Oceania not the Lone Ranger with Complaints

[mauibabes]

Just chatting with DW and she was reading more blogs. She shared a few posts with me about posters having issues with some of O’s competitors. I guess every Line can have issues and might not be “Perfect”. Read these 🛳️🤪

I have recently been on both. We won’t return to Viking and have already booked another on Oceania. We found the food and layout of the ships much better on Oceania. And we were bored to tears on Viking. Activities, bars, casino, pool, restaurants etc were far superior on Oceania. The excursions on both were good.

We have been on both and prefer Oceania over Viking. The free excursions on Viking were poor, and so was the food (and coffee). The ships on Viking are beautiful but that would not be enough to get us back on-board.

 

Mauibabes

[ldubs]

Well, I don't think this should be a surprise.  Complaints about <insert cruise line name> are incredibly common.  I have yet to find a cruise line everyone says is perfect.  

 

I think there is too much focus on finding items to complain about.  

 

  

[Kay S]

7 minutes ago, ldubs said:

Well, I don't think this should be a surprise.  Complaints about <insert cruise line name> are incredibly common.  I have yet to find a cruise line everyone says is perfect.  

 

I think there is too much focus on finding items to complain about.  

 

  

This.  

[mauibabes]

Really that is my point, every line has changed, especially since Covid. “Stuff Happens” when it comes to travel, airlines, flights and cruising and opinions and tastes only apply to the beholder. We can all be critical and we all have opinions. We have taken a few 5 Star trips before and after Covid, land and river and Ocean and I can honestly say that in my opinion their wonderful French Chefs and amazing cuisine did not compare to Oceania’s. When asked to rate dining, I stretched to a C+ and explained I was comparing to Oceania and no other cruise lines. FDR Trademarked the Finest Cuisine at Sea and drove that home. Fact or Fiction, it is a great tag line and the cuisine is outstanding, IMHO. 

My 2 cents and that is all it’s worth, blow off someone else’s negativism, their opinions and  look forward to “your” adventure and cruise and go with a positive attitude and have a fabulous trip and create your own opinions just for you. 
I will drop the mic,

Mahalo,

Mauibabes

[terrydtx]

My sister and BIL were on a Viking Ocean cruise this year RT from LA to Hawaii and back. They booked this cruise in 2022 while on another VO cruise of Iceland because they thought VO would be their cruise line of the future. They were totally disappointed with the cruise this year they said the food, included excursions and service were nothing like it was in 2022 and will not do another VO cruise. 

[mac_tlc]

Every single forum on this site has similar issues. As we have began investigating “Beyond” X and Royal, we notice that every single line we research has similar complaints. HAL, NCL, Princess, O, Silversea, Viking, Regent, MSC. 
 

Most of the discussion centers on the “it ain’t what it used to be” complaint. As someone looking at a number of cruise lines for the first time, “what it used to be” is irrelevant. “What it is” is all that matters. 
 

So for us, it looks like 2025 will be the year of new cruise lines. Have booked HAL and O, and very close to booking SIlversea and MSC. All of these will be “first times” for us. Then we will be able to compare a bunch of lines for what they are now, not what they used to be.

 

 

mac_tlc

Edited July 22 by mac_tlc

[ronrick1943]

Agree no line is perfect - We cruise Silversea on are last cruise, some people enjoyed the cruise and others didn't.  We thought it was good, but not what they sold--service was just so-so and food a hit or miss depending on what restaurant you picked.  Suite nice, but you expect that.

[sd duderino]

The Lone Ranger wasn't alone - he was just the only one in a mask. He and Tonto, and Silver, I suppose, used to sit around the campfire and complain about how ungrateful were all the people they helped.

[Thought2go]

Looking at all the changes in Airlines in the last couple of years, changes and restrictions that have only seem to be continuing in hyperdrive, there is no way I could do my job now without access to the Corporate jets. That said, I’m seeing the same hyperdrive changes in the cruise industry.

