Regent v Oceania v Crystal

[JSA123]

Not sure where to post this question so I'll try here first. Which of the above offers the best quality and choice of food?

[Mura]

I think you are asking for value judgments!

 

My bet is you'll get numerous answers voting for each line.

 

My vote will remain silent since I haven't yet traveled on Crystal or Regent.

 

Mura

[RJB]

Not sure where to post this question so I'll try here first. Which of the above offers the best quality and choice of food?

We have been on all three and our vote is for Oceania. More choices and the food is just as good or better. :):):)

[Caroldoll]

Each one has its strong suits and its weaknesses.

 

For me--just my opinion

 

Crystal has small suites unless you want to pay a fortune for the CP. Hard to get and very expensive. Great, great food. Do not like the assigned seating and their other option is really not that great as you have to make reservations each day (a pain in my opinion). Great service. Old ships very well maintained. Really nice crew and generally guests. Formerly they allowed too much smoking, but have changed it.

 

Regent has older ships. Kind of being atmosphere. Funky rules as they only have the MDR and two alternates. You can only go twice to the alternatives no matter what. I felt that the service was not as good as there is no motivation, i.e. tips. In my opinion only, the food was so salty I could not eat in the MDR. Expensive, but it includes tours if you want to do bus tours. We like private tours, so would be paying for something we don't us.

 

Oceania has two very new and modern ships which we just love. We love the OS. We love the fact that there are many restaurants to choose from. We don't mind paying for our drinks, so we get the package and don't have to worry. We have been on one of the R ships and they are very classic and beautifully decorated. All of their ships make you happy as they are very beautiful, even the older ones. We had good service. We had fabulous food. Obviously this is last on this list, but first on ours.

 

Everyone has their "thing" that works. You need to work over what is most important to you.

[JSA123]

Thank you for the responses so far.

 

We're just back from our first (Regent) cruise and are considering our options for the next one. We are attending both a Crystal and Oceania presentation in the next few days which should be interesting.

 

Our priorities are: great food and a great suite, a casino(!), and beautiful, elegant surroundings.

[RJB]

Thank you for the responses so far.

 

We're just back from our first (Regent) cruise and are considering our options for the next one. We are attending both a Crystal and Oceania presentation in the next few days which should be interesting.

 

Our priorities are: great food and a great suite, a casino(!), and beautiful, elegant surroundings.

Well you do have three good choices. Don't think you can go wrong on any of them. All high end.

[Hawaiidan]

I used to sail Regent a lot..... had 4 restraunts... unlimited times. Guess things have changed!!!. only 2 times max????

I like Oceaina for its ability to do your own thing and pick what you want included rather than have it all rolled into one pack.

[JSA123]

Thank you so much for the responses. Definitely leaning towards Oceania at the moment...

[kuldalai]

Have not been on Crystal.

 

Regent is as dear as poison, and do not be fooled by their marketing of all the alleged free inclusions. Free they are not, inclusions in the price yes. The Regent product is way overpriced and boringly vanilla bland throughout.

 

Oceania was brilliant great ships, great food, great staff and great itineraries. And a real quality product with personality - value for money .

[doubledobles]

We've been on all three numerous times and prefer Oceania's food and surroundings.

[hypercafe]

We were on the Rivera and felt it was great, we also hav a trip coming up on Crystal. We like the larger ships and theirs seem to have a great layout, smaller cabins but lots of public space with a promenade and open stern instead of cabins back there. All have their good and bad, can not go wrong with any.

[vistaman]

i do not know Regent as i never go on organised excursions

on Oceania the food is more "continental" and on the 2 big ones there are ample speciality restaurants

service is more refined on Crystal for sure especially in the MDR

the drinks and wines on Oceania are - speaking of prices on cruise ships - onerous and 18 % service

on Oceania gratuities for stewardess, butler and waiters are extra as well unless there is an offer

on Crystal you have the Bistro with food Barrista is only coffee with sweet cakes and cookies

disembarkation on Oceania is as early as possible last call is 9am what can cause a problem in europe with later flights

[Caroldoll]

of restaurants, pick Oceania and pay the liquor package. I think it will still pencil out, but I am not sure--others are better than I. They have a lot that include gratuities and internet lately...that makes it even better.

