Considering to graduate from Mass Lines to O, what to expect?

[Funcouple]

We are a mid 40's couple who've been cruising since 2001 -- which was on RCCL Explorer. We've done most of the other "mass" cruise lines since. We enjoy adventure and we enjoy meeting new people on cruises. We also enjoy the upscale feeling that can be had on certain cruises.

 

One of our favorite (adult) cruises was on Celebrity Constellation.

 

If we do an O Regatta cruise what should we expect to be different? We are considering a caribbean itinerary in November.

 

Thanks for any input that you can provide.....

[Floridiana]

In November, you will probably have a lot of polite and friendly West Coast Canadians on board. On Caribbean cruises, I've not yet seen many adventurous cruisers, more the type who knows all islands and takes it easy.

 

On our Regatta cruise to the Amazon, we had a very good cruise director, an excellent French chef, good comedians, soso other entertainment, a wonderful crew.

[GeorgesGal]

Not too many adventures on the Caribbean except, perhaps, horseback riding or scuba diving. Come with us to the Baltic in August (21st) and then you can be adventurous! And my sister and I are anytintg but 40 ish and we still do our 'adventures', both in ports as well as pre/post cruise adventures!

 

We LOVE stepping out of our 'comfort zones', but it has taken a lot of years to get there!!!!

[bphman]

You'll see a definite upgrade in dining but few activities day and night. Just returned from the Marina which has over 500 more passengers than the Regatta and the ship was, for the most part, dead after 11. Cabins are much smaller on Regatta but service is top notch with Oceania. You may very well be considered the "kids" on board as your fellow travelers will be much older, retired and very well traveled. We enjoy the small ship experience with the intimacy but enjoy the larger ships as well. We hated Royal Caribbean and the mega ship experience but loved Celebrity, Carnival and the others in that group. We have not done the Oceania "R" class but did Azamara in Europe and it was our favorite with regards to size and comfort. As a reference, I am in my early 60's and still working.

[capecodder2]

I agree that the Caribbean is not the place for "adventure" for most of us O old-timers. We cruise the Caribbean to get out of the winter weather, don't really care whether we get off or not as we have "done" it all many times. Adventure to us is Europe, Africa, So. America or Asia where everything is busy and different from our world at home.

 

Other things different on O vs RC besides the obvious smaller size, etc., is open dining,, no-charge specialty restaurants, restrictive smoking policy, few children, little entertainment, people tend to get up and out early, have a busy day and come back to have dinner and go to bed especially on the more port intensive cruises.

[Bruin Steve]

We are a mid 40's couple who've been cruising since 2001 -- which was on RCCL Explorer. We've done most of the other "mass" cruise lines since. We enjoy adventure and we enjoy meeting new people on cruises. We also enjoy the upscale feeling that can be had on certain cruises.

 

One of our favorite (adult) cruises was on Celebrity Constellation.

 

If we do an O Regatta cruise what should we expect to be different? We are considering a caribbean itinerary in November.

 

Thanks for any input that you can provide.....

 

Well, first the obvious--you will be on a much smaller ship with far fewer passengers...

There are no formal nights and all dinner seating is "open"...

The open seating means that, in order to dine with others, you may have to exert some sort of effort...ie meeting people and arranging to meet for dinner...or coordinating your specialty restaurant reservations (these are free on Oceania. You get a limited number of advance reservations but can always get more once the cruise starts). the "default seems to be that they will seat you at a table for two unless you have others with you...or in the rare case where you ask to be seated with others and others arriving at nearly the same time have asked as well...

 

The average age of the cruisers is much older...My wife and I are in our 50s and we've become accustomed to being the "kids" onboard...Since the ships have no kids or teens programs and because of the price scale and length of the typical cruise, they really cater to people traveling without children who have time on their hands and a great deal of expendable cash...hence more retired people...

 

The food is excellent--IMHO, the best we've had on any cruise line...

 

The service is also first class, though I would not put it drastically above service on Celebrity--it is fairly similar IMHO...but considerably ahead of what you are usually getting on RCCL...

 

The entertainment--especially on the smaller ships where they have no "dedicated" theater/stage facilities--is a couple of notches below what you get on RCCL or Celebrity...Often it is either amateurish or virtually lacking...But most on O don't cruise for the entertainment...for many, it seems dinner, then bed...

