Oceania vs Celebrity Suites

[tmk1941]

We are considering booking Oceania Insignia cruise to Iceland in 2022. We are Elite Plus on Celebrity and wonder how Oceania compares. We love the intimate Luminae for meals. Oceania mains dining room seems large and there are few tables for 2. Your comments would be helpful.

[LHT28]

We have not had a problem with 2 tops in the GDR   but usually prefer to share most nights

 

I have never been on X   but just looking at the size of ships  I would think the bigger issue for you might be smaller spaces on Oceania  & no segregated dining options

 you eat with the masses

 

[TrulyBlonde]

7 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

We have not had a problem with 2 tops in the GDR   but usually prefer to share most nights

 

I have never been on X   but just looking at the size of ships  I would think the bigger issue for you might be smaller spaces on Oceania  & no segregated dining options

 you eat with the masses

 

Actually, I cruise in suites on both O and X. Their Luminae restaurant is exceptional and we use it for breakfast and dinner along with the occasional lunch. You can also dine in the Specialty restaurants and that is what we do. I have never been in the main dining room on X because we avoid the masses. Their are ways to make it work. Trust me. X is very nice.

I think the service in Luminae is also better than the O main dining room.

Edited January 15, 2021 by TrulyBlonde

[Flatbush Flyer]

On most O cruises, there may be 70%+\- repeat passengers - many of whom had moved up to Oceania from Celebrity and never went back. 

As has often been cited in leading food magazines like Bon Appetite and Saveur, Oceania is well recognized for having The Finest Cuisine at Sea™️.

If you peruse the numerous CC Oceania threads regarding food, you’ll learn that even the casual Terrace Café is far superior to the best dining offered on main stream lines like Celebrity. 
As for the specialty restaurants vs the Grand Dining Room (and the Terrace Café) know that every dining venue on O has the highest quality ingredients and preparation. The difference among the various restaurants regards ambiance and menu focus. And, of course, there’s never a charge for dining in the specialty restaurants. 

 

[LHT28]

27 minutes ago, TrulyBlonde said:

Actually, I cruise in suites on both O and X. Their Luminae restaurant is exceptional and we use it for breakfast and dinner along with the occasional lunch. You can also dine in the Specialty restaurants and that is what we do. I have never been in the main dining room on X because we avoid the masses. Their are ways to make it work. Trust me. X is very nice.

I think the service in Luminae is also better than the O main dining room.

The OP is trying to compare X to O  since Oceania does not  have special dining areas for the Elite Pax  it is  a moot point

 

We do not have an issue eating with the masses  on O

But as you noted  you do

[TrulyBlonde]

3 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

The person is trying to compare X to O  since Oceania does not  have special dining areas for the Elite Pax  it is  a moot point

 

We do not have an issue eating with the masses  on O

Actually, I was explaining  that I like Luminae better than the O main dining room. Just providing my opinion because I have cruised on both and you stated you have never cruised on X. 

I like both cruise lines. Luminae is smaller and more intimate that O main dining room.

[1985rz1]

59 minutes ago, tmk1941 said:

We are considering booking Oceania Insignia cruise to Iceland in 2022. We are Elite Plus on Celebrity and wonder how Oceania compares. We love the intimate Luminae for meals. Oceania mains dining room seems large and there are few tables for 2. Your comments would be helpful.

Never had a problem getting a 2-top in either GDR or the Specialty Restaurants.

[GlobalMethod]

49 minutes ago, tmk1941 said:

Your comments would be helpful.

You ask a really a bigger question as some have indicated ... are you a 'bang for the buck' person in your travels or do you not mind paying more to insure a more predictable cruising experience? Our favorite cruise experience in the 'old cruising' is with Azamara which is much more comparable to Oceania ... we feel it offers more 'bang for the buck' ... 🙂 ... to us ...

 

That said we have found some deals with Celebrity have so much 'bang for the buck' that we've done a good bit of travel with them ... with us, having adult beverages included is always a plus and we enjoy the drink package with Celebrity ... 🙂 ... Sometimes the drink package makes us feel like we are on an Azamara!

 

In the 'new cruising', all will have to be evaluated again, once it actually happens ...  Happy Travels!

