Questions for Oceania Regulars

[LaCat3]

I am an experienced cruiser but will be on Oceania for the first time in May. I have looked but haven't been able to find the answers to a couple of my questions.

 

How much is a laundry package on an 11 day cruise? (I am in a veranda).

 

Also, how many people are normally on an Oceania excursion?

 

Thank you in advance!

[LHT28]

I am an experienced cruiser but will be on Oceania for the first time in May. I have looked but haven't been able to find the answers to a couple of my questions.

 

How much is a laundry package on an 11 day cruise? (I am in a veranda).

 

Also, how many people are normally on an Oceania excursion?

 

Thank you in advance!

 

I am not sure they have a laundry package

On some longer cruises they do offer a bag of laundry for $20.

 

there is self serve laundry at $2 per machine

[Toranut97]

Regarding the number of people on O excursions.... usually they send out as many buses as are needed to comfortably accommodate everyone. These are full sized motor coaches, but are NEVER completely filled -- we pretty much use O excursions, and I would estimate the groups to be 25 - 30 pax per bus.

 

I am sure someone will now point out to you that you can get things cheaper by arranging your own tours. Maybe I can save them the trouble by including this statement. ;-)

 

A couple years ago they added another "class" of ship's tours, I think called "Oceania Choice" -- these are described as small group excursions, with, I believe, fewer than 12 or 15 folks.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Donna

[bitob]

Check your roll call to see if there is activity re tours

 

Many o cruisers only do private tours.

Small groups of 6 to 12

Not just cheaper. You determine where you go and how much time to spend in each place. You have a more personal experience with your guide and many times busses cannot go where smaller vehicles can go

 

Worth looking into

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Toranut97]

Check your roll call to see if there is activity re tours

 

Many o cruisers only do private tours.

Small groups of 6 to 12

Not just cheaper. You determine where you go and how much time to spend in each place. You have a more personal experience with your guide and many times busses cannot go where smaller vehicles can go

 

Worth looking into

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

See? I told you so! LOL

 

Lots of O cruisers do the ship's tours. Just check the lounge at morning dispatch. More folks on CC seem to like arranging their own, which offers a skewed perspective IMHO.

 

The OP has cruised a lot, and surely knows the advantages of private touring.

 

Donna

an idiot who takes the ship's tours most of the time

Edited February 2, 2015 by Toranut97
to elaborate

[Floridiana]

On several mountainous Caribbean islands, their small busses hold up to 15 passengers, so groups there are smaller.

[hypercafe]

We were on the Mayan Mystery Cruise last year and took the Oceania tours. They used big buses and they were 100% full so I guess it depends where you are. The trips were very good however 3 X the price of the exact trip on NCL, in fact a NCL ship was with us and their tour was with us. We always use ship tours no matter what line as we feel better about it, the price is the price.

 

Sent from my SM-T320 using Forums mobile app

[roothy123]

We were on the Mayan Mystery Cruise last year and took the Oceania tours. They used big buses and they were 100% full so I guess it depends where you are. The trips were very good however 3 X the price of the exact trip on NCL, in fact a NCL ship was with us and their tour was with us. We always use ship tours no matter what line as we feel better about it, the price is the price.

 

Sent from my SM-T320 using Forums mobile app

 

I was on Mayan Mystique cruise a couple years ago, and took 2 excursions. The buses WERE large, but mine was only about half full on both of them. Overall, of the Oceania excursions I've taken, the buses seem to be from a half to 2/3 full. It does, however, depend upon what the vendors in each port can provide, and what the Oceania and vendor people arrange. It also, of course, depends upon how many people sign up for each excursion. SO - it's really difficult to generalize and predict. Also, sometimes once you get off the bus, the group is split into smaller groups for touring or taking a boat or whatever, so you're not necessarily touring with the entire group of people on the bus.

