Regatta vs Riviera

[sr5242]

My folks just returned from the riviera ship and loved it. we have reserved cabins on the regatta for an alaskan cruise at the end of june.

 

I am concerned by the recent negative reviews of regatta. will we be disappointed by regatta, expecting the same level of luxury as riviera?

 

anyone who has been on both and can compare them please help!

[LHT28]

We have been on the sister ship Marina as well as Regatta & Insignia

The service will be the same but the cabins & the amenities will be a lot different

You will not have some of the services on the r-ships that are on the O class ships such as the Culinary centre, Barristas, Artists loft

 

Not sure what negative reviews you have been reading some I have seen it is a matter of some people not doing their homework & not knowing about the cruise line

 

Go with an open mind & enjoy

 

Lyn

[pacheco18]

Many of us prefer the smaller R ships to the larger O class ships.

 

In addition, it appears all of the R class ships will be getting a facelift in 2013.

 

You will never regret sailing on Oceania.

[LHT28]

 

In addition, it appears all of the R class ships will be getting a facelift in 2013.

 

It is 2014

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=36435526&postcount=14

[WindrunnerII]

My folks just returned from the riviera ship and loved it. we have reserved cabins on the regatta for an alaskan cruise at the end of june.

 

I am concerned by the recent negative reviews of regatta. will we be disappointed by regatta, expecting the same level of luxury as riviera?

 

anyone who has been on both and can compare them please help!

 

Both classes of ships are lovely but each has it's own cache of charm and personality. I liken the difference to staying at the Fairmont Copley Plaza (Regatta) in Boston to the Ritz Carlton Boston Common (Riviera).

 

Regatta is smaller (1/2 the size) and thus more intimate, the cabins are smaller (but very nice) and only four restaurants versus six.

 

If you take Regatta for what she is, you will not be disappointed. And remember, all reviews are subjective and I think some disappointment might come from some long time regulars who are used to getting on one of the ships and having all the crew know or remember them. With a growing fleet, this can't and won't always happen.

 

So if you base your expectations on the smaller size of the ship and embrace the charms of regatta, you won't be disappointed.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Cheers.

[TERRIER1]

We were last on a "R" class ship in January 2010 so I am speaking from a perspective of three years ago when I do the comparison. The last time we sailed on a R ship there was no O size ship since they were not introduced yet. We have sailed three times on the R class and once each on the Marina and Riviera. We are cruising again on the Marina this April. We prefer port intensive cruises that do not have a lot of sea days. We have always been in a verandah cabin (not a PH).

 

We prefer the smaller R class ship but that is just us. We chose the itinerary first and accept the ship that goes there. There are differences. They are both great experiences.

 

Tendering - much faster and easier on the R ships. If you have a lot of sea days or mostly docking then this really doesn't matter.

 

Cabins - the R ships have a very small shower stall with a "clingy" shower curtain and no tub. This was not a problem for us since we never used the tub on the O class ship. I think the storage in the bathroom was better on the R ship. The O ships have glass shower doors and beautiful marble. I personally felt the R ship made better use of cabin space both in the the closet area and drawers. The beds are FANTASTIC on all the ships.

 

Food - majorly subjective point so I will stick only to what I know. We never had a problem with food or service on any of the ships. We eat late and prefer a leisurely meal so never really "experienced" slow service. There are two extra specialty restaurants on the O ships so there is more variety. I prefer the main dining room on the R ships to the larger dining room on the O ships due to size and noise level. We never used the buffet on either class of ship but everyone says the O class Terrace Cafe is great especially since it has the room to accommodate more variety of food. I find the Terrace Cafe on the O ship very crowded. The Waves Grill on the O ship is very good. I love Baristas (coffee bar) on the O ships. There is none on the R ships.

 

Casino - we don't gamble to can't speak to the difference.

 

Library - absolutely loved the library on the R class ships. The library is poorly laid out on the O ships and not conducive to hanging out and reading. Book selection is good on both.

 

Entertainment - we take port intensive cruises and dine late so we miss a lot of the entertainment so I am not a good judge. However, the Lounge on the O ships is awful. Think taking college Intro classes in an auditorium in seats that are narrow, uncomfortable and with a pop up arm table for your drinks. The Lounge on the R ships is intimate with comfortable seats and tables - more like a cabaret. The R class ships do not have a Culinary Center nor an Artists Loft.

