Orator

Riviera

Over 100 cruises on Celebrity and aboard Oceania as I write. Entertainment is better on Celebrity, but food is much better on Oceania. Speakers are better on Celebrity, but the total cruise experience for me is better on Oceania. Don’t appreciate the reductions on Celebrity. I’ve found many former Celebrity cruisers on my Oceania cruise.

On ship now and there seems to be no problem with engines,

The CD announced that they will show the game in the theater.

The CD is an American so my guess is that he will give his best effort!

Still haven’t receive my booklet for my cruise on 1/4. Will get tags at pier.

I would be concerned with losing a hour a day for 6 days rather than the weather. I'd rather go westbound where a would gain a hour each day for 6 days.

I just returned home from TA on Viking Neptune. It was just a wonderful experience due to crew and my fellow passengers. I wish those sailing on calm seas and a trip of their lifetime!

The Viking cruise was wonderful. Best passengers I’ve ever met on a ship. Crew was friendly and attentive. Officers were invisible. Cruise Director was excellent. Lectures were one of the highlights. In two weeks I experience Riviera and I’ll compare for myself.

Neptune arrives on December 22nd and will about two weeks between the cruises. Enjoy your cruises.

Currently on Viking Neptune. On January 4th I board Oceania Riviera and will see what’s a better fit for us. To this point Viking has been excellent.

My guess is that the importance of officers and crew is based on special relationships you've forged over the years. On Oceania I'm a new cruiser and really don't know anyone. I'm most certain that I will not be treated differently than any other passenger and that's fine. I've cruised more than 110 times over 20 years with another line and I've known many who have risen thought the ranks to their current positions as Captains, HD, RM, and CD. These relationships are important to us and we are treated more than special when we meet them. I've actually taken some cruises just to see special people. We communicated to them during Covid and they were concerned about us.

I booked Crystal through one of their agents. When Crystal declared bankruptcy their agency was closed and agents, including mine terminated. That left no-one to try to work on my behalf. The insurance purchased from a recommended online broker came up with many excuses not to return the money. I learned to only use a TA from a solid company and purchase an insurance policy that gives me protection.

My experience is mainly with Celebrity.The CD is in charge of all the entertainment.Some CDs can influence who the cruise invites to be on their ship. CDs may influence how you feel about the cruise experience. I don’t know the experience on Oceania, but excited to see for myself.

There are always new cruisers and new to Oceania cruisers who ask what to the OP is "the same questions". I am a new to Oceania cruiser who has taken more than 150 cruises on other lines. I still have questions about policies on Oceania that might be the same or different from other lines. If you don't like a question, just ignore. But understand that the question is usually important to the one who asked.

It is.

Booked 7008

I only drink bottled water. Is it free in my cabin or do I need a package?

Thanks to both of you. Real estate is very important on a ship.

Planning my first Oceania cruise and seeking information on what appears to be larger balconies. Would you take one or a conceirge cabin?

Deciding on my first Oceania cruise. It is for 10 days on Riviera and wondering at $300 pp. it will be worth the extra $.

Sometimes you can find a real bargain. Use internet to check prices. DW found a Furla bag for $200 that sold elsewhere for $1000. She also purchased a Bulgari watch for much less than they were selling it at Kirks. I also check eBay for what things actually sold. Check the "art". The prices on the ship are absurd.

The moral is to take a cruise on a ship that has there same shop and return it for a refund or replacement. Any excuse for another cruise is positive.

As soon as you buy "new"it is "used".

Show them the invoice from the cruise. If you don't have it call Celebrity and request the invoice that shows you bought it , where, and the price paid. I expect that they will give you your cash back or a replacement. They accepted my DW's without proof, but she is known to them. I expect that they will request you to get documentation and you should be prepared.