What's the Class System Like on Oceania?

[Travelcat2]

+1 (again :D)

 

Wow - I only made last post to answer your question:confused: Actually, would love to know what the OP thinks after all of the discussion. Okay - I'm done as well!

[Lottie A]

I have to say that reading some of the responses on this thread worry me far more than not being able to have Eggs Benedict for breakfast on O!

[TrulyBlonde]

I have to say that reading some of the responses on this thread worry me far more than not being able to have Eggs Benedict for breakfast on O!

 

Don't worry Lottie A, the people that travel on O are as nice as they are on Azamara. You will definitely enjoy your R ship experience.

 

Typically, there is always one person that tries to ruin the experience and many on this Board know who that person is.

 

Go have fun and write to us after and do not fret. If your cruise has Med ports, try my suggestion and on a nice evening have dinner outside on the Terrace Cafe deck sipping a few glasses of wine. One of my favorite ports for that is St. Tropez..a lovely & memorable evening.

 

;-))

[Lottie A]

Don't worry Lottie A, the people that travel on O are as nice as they are on Azamara. You will definitely enjoy your R ship experience.

 

Typically, there is always one person that tries to ruin the experience and many on this Board know who that person is.

 

Go have fun and write to us after and do not fret. If your cruise has Med ports, try my suggestion and on a nice evening have dinner outside on the Terrace Cafe deck sipping a few glasses of wine. One of my favorite ports for that is St. Tropez..a lovely & memorable evening.

 

;-))

 

I was hoping you were around to answer my comment portofino! We will definitely try dinner on the Terrace, as we so enjoy dinner at Windows on

Azamara, with the lovely views from the back of the ship. We aren't going to St Tropez....but we are in Portofino on Nautica, ....so maybe Portofino is a good choice. Take your point about some people....but actually I don't think it's just that one person involved.

 

Will just have to get up and go to the MDR for Eggs Benedict. :) Not a problem.

 

Can't wait to be on Journey next week. I will look under the bed! 😄

[Rumpymuffin]

Don't worry Lottie A, the people that travel on O are as nice as they are on Azamara.

 

Azamara and Oceania are very similar, in our opinion. The food is better on O, but Azamara is a tad friendlier. I blame/credit the free wine! :) Have a wonderful cruise! Will be interested in your assessment when you return.

[Hawaiidan]

I was hoping you were around to answer my comment portofino! We will definitely try dinner on the Terrace, as we so enjoy dinner at Windows on

Azamara, with the lovely views from the back of the ship. We aren't going to St Tropez....but we are in Portofino on Nautica, ....so maybe Portofino is a good choice. Take your point about some people....but actually I don't think it's just that one person involved.

 

Will just have to get up and go to the MDR for Eggs Benedict. :) Not a problem.

 

Can't wait to be on Journey next week. I will look under the bed! 😄

 

 

In reading and experiencing both Regent many times and Oceania many times has brought me to the simple conclusion that there in no class system.

However some passengers bring on board, in addition to their normal baggage, personal "attitude"

Statements, we only stay in top suites, we dont mingle with just any one, we enjoy dining with the officers and captain, all are perhaps indiciative of ones personal opinion of themselves?

 

The ships I have found do not foster or promote these "personal status" recognition. The ships staff wont insult them and in some way give taciturn recognition of such a person. Its just PR for them to recognize ego in need. Its polite to smile in such situations.

In turn I have while staying in the cheapest inside been invited to the captains sea cabin for drinks.... certainty a class system would have precluded such an unworthy, lowly person who's mere presence was an insult to the social elite; should never be allowed, to so associate .... the gentry would never tolerate such an intrusion into "their space"

 

However,when staff, when in the company of those passengers happy with just being aboard they are just as nice.... to the chagrin of those who feel that there should be a class system, at least for them...after all..I mean.

