Oceania - How "low key" is it?

[NewbieCruiserNL1234]

We are in the process of booking our first cruise. I have asked a couple of questions on here and have had such amazing responses, so I thought I would try one more.

I have read a lot of reviews surrounding how Oceania attracts an "older" crowd (which is irrelevant to us) and how it is very quiet in the evenings, with most people going back to their room after supper. My husband and I are in our mid thirties. We are not huge party animals or anything, but we do enjoy having a few after dinner drinks and meeting new people in the evening (regardless of age). I am just wondering will there be some people out and about after dinner?

We are still trying to decide between the Oceania Riviera and Celebrity Reflection for our Eastern Mediterranean Cruise. We are almost decided on the Oceania, but my only concern is that we may feel "out of place".

Any information is greatly appreciated. :)

Thanks again!

[LHT28]

I suspect the people that say people go to bed at 9pm are those that do

 

There are still many people out & about ..the shows are usually standing room only & they start at 9:30pm so clearly not everyone goes to their cabin after dinner

Martinis is usually busy in the evening & as is the casino bar

There will not be people running through the halls whooping it up in the late evening so not to worry

Pick a cruise & enjoy

it is not as bad as some make it out to be ;)

[Mura]

You will no doubt get different responses! Some will tell you that you are too young and that you'll hate it.

 

I won't say that because when I was your age -- when I was YOUNGER than you are -- I typically socialized with older people. (Like my parent's friends! Not that I was dating them ...) The things I like to do now are things I liked to do then.

 

We don't do the bar scene because my husband doesn't drink ... maybe a glass of wine at dinner, that's it. When we were first dating I'd order a Tanqueray maritini straight up and he'd order an apricot sour, and guess what drink they gave me ...

 

We tend to go to dinner on the late side, but not very late -- usually 7:30 or 8:00. That means we should get out of the restaurant in time to see the 9:30 show if it's something that interests us. We probably get back to our room by 11:00 or so in such case since we don't go to a bar for a nightcap. Maybe we take a walk around the deck ...

 

I think you WILL find people out and about after dinner hours ... but probably not that many. It can depend on the itinerary. If you are considering a port-intensive itinerary (some of which have no sea days at all), then most people WILL be retiring early ... simply because they'll be having to get up early for a tour the next day.

 

Someone posted yesterday or today that his TA said everyone goes to bed at 9pm on Oceania. NOT TRUE!

 

And as long as you are on CC, you can sign up at your Roll Call and meet people in advance of the cruise and figure out if you want to see them more often. We usually do ...

 

It's true that you are much younger than most passengers but that doesn't mean you wouldn't enjoy the cruise. It really does depend on what YOU like to do. It's hard for me to say if you would feel out of place or not but from what you have said, it doesn't sound to me as if you would.

 

On our first Renaissance cruise in Oct '99 we had dinner one night with a mid-30s couple. I asked them if they were having a good time given that at that time we figured the average age of passengers on that cruise was mid-70s. Their response was that they were having a wonderful time. They had been taken somewhat aback when upon boarding they saw four wheelchairs being loaded at the same time ...

 

These days you may see more wheelchairs and scooters that we saw in 1999 but that doesn't necessarily mean that the people occupying them are uninteresting!

 

Good luck on your decision.

 

Mura

[lais]

On our current cruise there are all ages and it has been very lively. The first part of the cruise is 10 days but we are continuing on for the next 21 day transatlantic so the demographics my change with the longer segment.

There is a late happy hour every night with music.

It can be low key if you want or you can party on! It will be what you want. I'm actually having too much fun and I think I'll go to sleep at 9 tonight lol

[Sny]

You can have as lively experience as you wish on Riviera. Most people we met on our November cruise in the Med were friendly, but definitely not into partying. With all the shore excursions (whether you use Oceania's or book privately), you may find that you are ready to retire earlier than you expect. If you're on Riviera, and they offer culinary classes, jump on it early. They sell out and are terrific!! Also, the Canyon Ranch Spa has great, knowledgeable staff - did my standard massage, but added acupuncture twice and loved it. Whatever you do, enjoy!!

[Classiccruiser777]

If you appreciate very good food, wonderful beds and linens, not being "nickeled and dimed," a casual but refined atmosphere and interesting fellow passengers you will most likely love Oceania.

[njhorseman]

It's going to vary by itinerary, with longer cruises tending to draw a much older, generally quieter crowd, but our experience having cruised many times on Celebrity and now once on Oceania, is that while Celebrity is certainly not a "wild and crazy" cruise line, Oceania is markedly more sedate.

