Oceania- NEVER AGAIN !!!

The following is a statement of our opinion of the Oceania Cruise we just took. Others may feel differently; but this is what we observed and our opnion of the cruise we just took. We have been on many, many cruises (over 60) with various cruise lines. We just took our first on Oceania Regatta and it was BY FAR the worst cruise we ever took. The ports were fine, but the ship was not. Whether you stay in an inside cabin, or a penthouse, we were treated like cattle. To keep this brief, I will use points :

1. If you want to use the laundry room, you will pay $2 for both the washer and $2 for the dryer. I don't know of any other "premiere" cruise lines that charge for this.

2. Internet- try 95 cents a minute and 70 cents a minute if you pay at least $140. This is double the other cruise lines we have been on.

3. Specialty restaurants were a constant fight to get into. Each one seats 100 people but in spite of seating room for 100 they will only take 40 for 6:30, and then 20 for 7:30, 8:00 and 8:30. In other words, more than half the seating in each specialty restaurant is always empty. They refuse to allow passengers to eat of the two restaurants more than once for a regular cabin, and no more than twice in each for penthouses. Isn't this ridiculous ?

4. No shuttle service in ANY ports we visited provided by Oceania. Most other cruise lines always provide the short bus ride shuttle into the towns complimentary. Oceania - none. They dumped the passengers at these strange ports and then you're on your own.

5. Entertainment- Absolutely none- zero ! If you consider trivia and bingo every single day as entertainment, then this line is for you. But if you want nightime professional shows , forget it. They take a girl from the cruise staff, stick a black dress on her and she is the "star of the show".

6. Main Dining Room- packed in like sardines. VERY noisy. Food is totally inflexible. You get a pre-fixed plate exactly as you would at any caffeteria. And because you don't have assigned tables, the waiters don't get to know you and could care less about service since the tips are automatically added onto your account anyway- and they all know it. How is 2 hours for scrambled eggs and toast ?

7. Hygiene- In the upstairs buffet, they have a guy making pizza. Not once, but TWICE we found him preparing pizza without wearing gloves and on one occassion actually sneezed into his hands and wiped it on his sleeve. Sound tempting ?

8. We tried diligently to discuss these concerns with the General Manager (he's actually the hotel manager but calls himself the GM) , and the restaurant manager-- all to no avail. We'd may as well have been speaking to Donald Duck. Their only answers are always "Im sorry sir but this is our policy". I can't tell you how many times we heard that same line during this cruise.

9. Spa- No dry sauna- only a steam room.

10. Casino- 4 BJ tables and some slots. Nothing else.

11. Shopping- a total of 2 tiny shops with nothing but over priced items in there. For example- How many women pay $8.50 for a small nail polish remover ? We bought it on shore for 99 cents.

The bottom line is this : If you like halibut soup for lunch, a dining room so noisy that you have to yell at each other, zero professional entertainment, and paying double or extra for absolutely everything-- even to use a clothes dryer- than this is the cruise line for you. But if you're looking for first rate food, entertainment, and a premiere cruise line that takes care of their passengers as we were, you may want to reconsider.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

I must say I did not read the majority of your post. People that only bother to sign up to the site to spread some strife and discord generally are not worth the time and effort.

Happy future sailings!

Well, for most of us, this cruiseline is for us. But, thank you for sharing.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

I must say I did not read the majority of your post. People that only bother to sign up to the site to spread some strife and discord generally are not worth the time and effort.

 

Happy future sailings!

Anther one! We look forward to NOT cruising with Crusingallthetime.:D

Wow! Did anything "good" happen to you on your vacation? Oceania is an excellent cruise line -- not sure which "other" cruise lines you've been cruising, but we need some frame of reference.

Our experience on the Regatta was very different.

Welcome to Cruise Critic,

Kel

Give the guy a break! yes, he had a bad experience and is venting. But if you take time to look at some of his comments such as lack of courtesy buses in ports and $2 for a load of clothes in a washer, maybe he has some valid points. It is interesting on the CC boards, regardless of the cruise line involved, the "do no wrong" loyalists will flame anyone who dares to post a negative comment. Lighten-up and be willing to listen. You might learn something.

