garycd

On the Sirena and other R ships the bathrooms in the concierge and veranda cabins are the same. They are tight by any measure and reflect the thinking at the time they were constructed for the prior owner.

Noxequifans,

Thanks!

Do not think they are any different than the other R ships

Found this of the Veranda cabin the Oceanview will be the same photo #59

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2016/04/30/oceania-sirena-cruise-ship/83744658/

 

If you want a larger bathroom on an R ship you need to go to PH or above Categories

more photos

http://www.cruisecritic.com/photos/ships/sirena-1030/

Thanks very much! Yes, picture #59 is very helpful. Would still like to get a wider angle. It seems like the toilet is in the way of the sink. That is the issue my wife is bothered by if it is too close to the sink.

Appreciate both sets of pictures! In the second set of pictures the bathroom picture is helpful as shows a glass shower door. Do you know is that a balcony or a better cabin?

Best,

Gary

Try this link. It is a pic of the Azamara bathrooms but they are the same as the Oceania "R" ships. Look in the mirro to see a reflection of the shower. We were on the Sirena in April and had a B4 veranda cabin.They were the same as the Regatta and Insigna. The bathrooms are very small and the shower is tiny with a curtain not a shower door. When Oceania refurbished the Sirena they did not update the bathrooms for the lower category cabins other than recaulking.We don't mind the size but I can definitely see these bathrooms posing a problem for others.

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=514855

Terrier1,

Wow! We think alike as I did look for pictures for the other 7 R ships and did see this earlier. This picture was helpful and the best I have seen so far (saw this yesterday). Would be helpful to get a little wider angle. I guess that was why I was hoping if there is anyone on the Sirena they could take a couple of pictures.

We have never been an a R ship so this will be our first time. We called Oceania and they said that the shower curtains have been replaced by glass on Sirena but not there other R ships. If someone can confirm this that would also be helpful!

Thanks,

Gary

StanandJim,

These are the pictures I was looking at: https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Sirena

Do you have a specific link? I am not a member of the site but can get to the link above. If you provide a link of the pictures, I can determine if I can see them or need to pay to be a member,

Thanks,

Gary

StanandJIm,

Yes, have seen this site and the diagram for the bathroom is not all that helpful. Unfortunately, there are no actual pictures of the bathroom we have been able to find at this site or others.

Thanks,

Gary

Appreciate greatly if anyone on a Sirena cruise (or that has been on a Sirena cruise) can post pictures of the bathroom layout for either interior, oceanview or balcony cabins. We have read it is pretty small and my wife is uncomfortable with the situation. If anyone has (or can take) a picture or pictures that show the size of shower, and where the toilet is located in relation to the bathroom, shower and/or sink, that would be greatly appreciated. Will try to return favor if anyone needs pictures of the Viking Cruise ship cabins or areas when we go in December.

I welcome all the comments and was disappointed to learn that the wine offered is not that great as we love wine. Thanks

Please don't take my opinions as very reliable on wine. I think one can order other wine besides the free glasses of wine -- but if not, the wine was good, just not special, in my own opinion -- and I am not that knowledgeable on wine.

We did get a good Greek wine one day But in general, I skipped the wine and wen with dark beer, so the sampling size on the wine was not more than a few times.

Be interested in hearing your thoughts on the wine when you have finished your cruise.

Cahpek,

I think you are very accurate. Oceania management does sometimes have an attitude of they knowing best. Never saw that on Viking.

All,

A lot of great posts here -- adding much more value and information than my original post.

I want to add, we do eat meat as a poster on another thread referred to me as not being a meat eater. I much prefer duck, lamb, fish and shellfish to beef, so opted out of the Chef's table as stir fried beef for the main course didn't particularly appeal. My wife and I loved the Steak Florentine at Manfredi's and the prime rib served several times at the Buffet.

