Oceania Cruises: 7 Things You Need To Know Before Cruising
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- čas přidán 8. 07. 2024
- I explore the pros and cons, the watch-outs and the things that you really need to know about Oceania Cruises before you cruise with them. I look at topics including the type of passengers they are best for in my view, the food, the ships and what to expect from the fares and on-board experience. Want to find out more about Oceania Cruises? Then watch my other video Oceania Pros and Cons: • Oceania Cruises Pros A...
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Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers aims to help you make more of your precious travel time and money on land and when cruising the oceans or rivers of the world. To help you, in every video I draw on my first-hand tips and advice from travelling every month for over 20 years and 60+ cruises.
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#OceaniaCruises #OceaniaCruiseTips #CruiseTips
We 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!
My wife is vegan, so any plans that I make even locally revolve around where we can find a restaurant that caters to both of our preferences. I was thrilled to learn that Oceania has a very extensive vegan menu. I’m making plans for a trip to Alaska in 2024, and Oceania is starting to look like our best option. Although they have the youth group as you noted, the fact that their core market is for slightly older couples is a big deal for her.
Oceania is great. Classy, yet laid back, relaxing with no boisterous kids, lovely service with beautiful food.
I feel like royalty at dinner, nothing is too much, stress is lifted until my journey sadly ends and I have to rejoin the reality of the real world again!
Then it’s ‘save up’ time again until I reach my goal to rejoin Oceania again for another great experience. Wouldn’t sail any other way!
We have been fortunate to have been on 3 Oceania cruises. Great experience. They serve you at the buffet and bring your dish to the table. Leaving port while dining on the terrace is spectacular. The food at any of the restaurants is top-notch. Great cruise line and as you have stated they do not cater to children.
Great to hear you had so many great cruises with Oceania. They have a good balance of service with informality. You been on different class of ships or have a favourite?
@@tipsfortravellers We have been on the Regatta & Insignata as well as the Riviera. The bigger Riviera has a bit more to do and a bit more elbow room but, the staff, food ambiance, as well as the guest performers and lecturers, are in a class of their own. When it is in the budget Oceania is our preference.
Yet another fantastic video. You are undoubtedly the best there is. We love Oceania for all of the features you highlighted.
Great information. Thank you for posting.
Very interesting. I haven't heard much about this cruise line. Sounds like it may be a good fit for me. Thanks, Gary!
I love the country casual approach and, of course, the food. So looking forward to my December 2021 Christmas and New Years cruise in the Caribbean.
Love the R class too. Oceania has a pretty good loyalty program, essentially starting at 5 cruises at 10 gratuities are free. Also if you don’t need their air you can get a reduction in your fare, often north of $1,000. Good if you use points and miles for your travel. You also get escalating on board credits as you travel more with them, as well as discounts on drink packages, etc.
I love the R class ships.
Agree! Me too
Another very good video. like always. Thanks.
Thanks, so pleased to hear. I also really appreciate you watching. With all going on a lot of people don’t seem to be watching travel and cruise videos. Do, it’s great you are. We can still plan and plot for when things smooth sailing (as it were!)
Just booked Marina for February 2022 South America. Got a great deal thanks Gary
Great tips and insight. Thanks for sharing this is very helpful. Excited to cruise with Oceania soon!!
I’m going back on in April after three years, so needed to be reminded. Will be my first time on the Marina, though. Thanks for this!
Very good video thanks
Love your videos. Always watch:) Not Oceania but do have a cruise booked down the line with NCL Bliss I'm very nervous about the size. I appreciate very much all of your knowledge and experience you share.
Thanks! Great to hear you watch and fab you still watching as a lot of people seem to have stopped watching cruise videos. I have not been on Bliss but the people I have really liked it. I have been on Encore a sister ship. It is big but lots of spaces and places so didn’t feel too packed. It was a really nice decor which believe is similar to Bliss
Sounds just my cup of tea! Jacques Pepin, one of my idols!
I had not heard of him but clearly he is big in the USA!
@@tipsfortravellers Yes, Gary, he is quite popular. Has had several TV show on our Public Television Stations for years. Likeable and straightforward -- much like yourself!
I enjoy your enlightening videos. They helped us decide to try Oceania for multiple upcoming cruises. The megaships have become much too large for us, so we'll soon find out if premium ships with 1,200 passengers are more to our liking. With the high cost of airline travel, we're taking fewer but much longer cruises overseas (15+ days) and, in some cases, booking back to back cruises. Thanks again.
Always great info, thank you! Can you do one on Crystal Cruises?
Whenever I hear "Oceania" all I can think of is "1984" especially the movie with Richard Burton and John Hurt where the haunting anthem is sung "Oceania, tis for thee..."
Very informative video.
Glad it was helpful!
Come bella la nave di Oceania Cruises 😍
Thanks for the video. Now that NCL is getting the funding to withstand the next 18 months, I'm considering buying NCL stock, and trying Oceania. It definitely seems more reasonable in price than Azamara and Viking Ocean. Lately we're leaning Holland America, but this looks like a decent alternative. Miami to Aruba, what a great way to spend a few post-cruise days!
