Riviera Cabin 11060 (PH1) Cruise Review

[Coco Putty]

To the many who have posted info on CC: THANK YOU for all of the information that made our first-time cruise experience that much more enjoyable.

 

Here are some things we learned as a result of the cruise we just left:

 

1. Is an upgrade to PH1 from A3 cabin worth $500 pp for an 11 day cruise? Probably not. The extra space was very nice, but it was much more a luxury than a necessity. If the cruise were considerably longer (30 days or more), a PH upgrade would be of much greater value just because of the extra space. For a relatively short cruise like this, however, the additional space wasn't really needed even if it was enjoyed. Access to all specialty restaurants by room service seemed like a big deal but proved to be not such a big deal after all. Most of the time when we used room service, it was outside the hours during which specialty restaurants were open and therefore their menus were not available. Hot breakfast room service was an amenity we used twice. It was very convenient because we used it on our first morning when we were still recovering from our jet lag and our last morning when we were able to avoid the crush of the crowds trying to get breakfast in the dining rooms before disembarkation. But still, we could have survived with cold breakfast without a big difference in our cruise experience. Canapes in the afternoon were a nice treat, but not anything worth paying much extra for considering how readily available good food is throughout the ship. Butler service was nice, but not an extraordinary value, especially when considering that the butler comes with his (or her) own additional cost of $7 pp per day as an extra gratuity over the gratuity paid for an A3 cabin.

 

2. Is a cabin with a verandah worth the upgrade price? Probably. We used it every day, and our weather was typically in the upper 50's at night and lower 70's during the day. Sipping a drink, having a little snack, reading a book, or just standing at the rail and gazing at the sea or beautiful shores all were wonderful experiences. Being able to open the door and let in the fresh air was also particularly nice. The verandah added significantly to how much we enjoyed our cabin.

 

3. Is a (1) cabin, located mid-ship worth the upgrade price over a (4) cabin, located forward or aft? For those who have any sensitivity to the sea motion, yes. Our cruise was on the Mediterranean. By all accounts, the Med is among the more calm seas for cruising. During those times when we experienced the choppiest waters, however, the effect on the ship was considerably more pronounced forward and aft and less-so mid-ship (as many others have advised previously). Cabin 11060 is a mid-ship cabin but among the most aft of the cabins considered mid-ship. Still, on those days when the ship was rocking, life was more stable in our cabin than at the front or back of the ship.

 

4. Is elevator noise a problem for cabins like 11060 located very near the elevators? Definitely not. Proximity to the elevators is only a positive feature of the cabin. Very convenient. We never heard a sound from the elevators or the traffic to and from the elevators.

 

5. Is the executive lounge a valuable amenity? Yes (but an A3 cabin gets a similar concierge lounge). Mrs. Coco Putty and I both used the Executive Lounge every day. She loved the daily puzzles provided in the lounge. She tended to rise a little earlier than I, and I tended to have a bedtime a little later than her on a couple of nights. At those times, we each found the lounge a nice place to park and avoid disturbing the sleeping other. The concierge was also helpful. For example, our hotel in the disembarkation city (Athens, Greece) had car a transfer service available to us. I did not learn about it until the night before disembarking. Rather than making a hip to shore call at the outrageous $5 a minute cost, I waited until the early morning, and asked the concierge to contact the hotel to see if the driver could come get us. In less than 10 minutes, the problem was solved, and our driver was scheduled by the concierge. Very nice. Being able to grab the little snacks and treats that were always available along with soft drinks, coffee, and tea was also very pleasant.

 

6. What I wish I knew when our cruise began: We had a wonderful time without scheduling much more than our four specialty restaurant reservations. That said, the more you are willing to schedule in advance and adhere to the more you can get out of the cruise offerings. Between Oceania's planned activities and the excursions that are available from them or independently each day has more available to do than can possibly be done. So the more you can plan, the more you can do. These plans start with dinner reservations. Make those, and plan the rest of your day around them.

