QuestionEverything

Really only a dress shirt will do, a jacket, is not necessary. As society changes, so do the cruise lines. We just got off Oceania Insignia Wednesday in NYC. The restaurants on Oceania far surpass Celebrity, in variety, quality etc. We just ADORE Cunard, and we have 2 more voyages booked. It is a different, but excellent product. There is NO class segmentation other than the Grill restaurants and a lounge. The rest of the ships are full access. Suffice it to say, we do not patronize any cruise line that segments guests. We are itinerary driven consumers, Cunard is excellent.

Anywhere on Cunard, guests can mingle with anyone, only exception is the Grill Glass restaurants. The rest of the ship is free flow. Yes, there are forward views. We have done the QM2 5x in the last decade and we always book the in hull balcony's - which has a bit more steel around you depending on the sea. We never book the Grills because we do not use the services nor need the "fancy" food. We book balcony class and then pay a few $ to go to the alternative restaurants in the general Kings Court - the food is OUTSTANDING, it is a rather well kept secret on Cunard. Every evening is a different menu - seriously the best food we have ever had on a cruise ship. Far, far better than the Grills, and fresh made and the staff are outstanding. There is a real High Tea folks. _____________________________ Cunard is a great product, some people do not like it because of the old stigma of being too formal. Not today. Cunard has great itineraries and the guests rather are well travelled and knowledgeable. This is NOT a Mass cruise line. Be aware.

We cancelled X in 2018 due to downgrading and removal of forward view lounge in the newer ships as well as the physical class segregation. Now sail Oceania, Regent, Azamara. We just returned from a 17 day Iceland, Greenland, Nfld, Nova Scotia and Maine voyage on Oceania Insignia. Excellent voyage. There were SO many Celebrity refugees a board; at the first timers gala, the cruise director mentioned to a group of people that there were so many first time Oceania cruisers and every one of them said they had just moved from Celebrity. This is a real movement of guests away from X - there are implications indeed. We also enjoy Cunard indeed. Have done cruises on each of their ships. When we go to Europe, we always take the QM2 back to New York. Next June doing a Globus land tour of Great Britain - 25 days with a return on the QM2. Air travel is dispiriting, especially the lack of choice of air from Canada, with the poorly rated air canada as the main choice. So we cancel air canada 50% of the time, yeh!

On the Insignia voyage, the foredeck area with the 2 whirlpools were open to anyone - there was no signage or locks. The one class arrangement is a key in my cruise purchasing decision.

Is there a reason you are so defensive? I spoke with many guests aboard the Insignia, that was their analysis. In fact, I did not have to speak to everyone, it was the common refrain all over the ship. Many folks I spoke with indicated they have sailed many times on Regent and find their food superior. I have no information one way or the other as I have not yet sailed Regent. You use the word "trademarked" - that sounds officious. Do you work for Oceania?

I was also on this voyage. Will do a review shortly. I have booked another O voyage in 2025 so I am reasonably satisfied with the O product and customers. Couple of items... 1) The "regulars" were NOT impressed with the food quality, preparation, enhancement. I reference the O promotion "best cuisine at sea" that is my only reference folks - the delivery, absolutely not. I have previously posted on my Newbie to O - Mid Cruise Review - like beef cubes in a chocolate mole paste on Mexican night in Terrace total visual turnoff, chicken strips in a broth for chicken stir fry with no enhancements, chicken Kiev with a pre-manufactured chicken roll with a hollow interior, in Polo a small 7oz fillet which was tough and chewy, hot dogs in Terrace that looked cheap (could have used sausages for example)..... I loved the bread OMG, outstanding and the variety of pastries and the great orange juice (other than departing morning which was watered down), the ice cream, the fruit plate etc. Many good items. 2) Customers - the majority of folks were American, white and older, there were 67 Canadians like myself and spouse and 32 Brits. Given the time and location of the cruise this does not surprise me and does not concern me whatsoever. 3) OMG the dear staff - housekeeping and food service. I can not say enough about the dear folks, so far away from home, I talked to so many and gave them hugs. We are VERY LUCKY to be able to cruise given other people in the world. Excellent smiling service from these dear folks. Q - where does Oceania find the nasty, disinterested, non consumer focused reception and shore excursion staff? The officers, other than Claudio, the Hotel Manager, were disinterested in the guests. Good cruising folks!

