First time cruises going on the Oceana

[honorpurdy]

It will be the first time my wife and I have taken a cruise we have opted for freedom dining on the Oceana leaving Southampton on the 30th October 2009 visiting Madeira, Antigua, Tortola, St Maarten, St Lucia, Barbados then flying back to East Midlands Airport, anybody any tips on the Oceana i.e. dress code, dining, tipping and any general advice for the first time cruiser's.

Also any tips on the places we will be visiting i.e. organised tours or do it ourselves and any places not to be missed at any of the destinations. Thank you to anyone out there who can help.

[BrianI]

Have you booked the free P&O coach that runs from EMA direct to the ship? Not many are aware of this.

Brian

[honorpurdy]

Thanks for info yes we have booked free coach

Mick

[LEESRE]

Regards dress code on Oceana, this is a little more relaxed like Ventura, they don't have Semi-Formal evenings either Formal or Casual from April of this year.

I am sure you will love Oceana she has a WOW! factor when you first board, IMO. The Atrium is lovely with glass and marble staircases.

Because you are on Freedom dining they will automatically take the tips for the restaurant staff from your onboard account, you pay your tip to the cabin steward yourself. In your stateroom you will find details of the tips expected. Also if you want to tip more then it is up to you.

Regards the excursions you can do your own thing if you want to go to a beach etc. In Saint Maarten you can take the water taxi for 6 dollars for an all day pass and go as you please back and too to Philipsberg. There is a beach there and some great shopping. In Antigua the beaches again are wonderfull and you can get taxis right in the port area and they will take you around. Make sure you agree a price before you get in. They will come back for you you just give them a time.

St. Lucia is very nice to look around and you should possibly dock at Port Ceraphin (sp) which has shops and bars also a taxi station to take you around the island if you wish.

In Madeira you can walk to the cable car station and take that and get a great view of the bay and the cruise ships again to do on your own.

 

I am sure you will have a fabulous cruise, we are on Oceana again in 4 weeks time.

[honorpurdy]

Thanks COOL CRUISER for info very helpful. Hope you have a super cruise in 4 week's.

Mick

[LibraLass41]

Leesre

They don't have any semi-formal evenings anyway in the Caribbean, due to luggage weight restrictions on flights:)

[supered]

We did ther Tropical Trails excursion with P&O in Antigua and I would throughly recommend it, I was a 4x4 jeep safari around the south west of the island and included an extensive beach stop at Turners Beach.

 

In St Lucia we did the Beach ATV, also with P&O, and it was great quad biking off road. This also had a stop for refreshments with time for dip in the sea at a private beach.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Eddie

[Kilbarchansaintee]

Hi, we're also going on Oceana as first timers but to the med in July, myself, wife & 15year old daughter. I presume dress code, tipping policies etc will be similar to a Caribbean cruise.

 

We're calling at Vigo, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Majorca, Barcelona, Cannes, Sardinia & the unpronounceable port for Rome. My wife is particularly keen to visit the Vatican; would we be better going independently or taking an excursion if there's a suitable one?

 

Also does anyone have any comments about the facilities on board for our daughter?

 

Thanks

[SteLovesCruises]

Hi, we're also going on Oceana as first timers but to the med in July, myself, wife & 15year old daughter. I presume dress code, tipping policies etc will be similar to a Caribbean cruise.

 

We're calling at Vigo, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Majorca, Barcelona, Cannes, Sardinia & the unpronounceable port for Rome. My wife is particularly keen to visit the Vatican; would we be better going independently or taking an excursion if there's a suitable one?

 

Also does anyone have any comments about the facilities on board for our daughter?

 

Thanks

 

Hi, i'm 16 and I went on the Oceana when I was 15 with my parents. I really enjoyed it, at first I didn't want to go in teenage area, but I finally became brave lol! It really is worth it! You make so many friends in there. The people who work in there will be a friendly bunch! At first there is a timetable and they do there activities around it such as certain sports, various games and many other things. I hardly saw my parents for the two weeks.

Any questions, feel free to ask me.

Ste.

[LibraLass41]

If your wife wants to go inside the Vatican you will need to do a tour -there are security issues and our names from the tour were sent to the Vatican before we arrived in Rome.

