Is Marina right for us?

[estella15]

I know this question may be difficult to answer given that no one has actually been on Marina yet, but I'm hoping to get your predictions.

 

DH and I would like to do a Med cruise next Spring. We really like Marina's itinerary, but we're a bit concerned about there being so many passengers onboard. How do you think O and Marina will do with almost twice as many passengers as they'v been used to on their other ships? Do you think there will be lines to get on and off the ship and the tender boats? We've been cruising on the larger cruise ships for quite a few years, but for this trip we were hoping to avoid all the lines and large crowds that come with the 3,000+ passenger ships.

[Paulchili]

As you have said, it is hard to know for sure, but here are my thoughts.

There will most likely be some "growing pains" like with all new ship. Silversea and Seabourn have also experienced this when they added new, larger ships. These had to do more with having to add a large number of "new" staff (granted, some of the staff will come from the R ships, but not all of it). Otherwise I think things will work just fine, just as we have come to expect it from Oceania (i.e I do NOT anticipate long lines anywhere).

We have 3 cruises booked on the Marina. I hope their growing pains, if any, will be short lived :)

[Bruin Steve]

I know this question may be difficult to answer given that no one has actually been on Marina yet, but I'm hoping to get your predictions.

 

DH and I would like to do a Med cruise next Spring. We really like Marina's itinerary, but we're a bit concerned about there being so many passengers onboard. How do you think O and Marina will do with almost twice as many passengers as they'v been used to on their other ships? Do you think there will be lines to get on and off the ship and the tender boats? We've been cruising on the larger cruise ships for quite a few years, but for this trip we were hoping to avoid all the lines and large crowds that come with the 3,000+ passenger ships.

 

I am fairly positive that this will not be a problem...

From my vast experience on ships large and small, I have come to the conclusion that crowding and lines come most often not from the number of passengers but from the number of passengers vis-a-vis numerous other factors...most importantly, the size of the ship...

 

The best rule of thumb is the "Space-to-passenger Ratio" arrived at by dividing the gross tonnage of the ship by the number of passengers...

 

For example, in the past couple of years, I have cruised on, among others, Sapphire Princess (116,000 gross tons/over 3,000 passengers), Oceania Nautica (30,000 gross tons/680 passengers), Celebrity Summit (90,000 gross tons/1,950 passengers) and Celebrity Eclipse (122,000 gross tons/2,850 passengers)...

The Princess ship felt crowded...the Oceania ship and the Celebrity ships did not...In fact, Celebrity Summit seemsd less crowded than Oceania Nautica even though there were almost three times the number of passengers...Why? The ship was also three times the size...

 

...a few years back, I cruised on Carnival Liberty (110,000 gross tons/close to 4,000 passengers)...Clearly, the Carnival ship was overcrowded, lines and waits for everything, service poor...the week prior to that, we cruised on Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas (160,000 gross tons, virtually the same number of passengers as the Carnival ship)...yet the RCCL ship was far less crowded feeling, no lines or waits...even with close to 4,000 people...The difference? Nearly 1.5 times the size...

 

So, looking at the Marina, we are talking about a ship holding 1,252 passengers...but in 65,000 gross tons...Do the math...that is more space per passenger than the smaller Oceania ships...more than the Celebrity ships...This is one very roomy ship...

 

Now, if the "big ships" you've cruised on in the past are of the Carnival, Princess, NCL, stc. sort, there is a reason those seemed crowded and had lines...They are designed to squeeze on as many passengers as possible...This one isn't...

 

If there ever is a question with ship size that falls outside the space-to-passenger ratios, it's:

 

1) Tender ports--and how capable are they in moving the number of passengers off the ship; and

2) The capacity of the port itself to handle the impact of the number of tourists...Of course, you can be on a very small ship and if a couple of big ships pull into port with you, the ship you are on won't matter...

 

All-in-all, I am looking forward to Marina...a lot of the benefits of Oceania's small ships with the added plus of having more space to work with, possibly improving on entertainment and amenities...

[hondorner]

I've seen Marina, been inside her. Granted, it was all steel and cables and partitions, but the overall effect is spaciousness. Venues like the main dining room, the terrace buffet, the grand bar and more are larger without being overwhelming. Ceiling heights are higher, the theater is no longer just a lounge, and most important -- the cabins are larger and the bathrooms are beyond comparison.

 

Because of the larger size, there are also more specialty restaurants and small niches, and there are still intimate -- there are more of them, but you won't have the impression of more people.

 

As Bruin Steve pointed out, the ship holds about 80% more guests but is 117% more spacious and has more amenities. There will certainly not be longer lines or waits. The size creates great opportunities -- for example, the swimming pool will be larger, and the pool deck will have more shaded areas at the sides because the upper sun deck/promenade around the pool deck will be wider.

