Jim_Iain - Live - comparison of Oceania Regatta - Vista Suite to Celebrity Millennium Royal Suite

[Pug Mom]

Thank you very much for sharing your journey, it has been very enjoyable!

[lorimay]

4 hours ago, Barwick Cruiser said:

Another thank you from me for this comparison as well as the very informative thread with all the great pictures on the Oceania board.
We’ll never be able to afford a suite, feel lucky to be able to enjoy a regular veranda, but I’m still torn between the two lines. The food on O sounds and looks amazing compared to the same old on X but we do enjoy evening entertainment including the production shows and variety of soloists etc. I can def see that the itineraries on O would be more unique so that’s a plus as well….oh what to do what to do 🤔🤷‍♀️😂😂

Cathy

They do have entertainment in the theater every evening on Oceania. Not as large scale as Celebrity, but on our Oceania Vista cruise this summer the production singers and dancers were far more talented than I have seen on Celebrity. They also have comedians and other specialty acts, plus the cruise directors are usually talented musicians and do a show or two. On our first Oceania cruise we missed the amount of entertainment but then went back to Celebrity and realized we generally only attend trivia or another game, the nightly show and maybe music in the lounge, all of which we could find on Oceania. 

[swigso]

On 9/25/2024 at 6:39 PM, Jim_Iain said:

When Iain was about 10 he ran away from home and his father was alerted when the nicest hotel in town called him to tell him Iain was trying to book a room.    
Iain would get on famously with my wife👍😂😎

 

Edited Thursday at 07:19 PM by swigso

[haynesra]

Thanks Jim and Iain for sharing your trip, always very informative. Look forward to the next adventure.

[expattraveler]

Jim,

 

As always, thank you for your in depth analysis and insight!

 

All the best….

[SSFrance69]

7 hours ago, hawkesbaynz said:

I think Jim has done a fabulous comparison of the two lines. Perceptive as always. We would very happily enjoy more O cruises if the itinerary and price were right. We could overlook the lack of nocturnal vibe/entertainment for a unique active itinerary…… although the best food at sea helps.
 

Just off the phone with friends who have had a great cruise on Silversea (caveat their first cruise). Think we will have to ask Jim to do a comparison on them too.

Nightlife on Vista was quite active. Dancing in Horizons to the live band well into the evening. I'm sure it can vary by sailing depending on the passengers though. The shows on Vista were not as elaborate as Celebrity's but I enjoyed them. Food was no comparison. Oceania wins hands down over X Blu (haven't tried Luminae).

[vickykay]

How does one find info on the music cruises on Celebrity ( ie the Summit one mentioned).  Thanks.

[r2h2]

14 minutes ago, vickykay said:

How does one find info on the music cruises on Celebrity ( ie the Summit one mentioned).  Thanks.

Google or a comparable search engine works well to find these music cruises.

[George C]

3 hours ago, vickykay said:

How does one find info on the music cruises on Celebrity ( ie the Summit one mentioned).  Thanks.

 

3 hours ago, vickykay said:

How does one find info on the music cruises on Celebrity ( ie the Summit one mentioned).  Thanks.

Yes. Google the name such as rock and romance cruise, I know that is sold out for 2025, if you want there is a stand bye list, book asap for 2026 , 2026 goes on sail about a week after the 2025 cruise ends , they give those on board a opportunity to book the same cabin or suite first . They are fun , we see a lot of the same people year after year, some do a back to back rock and romance and flower power which is 60’s occasionally some bands would do both cruises. Suites sell out extremely quick. 

[Barwick Cruiser]

On 9/26/2024 at 3:08 PM, lorimay said:

They do have entertainment in the theater every evening on Oceania. Not as large scale as Celebrity, but on our Oceania Vista cruise this summer the production singers and dancers were far more talented than I have seen on Celebrity. They also have comedians and other specialty acts, plus the cruise directors are usually talented musicians and do a show or two. On our first Oceania cruise we missed the amount of entertainment but then went back to Celebrity and realized we generally only attend trivia or another game, the nightly show and maybe music in the lounge, all of which we could find on Oceania. 

That is good to hear, thanks for chiming in! Wow, the lure to X is dimishing quickly! 

[DaKahuna]

@Jim_Iain Is your cruise over already?  Did I overlook the summary and debarkation?  This has been a busy week for us and tomorrow is TAD. 

 

[Oceangoer2]

11 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

@Jim_Iain Is your cruise over already?  Did I overlook the summary and debarkation?  This has been a busy week for us and tomorrow is TAD. 

 

They disembarked...comments may be on Oceania board.

[cluso]

13 hours ago, Barwick Cruiser said:

That is good to hear, thanks for chiming in! Wow, the lure to X is dimishing quickly! 

We normally don't go to the shows.  However, we decided to go to the Heather Sullivan, thepianogirl, show after we read the posted signs on the ship.  She did 2 shows a couple days apart during the short time she was on the ship.  Excellent, and the show band was great supporting her.  Google her.  There are some you tube videos, and also a Heather Sullivan Biography online.

[Jim_Iain]

On 9/26/2024 at 7:36 AM, George C said:

Thanks for a great review/comparison, I don’t think Oceania is a good fit for us because of the entertainment, although food did look fabulous. We do love our annual celebrity royal suite which is a 70’s music charter with a dozen or more 70s groups and cover bands always on M class . Also looking forward to our MSc YC cruise in 2 months.

