Oceania - Princess Anyone compare cruise and pricing?

[muggo11]

No reason to venture outside save for specialty restaurants, casino and shows. 😍😍

[Paulchili]

9 minutes ago, muggo11 said:

No reason to venture outside save for specialty restaurants, casino and shows. 😍😍

So presumably the Yacht Club is much larger and includes more venues and dining options than NCL’s  Haven.

I cannot imagine not venturing outside of Haven on NCL and that’s when it gets a bit more “complicated” 😀

[njhorseman]

40 minutes ago, Paulchili said:

So presumably the Yacht Club is much larger and includes more venues and dining options than NCL’s  Haven.

I cannot imagine not venturing outside of Haven on NCL and that’s when it gets a bit more “complicated” 😀

 I'd say that what "muggo11" says also applies to NCL's Haven..."no need to venture outside save for specialty restaurants, casinos and shows".  Normally that's about all I leave the NCL Haven for...maybe just adding  the spa if I'm in a spa suite. 

 

What else would you venture outside for?

[Wishing on a star]

I think,  that since I admit to being an "American Tourist', (I know!  I know!) perhaps MSC would be a bit to European for us???

To be honest, I haven't looked that closely,  but I have not seen an itinerary with some of the ports that we want to visit.

I do believe that the Yacht Club sounds great!

[cruisemom42]

22 hours ago, muggo11 said:

No reason to venture outside save for specialty restaurants, casino and shows. 😍😍

 

That's three reasons right there. 

 

I'm not a big fan of the "ship within a ship" concept, but glad you enjoyed it.

[Paulchili]

12 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

I'm not a big fan of the "ship within a ship" concept, but glad you enjoyed it.

Ditto.

I prefer for the entire ship to be a pleasant experience all around without having to retreat to my cocoon.

[zoncom]

  STAR, O vs. Princess is like KMart to NM.     7Ns is way too short for a Euro cruise .You may be jetlagged and tired first day or 2. Consider doing a TA plus a 7Ner.  OR, an INSIDE cabin since in Europe you will be in port most days Few Insides so book early. Do not let the waitlist offer scare you. Unless you book very early the Miami staff puts everyone on waitlist. Its a game. Have not been on Princess in several years when Celebrity was sold out. I found Princess food mediocre.Just stay away from O air unless you call the line/routes with an extra fee. 

[zoncom]

  STAR, O vs. Princess is like KMart to NM.     7Ns is way too short for a Euro cruise .You may be jetlagged and tired first day or 2. Consider doing a TA plus a 7Ner.  OR, an INSIDE cabin since in Europe you will be in port most days Few Insides so book early. Very well priced.  Do not let the waitlist offer scare you. Unless you book very early the Miami staff puts everyone on waitlist. Its a game. Have not been on Princess in several years when Celebrity was sold out. I found Princess food mediocre.Just stay away from O air unless you call the line/routes with an extra fee. 

[Hawaiidan]

The reality  is for a European cruise, considering the flights cost, the 8 hours of jet lag to adjust to, the value ot the passenger of the resulting experience and on board amenities appreciation nothing less than 10 to 14 days with at least  2 sea days .

A 7 day is really not a cruise  but a steady tempo of dawn to dusk  running from place to place.   Get up  hurry to eat, run your butt off all over ports, Drag back to the ship  eat something before collapsing in bed to prepare for the next days assault.   Over and over.... no sea days,  no relaxation....

 

After 7 days you will be able to say... well I was there... and as you pass out on the return flight you will get your first respite from your  mad dash.     

 

Sure 10-14 days will cost more but it will deliver way more in value and enjoyment than a 7 day.... Where you no sooner get off the plane and on the ship than your having to re-pack and prepare to go home.   THAT  is not a recipe for happiness.     Save up a bit,  take a lesser cabin... but spend more time.. it will be worth more than you imagine.

Your trying to compare Princess and others to Oceania.   Thats not realistic.   O is many times more   Your ford is never going to be as nice as a lexus or Mercedes... no matter how you figure    Princess is a nice Best Western....   Oceania is 4 seasons/ Ritz Carlton in comparison...  You can not even remotely compare..it is folly to do so...  They are 2 different products and experiences.

You will get far more value for your dollar on O than on any mass market line........   and forget money...  What is the value of being on a ship with not hundreds less passengers but thousands, ?

  You had to book on Princess a escape  sanctuary to get away from that.....On Oceania  the entire ship is a sanctuary at no charge

[cruzzzinma]

On 12/27/2019 at 1:34 PM, Wishing on a star said:

If moving up to a veranda, do the ones at the rear of Deck 7 have much deeper balconies?  Would they be worth consideration.  I usually do not prefer to be Aft on a ship, feeling the engine vibration.

Yes, the balconies Deck 7 aft are deeper. The closer you get to the railing, people can look down on you from upper decks. We couldn’t be seen when we sat close to the balcony doors. On Riviera, we didn’t feel any vibration  nor was there any noise from the GDR. If you have sea days, it would be worth considering. 

