We've travelled on various lines over the years, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, Crystal, Seabourn, etc., and we've settled on Oceania as our favourite. Just the right balance of pretty much everything. Can't really refute their claim of "The finest cuisine at sea" either. It is genuinely and uniformly excellent.
As a solo traveler, Oceania really took care of me. They have a supreme social hostess who invited groups of us for cocktails, lunch and/or dinner. I had chosen the excursions for my O Life choice, and she bought the wine/drinks each time!
Any tips for a solo traveler? I know I'll have to leave my service dog at home, with international travel, so I have trepidation without Pilot. I named my service dog after my former job. I'm now just the co-Pilot.
I have been on a large and a small Oceania ship, both concierge level. The smaller ships barely make a difference, perhaps washing your clothes, but the larger ship had a designated large room with coffees, snacks which were changed depending on time of day, a person full time which could handle anything you asked or needed, large screen tv and newspapers. All this 24-7. Made the trip for us!😂
I don't recall having heard & seen such positive enthusiasm from you before Gary. I'm now jumping onto their site to check out their cruise itineraries. My partner will enthuse about the larger class whilst I know I'll prefer the smaller ships! Thank you, again, for another excellent vlog!
I must say that after 100+ cruises, Gary still educates me on enhancements and differences on ships and line. He is fair and balanced in his reviews which is so refreshing. You can ALWAYS depend oh him to provide an altruistic view. Thank you sir!
Oceania is the best, love Cruising on Riviera, Every aspect meets my criteria, Lovely food, attentive and well trained staff who serve with a smile, the atmosphere is welcoming,classy yet not snobby and as long as you are neat and tidy there is no need for tuxedos and glam gowns. Having no noisy children is a plus and no garish fairground amusements allow for a peaceful,enjoyable holiday.
I took my first cruise on Oceania Riviera. What a fantastic experience! I felt absolutely pampered, the spa was wonderful! Food and service amazing! The shows were very professional and excellent. Everything was extremely well organized. This was truly a very relaxing luxury that I look forward to experiencing again. 🥂
This video makes it look like all retirees on the cruise. My wife and I are mid-50s but spend most of our social time with much younger friends. The cruise line looks amazing but I'm worried about the other passengers being much older than us. What do you think? Is there any opportunity to get dressed up for events?
This video aligns with our Travel agents views and our own. Our TA agrees the two types of ship provide different experiences. Our sweet spot is on the Riviera or Marina (looking forward to Vista too). We've been on Regent and Seabourn but the Riviera or Marina with the full drinks package gives one the equivalent (or better) experience (others may disagree). We also consider that their food is the best we have experienced at sea. Thanks for your insightful videos Gary.
I just returned from cruising on the Nautica and previously have cruised on the Riviera. I agree with everything you said. While I found the Nautica lacking in on board activities, our itinerary didn’t have any sea days so it didn’t matter. I enjoyed the intimacy, friendliness among cruisers, and of course the outstanding service. My best cruise experience was on the Riviera. That seems the perfect balance for me. What also impresses me about Oceania is how seamlessly they run things and you never have to wait in lines. Even embarking/disembarking are so seamless and easy and efficient. Their focus on service and the genuinely friendly, warm staff put them at the top. On this recent cruise (July 2023) I was surprised at how many families with teens and even pre-teens were on board. In one of the daily newsletters Oceania asked parents to remind their children to be polite to staff and other cruisers! But I didn’t find the teens to be an issue.
We have been cruising for almost 30 years and tried a lot of cruise lines but not the ultimate luxury with the exception of Regent. We absolutely Love Love Oceania and since we found them nine years ago have not cruised with anyone else! We think the food and service is exceptional. We have three more cruises booked in 2022 and 2023 and hope to try Vista soon. Many thanks for all your videos and information it is much appreciated.
As you know, Viking is our favorite line having sailed with them 4 times, but, we cruised on the Oceania Riviera at Christmas and New Years in 2021/22 and it was excellent. We had a concierge level cabin, but, were able to book 9 of the 12 nights in the Specialty Dining restaurants and they were fantastic. One other night was the Wine Spectator dinner with paired wines and courses with just 18 guests, again a wonderful experience. We did two night in the Grand Dining Room and it was fine. We had 1143 on board with the capacity of 1250 and there was never a line for anything and very spacious areas for whatever we wanted to do. I was very impressed with the very high quality of food in all venues and the buffet was marvelous, the crew served from behind saran wrap barriers that were so clean and clear that I bumped a finger against them a couple of times. We booked a future cruise on board as we were very happy with Oceania.
@@ystebadvonschlegel3295 No, we haven't switched from Viking, we have another booked with them for 2025 in Iceland, Greenland and Canada. We just enjoyed Oceania and booked their new Vista ship for 2024.
We've traveled on Azamara in the past and really enjoyed the small ship experiences. Now some friends are encouraging us to join them on a 3 week Oceania cruise. This overview gives us a very good idea of what to expect.
I am so impressed with your level of detail in your reviews. You really know how to tell a good review and a good story. I appreciate your insight and hard work. Raj
We have cruised on Oceania many times and love it. The crew has recognized us and we have recognized them from previous cruises. We try not to miss afternoon tea and will often text a photo to our boys of the sweet trolley. (They have been on Regatta with us in the Baltic and Alaska.) While my preference would be something from The Moorings (Bareboat charter), my wife likes it that someone else cooks and we do not have to worry about a boat dragging anchor into us in the middle of the night.
We have done many cruises on Oceania and all you mentioned are true in the fabulous experience but we also love the dress code, but we love the staff from start to finish!! We have staff that remember us from past cruises! We now only cruise with them
We took our first oh cruise in February for my wife’s birthday. We were supposed to be on Sirena but they switched to the marina which I’m glad they did. My favorite food item aside from the amazing croissants was the miso Seabass in red Ginger. I thought the food was really great and I’m a foodie our previous cruises had been on Celebrity and Norwegian not impressed with the food on Norwegian and the food on Celebrity has been going downhill of course this was all before the pandemic. Our next cruise is using future cruise credit on Celebrity in September or first time in a suite.
I have been following you with great interest since I’ve decided that cruising will likely be my preferred option for future travel. (I’m getting too old and lazy for airport scrambles and all the dramas involved in getting from A to B.) Every one of your videos has given me something to really think about, but this Oceania video has me captive. Insignia…180 days…I have jumped over to their website to see the details, and I am hooked. As a solo traveller, of course it is a financial challenge, but if I am going to have one big trip left in me, that may very well be it.
I just got off the Sirena after a two-week transatlantic cruise. I had a wonderful time. But I think the next time I have so many sea days, which I love, I will try one of their bigger ships. This was my second time on the Sirena and my second Oceania cruise. I can't wait to try other ships in the fleet.
