Please help me narrow which of 3 Mediterranean Cruises...April 2022

[atwnsw]

Background:

My wife and myself (55 years old).  I have underlying health issues so we generally go to bed early as the daily excursions are enough for me to crash afterwards.  Therefore, gambling/shows/entertainment at night are mostly wasted.  

 

Itinerary:  Barcelona to Rome or vice-versa

 

Requirements:  Balcony room, mid-ship.  Nice excursions during the day to explore the ports of call.  Good food is important.

We are very light drinkers.

 

Three candidates: 

Viking Sky - April 9th.  Barcelona to Spain.  $3899

Silver Moon - April 22nd.  Rome to Barcelona.  $5670

Oceania Marina - April 25th.  Monte Carlo to Barcelona.  $2199.

 

Silversea - We have sailed Silver Spirit to Alaska and thought the food was sub-par.  Otherwise, we enjoyed ourselves.

 

The price disparity is throwing me for a loop as I can't figure out when you add the gratuity and other items to the lower price point if it is equivalent.

 

Are these comparable ships or is there a night and day difference?

 

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

Anthony

 

P.S.  Unrelated to which ship, I have one side issue which you might help me figure out.  We live in Tampa but may move to Birmingham by the time the cruise ship leaves.  Therefore, my originating airport could change.  How do you suggest I do the airfare component?  We would only fly business class as direct as possible.

[LHT28]

I would normally vote for Oceania

 But flying to Europe for a 7 days cruise is not worth the effort for us  YMMV

Some agents will offer gratuities as part of  deal  shop around

 

Check the ports & how long you are in port for

 I would book your own air  then you may want to fly in a day or so early to rest after the long flight

I believe Viking do not have casinos  so no problem there

Are you comparing same or similar size cabins?

 Compare what is & is not included  in the price

will you do your own tours  or ship's tours   then check the cost  of those extras

 

Enjoy whatever one you choose

 

 

 

 

 

[wowzz]

I can only reiterate the sentiments already expressed. Flying TA for a 7 day cruise is a waste of time.

As a Brit, I used to fly TA frequently for business for just a few days, and that was doable. But flying west to east is really hard work.   

[Lois R]

Hi Anthony, I have multiple cruises with Silversea and none with others.......sorry you found the food on your cruise sub par.........I have always found it outstanding and am going on cruise with them in July---on the MOON😃.....I can let you know how everything goes upon my return.  My choice would be SS😉

[cruisemom42]

58 minutes ago, atwnsw said:

Background:

My wife and myself (55 years old).  I have underlying health issues so we generally go to bed early as the daily excursions are enough for me to crash afterwards.  Therefore, gambling/shows/entertainment at night are mostly wasted.  

 

Itinerary:  Barcelona to Rome or vice-versa

 

Requirements:  Balcony room, mid-ship.  Nice excursions during the day to explore the ports of call.  Good food is important.

We are very light drinkers.

 

Three candidates: 

Viking Sky - April 9th.  Barcelona to Spain.  $3899

Silver Moon - April 22nd.  Rome to Barcelona.  $5670

Oceania Marina - April 25th.  Monte Carlo to Barcelona.  $2199.

 

Silversea - We have sailed Silver Spirit to Alaska and thought the food was sub-par.  Otherwise, we enjoyed ourselves.

 

The price disparity is throwing me for a loop as I can't figure out when you add the gratuity and other items to the lower price point if it is equivalent.

 

Are these comparable ships or is there a night and day difference?

 

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

Anthony

 

P.S.  Unrelated to which ship, I have one side issue which you might help me figure out.  We live in Tampa but may move to Birmingham by the time the cruise ship leaves.  Therefore, my originating airport could change.  How do you suggest I do the airfare component?  We would only fly business class as direct as possible.

 

April is a great time to cruise in the Med, in my opinion, especially from the middle of the month onward.  Is there a reason you are only looking at 7-day itineraries?  Are you planning a land stay as well?

 

I would strike the Viking cruise first, if I were making recommendations. The itinerary is uninspiring and while I've heard the food isn't bad, I don't think it is as good as you would have on Oceania or Silversea. Also it is quite early in the month so the weather may be less optimal.

 

Between the other two the choice would be difficult -- the itineraries are not dissimilar. Silver Moon is a nearly new ship, which might strike things in her favor were price no object. However, the price of the Oceania cruise seems very good -- especially if you are light drinkers, I think you would have difficulty justifying the extra cost for the Silversea inclusions. (Gratuities don't add that much on a 7-day cruise.)

