Oceania vs. Celebrity?

[BrendaJ]

Has anyone out there tried Oceania? How does it compare to Celebrity? Since they seem a bit more expensive, what extras, if any, do they include that Celebrity does not? Are they worth the difference in price?

[Druke I]

Once on Celebrity's Mercury,. and once on Oceania's Regatta, with another booked on Oceania's Nautica.

 

We found the Dining Room food on Regatta to be far superior to any we have had at sea, including HAL, Celebrity, or Crystal. The food in the Lido was equal to any of the others.

 

We liked the small ship experience very much, and found the dress code refreshing simple.

Some might find entertainment lacking on Oceania - there are no big production shows per se.

 

Oceania's pricing is not that far out - they do have a lot of two-for-one fares, with free air, which certainly brings down the total.

[FRE23]

There are certain factors to be taken into account. If you are taking children with you-then the choice would be Celebrity. If you want a Large Ship Experience with Activities galore and Entertainment Galore-then you want Celebrity. If you can only take a 7 Day Cruise-then it would be Celebrity. Those would be the ONLY reasons to chose Celebrity.

In all other categories Oceania is far superior. The small ship atmosphere, personal service, country club casual dining experience. There are 4 restaurant choices nighly, Steak House, Italian, Main Dining Room, Tappas/Buffet, with exceptional food-open seating -a real fine dining experience. The iterinaries are varied and include many smaller ports that the large ships cannot enter. Not only that, due to the size of the ship, you are docked more often then tendering in. Most itineraries are port intensive, though there are days at sea.There are oftentimes overnights in main cities so that you can get a true feel for the day & nightlife of the places you visit. The service is exceptional. Oceania was started by Joe Watters = former CEO of Crystal Cruises and Frank Del-Rio former head of Renaissance cruises. All their ships carry no more than 680+/- passengers. The attitude is always, what can we do to help you-yes, it can be done. They will arrange private guides for you (if you chose) for the ports you visit. Oftentimes there will be an author, singer, lecturer, expert on the region you are traveling in to add to the Cruise experience. We have been on 4 Oceania Cruises, One Celebrity and it will be Oceania from now on for us. On Oceania you feel like one of the family.

[Petoonya]

I echo the sentiments above.

As much as I love Celebrity, Oceania hooked us and we have yet to return to Celebrity. For me anyway, Oceania packs more punch into my cruise spending dollar.

 

The dining, small gorgeous ships, low passenger/crew ratio and itineraries keep us choosing Oceania over X. Their 2007 European itineraries were just released last week.

 

Took us awhile to get the nerve to take the plunge and try Oceania but boy were we glad we did.

[judyfssw]

Do the Oceana ships have accessible cabins? Are tips included? Are you able to tell us more?

[nparmelee]

We loved our X cruise last year but are trying Oceania in 8 weeks since their itinerary was just perfect for us. In answer to the above poster, tips are not included, but are added to your account, $11.50 per person per day for regular cabins and few $ more if you have a suite with a butler. They have a few accessible cabins, the ships are quite a bit smaller than the X ships, another plus for us. If you are a smoker you are not likely to be as thrilled with them since they only have two designated smoking areas, which was yet another plus for us. They are a bit more expensive, but if you take the airfare credit into account, not that much.

[katiebeth]

Do you ever see children onboard? Our children are 10 and 12 and quite well traveled. We generally book on port-intensive crusies and the children do not have much time to go to the children's programs anyway.

 

I would love to try a luxury cruiseline, but have stayed with Celebrity because of the children.

 

I certainly do not want to feel out of place or be "frowned upon" for bringing children onboard.

 

I would love to sail a luxury line that welcomes families, but do not get the impression that any of the more "upscale" lines are really marketing to families.

 

We may have to wait until the children are older or sail by ourselves one day!

 

Any comments would be appreciated.

[Petoonya]

...but not the best experience for children of their ages. My kids are not too far gone from pre-teenage years, and they cruised a lot too. But I would never have taken them on Oceania. Aside from the fact that there were no children on the two O cruises I took (spring and fall Meds) the ship exudes an entirely different feel than X, or RCCL etc. I can't come up with the right word-not stuffy, but definitely adult? My kids, despite a port intensive itinerary, would be bored out of their minds. A library, a string quartet playing Mozart, and a smallish pool would not please them.

 

This is a good question for the Oceania board-get some other perspectives. :)

[katiebeth]

Dear Petoonya,

 

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I understand what you are saying in regards to Oceania having an entirely different feel. Sounds like it may not be the right choice for our family at this time.

 

I probably won't post on the Oceania boards because I think it could be a topic that some people feel very strongly about.

 

I think we will stick with Celebrity for the next few years or maybe even give Holland America a try. I am just grateful we are able to travel as much as we do.

 

I am looking forward to being able to try Oceania, Crystal, or Raddison some time in the not too distant future.

 

Happy Sailings,

 

Nancy

[Petoonya]

Hi Nancy,

We did a Windsong Tahiti cruise when our kids were yours ages- even tho we knew Windstar would welcome them, also knew they would feel awkward, maybe out of place on a cruise line that caters to adults. (the kids stayed home that one)

 

Small lines like Oceania have created their own niche, just as Celebrity created theirs. O is not set up for children and don't think they aim to be. Their product does well as it is. I know what you mean about not wanting to ruffle feathers on the O board. I am sure O fans want their cruise to stay O, as much as X fans want X to remain X.

 

Small luxury cruise lines can't be as much of all things for all people, as larger lines/ships can afford to be. Mainstream cruise lines need to appeal to families to stay afloat, but small luxury lines are looking for well-heeled retired people (not me-I'm poor and working!) for their bread and butter.

 

Take care!

 

i'm nancy too!

[Merry_Sea_Witch]

Do you ever see children onboard? Our children are 10 and 12 and quite well traveled. We generally book on port-intensive crusies and the children do not have much time to go to the children's programs anyway.

 

I would love to try a luxury cruiseline, but have stayed with Celebrity because of the children.

 

I certainly do not want to feel out of place or be "frowned upon" for bringing children onboard.

 

I would love to sail a luxury line that welcomes families, but do not get the impression that any of the more "upscale" lines are really marketing to families.

 

We may have to wait until the children are older or sail by ourselves one day!

 

Any comments would be appreciated.

 

 

I think Crystal would be more welcoming of children than Oceania or Radisson. Sometimes they have special rates for kids, like sailing to Alaska.:)

[Skeezics]

What are the opportunities for dancing in the evening on Oceania?

[flashdog_1]

Is there a casino?

 

Is any alcohol included in the price?

[Petoonya]

Dancing...you'll have to go ask this one on the Oceania board. I saw a dance floor but not so sure about the dancing.

 

There is a small and very active casino.

 

There is no alcohol included in your cruise fare. Mixed drinks have more alcohol content than on X according to my DH.

[esther e]

Do the Oceana ships have accessible cabins? Are tips included? Are you able to tell us more?

 

We were on the Regatta and met a couple who had to have an accessible cabin. Unfortunately, they were only inside cabins. As he said to us, that would make them not sail with Oceania again, because they wanted a terrace. But this was a year ago, so check with your TA or Oceania.

Good luck

Esther