Anyone Done An Oceana Cruise?

[TheSkipper]

Thinking about an Oceana Cruise to South America for next year.

Have any of you Cruisecrazies tried Oceana??

Your comments please.

[JohnG]

I did Oceania Nautica for our Barcelona to Athens trip last year, and the review is posted here on Cruise Crazies.

I just finished our Tahitian Princess cruise on her sister ship. Now Princess has 3, Oceania has 3, and Azamura (Celebrity) has 2 of these beautiful former Rennaisance ships. I love the size.

Oceania uses open seating, country club casual for dining, with lots of tables for two, while Princess still had traditonal dining and two formal nights. We loved the bistro dining in the evening on the rear open deck. The Oceania ship was better maintained than the Tahitian Princess, too. On Oceania you are guaranteed at least one dinner in each of the two specialty restaurants, and the suites can have more. There is a minimal casino, and the evening entertainment is more cabaret style, not productions, using the cruise director and his assistants primarily. But on a port intensive itinerary, we were ususually too tired for a big production anyway. I don't recall the Oceania ship evening having a photographer, so we weren't bothered by them on the way off the ship. Everything was well done, low key. They even let us leave the ship at the first pier, buy some wine and liquor, and bring it back to our cabin to use during the cruise.

One thing to note, if you are using the 2 for 1 with free air offer, you still pay the air tax, and airport transfers are not included. You have to purchase them separately.

[TheSkipper]

Thanks, John for the excellent info.

I knew the air tax was not included, but did not know about the transfers no being covered. We are looking at the 2 for 1 with air.

I will go take a look at you review.

Thanks again,

[cruisingfun]

Hi Skipper:

I sailed on Oceania Cruise Line's ship, Nautica this past August. It was the same itinerary that JohnG wrote about (Barcelona to Athens).

The staff treated us with exceptional courtesy. We loved the fact that there were no photographers always sticking those cameras in your faces. After a full-day of sightseeing in Florence, we were welcomed back to the ship with the band playing, cold towels to freshen up with and cold water to drink. It was great being in a smoke-free Casino even if it was small. They had penny slot machines.

I would not hesitate to sail on Oceania in the future. I am almost dreading my Carnival Cruise in January because the experience will be so different. Wished Oceania would sail out of Galveston.

I have some pictures and have scanned in the daily program for the day at sea, the bar menu and laundry pricing on the following website: http://picasaweb.google.com/AACruise

Terry

[TheSkipper]

Terry,

Thanks so much for your imput. Loved all the pictures. We just did some of those same ports in May on RCI.

Looks good to me. I'll be talking to the TA tomorrow going over details and if all looks good just may take the plunge.