Vallesan

I have no doubt! Ignore the ‘nay sayers’ and make up your own mind. Any trip is only as good as you make it!

Please don’t be swayed by these boards. They actually are not representative of an Oceania cruise. The one thing to remember above all else, on all these boards, is that people are very quick to criticise but very slow to praise!

I think that was my question! I’ve never had a bad cruise, and certainly never on Oceania. I sometimes wonder if I was on the same cruise as some of the ‘complainers’! Or maybe my standards are just very low!

Have you sailed with Oceania?

I can only say if you’ve not sailed before…. IGNORE THESE BOARDS! We’ve sailed over 140 days on Oceania, small ships and their larger sisters. We’ve sailed the Caribbean, Med, Asia and the Greek Islands. We have enjoyed every one of our cruises. I wonder if Oceania passengers have ‘too high ‘ expectations after travelling , sorry to use the phrase, on “mass market” lines? No, Oceania isn’t perfect, but then no line is, not Slversea nor Seabourn. They are all different and all have different price points. At the end of the day the cruise you pick matches your preferred itinerary, your budget, your preference to size of ship and your desire for inclusivity. The choice, as they say, is yours!

Maybe you’re right. For me if I go to a restaurant, hotel or go on a cruise, if I don’t like it I don’t ’cry’ on social media I just don’t go again! I’m still lost as to why so many ‘unhappy travellers’ don’t just spend their cash elsewhere!

Didn’t think I was being ‘condescending’. If it read like that then I apologise. Sorry!

I’ve been following the posts on these threads for several months now. I’m ’Just wondering…’ why do so many people, who seem really unhappy with Oceania, in general, continue to ‘bash’ the brand. For what reason? Why don’t they just find another line? End of!

Come on …. this is a HOLIDAY!

Another variable is the number of passengers on the ship. If you are sailing on a nearly full ship there far less chance of getting extra nights no matter what grade of cabin you have.

More or less the same … you end up with ‘money’!

Good to hear a positive review!

Hopefully! I often wonder just how much food one person can eat at one meal! We love cruising but tend to have a starter and a main. We have sat with others who go through all of the five courses on the menu. Not sure if they realise that that is an ‘option’ not a ‘must do’!

To simplify, my reading of the situation is, if you pay ‘money’ on top of your SM tour credit allowance, if any trip is cancelled, irrespective of whether it was paid with ‘credit’ or ‘cash’, your first cancellations would be covered by cash refunds to your credit card. That would be irrespective of which trip was actually cancelled. It’s probably better to look at it as a ‘package’ rather than individual tours. You have $400 SM you add more tours at a cost of $200 cash, if any of your tours are cancelled the refunds will be applied firstly to the ‘cash’ amount you paid irrespective of the order of the tours. The excess cash will always be refunded if the overall cost of the tours is less than the SM allowance. However, the SM allowance is non-refundable …. use it if lose it!

Funny how some people suddenly ‘can’t speak’ a language, becomes a very convenient excuse when you actually don’t want ‘hear’ something!

Looks like a simple solution to an annoying problem.

We sailed Silversea for the first time last year and I was pleasantly surprised by the portions being smaller than I was used to on Oceania. Yes I think it does make sense too. I guess there should be far less waste and of course if anybody is ‘hungry’, as if, they can always ask for more! Hope it doesn’t get too rough for you.

Yes of course … but you understood what I was saying!

Sounds like you need a new travel agent. I’ve never heard of a travel agent charging to get answers for you. After all they get paid a commission from Oceania!

I second everything Harters has said. We have sailed nine times with them and have two more booked. In fact we should be on the Riviera now in Asia but had to cancel. We have sailed in Asia, the Caribbean, the Greek Islands and the Mediterranean with them. Undoubtedly the passengers largest passenger group was from North America but I have noticed a change in the last two years. We sailed from Lisbon to Malta in summer 2022 down to the Canaries and then back through the Med, and whilst there were are a lot of passengers from the USA I noticed many more Europeans. I’m not sure that the Americans have got back their full appetite for travel yet. Anyway, we’ve always found a good mix of people. Personally, I am happier sailing Oceania than I would be Saga, or P&O etc. I notice you’ve chosen two of the smaller ships. We’ve loved the smaller ships but sailed on the Riviera in autumn 2022 after being on the Nautica in that summer and I have to say we are veering more towards the O class ships. Mainly because they have four speciality restaurants and also they have cooking classes and an artists loft so there are a few more activities if that’s of interest to you. I wouldn’t turn my nose up at any of the ships!

I never mentioned ‘conspiracy’ although you seem to think that Oceania is ‘conspiring’ to cancel trips in order for them to ‘profiteer’ from the passengers. You have not been directly affected by this situation so I’m not quite sure why you are so angry, on other peoples’ behalf, in wondering why more people aren’t up in arms. They obviously realise that nothing in life is perfect and are making the best of it. So this brings me back to the same question…. Is Oceania a good fit for you NOW? I’m assuming not.

Doesn’t this come back to the question … Is Oceania a good fit for you NOW? If not fine. Is there any data published to show that Oceania cancels and shortens more port stays since SimplyMore was introduced? Is there any data to show Oceania misses more ports than any other line? Or are these just ‘guesses’?

It’s only 3km from the cruise port so taxi might be best if you want to spend an extensive time there.

This is my last response to you. Weve sailed probably 140+ nights with Oceania with 31 scheduled for this year. If you don’t like the pricing FIND SOMETHING MORE TO YOUR TASTE AND POCKET! GOOD LUCK!

You could be so right! You know what when I sail I’m on ‘holiday’ to enjoy. I reaally don’t need to know all the mechanics of sailing, unless it becomes something that is going to affect safety! I will just carry on sailing, if port times are cut, or ports missed that’s part of cruising. Definitely not something that will stop me cruising. Cruising is my holiday of choice!