travelbug2225 Posted March 12, 2012 #1 Share Posted March 12, 2012 This going to be our first cruise on Oceania. I saw Marina cruise on youtube. She looks very beautiful. I am a foodie and I am so excited about all the restaurants that offer on Marina when I saw it on youtube. But we are booking the Nautica for our 2013 Istanbul to Athens. Will I be disappointed? How the Nautica comparing to Marina? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted March 12, 2012 #2 Share Posted March 12, 2012 This going to be our first cruise on Oceania. I saw Marina cruise on youtube. She looks very beautiful. I am a foodie and I am so excited about all the restaurants that offer on Marina when I saw it on youtube. But we are booking the Nautica for our 2013 Istanbul to Athens. Will I be disappointed? How the Nautica comparing to Marina? Almost every person who reads this forum began cruising with Oceania when "The R Shops", by which we mean the last generation of cruise ship that was built for now defunct Renaissance Cruise Line, made up the entire Oceania fleet. They are elegant, intimate cruise ships which pack a lot of luxury into their thirty thousand ton footprints. You will be charmed by their intimacy, and enjoy their solid comfort. On a Port Intensive Itinerary which most Oceania Cruises are, and yours is, the two specialty restaurants, Polo and Toscana, in addition to the other Dining alternatives, should be enough to rock your "foodie" world. I know that they did mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaudiaF Posted March 12, 2012 #3 Share Posted March 12, 2012 you wrote in part:"Will I be disappointed? How the Nautica comparing to Marina? absolutely NOT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted March 12, 2012 #4 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Many of us (myself included) vastly prefer the R ships like Nautica to the larger M ships like Marina. I have two cruises booked on Nautica going forward. I think you will be very happy on Nautica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orchestrapal Posted March 12, 2012 #5 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Many of us (myself included) vastly prefer the R ships like Nautica to the larger M ships like Marina. I have two cruises booked on Nautica going forward. I think you will be very happy on Nautica. We too enjoy the R ships so much that we have little interest in the two new BIG ones. You'll love Oceania!.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted March 12, 2012 #6 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Many of us (myself included) vastly prefer the R ships like Nautica to the larger M ships like Marina. I have two cruises booked on Nautica going forward. I think you will be very happy on Nautica. It would make sense if the newer ships, based on the design of the Marina, would be called "Marina Class" or the "M Class"; but life being as confusing as it usually is, they are going with "Oceania Class". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceania_Cruises Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacheco18 Posted March 12, 2012 #7 Share Posted March 12, 2012 I stand corrected. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wristband Posted March 12, 2012 #8 Share Posted March 12, 2012 I loved the "old" REN ships which is precisely what Nautica offers. Little has changed from REN (though updating is needed in a number of areas) and the size of the ship makes for a terrific voyage. Public rooms are lovely and the food overall is very good. We had far better experiences for lunch and dinner in the main dining room than our several diners in the two specialty restaurants. Yes, Polo Grill and Toscana offer gracious settings but their fare is considerably below the variety and meals provided in the main dining room. I say this as an enthusiastic "foodie" - others will disagree. Try all three and decide for yourself. Common concerns voiced here on Nautica are small but they comport with our Asian cruise in February: cabin shower and bathroom are cramped, water pressure is inadequate, storage is limited and cabin lighting is poor (ship will store excess luggage), internet service is painfully slow and expensive, machine made expressoes and cappucinoes are not as good as "man made" coffee drinks in the Veranda or pool bar (if that is important to you), cocktails in Martinis are superior to those produced elsewhere on the ship. The concerns are far outweighed by the positives but at least the feedback on this board will prepare you accordingly. Two big take aways I can offer: spirited eagerness of the entire crew to please and be accomodating is exceptional & cuisine and staff in the main dining room far exceeded my pre-cruise expectations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted March 12, 2012 #9 Share Posted March 12, 2012 As already stated, many regular cruisers on Oceania actually prefer the older ships! In our case we find advantages to the "R" ships as well as to the "O" ships. But -- for us -- we give a slight edge to the "R" ships in terms of the total picture. But I do love the additional dining choices on Marina, and especially the far superior Terrace Cafe. But there's no way the "R" ships can compete in this respect (the buffet restaurant) just because of their far smaller size. Mura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbwex Posted March 12, 2012 #10 Share Posted March 12, 2012 I would offer my own opinion (contrary to wristband's) that the food in Polo and Toscana were exceptional and in all of the occasions when we ate in either one, the food was superior to the MDR in every way. Not that the MDR is bad, but IMHO the two specialty restaurants were better. They might have some limitations on selection and the selections don't change as they do in the MDR, but we never had a meal in the MDR that measured up the either specialty venue. And if you are a foodie, then you need to try high tea in Horizons as many days as you are aboard (4 P.M. as I recall). You won't be disappointed on an R ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelbug2225 Posted March 12, 2012 Author #11 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Do they offer French Macaron on high tea in Horizons ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted March 12, 2012 #12 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Do they offer French Macaron on high tea in Horizons ? Yes, and as well as in the Dining Room, or on the Buffet in the Terrace Restaurant. They are not always available, but they often are. We have even seen them on the counter in Baristas. :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wristband Posted March 14, 2012 #13 Share Posted March 14, 2012 I would second the rec for high tea in Horizon. A beautiful service and a lovely assortment of sweets, sandwiches and teas makes for one terrific calorie-ridden afternoon break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD607 Posted March 14, 2012 #14 Share Posted March 14, 2012 This going to be our first cruise on Oceania. I saw Marina cruise on youtube. She looks very beautiful. I am a foodie and I am so excited about all the restaurants that offer on Marina when I saw it on youtube. But we are booking the Nautica for our 2013 Istanbul to Athens. Will I be disappointed? How the Nautica comparing to Marina? We did that trip last year. It was wonderful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.