[wripro]

Carrolldoll,

 

Now which suite do you sail in on Oceania?

[traveler916]

Each one has its strong suits and its weaknesses.

 

For me--just my opinion

 

Crystal has small suites unless you want to pay a fortune for the CP. Hard to get and very expensive. Great, great food. Do not like the assigned seating and their other option is really not that great as you have to make reservations each day (a pain in my opinion). Great service. Old ships very well maintained. Really nice crew and generally guests. Formerly they allowed too much smoking, but have changed it. /quote]

 

I have not been on Crystal.

 

I have looked at Crystal...and the smoking issue is a big one, but they have now banned smoking in the cabins and on the balcony. We had waaaaay too many cruises on NCL and RCI where our neighbors smoked and it blew right onto our balcony or in our cabin.

 

Meals: Oceania has it right with "country club casual." I own slacks and polo shirts and do not own a suit or tuxedo...and really don't want to dress up in a tuxedo for dinner. Crystal has changed that as well now...to "formal optional"...but the tenor on the Crystal board seems to me to be that most folks still want formal nights...and wear their formal clothes. That's fine with me, but they don't open their version of the Terrace Grill on formal nights or captain's dinner nights (please correct me if I i wrong)...so there aren't casual options on formal nights.

 

and I agree - having to go to the Maitre D every day to arrange a dinner reservation at "my time" is a pain. Oceania's system seems to be much better.

 

as to food...everything I have heard about Crystal is that their food is as good as Oceania - maybe each line is slightly better depending on the night. However, I am very happy with Oceania's food...and with everything else O offers, don't really feel like trying another line.

 

YMMV

[Caroldoll]

for us. In addition, we don't like playing "dress up" although we both LOVE clothes, we don't want to have "rules". We do dress up...but no ball gowns! No tuxedos...no black suits and ties. Just smashing stuff...but not "in rules".

[wripro]

Thank you for clearing that up. I wasn't sure from all you other posts which suite you sail in!!!!!

[JSA123]

Thank you again for all your responses. We are looking at an Oceania, Vista or Owner's Suite and the pricing does look good when compared with Crystal and Regent - plus, the rooms themselves look much better to me.

 

I'm just back from a Crystal presentation, where the general concensus seemed to be that Oceania isn't really 'up there' with Crystal, Silverseas and Regent, although when I asked for that to be clarified I didn't really get a consistent and logical answer.

 

Next week, I'm going to an Oceania presentation - and then it's make my mind up time.

[Mura]

You know, I really wouldn't expect them to say anything else since they want to sell their own product, or so I would imagine.

 

And they may be right. (Don't get me wrong, Oceania is plenty good enough for me!) My recollection is that when Oceania started out the idea was to position the line between the very top and the next lower level.

 

And as Lyn so often rightly says, much of this is personal preference. I don't have a need to sail on the absolutely best line. But Oceania is best for us.

 

Mura

[JSA123]

Yes, I realise the Crystal rep will want to sell Crystal, but the comments I was referring to were from the other cruisers and the travel agent. However, many of the other cruisers were previous Crystal customers...

 

What, then, in your opinion is the differentiating factor between the 'top 3' and Oceania? Is it the quality of the food? Accommodations? Itinerary? Ship? Entertainment? Excursions?

[Paulchili]

wripro,

You are a bad boy :D

[JimandStan]

wripro,

You are a bad boy :D

 

But funny.......in that droll way of his

[Mura]

If directed to me, Mura, I can't really answer you since I haven't sailed on any of those lines. But the reason I stick with O is we've always been happy with the result. Sure, not everything is always perfect. But we like the food and freedom in where we sit/when we dine, no formal evenings, the very restricted smoking, the "usual" lack of children (although we don't object to the well behaved ones, and frankly those are the ones we have seen although we've heard stories about the not so well behaved children). We also like the accommodations although we tend to book the higher end cabins.

 

Hope this helps.

 

I'm just willing to accept that the statement that O isn't quite as "high" as the three mentioned could be valid.

 

Mura

[Paulchili]

But funny.......in that droll way of his

 

Leave it to you :D

[pacheco18]

But funny.......in that droll way of his

 

The best! Made my day.

Thanks for the post