[kitty9]

We’ve done more than 35 cruises on X, all in suites(mostly the PH), and we left X and went over to O and never looked back——we’ve done 11 cruises on O in less than 6 years.  We aren’t main dining room people and chose to dine at Muranos, or it’s equivalent, before X went to Luminae.  We greatly disliked Luminae as the tables were far too close and the food not all that great.  It says something when people dine at L but order their food from the MDR.

 

We love the specialty restaurants on O and even like dinner in Terrace.  And you don’t have to pay high suite prices to dine in every restaurant on O, unlike on X where you can’t access Blu or Luminae unless you pay suite prices. 

[tfred]

the food on O is a step up from X.  Terrace cafe is excellent as a buffet and the MDR food was better on O.  Specialty restaurants on O are excellent and I would say better than X.  If you re a foodie then O is a better choice.  That being said, food is very subjective for most.  Many are picky (aka bad) eaters and only like what they like

 

where O doesn't shine is nighttime activities.  If you are looking for big shows and a very active casino, O is not for you.  It is quiet at night (not a bad thing) and made for conversations with friends.  If the cruise is port intensive, then I would choose O.  Smaller ship, relaxed at night, get ready for the next day

[edgee]

57 minutes ago, tfred said:

the food on O is a step up from X.  Terrace cafe is excellent as a buffet and the MDR food was better on O.  Specialty restaurants on O are excellent and I would say better than X.  If you re a foodie then O is a better choice.  That being said, food is very subjective for most.  Many are picky (aka bad) eaters and only like what they like

 

where O doesn't shine is nighttime activities.  If you are looking for big shows and a very active casino, O is not for you.  It is quiet at night (not a bad thing) and made for conversations with friends.  If the cruise is port intensive, then I would choose O.  Smaller ship, relaxed at night, get ready for the next day

Agree strongly regarding food superiority on O. For the most part evenings are quiet on O and, with the exception of occasional guest entertainers, entertainment is quite amateur compared to X.

[ORV]

On 1/15/2021 at 12:22 PM, tmk1941 said:

We are considering booking Oceania Insignia cruise to Iceland in 2022. We are Elite Plus on Celebrity and wonder how Oceania compares. We love the intimate Luminae for meals. Oceania mains dining room seems large and there are few tables for 2. Your comments would be helpful.

A lot we don't know about you here. Are you comparing the suite experience on Celebrity to a regular room on Oceania, which are similarly priced, or are you planning on booking a suite on Oceania? Which level of suite are you used to sailing in? If you plan on going in a regular cabin on an R ship I think you'll be disappointed.

 

Keep in mind there are no separated areas on Oceania R ships for those traveling in suites, also no separate dining areas. No special concierge for those in suites, nobody reminding you that you're special. Well, that's debatable, but I won't get into that now. You're already in the Elite area just by being on the ship, there's no mass market vibe as you get on Celebrity. No photographers, no constant push to buy a specialty restaurant res, etc. 

 

You won't get a drink package included with a suite on Oceania like you do on X. You will get a bar set up for the suites above PH. You do get advance time to book your specialty reservations, you also get to board earlier and your room will be ready earlier than others. There's no red carpet or special area to board when you come back from ports, on the other hand there's no line to go to the front of either, so it's not needed. 

[Mura]

On 1/15/2021 at 2:23 PM, 1985rz1 said:

Never had a problem getting a 2-top in either GDR or the Specialty Restaurants.

OTOH, fairly frequently when we wanted to share in the GDR we ended up at a two-top ... which we did NOT want.

 

It has always seemed to me that there are more than enough two-tops if that's what people want.  Perhaps the real source of the problem is WHEN you dine, rather than a scarcity of two-tops.

 

Mura

[Rob the Cruiser]

On 1/15/2021 at 12:07 PM, TrulyBlonde said:

Actually, I was explaining  that I like Luminae better than the O main dining room. Just providing my opinion because I have cruised on both and you stated you have never cruised on X. 

I like both cruise lines. Luminae is smaller and more intimate that O main dining room.

All specialty restaurants are smaller and more intimate than main/grand dining rooms.