We just got back from an Oceania cruise to Alaska 6/17/22. No one ever called us by name the entire trip, except when we were disembarking, and then they invariably called my husband by my last name instead of his own. There were some kids on our cruise, a handful under 10 but most were teens. The food was very good. There were a couple of misses: some fishy tasting lobster in the risotto, a bland sauce with the salmon, but generally the food was tasty. Really liked the Poke bowl from room service and the Beef Wellington in the Grand Dining Room. We were very happy with the wines. We didn’t do a drink package, just ordered a la carte and had a bottle of wine with dinner several times, and we still came out ahead price wise.
We are looking forward to our next cruise on the Insignia this December. I need to comment on your mentioning Celebrity. We just finished a 12 day from Ft Lauderdale. Worst experience we have ever had. The food wasn't fit to feed a dog. Ship very unsanitary, and to cap it off we both came down with Covid. We were escorted off the ship and deposited street side like so much trash. IMHO very unprofessional of them. Keep up the great videos, they are most entertaining.
It’s worth noting that Marina & Riviera have much larger cabins than the equivalent tier on the 4 R class ships. We love Oceania and would also recommend the concierge class rooms - they include access to the private spa areas for the hot tub and sun deck. It’s never crowded on the ship, but the spa area is really private and secluded.
@@Canyonradio not sure of your point of reference, but there are lots of RUclips videos on the rooms (either Riviera or Marina - they are identical). The spa area is on the bow on level 14 and includes a hot tub as well as nice, well spaced, loungers.
My husband just sent me a link to Oceania. I said Ill go to my travel guy Gary and see what he says about the cruise line. Thank you for all of your hard work making these informative videos. Thank you for all of your first hand research. Thank you for always adding the pros and cons and allowing us to make informed decisions. Thank you for not having an agenda. This is the travel channel I trust.
This is a fantastic summary/analysis of what should be one of our choices as we transition from Disney to a cruises-without-our-now-older-son 😔. You have expressed positives about HAL and Celebrity. And now, with this review, Oceania seems to also hit the right notes of personalized service, great food, non-party atmosphere, and (on the Marina and Riviera classes) a range of activities/restaurants within a not-too-big ship feel. As far as entertainment, I am less traditional -- give me lectures, board games, Punk/"1st Wave" music, and edgy comedy over boring singer/dancer covers of 1950's/1960's standards.
We cruised one of the R ships before Oceana acquired them from Renaissance and were very happy with all that it included. It did feel like a bigger ship experience without the crowds. You also get to know the crew.
My late husband and I cruised on Oceania back in the early 2000s. At that time the Polo and the Tuscans were a separate charge. This is an interesting change.
Getting ready to go on our 5th cruise and we love Oceania- food and service are top notch. Love not wearing a jacket and tie. Also have 6th for next year. Highly recommend.
I would agree with all you say about Oceania. We've just returned after 31 days on the R class Sirena. The crew are indeed super. They got to know us well and were always attentive, even learning our names quite soon after we started the cruise. My only criticism is of the entertainment. The musicians and artists are all of a high standard. The string quartet were brilliant. The group were great guys, but they were asked to play a never-ending selection of what I can only describe as "lounge music". Management at Oceania need to be a bit more inventive, liven things up a little some evenings.
We are booked on the Vista for their repositioning cruise through the Panama Canal this fall. Your comments have us very excited, as it will be our first time on an Oceania ship. Thanks again Gary for the comprehensive review.
An interesting video would compare loyalty plans of the cruise lines. We’ve been loyal Oceania cruisers and now get very substantial cruise benefits from OBC to free gratuities to discounts on wine, excursions and internet packages.
You made several positive comments about the staff aboard Oceania and that made me wonder about staff training. Do different lines have schools to train staff? I’d love to see a video about how staff is trained and how long it takes to become a staff member. Thank you.
This is a late reply, but perhaps will help some people. Much of the staff on the Marina last April was new and many were from Bali. They have a hospitality school there and these people are very, very polite. We could sent most of the US hospitality workers there to learn how to treat people. I think Oceania is works hard to keep good & polite staff on board. They don't have tolerance for bad attitudes or bad actors & will put staff off at the next port for infractions. We saw that on a bulletin board. Recruiting the right people from the right places is part of that. We met a wine steward who had been with Oceania for over 10 years. We did have some issues with the very polite waiters not understanding us & bringing out the wrong dishes at dinner, but given that the staff was so new, that is to be expected. Our interactions with workers on the ship were all very, pleasant. I also noted the Oceania cruisers' being equally polite to the servers & stewards. It works both ways. The only thing I could fault was Oceania not having enough mature people at the excursions desk, people who understand the cruiser's interests, activity levels & issues. The staff was abit too young. Again, at the end of the pandemic, I think that is normal.
We're booked on the Marina in Jan/Feb to So America and Antarctica. Picked the larger ship because of the Drake Passage, the 30ish day itinerary, and their reputation for good food. We were on the R2 when it was the Renaissance Cruise Line.
Totally agree about Oceania - the food is truly outstanding. Have just completed a cruise on Regent Seven Seas - The Mariner. I have never had such wonderful service, food, overall experience. You should try a Regent Cruise. How they manage to have such a friendly crew, such personal service which is never 'familiar', always professional, and always with a genuine smile, takes some doing. It was the best cruise I have ever been on.
I agree - we love Regent Seven Seas. All inclusive, which means alcohol, excursions and gratuities. You know what your cost is up front, with few extras. We've walked off the ship with zero due. Any extra vacation costs were for purchases off the ship. You can save on the fares if you book your own flights (we use points). No formal nights, and no extra cost for specialty dining (although that might have changed).
I prefer the less ornate decor of Viking, Ikea like as it may seem to some, plus the nearly all-inclusive aspect. As a fine wine fan, their Silver Spirits beverage package is a real bargain.. A couple of long tome friends love Oceania so it's worth future consideration.
Oceania our favourite! Relaxed atmosphere, Buffett we eat at most nights on the patio. Afternoon tea and drinks two for one in the afternoon, spend alot of time in this area. My only disappointment was being asked to take off my little designer jean jacket over a very nice black dress in the Italian restaurant.
We did do an Oceania cruise in Italy with my parents and kids (they were 13 and 18 at the time). My kids were fine, but they are adventurous eaters and travelers, and they were a few other kids their age on board so they found a group. Your kids will be good if they are like to eat and explore and are well behaved and not glued to their devices. My kids actually loved the library and spent a lot of time there and went dancing with their little group every night.
I'm looking at Oceania for the near future. I appreciate your insights. I too love smaller ships, and the attention to detail, and the smaller crowds. No children would also be a plus.
Hi Gary, thank for educating us on a different cruise line. We love Celebrity, the smaller M-class ships. If we had to choose another line, this probably would be the one. Hi from Bob and Jill in Connecticut, go Chelsea Blues 💙
Good review Gary! I'm cruising with Oceania in the South Pacific next year and never having cruised with that line before I found your video to be most helpful!