 

For many of us regulars we stay in any old cabin that strikes us, Do out laundry in the sink, Wonder what the heck they would ever do with a butler.. Dont have a clue who the officers or staff are, Would probably decline a dinner invitation with the Captain or General manager, and have never had a bad meal anywhere on either ship and enjoy being ourselves, as flawed as that may be. while meeting others on an open welcoming basis.

 

No, their is no class system, except in the hearts and minds of a very few who feel, the need to be so personally recognized........

 

AND Lotte, you can great Eggs Benedict in Terrace,,in fact they create several types...

[Cruseforme]

In reading and experiencing both Regent many times and Oceania many times has brought me to the simple conclusion that there in no class system.

However some passengers bring on board, in addition to their normal baggage, personal "attitude"

Statements, we only stay in top suites, we dont mingle with just any one, we enjoy dining with the officers and captain, all are perhaps indiciative of ones personal opinion of themselves?

 

The ships I have found do not foster or promote these "personal status" recognition. The ships staff wont insult them and in some way give taciturn recognition of such a person. Its just PR for them to recognize ego in need. Its polite to smile in such situations.

In turn I have while staying in the cheapest inside been invited to the captains sea cabin for drinks.... certainty a class system would have precluded such an unworthy, lowly person who's mere presence was an insult to the social elite; should never be allowed, to so associate .... the gentry would never tolerate such an intrusion into "their space"

 

However,when staff, when in the company of those passengers happy with just being aboard they are just as nice.... to the chagrin of those who feel that there should be a class system, at least for them...after all..I mean.

 

For many of us regulars we stay in any old cabin that strikes us, Do out laundry in the sink, Wonder what the heck they would ever do with a butler.. Dont have a clue who the officers or staff are, Would probably decline a dinner invitation with the Captain or General manager, and have never had a bad meal anywhere on either ship and enjoy being ourselves, as flawed as that may be. while meeting others on an open welcoming basis.

 

No, their is no class system, except in the hearts and minds of a very few who feel, the need to be so personally recognized........

 

AND Lotte, you can great Eggs Benedict in Terrace,,in fact they create several types...

 

YES +1 - Thank you for saying exactly what I have been thinking!!! At least for me reading through this thread, this is exactly what I wanted to say!!!!

[neepawa]

Cruseforme

 

Yes +2

 

Cheers,

 

Don

[Silver Sweethearts]

Note: I did not hold the butler's arm nor did we enter the restaurant together. He escorted us to the line going into a specialty restaurant and left.

 

Apropos of this and just curious, when a couple enters a restaurant on an Oceania ship, is the lady escorted to a table by one of the restaurant staff (as in the staff member offering his arm to the lady)?

[Flatbush Flyer]

Apropos of this and just curious, when a couple enters a restaurant on an Oceania ship, is the lady escorted to a table by one of the restaurant staff (as in the staff member offering his arm to the lady)?

 

 

Maybe if she's a bit unsteady from taking too much advantage of the Prestige Package. ;-)

[Travelcat2]

Apropos of this and just curious, when a couple enters a restaurant on an Oceania ship, is the lady escorted to a table by one of the restaurant staff (as in the staff member offering his arm to the lady)?

 

Sometimes but not always. It is a nice gesture but I prefer to be on the arm of my DH.

[Caroldoll]

Portofinoitaly, I am in your court exactly. There is one person who really talks about no class system, but avails themselves of every single benefit that they can including personal favors from management. We all know that.

 

Yes, the upper suites have a few perks. And those lines for boarding...hogwash...if you are in one of the other lines you may board first. They take everyone as they come..even though there are marked lines. Sometimes there are more people in the named suites lines than the others.

 

About the Terrace where we always eat breakfast and lunch, there are indeed eggs benedict. They are on the wall side where the yummy cinnamon rolls are and you order them.

 

We always stay in the OS because my husband is huge and wants the room. We never never let the butler escort us. He understands no...all of them do.

