UDSpud

I received two days ago a 2108-2019 voyages brochure entitled "Enticing Discoveries" in the mail from Oceania.

Page 9 of this page labeled "Oceania Club" - "Your World of Rewards has (to the best of my knowledge) the first written example of "Oceania Club Membership Rewards" changes that I (me personally and direct from Oceania) have seen.

I compared it to a similar "Oceania Club Membership rewards table in an earlier mailing of "2019-2020 Collection" which, to the best of my knowledge ( we are Silver level now) had current in effect rewards.

At the bottom of the Gold colored table box it said "Please note the latest enhancements to Oceana Club Membership Privileges will go into effect on voyages embarking on or after November 1, 2019"

My comparison showed at least the following:

1. Decreases in benefits Prior then after 10/31/2019 then Increase<decrease>

shipboard credits

Bronze $ 200 $ 100 <$100>

Silver 400 250 <150>

Gold 500 400 <100>

Platinum 600 500 <150>

Diamond 1000 750 <250>

President's 1000 1000 0

2 Complementary Custom

air waiver Now gone

value was 350 0 <350>

3. Prepaid Gratuities - unchanged

4. Several other items not discussed

or like internet service - unclear

"See OceaniaCruises.com/oceaniaclub for details"

Sorry if any of this turns out to be wrong, but I tried to compare the newest table to a prior recent table

To Mura - post 38

Cost effective? Crystal thought so and has already done this. This is why I started the tread "will Oceania pull a Crystal". Remember that Oceania thought buying and repairing the Sirena was cost effective.

A traveling sales representative at our AAA store for a multi-line cruise presentation show told me she had heard that a roughly 1,000 passenger ship (Viking size) was being considered for Oceania.

If ports like Venice start limiting, or even closing out the large ships, the popularity of the less than 2,000, or even 1,500 passenger ship may grow.

To Post # 34 by ABoatNerd

Same segment? Perhaps, but differences. Oceania allows under 18 years old passengers, but does not target them like Disney nor exclude them like Viking. Oceania ships have casino's. Oceania has two different sizes of ships whereas Viking has four to five of the same basic design now and will reach a projected number ( 8-10?). My understanding is that the Viking ships are and will be largely identical. What portion of Viking Ocean regular passengers will want to be on almost the same ship 5 years from now?

Since I have sailed on Viking, I recently received Viking booklet featuring two traveler surveys with both showing a marked preference for Viking. However, the fine print of one survey limited that survey to ships with a total passenger count less than the Oceania newer and bigger "O" class ships at 1,250 passengers. So the true comparison was Viking Ocean vs. Oceania "R" ships (close to 20 years older).

One of the great things about cruise ships is the variety. It's not like (mostly) Boeing vs. Airbus of various sizes for air travel.

Check out Cruise critic boards and reviews for both. Consider your priorities and, if possible, try them both. I am glad they are both very good and different.

Since another thread indicates no new ships planed in the near future for Oceania, I wonder if Oceania will pull a Crystal with some, or all, of their "R" ships.

By this I mean, reducing the number of veranda staterooms and replacing them with a smaller number of additional suites. This is what Crystal did recently with one of their two ships. Fewer passengers, but more higher (than stateroom) passenger fares for the suites and bigger cabins (suites vs staterooms). This could also result in some labor cost reductions and lesser crowds at dining venues.

Good idea or not? I have no idea if Oceania officials have considered, discussed or voted on this.

What we do - check your daily newsletter. If you want the show that is offered, consider the Terrace for dinner. If you already have a specialty restaurant reservation, skip a course or desert, especially if your reservation is for 6:30 or 7:00. Desert may be the only option if you are dining with others.

Posted this a year or so ago (probably using different words and order).

In regard to attire, just ask the Oceania person in charge. I once asked the person in charge of Horizons during high? tea if it was OK to wear my FC Barcelona tie shirt (it was a European cruise). Manny told me it was OK. he ended up greeting me with a smile and thumbs up. Several of the wait staff said they were fans (either of FC Barcelona or Real Madrid). The table next to us had three cruisers from Spain and good natured banter resulted.