It's fairly clear that, other than Kiawahdon, no one else has taken the time to actually "read" the comments. To anser one question that was raised, we have been on over 60 cruises including Crystal, Celebrity, RCCL, NCL, Princess, HAL, and even back to the old Emerald Seas some 30 years ago. And- as pointed out by Kiawahdon - our points are definitely valid for any experienced cruisers. (1) To charge for using the public laundry room is ridiculous. (2) When cruise ships visit foreign ports, they invariably arrange bus shuttles into the nearby center of town and don't just "dump" passengers at the port with a paper map copied from Fodors. We had numerous elderly passengers waiting 30 minutes for cabs outside. (3) I have never seen a cruise ship "limit" people to how many times they are permitted to eat in the specialty restaurants. (4) Internet at 95 cents a minute..... I have not seen this type of rate on any other ship. (5) Hygiene- Food preparers are supposed to wear rubber gloves and not be using their bare hands that they've sneezed in to prepare food. (6) Entertyainment- I have yet to read anyone who says that Oceania has great entertainment because they don't.

Hey- look- I really could care less which cruise line people want to go on. As the saying goes : "Different horses for different courses". All I am providing is our own personal opinion and experience having been on so many different ships. We found Oceania to be among the worst we've ever taken. Just our opinion.

I find it interesting the number of posts from this new to cc & O critic: one. So in review this former passenger of a recent O cruise shouts in their criticism that they had to shout in GDR to be heard over the din of how loudly the room was. Somehow, after my recent pleasant experience on a Regatta cruise this past March, I find the post amusing. It may be that some of the points raised should have been researched by this veteran cruiser by visiting both cc boards and O website, e.g. do not pay too much for doing your laundry on a cruise ship while on a vacation that you do not have the inclination or ability to research prior to the embarkation.

I love Oceania but I don't mind "constructive criticism" - in fact I have been "guilty of such crime" myself on more than one occasion.

However, this does not fall into that category - this is a rant; a rant from a first time poster no less (with 60+ cruises) - that always raises an eyebrow.

Oceania is not perfect (which line or which one of us is), but there is no way that an Oceania cruise is BY FAR the worst cruise of 60 taken (even if they were all on Crystal, Silversea, Regent, Seabourn, etc) - and I seriously doubt that all 60 were on luxury lines.

I too would like to know which cruise lines that the OP sailed are SO FAR superior to the Oceania.

That said, OP is entitled to his/her opinion and welcome to never cruise on Oceania again; we all have choices and are free to exercise them.

PS - obviously cross-posting with OP

BTW - I somehow cannot see NCL or RCCL providing a shuttle bus for 3000+ passengers - can you?

1. I never knew about the Cruise Critic web site as I don't really spend much time on researching cruise lines. I speak with travel agents and look to them for advice. Thus, the first time poster.

2. Our omments are not really a "rant". They were intended to be more factual than a rant. The comments relative to no shuttle buses, the laundry service, the restrictions on the specialty restaurants, and the lack of professional entertainment are simply statements and not rants. In fact, I don't see anyone replying stating how fantastic the entertainment is on Oceania . How come ?

As I wrote before-- these are "opinions" and fortunately in this wonderful coutry of ours we are all entiteld to have our own opinions. If you disagree, that is perfectly fine. No need to get all bent out of shape, unless you work for the cruise line I guess. If this is the cruise line for you, by all means continue to enjoy them. We are only expressing facts about some of their policies following a recent cruise. Nothing more- nothing less.

I find it interseting that many seem to be put off by a "first time poster". Were each of you not a "first time poster" at one time ?

Were each of you not a "first time poster" at one time ?

Most likely not with a post like yours.

Your experiences are certainly valid for you, it's just that most of us have not experienced what you described.

Enough said - you are welcome to cruise any line you prefer in the future - no hard feelings.

Happy sailings :)

I am finding this interesting, having booked our first cruise with Oceania, on the Regatta, and never having sailed the line before.

I have seen many replies about "ranting" but little to none relating to the actual comments made by Cruisingallthetime, such as what the entertainment quality is, internet pricing (which certainly IS expensive), laundry pricing, etc.

How do you all feel about each of the specifics sited?

In what way were your cruises different?

I find it interseting that many seem to be put off by a "first time poster". Were each of you not a "first time poster" at one time ?

Was there anything at all that you might have liked about the cruise???? We all seem to really enjoy our experience with "O'...and no I do not like the entertainment, nor a few of the items you have mentioned, but in 4 voyages with "O" I find them superior, never EVER the "worst" I have ever taken

Thank you for your reply. Again- and I agree - enough said- we were just extremely disappointed with this cruise and hearing constantly about "that's not our policy" for anything we asked for. Charging $8.50 for a small bottle of 99 cent nail polish remover, or charging 95 cents a minute for internet, and charging to use the laundry machine-- we just found those things quite distasteful. I also read a posting by a former passenger that talked about not being able to make any changes whatsoever to their food choice in the main dining room and we actually found the same thing.

