Oceania Compared to Seabourn and Silversea

[Rebels82]

We are very happy with Oceania. We are just looking for other choices. How does Seabourn and Silversea compare to Oceania as far as dress code, passenger experience, etc.? Thanks.

[1985rz1]

38 minutes ago, Rebels82 said:

We are very happy with Oceania. We are just looking for other choices. How does Seabourn and Silversea compare to Oceania as far as dress code, passenger experience, etc.? Thanks.

Both Seabourn and Silversea have formal nights.

Edited February 12, 2023 by 1985rz1

[basenji56]

5 minutes ago, 1985rz1 said:

Both Seabourn and Silversea have formal nights.

Real formal nights?  With tuxedos required?  

[maggie.1008]

I find Silver Seas to be a bit more formal. 
on Seabourn I saw a man in a members only casual short coat. No one said a word. 
l enjoy both lines but I feel Seabourn passengers are more friendly. IMHO, cheers.

[maggie.1008]

I should have said on formal night

[basor]

We found the dress was more formal on Seabourn - men wore coats and ties in the evening and suits/tux on formal nights.  Ladies were dressed up more in dresses and heels, etc.   More casual dress in their "Terrace" restaurant in the evenings.  The pre and post dinner cocktails and gatherings in their "Horizons" was filled with the dressier group.

We enjoyed our cruise to Antarctica on their Expedition ship but will stick with Oceania 

 

This is just our thoughts and views

[1985rz1]

12 minutes ago, basenji56 said:

Real formal nights?  With tuxedos required?  

Tuxes not required, though some posters say they wear them..  The rules suggest a dark suit, but jackets and slacks seem to be Ok with a tie.

Edited February 12, 2023 by 1985rz1

[ORV]

When I cruised Silversea years ago there was a required dress code ship wide after 6 pm, not just in the restaurant. 

[PaulMCO]

Since it is more inclusive SS does provide more (drinks, excursions, gratuities and butlers).  Really depends on the ship.  Bigger ships have more venues, but the size of the ships varies from 450 to 700 persons.

 

SS is more formal...  Rather complex -- 3 separate nights

 

Then there are the exceptions ---

 

Hot rocks and pool area bar is always casual.

 

Certain restaurants you can go to in informal dress during formal nights -- La Terreza, Indochine, Silver Note, Kaiseki, and Seishin..   During informal nights you can go to these in casual wear.

 

 

Edited February 12, 2023 by PaulMCO

[oskidunker]

How does the food compare?

[jakes47]

We have been on Oceania and Seabourn – love them both.  We don’t like formal nights and leave our formal attire at home, then dine at one of the other venues on those nights. 

Seabourn was friendlier and staff got to know us and what we liked.  They often had my Margarita ready before I even asked –all drinks included.  Oceania's food was a tad better IMO – but we did have one of the best degustation meals on Seabourn.

A veranda suite on Seabourn felt as roomie and as a PH on Oceania, just a different shape - and we like the curtain between bed and lounge area on Seabourn  as my husband likes to sit up later to read.

We would choose the small ships of Seabourn for smoother water itineraries and the larger O class ships when bigger oceans are involved. 

[jjeffjb]

Consider Regent, too.  It's the lux sister company to Oceania and no dress up nights.

[PaulMCO]

On 2/12/2023 at 8:43 PM, oskidunker said:

How does the food compare?

 

SS is superior to that on Oceania.  Food is subjective.  Very disappointed in Oceania on our last Marina cruise.  We love Jacques on Oceania. But it is only available on 2 of its ships.  We like Toscana -- but SS Italian.

 

Thought the food on Seabourn (last cruise in July) was inferior to Oceania.

 

See below Regent is also a possibility.  Food on Regent (since the demise of Crystal) is really the best at sea.

 

 

19 hours ago, jjeffjb said:

Consider Regent, too.  It's the lux sister company to Oceania and no dress up nights.

 

Agree.  This is our new favorite line, but it is $$$.  They do offer specials in synch with Oceania (like 2 cabin upgrades). And the prices do come down without the Biz Air and any included special "free" pre and post cruise land programs.