Thanks so much for that Gary, I have been eagerly awaiting this review as I'm sailing with Oceania Marina fir the first time in Jan 2023. What you like in cruising is pretty much exactly what I look for so the info in this video is fab and makes me feel very glad I did chose Oceania. Am also sailing on Vista next year, so will definitely be looking forward to that as well. Have also read that they have now allocated solo cabins on all there ships, so will be looking at their world cruise in the next couple of years as hopefully the pricing will be more affordable as I really do dislike paying double. Sounds like all us solo travellers who have written numerous letters to cruise lines regarding this are listening, which is great news. Thanks again for the info.
@@cherifurr3935 Hi Cheri, thanks for responding, I would love to do a world cruise and yes it is very expensive if traveling solo. I live in Australia but that wouldn't stop me from sharing with someone from the USA. I am booked up with holidays now til 2025 but would look at doing one then. I am about to book the Epic Northern Hemisphere with Oceania but in one of there solo cabins. Cost is AU $ 38000 for 51 nights which is about $26,800 in US dollars. With regards to a world tour, as long as it doesn't do a lot of Asia then I'm happy, been there, done that and don't wish to go back. I'm 64.
Have done both Silversea (Whisper) and Oceania (Nautica) small ships in recent years. Silversea was the more 'luxury' of the two but we can't be bothered with formal dining nights. Oceania was much more our style. Would definitely go with them again.
That was my concern, we do not like formal nights, so I guess what you are saying Oceania do not have formal nights? Can't be bothered with all the glitter and getting fully formal, too much to pack.
Thanks so much Gary ! We have just booked our first ever cruise on Vista this week for a Mediterranean Cruise next year. Your video has confirmed that we made a good choice ! Thanks again !
We have booked a Mediterranean Tour on Oceania's Nautica this September. It is our very first cruise and I am looking forward to the experience. It sounds as if we will be so spoiled we won't even want to try another cruise line!
You do such a brilliant presentation in your videos it's a treat to watch ,I have sailed many different lines,and Oceania just ticks all the boxes for me , food definitely the best most consistent of all the difference ships I've sailed ,your suggestions are always on que ,Thank you once again. Looking Forward to my next big sail on Oceania Nautical.
Thank you, Gary! We just completed our first Oceania Riviera cruise in June (Rome to Barcelona), and we loved it. So much so that we booked another future cruise on the Vista. Love your videos and advice!
This is great info as we’ve been trying to decide if Oceania might be an even better fit than the Viking ocean options. I would love to see a head to head comparison in regard to pricing/value and how curated Oceania is vs Viking. 👍
We love both lines. I do think Oceania tends to have food that is a little better, but we like that wine and an excursion at every port with also excellent food is great with Viking.
Thank you for your great videos Gary. Loved the Sirena on our recent Mediterranean cruise. Look forward to a future booking on the Riviera, Marina or Vista (really holding out for that!).
We have sailed on both the smaller and larger Oceania ships and enjoy both for what they have to offer in terms of itineraries, food, entertainment, etc. For children, we took a Christmas / New Year cruise once on Oceania that had family and kids, they shut down some of the public spaces to accommodate the kids. It’s the only time we encountered kids on Oceania. Agree that Red Ginger is our favourite and Jacques least favourite of the restaurants. Recently completed a Trans-Atlantic on Oceania and they had to cancel 3 out of the 6 ports. Bermuda being one and they reimbursed $50US for the $40US we had to pay for travel authorization. Additionally for missing the ports, they credited $400US per person in future cruise credits. Our next cruise is on Silverseas, we will see how that compares.
Oceania is an elder cruise. Most customers are older, retirees, grandparents and very affluent. The dance club closed by 10:00 pm and shore excursions are a 1/2 day. Wifi barely worked, food was awesome with restaurants included. No formal nights. It’s very expensive, but you can occasionally find a “discounted” cruise fair on cruises with a lot of open cabins.
I've been looking to treat myself to a nice solo Med cruise later this year. I've only been on 2 cruises before, one with Royal Caribbean and one with Regent Seven Seas. I think Oceania might just be perfect for me for my first solo cruise. I'm excited. Thank you for this video.
We are sailing on Oceania for first time in January 2023 Riviera and again in October 2023 Nautica. We are NCL Haven fans but Oceania has been highly recommended by friends. Your review has us looking forward to our cruises even more and a chance to compare the R Class to the Riviera. The comments below all agree with your review!
Another great review. That you for pointing out many of the deciding factors. I' m trying to help my client between Oceania vs Silversea for a world cruise.
Oceania is our "cruise line of choice." We have sailed on 14 cruises on them. The food is so good in the buffet and main dining room that we have sometimes given up our specialty restaurant reservations to dine outside on the back deck in the buffet. We go to Martinis every night for our pre dinner drinks, and after the first few nights the bartender usually makes our drinks when he sees us coming. Everyone always calls us by name. We just booked another Oceania cruise two days ago.
I received an Oceania catalog today. I have two large questions: 1. Can I cruise solo? 2. I use a power wheelchair after a Military accident. Is this not the line for me? I want smaller ships, all inclusive and few (or no) airplanes. I have used up my once-in-a-lifetime jet crash limit.
Hi Gary. Thank you for putting a really great video together regarding Oceania and the difference between the smaller & larger ships in there fleet. We are looking at a Transatlantic (Westbound) both offered on the smaller & larger ships. Now have to make a decision. Thanks again
Just got back from a Viking Med cruise. We liked no Casino, one price , Silver spirits package was a bargain and all of the excursions were great. Alaskan king crab and lobster were so well prepared. 890 on board with exceptional service. 1st class all the way. We may try Oceania but we were so happy with Viking, I am not sure.
We sailed on the Marina last year & loved it. The casino wasn't that big & I rarely saw anyone actually gambling in there. It was definitely not a gambling cruise. The nice crew in the casino smiled hopefully at those who passed by. There are so many beautiful spaces on the ship. If you are a visual person, you will love it. The food and the variety of food with all the specialty restaurants makes for a very memorable experience. I like the drink package options with Oceania, a level for every type of drinker.
Thank you, Gary. Amazing video as always. I appreciate your clearheaded opinions, and your ability to grasp the obvious and the slight nuances of a ship. We just booked a Trans Atlantic cruise for 2024 on Oceania Sirena (just under 700 capacity. (Side note: doing westbound Trans Atlantic on HAL this year). We found an excellent itinerary and a pretty good fare. My biggest concern is fitting in. I’m certainly not in society’s upper echelon, and my social anxiety will play a role also. I guess I’ll just do my best to. I likely only have a decade or two of life left, so I’m excited to saunter out of my comfort zone. Any advice about being the mule in a stable of purebred race horses?
