Worried about a snooz cruz...

We're booked next summer for West Med cruise on Riviera. Been reading as many reviews as possible as well as watching this forum. Most of the reviews are very positive but there is a trend running thru that infers the ship lacks social interaction and interesting social events; some even call the passengers aloof and boring. I like to meet people and learn about different walks of life, so this might be a disappointment. Not a deal breaker, certainly, with such a port intensive trip. Still I'd like to have some opportunities to mingle.

While we haven't sailed on the O class ships, we just got off the Insignia and found most of the passengers delightful. One oafish guy and a couple who were prouder of themselves that I liked is pretty good among 609 passengers.

We were on a fall Mediterranean cruise on Marina, and was able to meet a LOT of fun people and found no problem striking up conversations. We met some of the warmest welcoming people, from all walks of life, and is one of the reasons we wanted to go back on another Oceania cruise. We left out of Athens during a cab strike and riots outside our hotel, so we all had something to talk about to say the least (one of the people we met had a photo taken from his hotel room of a guy throwing molitav cocktail)! The ship can be quiet at times. After dinner you will find at times where you feel like the only person on the ship. You will find pockets of people in the casino (very small crowd), others in Martinis, and a group in the lounge dancing. Everything winds down by 1am. I think they are all wanting to get up early for the lamb chops at breakfast!! Enjoy your cruise!!

Riviera is a blast! There are over 1200 other people onboard; you can certainly find some whom you can have fun with. Couples cooking classes, artists' loft, daily afternoon trivia competition, afternoon tea, fantastic huge spa and sauna, nice size pool and hot tubs, 18-hole putting course with rough, espresso bar, good library area, game room, several cocktail bars, 7 different restaurants, etc. About the only thing missing to facilitate conviviality is a cigar lounge like the Regent ships have, but there is a cigar smoking area off of the pool...

Agree with most of the above. However, on port intensive itineraries, many passengers are tired from the day and need to get up early the following day. This would affect the night life on Oceania.

We're booked next summer for West Med cruise on Riviera. Been reading as many reviews as possible as well as watching this forum. Most of the reviews are very positive but there is a trend running thru that infers the ship lacks social interaction and interesting social events; some even call the passengers aloof and boring. I like to meet people and learn about different walks of life, so this might be a disappointment. Not a deal breaker, certainly, with such a port intensive trip. Still I'd like to have some opportunities to mingle.

I enjoy O for the discreet, refined atmosphere, especially for a port intensive Med itinerary. I have friends who I would not recommend O. On vacation they like boisterous happy hours, bar/cabin crawls, loud music, and they just wing-it at each port. On O you will find a more serious, well traveled passenger who, don't get me wrong, also enjoy having a nice time but in a more subtle way: On our last cruise there were several large groups on board and it was a tropical itinerary. I found there was more of a 'partaay' atmosphere.

If you choose to share a table at meal time you will meet a lot of interesting people that way

I am a shy person until I get to know people but have met many good friends on Oceania ...try joining your roll call & interact with people there

If you are an open & friendly sort you will enjoy the company on Oceania but if you are the sort not to mingle then it will be a different experience

Life is what you make it

 

Life is what you make it

Truer words were never spoken!

There are plenty of opportunities to meet others --- be sure to join your roll call, for a start! --- but you need to be proactive.

We have made some lifelong friends on O! If you want to , so will you.

Donna

No two cruises are alike. The mix of people is always different. If you reach out to meet others I am sure you will have a wonderful time.

Agree with most of the above. However, on port intensive itineraries, many passengers are tired from the day and need to get up early the following day. This would affect the night life on Oceania.

I'm assuming (hoping) that just because people get up early doesn't mean that their aren't things to do in the evening for those who don't go to bed early??? We get up early, go to the gym (most days), do things in port all day, come back for drinks, a nice dinner, dancing, drinks, maybe hang in a piano bar or the casino, go to bed (11:00 -12:00 ish or so) and then do it all again the next day, etc. Sometimes I feel like I need a vacation when we get home!

I'm assuming (hoping) that just because people get up early doesn't mean that their aren't things to do in the evening for those who don't go to bed early??? We get up early, go to the gym (most days), do things in port all day, come back for drinks, a nice dinner, dancing, drinks, maybe hang in a piano bar or the casino, go to bed (11:00 -12:00 ish or so) and then do it all again the next day, etc. Sometimes I feel like I need a vacation when we get home!