 

Finally, at 1258 guests, it is still firmly in the mid-size category -- and with the mega ships getting larger all the time, it will soon be in a small ship category!

 

The only drawback I can see to the larger size is the extra length. As frequently related by the cruise directors, one lady asked, "Does the elevator go to the front of the ship?" We could all use such an elevator, but Marina will be only 180 feet longer than the Regatta class, about 30% longer.

 

Personally, I expect exactly the same fabulous experience aboard marina, just more so.

[estella15]

Thank you all for your prompt responses!

 

I did compare the size of the ship (not just tonnage, but length, beam, and number of decks as well) to the number of passengers when I first started looking at this ship, and I agree that the numbers do look good. It is also very nice to know that there will be more shaded areas around the pool! :D

 

But what are your thoughts on the places where lines form, such as at the buffet and getting on and off the ship? That's what I'm most concerned about. I just don't want to be waiting in line for a tender boat for an hour in a crowded stairwell or on the dock in the sun. I know from experience that that sort of thing is quite common on the Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL, etc. ships; but I'd really like to avoid it for this trip. Don't get me wrong, those big, mass-market cruises can be great for a quick, cheap Caribbean getaway in the middle of winter, especially if you go into it not expecting too much. For this trip, though, I'd really like to maximize our sightseeing time and minimize our time spent waiting in line. Anyway, I'll stop blabbering now. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts on this!

[Bruin Steve]

...But what are your thoughts on the places where lines form, such as at the buffet and getting on and off the ship? That's what I'm most concerned about. I just don't want to be waiting in line for a tender boat for an hour in a crowded stairwell or on the dock in the sun. I know from experience that that sort of thing is quite common on the Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL, etc. ships; but I'd really like to avoid it for this trip. Don't get me wrong, those big, mass-market cruises can be great for a quick, cheap Caribbean getaway in the middle of winter, especially if you go into it not expecting too much. For this trip, though, I'd really like to maximize our sightseeing time and minimize our time spent waiting in line...

 

Again, I don't think it will be problem...We just got off the Celebrity Eclipse--122,000 gross tons and 2,850 passengers--and those weren't issues there...The only time we came close to those issues was when we wanted to be first off the ship in St. Petersburg and a small line amassed--because they hadn't cleared the ship yet. Those sort of waits are unavoidable on any ship...

 

But the Marina will be over half the size of Eclipse with less than half the passengers. If these weren't issues on Eclipse, they shouldn't be on Marina...

 

A problem with most larger ships with lines getting on is due to the number of big bus excursions returning to the ship at once...3,000+ people getting off buses or back from port at the same time and passing through one little gangway and one security system...But, 1,250 is nowhere near that strain...It's hard to guarantee you'll never have a line anywhere, but the odds are what lines you have will be fewer and shorter...1,250 nowadays is NOT a lot of people...

 

As to the buffet, I've never seen a major issue on Oceania's smaller ships...and I have to feel comfortable that, with that much more space to work with, they will have it arranged to work well...[Note: One thing everyone seemed to like on Celebrity Eclipse was the buffet arrangement...no "cafeteria lines"...it was all arranged on individual tables...You went to the table you wanted and just walked up and got your food...no pushing a tray waiting for everyone in front of you to arrange their salad...I hope Oceania has learned a thing or two about ways to arrange the buffet as well...but, we'll know when we get onboard. Don: Any clue how they arranged the buffet?]

 

As Don said, this is NOT a large ship by today's standards...Compared to what many lines are building now, this is a SMALL ship...and my guess is that it will be better laid out than the older small ships...They learn from experience. I really appreciate that the showroom is now a "real" showroom. Perhaps with better facilities and more passengers, Oceania might upgrade its entertainment a little on Marina...

[estella15]

Again, I don't think it will be problem...We just got off the Celebrity Eclipse--122,000 gross tons and 2,850 passengers--and those weren't issues there...The only time we came close to those issues was when we wanted to be first off the ship in St. Petersburg and a small line amassed--because they hadn't cleared the ship yet. Those sort of waits are unavoidable on any ship...

 

Thanks for the info! I hadn't even looked into Celebrity because I was afraid it would be too much like Royal Caribbean. Perhaps I should expand my search a little?

[blackfoot]

Charter a yacht to avoid the great unwashed!

[hondorner]

Steve and estella, I can't remember exactly what was said word for word, but at the float-out, when we approached the buffet area, Tim Rubacky talked about the decor and the changes. Then, corporate hotel manager Franco Semerano took over the guide duties, and explained that Marina's buffet area was being completely redesigned compared to the Regatta Class ships. He waved his arms towards one way, and then another, as he tried to translate bare steel and cables into a finished buffet area. Part of it, I think, involved stations such as Steve described, and all of it was devoted to increased flow and less congestion. He ended that portion of the tour by saying that guests might see more difference in that one area than any other single area on the ship, in terms of ease of use and efficiency.

