Oceania on-ship activities and entertainment

[mcgilldj]

23 hours ago, MEFIowa said:

Pulled out my Currents from the 12/13-23/21 Riviera (W. Caribbean). Staying away from Casino activities and the food and lectures/presentations and artists in residence and tastings and dancing and the string quartet...

 

"Shuffleboard, Croquet, Paddle Tennis & Golf available 24 hours" and Mensa Daily Quiz

 

- Day 1: Open Houses

- Day 2: Indoor Golf Putting, Coffee Chat & Needlepoint, Ribbon Bracelet Making, Baggo Bean Bag Toss, Table Tennis, Snowball Jackpot Bingo, Salsa Dance Class, Social Bridge Play, Majority Rules Trivia, Team Trivia, Guess that Tune

- Day 3: Indoor Golf Putting, Table Tennis, Afternoon Movie, Social Bridge Play, Team Trivia, Brainteasers

- Day 4: Indoor Golf Putting, Table Tennis, Social Bridge Play, Team Trivia, Brainteasers

- Day 5: Indoor Golf Putting, Table Tennis, Social Bridge Play, Team Trivia, Brainteasers

- Day 6:  Indoor Golf Putting, Table Tennis, Social Bridge Play, Team Trivia, Brainteasers, Afternoon Movie

- Day 7: Indoor Golf Putting, Table Tennis, Social Bridge Play, Team Trivia, Brainteasers

- Day 8: Indoor Golf Putting, Table Tennis, Social Bridge Play, Team Trivia, Brainteasers, Afternoon Movie, KARAOKE Hour

- Day 9: Indoor Golf Putting, Coffee Chat & Needlepoint, Baggo Bean Bag Toss, Ribbon Bracelet Making, Table Tennis, Snowball Jackpot Bingo, Social Bridge Play, Friendly Feud Comedy Game Show, Team Trivia, Guess that Tune.

- Day 10: Indoor Golf Putting, Baggo Bean Bag Toss, Table Tennis, Social Bridge Play, Team Trivia, Brainteasers, Afternoon Movie, Night Movie

 

 

 

 

-

We have found that the larger ships offer more activities.  However, this summer on the Sirena we had baggo bingo, putt putt golf and ping pong.  Movies were offer a couple of times in the evening because there was no show.  The movies were some of those available on TV and were very old.  We had several canceled ports and no new activities were planned.  This is not good customer service.  We love Oceania, but they do owe their passengers more than the same thing every single day with no variety.  

[MEFIowa]

9 minutes ago, mcgilldj said:

... We had several canceled ports and no new activities were planned. ...

We had only one cancelled day, due to high seas preventing tendering at Great Stirrup Kay in the Bahamas, Day 10 (12/22). BUT...they put out a revised Currents that AM to change the afternoon activities. They ADDED:

 

- Blackjack Tournament, Afternoon movie (It's A Wonderful Life), Texas Hold'em Big Blind Tournament, and a Meet the Production Cast. 

[Guppy99]

6 hours ago, MEFIowa said:

We had only one cancelled day, due to high seas preventing tendering at Great Stirrup Kay in the Bahamas, Day 10 (12/22). BUT...they put out a revised Currents that AM to change the afternoon activities. They ADDED:

 

- Blackjack Tournament, Afternoon movie (It's A Wonderful Life), Texas Hold'em Big Blind Tournament, and a Meet the Production Cast. 

I have to say that to me it's a no brainer to have an "emergency" plan for port days that become  sea day. And it should not be adding "pay for'" activities. Gambling is not for everyone.  They should be prepared with trivia, other acceptable games, a photo scavenger hunt etc...  and other activities that can be indoors when the weather is inclement. Any cruise director (or whatever they may be titled) who does not have a fallback plan shouldn't have the job imo.

[MEFIowa]

1 hour ago, Guppy99 said:

...And it should not be adding "pay for'" activities. Gambling is not for everyone.  They should be prepared with trivia, other acceptable games, a photo scavenger hunt etc...  and other activities that can be indoors when the weather is inclement....

BUT you seem to be forgetting that they KEPT the other activities already planned...

