Activities on board

[m1k2s3]

Going on our first cruise ever with Oceania on the Riveria in May. I've been doing a lot of research on shore excursions and I don't want to overplan our trip as I would like to have some time enjoying the ship. I was thinking of skipping a shore excursion on one of the ports to be able to spend the time on the ship but that got me thinking, what is there to do on the ship. I've read that on some ships, there are activities scheduled each day. Can any of you give me an idea of some of the things you've done on board, just to give me an idea.

 

 

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[StanandJim]

Going on our first cruise ever with Oceania on the Riveria in May. I've been doing a lot of research on shore excursions and I don't want to overplan our trip as I would like to have some time enjoying the ship. I was thinking of skipping a shore excursion on one of the ports to be able to spend the time on the ship but that got me thinking, what is there to do on the ship. I've read that on some ships, there are activities scheduled each day. Can any of you give me an idea of some of the things you've done on board, just to give me an idea.

 

 

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There are all sorts of daily activities, but what and when they are depends very much on where and when you are sailing.

 

On European Cruises, for example, the majority of passengers sight-see all day, so the activities are concentrated in the late afternoon and evening.

In the Caribbean, many people stay behind, so more activities are scheduled during the day.

 

Tell us more about your Cruise and we'll be able to get specific.

[Paulchili]

Also, there will be fewer activities scheduled on a port day than on a sea day as there will be fewer people to participate or take advantage of them.

Save your time to enjoy on a sea day (if possible)

[planitohio]

Needlepoint

Bridge

Bingo

Spa

Trivia

Board Games

Tea at 4

Gym

 

 

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[m1k2s3]

Tell us more about your Cruise and we'll be able to get specific. [/font][/size]

 

The cruise is in May and here's our itinerary:

 

Venice

Zadar, Croatia

Kotor, Montenegro

Palermo, Sicily

At Sea

Civitachhechia (Rome)

Livorno (Florence/Pisa/Tuscany)

Monte Carlo

Provence (Marseille)

Barcelona

 

We have tours booked for Venice,Rome and Florence, we're planning on doing Zadar and Kotor on our own. I'm considering doing a Hop On Hop Off Bus in Palermo and haven't figure out tours yet for Monte Carlo, Provence and Barcelona yet. The only port I was considering skipping is Palermo but having said that, it didn't occur to me until now that the majority of the tours are 4 or 5 hours, giving us plenty of time in the afternoons on board the ship.

[Softball20]

Can't answer what there is to do on board since we have not yet sailed on Oceania, but for the ports, don't skip Palermo! Check out Sicily Life tours - we've used them several times in various ports in Sicily and have been very pleased.

 

For Montenegro, it's easy to do on your own. Very charming old city. If you're up for it, climb to the top of the fortress. It's really not a bad climb at all, and the views are amazing.

 

Monte Carlo is also easy to do on your own. The city is very walkable, albeit with some hills. Skip the casino. We went - just to say that we were there - and it was a disappointment. I've seen cruise ship casinos that are bigger. We did have lunch at the Cafe du Paris. We thought it might have just been an over priced tourist trap, but it was very good with excellent service. Yes, it was on the pricey side, but still very good.

 

Barcelona is amazing. I could spend hours just in the market on Las Ramblas.

[TVR Lady]

We hope to go on this ship in sept can anyone tell me what the penthouse Suites are like and are they worth it? Thanks can't seem to find much about them.

 

 

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[critics0001]

More space, bigger room, bathroom and closet space. Best benefit is that butler will serve you dinner from any restaurant so not limited to the number of times you can eat in specialty restaurant.

[Floridiana]

but for the ports, don't skip Palermo!

 

I second that.

Edited January 12, 2015 by Floridiana

[Mr Luxury]

Going on our first cruise ever with Oceania on the Riveria in May. I've been doing a lot of research on shore excursions and I don't want to overplan our trip as I would like to have some time enjoying the ship. I was thinking of skipping a shore excursion on one of the ports to be able to spend the time on the ship but that got me thinking, what is there to do on the ship. I've read that on some ships, there are activities scheduled each day. Can any of you give me an idea of some of the things you've done on board, just to give me an idea.

 

 

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Drink,eat,sleep,relax comes to mind.

 

I like it when most of the guests get off the ship to go on tours,then I have the ship to myself and relax and just enjoy the ship.

Edited January 12, 2015 by Mr Luxury

[orchestrapal]

Drink,eat,sleep,relax comes to mind.