[janecambridge]

I agree with PaulMco. We were on the same cruise as him. Jacques became our favourite restaurant due to the highly trained and superb new head chef. 
Walked out of red ginger for many reasons. 
We sailed our first and last cruise on Seabourn last March. The spa suite cabin was superb as were the staff, but food was just mediocre except the raw, bleeding chicken carved at our table side in the specialist restaurant, which was not only inedible but dangerous. (The carver denying there was anything wrong with serving chicken and fresh blood! ) 

Sadly we had alot of issues on seabourn Encore snd the way they  were handled was disgraceful. 
We have booked Regent for this summer and looked forward to our second sailing with them. 

[PhD-iva]

On 2/13/2023 at 4:45 PM, jjeffjb said:

Consider Regent, too.  It's the lux sister company to Oceania and no dress up nights.

Regent has optional formal nights on cruises that are longer. I believe the cruises longer than 14 days will have more than one optional formal night. I went on a 16 day cruise on Regent Mariner, and it was fabulous in every way.

[Hlitner]

Just a few words about Seabourn's formal nights.  For gentlemen, a jacket is required in The Restaurant (the MDR) but not in the other dining venues.  On our recent SB cruises, I would estimate that about 1/4 - 1/3 of the med had tuxes, another 1/3 wore jacket/tie, and the remainder just wore a jacket sans tie.  A basic Blazer is adequate, and you will not feel out of place.  

 

Hank

[Vineyard View]

4 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Just a few words about Seabourn's formal nights.  For gentlemen, a jacket is required in The Restaurant (the MDR) but not in the other dining venues.  On our recent SB cruises, I would estimate that about 1/4 - 1/3 of the med had tuxes, another 1/3 wore jacket/tie, and the remainder just wore a jacket sans tie.  A basic Blazer is adequate, and you will not feel out of place.  

 

Hank

We are sailing Seabourn  for the first time this May. I have read this Hank and plan to pack accordingly. Husband will take a Blazer, sans tie. No tux. To add to this more relaxed environment than maybe Seabourn was in the past, they will now be allowing ‘nice jeans’ in the MDR. Lots of dialogue around that. Ha! 

Regarding costs. I narrowed down to four lines with one itinerary we liked on each for this spring. I added up all the costs - what was included, what wasn’t, on a per day basis. Based on promotions at any spot in time, this can certainly vary, but I was surprised at the outcome. I also tried to compare similar balcony cabins. I compared Viking first as we have great affection for this line,& sailed several times, but their pricing has significantly increased! So I looked at Oceania, Seabourn, Azamara and Regent. (SS was the priciest and most formal so we moved on from them). We booked Seabourn. It was less than Viking, similar but a bit less than Oceania. Regent with included business air will get a good look for next year. (This year I had a lot of miles to use and airfare is through the roof).
For 2024, We will also look again at Oceania. Viking is doing the same itineraries in the Mediterranean they have been doing for years and we’ve been to a lot on them, so likely won’t happen. Depending on Seabourn this May, we either will look or we won’t. Not sure about Azamara. Their country intensive are interesting.
Itinerary and pricing are both the biggest factors, but both have to be positive. I guess my point is that assuming one of these lines, that in the past were ‘more expensive,’ may not be so in the current business climate. They also are not as formal as they were in the past. 

Edited February 19, 2023 by Vineyard View

[Hlitner]

2 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

We are sailing Seabourn  for the first time this May. I have read this Hank and plan to pack accordingly. Husband will take a Blazer, sans tie. No tux. To add to this more relaxed environment than maybe Seabourn was in the past, they will now be allowing ‘nice jeans’ in the MDR. Lots of dialogue around that. Ha! 

Regarding costs. I narrowed down to four lines with one itinerary we liked on each for this spring. I added up all the costs - what was included, what wasn’t, on a per day basis. Based on promotions at any spot in time, this can certainly vary, but I was surprised at the outcome. I also tried to compare similar balcony cabins. I compared Viking first as we have great affection for this line,& sailed several times, but their pricing has significantly increased! So I looked at Oceania, Seabourn, Azamara and Regent. (SS was the priciest and most formal so we moved on from them). We booked Seabourn. It was less than Viking, similar but a bit less than Oceania. Regent with included business air will get a good look for next year. (This year I had a lot of miles to use and airfare is through the roof). We will also look again at Oceania. Viking is doing the same itineraries in the Mediterranean they have been doing for years and we’ve been to a lot on them, so likely won’t happen. Depending on Seabourn this May, we either will look or we won’t. Itinerary and pricing are both the biggest factors, but both have to be positive. I guess my point is that assuming one of these lines, that in the past were ‘more expensive,’ may not be so in the current business climate. They also are not as formal as they were in the past. 