Thanks OP. I was on the same voyage. I share much of your analysis. I am doing a review shortly. My concern was the degradation of the food quality. Regards.

Be a consumer, it is YOU first. Avoid loyalty. Avoid being an "obedient consumer", because that is what the cruise lines want. We patronized Celebrity from 2001 to 2018 and when Celebrity went big and segregated and lowered food, we cancelled them. Now on Oceania. Be aware, O is patronized by older clients, well travelled, love for excellent food, tradition like high tea etc, there is not big fancy entertainment. O does not do physical segregation of classes other than on their new ships were there is a penthouse and concierge lounge, that is it. Yes, there is a forward lounge so you can see where you are going. Celebrity eliminated this with their E class. Celebrity is working hard to lower themselves to the RCL, NCL etc. Be very careful booking a cruise - land vacations provide more stimulus, more authentic food, more detailed experiences etc. Look at all your consumer options; cruising is but one option.

Hi Harry! My husband and I just completed our 3rd O cruise, and booked another. I met many, many former Celebrity customers on my voyage on Insignia. In discussion the reasons they had cancelled Celebrity included: * expense versus product * class segregation * loss of forward viewing lounge in the E class * increasing food degradation * nickel and diming * lack of class * noise and loud music I suppose Celebrity is choosing to attract the younger generations - well good luck.

Depends. What entertainment do you want at 10pm? Oceania has a happy hr, rock and roll music at 10, casino, trivia after 10. It is all about analysis of the product offering. O is patronized by older, classy, intellectual, economically successful patrons. I am on the young side. Not interested in noise, vegas at sea, incense in Eden etc.

Greetings from Insignia. What vessel are you on? You make a good point. Another point to consider regarding RCL mgmt is that they appear to be relying on the "obedient consumer syndrome" which afflicts many consumers. It seems apparent in Celebrity suite class folks, they will obediently book despite the changes and costs. I do not want more people on Oceania, it is excellent as it is. The one class configuration is why I purchase premium and above. I sailed Celebrity from 2001 to 2018 and saw the changes, a very sad situation for a once great cruise line. Celebrity patrons need to realize that O and A and other premium lines are very different than Celebrity.

I am on Oceania Insignia right now. It is the same experience I had on Century in 1994 - premium. Gracious, one class, magnificent high tea, over the top service, high end food with multiple restaurants with large menus. It is like a blast from the past. To be clear, Celebrity is not a premium line, it is a mass line. There is a big jump from Celebrity to an Oceania, Azamara etc. Very different product offering. I cancelled Celebrity in 2018. Celebrity used to be the Oceania of the day, it is quite the collapse of a company. Consumers, there is significant choice in the market, no need to purchase Celebrity, you can move on if you wish.

As a consumer, examine your travel options; cruising is but 1. There are many other wonderful travel methods. We have cancelled cruising other than every second year or so. Have a fabuolous new sports vehicle for North American tours, Globus land trips with customized guides and private chauffeured travel. There is a big world too see and after decades of cruising, cruising is becoming repetitive, abusively expensive, processed etc. The cruise lines can do what they want, I will decide if they can have my business.

Where is the thread earlier this morning from a Celebrity person discussing events at Celebrity? Censorship?

I suspect so. Check out the Celebrity site, one thread about an executive resigning and major announcement today is disturbing. I feel bad for Celebrity, in 1992 it was the Oceania of the day. Very sad what has happened to that once classy cruiseline.

