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Warning - those with concerns and problems with "R" ships on Oceania


UDSpud
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I just noticed, on Cruise Critic News, that Asamara has just added another ship. It just happens to be the 8th and final "original" "R" ship. They, like Oceania with the Sirena, have decided to purchase and redo an "R" ship. It is my understanding that their entire fleet is made up of "R" model ships.

 

So if you have major problems with the Oceania "R" ship design basics, as many have stated on CC, then you at need to consider Asamara with care. I will note the Asamara has made changes (no casino comes to mind).

 

I think the following is correct as of now.

 

Oceania - 4 original "R" ships

Asamara - 3 original "R" ships

Princess - 1 original "R" ship

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Yes, Azamara recently purchased R8 from P&O, and reportedly have an option on P&O's remaining R vessel ( Pacific Princess). R8 was refurbished here in Belfast and named the Pursuit. They made several variations to it over their existing pair of Rs, including the removal of the casino, it has only been sailing for just over a month in Europe and seems to have had good reviews. It will be interesting to see what the US audience make of it when to crosses the Atlantic.

 

I have sailed with Azamara, it has a dedicated following, as Oceania has. As I haven't sailed of one of O's R ships I can't directly compare products, but I can comment that I think O's food is better (there is a also a charge for the Az Specialty venues) and that the age group in Az would probably be slightly younger than on O.

 

Having sailed on Riviera, I much prefer it's larger size and more dining option to Azamara Journey, but I'm happy with both products and my choice would be down to itinerary and price as the main deciders.

 

Azamara seem to has a successful product and a growing business, yes on CC there are those who comment about the size of the bathrooms, plus the usual niggles about food, drinks and dress codes, as they do on every Line forum on these boards.

Edited by hillsprint
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Yes, Azamara recently purchased R8 from P&O, and reportedly have an option on P&O's remaining R vessel ( Pacific Princess). .

I thought Pacific Princess was still under the Princess fleet?

When did they transfer her to P & O ?

Edited by LHT28
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Sorry Lynn, you are correct, was getting my Adonia (R8) mixed up, and you think the name would have told me:)

OK

 

I wondered as I see the PP sailing for Princess still

 

She may be on the market though

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We had sailed on Adonia and it had been rather neglected in terms of maintenance, nevertheless it was our preferred P&O ship sailing to and from Southampton.

Unfortunately like many lines P&O are going for bigger and bigger vessels which we do not want to sail on.

We have also sailed with Azamara when they provided wine with lunch and dinner, the last time we sailed with them they had introduced a 'more inclusive' system where other alcohol was included, accompanied by a rise in prices to accomodate this. Being light drinkers this isn't for us.

Last month we had the opportunity to spend a day on Azamara Pursuit, the renamed and refurbished Adonia.

Azamara have done a brilliant job on her, and she looks as good as new. See below for report and photos.

 

https://www.niferry.co.uk/azamara-pursuit-leaves-belfast/

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I'm not sure why this is a warning. Some of us love the smaller ships, bathrooms and all. Nice to know that this one is not headed to the junk heap but was refurbished instead. Agree Oceania has a better version but I might try Azamara again for the right itinerary, although I am not a fan of included alcohol and the decor looks bleak.

 

Mary

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OK

 

I wondered as I see the PP sailing for Princess still

 

She may be on the market though

There was a rumour that Azamara have first refusal on her. I think I saw this on the Azamara board.

We sailed on PP last year after a short refurb but it will probably need a lot of money spending on it to bring it up to spec.

We were very impressed with what Azamara have done with Pursuit and it's likely Oceania have something similar in mind for their 'R' ships.

Don't understand the warning either :confused:

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There was a rumour that Azamara have first refusal on her. I think I saw this on the Azamara board.

We sailed on PP last year after a short refurb but it will probably need a lot of money spending on it to bring it up to spec.

We were very impressed with what Azamara have done with Pursuit and it's likely Oceania have something similar in mind for their 'R' ships.

Don't understand the warning either :confused:

yes apparently Princess does not take care of the R ships as noted by the restoration needed for the Sirena formally the Ocean princess

 

 

I do hope Oceania is not going to be like Azamara too much

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I'm not sure why this is a warning. Some of us love the smaller ships, bathrooms and all. Nice to know that this one is not headed to the junk heap but was refurbished instead. Agree Oceania has a better version but I might try Azamara again for the right itinerary, although I am not a fan of included alcohol and the decor looks bleak.

 

Mary

 

Ditto.

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Why the "Warning".

