Penthouse vs. Concierge

[Sthrngary]

1 hour ago, Kay S said:

This PH or better talk could be discouraging to new O cruisers, such as myself, who are booked down in steerage. 🙃 Don't tell me we will treated differently because of that.  This particular cruise is the perfect itinerary on the perfect dates, and we booked late.  Rather than risk the waitlist on something with a verandah, we took an ocean view down on a lower deck.  My husband is allergic to "class system" cruises and will never book  on one of those ship-within-a-ship behemoths coming out on the mainstream lines.  I don't want to tell him Oceania is more class-based than any others.  Yes, I get it; you pay more, then you get more.  I guess what I'm asking is will there be any "snobs" on O we will need to avoid?

@Kay S I am the person that made one of the comments of PH or higher.  I was not in anyway suggesting that it was the way to go.  I was responding to another poster that it does not matter and whether the owners suite of inside cabin it is the decision of the guest.

 

I would like to add to my comments.  The entire reason I started to book on Oceania is because, Once you leave you stateroom, EVERYONE is treated the same.  I hated on Main Stream Cruise Brands that folks were treated differently.  Oceania is not like that.  Please also know that the people, all the people I met were super kind, professional and humble. It made the trip for me.  

 

My cruising history started 44 years ago for my honey moon.  We were in a bunk bed inside cabin on the SS Norway.  We thought then and now it was one of the greatest experience of our lives.  30 plus cruises later we elevated our stateroom but the experience again is the same.  

 

I hope that all makes sense to you and other.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts and allow me to further explain.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[GeezerCouple]

1 hour ago, Kay S said:

This PH or better talk could be discouraging to new O cruisers, such as myself, who are booked down in steerage. 🙃 Don't tell me we will treated differently because of that.  This particular cruise is the perfect itinerary on the perfect dates, and we booked late.  Rather than risk the waitlist on something with a verandah, we took an ocean view down on a lower deck.  My husband is allergic to "class system" cruises and will never book  on one of those ship-within-a-ship behemoths coming out on the mainstream lines.  I don't want to tell him Oceania is more class-based than any others.  Yes, I get it; you pay more, then you get more.  I guess what I'm asking is will there be any "snobs" on O we will need to avoid?

 

THe "extras" that *might* be considered "class-based" are minimal and mostly what one would expect:  size of cabin or suite.  I doubt there's any surprise there.  And there aren't passenger uniforms with designated colors indicating cabin size. (That is A JOKE in case there is *any* thought otherwise!!)

Point is, almost all of any such "differences" are happening inside the accommodations. Extra bottles of free liquor at the top suites, just waiting inside, not something that a butler carries around on a tray following the escorted, privileged passenger as they wander around the ship.  (Another JOKE!)

 

No... things like the Butler are also mostly "in the suite", especially that room service with full meals including from the specialties.  (I admit, we do like those meals, but no one else watches us have those served, nor do they know it's happening.)  When you are sitting around a lounge area or at dinner, everyone is treated the same.  Perhaps some very frequent cruisers are recognized by past crew members and greeted, but that's also not anything "class based".  The "Frequent Cruiser" could be staying in any level, and some may change around from cruise to cruise.

 

And it's not like, say, NCL, where there is a "Haven" with restricted access, something that is noticeable at almost any elevator, plus locked doors if one is able to get off at the "wrong" deck/area.  Or a restaurant that is available ONLY to those staying in certain sections.

There are a few specialty restraurants, but everyone has a chance to enjoy those.  Reservations are limited by size/space, and that is an issue for everyone.  (Top suites may get extra reservations, but again, that's not "noticeable" on board.)

 

On Oceania, IIRC, there is one small spa area that was restricted, a deck at the very front.  (Someone had mentioned recently that when they were on one of the O ships, there was no functioning locking mechanism; I don't know it that was temporary or a longer-term change.). But there are plenty of other outdoor spaces, and one has to be in a very specific location (one end of the spa) to even notice that door.

 

Oceania isn't completely "equal for everyone" (not much is, after all), but there is not a sense of "some haves and some have-nots" while you are on board.

I would *not* worry about this issue, not at all.

Enjoy!

 

GC

[ORV]

40 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

And there aren't passenger uniforms with designated colors indicating cabin size.

Actually though, and you probably know this, the key cards will tell you what level of room a person is in if you know what you are looking for. 

