Oceania vs Seabourn

[JBVols]

Amen Yorkiemomjn! There is is no way they can clean a cabin that someone has smoked in. Seabourn's formal nights is also a deal killer forms.

[caribbeansun]

I would expect Celebrity would be the most logical choice given your preferences as it is considered to be a bit more upscale than either of the other two.

 

- the rest on either HAL, Celebrity, Princess or a combination of these

 

but of the last 3, does anyone think one is a better choice for us?

[writer100]

Alexandra cruiser, I understand and empathize with your reaction. We are both quite sensitive to smoke, and have experienced only one negative example on Seabourn--when the chap next door smoked a cigar on his veranda.But in 2 Seabourn sailings--Odyssey and Legend--that is the only such experience. The halls did not reek of cigarette smoke, nor did we encounter smokers lurking in any place we wanted to be. If non-smoking--or an absolute minimum of such exposure-- is a prerequisite, that perhaps SB is not for you. But, I have not found any other line which provides such a sense of intimacy, and that is true, though in slightly diluted quality, even on the larger 450 passenger SB ships. It may be that smoking on European cruises is more prevalent, so one way to sample SB might be to choose a Caribbean or other US-based experience. (The presumption being, more Americans, fewer smokers.) And as said elsewhere, we feared that our cabin would smell like a giant ashtray. It did not.

[hondorner]

duplicate

[hondorner]

- 20-25% split between Oceania & Azamara

- 10-20% Seabourn

- the rest on either HAL, Celebrity, Princess or a combination of these

HAL has a much more liberal smoking policy, similar to Seabourn. I don't know about Princess, but after a fire, I think they might have stopped smokers on their balconies, but may still allow smoking in the cabins -- it's worth a check. Celebrity would be your next best choice, as the smoking policy is more restrictive than most, although not as restrictive as Oceania.

 

However, Celebrity should really think a little more about their smoking locations. We sailed in a Sky Suite on Deck 12 on Mercury, and we were one balcony -- about 15 feet -- away from the smoking area on the sundeck above the pool. We chose that suite because it had a super large deck, and we could enjoy it very little because of the odors.

 

Besides, on Mercury the food that was supposed to be hot, and the food that was supposed to be cold, never was. We enjoyed the Thelassotherapy, pool, however.

[wripro]

Smoking is one of those topics where the board seems to go in circles with the same opinions voiced over and over again with people vehemently arguing their view points. It's really not a difficult issue. Argue with your pocket book and go to a cruise line which better suits you needs.

[glutenhab]

Thanks for all the suggestions but smoking is of no concern to us at all. We are both non-smokers but unless they put a smoker right in the cabin with us, we are OK. Our main concerns, as I stated, are;

- Ports (as many and as varied as possible)

- Good space & crew to passenger ratio (non-crowded with good service)

- Non-Assigned Seating (I think all 3 have this)

 

If we could find a long itinerary to our liking we would stay on the same boat for the full 2 months, but as I said earlier, we would like to do maybe;

- 20-25% split between Oceania & Azamara

- 10-20% Seabourn

- the rest on either HAL, Celebrity, Princess or a combination of these

 

Of course this all depends on itineraries, ports, price etc., but of the last 3, does anyone think one is a better choice for us? Or maybe someone can suggest another line altogether.

[wripro]

I guess I'm not understanding the reasoning behind all the switching of cruise lines. You will have such different experiences on all these lines. If you do this I'd advise saving Seabourn for last since none of the others will come close.

[glutenhab]

I understand that, thanks. Depending on cruise line schedules/itineraries etc. we may do just that. We are trying to work our way from Northern Europe to the South Pacific with some possible short stops/flights along the way (we will do without the stops if we find a continuous itinerary as you suggest but I highly doubt it) in 60 days. Saving Seabourn is for last, as you suggest, is definitley the way to do it but we may not have that luxury (pun intended).