Many of the folks on our Alaska cruise seemed more middle class/upper middle class than really wealthy, although sometimes it’s hard to tell. The dress code helps even things out because of it being more casual. Some people dressed up for dinner, but no long dresses and few men wore suits.
Great video Gary. My wife and I have been on both sizes of Oceania ships and have enjoyed them both. My area of complaint is the “enrichment “ talks. On our first cruise the speaker was talking about our destination and held herself out as an expert but her background was not in any of the social sciences or arts. Several fellow passengers mentioned they felt insulted by this talk, especially since it was inaccurate.
Often those how claim to be experts in a narrow area, seldom are. Most collapse in the Q & A sessions when quizzed by the more knowledgeable amongst the cruisers. Many speakers hide behind big labels like "scientist". Anyone who uses the scientific method to solve a problem is a scientist; even middle school students. High education adds nothing to a good scientist.
Thank you very much for this video. My partner and I are looking to step away from the larger crowds of NCL. This video really helped showcase Oceania and it seems like a fantastic choice as we're not always fans of the huge crowds, but still wanted some of that same larger ship experience on a cruise to Japan. Did you see a lot of 30-40 year olds in the group? We're not normally in the younger party spectrum, but I generally enjoy the casino and shows.
Only have seen a few children in all our cruises. These were infants, who were well behaved with parents who took them out immediately from the dining room. It would be nice if all parents on cruises were so courteous. The only food we ever had that truly compared were the 2 times we dined in the QM2 Grills. Other than that Oceania has by far had the best food. The fact it's part of the package really helps. Only La Reserve has a fee due to pairing with fine wines or Com Perignon champagne. I've always told others that the food is the REAL entertainment on this line. It is a foodie's paradise.
Let me rephrase my question…we like to gamble, have a few drinks without caring about cost, smaller ships , good food, gratuity included…ports are not important…food is important. All inclusive is nice! Caribbean is our favorites! What do you recommend?
We sailed on the Carnival Triumph in 1999, we then sailed on the NCL Dawn in Feb. 2020, now admittedly being almost 20years older, we certainly preferred the Dawn, we really liked the FreeStyle Dining and loved the NCL Dawn, in general.
We love your videos. We were supposed to be on Cunard Queen Elizabeth to Alaska but got cancelled...based on your reviews and others we decided to got Oceania Regatta for 11 days. Did you check out the onboard shops and were their luxury name brands? Watches?? Deals?? Keep up the Great work!! Not sure it is Work.... :o)
Just returned from April 20, 2023 Oceania Mediterranean cruise. Their food service was super indeed, but not the excursion service : They cancelled key destination excursion in last minute for reason not rooted; the excursion service staff provided no good explanation but a lot of attitude. So be aware!
We are now putting Oceania at the top of our list for their cuisine. My wife is vegan, and any trip we take involves finding a place where either we both can eat or places nearby where we each can get what we want. Oceania has an extensive vegan menu, which pleases her. Happy wife, happy life!
Hello, enjoyed this review but one of your comments is glaringly incorrect. We have cruised on Oceania six times and it is ALWAYS better to take the complimentary excursions than the shipboard credit unless you plan on not taking any of the OCeania excursions at all... as you will get as much as double the value of the shipboard credit. Let's say your cruise entitles your cabin to 6 complimentary excursions which is pretty typical. you are entitled to any of their excursions up to a price of $199. So, if you book six... that is worth $1200. Not all the excursions are that much - some are only 149 or 159 for example... but even in that instance.... you are still ahead of the game!! Also, once you have booked 5 excursions each (and the O life ones count towards this!!) you get a 25% discount on the remaining ones you have booked....so even MORE BANG for your buck.
Gary, Came across your site recently and I have really enjoyed your videos. I’m looking to book my first ever cruise and I am in ‘research mode’. Your material has been incredibly helpful and informative. I also love your presentation style. Thank you. Phil
Thanks - that’s a really really helpful video. We are joining the Marina for a short cruise in 12 days time (assuming covid and UK travel disruption don’t get in the way!) I was disappointed with Sirena, Marina looks like it will be a much better fit with my cruising preferences.
Love your videos. They make me quite want to try a cruise. Never did one except for Navy cruises. Just can't find the time! I think it would be difficult to decide which line to use, how formal we wanted, where to go, how much to spend on a cabin, etc. Oceania line looks very nice but worried the crowd might be a little too mature for us.
My friend is Celiac and has trouble with her diet while travelling. Which cruise lines are best for people with a gluten free and celiac diet? Does Oceania cater to that at all?
We've travelled on various lines over the years, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, Crystal, Seabourn, etc., and we've settled on Oceania as our favourite. Just the right balance of pretty much everything. Can't really refute their claim of "The finest cuisine at sea" either. It is genuinely and uniformly excellent.
Try Viking Ocean especially if you do not want a casino on a cruise.. Viking includes more in price..
Food IS fantastic!
Seaborn is min fab.
Never try costa
@@jamesvokral4934oceania has a cosino 😂
As a solo traveler, Oceania really took care of me. They have a supreme social hostess who invited groups of us for cocktails, lunch and/or dinner. I had chosen the excursions for my O Life choice, and she bought the wine/drinks each time!
Any tips for a solo traveler? I know I'll have to leave my service dog at home, with international travel, so I have trepidation without Pilot. I named my service dog after my former job. I'm now just the co-Pilot.
Thank you. I’m really investigating this. I’ve been a solo traveller on HAL for years. This is the first time I tempted to try something new.
@@Desjardins50 How did you like Holland as a single?
As a 3+ decade travel agency owner that specializes in cruises I agreed with you on every point. Thanks for posting.
I have been on a large and a small Oceania ship, both concierge level. The smaller ships barely make a difference, perhaps washing your clothes, but the larger ship had a designated large room with coffees, snacks which were changed depending on time of day, a person full time which could handle anything you asked or needed, large screen tv and newspapers. All this 24-7. Made the trip for us!😂
I don't recall having heard & seen such positive enthusiasm from you before Gary. I'm now jumping onto their site to check out their cruise itineraries. My partner will enthuse about the larger class whilst I know I'll prefer the smaller ships! Thank you, again, for another excellent vlog!
We have done 6 cruises with Oceania and love it. Never had a single negative comment to make. They are a superb cruise line.
I must say that after 100+ cruises, Gary still educates me on enhancements and differences on ships and line. He is fair and balanced in his reviews which is so refreshing. You can ALWAYS depend oh him to provide an altruistic view. Thank you sir!
We love Oceania and enjoy the food and service better than the other lines we have been on
Oceania is the best, love Cruising on Riviera, Every aspect meets my criteria, Lovely food, attentive and well trained staff who serve with a smile, the atmosphere is welcoming,classy yet not snobby and as long as you are neat and tidy there is no need for tuxedos and glam gowns. Having no noisy children is a plus and no garish fairground amusements allow for a peaceful,enjoyable holiday.