 

 

 

 

[Heidi13]

2 hours ago, atwnsw said:

Background:

My wife and myself (55 years old).  I have underlying health issues so we generally go to bed early as the daily excursions are enough for me to crash afterwards.  Therefore, gambling/shows/entertainment at night are mostly wasted.  

 

Itinerary:  Barcelona to Rome or vice-versa

 

Requirements:  Balcony room, mid-ship.  Nice excursions during the day to explore the ports of call.  Good food is important.

We are very light drinkers.

 

Three candidates: 

Viking Sky - April 9th.  Barcelona to Spain.  $3899

Silver Moon - April 22nd.  Rome to Barcelona.  $5670

Oceania Marina - April 25th.  Monte Carlo to Barcelona.  $2199.

 

Silversea - We have sailed Silver Spirit to Alaska and thought the food was sub-par.  Otherwise, we enjoyed ourselves.

 

The price disparity is throwing me for a loop as I can't figure out when you add the gratuity and other items to the lower price point if it is equivalent.

 

Are these comparable ships or is there a night and day difference?

 

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

Anthony

 

P.S.  Unrelated to which ship, I have one side issue which you might help me figure out.  We live in Tampa but may move to Birmingham by the time the cruise ship leaves.  Therefore, my originating airport could change.  How do you suggest I do the airfare component?  We would only fly business class as direct as possible.

 

Just checked the 3 cruises you mentioned and the Silversea & Oceania are both only 7-day itineraries, whereas the Viking cruise is 15-days and covers the same area and also heads up the Adriatic to end in Venice.

 

The ships are also considerably different, with the Oceania ship having more than double the pax as the Silversea ship. Silversea has just less than 600, Viking has 930 and Oceania 1,250. The Oceania ship is the oldest at about 10 yrs, Viking is 4 yrs old and the Silversea is new. 

 

The pricing disparity will be driven by the length of cruises and what is included. When we selected our last cruise, I thoroughly researched all luxury/premium cruise lines and short listed to Viking & Oceania. Viking provided the most positives for us, but that was based on our requirements and expectations. Yours may differ from ours.

 

For itinerary - no way we would fly long haul for only 7-nights, even in First Class, so would not consider the Oceania or Silversea. For the variety of ports, personally I prefer the longer itinerary.

[cruisemom42]

1 hour ago, Heidi13 said:

Just checked the 3 cruises you mentioned and the Silversea & Oceania are both only 7-day itineraries, whereas the Viking cruise is 15-days and covers the same area and also heads up the Adriatic to end in Venice.

 

I think the OP is looking at the Viking Sky 7-day itinerary on April 9th -- Barcelona to Rome. At least that is how it is listed on the travel site I use, consistent with the price given....

 

 

 

[Heidi13]

1 hour ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

I think the OP is looking at the Viking Sky 7-day itinerary on April 9th -- Barcelona to Rome. At least that is how it is listed on the travel site I use, consistent with the price given....

 

 

 

 

Thanks - just noted that the same departure from Barcelona has a 7-day option to Civitavecchia,  as well as the full 15-day to Venice.

[atwnsw]

Please let me clarify.

 

We would be staying for 2 nights on the front end and 2 nights on the back end so total trip duration would be 11 nights.  

 

Sounds like the choice is between Silversea Moon $5670 vs Oceania Marina $2199.  

 

Thanks for helping me remove Viking from the mix.  

 

The process of elimination continues.  Thanks

 

 

[LHT28]

2 hours ago, atwnsw said:

Please let me clarify.

 

We would be staying for 2 nights on the front end and 2 nights on the back end so total trip duration would be 11 nights.  

 

Sounds like the choice is between Silversea Moon $5670 vs Oceania Marina $2199.  

 

Thanks for helping me remove Viking from the mix.  

 

The process of elimination continues.  Thanks

 

 

That will make a difference  in your trip

 

SS  has less pax   not sure on their dress code

I found it  a pain to pack DH blazer  for 1 night  on our Crystal cruise

Oceania only requires nice slacks & a collared shirt  for men

 

Noticed SS gives you  some free internet time each day  (1-2 hrs)

Oceania gives you unlimited  free internet for 1 account per cabin

if that is important to you something to factor in to your calculations

JMO

[whogo]

Airfare component? I would check with the cruise line, for some reason I have saved hundreds of dollars on open jaw transatlantic flights while still being able to select airline and flight times. Doesn't cost anything to ask.

[wowzz]

On 5/1/2021 at 10:16 PM, atwnsw said:

I have underlying health issues

I'm probably stating the obvious, but have you priced up the cost of travel insurance?

[atwnsw]

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

I'm probably stating the obvious, but have you priced up the cost of travel insurance?

