Oceania or Azamara?

Anyone cruised both? Which is better and why?

Hi,

My family and a few friends have sailed on both, they said Azamara cruise experience was excellent, even better than Oceania and more affordable; the food, service, ports and the interior design of the ship were amazing. Both Azamara ships (Quest and Journey) were completely refurbished for their debut last year. I've been twice in Regatta which was a nice experience though. I just booked the 16 days Western/Northern Europe Itinerary on the Azamara Journey on May 16th, from Barcelona to Copenhagen. The ship will have two overnights in London (Tower Bridge Port); the Journey will visit three ports in Spain (Valencia, Almeria and Bilbao), Lisbon, three ports in France (Bordeaux, La Rochelle and St. Malo-Mt. Saint Michel), Amsterdam and Copenhagen. Oceania don't tender in London-Tower Bridge (literally in London), just Silversea and Seabourn. Azamara has improved a lot; they made some mistakes in the beginning. Check on their website, where they have plenty of information. Enjoy your selection.

Best regards,

Joel

I see you have cruised on many of the same lines as us. How does Oceania compare to your other experiences?

Hi,

The top all-inclusive luxury cruise lines (Silversea, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas and Crystal) are an amazing way to spend your vacations, most of the beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are included, specialty restaurants and no tipping. If I compare Oceania with the top cruise lines I would start to talk about the cost of your cruise experience. Even though Oceania is not as expensive as the other cruise lines, it is not all-inclusive, everything is expensive (guided tours, alcoholic beverages, etc.) and the ships don't offer many onboard entertaining activities. If you pay in Oceania for all the not-included extras from the top luxury lines you will pay same and sometimes more for a product which is in a lower level of luxury (regarding service, quality of food, ship design, cabin’s size and amenities, etc.). My overall score for Oceania is 7.5, Seabourn 9, Regent 9 and Silversea 9.5; if you want to experience the top of the top, if you drink often and you’re interested in personalized tours, the top luxury cruise lines are for you, if not Oceania is the answer. Each cruise line and ship has their own personality and style. Read these interesting articles from Cruise Critics, it might help you to make the right choice based on your preferences:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/luxurycruises/articles.cfm?ID=124

http://www.cruisecritic.com/luxurycruises/articles.cfm?ID=227

If you have any other questions don’t hesitate to contact me. I will be more than happy to help.

Regards,

Joel

Hedonistuds: Having cruised on Crystal (8 sailings), Seabourn (5 sailings), Silversea ( 1 sailing) and Oceania (3 sailings), I can say with certainty that your post is way off base regarding the total cost of a cruise. One could not drink enough to off set the "all inclusive" price of Seabourn & Silversea. And who in their right mind would use the cruise lines for tours! It's very easy to line up tours if one can take the time!

Granted that Oceania doesn't have the best entertainment.But, then again, DW & I don't cruise for the entertainment. Living in Nevada, we can take in a show here in Reno, or fly down to LV if we desperately need a big time extravaganza fix.

Regarding food, Oceania is as good as Seabourn and Crystal and is much better than Silversea. Then you have the formal night business ( all three lines) and two, assigned seatings (Crystal). We'll take the single, open seating AND country club casual attire anytime. And don't forget the strict very limited smoking policy on Oceania. The other three lines can't even come close, especially Seabourn, which is one of the reasons we abandoned the line.

Sorry, but your argument doesn't hold up! Enjoy the other lines. We've done them and have moved on.

My wife and I will be taking our first Oceania cruise in 2009. One of the main reasons we will not take Crystal, Regent or the other "top" lines is the formal nights and assigned seating. We are used to Windstar which is "country club casual" and we are very happy with that atmosphere. I don't wear a tie for work - why would I wear a tie on vacation? We have decided to try Oceania because it continues the casual atmosphere.

Hedonistuds, I looked over your list of previous cruise ships in your signature, and I don't see Oceania anywhere. Is your comparison based on experience or someone else's opinion?

One more correction to add to Hedonistud's observations: Crystal is NOT an all-inclusive line. Alcoholic beverages are not included nor are gratuities. And while Seabourn, Silverseas and Regent all have open seating, Crystal has two fixed seatings with assigned tables. These are major differences between Crystal and the othe three lines.