 

I like it when most of the guests get off the ship to go on tours,then I have the ship to myself and relax and just enjoy the ship.

 

I'll add read and use the much improved wifi when there are less of us on the ship and the ship is in port!

[LHT28]

ping pong

mini golf

cooking classes

artist loft may have something

[digtexas]

Oceania is short on enrichment IMO. While some other lines might have three interesting lectures on a sea day, O typically has one lecturer per cruise.

[Mura]

I would disagree with Danny's statement about there only being one lecturer per cruise. But that may depend on itinerary and ship. Our last three cruises have been on Marina, and these were one european cruise and two trans-atlantics (both directions), where we had a minimum of 2-3 lecturers on different topics. I think on the NY-Dover cruise last spring we had 4. Some were speaking about wildlife, others were not.

 

I agree that it's generally been fewer lecturers on the "R" ships, but not always. Again, on a Caribbean itinerary I wouldn't expect many lecturers. On other itineraries, yes. And sometimes I've wanted MORE but not often.

 

If your cruise has many sea days you probably will have more lecturers than on a port-intensive itinerary.

 

Mura

[LHT28]

I agree with Mura

there have been 2-3 lecturers on all our cruises

 

Some were not of interest to us but they seem to draw a crowd

[m1k2s3]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I appreciate the information.

 

Softball 20 - thanks for the suggestion on Palermo. I must admit, I was considering skipping it but now I'm taking another look at it and I'm so looking forward to seeing Barcelona - it's been on my bucket list for a while now.

[Mura]

We've had a number of visits to Barcelona since our first in 2005, and it's a wonderful city. Just beware of pickpockets and travel scams! Like the person who smears mustard on you and offers to clean it off ...

 

But it's not to be missed. My mother once said it was her favorite European city and while I wouldn't go that far I probably would say it is ONE of my favorite European cities.

 

We were in Palermo for one day on a Marina cruise in Oct '11 and took a ship's tour -- tried to arrange a private tour but no guides were available, so we took the ship's tour. We enjoyed it very much. But it's a wonderful city and you shouldn't miss it's attractions.

 

Your itinerary doesn't give you many sea days ... ours didn't either! But these are wonderful ports.

 

Mura

[bitob]

On Nautica now

30 night cruise

Two lecturers so far

Both very good

One doing local history and culture and port - related lectures

The other is is a former prosecutor doing true crime and forensics (we love it)

 

 

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[StanandJim]

The other is is a former prosecutor doing true crime and forensics (we love it)

 

Live "Law and Order".....some people may never leave the ship!

[YOUTUBE]gP3MuUTmXNk[/YOUTUBE]

Say what you will, they know their demographic. :D

[TERRIER1]

Laundry - no one is there

[digtexas]

I sailed once on Riviera, 10 day Caribbean with 4 sea days: one lecturer.

I sailed once on Marina, 10 day British Isles: one lecturer.

I am happy to learn that there are more lectures on crossings and some other cruises.

[Mura]

It's pretty clear the number of lecturers and the topics covered can be very different.

 

As I recall we had two on NY-Dover last spring: a speaker who covered musicals and opera performers, and a marine expert who pointed out the wildlife in the sea. There may have been a third, I'm not sure.

 

On one cruise there was a "volunteer" lecturer who did a number of talks on old movies and movie actors/actresses. He had lots of video examples to show. I think he was a regular passenger, not someone who was booked to do these talks.

 

So you never know.

 

Mura

[LHT28]

It's pretty clear the number of lecturers and the topics covered can be very different.

 

As I recall we had two on NY-Dover last spring: a speaker who covered musicals and opera performers, and a marine expert who pointed out the wildlife in the sea. There may have been a third, I'm not sure.

 

Mura

 

Didn't you have a retired sportscaster onboard his name escapes me I think it was Vern ???

[Mura]

Lyn, you are absolutely right! Vern Lundquist, and we enjoyed his talks very much. Someone posted here later about being bored by his talks because they'd seen him several times already (on different cruises), but for us this was a first. I'm not particularly a sports fan but we were happy with his talks. They were very informative and entertaining.

 

Mura

[LHT28]

Lyn, you are absolutely right! Vern Lundquist, and we enjoyed his talks very much. Someone posted here later about being bored by his talks because they'd seen him several times already (on different cruises), but for us this was a first. I'm not particularly a sports fan but we were happy with his talks. They were very informative and entertaining.

 

Mura

 

I could not remember his last name :D

I did remember he was added later as we had cancelled before he was announced to be onboard

I am sure he would have been interesting to us