 

Wish we could afford Seabourn or even Azamara or Oceania for the full 60 days, and we still may if prices are good, but because of price we may have to look at using either HAL, Princess or Celebrity, or a combination of these for at least part of out trip. Of these three (other line suggestions welcome), we are just wondering if either stands out above the others. Our main concerns are seeing as many ports as possible & having a spacious boat that is not over-crowded.

[GeorgesGal]

:confused:Glutenhag, Haing sailed both Celebrity and HAL in the past, as well as Azamara's two ships, Both Celebrity and Hal are excellent lines. You just hae to decide which size ship you want to sail. HAL's tend to be smaller, with great pax/staff/space ratios, and fewer passengers on some of their ships. HAL also has one of the old R ships as does Oceania and Azamara, as well as several in the 12/1300 pax size. Have found HAL's food service consistently very good to excellent. Also on those port intensie cruises, when tired from a day of touring on land, you can order dinner from the main dining room menu served in your stateroom via room service. A GREAT perk! Also HAL has some of the largest staterooms afloat, starting with their inside staterooms to their suites. Last year spent 24 days on the Oosterdam in a Deluxe Veranda Suite with more than 500 sq ft, and a huge wrap around veranda on the stern.

 

Celebrity also has great food and good ratio of staff/pax/common space,although her ships are mostly larger than HAL's. Celebrity also has a younger clientele, although on our European cruises on HAL, pax did tend to be younger than on the Caribbean cruises.

 

Guess I'm just feeding you more stuff to chew on. Good luck in your quest for the ideal cruise! :confused::confused::confused:

[umtali]

We are in the process of putting together a long cruise, probably in segments, & would like to try Seabourne for at least part of it if the price is right. However this is a fear we have. We are both around 50 & have cruised 3 times before, always on the mass-market type lines (RCCL etc.). We are ready & willing to pay that extra to "Move Up" but what you mentioned here is making me think twice about Seabourne. I have no doubt that it will be a very luxurious experience. However I do not want to spend any of my time listening to or trying to make conversation with anyone who thinks they are sometimg they aren't, or "prima donna's" as you called them. I am sure this will not go for all guests, but the fact that you said your experienced people like this on each of you Seabourne cruises makes me nervous. My goal is to relax, be pampered a little & see the world, not to "keep up appearances & listen to drivel". We have travelled extensively & like meeting new people. We are not poor but we are definitely not rich. Am I wrong in thinking that we may be uncomfortable on a Seabourne boat?

 

We plan to travel for about 2 months, almost all via cruising, to celebrate our 25th anniversary & my wife's 50th birthday in the fall of next year. We will probably use HAL for the bulk (maybe Celebrity for part) but would like to get maybe 3 weeks or so split between Azamara & Oceania & a week or 2 with Seabourne, depending on price & what we decide after comments here.

 

By the way, any & all suggestions on what we should include/avoid over this 2 month period would be very much appreciated. We are open to anything & have no bookings yet. We are leaning towards Asia & Australia/South Pacific but may do parts of Europe. I am trying to piece together something from the Baltic to Fiji if I can fit it all in. We will probably start in September, 2011 so weather suggestions in different areas are also welcome.

 

I am new to this board & it is a wealth of info so i have to thank you already.

 

May we suggest you look for a 're-postioning' cruise from one cruise company, ie. Med. to Sth America or Med. to Asia/Australasia, that way you can maximise your time with one cruise line and one ship, and see more of everything without flights and/or changing lines.

[happy cruzer]

Hal and Princess both offer longer cruises to the area that glutenhab is interested in.

 

Good luck.

[pier]

 

If we could find a long itinerary to our liking we would stay on the same boat for the full 2 months, but as I said earlier, we would like to do maybe;

- 20-25% split between Oceania & Azamara

- 10-20% Seabourn

- the rest on either HAL, Celebrity, Princess or a combination of these

 

 

You might want to reconsider Azamara. We recently returned from a cruise on Azamara Quest. The food was really disappointing. You can read about people's experiences on the following Cruise Critic thread:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1263333

[hondorner]

...HAL also has one of the old R ships as does Oceania and Azamara...