In Europe, a home town football cap or shirt can overcome some of the bias against masses of American tourists.

I will be trying this in Canada, during our Oceania Marina Atlantic crossing in May with a Cape Brenton Screaming Eagles (hockey) tie shirt which we got in Sydney on a prior Oceania cruise.

I do realize that this may not help with pre-cruise packing.

Read this and draw your own conclusions:

From the Cruise Critic News section -

An article dated 4/5/2018 titled "Rail, air strikes in France could affect cruisers heading to Europe".

French unions including Rail and dock workers, are unhappy with planned national government legislation and have started and are planning strike actions. I do not know if this will affect cruise port activities.

It has all ready had a major effect on train schedules and activities. So far I have not read anything regarding public inter and intra city buses.

Private and ship sponsored shore excursions, at a minimum, may be affected by heavy road traffic. Some shore excursions may involve union workers or workers who may not strike but support those who do.

Our cruise first stops in France May 24th for the first of 6 stops in France.

Best advice - Use internet to keep track on a macro-scale and check with your French private tour operators by email and reading their websites.

To Kruzkrazy post #42 - Regarding Oceania brochures

I am not handsome, rather plain and ordinary, and not like the silver haired models (men) in the brochures.

Yet someone made a mistake and allowed me to buy, take and enjoy several cruises with Oceaniia.

Obviously something is wrong with their advertising and, if a picture is worth a thousand words, then your comments, while valid, then Oceania advertising may, by that standard, be quite restrained.

I apologize if you look like their pictures ( and for 6 ", s" in one sentence).

Have a great day and next cruise with whichever cruise line floats your boat.

Since I am not going to Russia anytime soon, I can ask this question. Who would be contacted if you get taken in by the police? (drink too much and cause trouble, in an automobile accident, take a picture in the wrong place, accused of shoplifting or forgetting to pay, dispute with a taxi driver). Not sure how much Oceania could help.

Russia, especially St Petersburg, wants tourists, so it isn't apples and apples, but remember the American young man who took a poster in North Korea. Bet he and his parents wish there had been an American Consulate available to them

Todays news indicates that Russia is ordering the US consulate in St. Petersburg closed and 60+ state department officials ( probably not all from St. Petersburg) sent home from Russia in response to the similar action by the Us after the UK poisoning.

Many booked and considering Baltic cruises may be affected. There probably will not be any American state department officials in town to help American cruise ship passengers who have problems. Travelers to St. Petersburg should check the State department website for information ( will the Moscow Consulate try to help cruise passengers in St. Petersburg or will another country's consulate help (Switzerland, Finland or ?).

Best advice, If on a ship visa or an approved Russian tour group visa, you should try extra hard to stay with the tour guide. This situation does not help those who wander away or get separated.

Hopefully CC will do a general post about this potential problem which probably affects most Baltic cruises and cruise lines.

Before my comments I will add the disclaimer that Oceania is my cruise line of choice.

One difference is on the "O" ships (Riviera and Marina). Both offer a variety of deck games. There are scheduled competitions with points awarded to be exchanged for Oceania advertising apparel. They are also generally hosted by members of the show personnel. These are usually not crowded, so most passengers probably could not care less.

Food - When I order meat I specify and describe; ie. "medium rare steak", "just a little pink in the middle" and "OK to cut it and look inside". Also at the Terrace grill, the same, but you can order under cooked a little then ask to put it back on the grill for a little longer while you watch.

Lobster and many fish servings. I always ask if it is warm water sourced or cold. For lobster ask, is it from the coast of New England or the east coast of Canada.

Regarding, friendly talk with servers, I look to see how busy they are. Your friendly short talk may be someone else's "slow or inattentive service". Also, use their first names. I once had one server at the Terrace that didn't smile a me, or most others, for several days. Then, I said "Hello ________ and she definitely knew how to smile.