[TrulyBlonde]

1 hour ago, Rob the Cruiser said:

All specialty restaurants are smaller and more intimate than main/grand dining rooms.

Luminae is not a specialty restaurant. It is a private dining room for those who book suites. 

[Rob the Cruiser]

OK. It's a special restaurant. 

[Flatbush Flyer]

47 minutes ago, TrulyBlonde said:

Luminae is not a specialty restaurant. It is a private dining room for those who book suites. 

Call it whatever you want. But, the facts remains: 

All passengers in any Oceania cabin level have access to ALL dining venues without having to pay an extra fee. Of course, the special LaReserve dinner opportunities on Marina and Riviera are paid events. But, even they are open to all passengers in all cabin classes. 
 

And, unlike mass market lines, Oceania’s casual restaurant (Terrace Café) and GDR have the same quality of ingredients and preparation as do the “specialty” restaurants which are “different” by virtue of their focused menus and more intimate ambiance.

Edited January 18, 2021 by Flatbush Flyer

[TrulyBlonde]

32 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Call it whatever you want. But, the facts remains: 

All passengers in any Oceania cabin level have access to ALL dining venues without having to pay an extra fee. Of course, the special LaReserve dinner opportunities on Marina and Riviera are paid events. But, even they are open to all passengers in all cabin classes. 
 

And, unlike mass market lines, Oceania’s casual restaurant (Terrace Café) and GDR have the same quality of ingredients and preparation as do the “specialty” restaurants which are “different” by virtue of their focused menus and more intimate ambiance.

This is why I like both cruise lines along with numerous others. I like to have a choice and frankly it is all about timing and itinerary for me. Decent food and wine makes me happy. I can dine out in all of the fabulous places I visit whether it be a Michelin * or a lovely local place. This is what I prefer. 

[Hlitner]

I think one can look at a comparison in several different ways.  Consider that one could cruise on another line such as Celebrity for much less then the cost of "O" and simply pay extra to have all their dinners in one of the decent alternative restaurants.  So, for example, we have cruised in a nice balcony cabin on Solstice Class ships for about $100 per passenger day and then spent an extra $33 dollars per day (we  bought a dining package at a discounted price) which we used to dine in Murano (a very upscale venue) nearly every night.   We know other cruisers who prefer HAL and choose to eat all their dinners in HAL's Pinnacle Grill.

 

I only post this to encourage folks to compare apples to apples.  While "O" may have superior cuisine in their MDR, other lines may have even more superior cuisine in alternative restaurants.   It may well be that one can get comparable or nicer cabins/suites on other lines, pay for better dining options, and still save significant money over "O" pricing.   My post is not meant to knock "O" but to simply point out that there are plenty of other options for those seeking better then average cruise cuisine.

 

Hank

[tfred]

food is highly subjective.  People like what they like and those choices can be interesting.  There is still the nightly chicken, salmon or steak on every menu even in the best cruise dining rooms.

 

what is different on the cruise ships is the experience once you leave the room/suite. X has bigger ships with many people wandering around. There is a sense of "being busy". O doesn't have that feel and that is fine too.  

 

the shipboard experience is what many people don't understand when they switch between X and O (or Regent, Crystal, SB etc). It just isn't how much money or how close they are in $.

[TrulyBlonde]

7 minutes ago, tfred said:

food is highly subjective.  People like what they like and those choices can be interesting.  There is still the nightly chicken, salmon or steak on every menu even in the best cruise dining rooms.

 

what is different on the cruise ships is the experience once you leave the room/suite. X has bigger ships with many people wandering around. There is a sense of "being busy". O doesn't have that feel and that is fine too.  

 

the shipboard experience is what many people don't understand when they switch between X and O (or Regent, Crystal, SB etc). It just isn't how much money or how close they are in $.

You are correct. Example: I won't use the pool on X but enjoy it on O because of fewer people and quiet. I do not go to shows on O but will take in a few on X because the entertainment is better.

Too different animals, yet I enjoy both. O is more subdued and X is more fun. My DH likes his privacy and actually prefers X because he does not feel forced to make idle conversation and says he can hideout.

I could go on, but am just happy we have been able to enjoy both cruise lines for what they each offer.