Actually, HAL does not have one of the R ships. They do have the Prinsendam, which is approximately the same size as an R ship. There were 8 original R ships, so called because they were built by Renaissance Cruise Line and named the R1 through R8. Oceania has 3, Azamara has two, and Princess has 3, although one of the Princess ships is due to be transferred to one of the other Carnival-owned lines, I think in Europe.

 

Thinking if owned by Carnival, both HAL and Princess are owned by Carnival.

[MightyQuinn]

.... but because of price we may have to look at using either HAL, Princess or Celebrity, or a combination of these for at least part of out trip. Of these three (other line suggestions welcome), we are just wondering if either stands out above the others.

We are long-time HAL cruisers (and in your age demographic) but we've never sailed Princess or Celebrity so unable to comment. However, the topic of comparisons between these lines comes up frequently on HAL, Princess & Celebrity Forums. It may be helpful if you asked your question on each to cover any potential bias of die-hard loyalists. You can also do a search to find prior threads with comparative commentary on these lines. And don't miss the CC Member Reviews section for recent feedback.

 

You should also request brochures & visit the websites of your chosen cruise lines to get a better feel for their product. All these cruise lines will offer a different experience at a different price. Some of the differences may not matter to others but may be critical to you. Only you know what is important to you & how much it is worth. A good cruise specialist (TA) who knows your needs & preferences may be your best friend in helping you plan your awesome adventure.

 

And finally, I must tell you that I'm very familiar with the Rock. I envy you having Ches's on your doorstep as well as growing the absolute best blueberries on the planet. :):)

[glutenhab]

I have a Ches's on both sides of me Quinn, about 2 miles each way, and have my "FEED of Fish & Chips" there once a month for sure. And next weekend is Prime Time for our big fat delicious wild blueberries to be picked. We do a blueberry picking trip every year on the Labor Day weekened & easily fill a couple of five gallon buckets. Some of the perks, along with the whales, icebergs & over-friendly people, that almost make up for our bad weather. I get to see icebergs from my window here in St. John's but I have to drive almost 15 miles to see the whales & shoot my yearly moose. "Best of both worlds" I call it. A beautiful friendly city of 100,000 (with Ches's!) & wildlife minutes away. Hmmm, maybe I should charge Tourism Newfoundland & Labrador for this. Are you a visitor Quinn, or do you have a connection to St. John's?

 

Back to the topic. Thanks for each & every suggestion. I want to make the most of this trip & will, as advised, check the other boards, order brochures, search prior threads & CC Reviews, visit websites, heed the Azamara warning etc etc. We are already actively looking at repositioning itineraries. I am sorta leaning towards HAL but I think I will be OK with either of these 3 lines. Not sure if you realize it or not but suggestions & advice like what is being offered here is very helpful & at least for me, very much appreciated.

[MightyQuinn]

No CFA here! A genuine townie who used to thrive on regular feeds at Ches’s mixed in with an occasional scoff at Mary Brown’s. I also have fond memories of seeing icebergs floating down towards the Narrows, whales breaching in Bonavista Bay & moose ambling along the TCH. Not to mention those sticks & stones at L’Anse aux Meadows! No wonder NL is such a hit with the eco-travel crowd.

 

Now back to your trip. You may want to take a peek at HAL Amsterdam (co-flagship) which does a Grand Asia & Pacific Voyage every fall. The itinerary varies slightly year to year & you can stay aboard for the entire voyage or purchase specific segments. It departs Sept 2011 & the full cruise (70 nites) includes ports in China, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Samoa, Fiji and Hawaii. It may tick many of your boxes. Best wishes with your planning.

[glutenhab]

I have actually looked at that one & see two problems:

- 70 days is just over the maximum amount of time we can be away from work

- too many sea days

 

We haven't totally discounted it though & may try to get more time off or do only part of it, but we want to look at all options & this is but one of them. Thanks again.

