Setting Expectations

[Ozzie's Mom]

My husband and I take my mother on a cruise twice each year. We are all Platinum status with NCL and are addicted to the Haven. In June of next year we will be sailing for the first time with Oceania in Class C cabins. This seems quite a step down and I'm wondering if I've made the right choice leaving the Haven OS or 2BR suite for 2 ocean view cabins on the Marina (equal costs). Thoughts?

[Paulchili]

Very difficult, if not impossible to answer as this is as subjective as is food.

A particular dish in the same restaurant can be called "the best we ever had" by one person or the "worst we ever had" by another cruiser.

That is how subjective it is to rate cruise lines IMO.

Very generally speaking, what you'll get on Marina is a smaller ship, much better food (IMO), less entertainment, smaller cabin (in your case), different clientele and atmosphere, fewer kids. While they are both cruise lines, they are apples and oranges and thus hard to pick the right one for you.

Truly the ONLY way to find out if it is to your liking is to do a cruise yourself and then decide.

We tried NCL Haven once and while it was fine in many ways, we returned to Oceania promptly - but that is just us. You may feel the opposite and promptly return to your Haven :D

As they say - YMMV

Edited August 1, 2016 by Paulchili

[Travelcat2]

If you enjoy NCL so much, I'm not sure why you are trying Oceania. It is a much smaller ship, the passengers are considerably older, there is less to do in terms of activities and the entertainment pales in comparison to NCL.

 

On the other hand, the food on Oceania is over the top, there are few if any children on the ship, everything is more upscale than NCL and Oceania provides a relaxed, calm atmosphere. When we were in our 20's and 30's, NCL would have been right for us. Now, someone would have to pay us to sail on NCL - even in the Haven. IMO, comparing NCL to Oceania is definitely like comparing champagne to apple juice (just thought that comparison up:-)

Edited August 1, 2016 by Travelcat2

[LHT28]

Only you can say if you would be happy without all the special perks you get in the Haven or not

 

Even if you wanted to try Oceania going to a C cabin would probably be a huge disappoint for you

 

JMO

[tropicalkerry2002]

If you only did ONE cruise that year, would you be able to do a PH? They are lovely!

[ronrick1943]

This is a hard one, that I think only you can answer. If you like bigger ships, more things to do and your cabin is important I don't think a C cabin is going to work for you. On the other hand I enjoy "O" because we get a bigger suite and enjoy doing nothing and we enjoy dining. We're trying Regent for the next cruise, because of the service I willing to give up the perks we get on "O" and try something that's not "O". Good luck and I hope you make the right choice for you and your family (Mom).

Rick

[JimandStan]

My husband and I take my mother on a cruise twice each year. We are all Platinum status with NCL and are addicted to the Haven. In June of next year we will be sailing for the first time with Oceania in Class C cabins. This seems quite a step down and I'm wondering if I've made the right choice leaving the Haven OS or 2BR suite for 2 ocean view cabins on the Marina (equal costs). Thoughts?

 

Actually' date=' if you have sailed in the Haven for a number of cruises, you will probably be struck by spaciousness of having the run of the entire ship on Oceania.[/font']

If you ate only in the Haven, you will certainly have more varied Restaurant choices on Oceania, and the food is so far superior to what NCL offers at ANY LEVEL that you are in for a tremendous treat!

Stateroom wise, the Haven cabins have recently lost the cartoonish color schemes of NCL's pre-Oceania days,

But I'm willing to bet that you'll find an Oceania standard infinitely more comfortable and restful.

Unfortunately, Public Rooms in the Haven, are sometimes furnished in, well, I'll let YOU finish that thought.

I think that you are definitely moving up in the World!

[Pet Nit Noy]

My husband and I take my mother on a cruise twice each year. We are all Platinum status with NCL and are addicted to the Haven. In June of next year we will be sailing for the first time with Oceania in Class C cabins. This seems quite a step down and I'm wondering if I've made the right choice leaving the Haven OS or 2BR suite for 2 ocean view cabins on the Marina (equal costs). Thoughts?