Hi Don:

I've been in more than 60 cruises in my life and I'm just 31 years old. First: Saying that, I don't think I have room enough (or time) to post every single cruise I've been in my life. SECOND: I've sailed the Caribbean on Crystal Harmony (which is not part of Crystal Cruises anymore) and Crystal Symphony with my parents, as far as I know everything was included on the price (I thought the cruise line was an all-inclusive one). Third: Thanks for the correction, we learn everyday. I don't marry with any specific cruise line at all. Most of them are good, even the non-luxury cruise lines.

Greetings from Asia,

Joel

Hi Don:

 

I've been in more than 60 cruises in my life and I'm just 31 years old. First: Saying that, I don't think I have room enough (or time) to post every single cruise I've been in my life...

Perhaps I should have been more specific. Are your comments about Oceania based on experience? It doesn't matter whether you have been on 6, 60 or 600 cruises if you have never been on the line in question. It is for that reason that I have refrained from commenting about the differences in cruise lines in this thread.

Crystal is not all -inclusive.. ;) and a completely different cruise experience than Oceania or Regent.

But so far there has been virtually NO ANSWER to the question posed.

I am looking for similar info as I cannot get on the O cruise that we want until 2009.

Brian

Perhaps I should have been more specific. Are your comments about Oceania based on experience? It doesn't matter whether you have been on 6, 60 or 600 cruises if you have never been on the line in question. It is for that reason that I have refrained from commenting about the differences in cruise lines in this thread.

Don,

The answer is yes, I've been 3 times, two on Regatta and one on Insignia. It's obvious that I can't comment about a line which I've never experienced before, common sense. The quantity of cruise experiences count at the time to rate service, food, etc. That's how people can post better reviews because they have the experience to compare. So the 6, 60 and 600 really counts. Oceania is good but you can't compare it with the other ones.

Leonid,

As you posted this: "And who in their right mind would use the cruise lines for tours! It's very easy to line up tours if one can take the time! Granted that Oceania doesn't have the best entertainment.But, then again, DW & I don't cruise for the entertainment. Living in Nevada, we can take in a show here in Reno, or fly down to LV if we desperately need a big time extravaganza fix. Regarding food, Oceania is as good as Seabourn and Crystal and is much better than Silversea. Then you have the formal night business ( all three lines) and two, assigned seatings (Crystal). We'll take the single, open seating AND country club casual attire anytime. And don't forget the strict very limited smoking policy on Oceania. The other three lines can't even come close, especially Seabourn, which is one of the reasons we abandoned the line."

You are talking from your experience. I'm talking from mine as well. So accept the opinion of others, as other people does with yours. This forum is to help other passengers, not to create another war. That's why I posted two CC's articles to drummondcreek, so he can do his own research.

Overall, it's kind of funny how people (which are a lot) are attacking other CC users instead of helping them. It seems they take personal every single review people post from their favorite cruise line. Can you make an effort, please?

Regards,

Joel

But so far there has been virtually NO ANSWER to the question posed.

 

I am looking for similar info as I cannot get on the O cruise that we want until 2009.

 

Brian

Thanks Brian:

Yes, I am still looking for some advice based on the original question. Oceania or Azamara?

:rolleyes:

Hi,

Though I was on Azamara in September when they were still "having growing pains" I did enjoy it a lot, it is different than Oceania but we had a wonderful time..I am not a "foodie" but I and the 14 people who were with us enjoyed every meal..I did not care for their lunch buffet, but I did always find something to eat..the staff is trying really hard to be the best at sea..I would travel on Azamara again, if I liked the itinerary.

If you are looking for exactly an Oceania experience..you have to go on O..Azamara is good in a different way and still learning..

I will be happy to answer any specific questions at any time based on my own experience in September..I wish I had more current info to give you..

Jan

*****

you mentioned the "Oceania experience" and that is different that Azamara. Are you able to be any more specific?