 

I was filming video and didn't process all of the details, but there was no doubt in his pride in the design and his confidence that the buffet was going to be better than ever. Jim and Stan were in the same tour group, and may remember more of exactly what Franco was explaining.

 

I've located the video that I filmed in the Terrace dining room -- it can be seen

.

[hondorner]

Thinking of the Marina float-out videos I posted last February, I realized there are probably newcomers to the forum that haven't seen them. All of the videos can be found by going to

http://youtube.com and entering hondorner into the search box.

[wripro]

I trust Oceania to have thought out all the concerns of the OP and to have taken them all into consideration when designing the ship. It is certainly in their interest to maintain the same level of quality as on the smaller ships.

[brian_uk]

Truthfully I do not see the point of the question as the Ship has not been launched and nobody knows how it will all work out.

 

So many theories but until it has started .....who knows !!

 

O do of course strive to offer a great product and I think you buy into them....rather like we prefer staying at a Marriott over say a Hilton.

 

Brian

[Bruin Steve]

I trust Oceania to have thought out all the concerns of the OP and to have taken them all into consideration when designing the ship. It is certainly in their interest to maintain the same level of quality as on the smaller ships.

 

I acually expect Oceania to "step up" the level of quality...if that is possible...

 

The Regatta, Insignia and Nautica were "inherited" from the old Renaissance...nice ships, but designed over a decade ago...The entire cruise industry has learned things and made improvements over the last 10+ years...

 

Frank came from Renaissance, but others in the organization came from other places...

...and this is their first opportunity to use their collected wisdom...

 

The first obvious difference between the older ships and the Marina is that the cabins are all larger...Then, one notice that the showroom is now an actual showroom...set up primarily for entertainment...The space-per-passenger ratio is greater...I am certain there will be more that we'll notice when we cruise on her...

 

I don't worry about Oceania maintaining quality...This is how they have built and are continuing to build their reputation...

[wripro]

I agree, BruinSteve. Still, when booking my first Marina cruise I waited for the fifth one, colonial crossing, so that they could iron out some kinks on the first four.

[Rickey 88]

Thank you all for your prompt responses!

 

But what are your thoughts on the places where lines form, such as at the buffet and getting on and off the ship? That's what I'm most concerned about. I just don't want to be waiting in line for a tender boat for an hour in a crowded stairwell or on the dock in the sun. I know from experience that that sort of thing is quite common on the Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL, etc. ships; but I'd really like to avoid it for this trip. Don't get me wrong, those big, mass-market cruises can be great for a quick, cheap Caribbean getaway in the middle of winter, especially if you go into it not expecting too much. For this trip, though, I'd really like to maximize our sightseeing time and minimize our time spent waiting in line. Anyway, I'll stop blabbering now. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts on this!

 

Perhaps you are getting worked up about something over which none of us can offer you any solution.

 

The ship is still under construction - a few months ago it was mostly a "shell" with no interior walls or partitions yet in place. No one can give you any thoughts about the Terrace space and how much time you're going to "spend in line".

 

I do know that management has spent much time and has already said that the Terrace serving space has been thought through as to "traffic flow".

 

The maximum number of passengers for a ship of 65,000 tons is quite manageable and is still nothing like to "monsters" currently in service. Do plan on giving the Marina a try, perhaps after the first cruises are done and some reviews have been posted.....

[hondorner]

I agree, BruinSteve. Still, when booking my first Marina cruise I waited for the fifth one, colonial crossing, so that they could iron out some kinks on the first four.

I guess I'm getting adventurous in my elder days, but I think it's going to be great fun to be sort of a "beta tester" and help work out those kinks. that's why we're on the maiden voyage, and the inaugural canal voyage right after it. Them, we finish out the year with Marina's last crossing after the Summer season, from Rome to Miami, in November. It will be neat to see how much improvement might be needed, and how much there actually was in her first year.

 

I actually kind of think I will be disappointed when there are few or no "kinks" on the first voyage!

[Paulchili]

I actually kind of think I will be disappointed when there are few or no "kinks" on the first voyage!

 

But I know you'll get "over it" :D - eventually.

Enjoy and keep us posted! We get on in SF - my first cruise from our home port :)

[wripro]

Hondorner, you may be absolutely right in taking the maiden voyage. Recently, the Seabourn sojourn had a flawless maiden voyage. Last year I was in the maiden of the Odyssey and though not flawless, it was pretty darn good. Oceania will certainly pull out all the stops too.

[CintiPam]

We get on in SF - my first cruise from our home port :)

 

You lucky duck, we never have that option out here!:D (Maybe the move from NYC to Cincinnati 23 years ago was not such a great idea??;))