We thought we would have had a few meals at the main dining room, but that just never seemed to occur. One day we planned to eat lunch at the main dining room based on the menu displayed on our television screen showing Monte Cristo sandwich. I really loved the Monte Cristo sandwich on the Oceania Riveria, and wanted to see how Viking compared, but the dining room was closed for lunch, despite the menu being shown for that day on the television. Very odd to close the main dining room for lunch, but not a big deal for us personally.

I really loved the Reuben Sandwich on the Viking and thought this was better than Oceania. Very much missed the grill (lobster, lamb chops, grilled vegetables) that Oceania provides at the buffet and the lobster (surf and turf selection) Oceania provides at the Pool grill.

I think the cuts of meat were about the same quality -- clearly the buffet prime rib was not as good as Oceania's Polo Grill prime rib. I think the sashimi at Viking was fresher, but Oceania was pretty good also. In general, I found that Viking did a better job of seasoning food and providing regional food. I have had oversalty veal on the Oceania once, but usually Oceania is pretty stingy with spices, particularly at Red Ginger -- which has some great quality dishes, but lacks the spark of authentic Asian food. Nonetheless, I love the watermelon and duck salad and the lobster avocado salad at Red Ginger. The lobster Pad Thai is a great idea, but in execution, it falls short of even standard Pad Thai that one gets at the better Thai restaurants we go to.

I do appreciate high quality of ingredients, but even more interested in how the food is seasoned. To that end, eating at moderately priced regional restaurants provide us greater satisfaction than cruise food that gets toned down to avoid overwhelming more conservative diners. Would be great to have food as spicy as we could get in Turkey or East Asian restaurants, but we understand the food has a more continental European bias, so we accept the food on those terms. Given that, either the Viking or Oceania provide a dining experience that ranges from very good to excellent. Our limited experience with Viking (one Viking cruise compared to four Oceania Cruises) showed Viking to be more consistently good, but I feel Very fortunate to be able to take a voyage on either line.

So many great replies.

Very good point being brought up about Oceania's port selection being superior to Viking. This is clearly the case for me. Harder to select a good Viking cruise as just not as interesting itineraries. Also very limited choice in the Caribbean as Viking seems content for now to do a small excursion out of Puerto Rico. Also, don't understand why Viking often stays two days in their first port. We were lucky, as Viking changed their itinerary on our cruise at the last minute and skipped the extra day in Istanbul (due to the recent bombing in Taksim area, I think) and spent at day at Troy, instead. On the Caribbean cruises, they spend two days in Puerto Rico at the beginning, which makes little sense as one can arrive early if one wants more time -- or stay an extra day as the end up there also. Imagine if Oceania started each of their Caribbean cruises with two days in Miami!

Also, great point about Viking sometimes not opening their dining room for lunch. We had looked at the lunch menu on the television in the cabin and I saw they were offering a Monte Cristo sandwich and was planning to try it out (the one on the Oceania was great -- and for me the Viking Reuben sandwich was slightly better than the Oceania Reuben, so wanted to see how the Monte Cristo's compared.) It was very odd to have seen the menu for that lunch and then not get to eat there. (It is nice that Viking shows menus on their television -- but great for Oceania to do the same.) Oceania as the surf and turf sandwich available, that is worth noting -- in general, Viking doesn't seem to be a very lobster friendly ship -- maybe friendly to the lobster but not to the lobster eaters. :)

For us, the Viking excursions were short and simple. On the Oceania we usually take excursions on our own, as the Oceania excursions are priced quite high, and better for us to hire a driver or do something on our own, spending the same or just slightly, and getting a more personalized experience. But since the Viking Cruises were free, we decided to take most of them, and very happy to have a short excursion that allowed us to eat lunch on the ship.