Our own experience with Seabourn is that their pricing is all over the place depending on the itinerary.  In the past 2 years we have taken two Seabourn cruises (a 27 day Transatlantic and a 14 day Caribbean) where are total cruise cost was actually under $400 a person day.  When comparing to other lines keep in mind that Seabourn is all inclusive including decent beverages, tips, etc.

 

Hank

[Vineyard View]

Good to know to keep an eye on price swings. We are RT out of Venice, and the itinerary per day is not inexpensive - but it wasn’t with any of the lines in that area we mentioned. I hope you enjoyed them enough to sail again given the right itinerary. 
I booked our hotel in Venice a few weeks back, and talk about through the roof!  Nada included! 

[mamaclark]

9 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Just a few words about Seabourn's formal nights.  For gentlemen, a jacket is required in The Restaurant (the MDR) but not in the other dining venues.  On our recent SB cruises, I would estimate that about 1/4 - 1/3 of the med had tuxes, another 1/3 wore jacket/tie, and the remainder just wore a jacket sans tie.  A basic Blazer is adequate, and you will not feel out of place.  

 

Hank

This gave me a chuckle! After 40+ years being cinched up in a suit and tie, my sweet hubby’s number one request is NOT to have to do that on vacation. He owns a tux, but there is no way in Hades he would bring it (or a suit/tie) on a cruise. He’s a good fellow so I understand. We love Oceania and it has just the right vibe for us.

[Hlitner]

9 minutes ago, mamaclark said:

This gave me a chuckle! After 40+ years being cinched up in a suit and tie, my sweet hubby’s number one request is NOT to have to do that on vacation. He owns a tux, but there is no way in Hades he would bring it (or a suit/tie) on a cruise. He’s a good fellow so I understand. We love Oceania and it has just the right vibe for us.

I will confess (but please keep it a secret).  For many decades of extensive cruising I would always take my tux and all the usual formal stuff.  DW and I enjoy dressing-up and this was part of our routine whether we were on Princess, HAL, Seabourn, etc.  But, in the last few years the trend has changed and most folks do not dress in true formal wear.  So last April, we took a 27 day Seabourn cruise (Ft Lauderdale to Monte Carlo) and I decided to leave all my formal wear home, and just take a blazer for formal nights.  Although I did miss my formal wear, the blazer was adequate and helped lighten up our luggage for the few post-cruise weeks we spent traveling around Europe.  

 

I am done with the formal stuff unless standards make a radical 180.  Since we usually travel, independently, pre and post cruise, we try to prioritize what we pack.  Formal wear only works for a few cruise nights, but is worthless in Europe, Asia or just about anywhere.  As to ties, why bother?

 

Hank

[ak1004]

20 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Our own experience with Seabourn is that their pricing is all over the place depending on the itinerary.  In the past 2 years we have taken two Seabourn cruises (a 27 day Transatlantic and a 14 day Caribbean) where are total cruise cost was actually under $400 a person day.  When comparing to other lines keep in mind that Seabourn is all inclusive including decent beverages, tips, etc.

 

Hank

 

I agree about pricing. I see currently few European itineraries priced close to $400/night. This is a bargain. Oceania price range is much more tight. For people who don't drink, Oceania is usually a better value.

[Vineyard View]

Great point. Weighing in what is of personal, individual value with the included cost and non included costs. 

[Hlitner]

3 hours ago, ak1004 said:

 

I agree about pricing. I see currently few European itineraries priced close to $400/night. This is a bargain. Oceania price range is much more tight. For people who don't drink, Oceania is usually a better value.