 

We're 70, and on our Oceania cruise...admittedly a 22 night segment of an around the world cruise, we were on the younger side of the passenger demographic. We have a 36 night Oceania cruise booked for this winter and I expect the same. For what I assume would be a much shorter Mediterranean cruise I suspect the difference might not be as stark.

 

By the way, I've never been "nickeled and dimed" on a mass market cruise. Our on board expenditures are much the same on Oceania as they are on Celebrity or NCL or Royal Caribbean...essentially what small amount of alcohol we consume and possibly some shore excursions.

[Hawaiidan]

In reading your questions and with reguard to a 7-10 day Med cruise... O will not be a good fit for a 35-40. Celeb has their ship as a 3000 pax floating vegas resort for every body under the sun, but mainly on the 25-40 set. O is geared to the 60+ set

[buggins0402]

In reading your questions and with reguard to a 7-10 day Med cruise... O will not be a good fit for a 35-40. Celeb has their ship as a 3000 pax floating vegas resort for every body under the sun, but mainly on the 25-40 set. O is geared to the 60+ set

 

Disagree...the shorter med cruises on O have a younger demographic. I would say the average is in the 50's, which is not much different than Celebrity. O is probably in upper 50's and Celebrity in the lower 50's. But, our short O cruises in Europe had plenty of thirty and forty somethings on board.

[blambition]

I did the Med on a 13 day cruise when I was in my mid-50s. The sailing was on Royal Caribbean. All ages on the cruise. The big thing to remember is that when it is a port intensive itinerary, you will be getting up early every single day as these are not ports that you want to skip. That means coming back to the ship, having dinner and heading to bed much earlier than you would on other cruises. Oceania offers you the best cuisine I have found on all of my sailings which of numbered over 100! Oceania has passengers that are quite easy to meet and wonderful to speak with on all topics. We are off on our second cruise with them this week!

It is true that you tend to eat lunch off the ship on a European itinerary, or at least gelato, to hold you over LOL. Nothing beats the food that is served on Oceania!

 

 

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[I_r_a]

Hi NCNL,

 

>We are not huge party animals or anything, but we do enjoy having a few after dinner drinks and meeting new people in the evening (regardless of age). I am just wondering will there be some people out and about after dinner?

 

Yes. Meet them up at the Horizons Lounge after the night's entertainment.

 

Ira

Edited April 10, 2017 by I_r_a
spelling

[perditax]

Tangent question that is not worth starting a new thread:

 

Does O ever offer any solo discount on the standard 200%?

 

(40-something who *generally* likes to keep to myself on cruises, and I cruise solo to clear my head. NCL, the most solo friendly line, is wearying me these days. O is in our price range if I'm traveling with the significant other, but not worth the full double occupancy supplement to me when I'm traveling alone.)

[Mura]

I recently asked our TA about this on behalf of my SIL. The answer regarding our November 7, 2017 Rome-BCN cruise on Marina was 175%. Still pretty high.

 

For our 2018 cruise, nothing offered yet. Our TA suggested it might change if bookings remain slight -- as they are now.

 

So it depends on the specific cruise. I suggest that you ask a TA who specializes in Oceania. Are you flexible about the itinerary? Sometimes these bargains DO come through ... but not looking for them myself, I suspect not often.

 

Good luck.

 

Mura

[ronrick1943]

You'll be OK, you'll always meet people that stay up later-not many, but how many do you need to have fun. But if you party take other cruise----We enjoy staying up some nights-other nights we turn in early, but never at 9:30.

[billrco90278]

Oceania is more low-key than cruise lines such as Princess and Celebrity , and there are very few children. The adult demographic is older, but in my opinion, the average passenger is more healthy and fit.

 

 

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[Kingofcool1947]

We are in the process of booking our first cruise. I have asked a couple of questions on here and have had such amazing responses, so I thought I would try one more.

I have read a lot of reviews surrounding how Oceania attracts an "older" crowd (which is irrelevant to us) and how it is very quiet in the evenings, with most people going back to their room after supper. My husband and I are in our mid thirties. We are not huge party animals or anything, but we do enjoy having a few after dinner drinks and meeting new people in the evening (regardless of age). I am just wondering will there be some people out and about after dinner?

We are still trying to decide between the Oceania Riviera and Celebrity Reflection for our Eastern Mediterranean Cruise. We are almost decided on the Oceania, but my only concern is that we may feel "out of place".

Any information is greatly appreciated. :)

Thanks again!

 

DW and I are booked our first Oceania cruise. 7 day Cuba cruise, May 2018.

