What's the Class System Like on Oceania?

[Bowie MeMe]

I love O and this will be my 4th cruise on O /R ships and I have been on Azamara and Princess R ships too. I always get Oceanview right by the stairs. I am not a fancy dancy person and don't particularly like those who put on airs. I guess I don't miss the butler because I probably wouldn't know what to do with such a person -- I'm pretty capable of going and getting what I need at the desk or from whomever. I think it might be like when I had maid service while recovering -- felt like I needed to clean for the maid.:p

 

I have always been able to get as many specialty restaurants as I wanted. Our first O trip we were looking around and the restaurant head who was taking reservations asked if we wanted to dine that first night. So maybe we got lucky and got to know the right person right off. I really prefer to eat in the main dining room. Slightly faster, more choices and different mix of folks each night. At the specialty restaurant, folks dine! and dine! and dine! I can get bored if we are not with the right folks. ( I guess I'm just not into the olive oil tasting and I don't drink wine so give me my bread and tea and lets go:D)

 

If you like to talk travel with folks who tend to be well travelled and well educated O is a good choice. If you like people who have been fairly successful at a variety of neat occupations, O is good. I feel that you are an individual on the O ships and the staff and crew and entertainers/lecturers get to know you as a person a bit (or they fake it well) and often eat in the dining room with the passengers. If you are friendly and kind and interesting, you will find others like you. If you are not friendly and kind -- just stay off my sailings:D A great vacation for me does NOT have 4000 others on the same ship. I only do that as a meeting space for all my families to get together in one place every 2 years.

[Flatbush Flyer]

On Riviera and Marina there are cooking and art "classes" :-)

[Jay23]

On Riviera and Marina there are cooking and art "classes" :-)

 

Yes

[Floridiana]

We've done 4 cruises and have not noticed being treated differently except for boarding time!

 

We were on a sailing once where they did not differentiate the boarding time according to state room level. Later I heard from other passengers that the people in the Owner's Suite made a big fuss because of it and swore that hey would never sail O again.

 

We have never been in one of the most expensive state rooms and only had a butler once. Don't really need him. I never felt that we were treated differently with or without butler. The butler, of course, tried his best to provide superior service.

[tvmovielover]

We were on a sailing once where they did not differentiate the boarding time according to state room level. Later I heard from other passengers that the people in the Owner's Suite made a big fuss because of it and swore that hey would never sail O again.

 

We have never been in one of the most expensive state rooms and only had a butler once. Don't really need him. I never felt that we were treated differently with or without butler. The butler, of course, tried his best to provide superior service.

 

Our O plane schedules got us there both times late enough so cabin level made no difference and we got on board with little waiting. There are sometimes lines right at the opening of the MDR but they move fast as do those at the specialties when several people arrive at a new starting time. We have never known what cabins people we did trivia, etc had. The concierge lounge is nothing special. As said above, perks are there but are not in your face.

 

The only perk that people need to be aware of is making reservations for specialty restaurants and maybe cooking classes as soon as possible at any level. You can still get reservations or classes on board sometimes but there is less choice. I met people on the first cruise who got almost no specialty reservations because they did not read cruise critic and could not get tables for their group size on board.

 

We went on a large ship cruise off Florida after our 2 O cruises-never again. The lines for the dining room even with reserved times were terrible as was the food. We got lucky that members of our trivia team with "diamond" bar privileges brought snacks from that bar to our trivia table. I do not care if frequent cruisers get perks on any line but like O because those perks are not in your face all the time.

[Hawaiidan]

I love O and this will be my 4th cruise on O /R ships and I have been on Azamara and Princess R ships too. I always get Oceanview right by the stairs. I am not a fancy dancy person and don't particularly like those who put on airs. I guess I don't miss the butler because I probably wouldn't know what to do with such a person -- I'm pretty capable of going and getting what I need at the desk or from whomever. I think it might be like when I had maid service while recovering -- felt like I needed to clean for the maid.:p

 

I have always been able to get as many specialty restaurants as I wanted. Our first O trip we were looking around and the restaurant head who was taking reservations asked if we wanted to dine that first night. So maybe we got lucky and got to know the right person right off. I really prefer to eat in the main dining room. Slightly faster, more choices and different mix of folks each night. At the specialty restaurant, folks dine! and dine! and dine! I can get bored if we are not with the right folks. ( I guess I'm just not into the olive oil tasting and I don't drink wine so give me my bread and tea and lets go:D)

 

If you like to talk travel with folks who tend to be well travelled and well educated O is a good choice. If you like people who have been fairly successful at a variety of neat occupations, O is good. I feel that you are an individual on the O ships and the staff and crew and entertainers/lecturers get to know you as a person a bit (or they fake it well) and often eat in the dining room with the passengers. If you are friendly and kind and interesting, you will find others like you. If you are not friendly and kind -- just stay off my sailings:D A great vacation for me does NOT have 4000 others on the same ship. I only do that as a meeting space for all my families to get together in one place every 2 years.