 

June of next year is a long way off. Why don't you and your husband only consider taking a cruise soon on Oceania? You'll have your own basis for making a decision. I haven't got a clue whether the many things I value by sailing on Oceania will be sufficient to compensate for what you clearly see as a step down in leaving NCL's Haven.

 

Do this soon and the only person who matters -- you! -- will know for certain whether Oceania will work when you next cruise with your mother.

[Queen of DaNile]

Cute Youtube video but if that is the level of activity and number of people you want surrounding you on a cruise, you are not going to be HAPPY on O. OTOH if your level of expectation is what JimandStan laid out, you will be VERY happy.

[PaulMCO]

You did not mention what NCL ship and what Itinerary you are thinking about.

 

If it was a Caribbean (on a Breakaway class) where you spend more time on ship -- you would be VERY UNHAPPY with O. NCL Haven offers far better space and experience than O would in a C level cabin. Much better shows, much better space and things to do. Even certain food options are comparable if you do exclusively specialty dining. Ship ambience goes to O because it is smaller. The Haven on Breakaway class ships is really a nice retreat with a butler and priority everything - from escorted embarkation /disembarkation, butlers, own dining area, special seating (best seats) on shows etc.

 

However -- if you are doing a port intensive Med cruise -- then you will likely spend very little time on the ship and more on excursions. Then I would think that O wins hands down with better food, and less nickel and diming

Edited August 1, 2016 by PaulMCO

[Hawaiidan]

The 2 lines are night and day different.... cater to totaly different people

O is for casual, low key, entertain your self independent but very well mannered and well spoken travelers, No formal dress up.... big focus on cuisine and ambiance with a small number of passengers 600-1000 tops.

 

NCl focuses on glitz and glamor...shows and dozens of entertainment options a party/carnival for people 5 to 85.... Non stop activites, all in the company of 4000 others from Bikers to Brokers and everything inbetween good or bad.

The paint scheme of NCL should tell you a lot.

 

 

The biggest question is what motivated you to change and what do you expect will be better.. thats the crux of the question you answer You will not find anything even remotely NCL on O.....its an entirely different atmosphere and crowd....like night and day different. Is that what your seeking, a total change?

Edited August 1, 2016 by Hawaiidan

[buggins0402]

You did not mention what NCL ship and what Itinerary you are thinking about.

 

If it was a Caribbean (on a Breakaway class) where you spend more time on ship -- you would be VERY UNHAPPY with O. NCL Haven offers far better space and experience than O would in a C level cabin. Much better shows, much better space and things to do. Even certain food options are comparable if you do exclusively specialty dining. Ship ambience goes to O because it is smaller. The Haven on Breakaway class ships is really a nice retreat with a butler and priority everything - from escorted embarkation /disembarkation, butlers, own dining area, special seating (best seats) on shows etc.

 

However -- if you are doing a port intensive Med cruise -- then you will likely spend very little time on the ship and more on excursions. Then I would think that O wins hands down with better food, and less nickel and diming

 

If it's June and Marina as stated in the initial post. I would assume it's a Northern European or Baltic.

 

I would agree with Paul, because it's nice to come back to a wonderful dinner after a busy day in port on a European cruise. Entertainment is an afterthought.

 

O's itineraries for the Baltic are generally much more extensive. And, even if it's that little 7 day - it has the advantage of starting and ending in two different cities that need more than just a port stop - Copenhagen and Stockholm. With a northern itinerary, the outside on Marina will be a great cabin. It's not an itinerary that a balcony is a maker or breaker.

Edited August 1, 2016 by buggins0402

[LAexNY]

The 2 lines are night and day different.... cater to totaly different people

O is for casual, low key, entertain your self independent but very well mannered and well spoken travelers, No formal dress up.... big focus on cuisine and ambiance with a small number of passengers 600-1000 tops

 

 

Actually 1250 tops.

[RJB]

Actually, if you have sailed in the Haven for a number of cruises, you will probably be struck by spaciousness of having the run of the entire ship on Oceania.

If you ate only in the Haven, you will certainly have more varied Restaurant choices on Oceania, and the food is so far superior to what NCL offers at ANY LEVEL that you are in for a tremendous treat!