Menu Cuts and reduced services are across the board. Heck even a cruise I booked in March has gone thru 5 reductions or significant changes in menus and services to date. That’s more than one a month. And at this rate I would not be surprised it continues even post final payment. This means I must call the Cruise line and make sure what existed (especially certain brands I drink) at the time of booking is back onboard for my cruise. This results in more action needed by the pax to secure what they paid for lest their cruise not meet as advertised. 

It appears where we are going is a future controlled by AI which unlike humans has no reason, emotionally or otherwise to give a Jolly Roger about the pax.

The Senior managers up to the BODs are only looking at the AI generated reports- they never experience their products as we do. Even IF they came incognito onto your cruise- you can bet they flew in on the corporate jet with staff- bypassing the insanity and alacart pricing that exists at airports with luggage, TSA, etc. These are the “options” everyone raves about while they are being fleeced. You can also bet there would have been a cruise staff heads up (even if it was supposed to be strictly confidential) because somewhere down the chain those in charge wanted to ensure their job retention. People know how the system works.

So just as AI “dynamic pricing” is now hitting your grocery shelves, and no not everyone is paying the same price as the recent CNN financial article “You are not going crazy, you may be paying higher prices” lays out, read that teeny tiny print on your cruise contract. It basically says “ yous pays your monies and takes your chances and there is nuthing you can do about it”.😂😎🤣

Only the passenger or customer can fix this either by not playing Or uniting in a raised voice. Or both.

Edited July 22 by Thought2go
Spelling

[debbyma]

We agree that some things have changed since Covid.  However,  we have tried many lines (before and since) and we still favor Oceania over all the others.  We are grateful that cruise lines remained in business, in spite of the changes.

 It could have easily gone the other way given the lack of revenue for those many months.

[QuestionEverything]

48 minutes ago, Thought2go said:

Looking at all the changes in Airlines in the last couple of years, changes and restrictions that have only seem to be continuing in hyperdrive, there is no way I could do my job now without access to the Corporate jets. That said, I’m seeing the same hyperdrive changes in the cruise industry.

Menu Cuts and reduced services are across the board. Heck even a cruise I booked in March has gone thru 5 reductions or significant changes in menus and services to date. That’s more than one a month. And at this rate I would not be surprised it continues even post final payment. This means I must call the Cruise line and make sure what existed (especially certain brands I drink) at the time of booking is back onboard for my cruise. This results in more action needed by the pax to secure what they paid for lest their cruise not meet as advertised. 

It appears where we are going is a future controlled by AI which unlike humans has no reason, emotionally or otherwise to give a Jolly Roger about the pax.

The Senior managers up to the BODs are only looking at the AI generated reports- they never experience their products as we do. Even IF they came incognito onto your cruise- you can bet they flew in on the corporate jet with staff- bypassing the insanity and alacart pricing that exists at airports with luggage, TSA, etc. These are the “options” everyone raves about while they are being fleeced. You can also bet there would have been a cruise staff heads up (even if it was supposed to be strictly confidential) because somewhere down the chain those in charge wanted to ensure their job retention. People know how the system works.

So just as AI “dynamic pricing” is now hitting your grocery shelves, and no not everyone is paying the same price as the recent CNN financial article “You are not going crazy, you may be paying higher prices” lays out, read that teeny tiny print on your cruise contract. It basically says “ yous pays your monies and takes your chances and there is nuthing you can do about it”.😂😎🤣

Only the passenger or customer can fix this either by not playing Or uniting in a raised voice. Or both.

Excellent analysis and right on.

I have experienced much reduction in cruise lines, restaurant service and product like others report. But it is the knowledge that after you book, there will continue to be downgrading in these times is something that I will not support.

I have 0 cruises booked for the first time since 1989. I am not alone, my cruise friends all have ceased booking cruises - in our last videoconference some of my friends called it "cruiseshrinkflation", love it. 

