Haven vs. Oceania

[UPNYGuy]

Have any NCL regulars cruised Oceania? I switched 2 bookings to Oceania, hoping for a more upscale vibe and clientele after the calamity on our Getaway cruise. I am hoping for more sophisticated, well traveled clientele than what Norwegian usually attracts. Low lead-in prices tend to attract lots of families, and lots of first time cruisers. Both of these groups are starting to annoy me more and more (loud children, first time cruisers doing things like not realizing they must disembark at ports with key cards, thus holding up the gangway).

 

The Haven mitigates some of this, but it caters to families. I'm hoping that Oceania will give a respite from the noise and cacophony of a mass-market cruise line.

 

 

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[BostonGal35]

we've dabbled with trying it, but im concerned the demographic will be too stuffy and not enough fun.

 

also, i dont like that NCL doesnt extend Latitudes Status the way RCCL does with Celebrity.

 

as for disembarking without key cards, that has nothing to do with first timers but more with ignorant people who dont listen/follow directions.

[UPNYGuy]

we've dabbled with trying it, but im concerned the demographic will be too stuffy and not enough fun.

 

also, i dont like that NCL doesnt extend Latitudes Status the way RCCL does with Celebrity.

 

as for disembarking without key cards, that has nothing to do with first timers but more with ignorant people who dont listen/follow directions.

 

 

My point is that it seems like lately NCL has been getting clientele that is like this..

 

"On star, woman gets into one of the pods overlooking atrium and wonders why it won't move, and a fit the elevator was broken...honey it isn't an elevator"

 

"On Gem, woman proceeds to tell my mother she is a Passion Party hostess without any prompting. I had a very awkward conversation with my mother."

 

"On Getaway, ship was overrun with children. When they were rounded up by ship security, they opened teabags all over the floor and made a huge mess"

 

These are only 3 examples I can think of. The clientele has an unsophisticated element to it lately. Even my TA agrees with me, and said she has been getting lots of complaints about NCL and the pax on it.

 

 

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[UPNYGuy]

And the above examples are my own, and from my own experience.

 

 

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[BostonGal35]

the unruly children is the worst. we have remedied that somewhat by avoiding summer, school vacation periods and holiday sailings.

 

dumb people are everywhere now tho.

 

i also have a major issue with people who are rude and speak down to the staff and crew. many "sophisticated" people also seem to think that their s*** doesnt stink and that the are above people who serve them. so a fancier cruise line may just replace dumb peopel and unruly children with obnoxious hoity toit people that complain about everything and make crazy demands because of their sense of entitlement.

[Dr. Cocktail]

I think that the answer to your question will be found in how much you need to be "entertained". We have done 6 Havens in the last two years and two Oceania Cruises in the last four.

 

My partner and I both have post-graduate degrees, spend our days at sea blowing through books and generally hate noisy atmospheres.

 

Love the Haven, bored senseless on Oceania.

 

In fact, I screwed up the cancellation date for a third O cruise two years ago and realized that we were in penalty for $500. Cheapskates that we are, we walked away from the deposit and didn't look back.

 

While those on the O boards (which I left for reasons to follow) will disagree, O is boring as ...... (insert appropriate swear word here).

 

We found much of the crowd to be entitled, stuffy and overly demanding. In fact, on our cruise on Riviera, I held my hand up to a particularly obnoxious passenger who was really *bothering* me and said: "here's the deal. The fact that I'm here talking to you means that I can afford this just as much as you can".

 

The much vaunted dining is no better than the Haven/specialties on NCL and O's main dining room was frankly terrible.

 

The entertainment on O is minimal at best and the ship really does roll up its decks after 10.

 

Yes - the crowds on NCL are and can be irritating but I still love the great entertainment and high energy atmosphere in the evenings.

 

But .... you won't know until you try it yourself!