Yes, I have that covered.  I have been using them for years.

No affiliation:  tripinsurancestore.com

[LHT28]

2 hours ago, whogo said:

Airfare component? I would check with the cruise line, for some reason I have saved hundreds of dollars on open jaw transatlantic flights while still being able to select airline and flight times. Doesn't cost anything to ask.

that can work  for some  lines

 

the OP is considering Oceania  ..DO NOT BUY BUS CLASS  from them 

JMO

 

[atwnsw]

30 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

that can work  for some  lines

 

the OP is considering Oceania  ..DO NOT BUY BUS CLASS  from them 

JMO

 

Why not?  Just curious...

[LHT28]

19 minutes ago, atwnsw said:

Why not?  Just curious...

Cost

You can usually do better booking your own BUS flights

[whogo]

12 hours ago, LHT28 said:

Cost

You can usually do better booking your own BUS flights

So "Oceania  ..DO NOT BUY BUS CLASS  from them"

 

Unless it is cheaper?

[LHT28]

44 minutes ago, whogo said:

So "Oceania  ..DO NOT BUY BUS CLASS  from them"

 

Unless it is cheaper?

If  they can get BUS class cheaper than DIY  go for it

 I have found it cheaper to DIY 

 You have to do the math & see what works best  for you

YMMV

[MBP&O2/O]

My opinion for what it’s worth.

 

I am of a similar outlook to your requirements.

 

I have sailed Silversea twice and have two more booked. One on the Dawn and one on the Spirit.

On both occasions I found the food excellent, as was the overall ambience.As an aside we have had a couple of meals cooked which for we made a special request. No problem what so ever. One was a chateaubriand and one a beef wellington.

If you need internet then it is free per person NOT per suite.

There is a dress code, which is not, in my opinion, too severe. There are plenty of options to eat without going ott.

 

Looking for a change I looked at both Viking and Oceania.

 

Some time ago we looked at Viking and were quite tempted so when we started to think about resuming cruising and formed the opinion that the quality of ‘free’ excursions was poor .. for our needs. We were looking at Israel and the freebies in Ashdod and Haifa were to the back of beyond and did not incorporate the history of Jerusalem? Being that only one included excursion appeared available ....

We also thought the prices had increased dramatically from when we first looked  ... and this was before Covid!

The ships were also a touch too large for us.

 

We also looked at Oceania and decided that there were so many hidden add-ons .. gratuities, internet, drinks packages etc, that it (pricing) was a minefield. The base prices for the accommodations of our choice were also way above the ‘price from’ that was advertised. Taking all that into account it did work out quite expensive.

 

It really is a case of ‘you pays your money and you makes your choice’

 

[atwnsw]

I am leaning towards Silversea given everybody's input.  As a general rule, did you find it more advantageous to book their airfare and hotels (front end and back end) or did you book all of that yourself?  We are definitely only going business class.

Edited May 4, 2021 by atwnsw

[Lois R]

15 minutes ago, atwnsw said:

I am leaning towards Silversea given everybody's input.  As a general rule, did you find it more advantageous to book their airfare and hotels (front end and back end) or did you book all of that yourself?  We are definitely only going business class.

If I may chime in,  I have booked Business Class with SS on every European Cruise I have sailed on and was very pleased with it all.😃  They offered a Business Class upgrade for 600 bucks each way on my particular sailings. I seriously doubt I would have been able to find a business class ticket on my own for 1200 bucks!  And I booked my hotels with them on 2 of my sailings. It was just easier for me on those specific  cruises.  

I would say there is not a specific right/wrong way to do things....I sail solo and sometimes it is just easier for me to use the SS choices and I get all the transfers included....airport to hotel.....hotel to ship and ship back to the airport.

[LHT28]

50 minutes ago, atwnsw said:

I am leaning towards Silversea given everybody's input.  As a general rule, did you find it more advantageous to book their airfare and hotels (front end and back end) or did you book all of that yourself?  We are definitely only going business class.

Do the math & see what works best for you

 I find most lines charge  PP not per room for the hotel so you may pay double the going rate to DIY

 bit it is your money so do what works best for you

Enjoy

[MBP&O2/O]

The only comments I could offer regarding b/c flights via Silversea is that you should bear in mind the upgrade offer is per person per leg .... I failed to notice that when I asked for a quote ... operator malfunction. 
However, when I compared their prices and my choice of flights they were cheaper.

As an aside, we always tell SS what flights we want and suck for the deviation fee. We always get what we ask for but our choice of airlines is limited to AF, KLM or BA.

At least we get convenient flight schedules and as we always fly out a couple of days early it makes life easier.