Though both my wife and I are not crazy about beef (we don't eat beef, pork, lamb or chicken at home due to the environmental impact and the cruel treatment of animals on U.S. farms), we treat ourselves to any food that appeals to us on vacation (within limits -- we wouldn't eat whale meat, rhino meat, etc.) We love the Florentine steak at Manfredi's. That was something special. I also ate the prime rib at the buffet (excellent quality -- not as good as the 32 ounce prime rib at Oceania's Polo Grill, but a more manageable portion.) I am a big fan of duck and lamb, and Viking offered an excellent roasted duck in the buffet one night and had lamb several times in several forms. Missed the option of having the grilled lamb chops or lobster that Oceania offers on at the Terrace Cafe and, as I and others pointed out, this is an important point in Oceania's favor.

Definitely love Oceania's Red Ginger. Prefer that way over Polo Grill, Toscana or Manfredi's. So, yes, not having something to match Jacques or Red Ginger, is a negative. However, I think the quality of freshness on Viking, for our trip at least, was even superior to Oceania. For example, the tuna sashima was fresher and better than on Oceania. Also we had octopus sushi available every night at Viking at that was a real treat.

It was sort of odd we didn't eat in the main dining room. It was just the buffet provided such a great sampling of main courses that we just never ending up setting aside a night to go to the main dining room. Due this fact alone, any comparisons I can make of of dining between the two ships will be inadequate. That is why it is great to see other people post on this topic, as I think that are adding so much more than my original post.

The main reason we went on Viking is to try something different than Oceania -- we have had tried everything on the Red Ginger menu -- and almost everything that appeals to us in the Oceania specialty restaurants. In addition, Oceania rotates their menus for the main dining room, so it was worth it to explore Viking. If Oceania could make some improvements in terms of more spice and flavor to some dishes, more selection of regional food and provide a better selection of healthy food, whole grain bread and expand their sushi offerings, there would be little reason for us to take any other line.

Not sure which is a better value. When one factors in Viking free excursions, free wine and beer with meals and free laundry, I think both are so close that one shouldn't consider price, but just which ship has a better itinerary or matches one food preference's better.

Variety is the spice of life and we may try a Holland America cruise, even though it may fall short of the Oceania or Viking experience, just for the different experience. We also considering going on Seabourn.

Mumofnine,

If you enjoy Oceania, I think you will really enjoy Viking!

Terrier1, thanks for the posts.

hermioneb, I totally agree with Terrier1's post on the information on the bathroom. I am glad Terrier1 mentioned the heated floor is this was a very nice feature. Though, Marina and Riviera include a tub, for us that just takes up room. I think it's accurate to say the Viking bathroom is not quite as large but without the tub being there, it seems more spacious.

I want to add, that as nice as the bed on the Marina and Riviera are, I think the Viking bed is even better. For us, the Oceania cabin gets a bit warm at night -- we didn't have that problem with Viking as the climate controls seem to work better on Viking.

Here's my comparison of the two lines. If you have been on both, please post something on your thoughts between the two cruise lines.

VIKING and OCEANIA

Having been a fan of Oceania for some time and having just come back from the initial Viking Sea Cruise, I wanted to share my thoughts on some differences between these two cruise lines.

DINING

This is the main reason we go on cruises. In general, Viking exceeded Oceania's very high standards for dining.

World Cafe versus Terrace Cafe

We pretty much eat at the buffets for lunch and dinner. There is significant overlap between what is served in the main dining room and the buffet for Oceania. For Viking, almost anything being served in the main dining room is also available at the buffet. Viking has a greater selection and so there is even greater enticement to eat at the buffet. Oceania excels in the grill -- it offers grilled vegetables, steaks and lobsters; Viking excels in the sushi department -- matching Oceania's sashimi offerings but far excelling in the sushi offered. Both offered King crab legs, but Viking also has a great seafood salad every night that includes scallops. Desserts are about the same level at both cruise lines with the exception of Viking's gelato which is significantly better and a little more varied. Viking fish was often overcooked at the buffet. Oceania seemed to be better at this. We are not much for eating red meat, but did try the prime rib at the Viking World Cafe buffet once (it was offered three times during our nine day cruise) and it was excellent. We also had the Beef Wellington which was much better than the Beef Wellington we had on Oceania. We also liked how Viking had a more local offerings including a great offering of Greek food one night. We had moussaka twice and it was excellent both times.