I am on Insignia now, Halifax today. Experience is excellent. My first O and I have booked another voyage to south Asia. I have spoken with many long time O customers aboard, each note a significant downgrading of food; the quality, size, variety etc. Particularly mentioned is cheapened and smaller beef, poorer quality shrimp, less embellished stir fry, obvious frozen veggies, less flaky pastries (people mentioned they are bread pastries now), premade desserts. As I mentioned in my post about the mid cruise review, numerous dishes in The Terrace appear cheap, simple, frankly not appealing at all (ie the chocolate mole cubes totally revolting, the chicken stir fry in broth with no veggies..). ______________ We are Celebrity refugees as well, cancelled them in 2017 due to their cheapness and class segregation. The current management are working hard to destroy the brand. The premium cruise lines must be reaping in a new wave of customers from Celebrity. What a train wreck, Celebrity.

jonthomas - thanks for the reply. I believe there are many Celebrity refugees on O and all the premium lines and I suspect there is a wave of more refugees given the Celebrity decisions of late. Hoping all your trips go well.

Greetings everyone from a day out from Halifax, Canada. Pleased to advise my "spousal unit" and I have booked our 2nd O cruise. It is Jan 2025, Far East on Riviera. We discussed all the excellent analysis and advice provided by you all on my earlier mid cruise review post. I appreciate that nothing is perfect, and there is some downgrading happening on O, and all cruise lines. But I must say the O product meets our requirements well; particularily the class of the guests, product and services and the one class ship configuration. We travel mostly for itinerary, so O will work. Mass cruise lines, not. We are Celebrity refugees. We used to take a cruise a year, now it is every 2nd year. Land vacations are equally important. Thanks to everyone for your time and analysis. You all did such a great job, I am out much $, LOL! Blessings to all.

Greetings JFontaine. The seas between west Greenland and towards Nfld were a good 25 feet. Insignia did much pitching but no rolling, thankfully. The entire outside closed. Most evening events cancelled. Now 230 miles off Nfld and the seas are calm. Guests were concerned as most are 70+ years and walking can be an issue. Things seem to be going well. O seems to work for me and my husband, you are treated as adults, entertain yourself, many people read in the forward Horizon lounge (where I am now). I do not feed "processed" and there is no nickle and diming and no one talks about status etc. The staff are great, classy, call you Madame and smile much. There is however much angst about the Simply More and I understand. That is an issue for me to book another O cruise.

Mauibabes, great advice, well said. One has to try the product or experience to know if it works for a consumer. That is what I am doing. We are heading into a good storm with 25 ft waves the Captain says, so the chardonnay will be rocking!

Great posts everyone! On Simply More, your point is well taken regarding the premium lines being all inclusive. It appears in the past O was attracting customers who were able to customize their on board experience but who now can not. Just spoke with a man here in Horizons, they do not drink and he said, he will be moving on. On the food, it is the regular O customers I have asked..they indicate the food quality, variety has declined. I have no reference point being a newbie. What I know is the beef squares in a thick brown paste labeled beef mole was not appealing nor the qualityI would expect based on O advertising. To the point of institutionized food versus O, I believe that guests know the food aboard can not be the same as a higher end local restaurant. I am beyond impressed with the dining staff in particular, they are dear, gracious, welcoming, hard working folks. I want to hug them all! My 1st O experience is very good, I have 7 days to go, so will see.

Greetings everyone: Just finished dinner in the Grand. Your questions: Food - I presume the food offerings by O meet the premium level in Aug 2023. Polo and Toscana have a huge menu and sound much better than the Lumaine on Celebrity for example. Bowels - I apologize for the spelling error, OMG, I meant bowl! Regatta - apologies, I was in Horizons taking with the next table who were talking Regatta, I was on the site at the same time and got "Regatta on the brain", LOL. I meant to say the beloved Connie. Fresh fish - none, I and others are very surprised, nothing related to any fresh on board food. Please have a great sleep. Kindest Regards!

Thanks for pointing out the grill - regarding the outside grills - 0 on this voyage, no advertising of fresh fish. I was on Regatta on a Panama and they had a grill. Think of it - we have been in Iceland and now Greenland, 0 fresh fish. The fish companies were loading fresh fish steps from Insignia in 2 ports.....what does this say?