 

This is the explanation for this thread, embarrassing to me though it may be (Obviously the embarrassment extends from "A to Z" - as in Azamara as opposed to Asamara in my spelling).

 

When I saw the CC news report recently on the Pursuit ( I all ready knew Azamara had two "R" ships ), I knew that some Oceania CC board comments have concerned the "R" ships.The smaller bathrooms, small showers and shower curtains quickly came to mind.

 

So, I thought some might be thinking of "jumping ship" from Oceania "R" ships to Azamara may not know that Azamara has "R" ships.

 

I forgot that CC users are smart and would read CC about Azamara before switching.

As for the humor part, perhaps I can attribute this failure to a lot of Oceania entertainment (or maybe just genetics).

 

I was going to say more about the Azamara spelling, but then I noted the squiggle line under Azamara in this reply.

 

Sorry to waste your time when I could have said something political.

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Having been on the Azamara Quest in March, I'm looking forward to seeing what the Riviera is like. Never sailed with O or NCL before.

We weren't over joyed with the Quest or the old R ship. There were aspects we liked a lot, however the cabin and bathroom size left us feeling disappointed. The ship's size and layout were excellent and the staff were very good. The casino is empty because Azamara will not put any money into it. Most of slots are at least 25 years old and there is no real attraction there in the evenings. Onboard entertainment on Azamara is also lacking.

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Plus the “O” Ships have a much larger and better equipped spa and pool, a large and quite popular teaching kitchen, an arts room, and much larger PH and regular Suites. Not everyone like the diminutive coffee bar, done in a beautiful teak, but we do.

 

And there is Jacques, generally viewed as Oceania’s most popular specialty restaurant, as well as La Reserve, the prix fixe Wine Spectator restaurant. Also, Polo and Toscana are separate restaurants, and there is Red Ginger as well (otherwise only on Sirena).

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Although I enjoyed my first cruise on the R3 many years ago, and my first Oceania cruise on Nautica, I am now a fan of the O-class ships. I have been spoiled by the much larger and more comfortable bathrooms on the O ships. I don't find the O ships anything like just "larger versions of the R ships".

 

We cruised on Sirena most recently, and I did not enjoy going back to the clingy-curtain shower days. I believe I read that Oceania is adding glass shower doors on the coming updates of the R ships, so perhaps I'll try again if I see a great itinerary...

 

As for Azamara, I was tempted by some of their golf-oriented itineraries - but the very high cost of those sailings cooled my enthusiasm! In general, it seems their prices have gone up quite a bit lately.

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Azamara and Oceania seem to attract similar guests. I like Oceania and Azamara. They both do a great cruise. Both have similar designs. R ships are small and beautiful. O ships are a step above with spacious cabins and more venues to visit. Food is very good on both lines. No cruise line is perfect. Both lines strive to deliver a great trip. Not a fan of the small shower on R ships. However, there is more to a cruise besides showering. Love the specialty dining, included premium coffee and tea. Oceania has the best afternoon tea event. azamara offers an evening event in a special place complimentary. Entertainment is ok on both lines. Service on both lines is very good. I could go on and on stating the features of both lines. So how do I decide which line to book. It depends on time, destination, and price. Looking forward to my upcoming cruises on both lines. I would like to see both lines refit the small cabins with larger bathrooms. I would like to see both lines build new ships.

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There are new larger showers and no tubs in the PH Suites on Sirena. We are going to Cuba on Sirena later this year.

 

My wife enjoys a bathtub so we’re unlikely to go on an R ship in the future. PH Suites on Marina and Riviera are our favorite suites on Oceania.

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yes apparently Princess does not take care of the R ships as noted by the restoration needed for the Sirena formally the Ocean princess

 

 

I do hope Oceania is not going to be like Azamara too much

 

I suspect that most of the restoration was changing the decor and cabins to be consistent with Oceania, not because of poor maintenance prior to the change.

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I suspect that most of the restoration was changing the decor and cabins to be consistent with Oceania, not because of poor maintenance prior to the change.

 

Princess seemed to have deliberately allowed Sirena to deteriorate dramatically between the purchase and her delivery to Oceania. They refused to replace so much as a lightbulb.

Carnival, eh?

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I suspect that most of the restoration was changing the decor and cabins to be consistent with Oceania, not because of poor maintenance prior to the change.

 

Having cruised on several Princess R ships as well as several O’s R ships I can assure you that Princess R ships needed a lot more than “changing decor”.

Also, as J&S stated, Princess did not invest a penny into the ship after it was sold to Oceania while they still had and sailed it for another year or so - why would they?

Would you spend any money on your car or house after you had sold it (and had it for another year)?

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