 

I know people like to bash ship excursions, but the ones I've taken have been pretty good, and I've never felt like I was herded around, rushed, or made to wait for people who lag behind. I suppose if I could afford a private tour or Oceania Choice tour in each port I would like those even better, but I can't, so I rely on a combination of tours - an occasional private one, occasional Hop On Hop Off bus, occasional ship's excursion, and a lot of real true DIY stuff (bus, tram, walk, metro, taxi, etc.) In Europe with a little planning and good maps, it's usually easy to do the true DIY stuff, and I actually LIKE the challenge of planning how to get places, riding buses or whatever with locals, and saving money on top of those things. In other places, I may switch to other alternatives if I don't feel safe DIYing or there's no reasonable way to do it.

Edited February 3, 2015 by roothy123

[LaCat3]

My thanks to everyone for the replies and information.

[corpkid]

Needs to be pointed out that some O excursions are certainly capacity controlled - for example the culinary type ones that involve heading back to the teaching kitchen (Marina and Rivera only). Those are usually excellent excursions, and are not inexpensive. They are small group (15 or so on a small bus?). I love them and have done several.

 

However, (drops what everyone has been waiting to hear) those are the only ones I book with Oceania... Everything else is better on your own small group.

[Mura]

Regarding the question about how full are the buses ...

 

From the posts on this thread, I'd have to say it depends on the particular itinerary.

 

We don't take a lot of ship's tours but we've taken them in a number of ports. Our experience was that the buses were pretty much full. Maybe a few empty seats, but not more than that. Yet others say they were on buses with lots of empty seats. So I'd say, "it depends". That means, you really cannot predict what you will find.

 

If you book the more expensive "smaller" tours that O now offers, you'll have knowledge that you'll have a smaller group. If you opt for the regular tour, you really don't know.

 

Lots of CC passengers opt for private tours, but not all passengers on board are CC members ... Over the years we've met many passengers who had no idea that there were internet sites where they could meet up with people, book private tours, etc. But as the years pass ... I think they are fewer.

 

If you really want the smaller group experience, I suggest that you book the smaller tour. IF you don't want to spend the extra $, then book the regular tour and hope for the best ... OR find a private tour.

 

By the way, I just did a brief check of what tours are available on our upcoming April Lima-NYC cruise on Marina, and didn't find any of the "smaller" tours. So you can't assume they are always available even if that is what you would prefer.

 

Mura

[alaala]

First off, if there is a way to post something to a specific person, I would appreciate the info as I couldn't figure that out.....this post is for corpkid who has been on Marina frequently, sounds like he's in my age bracket and spends some time solo, and has been to the Baltic.

 

I'm headed on the Marina for a Baltic cruise in June and for the first time, solo. While I've been on Oceania before and other cruises, my daughter was always with me. So, while we were typically the youngest passengers on the ship, we always had each other (and usually ended up hanging out with the ships entertainers). I'd appreciate any tips on where to best mingle in the evenings and not always feel like a third wheel at dinners. Also, any tips on enjoying ports such as Amsterdam and Stockholm solo without getting into too much trouble! For example, I've posted on my roll call for anyone interested in visiting a not so long ago abandoned Soviet prison in Tallinn but have had no takers. Based on TripAdvisor postings, I think it would be a great "living history" visit, but not something I should try completely solo.

 

Any tips?

[Paulchili]

First off, if there is a way to post something to a specific person, I would appreciate the info as I couldn't figure that out.....this post is for corpkid who has been on Marina frequently, sounds like he's in my age bracket and spends some time solo, and has been to the Baltic.

 

Any tips?

 

Start a new thread titled "Paging Corpkid" and he should be able to find it.

[Jancruz]

Start a new thread titled "Paging Corpkid" and he should be able to find it.

 

He is on a cruise now..

Jancruz1

[LHT28]

First off, if there is a way to post something to a specific person, I would appreciate the info as I couldn't figure that out.....this post is for corpkid who has been on Marina frequently, sounds like he's in my age bracket and spends some time solo, and has been to the Baltic.

 

 

I am sure he will reply but I think he travels with his husband as mentioned in a lot of his posts

Not sure your age range but we have seen several solo travellers on our cruises

[corpkid]

Greetings from Sydney Australia! We board Marina in five days for our 3rd trip on the ship. Having a blast so far...