You will find a few people still up at 11 pm ;)

of course it depends on the demographics on your specific cruise, no 2 cruise are alike

I usually head to the cabin around 10:30pm DH will check out Horizons

Lyn

I agree that no two cruises are alike...we have just done our first O cruise and will not come back again...good food alone does not for a cruise make for us....

we have done over 40 with celebrity and will go back ....but I will miss the kidless atmosphere.....

just generally , I found it to be very quiet on O....very little to do in the afts....our only lecturers were those on wines and ports...nothing else...very little to do in the evenings...never thought I would so look forward to meedlepoint.....

but the major difference for me is that I found too many people who are very indulged, used to being catered to and do not show much appreciation when things are done for them, they expect it...

we travelled with friends , so could avoid those types ....and yes we also met some wonderful people that we hope to see on celebrity....

We often hear complaints on board from first time Oceania cruisers (who are accustomed to other lines) that there is "nothing to do" and it is "too quiet."

Those people have picked the wrong cruise line. It's a bad fit for some and a good fit for others.

It wil NEVER be like Celebrity and those who regularly cruise on Oceania are grateful for that.

As for people who are very "indulged," you will find them everywhere -- even on Celebrity.

beachchairs,

I know what you mean by the indulged type. I shared a dinner table once with a woman of the 'my country club is superior' set. However, in my limited experience, itineraries with many culturally interesting ports attract well-educated and interesting passengers who appreciate the ship and where they are going.

I think Oceania is great for a port intensive trip which most of theirs are. A lot of sea days would get a little quite for us as there is not much going on expect eating. There is not too much night life after the eating stops around 9 and the show at 9:45? As for fellow pass, well people are people. The only ones I hear constant talk about " high end cabins" or how they need a butler is on CC.

I am taking my 15th O cruise in a couple of days. I have met many very nice people onboard. I don't really need to be entertained on vacation, but I have found lots of fun activities to take part of with fellow cruisers. I am so looking forward to Saturday. Miami here we come.

We often hear complaints on board from first time Oceania cruisers (who are accustomed to other lines) that there is "nothing to do" and it is "too quiet."

 

Those people have picked the wrong cruise line. It's a bad fit for some and a good fit for others.

 

It wil NEVER be like Celebrity and those who regularly cruise on Oceania are grateful for that.

 

As for people who are very "indulged," you will find them everywhere -- even on Celebrity.

+1

I couldn't have said it better myself - no returns to Celebrity for me anytime soon :)

We often hear complaints on board from first time Oceania cruisers (who are accustomed to other lines) that there is "nothing to do" and it is "too quiet."

 

Those people have picked the wrong cruise line. It's a bad fit for some and a good fit for others.

 

It wil NEVER be like Celebrity and those who regularly cruise on Oceania are grateful for that.

As for people who are very "indulged," you will find them everywhere -- even on Celebrity.

+1

I couldn't have said it better myself - no returns to Celebrity for me anytime soon :)

Hello - would the two of you be able to elaborate a little on exactly what differences you you're referring to? Especially in light of Oceania being better? We are wrestling with the decision to book O for a Med cruise next fall but are very unfamiliar with the product. We have cruised Celebrity and could use that experience in contrast if you would help out. TIA

Hello - would the two of you be able to elaborate a little on exactly what differences you you're referring to? Especially in light of Oceania being better? We are wrestling with the decision to book O for a Med cruise next fall but are very unfamiliar with the product. We have cruised Celebrity and could use that experience in contrast if you would help out. TIA

I do not know about the others but for me it is the size of the ships that keeps me with Oceania

Just did a HAL cruise & 2100 PAX was way too many for my liking

Food is subjective better quality ingredients on Oceania

less children ..most we have had on a cruise was 8-10

JMO

I agree that no two cruises are alike...we have just done our first O cruise and will not come back again...good food alone does not for a cruise make for us....

 

we have done over 40 with celebrity and will go back ....but I will miss the kidless atmosphere.....

 

just generally , I found it to be very quiet on O....very little to do in the afts....our only lecturers were those on wines and ports...nothing else...very little to do in the evenings...never thought I would so look forward to meedlepoint.....

 

but the major difference for me is that I found too many people who are very indulged, used to being catered to and do not show much appreciation when things are done for them, they expect it...

 

we travelled with friends , so could avoid those types ....and yes we also met some wonderful people that we hope to see on celebrity....

Well, Amanda, I found your post because I wanted to see where you are cruising next...we thought the tours you arranged were over the top fabulous and this would have helped us decide where to go next. Sorry you won't be returning to O -- this was our first O cruise and we intend to do more.

