Riviera vs. Marina ?

We were on the Riviera about 2 years ago, and we absolutely fell in love with the ship!

We've recently booked two cruises in 2019 on the Marina.

What differences can we expect?

(We'll have a PH suite, same as on the Riviera. Everything we had heard about the great use of space in those suites was spot on. Will there still be bathtubs? I know those are being removed on some ships/some categories. I'd really miss those luxurious long baths...)

Thanks!

GC

They are basically the same ship. (I speak as someone who has been on Marina about 5 times now but never Riviera ... which will be corrected in two months.)

I think that since Marina was built first there were some minor changes when Riviera came on board. But I doubt they are significant. The main difference would be in the crew, which changes regularly!

If you were asking about differences between Marina/Riviera and the "R" ships, I'd have more more to say.

Mura

It has been a couple of years since I have been on the Marina. As I recall, the Marina and Riviera are identical except for a slightly different layout in the casino and the Riviera has a large Thalassotherapy pool in the front spa deck, while Marina has two regular whirlpools in that area instead. Also, artwork around the ship is different. Otherwise the ships are virtually identical.Welcome for others to chime in case I missed any other differences.

They are basically the same ship. (I speak as someone who has been on Marina about 5 times now but never Riviera ... which will be corrected in two months.)

 

I think that since Marina was built first there were some minor changes when Riviera came on board. But I doubt they are significant. The main difference would be in the crew, which changes regularly!

 

If you were asking about differences between Marina/Riviera and the "R" ships, I'd have more more to say.

 

Mura

Thanks.

We know they are sister ships, and the deck plans are almost identical, but I was trying to find out if there are any actual differences (or if differences have been created) that aren't obvious.

For example, at one time, I thought the Marina had two hot tubs (?) on the forward Spa deck, rather than that large jetted "pool", but now I'm not sure about that. (I thought I saw a photo of what was supposedly Marina with the one larger "pool".)

And I guess we are especially interested in finding out whether those PH suites have had bathroom changes that removed the tubs. (I think there's plenty of room for the tub and that shower, so hopefully that won't be done, but then... I think a few of the larger suites on at least one of the ship had tubs removed (or perhaps that was a nightmare!? ;) )

Are the general Deck Plans for both ships, especially the public areas, still up to date?

Thanks again!

GC

I'm not sure about those tub/shower projected changes because we were in an aft OC on Marina this past November and will be in the other aft OC on Riviera this coming May. The only time we were in a PH on Marina was in 2015 and my recollection is ... gee, I'm not sure what it is! I'm pretty sure there was a still a tub in that cabin but can't be positive. I do NOT recall a massive shower, however ...

I'm also not sure when either ship was last in drydock. That would be when any changes were made.

We were in a Vista on Sirena in October '16 and the jetted tub had been removed and replaced by a large shower. But Sirena underwent a massive renovation when it was taken over by Oceania. I'm not sure if the other "R" ships have undergone these changes yet.

Mura

It has been a couple of years since I have been on the Marina. As I recall, the Marina and Riviera are identical except for a slightly different layout in the casino and the Riviera has a large Thalassotherapy pool in the front spa deck, while Marina has two regular whirlpools in that area instead. Also, artwork around the ship is different. Otherwise the ships are virtually identical.Welcome for others to chime in case I missed any other differences.

Thanks - that fits what we thought was a difference, in the forward Spa area.

I'm sure we'll love the Marina as much as we loved the Riviera :)

GC

Large T pool on Riviera & different art work otherwise did not notice much difference

I think the tub removal project is for the R ships not O class ships

We have been on the Marina four times and each time in a PH....and the bathroom has a stall shower and a separate tub with shower. The Riviera came out a year or so after the Marina and from what I understand they are virtually identical except for art and maybe a few other minor items which you probably won't notice.

in the shops, 1 couch is E-W, on the other O ship it's N-S. I don't remember which is which.

I was just talking with someone about the differences between the Marina and Riviera!

I can't help with the PH question, but I just got off the Marina and friends from the ship are writing an incredibly detailed review on the Oceania board. Just head over to that thread and they have a video of the PH suite. I believe that it is called Marina French Polynesia Review w/ Lots of Photos.

I noticed the pool/jacuzzi difference on the forward spa deck.