Basically, we booked Oceania because of the itinerary, and reputation for excellent dining. We also wanted to try an upscale, smaller ship experience, since we usually sail with Princess and Celebrity. We do live a very active lifestyle. :)

 

Our TA did mention that the majority of Oceania PAX are in the older demographic (70+), and because of that, the ship is generally very quiet past 9:00 pm. Whether that is good or bad, YMMV. :p And, far different than a mainstream cruise that offers many venues, and activites late into the night. Oceania's lack of a gym, and excercise/fitness activies(?) is a concern. These are actvities we personally enjoy. on Princess and Celebrity cruises.

So we are uncertain whether will be bored on the ship, due to lack of activities, but the cruise is very port intensive. which is a good thing for us. :rolleyes:

 

Hopefully you will enjoy your cruise, as we hope to as well.

Edited April 10, 2017 by Kingofcool1947

[Classiccruiser777]

Oceania's lack of a gym, and excercise/fitness activies(?) is a concern. These are actvities we personally enjoy. on Princess and Celebrity cruises.

O's ships have excellent gyms and spas, locker rooms with saunas and running tracks.

[Hawaiidan]

DW and I are booked our first Oceania cruise. 7 day Cuba cruise, May 2018.

Basically, we booked Oceania because of the itinerary, and reputation for excellent dining. We also wanted to try an upscale, smaller ship experience, since we usually sail with Princess and Celebrity. We do live a very active lifestyle. :)

 

Our TA did mention that the majority of Oceania PAX are in the older demographic (70+), and because of that, the ship is generally very quiet past 9:00 pm. Whether that is good or bad, YMMV. :p And, far different than a mainstream cruise that offers many venues, and activites late into the night. Oceania's lack of a gym, and excercise/fitness activies(?) is a concern. These are actvities we personally enjoy. on Princess and Celebrity cruises.

So we are uncertain whether will be bored on the ship, due to lack of activities, but the cruise is very port intensive. which is a good thing for us. :rolleyes:

 

Hopefully you will enjoy your cruise, as we hope to as well.

 

I think than YUNTDMR, and RTFM. however, ICIWM.....ok/???

[Silver Sweethearts]

O's ships have excellent gyms and spas, locker rooms with saunas and running tracks.

 

Kingofcool1947 - To add to Classiccruiser's information about Sirena's fitness center, we saw the following on an Oceania website. You may want to recheck the information you have:

 

Sirena Fitness Center - "Open from 6am - 8pm and features state of the art exercise machines and weights. Personal trainers and classes are available."

Edited April 10, 2017 by Silver Sweethearts

[LHT28]

some people keep posting a lot of misinformation here

maybe they should do some more research on O ships

[ronrick1943]

some people keep posting a lot of misinformation here

maybe they should do some more research on O ships

 

Agree, all "O" ship have a gym and spa. How could someone book without checking?

[Paulchili]

By the way, I've never been "nickeled and dimed" on a mass market cruise. Our on board expenditures are much the same on Oceania as they are on Celebrity or NCL or Royal Caribbean...essentially what small amount of alcohol we consume and possibly some shore excursions.

 

It's been a while since I have cruised on Celebrity so things might have changed.

Are specialty restaurants free now (Marina/Riviera have 4 of them)? How about sodas, non alcoholic specialty coffees, Do the photographers still come around to "say hello" to you at dinner and"greet you" in every port? While the latter is not an expense, it sure is annoying.

[buggins0402]

Agree, all "O" ship have a gym and spa. How could someone book without checking?

 

+2

 

Last cruise took a great spin class (it was tougher than the one I took on Celebrity). O has something for everyone.

 

We're also always closing restaurants each night...because after a busy port day, we work out for a couple hours and dinner is usually late.

 

I don't know where this myth that O cruisers have one foot in the grave comes from.

[Mura]

By the way, I've never been "nickeled and dimed" on a mass market cruise. Our on board expenditures are much the same on Oceania as they are on Celebrity or NCL or Royal Caribbean...essentially what small amount of alcohol we consume and possibly some shore excursions.

 

Maybe it depends on the definition of "nickeled and dimed". We've mostly sailed on Oceania for the past 15 years or so (or however long O has been in business) but we were on an NCL cruise a few years ago. I would say there was nickel and diming there, what with constant pitches for bingo and lottery tickets, the photographer always around, etc. It was long enough ago that things may have changed.

 

I don't consider it N&D-ing on O because I don't mind paying for my drinks or any shore excursions I may take. I hated the constant announcements of "fee" activities that we encountered on NCL.

 

Mura

[NewbieCruiserNL1234]

Thanks everyone! We have booked the Oceania Riviera Mediterranean cruise for next May! So excited! Thanks for all the info :)