I took my first cruise on Oceania Riviera. What a fantastic experience!
I felt absolutely pampered, the spa was wonderful!
Food and service amazing! The shows were very professional and excellent. Everything was extremely well organized. This was truly a very relaxing luxury that I look forward to experiencing again. 🥂
This video makes it look like all retirees on the cruise. My wife and I are mid-50s but spend most of our social time with much younger friends. The cruise line looks amazing but I'm worried about the other passengers being much older than us. What do you think? Is there any opportunity to get dressed up for events?
This video aligns with our Travel agents views and our own. Our TA agrees the two types of ship provide different experiences. Our sweet spot is on the Riviera or Marina (looking forward to Vista too). We've been on Regent and Seabourn but the Riviera or Marina with the full drinks package gives one the equivalent (or better) experience (others may disagree). We also consider that their food is the best we have experienced at sea. Thanks for your insightful videos Gary.
I just returned from cruising on the Nautica and previously have cruised on the Riviera. I agree with everything you said. While I found the Nautica lacking in on board activities, our itinerary didn’t have any sea days so it didn’t matter. I enjoyed the intimacy, friendliness among cruisers, and of course the outstanding service. My best cruise experience was on the Riviera. That seems the perfect balance for me. What also impresses me about Oceania is how seamlessly they run things and you never have to wait in lines. Even embarking/disembarking are so seamless and easy and efficient. Their focus on service and the genuinely friendly, warm staff put them at the top. On this recent cruise (July 2023) I was surprised at how many families with teens and even pre-teens were on board. In one of the daily newsletters Oceania asked parents to remind their children to be polite to staff and other cruisers! But I didn’t find the teens to be an issue.
We have been cruising for almost 30 years and tried a lot of cruise lines but not the ultimate luxury with the exception of Regent. We absolutely Love Love Oceania and since we found them nine years ago have not cruised with anyone else! We think the food and service is exceptional. We have three more cruises booked in 2022 and 2023 and hope to try Vista soon. Many thanks for all your videos and information it is much appreciated.
I have never cruised. Is it your experience that cruise lines like this reward you for being repeat customers? Upgrades and such or reduced fares?
No
As you know, Viking is our favorite line having sailed with them 4 times, but, we cruised on the Oceania Riviera at Christmas and New Years in 2021/22 and it was excellent. We had a concierge level cabin, but, were able to book 9 of the 12 nights in the Specialty Dining restaurants and they were fantastic. One other night was the Wine Spectator dinner with paired wines and courses with just 18 guests, again a wonderful experience. We did two night in the Grand Dining Room and it was fine. We had 1143 on board with the capacity of 1250 and there was never a line for anything and very spacious areas for whatever we wanted to do. I was very impressed with the very high quality of food in all venues and the buffet was marvelous, the crew served from behind saran wrap barriers that were so clean and clear that I bumped a finger against them a couple of times. We booked a future cruise on board as we were very happy with Oceania.
From another “usually Viking” person, thanks for sharing your experience.
@@marias902 You're very welcome, Oceania was excellent.
So you’ve switched from Viking? Any other thoughts in comparison? We love the Viking look (clean nordic design) and want quiet luxury
@@ystebadvonschlegel3295 No, we haven't switched from Viking, we have another booked with them for 2025 in Iceland, Greenland and Canada. We just enjoyed Oceania and booked their new Vista ship for 2024.
We've traveled on Azamara in the past and really enjoyed the small ship experiences. Now some friends are encouraging us to join them on a 3 week Oceania cruise. This overview gives us a very good idea of what to expect.
I am so impressed with your level of detail in your reviews. You really know how to tell a good review and a good story. I appreciate your insight and hard work. Raj
We have cruised on Oceania many times and love it. The crew has recognized us and we have recognized them from previous cruises. We try not to miss afternoon tea and will often text a photo to our boys of the sweet trolley. (They have been on Regatta with us in the Baltic and Alaska.)
While my preference would be something from The Moorings (Bareboat charter), my wife likes it that someone else cooks and we do not have to worry about a boat dragging anchor into us in the middle of the night.
We have done many cruises on Oceania and all you mentioned are true in the fabulous experience but we also love the dress code, but we love the staff from start to finish!! We have staff that remember us from past cruises! We now only cruise with them
We took our first oh cruise in February for my wife’s birthday. We were supposed to be on Sirena but they switched to the marina which I’m glad they did. My favorite food item aside from the amazing croissants was the miso Seabass in red Ginger. I thought the food was really great and I’m a foodie our previous cruises had been on Celebrity and Norwegian not impressed with the food on Norwegian and the food on Celebrity has been going downhill of course this was all before the pandemic. Our next cruise is using future cruise credit on Celebrity in September or first time in a suite.
I have been following you with great interest since I’ve decided that cruising will likely be my preferred option for future travel. (I’m getting too old and lazy for airport scrambles and all the dramas involved in getting from A to B.) Every one of your videos has given me something to really think about, but this Oceania video has me captive. Insignia…180 days…I have jumped over to their website to see the details, and I am hooked. As a solo traveller, of course it is a financial challenge, but if I am going to have one big trip left in me, that may very well be it.
I just got off the Sirena after a two-week transatlantic cruise. I had a wonderful time. But I think the next time I have so many sea days, which I love, I will try one of their bigger ships. This was my second time on the Sirena and my second Oceania cruise. I can't wait to try other ships in the fleet.
We just got back from an Oceania cruise to Alaska 6/17/22. No one ever called us by name the entire trip, except when we were disembarking, and then they invariably called my husband by my last name instead of his own. There were some kids on our cruise, a handful under 10 but most were teens. The food was very good. There were a couple of misses: some fishy tasting lobster in the risotto, a bland sauce with the
salmon, but generally the food was tasty. Really liked the Poke bowl from room service and the Beef Wellington in the Grand Dining Room. We were very happy with the wines. We didn’t do a drink package, just ordered a la carte and had a bottle of wine with dinner several times, and we still came out ahead price wise.
I had hoped you would make this video! I’ve been considering Oceania for the first time and wanted your take on them.
Great to hear! I hope it helps!
We are looking forward to our next cruise on the Insignia this December. I need to comment on your mentioning Celebrity. We just finished a 12 day from Ft Lauderdale. Worst experience we have ever had. The food wasn't fit to feed a dog. Ship very unsanitary, and to cap it off we both came down with Covid. We were escorted off the ship and deposited street side like so much trash. IMHO very unprofessional of them. Keep up the great videos, they are most entertaining.
It’s worth noting that Marina & Riviera have much larger cabins than the equivalent tier on the 4 R class ships. We love Oceania and would also recommend the concierge class rooms - they include access to the private spa areas for the hot tub and sun deck. It’s never crowded on the ship, but the spa area is really private and secluded.