[Love.II.Cruise]

Have any NCL regulars cruised Oceania? I switched 2 bookings to Oceania, hoping for a more upscale vibe and clientele after the calamity on our Getaway cruise. I am hoping for more sophisticated, well traveled clientele than what Norwegian usually attracts. Low lead-in prices tend to attract lots of families, and lots of first time cruisers. Both of these groups are starting to annoy me more and more (loud children, first time cruisers doing things like not realizing they must disembark at ports with key cards, thus holding up the gangway).

 

The Haven mitigates some of this, but it caters to families. I'm hoping that Oceania will give a respite from the noise and cacophony of a mass-market cruise line.

 

 

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We've done Transatlantic's on Princess (1) , Oceania (1) and NCL (1) - as well as several other types of cruises. Our 4th Transatlantic is planned on NCL in the Haven (our first on NCL was also on the Haven). On Oceania we were in a PH1 category.

 

We are in our mid -thirties. We went on Oceania a couple years ago. We forgot our cruise documents and when we got there they thought we were crew. They literally pointed us to a different gangway and just told us to board! Hilarious! Anyway, once onboard we were literally the youngest people on board! No kids or teenagers, anyone in their twenties, nada.

 

We made several older friends! It truly was a great cruise. However, there was one guest that was really rude to us and told us we should be spending our money in the USA - not on this cruise. Our butler was worthless! There was also a barista (male) who couldn't take two seconds to make me a hot chocolate because he couldn't stop kissing *ss to the officers. I never did get a hot chocolate on that cruise. This happened to be the same person severing specialty olive oils in the Italian restaurant who treated us like steerage class, despite being in a penthouse. I wrote a very detailed review with pictures of that cruise here on cruise critic.

 

Now that I've said the bad, we had one of the best bartenders on Oceania ever! He invited us to his wedding in South Africa! The cooking classes were lots of fun, though elementary at the time, but it was great to meet other people interested in cooking.

 

We tend to only cruise during lower peak seasons so we can avoid a lot of families. We used to cruise when it was peak times and realized that just didn't work for a relaxing vacation for us. This is why we love Transatlantic's or repositioning cruises! Would I cruise Oceania again - yes. Will I cruise Haven NCL again - yes. Anything can happen on a cruise and at the end of the day, roll with it or let someone have it! LOL. ;p

 

Best cabin on Riviera for a PH1 is 7130 or 7135. We loved it and plan to cruise in one of those cabins again one day. ;) I hope you like Oceania!

Edited March 17, 2017 by Love.II.Cruise

[cxxviii]

I think that the answer to your question will be found in how much you need to be "entertained". We have done 6 Havens in the last two years and two Oceania Cruises in the last four.

 

My partner and I both have post-graduate degrees, spend our days at sea blowing through books and generally hate noisy atmospheres.

 

Love the Haven, bored senseless on Oceania.

 

In fact, I screwed up the cancellation date for a third O cruise two years ago and realized that we were in penalty for $500. Cheapskates that we are, we walked away from the deposit and didn't look back.

 

While those on the O boards (which I left for reasons to follow) will disagree, O is boring as ...... (insert appropriate swear word here).

 

We found much of the crowd to be entitled, stuffy and overly demanding. In fact, on our cruise on Riviera, I held my hand up to a particularly obnoxious passenger who was really *bothering* me and said: "here's the deal. The fact that I'm here talking to you means that I can afford this just as much as you can".

 

The much vaunted dining is no better than the Haven/specialties on NCL and O's main dining room was frankly terrible.

 

The entertainment on O is minimal at best and the ship really does roll up its decks after 10.

 

Yes - the crowds on NCL are and can be irritating but I still love the great entertainment and high energy atmosphere in the evenings.

 

But .... you won't know until you try it yourself!

 

This is a very helpful and informative post. Thx.

[UPNYGuy]

I think that the answer to your question will be found in how much you need to be "entertained". We have done 6 Havens in the last two years and two Oceania Cruises in the last four.

 

My partner and I both have post-graduate degrees, spend our days at sea blowing through books and generally hate noisy atmospheres.

 

Love the Haven, bored senseless on Oceania.

