were on it last july portugal /spain/montecarlo/france/ italy. loved the tours,ALSO OUR 3RD TRIP WITH THEM.

so many choices with dif cruise lines. we took kionigdam 3rd ignaural cruise last yr, unimpressed but the theater was smashing for a hal ship! i wish hal would stay smaller 1200-1800pax. oh well. we love cruising going on A feb 9 12dy to baja mexico right in the heart of cartels .mm

one question . since ncl bot oceania last yr do they still have baby lamp chops for breakfast in the dining room? inquiring minds want to know

......

one question . since ncl bot oceania last yr do they still have baby lamp chops for breakfast in the dining room? inquiring minds want to know

Yes, they did in September. Have to have them for breakfast at least once :)

Just came off the Regatta holiday cruise, first time on O, have sailed Quest and Journey before.

Agree with many of your comments, head waiters, except one, very unfriendly, never smiling, like white jacketed robots. Food was

very, very good, best at sea I would say.We had the Prestige drinks package, it was amazing, almost any brand you wanted exept the

really high end Cognacs, but did include XO. Did come across people in the Terrace are that flat out refused to share a table ( not

with us, but with a nice couple that we welcomed to share) Thought the crew shows in the theatre were not good, thankfully the

guest performers were excellent.

Expected more from an Oceania product, prefer Azamara's friendliness overall.

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Just came off the Regatta holiday cruise, first time on O, have sailed Quest and Journey before.

 

Agree with many of your comments, head waiters, except one, very unfriendly, never smiling, like white jacketed robots. Food was

 

very, very good, best at sea I would say.We had the Prestige drinks package, it was amazing, almost any brand you wanted exept the

 

really high end Cognacs, but did include XO. Did come across people in the Terrace are that flat out refused to share a table ( not

 

with us, but with a nice couple that we welcomed to share) Thought the crew shows in the theatre were not good, thankfully the

 

guest performers were excellent.

 

Expected more from an Oceania product, prefer Azamara's friendliness overall.

 

 

calleman, Spursgirl and I had booked a May 2017 cruise on Oceania Marina and were looking forward to a lovely itinerary that could have been custom designed for us. However, as the months went by, we read the O boards and our roll call and doubts began to emerge for both of us about whether Oceania and their passengers were a good fit.

 

We changed our minds about cancelling about ten times, but yesterday after deep discussions on our very enjoyable Viking cruise last week, we decided to cancel our Marina cruise and book Azamara in May instead.

 

From the very instant we did it we felt a sense of relief and just knew we had made the right decision. Within a few minutes of me posting on FB that we had booked Quest I had a message from our CD Tony and Max the piano player welcoming us. That's the Azamara difference and we can't wait to return to our favourite cruise line. :)

Thanks Lottie and Hazel

We really appreciate your assessment of the various lines.

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On our last Oceania cruise (February 2016) I stood in front of the Shore Excursions desk for long LONG minutes without a flicker of recognition from the 'specialist' assigned there, ultimately forcibly presenting myself which made little more impression on the terribly cool blonde who controlled the desk. She was of absolutely no help & should have been terminated on the spot for the way she treated passengers. GRRR! I've NEVER been treated so rudely on a ship before!!!

Apart from that...excellent food in the specialty restaurants, but no contact with captain or crew & this in the midst of a noro-virus outbreak. We travel again with O next February & I hope - against hope! - that they are in better kit then that they were last February.

Just booked our first Azamara cruise for February 2018 San Diego to Miami. We are elite on Celebrity and we have been on 4 Oceania cruises. We were on Riveria twice , Marina once and Regatta once. We had a cruise booked on Oceania Miami to Lima in 2018 on Sirena which we cancelled. Our main goal was to cruise thru the Panama Canal, actually liked the itinerary from Azamara from San Diego to Miami better. I hope that we find Azamara better than Oceania.

Just booked our first Azamara cruise for February 2018 San Diego to Miami. We are elite on Celebrity and we have been on 4 Oceania cruises. We were on Riveria twice , Marina once and Regatta once. We had a cruise booked on Oceania Miami to Lima in 2018 on Sirena which we cancelled. Our main goal was to cruise thru the Panama Canal, actually liked the itinerary from Azamara from San Diego to Miami better. I hope that we find Azamara better than Oceania.

Welcome sabrefan!

We'll do our best to convert you to Azamara!

We have also been debating Oceania vs Azamara and after much (!) consideration finally decided on Azamara. We have been on X for the past 6 years and are ready for a change. Thanks to all who posted their thoughts and experiences, it is greatly appreciated!

We have also been debating Oceania vs Azamara and after much (!) consideration finally decided on Azamara. We have been on X for the past 6 years and are ready for a change. Thanks to all who posted their thoughts and experiences, it is greatly appreciated!

We have been on 5 Oceania cruises and have never had any of the problems others have complained of. We are going on our first Azamara cruise next month and really can't imagine it being any better then Oceania. If it is equal we will be very happy.

We have been on 5 Oceania cruises and have never had any of the problems others have complained of. We are going on our first Azamara cruise next month and really can't imagine it being any better then Oceania. If it is equal we will be very happy.

They are both great cruise lines. Enjoy your first Azamara trip!

We have been on 5 Oceania cruises and have never had any of the problems others have complained of. We are going on our first Azamara cruise next month and really can't imagine it being any better then Oceania. If it is equal we will be very happy.

We had a lovely cruise on Oceania a couple of years ago, but Azamara is our home, it just feels that way. Having said that, if an Oceania cruise came along with the right itinerary and price we'd take it.