 

Spa - never used

 

Bottom line is that the O ships are twice the size of the R ships and need to service the extra passengers. You get a much more intimate feel on the smaller ships. I can't wait for the R ships to go into retrofitting in 2014 since we prefer these. There are many many who prefer the new larger ships. Having said this, I think your best information would come from those who have recently been on the smaller ships since service/food/wear and tear may have changed since we were last on the Regatta/Insignia.

 

I am sure you will love the cruise.

[AdvenLee]

I agree with much of which has been said in the above comments. We sailed on the Reggatta 3 or 4 years ago and were quite pleased. We sailed on the Marina a year ago and that was quite nice. However, I think we prefer the smaller R ships better and are doing another Regatta cruise soon (Lima to Rio).

 

There are several reasons for my preference for the Regatta over the Marina. First, I am not at all interested in cooking, art, photography, and spas and these are big draws to the Marina and Riviera if you do like these hobbies. Thus, I sort of felt like we were paying for something in which we never participated. (This is indeed a matter of personal likes/dislikes and not the only reasons for choice of ships.)

Also, on the Regatta, the observation lounge seems so much better, to me, than the observation lounge on the Marina......something about the clear sightline and emphasis on seeing forward through the big, unobstucted windows as ship is moving on the Regatta. For some reason, the Marina lounge was almost centered towards the stage, and not the windows at the front of the ship......plus, the heavy chairs in the Marina lounge were almost not movable. Also, the library on the Regatta is so much more quiet and intimate than the Marina, in my opinion.

 

We have always been in a regular balcony cabin and, yes, the Regatta does not have a bathtub, which I like, so that is a negative. However, I think the positives outweight the negatives for us.

 

We are not foodies, and the food on both ships has been wonderful to my untrained palate!!

 

I am thinking that you will have a great trip, whichever ship you choose!!!! I have never been on a cruise that I did not enjoy!!!!!

[OzAbroad]

The judgment on which is better is very subjective and difficult to answer. I like both but I prefer the O ships. I like the bigger ship, with more amenities (particularly the restaurants) and the sense of more space. The culinary centre, and artists loft are fun, and the gym is better. I would miss not having barista on the R ships. Laundries on every deck on the O ships is also really handy.

 

Decor and ambiance is the same on both.

 

In the end I would sail on either, because its really the itinerary that matters and unless I am mistaken (which happens often) for Alaska its Regatta. A cruise which I have done and loved.

 

As Alaska tends to be cooler you will be inside more and the R libraries are gorgeous. I like the O library also but the R ships library is wonderful. The main dining room on the O ships is airier but otherwise there isnt much difference. The terrace cafe is much better on the O ships. Jacques and Red Ginger are great, and the latter is actually probably the best food I have tasted at sea.

 

If your on a port intensive cruise or short cruise it doesn't matter much. If you have many sea days or are on a long cruise I would go for the O ships as there is more to do and the cabins are larger.

[Paulchili]

O class for food (and PH and above cabins)

R ships for everything else

Itinerary trumps all in our book.

JMO :D

[TERRIER1]

Ozabroad is correct about the laundry. I forget to mention that the O ships have laundries on every deck so if you are cruising /traveling for any length of time this is a BIG plus. The R ships had very few washer/dryers and I wouldn't even attempt to get near them.

[MightyQuinn]

O class (Riviera) wins on:

 

Staterooms and bathrooms

Terrace Grill - no contest!

Waves - no contest!

Specialty Restaurants

Concierge and Executive Lounges

Culinary Arts Centre

Artist's Loft

 

R class (Regatta) wins on:

 

Library - no contest!

Theatre/Entertainment Lounge - no contest!

Exterior ship appearance

Intimacy and ambiance

[Paulchili]

O class (Riviera) wins on:

 

Staterooms and bathrooms

Terrace Grill - no contest!

Waves - no contest!

Specialty Restaurants

Concierge and Executive Lounges

Culinary Arts Centre

Artist's Loft

 

R class (Regatta) wins on:

 

Library - no contest!

Theatre/Entertainment Lounge - no contest!

Exterior ship appearance

Intimacy and ambiance

 

The only thing I would add to this is the R ships also have a far superior setting for trivia - no contest :)