Oceania v Celebrity

[ORV]

Hopefully you read through those other threads that Paulchili posted. The best advice I can give is to weigh heavily those that like both lines and look at why they like both.

 

As far as nickel and diming, I think one poster might have mentioned O doesn't do that. I don't think of it as nickel and diming, but both cruise lines give you ample opportunities to spend additional money with them over and above the cruise fare. Just like with Celebrity you can spend plenty with Oceania in the casino, on drinks, especially in the Spa & for excursions, transfers, hotels, boutiques etc. Air in included but it's certainly not free. You just have to be a savvy traveler and decide what you do or don't want to pay extra for.

 

It's all good, just different.

 

There have been several threads on this topic before.

Here are some (just to name a few):

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1889262&highlight=oceania+vs+celebrity

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1788748&highlight=oceania+vs+celebrity

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1738901&highlight=oceania+vs+celebrity

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1617184&highlight=oceania+vs+celebrity

 

This should give you plenty of information. However, if you have additional more specific questions after reading all this, please post here again.

Personally, I think there really is no comparison - Oceania being far superior to Celebrity in all aspects but price. This, of course, is JMO :)

[Presto2]

 

As far as nickel and diming, Just like with Celebrity you can spend plenty with Oceania in the casino, on drinks, especially in the Spa & for excursions, transfers, hotels, boutiques etc. Air in included but it's certainly not free. You just have to be a savvy traveler and decide what you do or don't want to pay extra for.

 

It's all good, just different.

 

The extra things we tend to pay for are the excursions and drinks, so the 'free' soft drinks and bottled water would be good. We would expect hotels and transfers to be added, but don't understand why an 'included' air fare isn't free. Can you give us some advice on this one - thanks

[LHT28]

The extra things we tend to pay for are the excursions and drinks, so the 'free' soft drinks and bottled water would be good. We would expect hotels and transfers to be added, but don't understand why an 'included' air fare isn't free. Can you give us some advice on this one - thanks

 

If you opt-out of the "included air" you get a small discount (air credit)

so in that sense it is not free as you are paying something for the air

 

Lyn

[JimandStan]

but don't understand why an 'included' air fare isn't free

 

They mean that it isn't free in the sense of "it has no cost" as in "There is no such thing as a free lunch".

 

It might be better to say that Airline Transportation is "included in your cruise fare", rather than using the term "free"

[pacheco18]

LOL

 

Nothing is free on ANY cruise line. You are paying for everything one way or another.

For some items (like air) you can get a small credit -- but usually not equal to the cost of airfare.

The question you have to ask yourself is whether you want to pay for everything that is included or if you would rather have things a la carte.

 

For us, for example, a line like Regent makes no sense -- we are not big drinkers and we would never use the included large group excursions. It is a matter of personal choice.

[Hawaiidan]

LOL

 

Nothing is free on ANY cruise line. You are paying for everything one way or another.

For some items (like air) you can get a small credit -- but usually not equal to the cost of airfare.

The question you have to ask yourself is whether you want to pay for everything that is included or if you would rather have things a la carte.

 

For us, for example, a line like Regent makes no sense -- we are not big drinkers and we would never use the included large group excursions. It is a matter of personal choice.

 

Paul is right... nothing is free, however what is included is all rolled into one price. You buy a package. Cheaper fare is meaningless if its only the fare and nothing else....:rolleyes:

 

Why I pick Oceaina... well here is an example, 2 cruises flying from Hawaii to the port and back, gratuities,restraunt charges, drinks and liquor and cabins of equal size and class each cruise similar length 30-40 days and similar distance and ports. Apples to apples as close as possible

Oceaina figured total was $660 per day per couple, and the other, ( a mass market ship) came in at $930 a day per couple.

The includeds door to door is what sold me along with the open seating, variety of restraunts and the casual dress code on a smaller ship.

[hypercafe]

I consider Oceania a very upscale NCL because of the freestyle deal and lots of restaurants. I look at X as a stepchild of Crystal with the dinning and dress options, altho Crystal is now all inclusive and x has different deals offering drinks.

[Presto2]

I consider Oceania a very upscale NCL because of the freestyle deal and lots of restaurants. I look at X as a stepchild of Crystal with the dinning and dress options, altho Crystal is now all inclusive and x has different deals offering drinks.

 

Now I am confused as I have never heard of Crystal :confused:

[JimandStan]

Now I am confused as I have never heard of Crystal :confused:

 

Crystal is the luxury Passenger division of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha which is one of the largest shipping concerns in the World.

 

Headquartered in Los Angeles, they operate two European built (if aging) mid sized ships, and they have recently gone all inclusive.

[Presto2]

Crystal is the luxury Passenger division of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha which is one of the largest shipping concerns in the World.

 

Headquartered in Los Angeles, they operate two European built (if aging) mid sized ships, and they have recently gone all inclusive.

 

Thanks, not heard of them to be honest.

[NC&KY]

If you are a steak and lobster person this is the line for you.

 

Could you explain what you mean by this?