My Mom and I are sharing a Marina concierge class room and have no idea what to expect!
@@Canyonradio not sure of your point of reference, but there are lots of RUclips videos on the rooms (either Riviera or Marina - they are identical). The spa area is on the bow on level 14 and includes a hot tub as well as nice, well spaced, loungers.
My husband just sent me a link to Oceania. I said Ill go to my travel guy Gary and see what he says about the cruise line. Thank you for all of your hard work making these informative videos. Thank you for all of your first hand research. Thank you for always adding the pros and cons and allowing us to make informed decisions. Thank you for not having an agenda. This is the travel channel I trust.
Great to hear!!!!!!!
This is a fantastic summary/analysis of what should be one of our choices as we transition from Disney to a cruises-without-our-now-older-son 😔.
You have expressed positives about HAL and Celebrity. And now, with this review, Oceania seems to also hit the right notes of personalized service, great food, non-party atmosphere, and (on the Marina and Riviera classes) a range of activities/restaurants within a not-too-big ship feel.
As far as entertainment, I am less traditional -- give me lectures, board games, Punk/"1st Wave" music, and edgy comedy over boring singer/dancer covers of 1950's/1960's standards.
Oceania is great. One of my favourites for sure!
Sound perfect to me as an older traveler that always travels alone and has zero interest in formal nights.
Yes; you would love it!
Once again your review is very detailed, comprehensive and honest. You make choosing a cruise more knowable.
Gary, this style sounds like what I would enjoy. I haven't gone on a cruise yet, but I will check out their line.
Thanks for your efforts. We appreciate that you do cruises at all price points
Oceania is such a class cruise line, I would rate them a the cruise line of choice, along with Saga who excel at all round pick up to drop off…
Just came back from Oceania cruise. Very satisfied and booked another cruise.
We cruised one of the R ships before Oceana acquired them from Renaissance and were very happy with all that it included. It did feel like a bigger ship experience without the crowds. You also get to know the crew.
We cruised a few times with Renaissance and did love them, but our cruises with both Oceania and Viking have been wonderful!
My late husband and I cruised on Oceania back in the early 2000s. At that time the Polo and the Tuscans were a separate charge. This is an interesting change.
Getting ready to go on our 5th cruise and we love Oceania- food and service are top notch. Love not wearing a jacket and tie. Also have 6th for next year. Highly recommend.
I would agree with all you say about Oceania. We've just returned after 31 days on the R class Sirena. The crew are indeed super. They got to know us well and were always attentive, even learning our names quite soon after we started the cruise. My only criticism is of the entertainment. The musicians and artists are all of a high standard. The string quartet were brilliant. The group were great guys, but they were asked to play a never-ending selection of what I can only describe as "lounge music". Management at Oceania need to be a bit more inventive, liven things up a little some evenings.
i Couldn't agree with you more. We love Oceania.
We are booked on the Vista for their repositioning cruise through the Panama Canal this fall. Your comments have us very excited, as it will be our first time on an Oceania ship. Thanks again Gary for the comprehensive review.
An interesting video would compare loyalty plans of the cruise lines. We’ve been loyal Oceania cruisers and now get very substantial cruise benefits from OBC to free gratuities to discounts on wine, excursions and internet packages.
You made several positive comments about the staff aboard Oceania and that made me wonder about staff training. Do different lines have schools to train staff? I’d love to see a video about how staff is trained and how long it takes to become a staff member. Thank you.
This is a late reply, but perhaps will help some people. Much of the staff on the Marina last April was new and many were from Bali. They have a hospitality school there and these people are very, very polite. We could sent most of the US hospitality workers there to learn how to treat people. I think Oceania is works hard to keep good & polite staff on board. They don't have tolerance for bad attitudes or bad actors & will put staff off at the next port for infractions. We saw that on a bulletin board. Recruiting the right people from the right places is part of that. We met a wine steward who had been with Oceania for over 10 years. We did have some issues with the very polite waiters not understanding us & bringing out the wrong dishes at dinner, but given that the staff was so new, that is to be expected. Our interactions with workers on the ship were all very, pleasant. I also noted the Oceania cruisers' being equally polite to the servers & stewards. It works both ways. The only thing I could fault was Oceania not having enough mature people at the excursions desk, people who understand the cruiser's interests, activity levels & issues. The staff was abit too young. Again, at the end of the pandemic, I think that is normal.
We're booked on the Marina in Jan/Feb to So America and Antarctica. Picked the larger ship because of the Drake Passage, the 30ish day itinerary, and their reputation for good food. We were on the R2 when it was the Renaissance Cruise Line.
We will see you on that cruise. Our 15th with Oceania
@@charlesredick9424 Rio to Santiago?
@@brucemiller2057 Miami to Buenos Aires. Did Rio to Santiago on the Marina a few years back. With reasonable weather the Chilean fjords are beautiful.
Totally agree about Oceania - the food is truly outstanding. Have just completed a cruise on Regent Seven Seas - The Mariner. I have never had
such wonderful service, food, overall experience. You should try a Regent Cruise. How they manage to have such a friendly crew, such personal
service which is never 'familiar', always professional, and always with a genuine smile, takes some doing. It was the best cruise I have ever
been on.
We are on the Mariner in May to Alaska. Our third RSS cruise and agree with everything you said about Regent Seven Seas.
I agree - we love Regent Seven Seas. All inclusive, which means alcohol, excursions and gratuities. You know what your cost is up front, with few extras. We've walked off the ship with zero due. Any extra vacation costs were for purchases off the ship. You can save on the fares if you book your own flights (we use points). No formal nights, and no extra cost for specialty dining (although that might have changed).
The Mariner is outstanding!!!
I prefer the less ornate decor of Viking, Ikea like as it may seem to some, plus the nearly all-inclusive aspect. As a fine wine fan, their Silver Spirits beverage package is a real bargain.. A couple of long tome friends love Oceania so it's worth future consideration.
I agree with you. We love Oceania. The special Sunday brunch is spectacular. Thanks for the sharing Gary!
Oceania our favourite! Relaxed atmosphere, Buffett we eat at most nights on the patio. Afternoon tea and drinks two for one in the afternoon, spend alot of time in this area. My only disappointment was being asked to take off my little designer jean jacket over a very nice black dress in the Italian restaurant.
We did do an Oceania cruise in Italy with my parents and kids (they were 13 and 18 at the time). My kids were fine, but they are adventurous eaters and travelers, and they were a few other kids their age on board so they found a group. Your kids will be good if they are like to eat and explore and are well behaved and not glued to their devices. My kids actually loved the library and spent a lot of time there and went dancing with their little group every night.
Going on our first Oceania in September
I'm looking at Oceania for the near future. I appreciate your insights. I too love smaller ships, and the attention to detail, and the smaller crowds. No children would also be a plus.