Have you been away long? Just curious on whether or not I might know you. Lived all my life in the west end & attended St. Teresa's & Gonzaga (1964-75). Any chance?

[shedridt]

Seabourn is undeniably a cut above most other lines, & it's our personal preference among ALL lines. The service is wonderful, as is the food, & the staff aren't stiff - you can laugh with them & they laugh back.

 

Oceania is for us a shoe that fits. We loved the staff, could get beyond the food particularly when we knew that there were alternative restaurants available. A balcony on Oceania MEANS a balcony, instead of a space on which to stretch your feet (as long as they're not too big!).

 

The pros on Seabourn - great food, wonderful service, not stiff, INSTANT embarkation, everybody knows your name within hours of getting on board, excellent shore excursions at reasonable cost, vg on-board entertainment but not broadway

The cons on Seabourn - small/nonexistent balcony - BUT when you open it you can hear the waves. Honestly this was the only con.

 

The pros on Oceania - great balcony, good food if you search for it, good service, good entertainment but not broadway, excellent shore excursions at reasonable cost

The cons on Oceania - TERRIBLE embarkation in our one experience - took hours to get to our stateroom after a flight from LA to Sydney AU!

[wripro]

Shedridt,

 

Obviously, you haven't been on wither of the two new Seabourn ships which not only have true balconies but they are deeper than average.

[swifs]

Dear GlutenHab- Since I guess I started this thread with my question, I guess I can end it with this comment. My husband and I are very much like you, just avid travellers who have the good fortune to be able to splurge for a little extra once in awhile. We have decided to opt for trying the Seabourn cruise this time and I can assure you that we are both pretty laid back, except for excursions, where we are history nuts. I have cruised lines from Windjammer (clean tea shirt for Captain's Night dresscode) to Disney to Celebrity and have enjoyed them all. Since we choose our cruises primarily for the itinerary and not the amenities, we don't put a lot of priority on meeting other passengers although we have made some friends without really trying. So hopefully if we made the choice to try this line, then others will also. Frankly, the prices for Oceania are fairly high compared even with Seabourn, so I imagine there must be a good crop of "primadonnas" on Oceania as well. I don't know if we will have the opportunity of swimming off their "Marina" on the back of the ship but that would bring back fond memories of my Windjammer days.

[hondorner]

...Frankly, the prices for Oceania are fairly high compared even with Seabourn, so I imagine there must be a good crop of "primadonnas" on Oceania as well....

Now there is one idea I never expected to see expressed about Oceania, especially since one of the prime reasons why I never expect to sail Seabourn is my conviction that the line is overly populated with dominant CEO types, self important nouveau riche and stuffy folks that feel "entitled". Of course, I could be wrong, and I have no experience on Seabourn, just some experience with those types, and they must be cruising somewhere, and I know it isn't Oceania.

 

Believe me, as a certified country bumpkin from Okeechobee, Florida (just down the road from Yeehaw, Florida, seriously), I am comfortable on Oceania (and almost as much on sister cruise line Regent), and have run into darn few who could be classified as primadonnas or stuffed shirts.

[wripro]

Hondorner,

 

In this case, unlike most, you are wrong. Seabourn, just like Oceania, is populated with some of the nicest people I have ever met regardless of their status. It is so easy to make friends.

 

And as for prices yes, in some cases Seabourn can be lower the O, especially if you sail in a PH which is still smaller than the average SB suite. And tips and drinks are included. However, you do get lower fares on O in lower categories which is one of its great assets.

[frqttrvlr09]

What about Silversea? How does it compare to Seabourn (and anyone's experience with it vis a vis Oceania)? And Seabourn now has smaller yachts as well. The smoking is an issue for me, though.

[Paulchili]

I find Silversea a notch above Oceania in all respects. The one draw back for me are the formal nights. However, the overall experience is so exceptional that I will "put up" with formal nights (but only on Silversea, no other cruise line).

If it were not for this (and the "small" issue of higher prices), I would not sail any other line.

That said, Oceania is pretty darn good and has it's advantages (no formal nights, no smoking).