Stateroom wise, the Haven cabins have recently lost the cartoonish color schemes of NCL's pre-Oceania days,

But I'm willing to bet that you'll find an Oceania standard infinitely more comfortable and restful.

Unfortunately, Public Rooms in the Haven, are sometimes furnished in, well, I'll let YOU finish that thought.

I think that you are definitely moving up in the World!

Seem to me that you hit the nail on the head with your post. Could not agree more.

[phillygirl63]

I was a big fan of NCL also until last year when we took our first cruise on Oceania Marina. Of course, circumstances were different -- on NCL we were sailing with kids or other couples, and then just DH and I on Marina. We really enjoyed Oceania's "adults-only" feel, although there were a few (and I really mean a FEW) children on board. Although Marina does have 1250 passengers, it never felt like that many. Public areas never seemed crowded. Even the buffet on Marina was so much more civilized than NCL. Don't get me wrong -- I'm not bashing NCL at all. As a matter of fact, if I was looking to cruise with my kids (25 and 22), I would pick one of NCL's older ships. I do not particularly care for the Breakaway-size ships with 4,000 passengers and many kids.

 

That being said, you won't know if Oceania is for you until you try it, and I don't think you will miss NCL's suite perks very much. Remember, on Oceania, even if you are in a non-suite cabin, you will not have to fight with the rest of the passengers for things like dinner reservations or pool loungers.

[Glaciers]

The difference....stark NCL is a cross of Motel 6 and Best Western selling its self as a Hyatt Regency or 4 seasons.

 

O is a Ritz Carlton without pretension.Its everything that NCL is not from fellow passengers to ambiance...

A mad house on NCL with a cross section of humanity that would overwhelm Sigmund Freud s...

 

NCl is an entry level experience for the 20-40 set, Hot disco, lots of families and kids, Pool parties, wild bar scene, las vegas casinos, lounge shows, production galas, lots of cabin class hype...Im in the "Haven" I am a Captains Club Gold Star double Dolphin etc ..

 

NCL is a learning experience...like the first time you slam a door on your finger .....you learn from it and it motivates you to seek better things in the world.

 

The 2 lines are night and day different.... cater to totaly different people

 

Non stop activites, all in the company of 4000 others from Bikers to Brokers and everything inbetween good or bad.

 

Ozzie’s Mom Consider Hawaiidan’s well thought out description of NCL above, from two different threads. This is who you may be cruising with on O.

 

The passenger demographic on O is primarily 60+, white and affluent; at least it was on our June Regatta trip. If you’re getting tired of “a cross section of humanity that would overwhelm Sigmund Freud s...” on NCL than O might be your ticket. If not, O is a lousy trade for what you’ve got on NCl.

[LHT28]

I would not just all O cruisers by one person's posts here :eek:

 

We are just average hard working people who happen to like Oceania

[phillygirl63]

Ozzie’s Mom Consider Hawaiidan’s well thought out description of NCL above, from two different threads. This is who you may be cruising with on O.

 

The passenger demographic on O is primarily 60+, white and affluent; at least it was on our June Regatta trip. If you’re getting tired of “a cross section of humanity that would overwhelm Sigmund Freud s...” on NCL than O might be your ticket. If not, O is a lousy trade for what you’ve got on NCl.

 

I don't think that we should counsel the OP to put much stock in one poster's opinion as the "tell all" of all O passengers. We are in our early 50's. We are caucasian (although I don't why I should even have to mention that), as WHO CARES. I wouldn't know for sure whether someone was affluent or not, because that just isn't something that comes up in a conversation, and again WHO CARES. And, to be honest, if we did meet someone who felt the need to inform us about their standing in life, we would surely not spend too much time with that person.

 

We liked O because our kids are grown and out of the house, and we appreciated the mature, well-traveled couples that we met on our Oceania cruise. We liked NCL, because we had our kids with us, and that line was a much better fit for that situation.

 

The bottom line is that the OP posted here on the Oceania forum, and naturally will get more opinions in favor of Oceania. We could all do without the negative opinions of NCL, as they just aren't helpful IMO and don't really answer the OP's initial question of whether an ocean view cabin on Marina is a step down from a suite on NCL.