Oceania Riviera Guest, Please Post Reviews

[ak1004]

2 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

Happiness = Reality - Expectations

 

We can control our Expectations. And differing Expectations in passengers means different outcomes in light of reality. This applies for food.

 

Wife and I both loved the food on Riviera (12/2021) and Sirena (11/2022), though we've yet to eat in the GDR after 20 nights. The TC too wonderful eating under the stars! Wife didn't like Red Ginger on Riviera, but she doesn't like Oriental food. So, we exchanged that reservation, after we boarded, on Sirena for a 2nd in Tuscan Grill. One thing I struggle with is IF I'm on the ship at say 3 or 3:30 Waves calls me. If I eat then, I'm not really hungry again. Means I have to avoid that afternoon temptation!

 

You are my brother from another mother!

 

No Red Ginger for us, and yes, having to choose between Waves and those afternoon tea scones is painful..

[JeffElizabeth]

On 3/8/2023 at 11:24 AM, schmerl said:

We are in a penthouse, but that has nothing to do with my expectations as far as the food is concerned,

We had been told how fantastic the food is on Oceania and after all, the best cuisine at sea.

We have yet to have an outstanding meal. Jaques came close, 

Perhaps the difference in how the people feel about the food has more to do with where they are from and what they are used to, We have many wonderful restaurants where we live and I was expecting food on board Oceania to be at least that good if not better, 

  The service throughout the ship has been wonderful.

   By the way...there has been plenty of strawberry jam in the Grand Dining room.

We eat out a lot back home and we have noticed quality slipping there too, so maybe it is just the new normal all around,  but if I don't like my neighborhood restaurant I  can find another one. I don't want to be stuck on a 28 day cruise where the steak cuts like leather. 

[InsGuy3]

On 3/8/2023 at 9:39 PM, schmerl said:

NJhorseman, I understand what you are saying in your response to me above, I am fully aware of the limitations placed on preparing food for over 1000 as compare to a local restaurant, However, food on Oceania has been hyped as being fantastic, Until tonight, our meals have been mediocre and I am not the only one who feels that way, 

Tonight Red Ginger was fantastic. We ate there last week and it was not wonderful, but tonight was wonderful, The sea bass was fantastic and so was the service, 

I agree. We had our best dinner at Red Ginger also. There was a Chicken with cashews “special” that night which was very different than the that served in a mainstream Chinese restaurant. Delicious! The Lobster Pad Thai was also very tasty. Last nights GDR Florida lobster and the Beef Wellington were quite tasty.

[Aloha 1]

On 3/6/2023 at 10:31 PM, LHT28 said:

I am curious also  what do you consider healthy choices?

 

 We have always found they had  fresh fruit/salads/vegetables  etc..

Maybe they are not providing those any more & that would be disappointing

Just off a 20 day Marina cruise. Plenty of fruits and vegetables plus plant based items (if that floats your boat).

[LHT28]

8 minutes ago, Aloha 1 said:

Just off a 20 day Marina cruise. Plenty of fruits and vegetables plus plant based items (if that floats your boat).

But the unhealthy food taste so much better  to me  😄

 

I am glad they have not abandoned the fruit  & veg

 

 

[Aloha 1]

On 3/8/2023 at 6:28 PM, Sthrngary said:

One thing you can also do is have your butler serve you dinner, course by course, in your PH. You can order from any of the specialty restaurants and it does't count against the reservations you get to make.

That is perhaps the only major difference between the upper suites and the Concierge and Veranda. 

 

 

 

 

Cruise well everyone, I hope we meet for a coffee or cocktail on a mutual sailing. 

 

[NeedToChill]

6 hours ago, Aloha 1 said:

That is perhaps the only major difference between the upper suites and the Concierge and Veranda.

 

That, and 50% more space, or greater (on the O class ships at least).

[GregoryPaul]

TL:DR Enjoyed it but will probably wait a bit before cruising again 

 

Was Onboard Oceania Riviera 3/2-3/12

 

Ship. Beautiful redo (admittedly we had never sailed on her before). The “crazy wild” carpeting looks more crazy wild in photos than up close and in person. For us, the ship size, passenger count and ship amenities were all about right. Loved taking the self guided art tour, get a player from Reception.

 

Passengers. Met some very nice folks. Heard another guest comment that the average age appeared to be between 80 and dead. Probably not too far off. With 1250 guests on board there was still only the same six or eight of us in Horizons at night listening to the band. Oh well, sample size of one, others said it wasn’t typical in their experience.