Speciality Restaurants Oceania has 2 or 4, depending on the ship. We ate at Viking's Manfredi's twice and could have gone a third time but opted not to. The food at Manfredi's is slightly superior to Oceania's Toscana, though one definitely misses Oceania's selection of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We skipped our reservation at the Chef's table as the menu didn't directly appeal to us. We had wished we had ate there the night before for the Nordic menu, but our reservation was scheduled one night later for a Chinese menu that had beef as the main entry and was not appealing to us.

Tea Tea on the Oceania is far superior. Viking Tea is minimal in comparison. When sailing Oceania, we usually missed tea time -- not easy to do as so many good desserts -- but we put a higher priority on having a good appetite for dinner -- impossible when partaking in Oceania tea. On Viking we looked at the tea offerings and skipped them and also looked at what Mamsen had (which is open during tea) and tried the dessert once from Mamsen, which was quite good. I had a waffle at Mamsen, but never tried the Nordic sandwiches. The looked good, but not good enough to interfere with the food we could get during lunch and dinner.

Pool Grill There was a little more variety at the Pool Grill for Viking with the exception that Oceania provides a surf and turf plate, with no such feature available on Viking. We only tried the grill twice, but were happy with the quality. If you like lobster, Oceania is a better choice, for sure, but Viking's food is excellent and generally superior.

Included beverages with meals Viking offered wine, beer and other beverages free of charge with meals. The free wine offerings ranged from not-so-good to fair (though the Greek white wine one night was pretty good), so I often chose the beer option -- or grapefruit or orange juice -- their fresh squeezed orange juice was terrific. They offered three dark beers and Carlsberg on tap -- and a non-alcoholic beer also. Both Oceania and Viking offer free sparkling water. Since Viking's fares are slightly more than Oceania's, one can splurge for the Oceania beverage package and get better wine choices.

Heathy foodViking was more up-to-date in providing truly healthy dining options. They had whole grain breads (something one can request on Oceania, but not normally offered), lots of vegetable offerings, good vegetarian choices and desserts that often had lower sugar content than Oceania desserts. Great desserts don't have to be loaded with sugar -- many times Viking had great dessert choices that were tasty but not as overly sweet as most of Oceania's offering. Both lines offered great desserts, but Viking seemed to do it with less sugar. I think in general, Viking dining is more up-to-date and more in line with a younger, more health conscious consumer.

Room Viking seemed to have more bathroom space for the standard verandah -- but had significantly less closet space. Very happy with either line's accommodations.

Staff Viking staff seemed more relaxed and happier and I believe they had a lesser work load than Oceania. Staff for both lines were friendly, but Viking seemed to make life a little easier on their staff, which in turn, translated to better staff engagement with guests.

Included excursions Viking offered included free excursions. We attended all but one offered (Istanbul to Venice cruise) and were very happy with the offerings. Free excursions were from 2 to 4 hours, generally, providing additional time to explore ports or just spend on the ship.

Flexibility Though Oceania's motto is "Your World, your way", Viking does much better at living up to this promise. We just found the staff at Viking much more flexible. On Oceania, guests are not allowed to play the grand piano; not so on Viking. Viking is more flexible on special dining requests. It seemed like staff on Oceania were not empowered to stretch the rules or know when to go outside the box. Rules seemed to take precedence over customer service. Not the case one Viking. For example, on Oceania, if you were one minute early for the buffet or main dining room you had to wait until the "correct" opening time. However, on Viking they would seat you early and not blink an eye. Viking staff were generally more helpful and seemed empowered to make decisions.

In summary, I found Viking to be the better experience and the better value. Given the same itinerary, I will pick Viking over Oceania -- if only for the great Sushi offered at the buffet, and the generally more flexible approach -- Viking is really more entitled to the "Your world, your way" motto than Oceania.