 

Outstanding and totaly correct..... you have it exactly.. ( I agree on the butler thing....why have one ??)

[oceansandseas]

o

 

When arriving at the desk to enter the GDR on Riviera, you are asked for your cabin number. This is every time, not for making reservations, but to be seated.

 

We are usually B2 grade, and we have had a table for 2 at the "rail" a few times. Regulars will know what the "rail" is. The 2 tier "rail" has an odd feeling. You look at someone's head or feet. The 1 tier "rail" is worse. You can hear every word of conversation of the people sitting on the other side of the "rail" and they can hear every word you say. It would be better to just sit at the same table as them. I am sure people in the suites would not be given these tables.

 

We do share, but when we want to make sure we are out in time for the show, we ask for a table for 2.

 

Being a B2 and going on line the first day possible to get specialty dining, it is impossible to get anything around 7:00. Usually sea days are also all booked up.

 

Reservations are not allowed in the GDR. However, on our last cruise, a couple dined at the same table every night. Just the 2 of them at a table for 4. I am not sure if they were in a suite, or very big tippers.

 

 

o

[Paulchili]

Oceansandseas,

Why don't you get the number of your favorite table (and a couple more as back ups) and ask for it by number.

If there is nobody seated there at the time you arrive, chances are excellent that you will get it

Edited May 31, 2016 by Paulchili

[ORV]

I've got some really good tables(for 2, by the window) while in an inside, and some real average tables while in a suite. Not always a factor.

 

There is plenty of favoritism on Oceania, but you may not ever know it. There are people that do get extra perks, make no doubt about it.

Edited May 31, 2016 by ORV

[Solent Richard]

We have grown tired of mass market cruising and have started to branch out towards the premium lines. Our last cruise was on Windstar and we really enjoyed it. One of the things we particularly enjoyed was that everybody on board was treated equally, no matter what state room they were in or how many past cruises they had done with Windstar. There was no special lines for "Suites and Elites", no restricted bars and lounges for "Diamonds and above". None of that that divisive class elitism. It was really nice.

 

I am getting so tired of going on vacation and being told that I can't have something because I don't have the proper rewards status. So much so, that we will no longer go to any Harrah's Casino property. The last straw came when we were told we couldn't have our crab heated in the buffet. Steamed crab was reserved for "Seven Stars and above members", while everybody else eats chilled crab. Stuff like that really irks me.

 

We are now looking at doing a cruise on Oceania next year. The ships look really nice. The food looks really nice. It really seems like Oceania is a good fit for us. The only thing we are really worried about is the class system, so..... What's the class system like on Oceania?

 

Is there one?

[Solent Richard]

Once on board, everyone is treated alike. Only "privileges" come with booking a larger cabin/suite and all that gives you is a few days head start to book your dinner reservations. Sail O for the first time, book a suite, and you will have the same "privileges" as a long time Oceania Club member.

 

Many of us grew tired of the mass market lines also with their never ending cut backs in food quality and building ships with smaller and smaller cabins just to cram more people on board. You will not be disappointed in O.

 

That's just about it.

[Solent Richard]

We were on a sailing once where they did not differentiate the boarding time according to state room level. Later I heard from other passengers that the people in the Owner's Suite made a big fuss because of it and swore that hey would never sail O again.

 

We have never been in one of the most expensive state rooms and only had a butler once. Don't really need him. I never felt that we were treated differently with or without butler. The butler, of course, tried his best to provide superior service.

 

On our recent (January) Riviera cruise from Miami we had booked a Penthouse Suite (PH2 Grade, 10027) and there was a priority check-in channel with an 11.00 am check-in time.

 

It worked wonderfully well even though we arrived some 15 minutes early...

 

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2016/01/31/oceania-riviera-mayan-mystique/

[Paulchili]

 

There is plenty of favoritism on Oceania, but you may not ever know it. There are people that do get extra perks, make no doubt about it.

 

Agreed.

That said, I know people who are approaching their 50's Oceania sailing (if they haven't gone past 50 already). They seem to know everyone and everyone seems to knows them because of their frequent cruises on Oceania.

I do not begrudge them some of these extra perks as they well deserve them, IMO.