All the ship's staff will appreciate if you can make their jobs a little easier. Tell the room attendant that you plan to be on an all day shore excursion. Tell the Terrace helper that you can carry your own plate if there are others much more in need of this. Most important, mention them by name on your cruise comment surveys. I helped one nice server on a long cruise go from serving food, to waiting tables, to specialty restaurant waiter assistant.

Choices and preferences are individual, so try different cruise lines and remember "Whatever floats your boat."

Response to Hawaidan post

Your comment on using credit cards is very appropriate and useful.

I am not sure that Oceania shore excursions are "4 to 5 tine more expensive. (ie an Oceania shore excursion costing $300.00 , can be had for $50.00 or $60.00). I do not dispute that Oceania tour excursions are more expensive as they are a profit center for Oceana corporate just like the casino's Also, I am assuming that you are referring to private commercial tour operators rather than a DIY (do it yourself - using cabs, public buses and trains and paying attraction entrance fees)

Warning to readers - The Oceania statement about waiting for Oceania excursions getting back to the ship after departure can have little or significant value. I am booked on a cruise from Montreal to London. If I were to miss the ship departing from the Trois Reveries stop it would be relatively cheap and easy to get to Quebec City , the next stop. Miss the ship departure in St. Johns NF (next is followed by three days at sea) and getting to Cork Ireland is a different matter.

Thanks for the post. It is definitely something cruisers need to consider. They should also check the Cruise Critic roll call for their cruise and outside sources (trip adviser?) for Oceania shore excursion alternatives.

Remember if you intend to use onboard ship credits on shore excursions, the shore excursions can only be booked after you board the ship for the cruise the onboard credits were earned for.

You may wish to note that Crystal recently changed the Symphony and (per their website) added 12 more new suites and 28 new penthouses. The passenger count went from 922 (before) to 848 (after). Assuming 2 passenger per cabin, one would calculate a 34 additional reduction in smaller cabins or a total reduction of 40 + 34 or 74 fewer smaller cabins. ( this could be wrong if additional suite and penthouse space came from other than a reduction in smaller cabins.

Simple assumption, appeal to the higher paying, more space desiring, passengers.

It also could be more passengers not wanting to be on 2,500 to 5,00+ passenger cruise ships.

Note that the Crystal ships are much older than the Oceania "O" ships (Riviera and Marina).

Both lines have had corporate ownership changes in the last 5 years and IMO have had new ship additions delayed for that reason.

Disclosure - I am Oceania silver level and have sailed on Crystal once.

Comment on forgetting correct number of pills. 1. I always take two complete sets of pills, so if I lose one early on, I will have enough for the rest of the trip. I also make sure they travel in separate places (wife's purse and my carry on bag).

Second, know from your doctor if you can cut pills and 1/2 dose if necessary. Most foreign drug stores sell pill cutters.

Just read MSN.com headline "Norovirus sidelines Olympic Security Staff".

I didn't know the Marina had been to South Korea recently. Suggest the Security staff read this thread.

To Cruiser Jane

Regarding your Norovirus infection

Was a US port involved? If so, your comments should have been reported to the CDC.

If not your comments should have, and may have been, reported to Oceania corporate along with the name of the ship's doctor. Report even now, as that doctor may still be on an Oceana ship.

Did you have Trip insurance? Did it cover this problem?

My wife got sick (on an Oceania Caribbean cruise) and I was quarantined (never got sick). She was convinced that it was food poisoning. With a Miami stop, the CDC investigated ( was supposedly on board) and confirmed many cases of norovirus. I later went to their website and read their report.

Does any reader know if ginger ale or the stronger ginger candy helps with the stomach issues once you get the norovirus? We use it for rough seas motion issues.

One other tip, after washing you hands in the public bathrooms, use the little papers which are dispensed by the door so you do not have to directly touch the door handle AFTER washing your hands. From what is have directly observed, most men on board do not do this.

Lets cross our fingers as we are on a May 2018 Oceania cruise together.

Allyg,

I see you have 79 posts, but I do not know the following:

1) Have you sailed on Oceania before?

