What should we expect?

[paulista1950]

This will be our first Oceania experience (and we're looking forward to it! still 9 months to go) We've cruised with Cunard three times, including one crossing, and a few coastal Brazilian cruises. What should we expect compared to our previous cruises? Which would be the major differences?

[Bruin Steve]

Mario, I haven't done Cunard, so I can't give you that comparison...

But, compared to most "big ship" lines, you're getting a smaller ship, a little more "casual" elegance, great food, less night life and activities...

 

Only 680 passengers, no formal nights, open seating for dinner (no assigned tables)...

 

There's not all of the noise and activities, fewer kids as there is no kids program...

 

The ship tends to be quieter after dinner...

 

The demographics tend a little more toward the "well-to-do", a little older than some cruise lines...

 

Never find lines or crowds...and at least your ship won't overwhelm the ports with mobs of tourists...

[paulista1950]

Tks. Steve, I'm sure I'll enjoy it

[orchestrapal]

And best of all you will not smell smoke on the ship.:):):)

[paulista1950]

And best of all you will not smell smoke on the ship.:):):)[/quote

 

A healthy one

[Mura]

One negative (for some) is that the ship board entertainment is not spectacular. We've done two QE2 cruises and the entertainment was excellent. Not so on Oceania ... but since we tend to go in for dinner late, we generally miss the shows anyway.

 

But if that is important to you, it's something to be considered.

 

For us, the no smoking, few children (and the few we've encountered have been charming), and no formal nights means a lot more than the entertainment does ...

[Veronica13]

I hope I enjoy the Euro cruise I booked for the fall, and Oceania tells me this is the policy, so I will be able to enjoy a cigarette with no problem. I hope the quality of service and food is what I hope for as well.

 

Smoking

For the safety and security of all guests and staff onboard, Designated Smoking Areas are available on Deck 9, the forward starboard corner of the Pool Deck, and Deck 10, in the aft, port corner of Horizons. These areas are comfortably furnished and conveniently located near food and beverage areas.

[LHT28]

I hope I enjoy the Euro cruise I booked for the fall, and Oceania tells me this is the policy, so I will be able to enjoy a cigarette with no problem. I hope the quality of service and food is what I hope for as well.

 

 

Everyone has different expectations on what is good quality & good food.

 

I never had a bad meal on O ;) but that is just me

[2kiwis]

The food is great on board, open dining and not having formal nights a must for us.

You will have a wonderful time!!

[Veronica13]

The food is great on board, open dining and not having formal nights a must for us.

You will have a wonderful time!!

 

I hope so! I was going to take the same route with Regent, but it was only 7 days, this sailing is 12, and the price was $2500 more on Regent (for veranda). I realize Regent is all inclusive, tips, and excursions, but I wouldn't be spending that much on wine (more like $200) or excursions and it's far shorter.

 

So doing a different Regent this year.

 

My only concern is reading somewhere :confused: on these boards that these companies could go bankrupt this year.

[LHT28]

My only concern is reading somewhere :confused: on these boards that these companies could go bankrupt this year.

 

If that were true I doubt they would be going ahead with the new ship

 

http://www.cruise-community.com/ShowStory.asp?ID=16327

 

Buy travel insurance that includes supplier default if you are worried.

[Veronica13]

Interesting website! Thanks

[newcruisers04]

thanks for the reminder to get cruise insurance...we just booked Oceania Regatta for our first wedding anniversary next Feb. (just got back from honeymoon this past weekend), and are eagerly looking forward to a great cruise thru the Panama Canal...have you done that one previously?

[LHT28]

thanks for the reminder to get cruise insurance...we just booked Oceania Regatta for our first wedding anniversary next Feb. (just got back from honeymoon this past weekend), and are eagerly looking forward to a great cruise thru the Panama Canal...have you done that one previously?

 

Yes we did a B2B in '07 ...great cruise

 

I thought winter was over but...:eek:

 

Lyn

[Veronica13]

I've done every conceivable cruise, but Greece, so going to take the 12 sailing on Nautica Oct 17th. I don't even get off the ships anymore in the Carribean, South America, Panama Canal, Alaska, Hawaii. Booked Bermuda for next spring, haven't been there for many years.

 

So it is as quiet as I've read after dinner? No dancing, no nightlife at all? I'm not big into reading a book in my cabin.

[LHT28]

So it is as quiet as I've read after dinner? No dancing, no nightlife at all? I'm not big into reading a book in my cabin.

 

Not sure what you consider nightlife to consist of

 

There is a small casino if you like that

There is a show (not vegas style) usually at 9:45pm sometimes earlier

Different things to do in Horizons around 10:45pm (we are usually too tired to check it out)

Dancing before & after the show

String quartet for your listening pleasure deck 5 at the Grand staircase from 7pm to 9pm or thereabouts

Martinis has a piano player

 

It depends on your interests

 

Lyn

[Rickey 88]

So it is as quiet as I've read after dinner? No dancing, no nightlife at all? I'm not big into reading a book in my cabin.

 

An earlier poster stated "One negative (for some) is that the ship board entertainment is not spectacular" and their intent was to say that there IS entertainment, but it is not of the "smoke and mirrors" spectacles that some other lines offer.

 

There is a show in the main lounge every evening, if you wish, but it simple compared to the big cruise ships. In the Martinis bar, a pianist entertains nightly,and an orchestra plays for dancing in the lounge and a string quartet plays in the main hall prior to dinner.