 

Anyways - yes I do travel with my husband, but he's older than I and also we have different interests so we split up often on our trips. Typically on a cruise, we will usually do our day excursions together unless there is something that is completely "up my alley" and then we will book separate ones. I'm a type A adrenaline junky (active skydiver, will jump off just about anything, etc) so if it involves high speed or heights, he'll book a sight seeing tour and I'll go out zip-lining, climbing glaciers/bridges/etc... You get the point. We almost exclusively book our own tours and not the ship's.

 

So onboard the ship, he goes to bed much earlier than I do (a function of my years of being up late for work) so I'll hang around the casino, casino bar and Martinis. You will always find single people at Martinis in the evening around 9 or 10 pm when most of the ship is going to sleep. It's a very fun group usually, and it's a little drunk crazy in my experience (I've been known to tipple a bit).

 

Other than those places, the ship is very quiet late night and if I don't feel like being super social or gambling, I just sit on my balcony and either listen to music or play on the computer/internet (the internet speeds up a lot at night when everyone is asleep).

 

Dinner shouldn't be too difficult - just always elect to "share" your table at the specialties... You'll be randomly paired up. That can go one of two ways of course, but most people seem to be interesting and nice. For the MDR if you see the singles at the bars/casino early on the cruise and you get along, ask them if they want to join you for dinner. Also the 5pm pre-dinner drink special at Martinis is VERY popular (get there at 4:45 if possible) and you'll most likely run into someone(s) who you have met and many times we end up dining with them.

 

As for Stockholm - you NEVER need to worry about being alone. It is safe to the point of being ridiculous. Friendly people and TONS of things to see and do. (don't miss the Vasa museum - take the train to it and try and get there right when it opens - you'll have the place to yourself and it's AMAZING... spend a few hours and by the time you leave it will be a mad-house. :)

 

Amsterdam is also very safe (just watch out for bikes!). Avoid the red light district as it's pretty cheesy and well, a red light district. I rented a bike (husband had knee surgery so he passed) and rode all around and had a great time. I did visit a few of the coffeeshops and imbibed a little and just had a lot of fun and met some cool people. You'll have fun all over the Baltics I'm sure.

 

Don't worry too much about being alone - that means you can pick and choose what YOU want to do without having to worry about what someone else wants to do. You'll make friends pretty quickly onboard (it's a smaller ship so you run into people over and over). I hope this helps! Time to run off for a sunset cruise. Good luck and let me know how it went and if you need any more advice my email is corpkid AT gmail DOT com :)

[Paulchili]

corpkid,

Enjoy your stay in Sydney - it's even nicer than Stockholm.

In fact, I once admitted (only to myself) that Sydney just might be even nicer than San Francisco - and that is admitting a lot for me :D

So much to see & do in a great setting among so many nice people.

[corpkid]

corpkid,

Enjoy your stay in Sydney - it's even nicer than Stockholm.

In fact, I once admitted (only to myself) that Sydney just might be even nicer than San Francisco - and that is admitting a lot for me :D

So much to see & do in a great setting among so many nice people.

 

Our guide today (a lifetime local of Potts Point) said the exact same about San Francisco today!!! That's just ironic and funny... :) I'm slowly falling in love with this place... Six days doesn't seem like it will be enough I fear.

[Softball20]

You will always find single people at Martinis in the evening around 9 or 10 pm when most of the ship is going to sleep. It's a very fun group usually, and it's a little drunk crazy in my experience (I've been known to tipple a bit).

 

Other than those places, the ship is very quiet late night

 

We are not traveling solo (we're on that younger side of the demo, and we'll be with two other couples on the Regatta), but it sounds like Martinis is the place for hanging out as the ship gets quiet. Will there be stuff going on [anywhere] after 10:00? I hope so!

[hondorner]

We are among the younger guests only in our heads (approaching 75 in our bodies), so we are usually in our cabin shortly after the show lets out around 10:15. But, when we have cruised with Jim and Stan (who are young enough to be our kids), we've spent a fair amount of time at Martinis after 10:00 PM (Jim has a stool with his name on it ;)). It IS a great spot up to at least Midnight, lots of fun and good company, especially on the evenings with "Name That Tune".