 

7. The best temptation avoided: Oceania excursions. With the descriptions provided and the convenience they offer, the excursions are all so tempting. But nearly all of them were so over priced. Much better deals were available by independently arranged excursions. Read your Roll Call forum here and work with others to create your own excursion. You will likely enjoy it much more than the higher priced Oceania excursion. Also, consider whether any excursion is even needed. We only did one. It was great. But the other days were all DIY, and we never felt that we had missed opportunities. In one case, we were very happy that we did not sign up for an excursion to Mt. Etna, which was practically ruined by bad weather but not cancelled.

 

I hope this information is useful. It's my little way to say thank you and pay it forward from the others who helped us so much as we researched and prepared for what turned out to be the best vacation we have ever had.

[no fuss travel]

Thank you for the review. I agree with you about the cost of Oceania's tours. Too expensive and you can get the same thing for less privately.

[Juliayn]

Very helpful thanks. Considered upgrading for our Mediterranean cruise but will now stick with our Concierge Verandah cabin...

[Coco Putty]

Very helpful thanks. Considered upgrading for our Mediterranean cruise but will now stick with our Concierge Verandah cabin...

 

Enjoy! One of the very nice amenities that comes with concierge cabins and above is the included access to the spa terrace. (I think access to the terrace by other cabin level guests is available for $25 per day). We really enjoyed using the thalassotherapy pool there. Even with the cool temperatures in the evening, the pool felt so very good, and watching the sights from there as the ship left the beautiful ports was an amazingly sensual experience. Also, because it has limited access, we felt more comfortable in that pool as compared to the more public hot tubs next to the pool that were undoubtedly used (and perhaps abused) more frequently.

[ORV]

Very helpful thanks. Considered upgrading for our Mediterranean cruise but will now stick with our Concierge Verandah cabin...

 

Having been in various cabins I would consider a $1000 upgrade to a PH a good deal and would probably do it for 11 days. Of course that would depend on what I'd paid for the A3,

 

Different people value different things. I think the space and walk in closet easily would make it worth it. Of course none of it is necessary, but it is nice to have.

 

OP, thanks for your review and observations, even though we see some things differently.

[Coco Putty]

Having been in various cabins I would consider a $1000 upgrade to a PH a good deal and would probably do it for 11 days. Of course that would depend on what I'd paid for the A3,

 

Different people value different things. I think the space and walk in closet easily would make it worth it. Of course none of it is necessary, but it is nice to have.

 

OP, thanks for your review and observations, even though we see some things differently.

 

To be clear, I don't regret having taken the up-sell to the PH(1). I can see why some folks might be pleased with the choice. For those who tend to pack heavier rather than lighter, the walk in closet would be a significant benefit. For us, however, we adhered closely to the pack-half-as-much-clothing-and-take-twice-as much-cash advice. Hence, the extra closet space was less meaningful to us. But I understand those who might choose to come with more clothing options. In which case, the extra closet space would be nice. (But it would have to be a lot more clothing than what we took for our cruise).

[StanandJim]

To be clear, I don't regret having taken the up-sell to the PH(1). I can see why some folks might be pleased with the choice. For those who tend to pack heavier rather than lighter, the walk in closet would be a significant benefit. For us, however, we adhered closely to the pack-half-as-much-clothing-and-take-twice-as much-cash advice. Hence, the extra closet space was less meaningful to us. But I understand those who might choose to come with more clothing options. In which case, the extra closet space would be nice. (But it would have to be a lot more clothing than what we took for our cruise).

 

Perhaps you chose to post this particular comparison because you purchased the upsell, or because you had not tried a Suite on Oceania before, but isn't there something self defeating about second guessing vacation spending after the fact?

 

I agree that you could have saved a pretty penny by staying in Concierge, and in retrospect that might have been the best fit for your cruising style, but to be absolutely fair, if you sat down and pro-rated the time spent on your veranda over those 11 days, an Ocean View Cabin could have turned out to be even more cost effective. :o

 

While we are on the subject, if an Inside Cabin left you with funds enough to splurge on a diamond bracelet in the Boutiques, who is to say that one of THOSE wasn't the best choice?