Oceania is on my bucket list because it appears to have the longest round-the-world cruise that's regularly available. With their smaller ships, they also get into more ports than some of the larger ships out there. (Or so it seems to me.) I want to travel around the world to go to different ports, not just to say "hey, I sailed for 40,000 km". Also, being a cheap passenger, the availability of inside cabins also lowers the cost substantially. While an outside cabin is nice, I spend most of my waking time either on land or in public areas. So the cost savings would be substantial. (The round-the-world cruise is how I plan on launching my retirement years, so maybe five years from now.)
Yes, Viking had a 240 day round-the-world cruise last year. But the minimum cost was substantially higher, and as far as I can tell that was a one off cruise so they could claim the record. (I enjoyed my last cruise on Viking very much. I have nothing against them. But it's harder to go cheap with them.) Oceania seems to hit that sweet spot between cost and days in port.
It would be interesting to get your take on the various round-the-world options. Many of the cruise lines offer them, so a comparison video would be nice. (Actually, comparison videos for various itineraries would be useful in general.)
This man is an amazing fountain of cruise expertise. Excellent information.
I have one question: Do the staff really get the gratuity? I just can't imagine the "corporation" doesn't take a 60% fee.
We like healthy food (lowfat, lots of veggies), early to bed/rise, fun athletic things, but casual. The no jeans really becomes a bummer as my husband never wears slacks, ever. Nice black jeans with a collared shirt he could do. Hmm. Otherwise sounds like a nice line.
Which is the best ship for singles. I like a small luxury ship and am elderly so appreciate something like Oceania or Silversea but recently cruised in the Caribbean and there was only one other single person on board so not such fun.
Tks gary I board Insignia 12jul ny bermuda ny 7dys. Your videos enlighten & give me 'birds eye view ' . I sometimes watch over. I hope yo take a panama canal transit this yr or next.
have a great trip!
The Afternoon tea Is hold In the Horizon on Riviera and Marina to, very nice ships with amazing food as well, and superb crew. Had better food experience on Riviera than Silver Spirit:0)
Thanks !! I have to force myself not to go to afternoon tea every day when on board... Good to hear your experience on the food. It’s definitely something they really focus on
Im proud that Im one of the crew 😍
Oceania crew are so wonderful! Thank you for working so hard!
Don't dry your washed hands with air blowing dryers. Use paper towels to avoid the rapid circulation of residue from wet hands.
Love your video's thanks for sharing. Question....are you billed the gratuities at the end of your cruise? How does this work? Thanks
Gary, do you have a video focused on MSC Cruises?
Gary, thanks for the very nice review. We have not sailed with Oceania before and cannot find any information on their complimentary drink package on their website. Can you help?
Any suggestions about trip protection insurance?
Hi Gary!
Hi 👋
Sounds a great cruise ship to me, so on the short list it goes! Watching as many of your videos as I can to get up to speed on cruising. I never knew it was so big. Even more so now! Thank you Gary, you’re the best!
Awesome, thank you!
Gary, good morning and thanks for all you do. We were trying to figure out where the Oceania Nautica embarks in Venice. We are booked on a cruise in October from Venice to Barcelona. We are flying in early and adding some days at the beginning and the end in Barcelona. We are thinking of staying on the mainland and taking short excursions to the islands and Venice proper. Just not sure if the port is convenient to hotels in Venice or the mainland. Thanks in advance.
Does Oceania offer a twin bed set up on their Alaskan cruises? I can't seem to find any photos of staterooms with twin beds on an Oceania ship. Thanks in advance!
Yes, it does. You just ask your room steward to separate the beds for you.
We love your videos and they have helped a lot. I have a question I hope you can help with. If you had to choose between the Cunard and Oceania for a Transatlantic voyage (Southampton/Paris to New York).... Which would you choose?
Thanks ! Great challenge question. I would suggest Cunard Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic as that is a whole tradition and experience and they are masters at it. Also the QM2 is the only ship designed specifically for the North Atlantic and handles it better. I love Oceania but would go Cunard for a Crossing
@@tipsfortravellers Thank you so much for such a fast reply. I was leaning towards Cunard. I can't wait to go. Thanks again! Excellent videos.
Gary, thinking of doing an Oceania cruise in 2022. We are interested in the entertainment. Is it mainly just music? Do they have comedians, things like that in the smaller areas? Or is it just in the main area of the ship.
They do have shows every night. There are a group of 6 singers and then do have guest artists
would you do aworl tour on that ship, i am looking to one in 2025
If they just did singles and Oceania cruises in Oceania, it would be perfect for me
Agree 😀
I thought you where on the Zuiderdam
Yes I am now! This was from another cruise! I have a pipeline to be able to stay ahead and have videos to post still while I’m away.
Are there cruise lines without ‚Animateurs‘ on board?
Do you need a app Oceania ?
Oceania sounds like exactly what I want for my first cruise but I’m solo. Would I be very uncomfortable?
Did Oceania buy cruise ships from Renaissance when they folded? Some of your photos totally remind me of a cruise I took with them a year or so before they went out of business...