 

We never use room service, and only on two occasions have we ever had anyone to the suite. Chatkat was one. We didn't serve a complete dinner...too pretentious.

 

About the specialty restaurants, we eat there all the time BECAUSE WE CAN EAT LESS. We don't have to wait for four or five courses. We sometimes go to Polo and only have onion soup. Sometimes we just have salad. In Toscano we only have an appetizer of Carpaccio and salad. No main course. In Red Ginger only sashimi and Udon noodles. Nothing else ever. If we go to the MDR we have to go through the whole dinner ordeal and we just don't eat all that. Not only that, we are not interested in the two hour ordeal.

 

I feel strongly that if you pay more, you should/could get more.

 

This other person always pays for Business Class air. OMG, there is no banging on the airlines for having Coach and not extending all the benefits to everyone. How disingenuous. Unbelievable.

[Travelcat2]

Portofinoitaly, I am in your court exactly. There is one person who really talks about no class system, but avails themselves of every single benefit that they can including personal favors from management. We all know that.

 

Yes, the upper suites have a few perks. And those lines for boarding...hogwash...if you are in one of the other lines you may board first. They take everyone as they come..even though there are marked lines. Sometimes there are more people in the named suites lines than the others.

 

About the Terrace where we always eat breakfast and lunch, there are indeed eggs benedict. They are on the wall side where the yummy cinnamon rolls are and you order them.

 

We always stay in the OS because my husband is huge and wants the room. We never never let the butler escort us. He understands no...all of them do.

 

We never use room service, and only on two occasions have we ever had anyone to the suite. Chatkat was one. We didn't serve a complete dinner...too pretentious.

 

About the specialty restaurants, we eat there all the time BECAUSE WE CAN EAT LESS. We don't have to wait for four or five courses. We sometimes go to Polo and only have onion soup. Sometimes we just have salad. In Toscano we only have an appetizer of Carpaccio and salad. No main course. In Red Ginger only sashimi and Udon noodles. Nothing else ever. If we go to the MDR we have to go through the whole dinner ordeal and we just don't eat all that. Not only that, we are not interested in the two hour ordeal.

 

I feel strongly that if you pay more, you should/could get more.

 

This other person always pays for Business Class air. OMG, there is no banging on the airlines for having Coach and not extending all the benefits to everyone. How disingenuous. Unbelievable.

 

Owners suite, private jets...... the pot calling the kettle black. Is anyone so large that they need the Owners suite? Eating in specialty restaurants so you don't eat too much? Really? Enough said!!!!!!!,

[ChatKat in Ca.]

Apropos of this and just curious, when a couple enters a restaurant on an Oceania ship, is the lady escorted to a table by one of the restaurant staff (as in the staff member offering his arm to the lady)?

 

Some times, yes and sometimes no. Depends on the host. And not just on Oceania. I have experienced this on other lines.

[Spursgirl]

If you go to the grocery store and pay for hamburger meat why would you expect to get a steak?

 

People who want more than what is offered at their level of passage have the option of paying for it. People travel on NCL get what they pay for. People who want the all inclusive of Regent pay for it. Same on Oceania. We live in a society that you have to pay to play.

 

If you want to take a flightseeing excursion rather than a bus tour overview in Alaska - it costs more.

 

You can eat at McDonalds for a Hamburger or you can have a Steak at Ruths Chris.

 

Why should people who buy at the base level get all the amenities and have them subsidized by those who pay for the OS?

 

I am looking forward immensely to my first Oceania cruise and have no problem with passengers in higher level staterooms receiving more speciality dining opportunities or 'invisible' perks.

 

However, I did think I might be permitted to have a boiled egg for breakfast in my cabin and I am rather surprised this is only possible for those in Penthouse or above.

 

Seems very strange to me

[ChatKat in Ca.]

At least Carol pays for her perks and acknowledges that she worked hard to afford what she spends money on.

 

Some people have told me to my face that they were given a free cruise in the OS but won't acknowledge that benefit and vehemently deny that.