2) Did you use a travel agent ?

3) What size ships - think maximum passenger size have you sailed before?

4) Are you traveling with friends or family ( and if family, children )?

5) How late do you like to stay up?

6) What cruise line features are most important to you and least important to you?

7) Many cruisers look at the itinerary, both for stops and time in port.

Most people, including me, find the Regatta quiet and slower paced. For the ship size, in my opinion, it has a large library and a small showroom. Usually, again my opinion, not much happens after 10:30-11:00 pm. The show lounge is small (no balcony) with no large production shows due to the small stage and probably a small entertainment budget.

Food should be good to excellent. The terrace (buffet) has a grill to order "while you wait" and I found the Waves (again my opinion) superior to the pool grill on Viking (my last cruise).

If you like to meet people, with the smaller ship you will get to see new friends frequently.

This probably raise more questions than it gives answers. If you used a travel agent to book this cruise, ask their opinion about your concerns.

Hope your next cruise is great, whenever and to wherever it goes.

I do not know the poster, but I note the following from his post.

Per his cruise listing, he has mainly cruised on large Princess ships. He has only sailed Oceania once before and that was many years ago on the Insignia. He has apparently never sailed on the Riviera or the Marina. I am also assuming he knew that the Sirena and Insignia were originally built as sister ships 15 to 20 years ago and he knew the maximum passenger count. The Rivera and Marina are, I believe both less than 5 years old and have about double the passenger count.

He does not mention how his Insignia cruise was or what ports he visited on that cruise. Most smaller ship cruise lines advertise their ability to visit smaller ports and often appeal to travelers tired of stops crowded with cruise ship passengers. I doubt that most of the Princess ships he sailed on could provide the same itinerary as the one he did not like.

The entertainment - Did he remember the size of the Insignia main showroom? The stage and I assume the one on the Sirena, is too small for a large Las Vegas style production show. I also firmly believe the passenger count does not permit a large entertainment budget from Oceania. I prefer the Riviera and Marina entertainment, perhaps because it is possible see, meet and talk to production staff members outside the showroom area.

As far as the "nursing home" portion of the title, my experience has only been that after 10:30 pm Oceania passengers are often resting for the next day. I prefer Oceania and the quality of its passengers is one of the reasons. I, at 74, play deck games, trivia, bridge and often create my own shore excursions to other nearby towns other than the port stops. On such DIY ( do it yourself ) excursions, we usually use local trains, buses and trams which allow us to briefly meet locals.

Since the length of this post would probably put his fellow Sirena cruisers to sleep, I will end with this comment. Use (a lot) the cruise line message boards, roll calls and reviews of Cruise Critic to research future cruises and cruise lines. Googe the port stop names for things to do and use Trip Advisor before booking the trip. Then remember, THINGS HAPPEN.

Comments from a frequent Oceania cruiser -

1) There are 2 larger "O" class ships (which these days are at 1250 passengers closer to small) and 4 "R" class ships at about 650+ passengers. If you know the Pacific Princess, these are sister ships.

2) Food quality is selling point Oceania emphasizes.

3) Entertainment is, in my opinion, underrated considering the number of passengers fares available to help pay for the entertainment. If memory serves me right, there are no balcony seats. The main entertainment lounges on both "O" and "R" ship are single level. The lounge shows should be once an evening, running roughly 9:30 to 10:15 (IMO late because Oceania emphasizes relaxed dining). The production casts are 4 singer/dancers on the "R" and about 12 on an "O".

Physical background sets have been largely replaced with screen graphics. Non-production entertainment usually consists of individual comics, singers and magicians and usually one per night and two nights each.

4) Despite an older demographic, the "O" ships have deck games (shuffleboard, croquet, miniature golf and a single ping pong table) with regular group scheduled competition as well as on your own.