Interesting is an article about Air Canada on CTV news - 

https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/air-canada-cuts-2024-forecast-amid-tough-competition-excess-capacity-1.6972761

References excess capacity - so does that mean people are not flying as much or did the airlines overestimate demand?

 

Time will tell as to the future, but for the moment I have placed cruising on pause for the reasons you mentioned. 

Thank you for your analysis and keep well.

 

 

[SATaxman]

We were on the Marina last October for our first O cruise, Loved every minute. Our only wish would have been for more entertainment. We love music and shows, not so much comedians and ventriloquists. Spent time before dinner with the string quartet, after dinner at Martinis. Saw a few music and dancing shows. Otherwise, our suite was wonderful, service great, food excellent almost all of the time. Excursions were pretty good, mix of OE OS and the "larger ones". Have 2 more booked on Marina and have a list of a few things and places we did not explore.

We have sailed large and small ships. O is currently our "sweet spot". So surprised about all of the criticism and complaints.

Chacon a son gout.

[shorton]

16 hours ago, mauibabes said:

Really that is my point, every line has changed, especially since Covid. “Stuff Happens” when it comes to travel, airlines, flights and cruising and opinions and tastes only apply to the beholder. We can all be critical and we all have opinions. We have taken a few 5 Star trips before and after Covid, land and river and Ocean and I can honestly say that in my opinion their wonderful French Chefs and amazing cuisine did not compare to Oceania’s. When asked to rate dining, I stretched to a C+ and explained I was comparing to Oceania and no other cruise lines. FDR Trademarked the Finest Cuisine at Sea and drove that home. Fact or Fiction, it is a great tag line and the cuisine is outstanding, IMHO. 

My 2 cents and that is all it’s worth, blow off someone else’s negativism, their opinions and  look forward to “your” adventure and cruise and go with a positive attitude and have a fabulous trip and create your own opinions just for you. 
I will drop the mic,

Mahalo,

Mauibabes

Mauibabes, I so agree with you, especially on Viking. We did one ocean cruise on Viking and just didn't like the vibe. Fellow passengers just weren't that friendly. No cruise line is perfect, but Oceania suits us best. 

[Tr1v1alCru1ser]

Cruising in particular is very much what suits you. We’ve tried other lines too, and ultimately been disappointed and gone back to O.  Is it perfect, of course not, but we know what we’re going to get and are happy with it.  

[Tranquility Base]

We will continue to cruise to interesting places, as we know our ability to fly long haul in order to do this has a time limit on it.

Once onboard we like the lower stress type of travel and enjoy not having to constantly make decisions each and every day for a month or two.

Oceania fits us well, we seldom complain, and just go with the flow and enjoy the experience.

 

[Jim_Iain]

Have to agree with your wife.   This year we began booking other than Celebrity and have bookings on Celebrity, Cunard, Silver Sea, Regent and Oceania.    I've been reading on all these forums and VLogs.     All have threads on --- drop in services, food, dress code etc...etc.  

 

Each also have their group of cheerleaders.

 

I read with an open mind but also realize people are more prone to complain and we al have to accept the fact --- The World will never be the way it was in the  Ol' day.

 

I love to read live reports and most are open to discuss reality.

[Vallesan]

46 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Have to agree with your wife.   This year we began booking other than Celebrity and have bookings on Celebrity, Cunard, Silver Sea, Regent and Oceania.    I've been reading on all these forums and VLogs.     All have threads on --- drop in services, food, dress code etc...etc.  

 

Each also have their group of cheerleaders.

 

I read with an open mind but also realize people are more prone to complain and we al have to accept the fact --- The World will never be the way it was in the  Ol' day.

 

I love to read live reports and most are open to discuss reality.

You are exactly right ….The World will never be the way it ‘was’ . We have to accept this. We have to re-evaluate each line. We have to pick what suits us in the ‘here and now’.