ESSENCE OF ROME is one of the few tours that actually take you inside the Vatican we did this one . The queues for plebs (normal tourists) was a mile or so long in 80-90 degree heat, I bet you don't want to spend your precious 6 hours in Rome in a queue!?

 

photos in this album from Med cruise if interested ( we were on Arcadia)

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/AuroraPartyCruiseSueV/ArcadiaMedCruiseJune07#

[crocodile]

It will be the first time my wife and I have taken a cruise we have opted for freedom dining on the Oceana leaving Southampton on the 30th October 2009 visiting Madeira, Antigua, Tortola, St Maarten, St Lucia, Barbados then flying back to East Midlands Airport, anybody any tips on the Oceana i.e. dress code, dining, tipping and any general advice for the first time cruiser's.

Also any tips on the places we will be visiting i.e. organised tours or do it ourselves and any places not to be missed at any of the destinations. Thank you to anyone out there who can help.

we visited Tortola in December and took a tour when we got off the ship , it was superb. Look for FREDDIES Fun bus and you won't be dissapointed.It is just one of many waiting to take you on a tour. We docked in Castries in St Lucia which wasn't very nice ,the taxi people were desparate for your business but like a swarm of bees and it was too much hassle ! It is just your luck if you get a good trip depending on who you choose !

[Kilbarchansaintee]

Thanks for your posts, folks.

 

Ste, our daughter Sophia is so reassured by your post & really looking forward to the cruise.

 

Sue. your photos are fantastic. Thanks for sharing them.

 

Best wishes

[fue-fue]

Hi Crocodile

 

Could you please tell more about the tour in Tortola? Can you remember what yoou paid?

 

Thanks

[jayne1961]

hi my husband and i are on the same cruise and its our first time to the caribbean so were excited as we have been told she is a lovely ship but i would like to know how big the balcony cabins.

[MattOsprey]

Leesre

They don't have any semi-formal evenings anyway in the Caribbean, due to luggage weight restrictions on flights:)

They did have semi formal nights on the transatlantic on Ventura in October. I am aware from these forums that this has now stopped on Oceana and Ventura, both of which I have booked, and only now found this out.

I will still dress in my tux on formals and jacket and trousers most other nights.

My main reason for this is that I don't dress smartly very often at home. I like to get dressed well on a cruise and will be disappointed with these changes. If I had known I would have gone on other ships.

If P&O roll out this across the fleet, then I will go to another line.

Oceana is a great ship, I think she has the best atrium of all the ships I have been on. It is worth considering having set dining, as it is a great way to meet some great people. It can be a frightening thought at first, but within minutes of meeting your table mates, everyone has a good time.

As for trips. We always go independently ashore. All the ports you are going to are very friendly.

For tipping, don't worry too much about tipping before you go. You will meet plenty of people to keep you straight, on board.

Cruising can be daunting, but it is by far the best holiday experience we have had. Also when going transatlantic, it seems that P&O don't weigh bags individually for the flight back. Your bags are left outside your room on the final night, then put into a cage and sent to the aircraft. The consensus is that they weigh the cages before putting them on the plane, to work out the fuel required. This is not a fact, so don't rely on it. But no one on here has been charged for excess baggage from a transatlantic.

You will love this ship and the cruise.

Matt

[Hot Happy Cruiser]

dress code is smart casual but they do have some formal nights which you must abide by in the restaurant. If you choose to go to the self serve Plaza restaurant then dress code is more casual. Lots of people go mad with evening wear so if you like dressing up this is your chance. We don't so always go to plaza rest. You will get details of the special nights & how many & what theme with your cruise details. Tips for the main restaurant are added to your bill but you can take them off ifyou want. We did not use the main restaurant as we always used the Plaza and tips are up to you there (the hat will appear the last couple of days) We did not use restaurant as my other half felt seasick down there.

St Maarten is lovely - town is a cheap boatride away from dock with lots of shops so you don't need an excursion here. St Lucia - the boiling sulpher baths are worth a visit - we did P&O trip. Island tour of Antigua we did ourselves a lot cheaper. Make sure you take plenty of US$ cash small bills with you.