5) The number one feature is great people. Passengers are usually friendly, smart refined and well traveled. I have found the crew to be very friendly as long as your

discussions do not delay their service to other passengers. Many appreciate you using their first name and most will help you to try to learn a greeting in their home language. Unlike many large cruise ships, the Oceania singer/dancers help with the games, do greeting for non-production lounge shows and greeting at the entrance of the Horizons afternoon tea. I, as a personal preference, enjoy a production show where I have met some of the performers. Also, trivia is an excellent way to meet fellow passengers.

Reading past threads on the Oceania Cruise Critic Board will give you more points to consider.

Does anyone know who provides the singer/dancer production staffs on the Viking Ocean ships. Are they chosen, formed, trained and paid by an outside show production company or are they from, and employees of Viking?

JMARKS, I do not see a cruise history, so I do not know which ocean cruise lines, if any, you have sailed on before.

WWID - Ask an experienced travel agent (ideally one a friend knows who will give you good answers regardless of the possible commission. Also read any Viking or Princess board topics that apply to your wants and needs. If time and money permits (and if you have not sailed on Viking, or Princess, or both) First, take a short inexpensive trip on the one you have not tried. A year or two ago, we took a 5 day California coast Crystal cruise

mostly to try out Crystal. We are doing the same on Viking late this year.

Do you want any pre-cruise or post cruise European days? Have you studied the exact ship deck plans? What is your desired mix of group shore excursions versus do it yourself of the ship town visits?

Hope at least some of this helps.

A cruise critic article, mentioning unique things on many cruise lines, noted that for Viking tickets are needed for Torshavn "Cabaret shows" and "... you must get tickets for your preferred show date in advance, so heads up..."

Can anyone who has experienced this (our first Viking cruise is this December) provide additional Torshavn information?

How early can one learn about tickets required ..."preferred show dates" ?

When and where does one get the tickets "... in advance..." ?

Is there ever a show specific cost?

Are Tickets seat or location specific, or just admission for a specific time and date?

Any other useful information on this topic would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Assuming this tread is still about "Oceania losing ground", I will add my comments about our recent Regal Routes (9/13 to 9/23 if memory serves me correct) cruise. This post is late as we went from Copenhagen to Scotland for several days (ten events) of the Fringe Festival post cruise.

This was my first time on the Marina after 4 cruises on the Riviera and 2 on the Regatta.

I found the crew just as friendly as before. Paul Graham and his asst., John, were friendly and helpful. Paul mentioned he liked beer so we brought him a bottle back from Lubeck and later received a nice hand written thank you note.

Several of the waitresses were friendly including Doda, who appreciated my daily greeting in her native Serbian. Doda also helped me sort out a tip situation with a waitress I thought was from Estonia and was from Belarus with a different name, but similar look.

Finally, many members of the production cast were friendly, especially Veronica Wilt, a talented singer, who was kind on several occasions including inviting me up on stage for the closing show YMCA number ( which she performed way better than me).

As always, Oceania passengers were great. Smart, friendly and humble are the descriptions that come to mind.

Our sole extended Oceania shore excursion was to Lubeck and was excellent. The bus driver even avoided a large delay of the freeway ( autoban?) due to road maintenance with a little back road tour of the immediate countryside.

The General Manager remembered me from a prior cruise.

I do agree that the Social Hostess seemed lacking in one to one friendliness, but Emmanuelle ( Nolan Dean) set the bar high for me.

No bed bugs, Norovirus or other problems.

One other thing I mentioned in my "end of cruise comments" was that Oceania does not seem to have a person to check on events in the towns during port stops. Our last stop was Gothenburg (sp?) Sweden. While wandering down the main street, the wife and I saw a wide side street and decided to go left that way.

After two-three blocks we came to a large open area full of crowds and a big event. Gothenburg was the site of the European show horse (dressage) championships. Most seats were free and there were several show rings. Beautiful horses and Olympic class competition. One lady rode for her country even though both legs were gone just below the knee. A highlight of the port visit, not more than a 20-30 minute walk from where the ship shuttle bus let us off and picked us up and we found it just by luck.

I am also trying Viking this winter, but will be surprised if it is better than Oceania's Riviera and Marina.