General Question for Oceania fans

[Low Country Sandlapper]

I’m considering booking a cruise in 2023.  Oceania looks intriguing to me, but it seems to be a bit more port-intensive than some lines.  From what I have read, Oceania ships offer many interesting and fun things to do on board.  If there is a port every day, how can one enjoy both what the port has to offer and still take advantage of the ship?

[Flatbush Flyer]

9 minutes ago, Low Country Sandlapper said:

I’m considering booking a cruise in 2023.  Oceania looks intriguing to me, but it seems to be a bit more port-intensive than some lines.  From what I have read, Oceania ships offer many interesting and fun things to do on board.  If there is a port every day, how can one enjoy both what the port has to offer and still take advantage of the ship?

Sounds like you may be looking at “short” Oceania cruises in the Caribbean or Med. Look further and you’ll find there are many cruises that have ample sea days and overnights in ports that provide much more flexibility to your planning. Also, Oceania is best known for its longer itineraries that are not round trips and, because of the smaller size of the ships, go to far more interesting places than do mass market floating amusement park behemoths.

 

For example, our next O cruise is 36 days ARN to LIS to NYC. It has ten sea days plus five overnights in ports. A perfect mix IMO. 
 

BTW: the food is the line’s hallmark of excellence. 

[MEFIowa]

You need to look over the literally dozens and dozens of cruises in 2023. See which one(s) work for your regarding sea days and port days. Only you know. And only you know if you want 7-day or 10-day or more-day cruise. Wife and I have reserved a 2023 for the Baltics, on Riviera, late October into November.

 

We did Riviera 12/13-23/21. To the W. Caribbean. (Riviera will do same voyage again in early 2023.) So originally had 3 sea days and 7 port/island days: Cozumel, Roatan, Santo Tomas, Harvest Caye, Belize City, Costa Maya/Mahahual, and a Bahama island. We did all the stops but the last one, due to high seas preventing tendering. That meant a 4th sea day. So this was the right balance for us. We did full-day excursions at Cozumel, Roatan, Santo Tomas, and Belize City. Booked our own in advance.

 

But take Costa Maya/Mahahual. A fake port created by the cruise industry in the 1990s. Nothing historical there. So we walked around the Costa Maya tourist trap and then took the cab 2 KM to the Mahahual beach resort area. Walked it. There is little there tied to locals, since it is all about tourists along a boardwalk next to a beach. So this was only a morning activity. We were back on by noon and had lunch and relaxed on the boat. 

[MEFIowa]

51 minutes ago, Low Country Sandlapper said:

... From what I have read, Oceania ships offer many interesting and fun things to do on board. ...

This depends upon YOU and what YOU enjoy. The FOOD is outstanding. Everywhere on the ship. BUT...wife and I didn't expect much from the limited things to do on the ship. YOU make your own entertainment mainly. So we did see the comic one night. But nothing else. I don't care to see singing and dancing. Bores the heck out of me. Nor do I care about a string quartet playing at tea time or in the evening by the GDR. We met and talked to the 2 artists in residence, but painting and photography not our thing, either. And neither of us care about cooking classes. So we enjoyed the pool and spa jet pool and sauna and steam room and lounge chairs/mattresses by the pool. Wife did 2 blackjack tournaments and I did a high-end watch presentation and the Veterans meet up.

 

Biggest PLUS for us was the absence of children and NO children-specific activities or pool-related things. This is a cruise by and for ADULTS.

[lorimay]

58 minutes ago, Low Country Sandlapper said:

I’m considering booking a cruise in 2023.  Oceania looks intriguing to me, but it seems to be a bit more port-intensive than some lines.  From what I have read, Oceania ships offer many interesting and fun things to do on board.  If there is a port every day, how can one enjoy both what the port has to offer and still take advantage of the ship?

We did our first Oceania cruise last year. It was port intensive so we didn't spend a lot of time during the day, but we did skip one port and stayed on the ship. I have to say, depending on what cruise lines you are used to, that there is not a lot of "fun and interesting things to do on board" compared to other cruise lines. On our ship there were cooking classes (not free), art lessons, trivia once a day, port lecturer most days and then a ping pong or putting tournament in the afternoon. Evening there was music in the lounges and one production show and we found most passengers turned in early. I personally did not feel that there were nearly as many activities as on other larger cruise lines. You can find other things to do as the library is great, the pool areas very nice, go to the casino, go to tea, go to the gym. But I did not find there was action-packed list of things to do every day. So if you want to go on a port-intensive cruise you won't be missing out much of the daily activities on board.

[LHT28]

2 hours ago, Low Country Sandlapper said:

I’m considering booking a cruise in 2023.  Oceania looks intriguing to me, but it seems to be a bit more port-intensive than some lines.  From what I have read, Oceania ships offer many interesting and fun things to do on board.  If there is a port every day, how can one enjoy both what the port has to offer and still take advantage of the ship?

it depends on the cruise  some are more port intensive than others

Some have several sea days  for those that like to enjoy the ship as well as the ports of call

Some cruises  we have just stayed onboard  as we were worn out

 

We normally are not running around all day for several days at home so the port intensives cruise  I sometimes just need a rest 😉

YMMV

[Cliff-FLL]

1 hour ago, LHT28 said:

it depends on the cruise  some are more port intensive than others

Oceania's on-board activities are, generally, what one would consider "low impact".  (Think trivia contest versus rock-climbing wall.)  Also, don't expect a dizzying array of possibilities as the few offerings are sufficiently interesting for most of the clientele.

Like every other cruise line, port intensity varies depending on the itinerary.  We just finished a 2-week Mediterranean that had a different port almost every day, which can be exhausting.  In these cases, we don't feel compelled to see the sights at every port, especially those we've been to in the past.  On those days, it can be quite nice to have the ship's facilities almost all to yourself.  

