Just back - Riviera

[alexspepa]

Just returned from a fantastic but exhausting cruise on Riviera that included stops in 6 ports in Greece and Turkey. The exhaustion is not the ship's fault but ours from seeing so much stuff!.

 

I will try to get a review out soon, but if anyone has any questions I will be happy to answer them from a first-time Oceania perspective - but the food and service were outstanding and I have no negative comments whatsoever.

 

and by the way the Library is the best I have seen and it is open 24/7!...little things like that made the cruise a great experience.

[CowWhisperer]

I am looking forward to reading your review, Alexspepa. As a fellow North Carolinian and a first time Oceania cruiser coming up this fall (Rome to Istanbul), I am curious how you found the line and amenities, etc. Have you cruised on other lines before? I have traveled HAL and Regent before and am interested to hear how O compares. Any advice for an Oceania first-timer like me? :)

[alexspepa]

I am looking forward to reading your review, Alexspepa. As a fellow North Carolinian and a first time Oceania cruiser coming up this fall (Rome to Istanbul), I am curious how you found the line and amenities, etc. Have you cruised on other lines before? I have traveled HAL and Regent before and am interested to hear how O compares. Any advice for an Oceania first-timer like me? :)

 

Hey CW - I have cruised on HAL, Celebrity, Princess, Carnival, NCL, RCL and several that are no longer in business - going back almost 30 years.

 

This was by far the best as far as service and food go. The passenger to crew ratio ensures that the staff is not over-worked and they fall over themselves helping you and anticipating your wants and needs. One time a server did not see me waiting in the self-serve espresso line and jumped in front of me - I thought she was going to cry when she realized what she had done.

 

On most cruise lines everyone wants to know when lobster night is - on Oceania every night is lobster night if you want - they even grill them fresh at the buffet every night. I never saw our cabin steward until 4 days in, but whenever we left our room it was spotless when we returned and the ice bucket and fridge were kept full.

 

The dress code is refreshingly casual - and the best advice I can give is to sit back and enjoy - all the restaurants are excellent.

 

As I am sure you have read elsewhere - the Casino and Entertainment are not Oceania's big thing - but the string quartet was excellent and I am not really a classical buff. But the bartender at the Casino Bar was a gem - say high to Gregory for me.

 

You can also bring liquor and wine on board to enjoy in your stateroom...as someone said they treat you like adults.

 

I am sure you will enjoy your cruise and Istanbul is a fascinating city.

 

keith

[pacheco18]

Just returned from a fantastic but exhausting cruise on Riviera that included stops in 6 ports in Greece and Turkey. The exhaustion is not the ship's fault but ours from seeing so much stuff!.

 

I will try to get a review out soon, but if anyone has any questions I will be happy to answer them from a first-time Oceania perspective - but the food and service were outstanding and I have no negative comments whatsoever.

 

and by the way the Library is the best I have seen and it is open 24/7!...little things like that made the cruise a great experience.

 

So glad you enjoyed the cruise after reading your pre-cruise posts.

 

Strikes me as "funny" that you loved the library in that that many veteran O cruisers have complained about the library on the O class ships because there is too much traffic going back and forth with its open design. They compare it unfavorably to the enclosed library on the R class ships.

 

It's all relative -- I think the Library is open 24/7 because there are no doors. LOL

[Paulchili]

 

and by the way the Library is the best I have seen and it is open 24/7!...little things like that made the cruise a great experience.

 

If you feel that way, you must not have seen much - sorry but I couldn't resist.

Many of us feel that the library on O class ships is a definite step down from the R ship libraries and not consumer friendly in any way.

Despite my snarky remark about the library, I am glad you enjoyed the cruise and I look forward to your review :)

Edited May 26, 2014 by Paulchili

[corpkid]

On most cruise lines everyone wants to know when lobster night is - on Oceania every night is lobster night if you want - they even grill them fresh at the buffet every night. I never saw our cabin steward until 4 days in, but whenever we left our room it was spotless when we returned and the ice bucket and fridge were kept full.

 

Don't forget you can get delicious "surf and turf" (lobster and fillet medallions) from the Waves Grill near the pool area. I ate WAY too many of those on our first trip on O last year (Marina).

 

Also, if you tell your steward what you want in the fridge I think they'll stock it up for you. For example, we asked for Diet Coke (DH's pre-dinner Rum and Coke) and Diet Tonic (my pre-dinner gin and tonic). By day 2, we always had at least 3 cans of each in our fridge.

 

It's a fantastic operation, for sure and we can't wait to get back onboard in a few weeks (and have 3 upcoming cruises booked with O!!!) The only downside is you'll get spoiled and won't be able to cruise on the mass market ships again! LOL

[Paulchili]

 

Also, if you tell your steward what you want in the fridge I think they'll stock it up for you. For example, we asked for Diet Coke (DH's pre-dinner Rum and Coke) and Diet Tonic (my pre-dinner gin and tonic). By day 2, we always had at least 3 cans of each in our fridge.

 

 

Now if only they had diet rum and diet gin......:D

[alexspepa]

If you feel that way, you must not have seen much - sorry but I couldn't resist.