 

There is also (usually) a DJ in Horizons, and Karaoke some evenings, but I don't know what the attendance is like. I don't think it goes on much past Midnight, either, at least on the one or two occasions we have joined others there.

Edited February 7, 2015 by hondorner

[roothy123]

I did not see any names on Martini bar stools when I was there a year plus ago, but perhaps someone can tell me which one is Jim's (see attached picture). I DO love the look of Martinis, even though I seldom go there!

 

I don't cruise alone, but my spouse and I also have different interests, so one or both of us frequently go ashore alone. I am usually walking or taking public transportation, not shore excursions or private tours. I just wanted to tell solo travelers that I have felt a bit unsafe in only one of my wanderings so far (got a little lost in Marseilles), so don't be afraid to go off the ship alone. I would, however, take the name/number of the port agent in each city. Oceania puts that in their daily paper so I tear it out and take it in case I get into a bind. If you don't have a phone with Euro service, just ask someone to call if you're in trouble, lost, may not get back to the ship on time, etc. I've never had to use the information but always take it.

 

I enjoy being out on my own. As someone else mentioned, you can do what YOU want to do. It also gives me a feeling of accomplishment, and I've never bored, lonely, or felt uncomfortable.

 

alaala, the Baltic ports are fine for being on your own. If you're going to St. Petersburg, I would take a tour with Alla. You just sign up and wait for 15 other people to sign up with them. No work, no visa needed, and a great tour for less than ship tours.

Edited February 7, 2015 by roothy123

[Hawaiidan]

I am an experienced cruiser but will be on Oceania for the first time in May. I have looked but haven't been able to find the answers to a couple of my questions.

 

How much is a laundry package on an 11 day cruise? (I am in a veranda).

 

Also, how many people are normally on an Oceania excursion?

 

Thank you in advance!

 

First NO laundry package.... may have a once a week 20 item special...ut NO PACKAGE

Excursions 15 to 60....depending on the venu

[alaala]

Thank you corpkid and roothy123 ..... By the time this is over I hopefully will have "earned" my own Martinis stool. I'm shy with people but brave out and about in a city on my own so it will all be good. My "prison fears" we're more based on some TripAdvisor reviews, but at this juncture of my research, I'm guessing there will be other people there regardless of what time I get there.

 

This time last year, corpkid, I was in Australia too. I've now been on every continent and visited many countries, but Australia was the first country where I felt like "hmmm, maybe I'd rather live here....." And I've lived in the Bay Area, which I liked, but my vote is down under for sure. Sydney was great but for some reason I liked Brisbane even more. Kangaroo and Heron Islands were just plain awesome (yes, I'm more of a country gal.) Hope you two had a lovely time all around and thanks again for your time and advice.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[roothy123]

Thank you corpkid and roothy123 ..... By the time this is over I hopefully will have "earned" my own Martinis stool. I'm shy with people but brave out and about in a city on my own so it will all be good. My "prison fears" we're more based on some TripAdvisor reviews, but at this juncture of my research, I'm guessing there will be other people there regardless of what time I get there.

 

This time last year, corpkid, I was in Australia too. I've now been on every continent and visited many countries, but Australia was the first country where I felt like "hmmm, maybe I'd rather live here....." And I've lived in the Bay Area, which I liked, but my vote is down under for sure. Sydney was great but for some reason I liked Brisbane even more. Kangaroo and Heron Islands were just plain awesome (yes, I'm more of a country gal.) Hope you two had a lovely time all around and thanks again for your time and advice.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

You sound a lot like me (shy, love San Francisco, love New Mexico (I guess?). I didn't even think about safety at the prison. I just thought you were maybe skittish about going places on buses, trams, etc. in a foreign country. Most cruisers aren't as adventuresome as I am, so I always hesitate to suggest going somewhere that way. As to the prison, however, I would guess you won't be totally alone. At least they apparently have someone there collecting money at the gate, so that might help a tiny bit! Anyway, enjoy Tallinn!