[Caroldoll]

You go girl! LOL

[durante]

Caroldoll, just to let you know you are not forced into eating 4 courses in the MDR, you can have as much or as little as you like. In a way, it's better to go there if you only want one thing, rather than to a speciality restaurant for one thing, because you are taking up a speciality reservation which could otherwise have gone to another guest who wanted to get more out of their time trying various courses and having a proper meal in that restaurant.

Having an OS, you can get your butler to deliver that one thing from any speciality restaurant to your suite instead of going to the restaurant yourself. Just an idea?

[SellaVee]

I am looking forward immensely to my first Oceania cruise and have no problem with passengers in higher level staterooms receiving more speciality dining opportunities or 'invisible' perks.

 

However, I did think I might be permitted to have a boiled egg for breakfast in my cabin and I am rather surprised this is only possible for those in Penthouse or above.

 

Seems very strange to me

 

I may be wrong, but I thought cooked breakfasts were available to those in concierge. Certainly in concierge on Insignia last year the steward was encouraging me to order an omelette when he delivered my boiled egg. We very rarely have breakfast in our room so it isn't something I've really paid attention too but we had a very early start one day with a long day of touring ahead of us.

 

I do know someone who booked a Penthouse to be sure of a cooked breakfast, hence my uncertainty. (She might just have fancied a Penthouse :)).

[Spursgirl]

I may be wrong, but I thought cooked breakfasts were available to those in concierge. Certainly in concierge on Insignia last year the steward was encouraging me to order an omelette when he delivered my boiled egg. We very rarely have breakfast in our room so it isn't something I've really paid attention too but we had a very early start one day with a long day of touring ahead of us.

 

I do know someone who booked a Penthouse to be sure of a cooked breakfast, hence my uncertainty. (She might just have fancied a Penthouse :)).

 

Thank you SellaVee,

 

I am an Oceania newbie so am being guided by others on this board at the moment.

 

Rarely have breakfast (hot or cold) in my cabin but think it bizarre that only those in higher grade staterooms can have a hot breakfast in their room. Certainly not my experience on the many other cruise lines I have sailed.

 

However this unimportant issue will not affect my enjoyment of the cruise one bit.

[StanandJim]

Ladies Ladies, Stop the Fighting, You're all Pretty

I do wish that they would kill this thread, it has run its course.

[Lottie A]

Ladies Ladies, Stop the Fighting, You're all Pretty

I do wish that they would kill this thread, it has run its course.

 

Well, I'm finding this thread very illuminating and while I'm not getting involved in the various personal issues between posters, I think many O newbie's including myself and Spursgirl are reading this thread with interest.

 

No-one has to read any thread if they are not interested in it.

[Flatbush Flyer]

Well, I'm finding this thread very illuminating and while I'm not getting involved in the various personal issues between posters, I think many O newbie's including myself and Spursgirl are reading this thread with interest.

 

 

 

No-one has to read any thread if they are not interested in it.

 

 

It's hard not to follow the cat fight. In part, it reminds me of some small side plot from an antique TV soap like "Guiding Light."

 

Particularly amusing is the reference to long gone "class system" practices (real or imagined) like a restaurant underling escorting by arm a woman patron.

 

Can you imagine the look on a contemporary professional woman's face if, in this day and age, an employee in a Michelin starred restaurant (make that any decent cosmopolitan restaurant) offered an arm escort to someone already accompanied (or even alone?

[janecambridge]

Well, I'm finding this thread very illuminating and while I'm not getting involved in the various personal issues between posters, I think many O newbie's including myself and Spursgirl are reading this thread with interest.

 

No-one has to read any thread if they are not interested in it.

 

I'm a newbie too and can't wait for the next instalment!,😈

[Rob the Cruiser]

I'm a newbie too and can't wait for the next instalment!,😈

 

Same here. I'm enjoying the show.