 

Nightlife is extremely lacking...after dinner, there is usually a bit of a crowd in the casino...gamblers don't pass up the chance...but other venues are pretty quiet...One cruise on Nautica, we were hanging out with a young girl who liked to go to the disco...and asked me to accompany her there each night (My wife said "go ahead")...Anyway, most nights there were maybe 5-10 passengers there at best...

 

You'll also get included soft drinks and bottled water...unlike on the mass market lines...

 

Overall, it's a nice, elegant, relaxing cruise with the highlights being the ports and the meals...

 

Not really the amount of "adventure" you may be used to...but you can always arrange that yourself in each port...

 

Good luck...

[yorkiemomjn]

Overall, it's a nice, elegant, relaxing cruise with the highlights being the ports and the meals...

 

 

Bruin Steve, What a great post...... as always from you! To me, this statement describes an Oceania cruise 'in a nutshell'. :)

 

Judy

[Buranogal]

Yes we found that too onboard the river ship Dinner was all done 9pmish and everyone disappeared. We eventually got a group together for after dinner drinks. Mid 50's but hey why would you want to retire early when your not cooking cleaning...your on vacation!!!

[Mura]

The open seating means that, in order to dine with others, you may have to exert some sort of effort...ie meeting people and arranging to meet for dinner...or coordinating your specialty restaurant reservations (these are free on Oceania. [sNIP] The "default seems to be that they will seat you at a table for two unless you have others with you...or in the rare case where you ask to be seated with others and others arriving at nearly the same time have asked as well...

 

 

I'm not sure why you say the default is to seat people a deux unless you come with others. That's not been our experience. It is true that sometimes when we show up alone and ask to share a table that there just aren't others there at the right time. (O starts a table and tries to fill it right away, so they won't bring you to a larger table and let you wait 15 minutes for someone to join you.) But we have met many charming people by just asking to share upon arrival.

 

One of our best memories is when we were seated at a table for six, none of us knew anyone else, and it turned out that we were all classical musicians. We had just a wonderful time.

 

Also, for the specialty restaurants when you make your reservation you can say you want to share a table with others. Our experience has been that this means a table for four. Again, we've met very interesting people this way.

 

We did have one funny experience on Marina in October. It was our first night and I'd told our butler we wanted a table for six, not for two, in Jacques. But he didn't have the room numbers so he couldn't book it. So we cancelled our reservation for two in Jacques and went with the others to the GDR. When we got there and said we wanted a table for six they immediately asked us if we'd like to go to Jacques!

 

Sure enough, that was "our" reservation.

 

Mura

[Funcouple]

Thank you all for your input. As far as the "Caribbean" and "Adventure" -- Yes, you are all right... Been there Done that, etc. Scratch my original comment about adventure.

 

Brian's post is the type of info that we are interested in, which is info about the obvious differences in ship experience in comparison to Celebrity (which we enjoyed).

 

Thanks for anything else you all can contribute.....

 

Well, first the obvious--you will be on a much smaller ship with far fewer passengers...

There are no formal nights and all dinner seating is "open"...

The open seating means that, in order to dine with others, you may have to exert some sort of effort...ie meeting people and arranging to meet for dinner...or coordinating your specialty restaurant reservations (these are free on Oceania. You get a limited number of advance reservations but can always get more once the cruise starts). the "default seems to be that they will seat you at a table for two unless you have others with you...or in the rare case where you ask to be seated with others and others arriving at nearly the same time have asked as well...

 

The average age of the cruisers is much older...My wife and I are in our 50s and we've become accustomed to being the "kids" onboard...Since the ships have no kids or teens programs and because of the price scale and length of the typical cruise, they really cater to people traveling without children who have time on their hands and a great deal of expendable cash...hence more retired people...

 

The food is excellent--IMHO, the best we've had on any cruise line...

 

The service is also first class, though I would not put it drastically above service on Celebrity--it is fairly similar IMHO...but considerably ahead of what you are usually getting on RCCL...

 

The entertainment--especially on the smaller ships where they have no "dedicated" theater/stage facilities--is a couple of notches below what you get on RCCL or Celebrity...Often it is either amateurish or virtually lacking...But most on O don't cruise for the entertainment...for many, it seems dinner, then bed...

 

Nightlife is extremely lacking...after dinner, there is usually a bit of a crowd in the casino...gamblers don't pass up the chance...but other venues are pretty quiet...One cruise on Nautica, we were hanging out with a young girl who liked to go to the disco...and asked me to accompany her there each night (My wife said "go ahead")...Anyway, most nights there were maybe 5-10 passengers there at best...

