Ventura v Oceana - help to decide please

[Scriv]

Just trying to decide between a short break on Ventura or on Oceana with my 32 year old daughter.

 

My experience is limited to Oriana and Aurora and I really liked both, but as always, I am not averse to trying something new.

 

I am not sure whether Ventura might be too big and modern for me?

 

Can anyone help me decide please?

 

We both enjoy dining in the MDR and going off to a show after dinner and then for a nightcap.

[alvin moondust]

Ventura....Go for it:)

[PORT ROYAL]

Just trying to decide between a short break on Ventura or on Oceana with my 32 year old daughter.

 

My experience is limited to Oriana and Aurora and I really liked both, but as always, I am not averse to trying something new.

 

I am not sure whether Ventura might be too big and modern for me?

 

Can anyone help me decide please?

 

We both enjoy dining in the MDR and going off to a show after dinner and then for a nightcap.

 

Oceana - theatre seating better, no need to enter 45 minutes before start to get a seat.

[Scriv]

Oceana - theatre seating better, no need to enter 45 minutes before start to get a seat.

 

 

Is getting a theatre seat a problem then?

[richleeds]

Is getting a theatre seat a problem then?

 

On Ventura? Yes. Quite often standing room only at the back and that is after a P&O hostess has made everyone shuffle along so there are no empty seats.

[heywood]

We were on Oceana in November and the theatre and other venue- Starlights? were both quite crowded for shows.

We went to Tom O' Connor's first show at 8.30 and there were long queues as we came out about 9.20 for his second show which was at 10.30!

It all seemed very busy and we just didn't bother with shows some nights.

[Scriv]

Thank you all. I have been doing a lot of reading around and listening to views and I think I am leaning to Oceana for this trip.

 

I'm not sure I am ready for the culture shock of a big ship just yet and I do like a promenade deck all round the ship and a perhaps more traditional ambience.

 

I also read that Ventura is much more casual and informal and futuristic. I don't quite think I am ready to sample that just yet either.

 

I expect this labels me as one of richleed's OF's??!! Hi richleeds, by the way. Hope you had a nice Christmas up there in my other daughter's favourite city?

Edited December 30, 2014 by Scriv

[cruisebore]

Thank you all. I have been doing a lot of reading around and listening to views and I think I am leaning to Oceana for this trip.

 

I'm not sure I am ready for the culture shock of a big ship just yet and I do like a promenade deck all round the ship and a perhaps more traditional ambience.

 

I also read that Ventura is much more casual and informal and futuristic. I don't quite think I am ready to sample that just yet either.

 

I expect this labels me as one of richleed's OF's??!! Hi richleeds, by the way. Hope you had a nice Christmas up there in my other daughter's favourite city?

 

 

Good choice, I would choose Oceana every time assuming similar itineraries

Has a different feel to that of the bigger ships and the Yacht and Compass is my favorite bar at sea.

 

 

Cb

[wilson2579]

I have sailed on both and liked both but there were far less queues everywhere on Oceana. Just walked into the shows on Oceana, no need for 45 minutes before like Ventura. The atrium is the best ever on Oceana. Having said all that it hasn't stopped me booking to go on Ventura twice next year. I am tied to school holidays and maybe that is why Ventura has been busy the twice before I have sailed on her.:eek:

[Scriv]

Thanks both - yes, I think Oceana would suit us best. That atrium looks fantastic. This has been so good - just what I was hoping for to help us decide.

 

I'm pushing my luck now - do you know anything about the Obstructed Outside Cabins on Oceana?

[Presto2]

 

I'm pushing my luck now - do you know anything about the Obstructed Outside Cabins on Oceana?

 

Have you tried this link?

 

https://ask.pocruises.com/help/PO/fleet/obstructed-views/

[Scriv]

Just used that link. A brilliant source of info, Presto. Thank you. I think I have changed my mind! Not sure I could cope with some of those views!!!

Edited December 30, 2014 by Scriv

[davecttr]

Thank you all. I have been doing a lot of reading around and listening to views and I think I am leaning to Oceana for this trip.

 

I'm not sure I am ready for the culture shock of a big ship just yet and I do like a promenade deck all round the ship and a perhaps more traditional ambience.