I also noticed another seemingly minor difference between the two ships. In the aft OC suite on the Riviera, there is an "all off" light option. You can hit that button and all lights shut off. That was not the case for the Vista suite on Marina. You have to hit a series of buttons to turn off your suite lights at night before you retire. I assume that was feedback that they incorporated into the Riviera.

You might not even notice this one :D! I did, but this was probably because my husband and I had a laughing fit trying to turn the lights off the first night. He would hit a switch on one panel to turn off a light and I would accidentally turn it back on at another panel. Each switch controlled a strip of lights. And, we were worried about turning on the balcony lights, but come to find out that the kind folks at Oceania already considered that and disable the balcony lights at night for the Vista suites.

They are almost identical. I have about nine cruises and some of each. LOL the light switch thing is a fact! My husband always is irritated with me.

You will love Marina as much as Riviera.

RE light switches - sorry, off-topic here - but there were like 20 different banks of light switches in the Marina Oceania suite. (Not 20 switches, 20 sets of switches.) And you couldn't tell what each one was for. One bank had seven switches in it, some of which were duplicated in another bank. It was a scavenger hunt every evening to turn them all off in the living area.

Back on topic...

The earlier comment about the Riviera having an all-off switch makes me wonder if they fixed a few small things on Riviera. For example, the cabinet with the fridge in our Oceania suite on Marina isn't vented and overheats. We'd leave the door ajar most of the time. Our butler said that on Riviera the fridges are at the open end of the bar (rather than the side against the wall) and that they don't overheat. So maybe little fit-and-finish improvements on Riviera?

They say there are 727 differences....

https://www.avidcruiser.com/2012/05/of-the-727-differences-this-is-the-biggest-on-oceania-riviera/

https://www.avidcruiser.com/2012/05/727-differences-on-riviera/

https://www.tripsavvy.com/riviera-of-oceania-cruises-991378

From the OCEANIA WEBSITE MARINA DECK PLANS....

I guess this is, at least in part, why I'm confused:

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/ships/marina/deck-plans/

This shows the T Pool on the Spa on the Marina, and not hot tubs :confused:

It's from Oceania's own website...

--> Are there other, er, inaccuracies (worthy of note) on the official website Deck Plans for the Marina?

I can't imagine not loving the Marina just about as much as the Riviera, but there were indeed some areas we found "special" (the Sanctuary sitting area, as one example), and it would be much better to know in advance if there are other differences "worthy of note".

Thanks again.

GC

Wow, that's interesting. Got off the Marina on March 19th and there was no T-pool on the spa deck (like the one I used on the Riviera). It was a hot tub.

I was on the two ships within a 10 month period, so I really paid attention. That was the only real difference that I saw.

Hoping that is the only difference from the official deck plans. The public spaces all appeared identical. Restaurants were the same. Grand stair case/reception area was the same. Marina lounge was the same. Executive lounge was the same.

Hoping that you enjoy the Marina - she is beautiful. And, I experienced the same excellent level of service on both ships!

And LOL in the light switches! Sorry I took us off-topic. It is funny that we all have the same experience!

Some additional info on the differences.

Re the lights in Marina's Vistas, my description was "you need a Ph.D. in light switches" to get it right ...

Mura

I am sure there are not many noticeable changes unless you are really looking at each inch of the ship

When Marina first came out there was a step at the bottom of the grand stair case it is no longer there ..it was a hazard

They added the half glass panel to tub in the lower cat cabins as well as raised the shower in the tub area

Original design

Kamlani has not been with the company for several years

Greetings from South Beach, Everyone. DH and I sailed on Marina and Riviera in their maiden years. One difference between the two is the correction change in the last steps on Marina's atrium staircase. While we were on board, the last couple of treads always had visible caution tape attached. I saw people obviously caught be surprise at the odd arrangement of those steps. Riviera's staircase was perfect

from day one.

Mary

From the OCEANIA WEBSITE MARINA DECK PLANS....

 

I guess this is, at least in part, why I'm confused:

 

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/ships/marina/deck-plans/

 

This shows the T Pool on the Spa on the Marina, and not hot tubs :confused:

It's from Oceania's own website...

 

--> Are there other, er, inaccuracies (worthy of note) on the official website Deck Plans for the Marina?

 

I can't imagine not loving the Marina just about as much as the Riviera, but there were indeed some areas we found "special" (the Sanctuary sitting area, as one example), and it would be much better to know in advance if there are other differences "worthy of note".