The power bowels are outstanding; amazing elements like seaweed noodles, quinoa, coloured beans, grilled zucchini,, tahini, tabulli, yogurt and cucumber, nuts. Very amazing.

Greetings everyone: Hope things are going well for each of you. This is my 1st O voyage, so this is a mid cruise report from my perspective. I am on Insignia off Greenland. We have missed 1 port Nuuk due to "high winds" which would impact tender operations. Checking the marine forecast, seemed plausible. I have no historical record to compare to, so I am asking cruisers aboard their thoughts of todays product aboard Insignia versus the past O product. First, the vast majority of the long time O cruisers have clearly stated the food has significantly declined in choice, quality and complexity. Second, there is much pushback against the Simply More with people stating they are leaving O. My observations based on O's marketing materials statements/insinuations of what I should expect: GOOD: *The bread offerings are awesome. I am not supposed to have gluten, but I can not help myself, truly!!!!! * The dining staff, simply 100% - kind, energetic, smiling, professional, will do anything. I wrote my mid cruise report only about the staff! * Horizons is fabulous, the space, the view is essential for a sea voyage. I will never patronize a ship that does not have a forward view for all * Full access to the ship for all, again, I will not patronize a ship that segregates guests * High tea, amazing, just love it, very well done * The class and decorum of the ship and guests, it is an elegant, civilized experience where people are adults * The shower head is beyond awesome, best shower head and shower ever! * Grand Dining Room is magnificent, a splendor *A1 cabin, well done indeed, less that tiny shower SO SO: * I am in an A1 with the tiny shower, oh my, that is small and I am a tiny lady, yikes for bigger folk * Organization. Todays schedule was delivered last evening. This morning at 8:30 am we were informed of the schedule changes for the morning, events moved back or forward by an hr or more due to...the emergency drill for all staff this am. Q - how did they not know about the impact on guest activities....could we not have been informed last evening? Many talks were poorly attended as a result * Excursions - well not that impressed. Two days ago, had a walking tour in a tiny Greenland town, the guide knew 5 words of English, the dear sir, to be expected given the locale. Well we could not understand anything....so could O not have attended to assist with the historical presentation. It was a waste of our $85 x 2...... NOT ACCEPTABLE: * Food. I must concur with the longtime O patrons, the food does not come close to "the best at sea". I am disappointed in the selection, quality, lack of complexity, taste. The Terrace, or as a group of guests just now commented at the next table, the "terrorist cafe", has never had shrimp anywhere. The soups are watery, chicken soup was actually chicken broth, stirfries are pieces of chicken in a broth, not a sauce with no snow peas etc, small thin steaks, beef mole on Mexican night was square cubes of something in a thick brown paste 0 appeal, there are no appetizer canapés, mushy vegetables obviously from frozen, desserts are obviously mostly pre made and bland, Yes, there are the discarded cookies everywhere around the ship some with 1 bite out of them.....on a good note, the salad power bowels are 100%, excellent food and greens, I have 1 every lunch, offered in the Grand Dining room as well, good sushi, ceasar salads always well done with plenty of cheese, the fresh roasts/chicken at the Terrace are 1st class, generous pours of single servings of wine. * Management Approach. I have to concur with other posters, O mgmt is basically non existant to guests, if they happen to be in public areas they ignore guests. The exception is Claudio, the Hotel Mgr, who is everywhere and is friendly and always a big smile. _____________________ While I am mostly satisfied, I reserve judgement until the end of the cruise. My husband and I do not plan to purchase O again given the Simply More situation - we drink little alcohol and never at lunch nor dinner as it affects sleep. We have a glass of wine around 5, so the Simply More will force us to pay for wine we will not use, unless we get it at lunch, put it in the fridge till 5. We can not consume enough wine to justify the plan. Also, we usually plan some of our own tours, so forcing us to pay for tours is not acceptable. I hope you all find this helpful. Kindest Regards till after the cruise. We have 1 port in Greenland yet to go, 2 in Newfoundland, Halifax, Bar Harbour Maine, canal transit. Who knows what will happen! Stay well!