Hi Gary, thank for educating us on a different cruise line. We love Celebrity, the smaller M-class ships. If we had to choose another line, this probably would be the one. Hi from Bob and Jill in Connecticut, go Chelsea Blues 💙
Yes! I TOLD you they had a great afternoon tea!!!
Absolutely Excellent Video, you told us everything we need to know about Oceania!
Good review Gary! I'm cruising with Oceania in the South Pacific next year and never having cruised with that line before I found your video to be most helpful!
Thanks so much for that Gary, I have been eagerly awaiting this review as I'm sailing with Oceania Marina fir the first time in Jan 2023. What you like in cruising is pretty much exactly what I look for so the info in this video is fab and makes me feel very glad I did chose Oceania. Am also sailing on Vista next year, so will definitely be looking forward to that as well. Have also read that they have now allocated solo cabins on all there ships, so will be looking at their world cruise in the next couple of years as hopefully the pricing will be more affordable as I really do dislike paying double. Sounds like all us solo travellers who have written numerous letters to cruise lines regarding this are listening, which is great news. Thanks again for the info.
Where do you live? I’m a widow in my 60’s from Charlotte, NC - would love to find someone to share a world cruise cabin with!
@@cherifurr3935 Hi Cheri, thanks for responding, I would love to do a world cruise and yes it is very expensive if traveling solo. I live in Australia but that wouldn't stop me from sharing with someone from the USA. I am booked up with holidays now til 2025 but would look at doing one then. I am about to book the Epic Northern Hemisphere with Oceania but in one of there solo cabins. Cost is AU $ 38000 for 51 nights which is about $26,800 in US dollars.
With regards to a world tour, as long as it doesn't do a lot of Asia then I'm happy, been there, done that and don't wish to go back.
I'm 64.
We are ready to try Oceania. Thanks for the review.
Really looking forward to our cruise on Riviera. Thanks for cheering me up Gary sat at home with Covid when I should be cruising.
Sorry to hear! Hope you get over it soon and here’s to that cruise !
Have done both Silversea (Whisper) and Oceania (Nautica) small ships in recent years. Silversea was the more 'luxury' of the two but we can't be bothered with formal dining nights. Oceania was much more our style. Would definitely go with them again.
That was my concern, we do not like formal nights, so I guess what you are saying Oceania do not have formal nights? Can't be bothered with all the glitter and getting fully formal, too much to pack.
Thanks so much Gary ! We have just booked our first ever cruise on Vista this week for a Mediterranean Cruise next year. Your video has confirmed that we made a good choice ! Thanks again !
Brilliant !!!!
We have booked a Mediterranean Tour on Oceania's Nautica this September. It is our very first cruise and I am looking forward to the experience. It sounds as if we will be so spoiled we won't even want to try another cruise line!
We head out on our first Oceania cruise next month! And are so looking forward to it!
You do such a brilliant presentation in your videos it's a treat to watch ,I have sailed many different lines,and Oceania just ticks all the boxes for me , food definitely the best most consistent of all the difference ships I've sailed ,your suggestions are always on que ,Thank you once again. Looking Forward to my next big sail on Oceania Nautical.
Thank you, Gary! We just completed our first Oceania Riviera cruise in June (Rome to Barcelona), and we loved it. So much so that we booked another future cruise on the Vista. Love your videos and advice!
Wonderful! Great too hear this!!!
This is great info as we’ve been trying to decide if Oceania might be an even better fit than the Viking ocean options. I would love to see a head to head comparison in regard to pricing/value and how curated Oceania is vs Viking. 👍
You need to compare every cruise with a similar one on the other line. One line nay cone in cheaper in one itinerary but vice versa on another
We love both lines. I do think Oceania tends to have food that is a little better, but we like that wine and an excursion at every port with also excellent food is great with Viking.
Thank you for your great videos Gary. Loved the Sirena on our recent Mediterranean cruise. Look forward to a future booking on the Riviera, Marina or Vista (really holding out for that!).
We will try it in September for an Istanbul/Barcelona loop. This was very helpful!
We have sailed on both the smaller and larger Oceania ships and enjoy both for what they have to offer in terms of itineraries, food, entertainment, etc. For children, we took a Christmas / New Year cruise once on Oceania that had family and kids, they shut down some of the public spaces to accommodate the kids. It’s the only time we encountered kids on Oceania. Agree that Red Ginger is our favourite and Jacques least favourite of the restaurants. Recently completed a Trans-Atlantic on Oceania and they had to cancel 3 out of the 6 ports. Bermuda being one and they reimbursed $50US for the $40US we had to pay for travel authorization. Additionally for missing the ports, they credited $400US per person in future cruise credits. Our next cruise is on Silverseas, we will see how that compares.
Oceania is an elder cruise. Most customers are older, retirees, grandparents and very affluent. The dance club closed by 10:00 pm and shore excursions are a 1/2 day. Wifi barely worked, food was awesome with restaurants included. No formal nights. It’s very expensive, but you can occasionally find a “discounted” cruise fair on cruises with a lot of open cabins.
I've been looking to treat myself to a nice solo Med cruise later this year. I've only been on 2 cruises before, one with Royal Caribbean and one with Regent Seven Seas. I think Oceania might just be perfect for me for my first solo cruise. I'm excited. Thank you for this video.
We are sailing on Oceania for first time in January 2023 Riviera and again in October 2023 Nautica. We are NCL Haven fans but Oceania has been highly recommended by friends. Your review has us looking forward to our cruises even more and a chance to compare the R Class to the Riviera. The comments below all agree with your review!
The poached eggs looked perfect! Thank you for the video. Have a wonderful weekend!
Another great review. That you for pointing out many of the deciding factors. I' m trying to help my client between Oceania vs Silversea for a world cruise.
Oceania is our "cruise line of choice." We have sailed on 14 cruises on them. The food is so good in the buffet and main dining room that we have sometimes given up our specialty restaurant reservations to dine outside on the back deck in the buffet. We go to Martinis every night for our pre dinner drinks, and after the first few nights the bartender usually makes our drinks when he sees us coming. Everyone always calls us by name. We just booked another Oceania cruise two days ago.
Which ship do you recommend for first timers with them.
I received an Oceania catalog today. I have two large questions: 1. Can I cruise solo? 2. I use a power wheelchair after a Military accident. Is this not the line for me? I want smaller ships, all inclusive and few (or no) airplanes. I have used up my once-in-a-lifetime jet crash limit.
Hi Gary. Thank you for putting a really great video together regarding Oceania and the difference between the smaller & larger ships in there fleet. We are looking at a Transatlantic (Westbound) both offered on the smaller & larger ships. Now have to make a decision. Thanks again
Glad you enjoyed it
Just got back from a Viking Med cruise. We liked no Casino, one price , Silver spirits package was a bargain and all of the excursions were great. Alaskan king crab and lobster were so well prepared. 890 on board with exceptional service. 1st class all the way. We may try Oceania but we were so happy with Viking, I am not sure.