 

I also read that Ventura is much more casual and informal and futuristic. I don't quite think I am ready to sample that just yet either.

 

I expect this labels me as one of richleed's OF's??!! Hi richleeds, by the way. Hope you had a nice Christmas up there in my other daughter's favourite city?

You might be surprised to find that Oceana is more informal than Ventura. both have the 2 dress codes but Oceana applies them to less venues, only the 2 main dining rooms and the small Magnums champagne bar. On Ventura the code applies to the main dining rooms, the Red Bar in the atrium, Metropolis bar high aft and probably the 2 cover charge restaurants.

 

Mentioning food there is much more choice on Ventura which, apart from the main dining rooms, has the White Room and East, Beach House american diner in the evening and the Glasshouse.. In contrast Oceana has Cafe Jardin, (think posh pizza) and Horizon grill which resides in a roped off area of the Plaza buffet in bad weather.

 

Ventura has, IMO the best and worst bars on P&O. The Exchange is truly awful and the best bar is a secret :p Oceana's lovely Yacht and Compass is spoilt by being used for the numerous quizzes you get on P&O and unsuitably loud entertainment, something which seems common on P&O ships.

 

Oceana is nice though, just like an old pair of slippers ;)

[pete14]

Mentioning food there is much more choice on Ventura which, apart from the main dining rooms, has the White Room and East, Beach House american diner in the evening and the Glasshouse.. In contrast Oceana has Cafe Jardin, (think posh pizza) and Horizon grill which resides in a roped off area of the Plaza buffet in bad weather.

 

Oceana is nice though, just like an old pair of slippers ;)

 

Cafe Jardin on Oceana is much more than posh pizza. In the evening it is an Italian restaurant that carries Marco Pierre White's name which serves a range of Italian dishes for only a small surcharge. It is also a great place for a light breakfast. The Eggs Royale (Eggs Benedict but with smoked salmon rather than ham) are deservedly popular. The Atrium, whilst possessing the wow factor, does make navigating the ship a bit awkward, especially for those who rely on lifts. Not been on Ventura but Oceana would be a good choice.

[Scriv]

That's an interesting perspective, dave. I didn't realise that about the bars. I gather there is no Crow's Nest on either Ventura or Oceana - what is the equivalent?

[richleeds]

....I did thanks Scriv and hope you did too. Your daughter has great taste.

[davecttr]

That's an interesting perspective, dave. I didn't realise that about the bars. I gather there is no Crow's Nest on either Ventura or Oceana - what is the equivalent?

the equivalent on Ventura is Metropolis which is at the stern rather than bow.

 

no equivalent on Oceana, actually the Plaza is meant to be a crows nest and has a substantial bar, performing space and tables where the dance floor used to be. After 9.30 it reverts to a Crows Nest of sorts, the bar is open to midnight? Also the venue for the nightly syndicate quizz at 10.30

[davecttr]

Cafe Jardin on Oceana is much more than posh pizza. In the evening it is an Italian restaurant that carries Marco Pierre White's name which serves a range of Italian dishes for only a small surcharge. It is also a great place for a light breakfast. The Eggs Royale (Eggs Benedict but with smoked salmon rather than ham) are deservedly popular. The Atrium, whilst possessing the wow factor, does make navigating the ship a bit awkward, especially for those who rely on lifts. Not been on Ventura but Oceana would be a good choice.

the garden kaff is just a d****d inconvenience. Oceana was designed without any internal cover charge space and it shows :mad: Passengers using winners bar or the casino have no level acces to public toilets or the fore part of the ship. Passengers with cabins on the fore part of the ship have no access to winners etc. There are public toilets on that deck, forward of the kaff where they can't be accessed. The kaff is not a full restaurant like the White Room etc, it does not have the galley space for that. The obvious solution is to build new toilets aft of Winners but that won't happen because it costs money and they would lose the cabin revenue:(

[Denarius]

the garden kaff is just a d****d inconvenience. Oceana was designed without any internal cover charge space and it shows :mad: Passengers using winners bar or the casino have no level acces to public toilets or the fore part of the ship. Passengers with cabins on the fore part of the ship have no access to winners etc. There are public toilets on that deck, forward of the kaff where they can't be accessed. The kaff is not a full restaurant like the White Room etc, it does not have the galley space for that. The obvious solution is to build new toilets aft of Winners but that won't happen because it costs money and they would lose the cabin revenue:(

 

Agree entirely Dave. When I first sailed on Oceana many years ago Café Jardin operated in the role for which it was designed - an informal eatery for light breakfasts and lunches, and an informal alternative to the MDR in the evening in the days when the buffet did not serve dinner. In the evening it served Pizza and a small range of Italian dishes. It still does, but now calls itself a select restaurant and charges.