 

Day 10: Indoor Golf Putting, Baggo Bean Bag Toss, Table Tennis, Social Bridge Play, Team Trivia, Brainteasers.

 

So, there was all that originally was schedule plus the additional activities, including two that had nothing to do with gambling: Afternoon movie and a Meet the Production Cast. 

[Guppy99]

1 minute ago, MEFIowa said:

BUT you seem to be forgetting that they KEPT the other activities already planned...

 

Day 10: Indoor Golf Putting, Baggo Bean Bag Toss, Table Tennis, Social Bridge Play, Team Trivia, Brainteasers.

 

So, there was all that originally was schedule plus the additional activities, including two that had nothing to do with gambling: Afternoon movie and a Meet the Production Cast. 

Has not changed my mind one iota.  

[pinotlover]

I’ll give one example of something they could easily do on a sudden developed sea day. Have a Wine Tasting/Class in their hip pocket. The R ships don’t have real Sommeliers, but Miami could have it all pre staged. Do a special tasting not in the normal repetitive rotation . Miss a port, advertise the Wine Class. Chances are high they sell out. Win-Win. Oceania makes money while entertaining their guests.

 

I could pull it all together in less than 30 minutes cold Turkey. Sell out the tasting before lunch. This isn’t rocket science, it’s merely overcoming inertia. Win-Win and making money should appeal to Oceania. Shoot, I’d do it for them for the price of free admission for my DW and have fun doing so!

[AMHuntFerry]

1 hour ago, MEFIowa said:

BUT you seem to be forgetting that they KEPT the other activities already planned...

 

Day 10: Indoor Golf Putting, Baggo Bean Bag Toss, Table Tennis, Social Bridge Play, Team Trivia, Brainteasers.

 

So, there was all that originally was schedule plus the additional activities, including two that had nothing to do with gambling: Afternoon movie and a Meet the Production Cast. 

Wasn't there an impromptu talk by the F&B manager (I think that was her title) about the time she spent with Julia Child on that day too?

Come on people, what generation are you from? Enough with the "I can't do anything unless someone plans it for me" attitude. If you can't find enough to do on an O-ship, I am truly sorry for you. We constantly miss something we would enjoy because there is so much to do.

[Guppy99]

2 hours ago, pinotlover said:

I’ll give one example of something they could easily do on a sudden developed sea day. Have a Wine Tasting/Class in their hip pocket. The R ships don’t have real Sommeliers, but Miami could have it all pre staged. Do a special tasting not in the normal repetitive rotation . Miss a port, advertise the Wine Class. Chances are high they sell out. Win-Win. Oceania makes money while entertaining their guests.

 

I could pull it all together in less than 30 minutes cold Turkey. Sell out the tasting before lunch. This isn’t rocket science, it’s merely overcoming inertia. Win-Win and making money should appeal to Oceania. Shoot, I’d do it for them for the price of free admission for my DW and have fun doing so!

exactly! Some people are fine with the unexpected. Others need some assistance with making unplanned changes, especially when they may be disappointed with the change in plan. The onus is not, and should never be, on the passenger to "make do". It's the cruise lines job to provide alternatives that will appeal to a variety of people. It should never be necessary to pull something out of their a** at the last minute. The point is that there should be a seamless plan "B" (and plan "c" for the next day if necessary) all ready to implement. Especially given the experience over the past two years. 

 

In response to AMHuntFerry "Come on people, what generation are you from? Enough with the "I can't do anything unless someone plans it for me" attitude. If you can't find enough to do on an O-ship, I am truly sorry for you."

 

You are really missing the point, and really it is offensive that you imply passengers are juvenile or incapable because I think they should do better regarding contingency planning. 

[ToxM]

I think that if people don’t do due diligence and know that O isn’t hot on activities then it’s down to them. The ships have great libraries, lovely open spaces and plenty of food. 

 

Constantly amazes me that people spend a considerable sum on a holiday and don’t do the research that merits such a spend. 

 

I enjoy the odd game of bingo, the poker tournaments (our one must go to event every day), the cooking demonstrations but the rest of the time, sit me on the deck with some nice people, a good book and a hot tub and I am a happy girlie. 