That would be great fun..... I'm still working on Iain to try out MSC YC.   He likes the product except when you go out of the Yacht Club.   Too many passengers for his taste.

[Jim_Iain]

On 9/25/2024 at 1:21 PM, Robkat said:

 

Thank you so much for forwarding this super informative video ... that was very thoughtful of you as you're hopefully enjoying your final days of this current cruise.  The video had lots of great info and really liked the pros and cons format.  

 

Sorry to see your current review coming to an end, but we're looking forward to following on your next adventures in October and November. What a brilliant itinerary you've got upcoming!  Intrigued by the eastbound, followed by the westbound!  Sounds terrific!

 

Thanks...  Next week my sister is coming for a visit.   As much as I enjoy her at times having visitors for 5 days is something I don't look forward to....  Bah Humbug..... I must be getting old.

[Jim_Iain]

On 9/25/2024 at 2:31 PM, calicakes said:

Chiming in as a female same sex couple.  We've taken 2 cruises on Oceania and were treated very well.  Same with celebrity.  I've never felt any homophobia from any staff. 

 

Really shows how times have changed.    The reason we first cruised was that we did Group Cruises with PiedPiper.     At the time 25 years ago things were very different and it was comfortable to sale with a group.

 

The world has come a long way.   Last time we were clearing Immigration in the UK the agent said for us to both go the the immigration agent at the same time.   He said we consider you Family.   I was impressed. 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

On 9/26/2024 at 7:54 AM, Barwick Cruiser said:

Another thank you from me for this comparison as well as the very informative thread with all the great pictures on the Oceania board.
We’ll never be able to afford a suite, feel lucky to be able to enjoy a regular veranda, but I’m still torn between the two lines. The food on O sounds and looks amazing compared to the same old on X but we do enjoy evening entertainment including the production shows and variety of soloists etc. I can def see that the itineraries on O would be more unique so that’s a plus as well….oh what to do what to do 🤔🤷‍♀️😂😂

Cathy

 

Cathy... don't feel bad.... wait until you get to our SilverSea cruise next year.    Currently I booked an Ocean View.... We may upgrade before then but the Top Suite was going for over $100,000.    I think we can have as good a time...maybe less room but that's ok.

[Jim_Iain]

On 9/26/2024 at 8:33 AM, 1Virgo said:

Thanks for taking the time to write and post your thoughts and comparisons. Always enjoy your perspectives.   
Iain’s lobster !   That is enough to make me book O.  

I would have to say the waiter we had that did Iain's lobster was not as good plating as the waiter that did mine.   He was having trouble getting it out of the shell and was not laid out well afterward...  It still tasted great.

[Jim_Iain]

One thing I will point out...  In Polo night 2 I had the Crab Cake.   While it was good the one they had in the MDR was fantastic.   Really surprised me as I had expected the opposite.

[Jim_Iain]

On 9/25/2024 at 5:35 PM, cruzzzinma said:

This review and the review on the Oceania board make want to go back to Oceania. We spent 26 days on Riviera in 2018 and booked Japan for 2020 because we were booked up in 2019. Like everyone else, we had to move the 2020 cruise. Our son got married in 2021 so we rescheduled again then my husband got frail and we did easy Celebrity cruises because he was very comfortable on the ships.

 

I'll me interested to try out the other class ships on Oceania.   As I said earlier -- Regatta may be tough for someone with mobility issues.  

[Jim_Iain]

On 9/26/2024 at 9:28 AM, Covepointcruiser said:

Wow, that dessert is very clever and sounds like the taste was also excellent!

It was incredible.   I almost didn't want to destroy it.... It was as good tasting as it was visual.   Reminds me of some of the cakes I but from a local French Bakery.    Last year got a Birthday Cake for Iain that  looked like a Cup of Cappuccino.

[Jim_Iain]

On 9/26/2024 at 10:14 AM, calicakes said:

Doing well. Although we're currently in marco island florida waiting out the hurricane. We leave on a four day virgin cruise on october second from miami. Hope you both are doing well.

 

Will be interesting to hear what you think about Virgin.   We have friends from Australia that are boarding a Virgin Cruise in London shortly.  

[Jim_Iain]

On 9/27/2024 at 6:32 AM, vickykay said:

How does one find info on the music cruises on Celebrity ( ie the Summit one mentioned).  Thanks.

 

Just Google Music Cruise Charters -  then select a link to your preference.

 

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=music+charter+cruises

 

[bigbeergut]

@Jim_Iain  Thanks for the review, I hope you guys had a good time.  I would not be a suite guest on Oceania and I was intrigued by the simply more promotion. However after hearing about your experiences, I’ll probably pass on Oceania and stick with HAL.   Thanks again.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

That would be great fun..... I'm still working on Iain to try out MSC YC.   He likes the product except when you go out of the Yacht Club.   Too many passengers for his taste.

 

On MSC in the Yacht Club, the only time I go out of the Yacht Club is when all the gen pop is on shore.  Just ventured out to see what it was like.  There is no need to go outside the YC.  Unless you want to go to a show and I believe you said you don't do the shows.  If you do go, you will be escorted by a butler to a reserved area.  The specialty restaurants are located right outside the YC, so not a problem.  On the ship I was on (Seaside), there were separate gangways for YC guests in all ports.  Getting on the ship on boarding day, you are escorted by a butler through the gen pop to the YC.  Same for disembarcation day.