 

Excursions. We only booked 3. First (power snorkeling) was cancelled by the tour operator (heavy winds). The second (waterfall tour and river tubing) had a mixup which led to us sitting on the riverbank waiting for about an hour. Everyone involved blamed each other but the good (great!) news is that because we booked it thru Oceania, the ship waited (again almost an hour) for us to return and didn’t leave without us … take note all wishing to save $ by booking excursions themselves direct. All in all more of a pleasant interlude than a problem. River was very low (no rain) so it was more like Disney Lazy River than rapids but that’s just luck of the draw. Third tour (catamaran to Nevis with bus tour, lunch and beach time) was a bit heavy on the bus tour and light on beach time but lunch was good n local. BTW, one of our traveling companions had a bad experience with the Destination desk onboard but I wasn’t there so really have no fair opinion.

 

Cabin. We have been spoiled with aft suites on previous cruises and were worried that our mid deck PH would not work out for us (we like to sit on our balcony a lot). Not to worry - we enjoyed both our cabin and balcony. Plenty of storage, lots of receptacles. Best shower ever on a cruise ship. I should have paid more attention to Cruise Critic and stayed off deck 11, though. That overhang really does over hang.

 

Spa. Wife’s department. She (and friend) thought services were very good. I thought they were very expensive, what do I know?

 

Butler. Absolutely amazing. Don’t usually need much from a butler but Aariff always seemed to want to help us out. Said things like; “So glad you finally ordered room service so I could see you again” and actually sounded like he meant it. He found us wife’s favorite white wine by the glass when many “Somms” couldn’t (or probably wouldn’t). A true gentleman, I honestly feel like I am a better person for having met him. Side note: both FDR jr & Harry Sommer were onboard at diff times with their families. All stayed in PH cabins near us with Aariff as their butler. Maybe we lucked out to get him - or maybe just a coincidence.
Housekeeping. They were their usual never-saw-them-but-the-cabin-was-always-perfect selves. Well, maybe except the soap. We were down to a quarter sized sliver that we could see through by day 10. But we made it work. And no waste!

 

Entertainment. Maybe the less said, the better. Across the board they were really painful to watch and/or listen to. Except the lead guitarist in the Seaside Band. If you scrunched your eyes and ears (?), you could imagine Carlos Santana playing for you. HE was that good.

Food. Very good almost all the time. But very bad sometimes. Food is personal so  I won’t drag you through everything we liked or didn’t like. Jacques was my favorite along with Polo (waiter correctly steered me away from the Rib Eye “too thin from our purveyor this trip” and he was right). Toscana was everyone’s least favorite (tasteless sole, leathery veal, inedible desserts), Red Ginger delighted us the first time and failed us the next (had better sushi from Publix), GDR’s menu didn’t excite. Buffet was always an excellent choice. First La Privee menu was one over-the-top rich dish after another, the second dinner was much more agreeable. Service in all the restaurants was excellent. “Somms” treated us well across the board and handled/decanted the ten 20-25 year old bottles I brought well, even with a few tricky corks. Also enjoyed the 3 wine tastings we made it to.

 

Staff. I can only imagine what their HR department is going through trying to make it all work out in these trying times. But they pulled it off. Almost across the board, everyone greeted us first, was pleasant and tried their darnedest to help us out. Hats off to Oceania. The only bad experience I had was the 11th floor concierge who seemed overly protective of her door. Told me if I “didn’t unlock it right I was just standing in the way” and told an elderly couple trying to unlock it to “stop before they broke the ship’s equipment.” Not really complaining here. Bring cheerful 24/7 is hard and I get it (you don’t want to run afoul of me on one of my bad days). One bad experience out of 1,000 really is doing pretty good.
 

Embarkation . Only had to wait because we were dumb enough to show up early, otherwise No problems.

 

Debarkation. On time, Lousy traffic getting out, though. And take my advice, Uber if you are going to Avis.

 

Medical. Our cruise made national news when we unloaded a 78 year old Covid patient and his companion (in Dominica?) Saw the “Hazmat suits” dealing with several other patients, too. Ya pays your money and ya takes your chances these days. Buy insurance! One of our group tested positive the first day back and my throat is telling me a test is in my immediate future, as well.

Summary. All in all a very good cruise and my whole group enjoyed it. I think we will wait a few years before trying Oceana again but that is a reflection on us, and our lifestyle, and nothing against the cruise line.
 

I’m sure I’m forgetting something. Hope something in here helps someone. Enjoy your cruise!