[muggo11]

Love this thread. Agree that I would never fly to Europe for a 7 day cruise. We always add a week or two before or after. The past few years, this has meant longer stays in the port cities of Marseille, Venice and Copenhagen and train/interior stays in Paris, Vienna, and Como. Just not worth the airfare or jet lag unless you stay for at least two weeks, imho.  Same thing for cruises from South Pacific and Australia. Plus you just have a deeper travel experience. 
 

There is certainly a style and a line of cruises for every taste and pocketbook. Key is knowing your experiential goals. And key to knowing what you like is to learn (sometimes the hard way) what you don’t like!  Sea days vs. ports, stateroom location and type, food, inclusive vs a la carte pricing. And general ambiance—which you have to experience to grok. 

all the luck in making your choice. 

 

[sammiedawg]

The lines are not comparable and Oceania will cost twice the per diem of Princess.  But you get a superior product for your money.  I have not regretted any Oceania fare paid.

i also like Princess, certain ships and itineraries.  We love their Alaskan itineraries on the coral Princess, considered a premium ship for the line.   More space per passenger.

Panama Canal on Coral is also well done. 

i disliked my one trip on a super grand class ship, crowded and noisy.   
Their Grand class ships are OK, but aging. Good values. 

Have not been on any of the newer Princess ships launched in the last six or seven years. 
 

We have  had very good service on both lines.  Princess treated us royally when something happened to us on board.   I will always have a soft spot for them.

 

Food is absolutely not comparable with Oceania being a couple levels higher than any mass market cruise line.  
The specialty restaurants on Princess  are relatively cheap and are good.  
great entertainment on Princess. 

Edited December 30, 2019 by sammiedawg

[Wishing on a star]

The two biggest ports/destinations would be the departure (Rome) and ending (Athens).  So those would be great, covered with extra days before and after.   I had wanted to visit Dubrovnik and maybe sail into Kotor,  but this cruise covers Ephesus, Messina, and other great sights.   So, for a 7 day, I do think it works well.   Especially when time and budget are factors.

 

Decisions!  Decisions!

 

Cruzzzinma, Thanks!   If you were in one of the Aft extended balconies, I wonder about how far back.  And, you didn't seem to notice vibration from the engines.  I think I would like motion more forward over the vibration!

 

Edited December 30, 2019 by Wishing on a star

[Hawaiidan]

2 hours ago, Wishing on a star said:

The two biggest ports/destinations would be the departure (Rome) and ending (Athens).  So those would be great, covered with extra days before and after.   I had wanted to visit Dubrovnik and maybe sail into Kotor,  but this cruise covers Ephesus, Messina, and other great sights.   So, for a 7 day, I do think it works well.   Especially when time and budget are factors.

 

Decisions!  Decisions!

 

Cruzzzinma, Thanks!   If you were in one of the Aft extended balconies, I wonder about how far back.  And, you didn't seem to notice vibration from the engines.  I think I would like motion more forward over the vibration!

 

 Please understand  that all your sailing will be at night  far from land.    Your sailing into Kotor will be almost before dawn and  evening departure..... A veranda or ocean view becomes  of  little use. 

 

About the only amenities of the ship  that you will use are the bathroom, bed and  the terrace cafe. 80% of your waking hours will be spent off the ship   You will be out of the cabin eating and then returning to sleep and rest  will become not a choice  but a necessity brought on by the hectic pace you choose..  Too tired to endure a show, a long dinner at specialties,   

 

You must ask yourself  just what you hope to accomplish with a balcony or for that matter a night view of the sea with no land in sight ?    In effect you  would be paying for a high price   inside cabin experience. .    Think through what it is that you want to achieve. 

If it were me... and I had limited time and money  I would simply wait till I got more of both and then could enjoy the experience.....  I learned many years ago  7 days was cheating myself.  When you add the stress of long distance long flights, and jet lag it makes 7 days even  shorter.         

 

[cruisemom42]

13 hours ago, Wishing on a star said:

The two biggest ports/destinations would be the departure (Rome) and ending (Athens).  So those would be great, covered with extra days before and after.   I had wanted to visit Dubrovnik and maybe sail into Kotor,  but this cruise covers Ephesus, Messina, and other great sights.   So, for a 7 day, I do think it works well.   Especially when time and budget are factors.

 

Decisions!  Decisions!

 

 

 

If you are definitely planning to spend some days pre-cruise in Rome and afterwards in Athens, then I could see the 7-day cruise as an attractive option. I would plan on at least 4 days in Rome (one of which could be spent on a day trip somewhere like Orvieto, Tivoli, or even Florence), and 3 days in Athens including the day you arrive.

 

I like to mix cruises and land travel -- you get a more immersive experience on land, but being at sea is also something I enjoy.

 

Also, while Kotor and Dubrovnik are interesting they are not a "must" -- at least for a first Med cruise. Dubrovnik is hugely overpacked with tourists throughout much of the Med season, making it unpleasant. And with Kotor, the primary thing (at least to me) was sailing up the bay. On my first visit there, I was on a ship that spent the entire morning on the sail on. 

[PRINCESS Sweet Pea]

Thanks again everyone!   

I have gotten a lot of good info and feedback.