Despite that, given the same itinerary I would choose Oceana over Ventura any day. Ventura feels overcrowded by comparison and lacks atmosphere.

[pete14]

the garden kaff is just a d****d inconvenience. Oceana was designed without any internal cover charge space and it shows :mad: Passengers using winners bar or the casino have no level acces to public toilets or the fore part of the ship. Passengers with cabins on the fore part of the ship have no access to winners etc. There are public toilets on that deck, forward of the kaff where they can't be accessed. The kaff is not a full restaurant like the White Room etc, it does not have the galley space for that. The obvious solution is to build new toilets aft of Winners but that won't happen because it costs money and they would lose the cabin revenue:(

 

Although I think Cafe Jardin is an excellent facility, I agree with what you say about access to other parts of the ship. This is due to the space taken up by the height of the atrium. Cafe Jardin makes use of space that would probably otherwise be another bar which would be OK to walk through but hardly necessary. To my recollection, Cafe Jardin seemed to be used by more people than either Winner's Bar or the casino (possibly both).

Edited December 30, 2014 by pete14

[Monorail Orange]

Cafe Jardin on Oceana is much more than posh pizza. In the evening it is an Italian restaurant that carries Marco Pierre White's name which serves a range of Italian dishes for only a small surcharge. It is also a great place for a light breakfast. The Eggs Royale (Eggs Benedict but with smoked salmon rather than ham) are deservedly popular. The Atrium, whilst possessing the wow factor, does make navigating the ship a bit awkward, especially for those who rely on lifts. Not been on Ventura but Oceana would be a good choice.

haha I thought I was going to be the only one to mention the Eggs Benedict.

 

Had breakfast up there nearly every day when I was aboard. Much calmer than the buffet which is too small IMO.

[Scriv]

Do you have to pay a cover charge for these delicious sounding Eggs Benedict/Royale and breakfast in the Cafe Jardin?

[Monorail Orange]

Do you have to pay a cover charge for these delicious sounding Eggs Benedict/Royale and breakfast in the Cafe Jardin?

No, breakfast and lunch are 'free'. (ie open to all guests) Its only in the evenings that a cover charge applies.

 

Never tried it in the evening, so I can't comment on whether its worth it or not, sorry.

Edited December 30, 2014 by Monorail Orange

[wilson2579]

Had all my breakfasts and lunches in Cafe Jardin. So much more civalised than the buffet.:cool:

[davecttr]

Although I think Cafe Jardin is an excellent facility, I agree with what you say about access to other parts of the ship. This is due to the space taken up by the height of the atrium. Cafe Jardin makes use of space that would probably otherwise be another bar which would be OK to walk through but hardly necessary. To my recollection, Cafe Jardin seemed to be used by more people than either Winner's Bar or the casino (possibly both).

winners and the casino were busy on the xmas cruise and the revenue from both must vastly exceed Cafe Jardin which only gives a cover charge income for part of the evening. Later on it gives a free late night buffet of sorts although in my experience the staff don't seem to want you in there.

 

Good idea about the atrium, cover in the top opening and remove the staircases. There is still access via the lifts and the stairs in the art gallery. They can then have access forward around one edge of the room without disturbing the diners. While they are at it convert the space into a Glasshouse which, IMO works well. Build one new toilet aft of winners and use the freed space to increase the galley size, allowing excellent glasshouse style meals to be served. A glasshouse would generate more revenue as well as it is a bar that serves good food at a reasonable price.

 

ps - there seems to be more space available for a galley than on either Ventura or Azura? Space lost to the 'corridor' is more than made up by space gained in plating over the atrium.

Edited December 31, 2014 by davecttr