Switching from Celebrity to O

I like Celebrity. I like Oceania more. Oceania costs more. I think it is worth spending more for the O experience. The big difference was the service. Oceania is excellent. Everyone is pleasant and wants to serve. It is a pleasure dining at the Terrase Cafe. It is easy to select food. It is nice having waiters assist. On Celebrity, the buffet has more choices. However, you are on your own getting food,etc. on Oceania tables are set, dirty plates are removed. Never had to wait to get a table. On Celebrity, finding a table at the buffet is a challenge. When I sail on Celebrity I try to avoid the buffet. Another big feature on Oceania that was great was the daily elegant afternoon tea. It was delightful. My next cruise is on Celebrity. It was booked last year before I sailed on Oceania. Wondering if I will be happy.

Interesting... we had never have problems getting a table on X in buffet. And we only use tables by the window.

Maybe we aren't eating at peak times... don't know.

I like Celebrity and Oceania. I like the food on Oceania better, but we just got off the Insignia and had a horrible time finding a table in the terrace cafe. Several times we left and went to the MDR which I'm not a big fan of. The problems in the terrace were only at breakfast and lunch. Dinner was never a problem. This was our first time on the R class ships and also the last time. We prefer the O class much more.

I like Celebrity and Oceania. I like the food on Oceania better, but we just got off the Insignia and had a horrible time finding a table in the terrace cafe. Several times we left and went to the MDR which I'm not a big fan of. The problems in the terrace were only at breakfast and lunch. Dinner was never a problem. This was our first time on the R class ships and also the last time. We prefer the O class much more.

I agree with you about the R class. O class is the only one for us, which we love.

You will find many long time O cruisers who prefer the "R" ships as well as those who prefer the "O" ships. I'm in the middle. I like each for what they offer. And I'm unable to say which is my favorite. (And I have no idea how many prefer one to the other. I don't think any official surveys have been done ... at least I'm not aware of any.)

Certainly, we are all entitled to our opinions.

Mura

I will be taking my first Oceania cruise in April 2019. I am a frequent cruiser on the mainstream lines (Princess, RCI, HAL, NCL, Disney Carnival), however mostly I prefer to cruise on Celebrity. I was wondering does Oceania allow smoking in the Casinos. One reason I love Celebrity is because they do not allow it. Thanks!

No, they don't.

It's been about 5 years since I last sailed Celebrity. Are art auctions and ship photographers a thing of the

past?

Harry

I will be taking my first Oceania cruise in April 2019. I am a frequent cruiser on the mainstream lines (Princess, RCI, HAL, NCL, Disney Carnival), however mostly I prefer to cruise on Celebrity. I was wondering does Oceania allow smoking in the Casinos. One reason I love Celebrity is because they do not allow it. Thanks!

Only 2 small smoking areas on Oceania ships

one in a small corner by the pool

the other is Horizons in an enclosed area near the port side entrance

It's been about 5 years since I last sailed Celebrity. Are art auctions and ship photographers a thing of the

past?

 

Harry

Unfortunately, no.

I agree!

I used to hate photographers till we cruised on QM2 and finally decided to make some nice photos on historic ships while we were wearing formal clothes. We had a hard time haunting them! They were of course present in photo studio, but it was difficult to find them in other public spaces!

I initially liked the posed photos

with the backdrops on formal nights, but then wearied of having to put on a tux after port days in the Caribbean.

I like Celebrity and Oceania. I like the food on Oceania better, but we just got off the Insignia and had a horrible time finding a table in the terrace cafe. Several times we left and went to the MDR which I'm not a big fan of. The problems in the terrace were only at breakfast and lunch. Dinner was never a problem. This was our first time on the R class ships and also the last time. We prefer the O class much more.

We like the O class ships more than the R class. R class ships are smaller everywhere. Not enough space in cabins and public rooms. R class ships have tiny bathrooms. We will not book on any R class ship.

We happen to like both, but admit that rooms are more spacious on the "O" ships, and of course there are more restaurant choices. But we like the intimacy of the smaller "R" ships as well. We book both.

We sometimes have had difficulty finding a table in Terrace on the "R" ships but it was never impossible! Maybe our timing was better. (We rarely go there for breakfast.)

It is a very different experience than a mega ship. While we like the larger Celebrity and Princess ships and have sailed literally all over the world on them for the last 25 years, we like Oceiana for the itineraries the big ships can not do. The smaller ships can get into many ports the big ships can not and we like the overnights in ports. We think the food in the main dining room or buffet on Oceania is usually better than either Celebrity or Princess however we prefer the speciality dining options on the big ships. There appear to be less groupie type activities on Oceania which is fine with us. Oceania is great for port intensive trips but not for trips with many sea days sequentially. :)

Many, many opinions, yes. But I think he bottom line is that one needs to consider those specifics that are most important to yourself, and choose using those parameters.

Size of ship--important to us; we like both the O and R ships.

Itinerary--important to us, though the sea is the biggest lure.

Tranquility--important to us--quiet, peaceful chance to relax.

Price--important to us, though we would rather sail less often if the ambiance is there

Additionals--hate art auctions, photographers, paying for a bottle of water; prefer arranging my own excursions, love bringing a bottle of wine to enjoy in my cabin, having my preferred soda in my cabin, and good food

So, my parameters say "Oceania! I have sailed, happily, on other lines. But O "fits" us best! Find what fits YOU and sail happily.