 

Thanks again.

 

GC

So....

.... Is this a recent error and the wrong Deck Plan was posted for the Marina on the Oceania website, or has the wrong Deck Plan been posted all along? (Hard to imagine the latter, but also hard to imagine the former, with a sudden switch to the wrong Deck Plan.)

Given there is a definite error, are there any OTHER "errors" on the website Deck Plan of the Marina?

Is the Sanctuary area there? (DH really enjoyed that space! Me too.)

Baristas is the same?

(I'm not referring to whether the furnishings are the same color, or just cosmetics... Is it the same space, etc.? This was another favorite of his.)

He spent a lot of time in the T Pool, but I'm sure in this case, that a nice Hot Tub would also be thoroughly enjoyable.

Does anyone have an indication of the size of these? How many adults could *comfortably* be in one? (Not hoping for "full capacity", but trying to get a sense of the size.)

I especially would like to avoid having him expect something that is shown (and is shown as similar to the Riviera that we enjoyed), but is actually not accurate for the Marina.

Expectations can matter. ;)

Thanks.

GC

Yes the other public places are still there

Maybe ask HOOPSTER on his live thread if he could post a photo of the spa deck with the whirlpool or T pool showing

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2616029

On the Marina, yes, there are electrical outlets on both sides of the bed. Be aware, though, that they both have European plugs, so if you’re from the US you’ll need an adapter to em. There is another outlet on the desk and one under the television, both for US plugs.

Re the lights in Marina's Vistas, my description was "you need a Ph.D. in light switches" to get it right ...

 

Mura

Greetings, Mura, from South Beach. You are correct about the lights lunacy on Marina and Riviera. We sailed once on Marina in PH 10022 and twice on Riviera, also in 10022. We took lights lessons from the butler every time. I think by the third try, I had my PhD. In March, I will find out for sure, as we will again be in 10022 on Riviera. The only difference between the two suites was a framed silver decoration over the desk. Our last two cruises were on Regent's Explorer, a wonderful ship. However, the closet on the O ships is much better than the one in Explorer's Phs. The O closet is large enough to hold all our luggage.and everything is visible and extremely well organized.

Mary

Hi everyone,

We have been considering trying Oceania for a while, specifically Marina or Riviera to start... I wasn't sure where to post my query, so hope someone can enlighten me. :-) We've cruised several times with Princess and once with Crystal. We're intrigued with Oceania's smaller ships & ports plus the reputation for excellent food! Hubby & I are mid-late 50's.

Some questions/comments: I'm seeing that many people do not book air through Oceania? But you can still do "the rest of O Life?" Do I have it right? The whole air fare/deviation thing has me a tad confused. :rolleyes: :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Another takeaway is that many travelers handle their own excursions? Thoughts on doing O Life or Cruise Only? The price difference is substantial.

Does anyone have comments or advice on the type of cabin they've enjoyed aboard Marina or Riviera? (We've had premium balconies on Princess & splurged on Penthouse Room on Crystal Serenity). Couldn't stand Princess' miniscule showers! Crystal bath was enormous!

On board activities? (BTW, we are not big night lifers & would probably enjoy enrichment lectures over shows...) Any input is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Leslie

Some questions/comments: I'm seeing that many people do not book air through Oceania? But you can still do "the rest of O Life?" Do I have it right? The whole air fare/deviation thing has me a tad confused. :rolleyes: :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Yes you can book olife perks with air or without air

you can book cruise only with no air & no O life perks

 

Another takeaway is that many travelers handle their own excursions? Thoughts on doing O Life or Cruise Only? The price difference is substantial.

If you are the type of traveller that prefer to DIY or book private tours then do the cruise only fare you have to do the math then decide what works best for YOU

Does anyone have comments or advice on the type of cabin they've enjoyed aboard Marina or Riviera? (We've had premium balconies on Princess & splurged on Penthouse Room on Crystal Serenity). Couldn't stand Princess' miniscule showers! Crystal bath was enormous!

 

On board activities? (BTW, we are not big night lifers & would probably enjoy enrichment lectures over shows...) Any input is greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks,

Leslie

We have been in A & B cabins they work fine for us

You can see photos of the cabins at

https://www.cruisecritic.com/photos/ships/riviera-607/

I do not think I have seen lectures in the evenings

unless on TV There is 1 show at 9:30 pm

other things going on during the evening around the ship