We were on the same cruise as Beachchairs2, and it was likewise our first Oceania cruise. Contrary to her, I will never go back to Celebrity again; too big, too loud, too many people and lines. But, unless the itinerary is unique and exactly what we're looking for, we won't go back to Oceania either. Like her, I missed the younger people, but not so much the kids as the child-bearing age people. Almost everyone was American and retirement age plus. At 64, we were unquestionably below the average age. I have no desire to cruise with people who are exactly like me. Our last cruise was on Azamara, and many of the passengers were European. Likewise, there were lots of people in their 40's and 50's. Oceania has lots of pluses (I'll eventually get around to a review, but the holidays are taking precedence right now), but the passenger mix is a deal killer for me.

Hello - would the two of you be able to elaborate a little on exactly what differences you you're referring to? Especially in light of Oceania being better? We are wrestling with the decision to book O for a Med cruise next fall but are very unfamiliar with the product. We have cruised Celebrity and could use that experience in contrast if you would help out. TIA

I might choose celebrity for a transatlantic cruise where I will spend many successive days at sea. The many venues and entertainment would be appealing in that situation

For a port intensive cruise never again. too many people too many kids too much noise

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We often hear complaints on board from first time Oceania cruisers (who are accustomed to other lines) that there is "nothing to do" and it is "too quiet."

 

Those people have picked the wrong cruise line. It's a bad fit for some and a good fit for others.

 

It wil NEVER be like Celebrity and those who regularly cruise on Oceania are grateful for that.

 

As for people who are very "indulged," you will find them everywhere -- even on Celebrity.

Agree with you. IMO, this is the main reason to do research on whichever cruise line you are considering. There has been some recent posts on the Oceania board from NCL passengers hoping to sail on Oceania. That would be great -- as long as Oceania is the type of atmosphere they are looking for.

It is not always about age. When we were younger, the last thing we wanted was a vacation with too much to do -- too many people -- too much "loud" drinking, etc. We lived extremely busy lives and wanted to sit on a beach and sip cocktails. There are young people who enjoy Oceania. Now that we are a bit older, we still wants the comforts that Oceania and Regent offer -- no longer want to be around screaming children but are very active both on the ship and at port. Oceania suits us just fine (Regent a bit more) but both experiences are to our liking.

We find that itineraries in the Caribbean, transatlantic and sailings that are more than 2 weeks tend to get older people while Alaska and summer Med. cruises have younger folks - some with children. In terms of diversity, we have seen up to 1/3 of passengers from the U.K. and Australia alone.

Based on what I have read over the years, if we wanted to sail on a non-luxury or premium cruise line, we would select Celebrity.

We were on the same cruise as Beachchairs2, and it was likewise our first Oceania cruise. Contrary to her, I will never go back to Celebrity again; too big, too loud, too many people and lines. But, unless the itinerary is unique and exactly what we're looking for, we won't go back to Oceania either. Like her, I missed the younger people, but not so much the kids as the child-bearing age people. Almost everyone was American and retirement age plus. At 64, we were unquestionably below the average age. I have no desire to cruise with people who are exactly like me. Our last cruise was on Azamara, and many of the passengers were European. Likewise, there were lots of people in their 40's and 50's. Oceania has lots of pluses (I'll eventually get around to a review, but the holidays are taking precedence right now), but the passenger mix is a deal killer for me.

Everyone's boat floats on different tides. In our case, for most of the year we deal with people and a cultural environment where common sense is dead, manners have disappeared, rudeness and self-centeredness reign, ignorance and bluster are proudly displayed, and appreciation for reasoned debate and the written word have been lost in a tidal wave of digital obsession and instant gratification. In response to all this, we are delighted to sail with people - of whatever background - who share such values and who - it must be admitted - are more or less just like us.

Everyone's boat floats on different tides. In our case, for most of the year we deal with people and a cultural environment where common sense is dead, manners have disappeared, rudeness and self-centeredness reign, ignorance and bluster are proudly displayed, and appreciation for reasoned debate and the written word have been lost in a tidal wave of digital obsession and instant gratification. In response to all this, we are delighted to sail with people - of whatever background - who share such values and who - it must be admitted - are more or less just like us.

Boy you hit the nail on the head... its why ducks flock with ducks and chickens flock with chickens.

Oceania attracts this duck, because of the affinity I have with the flock, which ranges in age and experience some older ducks some younger but no quacking ducklings.......

Living in Hawaii for a decade taught me a WHOLE lot about the fallacy of diversity.....

Tarpen.... well said...