But the question should be, "is O a luxury line?"  Even many of its best fans call it a "premium line" whatever that means :).  My big issue with "O" is that as long as they operate those "R" ships they simply cannot put themselves in the category of luxury lines that have all suites, relatively large bathroom, and space ratios (tons divided by passenger capacity) befitting luxury ships (usually in the 70 ton per passenger range).   "O" also plays some nickel and dime games (tips, drinks, etc) which one does not expect on a true luxury product.  And we also have Viking Ocean, which is difficult to categorize.  Some would call them a luxury line while others might lump them in with "O" as something "premium" but not luxury.

 

We are in the process of helping somebody book a luxury cruise.  We told them to consider Seabourn, Silverseas, Regent, Seadream, and Scenic.  I also suggested they do take a look at Viking since they have a vessel on the route being considered.  But the only "O" ship is one of their old "R" ships and I would not recommend those vessels to anyone looking for a luxury experience.  The waters become muddier when looking at "O"s new vessels.

 

Hank

[ak1004]

31 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

But the question should be, "is O a luxury line?"  Even many of its best fans call it a "premium line" whatever that means :).  My big issue with "O" is that as long as they operate those "R" ships they simply cannot put themselves in the category of luxury lines that have all suites, relatively large bathroom, and space ratios (tons divided by passenger capacity) befitting luxury ships (usually in the 70 ton per passenger range).   "O" also plays some nickel and dime games (tips, drinks, etc) which one does not expect on a true luxury product.  And we also have Viking Ocean, which is difficult to categorize.  Some would call them a luxury line while others might lump them in with "O" as something "premium" but not luxury.

 

We are in the process of helping somebody book a luxury cruise.  We told them to consider Seabourn, Silverseas, Regent, Seadream, and Scenic.  I also suggested they do take a look at Viking since they have a vessel on the route being considered.  But the only "O" ship is one of their old "R" ships and I would not recommend those vessels to anyone looking for a luxury experience.  The waters become muddier when looking at "O"s new vessels.

 

Hank

 

Hank,

 

This is a very interesting question that probably deserves a separate topic.

 

According to the consensus definition, O is not a luxury line. SS, SB and Regent are (also the new Crystal) while Oceania, Azamara and Viking are "premium" or "premium plus" (or maybe luxury light).

 

But what makes a line luxury?

 

Is it the cabin size? Crystal has smaller cabins that O newer ships, but it's still considered luxury.

 

Is is how many inclusions it has? SS is more inclusive than SB, is it more luxury?

 

Azamara included selected alcoholic drinks, Oceania doesn't, does it make Azamara more luxury?

 

Viking has better cabins and includes excursions, does it make it more luxury than Oceania?

 

I agree that Oceania O ships are in a different category than R ships when it comes to cabins, but some might argue that R ships are half size and fit better the "luxury" definition.

 

Crystal has a lot of loyal following that will prefer Crystal over SS or SB despite the smaller cabins.

 

So we need to consider the whole package. Out of premium/luxury group, we sailed on Oceania, Azamara, Crystal and Silversea. Personally I consider them comparable in terms of the overall experience. Sure some have larger cabins, some have slightly better food etc. But they all have much higher crew/passenger ratios and much better service and food than the mainstream lines like Celebrity/Princess. They also treat all passengers equal, unlike Celebrity that has ship within ship for suite guests.

 

So to me, there is "Group 1" (SS, SB, Regent, Crystal, Oceania, Azamara, Viking) and Group 2 (Celebrity, Princess, HAL etc). Lines in Group 1 have much more similarities than differences in terms of the overall cruise experience. I would gladly sail on any line from group 1, giving the right itinerary and price.

 

In fact, I know some people who gave up the all inclusiveness of SS to have a better food on O.

 

P.S. I don't think that "O" plays some nickel and dime games - they just give their guests an option to pay for what's important to them and not to pay for what's not. For people who don't drink, Oceania newer ships represent the best value in the industry.

 

btw, no line is truly all inclusive. SS charge for two of the specialty restaurants. SB charge for excursions. All lines charge for spa treatments. It's just some lines are more inclusive than others. We don't drink alcohol, but like mineral waters, soft drinks and specialty coffees, and also like to eat in specialty restaurants, so O includes exactly what's important to us and doesn't include what's not important. Gratuities are usually covered by the TA, and they are free after 10 cruises anyway (less if you do longer cruises - in fact, one world cruise and your gratuities are free for the rest of your life)

Edited February 20, 2023 by ak1004