[LibraLass41]

dress code is smart casual but they do have some formal nights which you must abide by in the restaurant. If you choose to go to the self serve Plaza restaurant then dress code is more casual. Lots of people go mad with evening wear so if you like dressing up this is your chance. We don't so always go to plaza rest. You will get details of the special nights & how many & what theme with your cruise details. Tips for the main restaurant are added to your bill but you can take them off ifyou want. We did not use the main restaurant as we always used the Plaza and tips are up to you there (the hat will appear the last couple of days) We did not use restaurant as my other half felt seasick down there.

 

Not quite true....tips are only automatically added if you are on FREEDOM dining (as you will be having different waiters every meal)

If you have booked CLUB DINING (you have a table at 6pm or 8.30pm THE SAME every night and thus same waiter) you tip as you do on other pando ships at the end of the cruise in a tip envelope.

 

 

 

Happy cruiser

Fancy missing those lovely 5 course meals in the main restaurant - why? :confused:

[A&A]

Just returned yesterday from the Barbados to Southampton cruise on Oceana and had a fantastic time. The staff could not do enough for you and the entertainment was first rate. The weather wasn't that good (raining one day out of Antigua!) although the Bay of Biscay was as flat as we have ever had it.

 

On excursions in St Marteen's would have to recommend the Admiral Cup yacht trip. Absolutely brilliant, racing on boats that have taken part in the race, after all the food we needed the exercise! Highly recommended.

 

On Madeira, we did the cable car up to the Monte Palace Gardens which is well worth a visit. You can then either get the cable car down, try the tobaggons (great fun) or a taxi.

[missdarcyx]

You will love it. We did opposite trip in march on ventura, we had 4 formal nights, DJ, evening dresses etc and the rest were smart casual- where most people still dressed smart, trousers and shirts or smart jeans, dresses or skirts and tops.

The only stop we had matching yours were barbados- turtle snorkle- amazing! booked with P&O cost £30 each can recommend this if you like to snorkle. St Lucia, we did zip wiring in rainforest, again booked through P&O cost ? £60 each I think! Enjoyed this trip also, spoke to other holiday makers whilst there, they were American off a carnival ship, they had done this trip DIY (taxi and admission) cost approxiamately $60 each so my partner was quite happy with our price.

I was apprenhensive about the 5 days at sea but it was lovely just relaxing, the weather was excellent, sunbathing everyday, but plenty of activities going on, quizzes, films in the theatre, talks, classes, demonstrations etc.

Hope some of this is useful, and have a brill time I'm sure you will

Ursula

[elsiemay]

Myself ad friends have just recently came home from cruise aboard OCEANA, Our first cruise, will not be our last, We flew from Belfast to Acapulco, 20th feb 2009, got home march 7th 2009, Our age range was from 21 to 43 in our company of 6 girls, we had the time of our lives, visit the monte carlo (casino and entertainment) you will have a good time., on d semi formal nights, it really is up to you,as a frw of us are not into formal dress, but we did wear nice outfits, go for freedom dining, some dining places have a cover charge at certain times, Marco pierre White restaurant if i remember right is included in freedom dining, but at certain times you pay a cover charge which is taken off your on board account, but between around about 10.30pm - around about 07.am it costs nothing! so if you are in nightclub, or theatre or some one of the other entertainments ,feeling peckish go tp marco pierre white, it is really up tp you how you dress, some restaurants on ship, have 2 sittings in the evening, if you opt for another type of dining when u booked, then u r at set tmes. hope u enjoy yr cruise as much as we did, we have already booked another 4 this november, and another for 2010 -feb, we had such GOOD TIME THAT WE KEEP IN CON TACT WITH ONE OTHE THE STAFF , IN THE WINNERS BAR - CASINO- HIS NAME DEXTER, HE KNOWS US AS THE IRISH GIRLS....u WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME.

[CASPALL]

Good on you elsiemay!:)

[novice cruisers]

can anyone tell us weather we need special cruise insurance or can we get a normal holiday one.Thanks

[supered]

can anyone tell us weather we need special cruise insurance or can we get a normal holiday one.Thanks

Normal travel insurance will do. There is no need to get a specialist policy unless you have a lot of pre-existing conditions or are going away for a long time e.g. 30 days or more. Ours is with Direct Line as was very good value for money.

 

Eddie