Been there, done that.... Just got off a Azamara Quest trip where I was quarantined for a couple of days. The ships are almost identical in shape and size so no big difference there. I've sailed Oceania 5 or 6 times and never had any problems. In my humble opinion, Azamara has a ways to go before it will be competitive with Oceania.

BajaRock

drummondcreek -

We have done two crossings on O's Regatta, both in an aft cabin (#6090 and #6093). Next month we'll be on A's Quest for another crossing - in one of these two cabins (Sunset Veranda). So we have almost the same itineraries (except for a few different ports in the Med), almost identical ships and identical cabins. It'll be interesting to take notes of the differences, good and bad. In mid-May, I hope, I'll be able to answer your questions.

Been there, done that.... Just got off a Azamara Quest trip where I was quarantined for a couple of days.

BajaRock

What happened? Why were you quarantined?

drummondcreek -

We have done two crossings on O's Regatta, both in an aft cabin (#6090 and #6093). Next month we'll be on A's Quest for another crossing - in one of these two cabins (Sunset Veranda). So we have almost the same itineraries (except for a few different ports in the Med), almost identical ships and identical cabins. It'll be interesting to take notes of the differences, good and bad. In mid-May, I hope, I'll be able to answer your questions.

Thanks Jay. That would be greatly appreciated.

You may want to post your sail date and cabin number. I would bet Azamara reads these posts and will make sure your comparison between O and A is very much on their side. Wink Wink, nudge nudge.

Azamara does read their boards..but not Oceanaia's..

Jan

*****

I just returned from the Quest Panama Canal sailing March 1-15. I sailed Insignia June of 2006. I had a veranda cabin on each. My opinion is that they are equal. Right now, AZ is much less than O. The same itinerary on a per diem basis for the same cabin would have been $1000 more for the two of us on O, so AZ was a great value.

The food was very, very good on AZ. Up until this cruise I had to say O had the best food, but AZ is just as good. You can eat in the alternate restaurants on AZ at no charge as many times as you like as you can on O. I found the Italian restaurant on O to be a bit better than Aqualina, but the steakhouses were the same. Sushi on AZ was way better than on O-the chef would make any roll you want including a rainbow roll and unagi and avocado roll. AZ had some sake and Japanese beer to go with the sushi, O did not. AZ has a smoothie bar in the morning up in the buffet. They will make them any way you like as well as some suggested combos. A nice touch. First time I've seen this on a cruise.

Both have overpriced drinks and shore excursions. On both I did not partake of either due to the exorbitant costs. I did use my OBC on AZ at the bar, the only reason I had any liquor from the ship. I brought on 2 bottles of wine and vodka to drink in the room. On O I bought no drinks at all. My onboard account on AZ came to $2.61. My account on O was only the tips. AZ had prepaid gratuities, a $350 savings.

AZ does not have cabanas. I would never take a PC cruise on a ship that you couldn't go up front on.

AZ added more gaming tables and a place to watch sports on TV to the lounge area near the casino bar where O has a piano and holds the trivia games.

Service on AZ was outstanding, better than on O. Our butler even gave us a bottle of wine left over from a previous guest when I told him we ran out.

I would sail again on either line if the itinerary is good and the price is right.

FDR, you have some serious competition.

Susie

Does "PC" mean Panama Canal? We just did that on a similar sized ship last December.

With competition, do you think O price will come down, or AZ price will go up?

Thank you for such an interesting comparison.

Thanks for the review - it was an interesting read.:)

Yes, PC is Panama Canal.

I think AZ will raise their prices, especially on the popular itineraries. I don't see O coming down unless everyone wants to book the new ship and stops booking the existing ones. However, if the American economy continues to tank and the dollar keeps sinking, cruising in Europe will be very expensive and some deals may come along to entice people to book. I'd like to cruise Europe in late spring or fall of 2009 but I hesitate to book with the euro costing $1.56 now and who knows where in 2009. The cruise may be priced in dollars, but you won't be able to afford to do anything in the ports. My next vacation/cruise will be in Thailand and Cambodia in November where the exchange rate stays mostly the same and prices are reasonable. I will be looking at AZ Caribbean itineraries and prices for next year too.