40 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

(Someone had mentioned recently that when they were on one of the O ships, there was no functioning locking mechanism; I don't know it that was temporary or a longer-term change.).

This was actually on the Regatta, another poster mentioned it and I recently checked it out less than 2 weeks ago. Yes, there is no lock or any sign of any description saying restricted to Concierge and above. So, if you didn't know you weren't supposed to be there or just wanted to go out there it's completely available to everyone. I don't know about any of the other R ships. I'll check Nautica in August. Although truth be known I really don't care much about going out there even when I have access. Only time I took full advantage of it was in Venice on the Riviera during the sail out. My wife and I were the only ones out there. That was pretty cool. 

[MEFIowa]

17 hours ago, Kay S said:

This PH or better talk could be discouraging to new O cruisers, such as myself, who are booked down in steerage. 🙃 Don't tell me we will treated differently because of that.  This particular cruise is the perfect itinerary on the perfect dates, and we booked late.  Rather than risk the waitlist on something with a verandah, we took an ocean view down on a lower deck....

We've spent 40 nights on two O ships (30 on Riviera and 10 on Sirena) since 12/2021. In B2 (Sirena) and B3, A4 & A3 (Riviera). There isn't much class system other than for making the specialty restaurant reservations and the locked Concierge and Executive lounges and the locked therapy spa pool forward.

 

We'll be in an F and a C for our upcoming 22 nights on Sirena in the Baltic. That's what we were willing to pay. And there is maybe 1 sea day! Two at most.

 

It is weird how those extolling the virtues of the higher-level cabins rarely say how much they PAID to be in it. And how, if a lower-level cabin were chosen instead, that money could be used for excursions or airfare or something else. I've never been able to justify the serious increase in price, given that we cruise for ports and excursions, not sea days or the ships.

 

On these boards you may run into the "Vista cheerleaders" and the "Allura cheerleaders", who make a big deal about sailing on the newest ships. That's bunk, too. All of O's ships are quite nice. We preferred Riviera in 12/2021 PRIOR to her renovation than afterward. Just not a fan of what I call "Scandinavian minimalism". To each their own and YMMV.

[Vineyard View]

If someone wishes to be able to use the forward spa deck/therapy pool area, and they are not in concierge or above, what is the fee?  Is it per day for only the days you want to use it, or a flat rate for the entire cruise length? 

[edgee]

17 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

I would like to add to my comments.  The entire reason I started to book on Oceania is because, Once you leave you stateroom, EVERYONE is treated the same.  I hated on Main Stream Cruise Brands that folks were treated differently.  Oceania is not like that.  

Oceania guests are treated differently by class, although perhaps not as overtly as, say Celebrity Edge class guests where non retreat passengers cannot even access some portions of the ship and suite passengers have their own main dining room. .Indeed, Oceania markets the advantages of higher level cabins, as do most other cruise lines.  Distinctions include pecking order to gain access to specialty restaurant reservations, access without paying to the front spa deck and earlier access to cabins on embarkation day. I think that the specialty restaurant reservation pecking order is the most overt example, with access to extra reservations achieved through your butler, and advance reservations for B level cabins and below at the 45 day point being very very limited. I do not HATE the fact that there are some class distinctions, either the comparatively minor ones on O or the very overt ones on Celebrity or Cunard. There are indeed some things to like about main stream cruise lines, but I do much prefer sailing O or Regent, for example.

Edited May 11 by edgee
typo

[Vineyard View]

4 minutes ago, edgee said:

Oceania guests are treated differently by class, although perhaps not as overtly as, say Celebrity Edge class guests where non retreat passengers cannot even access some portions of the ship and suite passengers have their own main dining room. .Indeed, Oceania markets the advantages of higher level cabins, as do most other cruise lines.  Distinctions include pecking order to gain access to specialty restaurant reservations, access without paying to the front spa deck and earlier access to cabins on embarkation day. I think that the specialty restaurant reservation pecking order is the most overt example, with access to extra reservations achieved through your butler, and advance reservations for B level cabins and below at the 45 day point being very very limited. I do not HATE the fact that there are some class distinctions, either the comparatively minor ones on O or the very overt ones on Celebrity or Cunard. There are indeed some things to like about main stream cruise lines, but I do much prefer sailing O or Regent, for example.

