Oceania vs Celebrity pricing

[mac_tlc]

I’ve done the Celebrity vs Oceania comparison a lot lately, given the current Retreat prices. All pricing was done within the last 30 minutes. I think this is a valid comparison:

 

Celebrity Beyond TA 11/1/2024 14 N vs Oceania Vista TA 11/20/2024 15N

 

S1 on Beyond is $15,615 for 2 with $1,200 OBC

 

Vista A2 is $9,198

Vista PH3 is waitlisted but would be $11,598

 

Let’s do some adjustments:

 

Celebrity Beyond adjusted for OBC = $15,615- $1,200 = $14,415

 

Grats on O are $19pppd = $570 for 2

Upgrade drink package on O = $30pppd = $900 for 2

 

So, Beyond at $14,415 vs

Vista A2 at $10,668 vs

Vista PH3 at $13,068

 

Only thing I did not do is add another internet account to O to make it even with X. One could say I shouldn’t have deducted the entire X OBC to account for any specialty restaurant charges since all are included n O. 
 

Vista = brand new, Beyond = almost brand new. If you price the Ascent’s 10/26/24 TA, which is only 13 days, an S1 is $18,225 ——YIKES 

 

So WWYD? I’m on the Beyond TA, but booked it about a month ago for $3200 less for an S1, At that time, I thought the prices between O and X were a push, and the Beyond dates were better for us. 
 

I think we will try the Vista sometime in the next 2 years—- maybe a Panama Canal transit.

 

mac_tlc

Edited May 18, 2023 by mac_tlc

[jonthomas]

After 50 cruises with C, we could no longer tolerate the bad food, the kids and the class divisions. To get better food , we would have to book a suite and still put up with so much we no longer like about C.

We now travel only on O, with a 6th cruise coming up. Whether in a balcony or an inside, we dine in the same venues as those in the penthouse and enjoy the classy atmosphere sans kids and sans crass.

 

Take a look at their loyalty program and take that into account when price comparing. We will soon enjoy included gratuities and other obcs. Take that off the price, as well as a free cruise after 19. Being elite plus on C gets us things that are normally included on O.

Bottom line, it's the ambience that brings us back to O and keeps us away from lines like C.

 

If you have never tried O, you have no business making ANY comparisons, cost or anything else because you don't have a clue what you are talking about.

[basenji56]

3 minutes ago, jonthomas said:

If you have never tried O, you have no business making ANY comparisons, cost or anything else because you don't have a clue what you are talking about.

This is a big pet peeve of mine.  Unless you have sailed on both cruise lines (preferably at least twice), any opinions are worthless on comparisons.  

[mac_tlc]

10 minutes ago, jonthomas said:

 

If you have never tried O, you have no business making ANY comparisons, cost or anything else because you don't have a clue what you are talking about.

What a ridiculous statement. Cost is certainly a factor, regardless of ambiance, clientele, cabin size, ports, ship size, or any other factor. It’s all about value. If cost was irrelevant everyone would be on Seabourn. 
 

I don’t need to sail O to do a price comparison and then decide whether any cost difference, in either direction, provides value. 
 

Notice that I did not feel the need to capitalize any words… 🙄

 

mac_tlc

 

 

 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Kids , What Kids ?🤔

on our last 2 cruise I don’t think there been over 10 kids on the cruises , 

[jonthomas]

If you sail a line based on cost alone, you have no idea of what is value.

And if you are comparing cost only, then you missed including all the things that are included on O. But of course if you have not sailed on O, you have no idea what those things are.

 

You may be able to compare cost of a similar cabin to a similar cabin, but to disregard all else, does not give a true picture. 

 

I would not sail on C for free. We just came off the Viking Star, used up covid credits, so it was free but that is another line I would not sail for free. 

 

So comparing costs of just cabins and ignoring all else is a waste of time. 

 

Sail the line, take the cheapest cabin. Come back here and tell us how it compared.

 

 

Edited May 18, 2023 by jonthomas

[jonthomas]

Im not a wine drinker, but an analogy comes to mind. Its like saying, the cost of this wine is low, I will buy it, doesnt matter that I have not tasted anything else. The cost is all that matters. 

 

Anyone else with an apt analogy?

[basenji56]

"I've never tried filet mignon but since it is twice the price of chuck steak, I think chuck steak is the better value."

 

And O is not twice the price of Celebrity.  A better comparison is O verandas and Celebrity Junior Suites.

 

Those prices are nearly identical.

[Orator]

Good to have a choice. Celebrity is fine if you like large ships. Oceania is fine if you like smaller ships. Comparisons of the two like apples to oranges. 

[Miaminice]

15 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

 

Is Oceania a premium line ? 

Oh yes! 

[Ken the cruiser]

I find it fascinating when folks compare a TA crossing cruising on a 1200 passenger Oceania ship and a much larger 3200 passenger Celebrity E-class ship that cost over $1.2 billion to build, and totally discard the entertainment factor with a bat of an eye. But that’s cool. Those folks probably wouldn’t go to the multiple production shows on the same evening in different parts of the ship (main theater, The Club, and Eden), multiple “low stress” trivias and game shows around the ship, multiple dining venues to include 4 MDRs as well as Blu and Luminae depending on your cabin category. Also, for us if we’re in a suite, eating in Luminae is like eating in a specialty restaurant every night. But that’s just us.