 

You'll also get included soft drinks and bottled water...unlike on the mass market lines...

 

Overall, it's a nice, elegant, relaxing cruise with the highlights being the ports and the meals...

 

Not really the amount of "adventure" you may be used to...but you can always arrange that yourself in each port...

 

Good luck...

[airmike2]

Wow thanks for the great post.

 

My family is considering the August 3rd cruise on Oceania Istanbul to Venice.

 

This will be to celebrate my parents 40th anniversary. My family will be parents (retired) my brother, myself, my husband and 2 children ages 8 and 6.

 

My parents and brother have cruised a lot therefore, wanted to try a nicer cruise line.

My brother is very well traveled and picked this cruise.

 

I don't want to go on a cruise where other passengers will be giving us dirty looks b/c we brought kids. Will this be the case with O? Since you said most ppl are on the older side and not many kids on board? I know O does not encourage nor discourage children but do most passengers come on this line to avoid seeing kids?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

Well, first the obvious--you will be on a much smaller ship with far fewer passengers...

There are no formal nights and all dinner seating is "open"...

The open seating means that, in order to dine with others, you may have to exert some sort of effort...ie meeting people and arranging to meet for dinner...or coordinating your specialty restaurant reservations (these are free on Oceania. You get a limited number of advance reservations but can always get more once the cruise starts). the "default seems to be that they will seat you at a table for two unless you have others with you...or in the rare case where you ask to be seated with others and others arriving at nearly the same time have asked as well...

 

The average age of the cruisers is much older...My wife and I are in our 50s and we've become accustomed to being the "kids" onboard...Since the ships have no kids or teens programs and because of the price scale and length of the typical cruise, they really cater to people traveling without children who have time on their hands and a great deal of expendable cash...hence more retired people...

 

The food is excellent--IMHO, the best we've had on any cruise line...

 

The service is also first class, though I would not put it drastically above service on Celebrity--it is fairly similar IMHO...but considerably ahead of what you are usually getting on RCCL...

 

The entertainment--especially on the smaller ships where they have no "dedicated" theater/stage facilities--is a couple of notches below what you get on RCCL or Celebrity...Often it is either amateurish or virtually lacking...But most on O don't cruise for the entertainment...for many, it seems dinner, then bed...

 

Nightlife is extremely lacking...after dinner, there is usually a bit of a crowd in the casino...gamblers don't pass up the chance...but other venues are pretty quiet...One cruise on Nautica, we were hanging out with a young girl who liked to go to the disco...and asked me to accompany her there each night (My wife said "go ahead")...Anyway, most nights there were maybe 5-10 passengers there at best...

 

You'll also get included soft drinks and bottled water...unlike on the mass market lines...

 

Overall, it's a nice, elegant, relaxing cruise with the highlights being the ports and the meals...

 

Not really the amount of "adventure" you may be used to...but you can always arrange that yourself in each port...

 

Good luck...

[Bruin Steve]

Wow thanks for the great post.

 

My family is considering the August 3rd cruise on Oceania Istanbul to Venice.

 

This will be to celebrate my parents 40th anniversary. My family will be parents (retired) my brother, myself, my husband and 2 children ages 8 and 6.

 

My parents and brother have cruised a lot therefore, wanted to try a nicer cruise line.

My brother is very well traveled and picked this cruise.

 

I don't want to go on a cruise where other passengers will be giving us dirty looks b/c we brought kids. Will this be the case with O? Since you said most ppl are on the older side and not many kids on board? I know O does not encourage nor discourage children but do most passengers come on this line to avoid seeing kids?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

I don't think you will get too many "dirty looks"...especially if your kids are well-behaved...Yes, I am sure many cruise Oceania because they prefer not to be around a lot of kids...but having a few kids on board is a far cry from, say, Carnival where the ship is crowded with swarms of kids...So, I don't think that they have that much to complain about...No one promised "adults only"...

 

The bigger problem is keeping the kids entertained...that will mostly be up to you...

 

Oceania does not have a kids program as you would find on most mass-market lines...

On Marina this past August, they held a few organized events for the kids--in the art studio and in the cooking school room, for example...but nowhere near what your kids would get on most other lines...When we've cruised the smaller ships, we saw no such activities announced--though, on Nautica one cruise, the kids onboard (there weren't that many) pretty much took over karaoke...