 

What was, was! No longer relevant. We still enjoy cruising despite the differences.

Edited July 23 by Vallesan

[terrydtx]

47 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Have to agree with your wife.   This year we began booking other than Celebrity and have bookings on Celebrity, Cunard, Silver Sea, Regent and Oceania.    I've been reading on all these forums and VLogs.     All have threads on --- drop in services, food, dress code etc...etc.  

 

Each also have their group of cheerleaders.

 

I read with an open mind but also realize people are more prone to complain and we al have to accept the fact --- The World will never be the way it was in the  Ol' day.

 

I love to read live reports and most are open to discuss reality.

Jim & Iain have been among the most loyal of Celebrity Captain Club members at the highest levels of membership.  I have followed Jim's very detailed cruise experiences live on CC for years. This year they have cruised with other lines for the first time in many years which speaks to the issue of changes post covid in the industry. 8 of our 9 post Covid cruises had also been with Celebrity and we had reached Elite Plus in the Captains Club.  On Celebrity we cruised post covid exclusively in the Retreat Suites. However, we felt the changes Celebrity made over the last year to decrease the value of their product left us behind and we are now cruising with Oceania and HAL this year. For us loyalty levels mean nothing because we now will only cruise with lines based on the itinerary first and the product second.

[pinotlover]

It’ll take awhile for us to get past the “ I walked three miles to school in 3 feet of snow, uphill both ways “ crowd. We’re just barely past all those Renaissance lovers who really care which current ship was R1or R2! 🙄 That line has been defunct for 23 years! 😂. 
 

Really time to concentrate on the current product. Doesn’t matter how much you loved that 1958 Mercury, they don’t make it anymore. Things change.

[ORV]

14 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

It’ll take awhile for us to get past the “ I walked three miles to school in 3 feet of snow, uphill both ways “ crowd. We’re just barely past all those Renaissance lovers who really care which current ship was R1or R2! 🙄 That line has been defunct for 23 years! 😂. 
 

Really time to concentrate on the current product. Doesn’t matter how much you loved that 1958 Mercury, they don’t make it anymore. Things change.

Did we have the same Dad? I never did understand how there was ever 3 ft of snow in Mississippi. 

[SATaxman]

5 minutes ago, ORV said:

Did we have the same Dad? I never did understand how there was ever 3 ft of snow in Mississippi. 

I was thinking the same thing. I think my Father said 6 feet of snow uphill both ways, and he grew up in Brooklyn. Not many hills.

 

[mauibabes]

My dad too but it was in Ohio and it was only 2’ of snow. Maybe he was less into embellishments 🤪🙏 or Akron was  not in a snow belt. 

Good thing he moved the family to California when I was a baby, we only had to brave inches of rain, fog that you could not see 10’ in front of you thru while driving 75 mph on the Freeway and earthquakes. 🤞🙏😇

Ciao,

Mauibabes

 

[pinotlover]

It’s just time to get past the “ old gray mare ain’t what she used to be” posts. Today, she is what she is now. None of us are going to be what we were.

 

Keep it current and keep it reasonable.

[Thought2go]

2 hours ago, mauibabes said:

My dad too but it was in Ohio and it was only 2’ of snow. Maybe he was less into embellishments 🤪🙏 or Akron was  not in a snow belt. 

Good thing he moved the family to California when I was a baby, we only had to brave inches of rain, fog that you could not see 10’ in front of you thru while driving 75 mph on the Freeway and earthquakes. 🤞🙏😇

Ciao,

Mauibabes

 

Hey-that was all survivable- it was the houses sliding down the hill onto PCH that was dangerous!! Glad our car had good brakes.

[Thought2go]

4 hours ago, ORV said:

I never did understand how there was ever 3 ft of snow in Mississippi. 

Hey those drifts could certainly pile up!! Plus it was always a fun time to put pots on the roof and collect the snow to make snow cream-a southern version of icecream.