Choosing between Oceania and Seabourn

[dorrie]

My husband and I will be taking our first cruise this fall: to Greece and Turkey, and are trying to decide between Oceania Insignia and Seabourn Spirit. Other than the size difference, can anyone give any other means of comparison and also your recommendations?

[cruzemaven]

Oceania is less expensive. Silver seas, Seaborn, Crystal and Radisson are the top of the line in cruising. Oceania gives you excellent value for the cost but it is not a six star experience...though, I for one, did not feel that it lacked for much. Good food, good service and attractive surroundings!

[merryecho]

I love getting off of a silversea or seabourn cruise without being handed a bill- it is wonderful to never have to sign for anything. On the other hand, we dislike having to lug formal wear along on a trip to Europe. It seems every line has pluses and minuses, so we switch around and try them all.

[ClaudiaF]

My husband and I will be taking our first cruise this fall: to Greece and Turkey, and are trying to decide between Oceania Insignia and Seabourn Spirit. Other than the size difference, can anyone give any other means of comparison and also your recommendations?

 

Well for one price.. you will pay more than double on Seabourn, granted they are all inclusive so all your drinks are included.

Also, Seabourn 7 days versus Oceania 12 days.. although did see a 14 day on Seabourn at their site starting at 8500 p/p for that price could book the owners suite on Oceania ;-)

[mbtous]

<< My husband and I will be taking our first cruise this fall: to Greece and Turkey, and are trying to decide between Oceania Insignia and Seabourn Spirit. Other than the size difference, can anyone give any other means of comparison and also your recommendations? >>

 

I am rather new to these boards but I have to say that it sounds like comparing `apples to oranges' as the saying goes. It seems to me that most of the complaints that I have read are from people who were expecting a Seabourn or Silverseas experience - which are luxury lines - on Oceania - which is more of a premium line. So, decide what level of cruising you really want & are willing to pay for. Then, you shouldn't come back disappointed.

This spring we are booked on the Regatta - Venice to Barcelona - with a PH suite. I plan to check our costs with the price of the luxury lines - just to see the difference. But,for me, my main reason for choosing the Regatta was for the ports. I am (usually)more interested in that than the ship. We did the Noordam a few years ago. Tho the ship is very old, that cruise (repositioning, Copehagen to Rome) is still one of our best memories because we loved all the ports we were able to get to.

Just one persons thought on choosing cruises :)

[aaannnthony]

We'll be doing our first "O" cruises in two weeks, b-2-b, Barbados to Barcelona, and, then to Istanbul, 31 days total.....we'll see!

 

We've sailed on Seabourn twice, if "O" comes close, we'll be delighted!

[Leonid]

Having cruised on both Seabourn & Oceania, I'd like to provide my take on both lines.

Just returned from a trans-canal cruise on the Regatta. My wife & I booked a Vista Suite because of a 2-for-1 offer. The ship is beautiful...elegantly appointed and superbly maintained. Food and service is excellent...much better than on Crystal (have sailed 8 times on the Harmony & the Symphony).Our butler made the cruise a pleasure; he made up for our stewardess, who was poorly trained and didn't understand English that well.

That said, I have to say that Oceania will "nickel & dime" you. They charge for bottled water, soft drinks, launderette use, etc. And their guided tours are sub par and very expensive. If you imbibe, watch out! Most expensive drinks yet encountered on 27 cruises. And the officers are very cold and aloof!

Seabourn, on the otherhand, is something evryone should experience at least once. We have sailed the Pride 3 times and will back on board in April (Barcelona to Istanbul) & August ( London to New York). Service, food, suites, personnel - you name it! I don't think Seabourn can be beat. Our last Pride cruise was Spring 2003 (Venice - Athens - Venice). On most nights, you are invited to dine with an officer. We always accepted to our delight...great way to meet other passengers. Also, their tours are great and reasonable.

That said, there a few "things" that might disappoint a cruiser. The casino is tiny and the entertainment is not what one would find on the bigger ships. Then again, my wife & I don't cruise for the entertainment or the gambling ( we live in Nevada).

One other item: on every leg, there is a "special event". We have experienced a beach party in Virgin Gorda, BVI complete with champagne & caviar served off a surf board right off the beach; a private party at an island of the coast of Greece complete with Greek dancers and Greek cuisine (plus libations). On our next cruise, the special event is an evening concert at Ephesus (only Seabourn will be there) complete with food and drink.

By this time I hope you realize that ther is no comparison. Seabourn is probably more expensive, but worth every penny.

One other item I would like to add: Oceania is "country club casual", which is no coats, ties or formals required, whereas Seabourn is much more formal. We like both, but would rather cruise Seabourn.

Hope this long, winded message helps.

NOTE: this message was also posted on the Seabourn Board.

[john2003]

Thanks for this post. Excellent information.

 

I think most of the "mass market" lines are now heavily into the nickel and dime approach. Oceania being "in between" has assumed this style. Too bad, but they have decided to hold prices rather than be more all-inclusive. I like to relax on vacation so everytime I have to sign this detracts but that must just be me.

 

I give Oceania credit for not restricting alcohol being taken on board. We like a reasonably priced drink in our cabin and then don't mind paying for a bar drink, even if it is expensive. If service and atmosphere are excellent we will pay. I gather that they now have some more reasonably priced wines. If so that is good news as well. Otherwise, we will do without so I think they have to gain by being reasonable.

 

Given the almost universal condemnation of their shore excursion capability, I am surprised they don't fix this aspect. We have had some great experiences with HAL and the Marco Polo in far off destinations where the quality of the on board resources increased the value of the experience and left a very lasting impression.

 

Would love to experience Seabourn one day. We will see.

[ARTGRL]

One cannot compare Oceania to Seabourn. Go Seabourn if you want the ultimate experience, although it is a small ship.

[cruzemaven]

Though the entertainment on the Seaborn may not be a highlight, neither is it a highlight on the Oceania. In fact, it was dismal. We have been on many smallish cruiseships like Silver Seas and Radisson where the entertainment is on a much smaller scale than the larger ships...but always acceptable. However, everything else on our Oceania cruise was above par(we booked our own guides...so can't comment on destination services). We are going on another Oceania cruise this summer and hold out a slim glimmer of hope that the entertainment may be better this time.

[Leonid]

Yes, Oceania will allow passengers to bring alcohol on board, and I give them credit for that. I might have been a bit harsh on the entertainment - about what one would expect on a Princess cruise in the 80's (been cruising since 1981). Please do not get me wrong. It's a great experience for a great price. If one does their own tours, then no problem! I would sail again on Oceania bfore I would sail again on Crystal, the latter being much over rated!

One other point - the most beautiful and comprehensive library on any ship I have ever cruised! You have got to see it to believe it!

[digby]

"Though the entertainment on the Seaborn may not be a highlight, neither is it a highlight on the Oceania. In fact, it was dismal."

 

That was ceretainly not the case on the Insignia on our 12/04 cruise. I expected very little and was very pleasantly surprised. Maybe we just got lucky!