Finally- you wrote earlier about a cross posting with OP. I didn't quite understand what you meant as I have no idea what OP or who OP is. If that's another poster, I honestly don't know anything about it.

Happy cruising to you as well.

Thank you for your reply. I guess I would ask this question : You mention that you don't like the entertainment, nor some of the other items I pointed out -- wouldn't you think that you SHOULD be entitled to good entertainment as well as the other things you object to when you are spending that kind of money on your vacation ? Just a thought.....

Yes- we did like the specialty restaurants very much. The food and service were excellent in them. The problem was that they allow so few bookings (only 50% of their seating) that it's very, very difficult to get in. There are definite restrictions to going to them. One visit to each on a 12 day cruise for passengers in cabins below penthouses, and a 2 visit restriction for penthouses. Our room stewardess was also very good.

I have not yet cruised on Oceania and am very much looking forward to it.

All the points raised apart from the shuttle service I am aware of due to the research I have done and the reading of the CC boards.

I guess, that through prior research and no surprises I will enjoy my cruise as the points mentioned will be expected and I will have compensated for them. E.g I intend to use internet only in port either in a cafe or using 3g, I will use laundry seldom and $4 is better than the serviced laundry charges on other ships e.g. NCL where they do not have DYI laundry. The specialist restaurants are free and a bonus. Who needs entertainment when the ports will provide it and we also like to sleep and read books. We plan to eat in room often on our balcony, do not gamble and I have already looked up the US health inspection site and Oceania gets 100% (seabourne fared a lot worse)

The only worry I will now have is the shuttles but for us we are still healthy and walking will probably do us good.

Finally- you wrote earlier about a cross posting with OP. I didn't quite understand what you meant as I have no idea what OP or who OP is. If that's another poster, I honestly don't know anything about it.

 

Happy cruising to you as well.

OP stands for Original Poster (that would be you in this case).

What I meant by cross-posting with you is that while I was composing my post you had already posted and had also addressed some of the questions I had (making some of my post look silly) :)

Thank you for your reply. I guess I would ask this question : You mention that you don't like the entertainment, nor some of the other items I pointed out -- wouldn't you think that you SHOULD be entitled to good entertainment as well as the other things you object to when you are spending that kind of money on your vacation ? Just a thought.....

We entertain ourselves with the company of fellow travelers, if we need "showtime" entertainment we go to Las Vegas. Laundry, we do not make a point of doing onboard, as with internet, we like to leave this at home. We are on holiday. As for shuttle..would love one at port, won't like the mob scene trying to board, Grand Dining Room..learned to not go near at the busiest hours and have always had a most pleasurable experience, hygiene has never been a problem, found "o" to be cleanest of clean. As for saunas, I could care wet or dry, to me it sounds like a garage vacuum cleaner. Shops...who really needs to shop there? I ran out of deoderant, yes I had to pay $5, I was in the middle of the Atlantic, please I just want my deoderant. Back to dining..other than the "reserve" venues..you are on your own and servers are more than willing to meet your needs. I too on our second cruise had a "MINOR" problem with reserves in the "specialty" rests , not being able to book, but I didn't make that into a "problem". I turned it into an opportunity to be seated with another couple One that we still send Christmas cards to.

I do not think I am entitled to anything onboard. I do my research well in advance and I have always known that "O" was not big with entertainment. I also knew it had no shuttles, I also knew about the laundry and internet, but I choose it AGAIN and AGAIN for quality food, service, cleanliness, not for inessentials as laundry/internet/entertainment/ etc. I do hope you find a cruise more suitable to you as it is obvious "O" is NOT for you. Happy travels.

Yes- we did like the specialty restaurants very much. The food and service were excellent in them. The problem was that they allow so few bookings (only 50% of their seating) that it's very, very difficult to get in. There are definite restrictions to going to them. One visit to each on a 12 day cruise for passengers in cabins below penthouses, and a 2 visit restriction for penthouses. Our room stewardess was also very good.

I have been on 3 "O" cruises and loved each one. We went many times to Polo and Toscana and every time they were FULL -- no empty seats. On each cruise we got in more than the 2 times 'allowed.' We were in Polo at least 4 times on our last Regatta cruise.

I am finding this interesting, having booked our first cruise with Oceania, on the Regatta, and never having sailed the line before.

 

I have seen many replies about "ranting" but little to none relating to the actual comments made by Cruisingallthetime, such as what the entertainment quality is, internet pricing (which certainly IS expensive), laundry pricing, etc.