Viking has always done the same thing with regards to specialty restaurant reservations (no butlers), so does HAL, and probably others. We did not see that with Seabourn. 

[MEFIowa]

14 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

If someone wishes to be able to use the forward spa deck/therapy pool area, and they are not in concierge or above, what is the fee?  Is it per day for only the days you want to use it, or a flat rate for the entire cruise length? 

IIRC, thinking it was $39 per day, where you'd pay in the Spa on any day you wanted to use it. So day by day. (Though I'd guess you could pay up front on the first day for every day if you were so inclined? But why would you. There might be a rainy day. Or a cloudy one. And you just don't want to use it those days.)

[MEFIowa]

17 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

If someone wishes to be able to use the forward spa deck/therapy pool area....

And do keep in mind that Riviera--unlike Marina and the 4 smaller R-class ships--has the larger therapy spa "pool". Having been on both Sirena and Riviera, the spa pool on the later is not an ordinary circular spa pool/tub, but a T-shaped therapy pool. I found it perfect between 5-7 pm on days we'd walked a lot (e.g., climbed 10,000 steps to get to the top of the St. John's Fortress in Kotor, Montenengro!). Spend an hour or so there, esp. if wife was getting dressed, doing her thing to get ready for dinner at say 7:30 or 8 pm. Weirdly, seemed I was the only one there at that time those days. Suspect it was crowded on a sea day, esp. in the sunny afternoon.

[EJL2023]

20 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

If someone wishes to be able to use the forward spa deck/therapy pool area, and they are not in concierge or above, what is the fee?  Is it per day for only the days you want to use it, or a flat rate for the entire cruise length? 

The last price I saw, which was on another thread, was $25 fee for access to the spa terrace. Daily fee only when access desired. 

[basor]

13 minutes ago, edgee said:

Oceania guests are treated differently by class, although perhaps not as overtly as, say Celebrity Edge class guests where non retreat passengers cannot even access some portions of the ship and suite passengers have their own main dining room. .Indeed, Oceania markets the advantages of higher level cabins, as do most other cruise lines.  Distinctions include pecking order to gain access to specialty restaurant reservations, access without paying to the front spa deck and earlier access to cabins on embarkation day. I think that the specialty restaurant reservation pecking order is the most overt example, with access to extra reservations achieved through your butler, and advance reservations for B level cabins and below at the 45 day point being very very limited. I do not HATE the fact that there are some class distinctions, either the comparatively minor ones on O or the very overt ones on Celebrity or Cunard. There are indeed some things to like about main stream cruise lines, but I do much prefer sailing O or Regent, for example.

The specialty restaurant earlier access is not something visible daily while onboard so, for us, does not create a "class " feeling onboard which I believe the OP was asking about...

[Vallesan]

18 hours ago, Kay S said:

This PH or better talk could be discouraging to new O cruisers, such as myself, who are booked down in steerage. 🙃 Don't tell me we will treated differently because of that.  This particular cruise is the perfect itinerary on the perfect dates, and we booked late.  Rather than risk the waitlist on something with a verandah, we took an ocean view down on a lower deck.  My husband is allergic to "class system" cruises and will never book  on one of those ship-within-a-ship behemoths coming out on the mainstream lines.  I don't want to tell him Oceania is more class-based than any others.  Yes, I get it; you pay more, then you get more.  I guess what I'm asking is will there be any "snobs" on O we will need to avoid?

Must admit I’ve never been able to work out which people are in the top tier suites or indeed those in inside cabins but then I’ve never thought to look! Every one is treated the same. I really feel that there is no ‘class’ system. I would never sail Cunard because it has an obvious class system and also I like the small ship experience!

 

However you can get ‘snobs’ in any restaurant/hotel/resort/cruise ship. I have to say I’ve  never seen any ‘snobbish’ behaviour on 100+ nights on Oceania. Nor indeed have I on Seabourn or Silversea. Sometimes ‘snobbish’ behaviour is in the eye of the beholder!
 

One important thing to remember is that there are literally only a handful of Oceania passengers who contribute to cruise critic so not really representative of the mix of people as a whole. A lot of the ‘impressions’, ‘thoughts’, ‘feelings’ expressed here are very personal and not a true representation of the ‘reality’ onboard.