 

Or, even if the idea of an inside bothers you, that you would not think that it was a fantastic idea every time that you saw the bracelet in your jewelry box. -and we have not even discussed the option of sailing on a less expensive Line yet.

 

LOL

I KID

My point being that people are always looking for rationalizations to spend more as well as to spend less. It's a never ending cycle.

 

Edited May 10, 2016 by StanandJim

[janecambridge]

Coco putty,thank you very much for your clear insight into a ph cabin.I could hardly believe the timing of this thread as my husband is sitting on his laptop wondering ( if we are offered it) if a good deal on an upgrade from concierge to ph would be worth paying for...I had already decided unless free,then no..He now agrees having read your review.We are going on Riviera and will be near the concierge lounge.I think that having access to the lounge,a balcony and access to the spa terrace will be worth the extra we are paying.We don't need extra cabin space.

Thank you....:D

[LHT28]

everyone has different priorities & things that they value

Glad you tried the PH & now you know you can be happy in a lesser Cat

 

Our friends book insides & are quite happy in those cabins

 

To each is own

[TravelingAngel]

To the many who have posted info on CC: THANK YOU for all of the information that made our first-time cruise experience that much more enjoyable.

 

I hope this information is useful. It's my little way to say thank you and pay it forward from the others who helped us so much as we researched and prepared for what turned out to be the best vacation we have ever had.

 

Thank you Deborah and Greg for taking the time to write about your experience. It seems everyone has a different opinion about what is necessary or not when booking a cabin, but it is fun to hear from others about what they found worth the extra cost. I don't pack too much because I have learned that I tend to wear some things over and over while other things get worn maybe once - so now I just pack the stuff I know I will want to wear a lot - but I still love the bigger closet in the PH!! And the bigger bathroom. And the bigger sitting area and table and chairs at the foot of the bed.:) We do use the butler for breakfast in our room every day we have an excursion, and the day we disembark. So for me, the cost of a PH :eek: is worth it.

 

If I don't do a PH, a concierge level veranda cabin is a must! I can't imagine not being able to step outside for some ocean air, right from my cabin, or to have a glass of wine with my honey, as we watch the sunset. To sit and have my morning latte (which honey brings me from the concierge lounge!;) ) on my private veranda, in my pjs, is a luxury I won't give up. And those little sandwiches are such a treat when we come back from an excursion - before we go to happy hour!:D

 

Bottom line for me is that a concierge level cabin is a necessity, but a PH cabin is really, really nice.:cool:

[wrl001]

My DW and I really enjoy the PH balcony. On our last cruise we saved the campaign till the last sail away from Gibraltar. Just before sail away, our butler brought our evening canapés of chocolate covered strawberries. It just doesn't get better than watching sunset at the Rock eating strawberries and drinking good campaign. L’Chaim.

[SellaVee]

Greg and Deborah, I have to disagree with StanandJim. I found your "after the fact" review quite apposite. Thanks for posting it.

[RJB]

Greg and Deborah, I have to disagree with StanandJim. I found your "after the fact" review quite apposite. Thanks for posting it.

It sure looked good to me. Glad you posted it.

[JPR]

My wife and I disagree with that conclusion. The sliding door closet on the sub-PH suites on Riviera and Marina is inconveniently placed right next to the side of the bed, which we found annoying as one of us had to wait for the other to be done before using the closet.

 

We much prefer the spacious walk-in closet on the "O" ships. We also enjoy having the course by course dinner in our suite at least once during the cruise (last night while we pack" so we like using the table at the end of the bed in the PH. Butler is useful too; he will unpack and pack for you if requested, and will return/change excursion vouchers, help with specialty restaurant reservation changes, etc.

Edited May 17, 2016 by JPR