From regent to oceania.

[neviboy]

After 12 Regent cruises we are returning to Renaissance /Oceania !!!

Contemplating Rio to Buenos Aries Feb. 19th. and a PH3. on Insignia.

The fare difference between the same date cruise with Regent is huge.

All inclusive (drinks) and free excursions and free internet nowhere equals the difference in several thousands.

Has anyone made the switch ?

[jerseygirl007]

I have travelled on Regent a number of times and loved it. Last year was my first rip on Oceania (on the same itinerary you are considering) and I am scheduled for a second cruise in September. Regent is first class all the way. The rooms are bigger, the food is outstanding etc. However, Oceania is also excellent! The price difference was just too great for me to justify spending all that extra money. Oceania is lovely. The rooms are a bit smaller. The food is quite good, perhaps, not quite as gourmet as on Regent, but certainly adequate. The ship is beautiful. We had no complaints. Sue

[Jancruz]

After 12 Regent cruises we are returning to Renaissance /Oceania !!!

Contemplating Rio to Buenos Aries Feb. 19th. and a PH3. on Insignia.

The fare difference between the same date cruise with Regent is huge.

All inclusive (drinks) and free excursions and free internet nowhere equals the difference in several thousands.

Has anyone made the switch ?

 

Lots of people have made the switch and some still do both depending on price and destination..you will be very pleasantly surprised at how much you will like Oceania..most people that do one trip on O do more..

Regards,

Jancruz1

[wripro]

I am an avid Seabourn and Silversea sailor who has sailed on O in a PH and am booked for the Marina next year, also in a PH. Once I let go of the all inclusive nature when boarding O I found a very pleasant experience. Service was terrific, food good especially in the alterante restaurants, and afternoon teas was even better. I think you'll be fine, Neviboy and congratulate yourself on the money you have saved.

[VIRGINIA ARTIE]

My DH and I have sailed Regent for the past 5 years, but have switched to Oceania.

We do not drink, and take few excursions, so the value is not there for us.

I agree with you completely.

[Carol From California]

On Regent the excursions, liquor, tips and specialty restaurants are included. On Oceana, are any of these included? Considering Oceana for 2011.

[LAexNY]

On Regent the excursions, liquor, tips and specialty restaurants are included. On Oceana, are any of these included? Considering Oceana for 2011.

 

 

No, no, no and yes.

 

And it's "Oceania."

[1985rz1]

No, no, no and yes.

 

And it's "Oceania."

 

There is no charge for specialty restaurants on Oceania. The number of reservations one can make in advance is limited.

[hrprof]

My TA has always been able to provide included gratuities.

[frqttrvlr09]

Here is my opinion, as expressed on other threads, as someone who for economic reasons 1) books veranda ("regular") suites and therefore does not have a concierge, etc.; 2) is a single traveller; 3) has sailed previously on Oceania (2 back to back Mediterranean cruises last fall), and 4) has sailed previously on Regent (one long - 2 1/2 month - cruise earlier this year):

 

1) Both lines have almost equal food quality and service, though in my opinion the nod goes to Oceania, especially with Toscana and the overall service, especially in the dining rooms.

2) The bathrooms in the "regular" staterooms on Regent are much larger than those on Oceania.

3) Regent's single supplement charge is significantly lower than Oceania's.

4) Oceania's public rooms, especially the library and open areas outside the main dining room, are much more comfortable.

5) Regent serves hot breakfasts to veranda staterooms and Oceania does not.

6) Both lines now provide soft drinks and water for free and have a refrigerator in the room.

7) Regent's prices are significantly higher than Oceania's.

8) Regent's "all inclusive" shore excursions are a misnomer. The truth is, there is at least one "free" shore excursion in each port, but the rest are an extra charge (above and beyond the cruise fare), and about the same as Oceania charges for its shore excursions. The free excursions are generally a bus tour of a town, often a drive by.

9) It is not possible to drink enough alcohol on a Regent trip to pay for the

all inclusiveness cost differential between Regent and Oceania.

10) Regent does offer better incentives to be a repeat customer, though that also does not make up the huge differential. That includes, free internet and free laundry after so many days on board. Those are nice, however, and it would be great if Oceania offered something similar than their program.

11) Both lines have a laundry room problem which needs to be addressed. I have give up on the issue - I don't need that kind of anxiety on a vacation - and do some things in the tub and send the rest to the laundry.

12) Regent's regular staterooms have walk-in closets with built-in dresser. This is particularly useful during a long cruise.

 

Overall, because of the cost differential between the two lines, I also will not be sailing Regent in the future after the trip I have booked for late next fall. I have noted though that Marina's fares are high as well. It will be interesting to see how I feel about the size of the Nautica's/Oceania's bathrooms, small closet space (though I can keep clothing in my suitcases under the bed) and lack of hot breakfasts, after I complete 3 back to back cruises this fall/winter. I very much enjoyed those amenities on the Seven Seas Mariner this past winter for the South America trip. I also hope that Oceania would consider lowering its single supplement fare; offering better incentives to repeat customers; and offering hot breakfasts for all passengers. Those are great on shore days.