In addition, they are most unassuming, gracious and generous people - which is a great asset as well. When you treat people well, most likely you will get treated well in return.

PS There is a couple that has exceeded 60 O cruises and O had to create a new loyalty level because of (or for) them. Same things can be said about them as I have said about the other couple and I am sure they too are treated very well and receive some extra (invisible) perks - as they should and well deserve after 60+ O cruises. Doing otherwise would be foolish and reprehensible for O.

Edited May 31, 2016 by Paulchili

[CorgiNole]

Admittedly I misread the question initially, so my response was along the lines of this low-level university administrator being treated as well as any of the wealthy retirees on board... I had a fabulous time chatting with people in Horizons who are so far removed from my own socioeconomic status that we are not in the same galaxy. I didn't notice any class distinctions in that manner.

 

Then I re-read the question. And my answer is similar - I really did not notice class of service distinctions while on board. The cruise I just came off of was my first on Oceania. I did get to participate in several of the perks of loyal Oceania passengers as it was my mother's 9th cruise with them. I attended the cocktail party for long-time cruisers. Nice, but not something I would be heartbroken to miss. We had a verandah stateroom and were treated no differently from other passengers.

 

Mom pointed out the spa deck that is available to people booked in suites - but as neither of us are big into sitting in sun chairs or using spa amenities, it is not an issue for us. And not worth paying extra for that type of perk. Mom did comment on seating location in the grand dining room, more towards the stern as she is sensitive to vibration and such, but when she asked if we could be seated more forward that was quickly granted. Based on the cabin we booked, we were allowed one reservation at each of the specials, and could have asked for more. For me, one at each special was enough. I like the atmosphere of the grand dining room.

 

Crew certainly did not make any distinctions that I could tell. We were greeted warmly at every turn and made to feel at home.

 

Cheers, K

[Wendy The Wanderer]

...

Since you are a frequent Regent cruiser....maybe you know the answer....why the need to always ask our suite numbers when going to any of the dinner venues on board the Mariner? We and the party we were traveling with were both in a Penthouse A suites and always seemed to get good tables for the four of us. I got the impression that they put you in certain areas depending on your suite location.

 

All the key cards are not the same color either on Regent.

 

Even on luxury lines...the more you pay the more amenities you get.

 

As Jackie pointed out, if you mean the specialty restos on Regent, then they ask for your number to be fair, and to be able to get in touch if you're a no-show. I have *never* been asked for my room card or number in the non-reservation restaurants like Compass Rose.

 

As for key cards, yes, they are coloured by loyalty tier. Not sure if it makes a difference at all, since you are so rarely asked to show your card.

 

I believe that status on Regent is somewhat less important than on Oceania, but agree that neither line has much in the way of classism. And the only lines (or crowding) that we experienced on Oceania was at the bars during happy hour!

[jeaniemat]

We recently returned from our first cruise on Riviera and now we could never return to mainstream lines. Everything is head and shoulders above the much larger cruise ships. We stayed in concierge level, which was great but because the ship is simply beautiful with many places to relax we were never in our cabin save for getting ready and sleeping. We have booked another cruise for October, this time opting for an inside as they offer excellent value for money and as others have said everybody gets treated virtually equally. For us any extra perks were certainly not worth the extra money paid. This is actually the first time we have opted for an inside but with a ship like Riviera feel it is a worth a try, we can then have two cruises for the price of one. Personally I never noticed any class system, everyone we spoke to were friendly and interesting and we certainly could never guess who was in a suite or inside. Book oceania I don't think you will be disappointed. We weren't and can't wait for our next cruise.

[juli2020]

As Jackie pointed out, if you mean the specialty restos on Regent, then they ask for your number to be fair, and to be able to get in touch if you're a no-show. I have *never* been asked for my room card or number in the non-reservation restaurants like Compass Rose.

As for key cards, yes, they are coloured by loyalty tier. Not sure if it makes a difference at all, since you are so rarely asked to show your card.

 

I believe that status on Regent is somewhat less important than on Oceania, but agree that neither line has much in the way of classism. And the only lines (or crowding) that we experienced on Oceania was at the bars during happy hour!

 

Wendy,

We were a party of four traveling together. We were always asked for our suite numbers in Compass Rose (dinner). I saw other passengers being asked for their suite numbers also in Compass Rose.

 

This had nothing to do with the specialty restaurants.

[LHT28]

Wendy,

We were a party of four traveling together. We were always asked for our suite numbers in Compass Rose (dinner). I saw other passengers being asked for their suite numbers also in Compass Rose.

 

This had nothing to do with the specialty restaurants.