 

How do you all feel about each of the specifics sited?

 

In what way were your cruises different?

We actually enjoyed the entertainment on our Regatta cruise. We don't like large cruise ships, so we did not expect a 'Vegas' type show. The singers/musicians and comedians were very good.

We did not use the laundry or the internet. We went to the speciality restaurants more than the two times we were promised. We loved the food. The GDR was not loud. We did not need entertainment during the day because we had a wonderful port each day. I never paid any attention to the 'gloves, I was too busy deciding what I wanted from the wonderful selection at the buffet.......... I could go on and on..............

We love Oceania--it's definitely our favorite cruiseline, but I don't think it's perfect.

1. Never thought about this; I'm allergic to fabric softener, so don't use puiblic machines. But I'd prefer that those who use the machines pay for them rather than the cruise fare being higher so the laundry machines can bhe free.

2. We don't use the computer on vacation, so this never bothered me.

3. We enjoyed the specialty restaurants very much, but didn't feel the need to eat there more often than the guidelines. I really appreciate that there isn't an additional charge for the specialty restaurants. As I recall, after everyone got their regular reservations, there were days when additional reservations were available.

4. On other European crusies, we haven't had free shuttles into town either, but I think it would be great.

5. We enjoyed some of the entertainment, other acts not so much. And Oceania is the only line we've sailed on where the entertainers make such a effort to interact with the passengers. But we're happy to wander about the ship in the evening, people watching and chatting with other passengers. And we don't like the big goofy production shows on the mainstream lines at all.

6. We thought the food in the MDR was the best we've experienced on a cruise. Some areas were noisy, but we quickly learned to request a table along the outside, and then the noise wasn't an issue.

7. Disgusting--glad we've never experienced anything like that.

8. Sorry your concerns weren't addressed to your satisfaction; that's very disappointing.

9. Don't like steam or sauna, so that doesn't matter to us

10. We're not gamblers, just like to watch a bit, so didn't pay much attention. The casino did seem bigger than you describe.

11. We've never really shopped on a cruise ship, and the shops were good enough for the occasional browsing we like as a distraction on a sea day.

My point is that what makes a cruise bad for one person may not matter even a little to another. We have found the food excellent, the ship lovely, the staff outstanding, the itineraries wonderful--can't wait to take another Oceania cruise!

We love Oceania--it's definitely our favorite cruiseline, but I don't think it's perfect.

 

1. Never thought about this; I'm allergic to fabric softener, so don't use puiblic machines. But I'd prefer that those who use the machines pay for them rather than the cruise fare being higher so the laundry machines can bhe free.

 

2. We don't use the computer on vacation, so this never bothered me.

 

3. We enjoyed the specialty restaurants very much, but didn't feel the need to eat there more often than the guidelines. I really appreciate that there isn't an additional charge for the specialty restaurants. As I recall, after everyone got their regular reservations, there were days when additional reservations were available.

 

4. On other European crusies, we haven't had free shuttles into town either, but I think it would be great.

 

5. We enjoyed some of the entertainment, other acts not so much. And Oceania is the only line we've sailed on where the entertainers make such a effort to interact with the passengers. But we're happy to wander about the ship in the evening, people watching and chatting with other passengers. And we don't like the big goofy production shows on the mainstream lines at all.

 

6. We thought the food in the MDR was the best we've experienced on a cruise. Some areas were noisy, but we quickly learned to request a table along the outside, and then the noise wasn't an issue.

 

7. Disgusting--glad we've never experienced anything like that.

 

8. Sorry your concerns weren't addressed to your satisfaction; that's very disappointing.

 

9. Don't like steam or sauna, so that doesn't matter to us

 

10. We're not gamblers, just like to watch a bit, so didn't pay much attention. The casino did seem bigger than you describe.

 

11. We've never really shopped on a cruise ship, and the shops were good enough for the occasional browsing we like as a distraction on a sea day.

 

My point is that what makes a cruise bad for one person may not matter even a little to another. We have found the food excellent, the ship lovely, the staff outstanding, the itineraries wonderful--can't wait to take another Oceania cruise!

Excellent post! You took the words right out of my mouth! :D

I wanted to stay out of the crossfire but for those looking for specifics concerning some of the concerns which were raised.....

....we were treated like cattle.

This is so opposite from our experience on the Regatta seven months ago that it is literally hard to believe that we are both actually discussing the same cruise line.

1. If you want to use the laundry room, you will pay $2 for both the washer and $2 for the dryer. I don't know of any other "premiere" cruise lines that charge for this.