We've found that the trans-Atlantics are, for us, the best balance.  At the beginning and end, there are several port days in a row but the middle is a series of at sea days.  These days are great for sleeping in and participating in shipboard activities.  "Enforced relaxation", for want of a better term.

[LHT28]

5 minutes ago, Cliff-FLL said:

Oceania's on-board activities are, generally, what one would consider "low impact".  (Think trivia contest versus rock-climbing wall.)  Also, don't expect a dizzying array of possibilities as the few offerings are sufficiently interesting for most of the clientele.

.

HMM

not sure why you quoted me  ??

 

 If port intensive I am usually too tired to do major activities anyway so Oceania works for us

Relax after dinner either see the show or chat with new & old friends

maybe make a donation in the casino

YMMV

[Cliff-FLL]

10 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

HMM

not sure why you quoted me  ??

Just as an intro to my comparison of Mediterranean vs. trans-Atlantic, affording me the opportunity ot was eloquent. 🙄

[Hawaiidan]

4 hours ago, MEFIowa said:

This depends upon YOU and what YOU enjoy. The FOOD is outstanding. Everywhere on the ship. BUT...wife and I didn't expect much from the limited things to do on the ship. YOU make your own entertainment mainly. So we did see the comic one night. But nothing else. I don't care to see singing and dancing. Bores the heck out of me. Nor do I care about a string quartet playing at tea time or in the evening by the GDR. We met and talked to the 2 artists in residence, but painting and photography not our thing, either. And neither of us care about cooking classes. So we enjoyed the pool and spa jet pool and sauna and steam room and lounge chairs/mattresses by the pool. Wife did 2 blackjack tournaments and I did a high-end watch presentation and the Veterans meet up.

 

Biggest PLUS for us was the absence of children and NO children-specific activities or pool-related things. This is a cruise by and for ADULTS.

Dont saiL O for the entertainment... because It is NOT that sort of a ship or demographic.... You are the entertainment aside from a Trivia  game and a once a night show and a piano in the bar and string  quartet.    The entertainment is  really interacting with other well traveled, well mannered low key adults and enjoying the cuisine and conversation .    Or  Relaxing in your cabin after dinner and    glass of wine and a good book....  It is a low key quiet ambiance that draws  most.    passengers..     It is not a party animal ship

 

Edited February 26, 2022 by Hawaiidan

[jazznruby]

1 hour ago, Cliff-FLL said:

 

We've found that the trans-Atlantics are, for us, the best balance.  At the beginning and end, there are several port days in a row but the middle is a series of at sea days.  These days are great for sleeping in and participating in shipboard activities.  "Enforced relaxation", for want of a better term.

+1!

[DENIE]

This sounds about right for us!  We are on a port-intensive Mediterranean cruise on the Riviera in June, with just 1 sea day.  We expect to be tired after touring during the day, so probably enjoy a wonderful dinner every night, and perhaps a bit of music with drinks before heading to bed.  We don't need the Broadway shows, etc.

[PhD-iva]

Here’s a recent Currents from Riviera’s stop at Nice (Villefranche) on the November 2021 TA. Definitely low-key, but there are things to do. Several activities hosted by entertainment staff, that should be fun!

[LHT28]

32 minutes ago, PhD-iva said:

Here’s a recent Currents from Riviera’s stop at Nice (Villefranche) on the November 2021 TA. Definitely low-key, but there are things to do. Several activities hosted by entertainment staff, that should be fun!

 

Of course there are things to do  if people WANT to participate

some want to do things at their convenience  not when it is offered

JMO

[Low Country Sandlapper]

Thank you all for posting.  I do appreciate your help.

[PhD-iva]

Even if one doesn’t feel the daytime activities are “exciting” its a great way to meet other O pax. To me, the best aspects of cruising on an O itinerary are your fellow pax! Generally very interesting and open. So, make new friends at shuffleboard or ping pong. Strike up a conversation and maybe decide to make a dinner reservation together. 😀

[Mrs f.]

I love the needlepoint group that gets together  at 9am on sea days. Also going to Sabbath services and meeting new people there.

[Flatbush Flyer]

2 minutes ago, Mrs f. said:

I love the needlepoint group that gets together  at 9am on sea days.

AKA (by the regulars): Stitch & Bit*h 

[Mrs f.]

14 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

AKA (by the regulars): Stitch & Bit*h 

Definitely 

[Flatbush Flyer]

4 minutes ago, Mrs f. said:

Definitely 

The place to be if you need to know anything about what’s happening aboard.

[mauibabes]

Between Needlepoint and some time in the laundries, you will know all 🤪👍 Yes ladies, there are many men in there doing the laundry 🤙 My wife is on vacation, it is the least I can do, especially if I want clean clothes.  When I need professional guidance, she will come bye to help. Ironing is my thing too, she only irons if it is “her” items that need pressing. 
 Chatting with the CD or Social Hostess for Needlepoint is a must for my wife, helps with some cool stocking stuffers at Christmas too as the kits are first class. Sometimes you may need a strand of a specific color and you can find it there. 
We sail Saturday so I expect to find her in Horizons early Sunday morning. 
Ciao,

Mauibabes

[Robin122]

11 hours ago, PhD-iva said:

Here’s a recent Currents from Riviera’s stop at Nice (Villefranche) on the November 2021 TA. Definitely low-key, but there are things to do. Several activities hosted by entertainment staff, that should be fun!

A picture is worth a thousand words! 
(Now, who is so inclined to actually do a word count on this image? 🤣🤣🤣)