Owners Suite v Vista on Riviera

[LGW59]

Both seem amazing and spacious.  Owners is aft facing and Vista is forward.  I’m partial to forward.  Got a 16 day in 2022, really just curious on comments from folks who have sailed in both.  I need a balcony that does not have a direct drop down to the water, height wide open issues.  Got a Vista currently forward booked, but also love aft wake views as long as my drop down view is not to the water.  Am I off base on either?  Appreciate any feedback.
 

 

[marieps]

You're going all-out on your first O voyage.  Sweet (Suite).  

[LGW59]

51 minutes ago, marieps said:

You're going all-out on your first O voyage.  Sweet (Suite).  

Pent up travel anxiety I suppose.  Got what we think is an amazing $$$ for our first O cruise.  Tend to spend a lot of time in the cabin too, so here’s hoping!  Though could be persuaded for an aft suite, my limitations not withstanding.

Edited September 24, 2021 by LGW59

[LHT28]

looking at the shape of the ship (slope) the higher deck cabins will overlook the lower decks  so not straight  drop to water except on the side  (maybe smaller  balconies)

Front  Vista suites you will look down on the foredeck  for the most part

[shepherd really]

7 hours ago, LHT28 said:

looking at the shape of the ship (slope) the higher deck cabins will overlook the lower decks  so not straight  drop to water except on the side  (maybe smaller  balconies)

Front  Vista suites you will look down on the foredeck  for the most part

Looking down on the Fore deck and the Bourgeois menu in La Reserve seem to go together somehow. 

[LGW59]

12 hours ago, LHT28 said:

looking at the shape of the ship (slope) the higher deck cabins will overlook the lower decks  so not straight  drop to water except on the side  (maybe smaller  balconies)

Front  Vista suites you will look down on the foredeck  for the most part

That is a great picture, def going to stay where I am currently booked.  Thx!

[ronrick1943]

The Owners Suite, you won’t be sorry.  Enjoy, comes with a lot of perks…………..

[LGW59]

46 minutes ago, ronrick1943 said:

The Owners Suite, you won’t be sorry.  Enjoy, comes with a lot of perks…………..

Thanks.  over and above Vista/what is listed on the booking info page?

[ronrick1943]

5 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

Thanks.  over and above Vista/what is listed on the booking info page?

It’s your butler, he/she can make anything you ask happen..including dinner reservations you want.  One thing for us, we don’t liken those little tables for two all in a row—-once we told are butler, always had a nice larger table.  Never have to get a number for the tenders, just show your key card at the tender station.  Last day on the ship, you can stay inn your suite until you’re ready to get off the ship. Waiting to board the ship, they came to us in the waiting area—got us checked in and escorted us on the ship to are waiting Butler who took us to are suite.  Lot’s of little things that make a difference.

One more nice thing, when you leave your suite for the first time, in they come and clean your suite asap.

[cruisingxpert]

Best thing about Owners Suite is that you get the Head Butler and they  are amazing.

 

My question would be how much time do you think you might spend on the balcony.  In the Vista, the furniture is often tied down and the balcony unusable if you are at sea.  Also at night, the curtains must be drawn and no light on the balcony because of the Bridge.

 

Personally, I think the Oceania Suites are the best value in the higher end suites.

[cruisingxpert]

Cruise Critic posted an extensive review with hundreds of pictures of everything on  Riviera if you want to take a look.

https://www.cruisecritic.com/photos/ships/riviera-607/

[ronrick1943]

40 minutes ago, cruisingxpert said:

Best thing about Owners Suite is that you get the Head Butler and they  are amazing.

 

My question would be how much time do you think you might spend on the balcony.  In the Vista, the furniture is often tied down and the balcony unusable if you are at sea.  Also at night, the curtains must be drawn and no light on the balcony because of the Bridge.

 

Personally, I think the Oceania Suites are the best value in the higher end suites.

Agree, I was talking about the Owners Suite.  We had a friend have a Vista Suite—it was like a wind tunnel if you opened the front door—when the door to the deck was open.

[LGW59]

1 hour ago, ronrick1943 said:

Agree, I was talking about the Owners Suite.  We had a friend have a Vista Suite—it was like a wind tunnel if you opened the front door—when the door to the deck was open.