 

In fact, I screwed up the cancellation date for a third O cruise two years ago and realized that we were in penalty for $500. Cheapskates that we are, we walked away from the deposit and didn't look back.

 

While those on the O boards (which I left for reasons to follow) will disagree, O is boring as ...... (insert appropriate swear word here).

 

We found much of the crowd to be entitled, stuffy and overly demanding. In fact, on our cruise on Riviera, I held my hand up to a particularly obnoxious passenger who was really *bothering* me and said: "here's the deal. The fact that I'm here talking to you means that I can afford this just as much as you can".

 

The much vaunted dining is no better than the Haven/specialties on NCL and O's main dining room was frankly terrible.

 

The entertainment on O is minimal at best and the ship really does roll up its decks after 10.

 

Yes - the crowds on NCL are and can be irritating but I still love the great entertainment and high energy atmosphere in the evenings.

 

But .... you won't know until you try it yourself!

 

 

DW and I don't need to be entertained. I am content to read a book on sea days, and rarely attend the shows (we have also cruises many times on Holland America for reference). I don't mind an older clientele, and can do with a slightly 'stuffy' atmosphere (I prefer jazz and classical music to pop, and can't STAND the dreck that NCL has blaring by the pool deck, it ruins it for me).

 

 

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[UPNYGuy]

In fact, I actually miss the chamber music group that Holland America used to have. They were called the Adagio Strings. I used to listen to them daily. If that is what Oceania entertainment is like, I will be happy. FWIW, I am 33 ;)

 

 

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[UPNYGuy]

We've done Transatlantic's on Princess (1) , Oceania (1) and NCL (1) - as well as several other types of cruises. Our 4th Transatlantic is planned on NCL in the Haven (our first on NCL was also on the Haven). On Oceania we were in a PH1 category.

 

We are in our mid -thirties. We went on Oceania a couple years ago. We forgot our cruise documents and when we got there they thought we were crew. They literally pointed us to a different gangway and just told us to board! Hilarious! Anyway, once onboard we were literally the youngest people on board! No kids or teenagers, anyone in their twenties, nada.

 

We made several older friends! It truly was a great cruise. However, there was one guest that was really rude to us and told us we should be spending our money in the USA - not on this cruise. Our butler was worthless! There was also a barista (male) who couldn't take two seconds to make me a hot chocolate because he couldn't stop kissing *ss to the officers. I never did get a hot chocolate on that cruise. This happened to be the same person severing specialty olive oils in the Italian restaurant who treated us like steerage class, despite being in a penthouse. I wrote a very detailed review with pictures of that cruise here on cruise critic.

 

Now that I've said the bad, we had one of the best bartenders on Oceania ever! He invited us to his wedding in South Africa! The cooking classes were lots of fun, though elementary at the time, but it was great to meet other people interested in cooking.

 

We tend to only cruise during lower peak seasons so we can avoid a lot of families. We used to cruise when it was peak times and realized that just didn't work for a relaxing vacation for us. This is why we love Transatlantic's or repositioning cruises! Would I cruise Oceania again - yes. Will I cruise Haven NCL again - yes. Anything can happen on a cruise and at the end of the day, roll with it or let someone have it! LOL. ;p

 

Best cabin on Riviera for a PH1 is 7130 or 7135. We loved it and plan to cruise in one of those cabins again one day. ;) I hope you like Oceania!

 

 

And this will be our 22nd cruise, so we have a decent idea of what we are looking for.

 

 

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[Dr. Cocktail]

Not to flog a dead horse but HAL's entertainment is miles above O's.

 

But in any case, there is much to enjoy on O! All of the "soft goods", from sheets to drapes to silverware to plates are beautiful and sparkling. The buffet features spectacular breads, cheeses, tropical fruits and made to order grilled meat and seafood.

 

The complimentary coffees in the coffee bar feature Ily beans and the poolside grill's steak and lobster tail sandwiches are excessive, ridiculous and fabulous!

 

No matter what anyone says, you really won't know until you try!