I doubt Oceania is getting rich off of $4 per load. What I do know is that there are limited laundry facilities on-board. The nominal charge might discourage overuse (which is human nature when things are free) and thus increase machine availability. I believe I did two loads of laundry on my last Oceania cruise. The grand total comes to $8, or about enough to buy my first evening cocktail. In the grand scheme of things, who really cares and would anyone find this expenditure so significantly upsetting to lead off with this complaint in a I will "never again" cruise xyz cruise line again thread?

2. Internet- try 95 cents a minute and 70 cents a minute if you pay at least $140. This is double the other cruise lines we have been on.

Again, I don't generally let my enjoyment of a cruise hinge on how much I pay per minute for the internet so I can not pretend to have a spreadsheet somewhere comparing per minute costs amongst lines. The mass market cruise I got off of last month (on Celebrity) charged something like 65 cents a minute, in the same ballpark as Oceania.

....3. Specialty restaurants were a constant fight to get into. Each one seats 100 people but in spite of seating room for 100 they will only take 40 for 6:30, and then 20 for 7:30, 8:00 and 8:30. In other words, more than half the seating in each specialty restaurant is always empty. They refuse to allow passengers to eat of the two restaurants more than once for a regular cabin, and no more than twice in each for penthouses. Isn't this ridiculous ?.

6. Main Dining Room- packed in like sardines. VERY noisy. Food is totally inflexible. You get a pre-fixed plate exactly as you would at any caffeteria. And because you don't have assigned tables, the waiters don't get to know you and could care less about service since the tips are automatically added onto your account anyway- and they all know it. How is 2 hours for scrambled eggs and toast ?

Let me see if I understand correctly. The specialty restaurants were not full enough for your taste and the main dining room was too full? It sounds like there is no pleasing you. The main dining room on our cruise had plenty of room and we were always able to carry on a comfortable conversation. The specialty restaurants were never half full either. We cruised in the lower cabin categories and were often (although not always) able to get extra slots in the specialty restaurants by inquiring in the morning if any tables were open for that evening. Our experience with service and food quality are again so much opposite to yours that I'll refer you back to the response I posted to your "cattle" comment.

4. No shuttle service in ANY ports we visited provided by Oceania. Most other cruise lines always provide the short bus ride shuttle into the towns complimentary. Oceania - none. They dumped the passengers at these strange ports and then you're on your own.

Simply bad preparation on your part, seriously. Some cruise lines provide shuttles but many do not. If you were not planning on doing excursions through Oceania, you should have at a minimum done some basic research into what there was to do in the "strange ports" you were visiting and had a rough idea of how you were going to go about doing it.

5.Entertainment- Absolutely none- zero ! If you consider trivia and bingo every single day as entertainment, then this line is for you. But if you want nightime professional shows , forget it. They take a girl from the cruise staff, stick a black dress on her and she is the "star of the show".

Some people enjoy the entertainment Oceania offers and some do not. Frankly, I can take it or leave it but I do not particularly enjoy the glitzy production shows many cruise lines put on every evening either.

7. Hygiene- In the upstairs buffet, they have a guy making pizza. Not once, but TWICE we found him preparing pizza without wearing gloves and on one occassion actually sneezed into his hands and wiped it on his sleeve. Sound tempting ?.

I believe you saw it, but I never had a similar experience.

9. Spa- No dry sauna- only a steam room.

Life is full of hardships and misfortune. As they say, what does not kill us makes us stronger.

10. Casino- 4 BJ tables and some slots. Nothing else.

 

11. Shopping- a total of 2 tiny shops with nothing but over priced items in there. For example- How many women pay $8.50 for a small nail polish remover ? We bought it on shore for 99 cents.

Oceania uses smaller ships. Were you seriously expecting Las Vegas and a shopping mall? Cruise line shops are overpriced? Let me alert the news media....

The bottom line is this : If you like halibut soup for lunch, a dining room so noisy that you have to yell at each other, zero professional entertainment, and paying double or extra for absolutely everything-- even to use a clothes dryer- than this is the cruise line for you. But if you're looking for first rate food, entertainment, and a premiere cruise line that takes care of their passengers as we were, you may want to reconsider.

I do like fish soup but doubt that is the only option that you were offered for lunch. I am looking for first rate food and I think I succeeded in finding it on Oceania. The food we were served compared quite favorably with,and sometimes even exceeded, the food I ate on my cruises with Crystal and Regent. I am sorry that you had such a bad experience. Oceania does not seem to be the line for you....