@cruisingxpertand @ronrick1943thank you both for very informative and helpful information!  I currently have a Vista booked for early Dec 2022, checked on Owners and they are all wait listed.  I realized now that I can do one of those as there is no direct drop down to the water, which for whatever reason I cannot handle.  Give me big waves and rocking and rolling though and no problem.  Our cabin is on deck 12 so I believe it is above the bridge, I don't think curtains open will effect the bridge?  Unless an Owner's suite opens up, which I have talked with my O rep about, Vista it will be, but we have more cruises in our future, hopefully on O.  Will be a new experience for us and so looking forward to it.

[cruisingxpert]

32 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

  Our cabin is on deck 12 so I believe it is above the bridge, I don't think curtains open will effect the bridge? 

I think the Bridge doesn't allow any curtains to be open after dark in Vista suites.  

Edited September 24, 2021 by cruisingxpert

[LGW59]

3 minutes ago, cruisingxpert said:

I think the Bridge doesn't allow any curtains to be open after dark in Vista suites.  Are you on the Dec 4th 2022 cruise?

Dec 7 - 23, 2022, Rome to Miami 

[LGW59]

6 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

Dec 7 - 23, 2022, Rome to Miami 

and a correction, we are in suite 10000, so below the bridge, confused it from a Nov 2022 cruise we switched for this one.

[cruisingxpert]

4 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

Dec 7 - 23, 2022, Rome to Miami 

Transatlantics are wonderful.  Probably my favourite cruise was the 18 day Rome to Miami in 2017.

I would definitely check on the curtains.  All those sea days are probably going to affect your use of the balcony.  Given it's your first cruise with O and booking a big suite, I would hate to see you disappointed. .  I know there are some that like the Vista suites but there a lot who wouldn't book them.

[Cliff-FLL]

Hey, LG -

I've stayed in a Vista Suite once, an Owner's Suite multiple times, and I'd only go back to Vista if I had no choice.  Although the Vista has quite a bit of space, it includes the work-out room, which is a total waste of space for me.  The main shower is, surprisingly, a bit on the claustrophobic side for no especially-good reason and the LR/DR feels a bit awkward; just not quite large enough.  The Owner's Suite is all usable space and the main shower is quite spacious.  Service on Oceania is always exceptional but, in the Owner's Suite they take it over the top.  It's worth the extra money.

[LGW59]

2 minutes ago, Cliff-FLL said:

Hey, LG -

I've stayed in a Vista Suite once, an Owner's Suite multiple times, and I'd only go back to Vista if I had no choice.  Although the Vista has quite a bit of space, it includes the work-out room, which is a total waste of space for me.  The main shower is, surprisingly, a bit on the claustrophobic side for no especially-good reason and the LR/DR feels a bit awkward; just not quite large enough.  The Owner's Suite is all usable space and the main shower is quite spacious.  Service on Oceania is always exceptional but, in the Owner's Suite they take it over the top.  It's worth the extra money.

Howdy Cliff - Thanks for the response and good detailed info!  A few others are saying similar between the two.  I do still have the Vista booked, Owners is wait listed, which my O rep (BTW fabulous guy and I know I am not allowed to even say his first name) anyway, I digress, he is going to get me on the wait list.  Waiting for details but he is awesome at responding.  I also realize there are other lovely suites on Riviera but that dang wide open height, drop thing 🙄 

[TrulyBlonde]

I have been in the Vista on Regatta and the Owners Suite on Insignia for a month. Both are smaller ships than Riviera. If offered the choice, OS would always be number 1.  Those aft views cannot be beat and I always try for an aft cabin on every cruise line.

[Silver Sweethearts]

8 hours ago, Cliff-FLL said:

Service on Oceania is always exceptional but, in the Owner's Suite they take it over the top.  It's worth the extra money.

 

Does this apply to Owner's Suites on all of their ships or only the Riviera and Marina?

[LGW59]

18 hours ago, TrulyBlonde said:

I have been in the Vista on Regatta and the Owners Suite on Insignia for a month. Both are smaller ships than Riviera. If offered the choice, OS would always be number 1.  Those aft views cannot be beat and I always try for an aft cabin on every cruise line.

dang wait list!

[Cliff-FLL]

On 9/25/2021 at 10:59 PM, Silver Sweethearts said:

 

Does this apply to Owner's Suites on all of their ships or only the Riviera and Marina?

We've done Regatta OS a couple of times and, while everyone tries very hard, it's difficult for the staff to excel in the way they do on the O ships.  Limited number of specialty restaurants, no La Réserve, no Prevée, etc. gives them fewer opportunities to make the experience truly special.  Because of the reduced size of the OS on the R ships, there's less entertainment space and we've never even had a party, leaving the staff with one less chance to show off their capabilities,  They truly go out of their way to do everything they can for you, but their tools are limited.