Oceana 35 nights

[Victoria '82]

We have just booked a 35 night round trip to the caribbean on Oceana. We have a midships B deck balcony cabin and wonder if anyone who has done a longer trip like this on her, any comments? good or bad.

Would also like to know about her alternate dining venues.

Thanks for your help

[jenny wren]

We did a 35 night cruise on Oceana a couple of years ago....possibly the same itinerary (including New Orleans?) We were on B deck then but forward rather than midships and it was very comfortable most of the time just a bit of a rollercoaster when we had a rough bit!!

 

We also have recently done a 24 night Transatlantic cruise on her on D deck this time but still a good ride! She is a nice ship with a lovely atrium and a good entertainment venue at each end of the ship so there are usually two shows each evening.... although on our recent cruise this was sometimes a film....

 

We have never used the alternative dining venues as we found the Ligurian restaurant to be very good for dinner and went to the buffet for breakfast and lunch.

 

She is not a new ship and is a bit shabby/dated in places but we like her. We always found a sunbed on sea days with no problem. :)

[joeholiday2]

Just got back from a 17 nighter with Family and really enjoyed it.

 

Some pictures of the ship and cabins here, I didn't get a standard Balcony pictures, I was concentrating on getting the accessible cabin pictures.

https://joeholiday2.shutterfly.com/pictures/2067

 

M&D were in a balcony midships and it was fine. We have been on Oceana before right at the front, it does get lumpy down there, so you have done right getting a midships.

 

There are quite a few Laundrettes on the ship and the shop sells 2 soap tablets for 60p. So you don't have to take too many clothes, although there is quite a bit of hanging and drawer space.

 

Haven't done the Horizon Grill, but when we did Cafe Jardin at night on a previous cruise we were not impressed, the food in the MDR is better.

Cafe Jardin does some nice snacks at lunchtime for a change from the buffet or MDR though.

[Charleyben]

We returned from a 24 night cruise on Oceana in March. Overall we found the food to be very good ( a big improvement from our last few on P & O )

 

We tried the Horizon Grill & Cafe Jardin for dinner a number of times just for a change from the MDR. They were good value for money particularly Cafe Jardin. The main difference we found is that there is no fine dining restaurant on board for that special treat. We were left with the impression that the alternative dining was cobbled together using whatever space was available.

 

Cafe Jardin is also open for a light breakfast and lunch with no supplement payable but the range of food was somewhat limited.

 

The Horizon Grill was only busy when we the weather was warm, for the first and last 4 - 5 days. When the weather was cooler it was brought inside and was in a sectioned off part of the buffet.

 

We particularly liked the fact that the buffet restaurant was not the usual scrum and seating was always available.

 

We are both in our early 60s and we were some of the youngest on board so expect the average age to be appreciably higher.

 

Cabins on Oceana are smaller than normal as she was designed for short cruises around the Caribbean. That said we managed to pack our clothes away without too much difficulty.

[Victoria '82]

Thank you Jenny Wren, Charleyben and joeholiday2 for your excellent summaries. It is 10 years and more since we last traveled on Oceana and did enjoy the ship very much. Times have moved on with bigger balconies as in Azura and Ventura plus lots of alternate dining, but we are very much looking forward to the cruise.

One further question, I see that the have or are about to introduce a Marco's restaurant/grill onboard, has anyone seen and sampled this yet and where is it. Also which restaurant is freedom dining.

Thanks all

[Charleyben]

Victoria 82,

 

Freedom dining is in the Ligurian Restaurant. Marco Pierre White has put his name to Cafe Jardin, I am unaware of any new restaurant.

 

Cafe Jardin supplement for dinner was only £5.25 when we were on board. The starters, particularly the fish sharing platters were a meal in themselves with enough smoked salmon for a small buffet. We found the main courses not quite up to the starters but Marco's meatballs were very tasty.

 

You can find the menus for the alternative dining on P & Os website.

 

Hope you enjoy.