[Tedferg]

On 1/18/2021 at 9:01 AM, Hlitner said:

I think one can look at a comparison in several different ways.  Consider that one could cruise on another line such as Celebrity for much less then the cost of "O" and simply pay extra to have all their dinners in one of the decent alternative restaurants.  So, for example, we have cruised in a nice balcony cabin on Solstice Class ships for about $100 per passenger day and then spent an extra $33 dollars per day (we  bought a dining package at a discounted price) which we used to dine in Murano (a very upscale venue) nearly every night.   We know other cruisers who prefer HAL and choose to eat all their dinners in HAL's Pinnacle Grill.

 

I only post this to encourage folks to compare apples to apples.  While "O" may have superior cuisine in their MDR, other lines may have even more superior cuisine in alternative restaurants.   It may well be that one can get comparable or nicer cabins/suites on other lines, pay for better dining options, and still save significant money over "O" pricing.   My post is not meant to knock "O" but to simply point out that there are plenty of other options for those seeking better then average cruise cuisine.

 

Hank

Good points, we are more bang-for-the-buck travelers as another person said. We usually have a standard balcony cabin and have cruise Celebrity and Princess. The cabin is just a place to shower / sleep / change but inside or ocean view are too restrictive, mini suites do not offer much over standard balcony. We get an O brochure almost daily in the mail and have been tempted to try them, however O is twice the price when I do my calculations.

[Hlitner]

On 1/24/2021 at 2:33 PM, Tedferg said:

Good points, we are more bang-for-the-buck travelers as another person said. We usually have a standard balcony cabin and have cruise Celebrity and Princess. The cabin is just a place to shower / sleep / change but inside or ocean view are too restrictive, mini suites do not offer much over standard balcony. We get an O brochure almost daily in the mail and have been tempted to try them, however O is twice the price when I do my calculations.

So what if I told you about a line where you can get the kind of amenities normally found only with the big suites on some mass market ships but those amenities come with a large balcony cabin at prices only slightly higher then most balcony cabins on mass market ships.  And that would be MSC's Yacht Club (which is on quite a few of their ships).  The cost of a normal Yacht Club Suite (which is actually more like a deluxe balcony cabin) is usually around $350 per person/day.  That price includes all drinks (and they are top shelf offerings), a private section of the ship, large private lounge, spacious private pool deck, yacht club specific buffet (for breakfast and lunch), and a private YC dining room.  If you book through a decent discount cruise agency you should also be able to get gratuities covered plus an OBC.   The food is probably not up to the standards of 'O" but can be pretty decent.   Since you are on a large mass market ship, once you step outside the Yacht Club enclave you have access to multiple entertainment venues where the music is going until at least midnight.

 

Hank

[ORV]

5 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

So what if I told you about a line where you can get the kind of amenities normally found only with the big suites on some mass market ships but those amenities come with a large balcony cabin at prices only slightly higher then most balcony cabins on mass market ships.  And that would be MSC's Yacht Club (which is on quite a few of their ships).  The cost of a normal Yacht Club Suite (which is actually more like a deluxe balcony cabin) is usually around $350 per person/day.  That price includes all drinks (and they are top shelf offerings), a private section of the ship, large private lounge, spacious private pool deck, yacht club specific buffet (for breakfast and lunch), and a private YC dining room.  If you book through a decent discount cruise agency you should also be able to get gratuities covered plus an OBC.   The food is probably not up to the standards of 'O" but can be pretty decent.   Since you are on a large mass market ship, once you step outside the Yacht Club enclave you have access to multiple entertainment venues where the music is going until at least midnight.

 

Hank

I've seen people on the Celebrity board mention that they match loyalty status. Do you know if that's only for Celebrity guests or do they match all cruise lines? Thanks. 

[ORV]

On 1/15/2021 at 12:22 PM, tmk1941 said:

We are considering booking Oceania Insignia cruise to Iceland in 2022. We are Elite Plus on Celebrity and wonder how Oceania compares. We love the intimate Luminae for meals. Oceania mains dining room seems large and there are few tables for 2. Your comments would be helpful.

Did any of this help? I notice you haven't come back to discuss anything since you posted.