We sailed on the Marina last year & loved it. The casino wasn't that big & I rarely saw anyone actually gambling in there. It was definitely not a gambling cruise. The nice crew in the casino smiled hopefully at those who passed by. There are so many beautiful spaces on the ship. If you are a visual person, you will love it. The food and the variety of food with all the specialty restaurants makes for a very memorable experience. I like the drink package options with Oceania, a level for every type of drinker.
Marina ,vista , and insigna, I will love to do all three
Thank you, Gary. Amazing video as always. I appreciate your clearheaded opinions, and your ability to grasp the obvious and the slight nuances of a ship.
We just booked a Trans Atlantic cruise for 2024 on Oceania Sirena (just under 700 capacity. (Side note: doing westbound Trans Atlantic on HAL this year). We found an excellent itinerary and a pretty good fare.
My biggest concern is fitting in. I’m certainly not in society’s upper echelon, and my social anxiety will play a role also. I guess I’ll just do my best to. I likely only have a decade or two of life left, so I’m excited to saunter out of my comfort zone. Any advice about being the mule in a stable of purebred race horses?
Many of the folks on our Alaska cruise seemed more middle class/upper middle class than really wealthy, although sometimes it’s hard to tell. The dress code helps even things out because of it being more casual. Some people dressed up for dinner, but no long dresses and few men wore suits.
@@michellebowers8652 0
You'll be fine. Met wonderful people much like yourself (and us), including friends we've stayed in touch with.
Great video Gary. My wife and I have been on both sizes of Oceania ships and have enjoyed them both. My area of complaint is the “enrichment “ talks. On our first cruise the speaker was talking about our destination and held herself out as an expert but her background was not in any of the social sciences or arts. Several fellow passengers mentioned they felt insulted by this talk, especially since it was inaccurate.
Often those how claim to be experts in a narrow area, seldom are. Most collapse in the Q & A sessions when quizzed by the more knowledgeable amongst the cruisers. Many speakers hide behind big labels like "scientist". Anyone who uses the scientific method to solve a problem is a scientist; even middle school students. High education adds nothing to a good scientist.
Very nice review, Gary, as usual!
Just got off the Regatta from Alaska. I was surprised on the number of youth on board. Even the card room was reserved for kid’s camp.
Thank you very much for this video. My partner and I are looking to step away from the larger crowds of NCL. This video really helped showcase Oceania and it seems like a fantastic choice as we're not always fans of the huge crowds, but still wanted some of that same larger ship experience on a cruise to Japan. Did you see a lot of 30-40 year olds in the group? We're not normally in the younger party spectrum, but I generally enjoy the casino and shows.
Only have seen a few children in all our cruises. These were infants, who were well behaved with parents who took them out immediately from the dining room. It would be nice if all parents on cruises were so courteous. The only food we ever had that truly compared were the 2 times we dined in the QM2 Grills. Other than that Oceania has by far had the best food. The fact it's part of the package really helps. Only La Reserve has a fee due to pairing with fine wines or Com Perignon champagne. I've always told others that the food is the REAL entertainment on this line. It is a foodie's paradise.
Let me rephrase my question…we like to gamble, have a few drinks without caring about cost, smaller ships , good food, gratuity included…ports are not important…food is important. All inclusive is nice! Caribbean is our favorites! What do you recommend?
We sailed on the Carnival Triumph in 1999, we then sailed on the NCL Dawn in Feb. 2020, now admittedly being almost 20years older, we certainly preferred the Dawn, we really liked the FreeStyle Dining and loved the NCL Dawn, in general.
Love them to, really good food, looking so forward to their new ship:0)
We love your videos. We were supposed to be on Cunard Queen Elizabeth to Alaska but got cancelled...based on your reviews and others we decided to got Oceania Regatta for 11 days. Did you check out the onboard shops and were their luxury name brands? Watches?? Deals?? Keep up the Great work!! Not sure it is Work.... :o)
Will be in Oceania for our New Year cruise.
I find that personalizations thing that you were talking about to be true on NCL in general and especially on the Panama Max sized ships.
Just returned from April 20, 2023 Oceania Mediterranean cruise. Their food service was super indeed, but not the excursion service : They cancelled key destination excursion in last minute for reason not rooted; the excursion service staff provided no good explanation but a lot of attitude. So be aware!
We are now putting Oceania at the top of our list for their cuisine. My wife is vegan, and any trip we take involves finding a place where either we both can eat or places nearby where we each can get what we want. Oceania has an extensive vegan menu, which pleases her. Happy wife, happy life!
Hello, enjoyed this review but one of your comments is glaringly incorrect. We have cruised on Oceania six times and it is ALWAYS better to take the complimentary excursions than the shipboard credit unless you plan on not taking any of the OCeania excursions at all... as you will get as much as double the value of the shipboard credit. Let's say your cruise entitles your cabin to 6 complimentary excursions which is pretty typical. you are entitled to any of their excursions up to a price of $199. So, if you book six... that is worth $1200. Not all the excursions are that much - some are only 149 or 159 for example... but even in that instance.... you are still ahead of the game!! Also, once you have booked 5 excursions each (and the O life ones count towards this!!) you get a 25% discount on the remaining ones you have booked....so even MORE BANG for your buck.
Hi there ! Kindly allow me to make a correction in one subject . O life excursions are per person as well SBC and beverage package - Best regards
great video as always. We are frequent cruises but will wait until the covid craze is over. no masks or 6 feet apart or covid passports
Love your videos!!! I always learn so much.
Oceania is my favorite line with no in second place. Nautica is my favorite ship.
Excellent information Gary.
Gary, Came across your site recently and I have really enjoyed your videos. I’m looking to book my first ever cruise and I am in ‘research mode’. Your material has been incredibly helpful and informative. I also love your presentation style. Thank you. Phil
Thanks for watching! Really appreciate it. Great to hear they help. If there is ever any topics you think are missing you’d want let me know
Thank you so much Gary, always great interesting information.
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks - that’s a really really helpful video. We are joining the Marina for a short cruise in 12 days time (assuming covid and UK travel disruption don’t get in the way!) I was disappointed with Sirena, Marina looks like it will be a much better fit with my cruising preferences.
Love your videos. They make me quite want to try a cruise. Never did one except for Navy cruises. Just can't find the time! I think it would be difficult to decide which line to use, how formal we wanted, where to go, how much to spend on a cabin, etc. Oceania line looks very nice but worried the crowd might be a little too mature for us.
Jacques Pépin had a television program with Julia Child.
My friend is Celiac and has trouble with her diet while travelling. Which cruise lines are best for people with a gluten free and celiac diet? Does Oceania cater to that at all?