I am guessing that Oceania provides such programs more on an ad hoc basis depending on the number of kids onboard and the availability of venues and personnel...

 

So, for the most part, your kids will need to be satisfied with a more "grown up" experience...and that depends on the kids...For example, my daughters, when we cruised with them when they were young, enjoyed acting grown up--sitting nicely at dinner, going to the show, etc. If your kids are like that, most people don't mind...But some kids can get a bit antsy being expected to behave grown up all the time...Only you know how your kids will do...

 

The Grand Dining Room, of course, is open seating...so, likely, you will eat meals at a table with just your family--so that won't impose on any of those that might prefer "no kids"...

 

I would not worry about others...Worry only about keeping your kids happy and fulfilled...I am sure you will have a good time...

[airmike2]

Brui

[airmike2]

oops sorry about the prior post...

 

Hello Bruin Steve,

 

Thank you so much for the quick response. My kids are typical kids, they like to run around, goof off, play games, watch tv =) My younger one loves to draw, so I will be bringing a a lot of coloring books and sketch pads, my older one loves to read and got a Nook for Christmas so we will be loading that up for him. I was really hoping for some good evening entertainment with shows since my kids really enjoy that, but from what I've read I guess O cruise are not really into that. Hopefully they will do ok. This itinerary is heavy with port calls so hopefully they will be entertained.

 

Thanks again for your response.

[no fuss travel]

If you keep your children really busy with port tours, they will be so tired they will be ready to sleep right after dinner. There are lots of things to do with your children at the various ports. I strongly suggest you hire a private guide as for the size of your group it will be more reasonable than using Oceania's tours.

[hondorner]

... I was really hoping for some good evening entertainment with shows since my kids really enjoy that, but from what I've read I guess O cruise are not really into that...

I hear that all the time, and wonder what those folks do for entertainment at home. I've never been to Vegas to see big production shows or to NYC to see the Rockettes -- and I've never really enjoyed the so-called production shows on the bigger cruise lines.

 

But, I've rarely missed a show on Oceania and really enjoy 90% of what they offer. We've had singers, guitarists, a clarinetist, comedians, magicians, musical famililies, and more -- all leaning towards cabaret-type entertainment that fitrs the size of the ships perfectly. With the advent of the larger thater lounge on Marina, Oceania has the Jean Ann ryoan singers and dancers, who put on several production-type shows on each cruise, just on a smaller scale than Carnival and such, and of higher quality, in my opinion.

 

The ship's band, usually 8 members, are always great, and every cruise I've been on features a string quartet, mostly of above average quality. On the nights when they don't have professional outside entertainment, the band, quartet, members of the cruise director's staff and the pianist from Martinis Bar perform fairly often. On several of our cruises, there has also been a crew talent show which, while often lacking in quality, is always fun for their earnestness, and always tugs at the heartstrings. There is something happening every night, and your kids will likely enjoy quite a bit of it.

[kibutzer]

oops sorry about the prior post...

 

Hello Bruin Steve,

 

Thank you so much for the quick response. My kids are typical kids, they like to run around, goof off, play games, watch tv =) My younger one loves to draw, so I will be bringing a a lot of coloring books and sketch pads, my older one loves to read and got a Nook for Christmas so we will be loading that up for him. I was really hoping for some good evening entertainment with shows since my kids really enjoy that, but from what I've read I guess O cruise are not really into that. Hopefully they will do ok. This itinerary is heavy with port calls so hopefully they will be entertained.

 

Thanks again for your response.

 

 

As long as your kids are not running around the dining rooms, public areas, and understand how to wait in a buffet line. Glad to have you on board.

 

It is when parents treat the ship as a playground that kids can run around or will not take them out of the dining areas when they are banging silver, crying is when folks get dirty looks.

 

Keep them entertained and most of the crew and passengers will fall in love with your kids,

[airmike2]

As long as your kids are not running around the dining rooms, public areas, and understand how to wait in a buffet line. Glad to have you on board.

 

It is when parents treat the ship as a playground that kids can run around or will not take them out of the dining areas when they are banging silver, crying is when folks get dirty looks.