 

Marital Unit and I enjoy a tournament over the trip of shuffleboard with a game each day to see who is the overall champion. 

 

I spend my life outside of cruising having to do things …. Last thing I really want to do on my off time is have much planned. 

 

Marital Unit was tickled when I told him that it was really called Stitch and B!tch when he suggested I might want to go to that event.

 

I don’t need to be entertained, I go on O to be spoiled and relax. 

 

[bradpole]

1 hour ago, ToxM said:

I think that if people don’t do due diligence and know that O isn’t hot on activities then it’s down to them. The ships have great libraries, lovely open spaces and plenty of food. 

 

Constantly amazes me that people spend a considerable sum on a holiday and don’t do the research that merits such a spend. 

....

 

I don’t need to be entertained, I go on O to be spoiled and relax. 

 

I completely agree!  

 

Oceania's tagline is "the finest cuisine at sea", not "the finest entertainment" or "the finest onboard daily activities".  This past July we were onboard one of the incredibly short 7 night Bermuda sailings out of NYC.  There were many first time Oceania guests onboard and you cold tell some had done absolutely no research what so ever on what Oceania is or is not.  We overheard someone complaining there was no kids club for their daughter (a quick look at the deck plans before hand could have solved that).   One morning at breakfast we could overhear the table next to us complain to, "...Celebrity does X, I can't believe Oceania doesn't offer x". (I don't remember what it was, but would not have been a surprise had they done any sort of research what so ever).  

 

We cruise Oceania to relax, enjoy the wonderful food, and catch up on the books we don't have an opportunity to read while at home.  The only other thing we enjoy doing onboard is participating in the daily "BIG O POINTS" activities; Baggo, put put, and shuffleboard.  Generally there are 2 in the morning, and 2 in the afternoon.  

 

It took me several years of convincing to get my DH to sail on Oceania.  He was afraid he'd miss the big production shows and live bands offered on the mainstream lines.  On day two of his first Oceania sailing, "Do we have any more these booked?"  Does he miss the entertainment options?  A little, but the trade off is the better food, small ships, and wonderful staff!

[Guppy99]

6 hours ago, ToxM said:

I think that if people don’t do due diligence and know that O isn’t hot on activities then it’s down to them. The ships have great libraries, lovely open spaces and plenty of food. 

 

Constantly amazes me that people spend a considerable sum on a holiday and don’t do the research that merits such a spend. 

 

I enjoy the odd game of bingo, the poker tournaments (our one must go to event every day), the cooking demonstrations but the rest of the time, sit me on the deck with some nice people, a good book and a hot tub and I am a happy girlie. 

 

Marital Unit and I enjoy a tournament over the trip of shuffleboard with a game each day to see who is the overall champion. 

 

I spend my life outside of cruising having to do things …. Last thing I really want to do on my off time is have much planned. 

 

Marital Unit was tickled when I told him that it was really called Stitch and B!tch when he suggested I might want to go to that event.

 

I don’t need to be entertained, I go on O to be spoiled and relax. 

 

Nobody is advocating change in policy. Port days are treated differently than sea days. They should have a great sea day plan in their hip pocket should circumstances require a change. That's the point. 

[Cruisedreamer1]

We enjoy the activities and entertainment on Oceania and for the most part the quiet vibe. Yes, people should research whichever cruise line one is interested in booking. Each cruise line appeals to different audiences. Let's be tolerant of each other.

[LHT28]

When an unplanned sea day happened in the past   the staff seemed to pull some activities together  for the afternoon

 

The Captain/head office  even found us another port to dock at  for part of the day when one port was closed due to an impending storm (tender port)

 

Not everyone would enjoy the wine/cognac/scotch tastings  that were pull together  (fee based)  but seemed to have participants

as well as some indoor mini putt  when the seas were a bit rough to play outdoors

Maybe we just got lucky  🤔

[ToxM]

1 hour ago, Guppy99 said:

Nobody is advocating change in policy. Port days are treated differently than sea days. They should have a great sea day plan in their hip pocket should circumstances require a change. That's the point. 

 

Wasn’t talking about sea days or not …. Just talking generally, that’s my point 🙂