[LHT28]

Could you explain what you mean by this?

They probably are referring to the fact that you can on the O class ships get lobster in one form or another every night if you want the Terrace grill along with steak l

You can get lobster in at least 3 of the specialty restaurants & for lunch in Wave poolside grill

 

The R-class ships will have the grill added to the Terrace next spring

[hypercafe]

Yes, that is what I was referring too. They have surf and turf sandwiches at waves for lunch and lobster and cooked to order steaks, your choice of the cut, at the terrace for dinner each night. I also believe that the speciality rest, whose menus do not change, had a lobster dish and I guess the GDR had it one night too. See what I mean!!

[melody hounddog]

Oceania sounds wonderful! Is airfare always included or is it just part of a promotion?

 

I'm not big on production shows. I cruise to enjoy the ocean, meals and ports. Oceania seems to fit the bill.

[no fuss travel]

The airfare is usually included until close to the sailing date if the cruise has availability if the cruise is being promoted. The promotion for next year always includes airfare up to December 31st just about every year and last year I think for most cruises it was available up to March 31st.

[Mura]

Melody,

 

As No Fuss has indicated, the air is generally included. But you do want to see what the credit will be for not accepting Oceania's air and then seeing what you can do for yourself ... especially if you want to go in early and/or come back late, because doing so will incur a deviation fee. That used to be a minimal $50pp but it has increased over the years!

 

We usually do our own air but occasiolnally using O's air has worked out for us. You need to check and see what you can do on your own and then compare it to what Oceania offers.

 

Also, bear in mind that Oceania is offering economy air fares. If you want business, it will really cost you through Oceania. In that case, you're better off booking your own.

 

Lastly, if you want to use miles to book an upgrade you need to ascertain what contract Oceania has with your airline. We discovered a couple of years ago that we really could not upgrade on Delta because O's contract with Delta wouldn't let us do so. It depends on the airline.

 

Mura

[true45]

We were able to upgrade to Economy Plus with Delta (Oceania's air) using cash not miles in case anyone needs that info.

Linda

[LuAnn]

We were able to upgrade to Economy Plus with Delta (Oceania's air) using cash not miles in case anyone needs that info.

Linda

 

info....good to know!! LuAnn

[stookeystb]

Just got back from a trip on the Oceania Marina. Sailed on the Celebrity Solstice last spring. Enjoyed both ships. The Marina had much better food and no up charges for the speciality restaurants but the evening entertainment was pretty bad. There were many children on the Celebrity and very few on the Marina. The ship store on board Celebrity sold logo T-shirts. The ship store on Marina had no T-shirts but a lot of Poli-Grip denture adhesive. Both cruise lines know their markets.

[LHT28]

The ship store on Marina had no T-shirts but a lot of Poli-Grip denture adhesive.

 

What no T-shirts :eek:

I wanted to get some new ones

 

No need of Poli grip still have my own teeth ;)

[Paulchili]

The ship store on board Celebrity sold logo T-shirts. The ship store on Marina had no T-shirts but a lot of Poli-Grip denture adhesive. .

 

You need to participate in events that give you Big O points and you can have free logo T shirts :)

[CAG]

The ship store on board Celebrity sold logo T-shirts. The ship store on Marina had no T-shirts but a lot of Poli-Grip denture adhesive. Both cruise lines know their markets.

 

The ship store on Oceania do sell logo golf shirts though.

 

Cenia

[Mura]

One of my pet peeves is that it's been a long time since Oceania sold t-shirts worth getting ... and I'm a tourist (er, traveler) who gets a t-shirt at the drop of a hat. I still have some great ones from Renaissance ... a few, too, from Oceania but they are least 10 years old.

 

Mura

[LHT28]

One of my pet peeves is that it's been a long time since Oceania sold t-shirts worth getting ... and I'm a tourist (er, traveler) who gets a t-shirt at the drop of a hat. I still have some great ones from Renaissance ... a few, too, from Oceania but they are least 10 years old.

 

Mura

 

They probably still have logo t-shirts .. sometimes the stock is low so sizes are not there

I was told they do not replenish the stock each cruise ...which seems silly IMO

 

Anyway I did buy t-shirts on our Marina cruise in 2011 so unless things changed you will probably find some ;)

 

You can check on your upcoming cruise & report back

 

Lyn

[traveler916]

One of my pet peeves is that it's been a long time since Oceania sold t-shirts worth getting ... and I'm a tourist (er, traveler) who gets a t-shirt at the drop of a hat. I still have some great ones from Renaissance ... a few, too, from Oceania but they are least 10 years old.

 

Mura

 

Mura. Some of my favorite T shirts were the early ones I got on NVL...wore them until they wore out. It seems to me that in the early days, those ships did the same west coast Cabo/Mazatlan/Puerto Vallarta runs and so they had the same t shirts on the ship all the time.

 

Might be nice if O came out with a t shirt for the RTW cruise and listed all of the ports on the front.

 

Then the gift shop could sell magnifying glasses to those of us that would have trouble reading the small print of all of the port names :)

 

gary