This may be something new with PCH

we were asked for our cabin numbers on a Regatta cruise in April

This was a first time on Oceania this has happened for the GDR

I am not sure why ..maybe just to get to remember your names ;)

 

No special table section by cabin cat ....we sat in different parts of the dining room during the cruise

Lyn

[Travelcat2]

Wendy,

We were a party of four traveling together. We were always asked for our suite numbers in Compass Rose (dinner). I saw other passengers being asked for their suite numbers also in Compass Rose.

 

This had nothing to do with the specialty restaurants.

 

Agree that this is something new. We have never been asked for our suite number in Compass Rose or Sette Mari. Think I'll ask the question on the Regent board.

[2552phxcrzr]

Agree that this is something new. We have never been asked for our suite number in Compass Rose or Sette Mari. Think I'll ask the question on the Regent board.

 

Not on O ... since we did not go to the main dining room on our short Med cruise last year ... but on other cruiselines, we assumed the question re: cabin/suite number had to do with the allocation of tips to servers since we did not always sit at the same table or have the same server. In specialty restaurants, it was the quickest way of confirming our reservation (and again, tip allocation).

[Travelcat2]

Not on O ... since we did not go to the main dining room on our short Med cruise last year ... but on other cruiselines, we assumed the question re: cabin/suite number had to do with the allocation of tips to servers since we did not always sit at the same table or have the same server. In specialty restaurants, it was the quickest way of confirming our reservation (and again, tip allocation).

 

Thank you for your response. I did not think about tip allocation. We typically sail on an all-inclusive cruise line where tips are not a consideration. I just learned that Regent (Oceania's sister cruise line) has been asking for suite numbers. This is concerning as, to my knowledge, there is no reason why they need to know that information.

 

We did not eat in the main dining room on either of our Oceania cruises but do not recall being asked for our suite number in the Terrace Café (where we only dined once in the evening).

[Flatbush Flyer]

Thank you for your response. I did not think about tip allocation. We typically sail on an all-inclusive cruise line where tips are not a consideration. I just learned that Regent (Oceania's sister cruise line) has been asking for suite numbers. This is concerning as, to my knowledge, there is no reason why they need to know that information.

 

 

 

We did not eat in the main dining room on either of our Oceania cruises but do not recall being asked for our suite number in the Terrace Café (where we only dined once in the evening).

 

 

There's a very legitimate reason to collect this data in the GDR. Over time, Oceania will have a better idea of the dining behavior of its passengers in general and disaggregated in various ways. For example, is there a significant difference between and among cabin classes when it comes to how often and at what preferred times they dine in the GDR? Questions like this can help with decisions regarding provisioning, marketing, etc.

Because of the reservation system, they already have the data for the specialty restaurants. The nature of the Terrace Grill would make collecting such data impractical.

[Mura]

I cannot remember ever being asked for our cabin numbers on Oceania other than when booking a specialty reservation. From what I have read here, they did start asking that information (and even proof with your room card) during the various Noro outbreaks. Maybe they decided to continue the process?

 

We will be on Nautica next month and will see what happens there.

 

I don't mind giving this information, it's just easier if we don't have to.

 

Mura

[Mura]

On another issue, if you don't like the table you send you to you can always ask for another. Others have indicated this as well. Just because they ask for your room number does NOT necessarily mean that you are limited to certain tables.

 

Usually we have been in PH suites, sometimes higher, but those were the days when they did not ask us for our room number upon checking in. On the "R" ships, my husband doesn't like to sit in the center section because of the noise level -- he can't hear as well there as he can on the outer edges. So we tend to ask for a table not in the center.

 

But if they take you to a table that you don't like, it never hurts to ask to be placed elsewhere. Unless the dining room is so busy that there is no other option, they will accommodate you.

 

Our biggest complaint has always been when we got a table for two when we wanted to share! But they don't want to start a table and then have no one else show up within a short time, so if we are the first two and no one is line, we will end up at a table for two. We understand the problem and acquiesce.

 

We just accepted a downgrade on Nautica to a B2 (they made an offer we couldn't refuse although now we wish we had!) so we will pay attention to where they seat us next month and if we can opt for a change. Will let you know in July what our experience was.

 

Mura

[LHT28]

what a load of nonsense about getting a table location because of your cabin cat

we were on Regatta for 3 wks ..we ate in the GDR most evenings

We sat along the side, in the back, closer to the entrance & in the middle

we were in the same cabin for the 3 wks

 

Have no idea why they are now asking for cabin numbers it is not a big deal to say #1234 & get seated :rolleyes:

 

much ado about nothing IMO