 

Keep them entertained and most of the crew and passengers will fall in love with your kids,

 

NO way will my kids ever run around in a restaurant, not only is that dangerous but unacceptable. My kids are constantly being reminded and drilled into their heads that public places like airports, stores, libraries, restaurants are NOT public parks. They are pretty good at waiting in line but once in awhile I have to remind them to get in the elevator after people get out :rolleyes:

 

Looking forward to the cruise.

[Mura]

Then it sounds like you all should have a wonderful cruise on Oceania and will make plenty of new friends!

 

Mura

[airmike2]

Another question, as all the inside rooms and ocean view rooms are wait listed the only option is B3 Veranda Stateroom. We are thinking of booking 2 of those rooms and one of the suites for our parents celebrating their 40th.

 

Are the Vista Suite or Oceania Suite worth all the money that it costs? Since it's their anniversary we were thinking it would be nice to put them up in a nicer room. Plus since there is a large tv the kids can watch a movie and eat room service if they don't want to sit through a 2 hour dinner some nights might be a nice bonus...

 

Do most ppl book directly with Oceania or are there any recommended travel agents out there that have better deals? Senior discounts??

 

TIA

[Mura]

We were the lucky recipients of an upgrade to a Vista Suite in October on Marina and I would say, yes, it's worth it -- maybe not for a couple when money is a consideration, but yes, for a group like yours it is. You can dine in the room, the kids can watch the TV in the living room, and it's a beautiful space.

 

Write to me at mura at speakeasy dot net and I'll send you some photos if you wish.

 

For your parents, I think they would love it. I agree, a lot of money that *I* wouldn't normally spend but we sure were happy to get the space for half price!

 

Mura

[Buranogal]

Hi Hope you find these reviews some help. My kids prefer a ship with water slides, rock walls kids club. table tennis. Was great them have their own dinner time slot while we had cocktails and cabin attendants checking on them in between our visits at night. We are sailing on that date so look forward to meeting you. Wish mine were that age again. My only concern is how they will cope with the history stuff like Eupheus Athens Rome?? Decisions decisions???

[TERRIER1]

When we sailed the Marina this past June there was a wonderful extended family traveling together. The family consisted of the grandparents, their two married children and 5 grandkids (ages around 5 to 16). I asked how the kids were doing given that Oceania really doesn't have a lot going on for the wee people. Turns out the grandparents had a Vista or Ocean suite and the grandkids would go up to their suite at night and play video games on their big flat screen and games in the living room space. I don't recall if they brought along their own video games or if they came from Oceania.

 

This was a very port intensive cruise so everyone was off the ship for most of the time. We would always run into some member of the family either in the port or dining. They were having a good time and the kids were great.

 

I would have to say that the entertainment at night is not what kids would really enjoy and the pool is not that large. There is table tennis and a putting green. No slides, photographers or big goofy animals geeting you on the dock. Enjoy.

[LHT28]

If you are getting your parents a suite they could also have dinner served in the cabin for the family

The kids could be served at a different pace than the adults then go watch a movie while you finish

 

The Oceania Class ships also have a wonderful buffet more food stations compared to the R-ships so the children could always eat there with you if they are a little antsy about long dinners

[JimandStan]

Another question, as all the inside rooms and ocean view rooms are wait listed the only option is B3 Veranda Stateroom. We are thinking of booking 2 of those rooms and one of the suites for our parents celebrating their 40th.

 

Are the Vista Suite or Oceania Suite worth all the money that it costs? Since it's their anniversary we were thinking it would be nice to put them up in a nicer room. Plus since there is a large tv the kids can watch a movie and eat room service if they don't want to sit through a 2 hour dinner some nights might be a nice bonus...

 

Do most ppl book directly with Oceania or are there any recommended travel agents out there that have better deals? Senior discounts??

 

TIA

 

The Vista and Oceania Suites are not just "nice" they are "out of this World, something out of an MGM movie SPECTACULAR"

If there is any way that you can swing it for your parents financially, rest assured that it will make their trip a once in a lifetime experience.

Vista Suite:

Oceania Suite:

 

I would offer these words of caution, however-

• Vista Suites have hugely oversize verandas, with glamorous amenities and those amazing forward facing views, which will will probably mesmerize the kids, but the private gym is very tiny, and might cause conflicts
  

• Oceania Suites do not have a TV in the living room, the second TV is in the Media Room which is also very tiny (seats two adults, or three kids).
  

• Although these Suites are huge, they only sleep up to three people.
  

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