Well spotted! You definitely know your ships! They did and so did Azamara !
Yes, and the Azamara Ships is also old R ships;0)
Princess also bought two.
They became the Ocean Princess and the Pacific Princess. My favorite Princess ships
And here I am eating a couple of those thin rice cakes with a slice of supermarket light cheddar cheese. 🤨
Peanut butter crackers, here.
nice video please keep up the awesome content, can we be friendly channels?
Is Jacques Pepin not a household name?
In USA only I think. I had not heard of him until Oceania
Make sure the crew know how to toast a bagel.
I note the UK government has said that elderly people should avoid cruising for the foreseeable future.
I saw that which is in line with the advice that elderly need to avoid gatherings and events where in close contact with lots of people that they had been giving. Lay low and avoid exposure due to vulnerability was what the medical teams seem to be recommending for elderly as this group seem least able to fight the infection
I've heard that Oceania is the continent with the worlds highest life expectancy
Oh my, people are still getting food from the Buffet!
This wasn’t filmed this week. But buffet service on Oceania is not self service and crew plate everything so people are not touching any tongs etc etc
You cannot serve yourself in the buffet. All stations are staffed, served, and there is glass between the food an the guests.
Thank you for clarifying.
Hi Gary, all due respect, it’s getting a bit off key to ignore what’s happening to the cruise industry as a whole, although I see the point to keeping it positive. The shutdowns are becoming massive and widespread, and I wouldn’t book a cruise now even if I could do it with your money.
Thanks for comment. The situation with not just cruise but travel and how people are being required or decide to live their life is as we can see changing daily, and will keep doing so. The news is the best source for that. And everyday every aspect of people’s lives is changing on what they are able to do (in the last 12 hours millions can’t go to school, theatre, football, fly, hold weddings etc). Life is being scrambled every day. Cruising is becoming a side note in the scheme of this! News channels, papers etc are the best source of information as things are changing too fast. Those are the best platform for that. However, there will be a life after all of this. And I believe we all need some light, some dreams, some distractions and an excuse to think about and plan for the sunnier days! My channel is definitely not a news channel or an expert medical channel and things around the topic like that would be out of date before it was even finished being recorded! I’m definitely not in any video saying when to go cruising (which is pretty much impossible in March and April already! Probably longer than that I suspect). But I don’t think it is wrong or going to be harmful to keep sharing tips, reviews and entertainment about cruising to keep the love of cruising bubbling under until the world returns to a place where we can reset and travel again. Lots of people tell me they enjoy the distraction amongst their cancellations and postponements. Of course, I need to keep the balance right and so comments like yours are very helpful to remind me that some people could misunderstand and misinterpret the channel and videos. I probably need to post more on going on my community postings as tending to do that more on other social media. Sorry for the long reply! Stay well!
@@tipsfortravellers Thanks, Gary. Very gentlemanly and sincere response. I continue to watch all your vids.
I want to book but I'm confused because I feel that this ship don't have young people, I love the old spirit though but still.
1. Entertainment sucks. Seems like all the budget is spent on food.
2. Make sure you book specialty dinning really early. Otherwise you are left with stupid hours. Again, everyone is there for the food. Main dinning room is next to empty.
3. Onboard activities are next to nothing. Cruise ship director has barely any staff and he was the entertainment a couple of nights. One port day was rained out and everyone was forced to stay on board. Absolutely no replacement activities that day. Didn’t even put on some music where people can gather and dance a bit.
4. Food is exclusively geared to European or American tastes, as the head chef is a French chef. Asian fusion food does not even come close to Asian food. If you like Asian or Indian food, expect disappointments.
Forget it
The government has asked everyone not to go on cruise ships right now.
That’s not correct. They issued clarification after the initial press conference. There is advice recommending elderly people, who are especially vulnerable to the virus, avoid cruising without medical advice
Gary is correct. And just because now is definitely not a good time to cruise, it might be a good time to book one. Cruises are available to be booked right up until April 2022.
"Right now" defined as mid-March 2020. The outbreak in China appears to have peaked within a few months. If that pattern continues over the rest of the world, cruising may bounce back by the fall. So one bad summer (in the norther hemisphere).
Tips For Travellers Actually my statement is correct. Maybe we not talking about the same government.
XJLCA he is talking about Oceania Cruises, he is not talking about the Covid-19 as the News is your best source for that. He has many videos, each on a different topic.
quite honesrtly - you should considder taking down some of your OLD stuff as the industry changes so fast post covid etc., that it becomes irrelevant ! - just a thought !
Do waste you money unless you really like bad seasick. Production show only consists of 4 people, music only play 45 minutes per day. All their money is spent on mailing advertising, 2 or 3 books per day in my mail box. Lobster is dry, tough with frozen taste. Specialty restaurants are not that good at all. Service is OK. Free wines is bad, $2.580 per bottle. I been to 250 cruises, this is the worst experience. Lots of adverting, most are paid CZcamsR with free cruises, money, etc. and highly bias.. Do not believe them. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS WORTHLESS CRUISE. Small ship, Regent is the best, Vikings is second.