 

BTW you can still be waitlisted for a higher grade cabin if you want to be. There is no charge but you can pay a refundable fee to be put higher up the list. Not really worth it in my opinion unless you are desperate to upgrade. Being waitlisted would not affect the booking you have already made and there is no obligation to accept any waitlist cabin that is offered. So if you would prefer another grade go on the ‘free’ waitlist and see what happens.

[MEFIowa]

11 minutes ago, basor said:

The specialty restaurant earlier access is not something visible daily while onboard so, for us, does not create a "class " feeling onboard which I believe the OP was asking about...

We did a B2B on Riviera 10-11/2023. First in an A3 cabin and then in a B3 cabin. We LEARNED first-hand the "class feeling", a particular reality, when it came to making the reservations.

 

We had the early times we wanted from our A3. We were S.O.O.L. for the B3. We could only get the latest times. Was funny how O actually asked us to change a 9 pm reservation to an 8:30 on one night. But we had learned why. Only a few couples came at or after 8:30. The restaurants emptying out by 9 pm. And we were left with just a few, with workers obviously wanting to leave, by 9:30. The 2nd time we ate late, we told the server up front: "No wine or alcohol. No bread or dessert courses for us. We know what we want and we're ready to order right now." So we were done well under an hour.

 

Fortunately, we don't really want 2-hour meals and prefer the Terrace Cafe most nights.

[Queen of DaNile]

25 minutes ago, EJL2023 said:

The last price I saw, which was on another thread, was $25 fee for access to the spa terrace. Daily fee only when access desired. 

Correct. We recently paid $25.pp per day on Riviera.

[FeliciaLee]

18 hours ago, Kay S said:

This PH or better talk could be discouraging to new O cruisers, such as myself, who are booked down in steerage.

Don't sweat it, Kay. We have had steerage on all three of our Oceania cruises so far, and no one seems to care. In fact, our 'best friends' on our last cruise had the owner's suite for their 60th anniversary and even gave us their cabin number so that we could 'call them anytime.' They were the best!

[basor]

1 minute ago, MEFIowa said:

We did a B2B on Riviera 10-11/2023. First in an A3 cabin and then in a B3 cabin. We LEARNED first-hand the "class feeling", a particular reality, when it came to making the reservations.

 

We had the early times we wanted from our A3. We were S.O.O.L. for the B3. We could only get the latest times. Was funny how O actually asked us to change a 9 pm reservation to an 8:30 on one night. But we had learned why. Only a few couples came at or after 8:30. The restaurants emptying out by 9 pm. And we were left with just a few, with workers obviously wanting to leave, by 9:30. The 2nd time we ate late, we told the server up front: "No wine or alcohol. No bread or dessert courses for us. We know what we want and we're ready to order right now." So we were done well under an hour.

 

Fortunately, we don't really want 2-hour meals and prefer the Terrace Cafe most nights.

But that was how you felt when, not a pervasive feeling while being onboard...again simply has to do with when you can make your reservations ahead of time  - before boarding.  Also, as has been said may times before, times available vary greatly depending upon if you want to share or not...we were in an A1 for our last B2B and only later times were available when our reservation window opened up for non-sharing but we were fine with that as we prefer to dine later....is there a class system in Terrace, Waves, GDR for eating or is there a class system when in the specialty restaurants while eating?

[edgee]

43 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

And do keep in mind that Riviera--unlike Marina and the 4 smaller R-class ships--has the larger therapy spa "pool". Having been on both Sirena and Riviera, the spa pool on the later is not an ordinary circular spa pool/tub, but a T-shaped therapy pool. I found it perfect between 5-7 pm on days we'd walked a lot (e.g., climbed 10,000 steps to get to the top of the St. John's Fortress in Kotor, Montenengro!). Spend an hour or so there, esp. if wife was getting dressed, doing her thing to get ready for dinner at say 7:30 or 8 pm. Weirdly, seemed I was the only one there at that time those days. Suspect it was crowded on a sea day, esp. in the sunny afternoon.

Vista has and Allura will have a much nicer forward spa area which includes a T pool plus two additional whirlpools. One of the more gorgeous and inviting areas of the ship. 

[caribdvr]

We are considering a PH entirely for the extra space (we are friends, not a couple, and the cruise is 18 days).  However, the PH3 is much less than the PH2.  Is being in the front of the Riveria that much worse (where all the PH3s are)?  We will def stay with the concierge level rather than spending an additional $2k for a PH2.