Many of us feel that the library on O class ships is a definite step down from the R ship libraries and not consumer friendly in any way.

Despite my snarky remark about the library, I am glad you enjoyed the cruise and I look forward to your review :)

 

I have not seen the R class ships - I am comparing to other cruise lines including the nice library on the Noordam - I don't know how much user-friendly you can get than reading the reference chart, finding the appropriate section and grabbing whatever book you want and taking it. On every other cruise line you have to be at the library at a designated hour (or half hour) each day, check it out, and then bring it back again at a designated time; not to mention the very limited selection. Oceania trusts you as adults to return the book when you are finished.

 

Do the R class ships have a sort of Star Treky thing in your room where you just enter a code and the books appear immediately along with your beverage of choice?:)

 

seriously though I would like to know what is different about the two libraries - you were not the only person to mention that and I do appreciate the feedback.

[sailorgirl]

We did the crossing last month that got Riviera over there so you could do your Med cruise! And I couldn't think of anything to complain about. It was wonderful and I'm so grateful for those many days at sea where we could relax and enjoy the sea and the ship. Looking forward to your comments.

[Paulchili]

seriously though I would like to know what is different about the two libraries - you were not the only person to mention that and I do appreciate the feedback.

 

The library on the R ships is a dedicated, separate and QUIET place. Access to the book shelves is unobstructed and much easier than on Riviera, where the large chairs (and very poor lighting) make navigation often difficult. Not to mention the busy promenade from baristas with often noisy crowds passing through the library, oblivious to those that wish to read in peace & quiet.

All the other "policies" (opening hours, borrowing of books, etc) are the same as on O ships.

Next time you are on an R ship, you will see the difference and will be able to judge for yourself.

[billy.qc]

I have not seen the R class ships - I am comparing to other cruise lines including the nice library on the Noordam - I don't know how much user-friendly you can get than reading the reference chart, finding the appropriate section and grabbing whatever book you want and taking it. On every other cruise line you have to be at the library at a designated hour (or half hour) each day, check it out, and then bring it back again at a designated time; not to mention the very limited selection. Oceania trusts you as adults to return the book when you are finished.

 

Do the R class ships have a sort of Star Treky thing in your room where you just enter a code and the books appear immediately along with your beverage of choice?:)

 

seriously though I would like to know what is different about the two libraries - you were not the only person to mention that and I do appreciate the feedback.

 

The library on the R ships reminded me of an old folks home, snoring folks everywhere! It has an old british conservatory look...deep coloured wood and leather, and a stained glass insert in ceiling (shown on their website). I enjoy that type of decor but prefer the look and layout of the O library, also not good for nappers.

[Paulchili]

The library on the R ships reminded me of an old folks home, snoring folks everywhere! It has an old british conservatory look...deep coloured wood and leather, and a stained glass insert in ceiling (shown on their website). I enjoy that type of decor but prefer the look and layout of the O library, also not good for nappers.

 

Despite the "noise" in the O ship libraries, I saw plenty of nappers there as well. The nappers in the R ship libraries do not keep you from getting around the library or getting to the books; the nappers in the O library do both :)

To each their own.

[Glenndale]

The library on the R ships is a dedicated, separate and QUIET place. Access to the book shelves is unobstructed and much easier than on Riviera, where the large chairs (and very poor lighting) make navigation often difficult. Not to mention the busy promenade from baristas with often noisy crowds passing through the library, oblivious to those that wish to read in peace & quiet.

All the other "policies" (opening hours, borrowing of books, etc) are the same as on O ships.

Next time you are on an R ship, you will see the difference and will be able to judge for yourself.

Unfortunately the library is too quiet!

I would ask all library users not to use it as a second bedroom and sleep there, it is really irritating when guests make themselves comfortable on the chairs and fall asleep. This makes access to the bookshelves difficult.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Unfortunately the library is too quiet!

I would ask all library users not to use it as a second bedroom and sleep there, it is really irritating when guests make themselves comfortable on the chairs and fall asleep. This makes access to the bookshelves difficult.

 

I know what you mean--I found the Riviera library quite like that, you felt like you were intruding if you wanted to find a book.

[marne-c]

alexspepa: Thanks for your happy report! As I write this, my wife and I are on a hotel balcony overlooking verdant fields outside Ronda in Andalucía Spain, just five days from our Barcelona departure on the Riviera.

 

As if we weren't already excited enough, you've added an extra kick of anticipation. Many thanks!!!!

 

Oh yes. We're sipping a stunning Rueda right now. "Cent’anni!" to all Riviera cruisers out there — past, present and future.

 

 

--Marne

Edited May 27, 2014 by marne-c

[CowWhisperer]

Thanks so much for the reply, alexspepa aka Keith! You have really helped build my excitement. I will be on Nautica, not Riviera, but if all goes well this fall, I hope to sail on Riviera in the future!

[Aloha 1]

We board our first O cruise in 3 months on the Riviera. Glad to hear you had a great cruise...and don't take too long to impart all the details! Inquiring minds want to know. :D

[Caroldoll]

We will be on Riviera for two cruises starting June 11 in Venice????

 

Would love to meet both of you.