 

We've been on a TA on the Oceania Riviera from Rome to Ft Lauderdale and it was pretty laid back whereas we’re currently on the Eclipse on a 33-day B3B transpacific cruise and having a blast! If we were on an Oceania transoceanic cruise, there would be one show in their little theater at 9:30 pm. One “cut throat” trivia in the afternoon, one lecture, and very poor internet service.
 

But the food was good! 😂

[basenji56]

3 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

I find it fascinating when folks compare a TA crossing cruising on a 1200 passenger Oceania ship and a much larger 3200 passenger Celebrity E-class ship that cost over $1.2 billion to build, and totally discard the entertainment factor with a bat of an eye. But that’s cool. Those folks probably wouldn’t go to the multiple production shows on the same evening in different parts of the ship (main theater, The Club, and Eden), multiple “low stress” trivias and game shows around the ship, multiple dining venues to include 4 MDRs as well as Blu and Luminae depending on your cabin category. Also, for us if we’re in a suite, eating in Luminae is like eating in a specialty restaurant every night. But that’s just us.

Actually the comparison was between the old Constellation and Marina.  I found little comparison between the Connie and the Edge class ships.  So, no Club, no Eden, no four MDRs.  

[Ex-Airbalancer]

16 minutes ago, basenji56 said:

Actually the comparison was between the old Constellation and Marina.  I found little comparison between the Connie and the Edge class ships.  So, no Club, no Eden, no four MDRs.  

Been on the Apex , like the M-class better 

[PTC DAWG]

3 hours ago, Orator said:

Good to have a choice. Celebrity is fine if you like large ships. Oceania is fine if you like smaller ships. Comparisons of the two like apples to oranges. 

I sort of feel this way, although I really wouldn’t call Celebrity ships large.  I have talked to enough people on Celebrity ships that have sailed Oceania to lead me to believe I would be bored stiff.  Ken’s comments above strike a chord with me.  I’ll pass for now.

 

Choices are good. 

Edited May 18, 2023 by PTC DAWG

[jelayne]

18 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

I sort of feel this way, although I really wouldn’t call Celebrity ships large.  I have talked to enough people on Celebrity ships that have sailed Oceania to lead me to believe I would be bored stiff.  Ken’s comments above strike a chord with me.  I’ll pass for now.

 

Choices are good. 

We agree.  We have tried smaller ships with “better food” and we were board to death.  I don’t cruise strictly for food, in it isn’t in my top 3 criteria

[Ken the cruiser]

1 hour ago, basenji56 said:

Actually the comparison was between the old Constellation and Marina.  I found little comparison between the Connie and the Edge class ships.  So, no Club, no Eden, no four MDRs.  

Actually, I was more referring to the general comments folks seem to make when comparing Oceania and Celebrity every time this subject comes up. But in the case of choosing between an aft-facing Aqua cabin on an M-class ship, to include the Constellation, and an A1 veranda cabin on the Marina or Riviera (since there are no aft-facing A or B cabins on the O-class ships), we’d pick the M-class ship every time, for the same reasons; although there is only one MDR (along with Blu and Luminae), but still 3 different entertainment locations, the theater, the Reflection Lounge on deck 11, and the Rendezvous Lounge.

 

[sanger727]

It's clear to me why this comparison is being made. Not sure how everyone else is missing it. There is a certain poster on here that chimes up on every cruising board about how great Oceania is and really doesn't cost that much more when you look at inclusions. The OP is simply comparing a verandah state room to a verandah stateroom for a similiar itinerary with similiar inclusions. Yes, it's a very apt comparison. if you believe Oceania is a better line and worth a much higher price, that's you choice. But the insistence on some of these boards that when comparing apples to apples on inclusions make the price reasonable is flat out incorrect. 

[PTC DAWG]

17 minutes ago, sanger727 said:

It's clear to me why this comparison is being made. Not sure how everyone else is missing it. There is a certain poster on here that chimes up on every cruising board about how great Oceania is and really doesn't cost that much more when you look at inclusions.

I didn’t miss it, and I agree with you..

[bigbenboys]

5 hours ago, mac_tlc said:

What a ridiculous statement. Cost is certainly a factor, regardless of ambiance, clientele, cabin size, ports, ship size, or any other factor. It’s all about value. If cost was irrelevant everyone would be on Seabourn. 
 

I don’t need to sail O to do a price comparison and then decide whether any cost difference, in either direction, provides value. 
 

Notice that I did not feel the need to capitalize any words… 🙄

 

mac_tlc

 

 

 

1st I look at dress code. If I have to wear a suit or sports jacket to dinner in any of the restaurants I'm not going to book. 2nd I look at ship size. I stay away from very large ships and small ships. 2000 guest is a good number for us. 3rd I look where the suites are located. I dont want my suite fwd. Mid ship to aft. 4th is cost. As we have been on many cruises. It is more about the ship than where it is going.