[GrammieK]

What a great job you did explaining the differences! I have a friend who is thinking of planning a Regent cruise because she thinks it will be cheaper than "O" Boy, is she in for a surprise. The way their brochures are written, I think we assume that "all" excursions are included, but probably not the ones we want! I can't imagine not going on "O!" Thanks again.

[Dreps]

Just one comment on the list comparing Regent and Oceania. #8 concerning the "all inclusive" shore excursions. We have been on Regent for 37 days since they began "free" shore excursions. These were cruises in the Baltics and in S. America. Regent offered many shore excursions in each port that were included without a surcharge, not just one. When there was a surcharge, it was usually relatively small compared to the usual cost for a comparable excursion on another cruise line. And Regent always provides a "free" shuttle to town, unless you happen to dock right in town.

 

Other than that, I think the comparison is fairly accurate.

[neviboy]

Having started this thread for information. I thank the last 3 posts for providing exceptionally good comparisons. We are switching to O after our Sept. 5th. cruise on Regent. Trying for Rio to Buenos Aries in Feb/11.

We are people oriented and enjoy long dinner sessions which usually run past any of the entertainments offered. We always planned our own excursions and save laundry for at home. So I think that we will be satisfied with O and its passengers. SWMBO says that perhaps I won't drink as much !!!

Special thanks to Counsel from Alaska.

[1985rz1]

Here is my opinion, as expressed on other threads, as someone who for economic reasons 1) books veranda ("regular") suites and therefore does not have a concierge, etc.; 2) is a single traveller; 3) has sailed previously on Oceania (2 back to back Mediterranean cruises last fall), and 4) has sailed previously on Regent (one long - 2 1/2 month - cruise earlier this year):

 

 

5) Regent serves hot breakfasts to veranda staterooms and Oceania does not.

 

I think full, hot breakfasts are available in the Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms on Oceania. At least that's what the brochure states.

[StanandJim]

I think full, hot breakfasts are available in the Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms on Oceania. At least that's what the brochure states.

 

That is something new, but you are correct, Concierge Level veranda staterooms have that option.

[gillianrose]

Is getting a hot breakfast in one's own cabin unusual these days, or only unusual on Oceania?

 

I have always had hot breakfast items, almost always including meats, fancy egg dishes, in my stateroom for breakfast, on every line I have ever sailed (mostly mainstream lines), only once had a suite.

 

I have not yet sailed on Oceania, though.

[StanandJim]

Is getting a hot breakfast in one's own cabin unusual these days, or only unusual on Oceania?

 

I have always had hot breakfast items, almost always including meats, fancy egg dishes, in my stateroom for breakfast, on every line I have ever sailed (mostly mainstream lines), only once had a suite.

 

I have not yet sailed on Oceania, though.

 

The "Standard" Cabins on Oceania have different Room Service choices. A hot breakfast is only an option in Concierge Level, or in a Suite.

[frqttrvlr09]

To further clarifiy/elaborate:

1) On Oceania, hot breakfasts are NOT available in a regular veranda room (w/o concierge) but are available in ALL rooms on Regent.

2) I stand by my comment on the so-called "all inclusive" and "unlimited" shore excursions advertised by Regent. There sometimes were more than one "free" shore excursion available, but it was generally (but not always) a short city tour and a drive-by. However, the vast majority of the shore excursions offered, especially those that would tend to interest most passengers, had a not-insignificnat charge associated with them. I spent several thousand dollars on shore excursions on my 2 1/2 month cruise, and that did not include the overnight trips that were very costly such as the ill-fated trip to Machu Picchu (during which Regent was fantastic in pulling out the stops to insure our comfort and safety until we were rescued); to Iguazu Falls, and to Torres del Paine. I only bring this up again because it was a real shock to me to find out, after signing up for this particular cruise in part because of the "all inclusive unlimited" shore excursions. Ordinarily, I would plan my own, but that was not so feasible on this trip, especially for a first timer in South America. So while it may be true that I could not have done some of the excursions for the same cost as Regent's cost, it was also not true that the excursions they offered were "all inclusive" and "unlimited". Iin fact, I did not find that out until the excursions were finally posted, and that was just prior (by a week or so) to when my final payment was due. And the key places I wanted to go (the over night shore excursions, including those listed above) were not only extremely expensive, but also have a very heft single supplement. So I felt, and still feel, that Regent misrepresents the costs and what it offers on this issue.

Lastly, I can say from very recent past experience (just a few months ago) that shuttles were NOT available in every port. The biggest nightmare, actually, was Buenos Aires, where not only were shuttles not available, or ultimately only available upon asking and then for a limited period of time, but neither were taxis, for up to 30 minutes. The only "shuttles" were those offered by the ubiquitous jewelery stores and they were small and infrequent.