 

Booking two is the sort-of brain addled behaviour that I always do! It usually takes a couple of cruises to really figure out if you really like (or in O's case dislike!) a cruise line.

 

Have a steak/lobster sandwich for me!

 

ps ... my partner "limited me" to one of them every two or three days because of how "excessive" they were. (I weigh 160 and am 6 feet tall). When I pointed out his daily complimentary hand-made milkshake consumption, I was told that was "completely different"!

[Minoushka]

I found some people on Oceania hotty snotty and others really nice in spite of an abundance of wealth .One very nice couple I met were going around the world for a very hefty sum of money .Very wealthy people are on this one and not shy to tell you so

I liked this Oceania trip because of its destination French Polynesia ....i did not need nightly entertainment ...it was very weak ...because our days were so full of glorious visits, snorkeling, boat rides .... just enjoying the majestic beauty of the islands

.i did find food particularly good ...better than on most ships ...and the chefs were very careful with my allergies

Service was very good on ship dreadful from their telephone centre ...worst one ever

I find Oceania very expensive compared to mainstream cruise line ...but yes it was fine

I loved Haven service and good on Epic it was very nice and I enjoyed it thoroughly on my last transat .Breakfadt there was my favorite as I always hot my seat by the window ...curtains opened ...admiring the sea .The staff there were so very nice

However the repetition of menu inEpic club made it difficult to eat there every night ...had it had more variety I would have stayed up there ...but I did enjoy breakfast ...

Try Oceania ..it was fine but choose a very active itinerary because evenings are rather dull

[mgfiest]

have you tried going to the Oceania Cruisecritic forum and get those diehards opinion on what their cruiseline they have and how it differs from others.

 

they maybe more expensive but you get more items that you would have to pay on NCL... m2c

[UPNYGuy]

have you tried going to the Oceania Cruisecritic forum and get those diehards opinion on what their cruiseline they have and how it differs from others.

 

they maybe more expensive but you get more items that you would have to pay on NCL... m2c

 

 

I met several that sail O on the Getaway cruise that got me thinking about this. They kept saying "well we knew this wasn't Oceania when we booked this", and variations of that phrase. I asked them what they meant, and they said that Oceania has less "riff raff" on the ships, and that I should try them if I really do not like children running amuck. I was immediately interested. It was a snobbish thing to say, but I can't say I disagreed with them.

 

 

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[tmilak]

IMHO I think you will find Celebrity somewhere between the two. A level above NCL and not to "snooty". Much higher quality of food and service but not boring. After 11 Haven cruises we are going back to "X" ones the kids get out of high school. Good luck and happy cruising.

[UPNYGuy]

IMHO I think you will find Celebrity somewhere between the two. A level above NCL and not to "snooty". Much higher quality of food and service but not boring. After 11 Haven cruises we are going back to "X" ones the kids get out of high school. Good luck and happy cruising.

 

 

We have been considering X as well, but one of the things we find enjoyable about Oceania is they flat out discourage children, and do not have any children's programs.

 

 

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[sanger727]

I met several that sail O on the Getaway cruise that got me thinking about this. They kept saying "well we knew this wasn't Oceania when we booked this", and variations of that phrase. I asked them what they meant, and they said that Oceania has less "riff raff" on the ships, and that I should try them if I really do not like children running amuck. I was immediately interested. It was a snobbish thing to say, but I can't say I disagreed with them.

 

 

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Lol... I've never seen what I would consider 'riff raff' on a NCL cruise; unless your talking about the 3 day sky cruises. That's a level of snobbiness I have no interest in. Agree with the suggestion of celebrity. Prices are competitive, if you cruise the suite level it comes with lots of perks including a private lounge and private fine dining room; and it's perceived at being more 'stuffy' than some of the other lines (others might call it sophisticated) so tends to turn off families and booze cruisers.