[ORV]

Things upper suites won't get you on Oceania. I'm not including PH in this. 

 

Reserved Seating in theater

Special reserved area by the pool

Unlimited Beverage Package

A special bar just for elites (unless you use the one in your suite)

A special restaurant just for suite dwellers. 

 

 

As Ronrick alluded to there are things that are not listed as a perk that exist for those in the upper suites. One is special attention by the General Manager. Dining with an officer or Captain. Priority Tendering. 

 

There are quite a few things that are listed as a perk I won't list. 

 

But feel free to list any non mentioned perks. 

[basor]

9 minutes ago, ORV said:

Things upper suites won't get you on Oceania. I'm not including PH in this. 

 

Reserved Seating in theater

Special reserved area by the pool

Unlimited Beverage Package

A special bar just for elites (unless you use the one in your suite)

A special restaurant just for suite dwellers. 

 

 

As Ronrick alluded to there are things that are not listed as a perk that exist for those in the upper suites. One is special attention by the General Manager. Dining with an officer or Captain. Priority Tendering. 

 

There are quite a few things that are listed as a perk I won't list. 

 

But feel free to list any non mentioned perks. 

Also some of those perks are also given based upon loyalty level and not which cabin you reside...

[ORV]

2 minutes ago, basor said:

Also some of those perks are also given based upon loyalty level and not which cabin you reside...

Unless they forget ..........You would think if they list Dinner with an Officer as a perk then it should happen. 

 

On a recent cruise we were having dinner with the GM & OCA/FCC and the other couple were on their first Oceania cruise, in the Owner's Suite. 

 

FWIW, the food doesn't taste any better when eating with them but most times they order much better wine that what's on the by the glass menu. 

[basor]

Just now, ORV said:

Unless they forget ..........You would think if they list Dinner with an Officer as a perk then it should happen. 

 

On a recent cruise we were having dinner with the GM & OCA/FCC and the other couple were on their first Oceania cruise, in the Owner's Suite. 

 

FWIW, the food doesn't taste any better when eating with them but most times they order much better wine that what's on the by the glass menu. 

Agree and the nice bottles of wine are on their tab not mine!

[MEFIowa]

Though on all four of our cruises since 12/2021, if you wanted to spend time with the senior officers and senior crew...just hang out in the inside smoking lounge by Horizons. I don't smoke but my wife does. Pretty much met all of the high mucky mucks there on all the cruises. Only exceptions seemingly being the CDs. None of whom I've sailed with were smoking there.

 

Three of the 4 captains we've had (we had a captain changeover on Riviera on our B2B) were heavy smokers. Oddly the new Italian captain wasn't, but a senior officer smoking told me he'd quit rather recently! Enjoyed talking to the Russian captain who was in the Soviet Army back in the day. I was USAF in the Cold War. We had some fun discussions. And the Norwegian captain smoked like a chimney.

 

Was nice to be able to compliment specific staff to their supervisors or supervisor's supervisor in the smoking lounge. Since, say, head of housekeeping and the hotel manager are smoking there.

[mauibabes]

@caribdvr

Look on line for the Deck Plans for Riviera. The 50% extra space is nice and makes splitting the bed easier for two people. PH3, just farther forward or aft if you are lucky you can get a PH3 next to a PH2 and you would never know the difference. 
We are sailing Riviera in November with Houston cousins and friends and again next April from Japan and she is a favorite ship for us due to the Culinary Center and Artists Loft availability. Love the Artist in Residence, especially Graham and Shuna. 
Enjoy,

Mauibabes

[MEFIowa]

11 minutes ago, mauibabes said:

... We are sailing Riviera in November... and again next April ... and she is a favorite ship for us due to the Culinary Center and Artists Loft availability. Love the Artist in Residence, especially Graham and Shuna....

They were on Riviera in the Med (Oct-Nov 2023). They seemingly lived in the smoking lounge by Horizons. I thought Graham would've died of some lung disease by the end of the cruise. He was very approachable and it was a joy to see his work in progress during the cruise, with the final unveiling. One of his paintings was quite cheeky. Showed the derriere of a beautiful woman. Thinking it was titled something like "Full Moon". 😉 Died laughing discussing it with him.