 

However, if you require a lot of show activity to entertain you..... :rolleyes:

[hondorner]

We have thoroughly enjoyed all of the entertainment aboard Oceania, and in nearly 57 evenings aboard, I don't think we have missed more than 2 or 3. We generally plan to eat around 6:30 or 7:00 so we don't have to hurry the meal and can get to the show lounge early enough to get a good seat.

 

In a typical 2 week period, Oceania usually books at least 3 solid, professional acts, and each gives at least 2 performances. Sometimes it is one performer, sometimes 2 or 3, and occasionally a small group -- once it was en entire family of 4 adults and 3 children, all super-talented. There have been singers, comedians, impressionists, magicians, guitarists and once a enormously talented solo clarinetist whose coloratura wife also sang several numbers, and several others my poor senior brain cannot tap at this moment.

 

The other evenings have been filled with performances by members of the ship's entertainment and cruise director staff, the pianist, the string quartet, the show band (usually 8 members, the "orchestra" (combined show band and string quartet), and, at least a couple of times, crew "talent" show. The latter is marked by the earnestness and pleasantness of the "performers", if not always the talent -- a lot of fun.

 

On a couple of occasions, such as in Manaus, Brazil when the ship was in port overnight, local performers have been brought aboard. The Brazil group included dancers, singers and instrumentalists -- as close to a production show as the small, single-level showroom can handle.

 

We very much prefer intimate, cabaret-style entertainment to glitzy, Vegas style production shows, especially if the production dancers and singers are second-rate, typical cruise-ship performers. All of the professional entertainers we have seen aboard Oceania have been first rate, and many have been memorable.

 

The show lounge holds approximately half of the passengers, and there is only one show each night. We are grateful for those who are too tired and those for whom the entertainment does not thrill, because that assures us we will get a seat. I can absolutely state that the showroom is filled to capacity at every show, so someone besides us appreciates it...

 

As mentioned, there is usually some form of entertainment around the ship. the string quartet plays every evening, the Martinis bar pianist plays every night, the ship's band plays some afternoons on deck and many late evenings in the Horizon Lounge, there is often a karaoke night in Horizons, there is often dancing in Horizons even when the show band is not playing, to the tunes of a DJ. They have brought sail-away bands on board, on one portion of a cruise there was a fantastic duo on several instruments, including accordion, pan pipe and violin who not only put on showroom performances but played in the atrium every evening and took requests.

 

Most evenings, at 9:00 before the 9:45 show, there is some sort of audience participation game -- trivia, the Newlywed game, etc. Then, there are lectures, cooking shows, an officers round table where they answer questions and much more.

 

Add in daytime ping-pong tournaments, golf putting, bingo, morning coffee chats, needlework classes, bridge lessons and much more, and it gets to the point where you are grateful to relax with a book. There is no danger of getting bored unless you want it that way.

[Veronica13]

An earlier poster stated "One negative (for some) is that the ship board entertainment is not spectacular" and their intent was to say that there IS entertainment, but it is not of the "smoke and mirrors" spectacles that some other lines offer.

 

There is a show in the main lounge every evening, if you wish, but it simple compared to the big cruise ships. In the Martinis bar, a pianist entertains nightly,and an orchestra plays for dancing in the lounge and a string quartet plays in the main hall prior to dinner.

 

However, if you require a lot of show activity to entertain you..... :rolleyes:

 

Honestly, I have never attended a "production" show.(yawn). But I do appreciate upbeat music and dancing, and a place to sip champagne and have a "happy" atmosphere, as opposed to a "funeral" atmosphere. I can do without the string quartet. The rest sounds fine. Guess I'll just be drinking alone at the bar after 10pm (lights out time?) LOL

[lcand1923]

We've never been to any of the shows on Oceania. However, we've never sat at the bar alone.

 

One of the great things about Oceania is the wonderful conversations you will have with your shipmates. We've sat and talked until well after midnight with our fellow cruisers many nights.

[hondorner]

And remember, the dancing, karaoke and other activities in the Horizons Lounge at night do not start until after the 10:30 PM end of the show in the showroom lounge.

[Veronica13]

We've never been to any of the shows on Oceania. However, we've never sat at the bar alone.

 

One of the great things about Oceania is the wonderful conversations you will have with your shipmates. We've sat and talked until well after midnight with our fellow cruisers many nights.

 

I've always been the "make your own good time" kind of person, and actually enjoy just sitting and talking to the bartender and whomever happens by. Sure I'll make my own good time and meet plenty of nice people. Thx!

[ORV]

And best of all you will not smell smoke on the ship.:):):)

 

For us, the no smoking, few children (and the few we've encountered have been charming), and no formal nights means a lot more than the entertainment does ...

 

I certainly hope that you all understand that Oceania is not a no smoking line, only very limited. So yes, you will smell smoke if you go by the approved smoking areas.

[LHT28]

I certainly hope that you all understand that Oceania is not a no smoking line, only very limited. So yes, you will smell smoke if you go by the approved smoking areas.

 

There are only 2 small areas & easy to avoid if you are a non smoker

 

Lyn

[orchestrapal]

ORV: You are right but on 6 Oceania Cruises we have found that those places are "O so easy to avoid" and we have done just that!:D:D:D