 

 

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[Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin]

Thanks for posting this thread. I, too, am a Haven cruiser and have wondered about Oceania and Regent. Love shows and casino (hate the smoke!), enjoy robust excursions, and value the privacy (read: quiet) of the Haven. We have never had problems with loud children in the Haven (even though there have often been children; maybe we have just been lucky with well behaved ones!). I think that by the time I pay for flights, prior night hotel, gratuities, shore excursions, upscale restaurants, etc., I could have paid the Regent price and come out close to even.....especially if I am considering overseas. The extras I would still have to pay for would be the spa and casino, as those are some of my draws to cruising! Right now, the sticker shock still gets me!

[UPNYGuy]

Thanks for posting this thread. I, too, am a Haven cruiser and have wondered about Oceania and Regent. Love shows and casino (hate the smoke!), enjoy robust excursions, and value the privacy (read: quiet) of the Haven. We have never had problems with loud children in the Haven (even though there have often been children; maybe we have just been lucky with well behaved ones!). I think that by the time I pay for flights, prior night hotel, gratuities, shore excursions, upscale restaurants, etc., I could have paid the Regent price and come out close to even.....especially if I am considering overseas. The extras I would still have to pay for would be the spa and casino, as those are some of my draws to cruising! Right now, the sticker shock still gets me!

 

 

If you look at Oceania, they are right there with the price of The Haven. O is including gratuities, (at least my TA is) flights, and a choice of wine and beer with meals, excursions, or up to $600 in cabin credit. Not to mention unlimited internet. And the benefit of a smaller, less crowded ship. An O concierge level balcony is roughly the price of the entry level PH on BA, depending on itinerary of course.

 

 

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[UPNYGuy]

DW and I have 2 cruises booked on O and likely soon a 3rd.

 

 

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[Dr. Cocktail]

DW and I have 2 cruises booked on O and likely soon a 3rd.

 

 

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I've got three booked in the Yacht Club and am preying that it doesn't suck!!!

[UPNYGuy]

Lol... I've never seen what I would consider 'riff raff' on a NCL cruise; unless your talking about the 3 day sky cruises. That's a level of snobbiness I have no interest in. Agree with the suggestion of celebrity. Prices are competitive, if you cruise the suite level it comes with lots of perks including a private lounge and private fine dining room; and it's perceived at being more 'stuffy' than some of the other lines (others might call it sophisticated) so tends to turn off families and booze cruisers.

 

 

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A woman openly (and without prompting) telling my mother she sells adult products by way of Passion Parties is what I call "riff raff". My mother is in her mid 60s and did not know what that term meant. DW and I had to explain it. This occurred on a 7 day Canada / New England sailing on Gem. My mother asked DW and I what a Passion Party was b/c said lady was talking about it to her. I am not a prude (and neither is my mom), but I was mortified.

 

Clientele like this would be what I am looking to avoid.

 

A couple that was used to Oceania on our Getaway cruise used that term riff raff to describe how they felt about certain clientele . It might be snobby and uppity of me to agree, but lately SOME people would classify. By no means all.

 

 

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[ECCruise]

Having sailed O and NCL numerous times, there are obviously some major differences.

 

Never found O passengers rude or snobby. What I do find is a much more seasoned traveler than on NCL, much more itinerary focused than on NCL and way more self-sufficient than on NCL.

 

The NCL cruiser is more :"fun focused" and generally needs more hand holding (entertainment planned out for them, ship's excursions rather than winging it, etc.). They are more "vacationers" and enjoying themselves. O pax are more "travelers" and experiencing the world. Thus much longer cruises, generally on O.

 

Have and will sail both for completely different reasons.

[Flatbush Flyer]

If you look at Oceania, they are right there with the price of The Haven. O is including gratuities, (at least my TA is) flights, and a choice of wine and beer with meals, excursions, or up to $600 in cabin credit. Not to mention unlimited internet. And the benefit of a smaller, less crowded ship. An O concierge level balcony is roughly the price of the entry level PH on BA, depending on itinerary of course.

 

 

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Yes, O includes airfare (or credit). For far flung air travel, that value could be $2k/ person, which you'd pay for on NCL. Remember too that O's food prep budget is twice that of NCL.

 

 

 

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