[Orator]

2 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

I find it fascinating when folks compare a TA crossing cruising on a 1200 passenger Oceania ship and a much larger 3200 passenger Celebrity E-class ship that cost over $1.2 billion to build, and totally discard the entertainment factor with a bat of an eye. But that’s cool. Those folks probably wouldn’t go to the multiple production shows on the same evening in different parts of the ship (main theater, The Club, and Eden), multiple “low stress” trivias and game shows around the ship, multiple dining venues to include 4 MDRs as well as Blu and Luminae depending on your cabin category. Also, for us if we’re in a suite, eating in Luminae is like eating in a specialty restaurant every night. But that’s just us.

 

We've been on a TA on the Oceania Riviera from Rome to Ft Lauderdale and it was pretty laid back whereas we’re currently on the Eclipse on a 33-day B3B transpacific cruise and having a blast! If we were on an Oceania transoceanic cruise, there would be one show in their little theater at 9:30 pm. One “cut throat” trivia in the afternoon, one lecture, and very poor internet service.
 

But the food was good! 😂

I don't think I'd take Oceania for a TA. Celebrity is much stronger for a TA. Entertainment and speakers are lacking and the theater on the Riviera is designed poorly. I'd would take Oceania for a port intensive cruise.

[basenji56]

3 minutes ago, Orator said:

I don't think I'd take Oceania for a TA. Celebrity is much stronger for a TA. Entertainment and speakers are lacking and the theater on the Riviera is designed poorly. I'd would take Oceania for a port intensive cruise.

It's interesting how everyone has different perspectives.  No one is wrong, just has a different opinion.

 

As I solo, I preferred Oceania over Celebrity for a TA.  I found the smaller ship size was more conducive to meeting other solos or couples.  The speakers were outstanding on the TA I did last spring on Riviera.  Also, once across the pond, there were five to six days of excellent ports and I thought the O excursions were very good.  Celebrity theatres are technically amazing but I find their shows just a jumble of songs with bare minimum of a plot (if any).

[CruisinShips]

I happen to have 7 night cruises booked with Celebrity for October (in the Retreat, Celebrity suite, in an older ship, the Eclipse), and Oceania (PH2 on the Vista) for February.  Almost identically priced, except Celebrity has everything included and a whopping $925 total in OBCs.

 

Just sharing info...not any opinions!

[mac_tlc]

3 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

I find it fascinating when folks compare a TA crossing cruising on a 1200 passenger Oceania ship and a much larger 3200 passenger Celebrity E-class ship that cost over $1.2 billion to build, and totally discard the entertainment factor with a bat of an eye. But that’s cool. Those folks probably wouldn’t go to the multiple production shows on the same evening in different parts of the ship (main theater, The Club, and Eden), multiple “low stress” trivias and game shows around the ship, multiple dining venues to include 4 MDRs as well as Blu and Luminae depending on your cabin category. Also, for us if we’re in a suite, eating in Luminae is like eating in a specialty restaurant every night. But that’s just us.

 

We've been on a TA on the Oceania Riviera from Rome to Ft Lauderdale and it was pretty laid back whereas we’re currently on the Eclipse on a 33-day B3B transpacific cruise and having a blast! If we were on an Oceania transoceanic cruise, there would be one show in their little theater at 9:30 pm. One “cut throat” trivia in the afternoon, one lecture, and very poor internet service.
 

But the food was good! 😂

I agree, which is why I made the point of “value” not “price”. When we are on an X ship, we look forward multiple trivia sessions, AM and afternoon, a production show in an amazing theatre ( E-class anyway), after dinner game shows and a casino donation. Those things have “value” to us. How much? Hard to pin down , but it’s not an infinite amount. Sorta like porn, can’t define it but I know it when I see it. 
 

At over $18K for the Ascent TA, for example, one can’t help but investigate alternatives. 
 

Everyone’s break point is different. For close to the same cost, we are staying on X, (even with the 10-12 kids 🙄). At historical X retreat prices, I would not be part of this discussion, but, given the forward-looking prices, here I am. 
 

mac_tlc

Edited May 18, 2023 by mac_tlc

[hawkesbaynz]

Sail both. See no need to book Retreat on X at current rates so Aqua or MDR on X or Concierge on O. O is significantly more expensive. However for a bucket list rich itinerary I would book O. Most itineraries X.

 

X better value and more like a resort with better entertainment and vibe. O is dull after dinner and we were in bed by 10.

 

Prefer the pool on O. More relaxing and no DJ or clown of a CD. 
 

Food is great in the speciality restaurants, and buffet, on O but the MDR not outstanding. Always been happy on X.
 

Recollect being bored on the smaller Sirena and watching a huge RC ships sail by and thinking that it would be fun to do a TA on. 

[Ken the cruiser]

I will say Oceania does have some unique port intensive itineraries. I will give them that. We went twice around Cuba on a 16-day B2B in an aft-facing A1 cabin on the Sirena, back when it was briefly open for cruise ships, and had an awesome time! 😁