difference between oceania and carnival

[gay head]

My husband and I are in our mid fifties and we have cruised on thr carnival Magic and the Breeze several times because carnival leaves out of Galveston and we live in Houston.We are thinking of going on thr oceania riviera from Miami fot trn days to Gustsvia the D.R. snd dome other ports on January 23.Is there anything to do after dinner or is it mostly older people who retire early? We like good resturants but like to do something after dinner.A show, or listen to music.The ship looks amazing .My husband is swiss and is an avid tennis player and I see that they have a table tennis court.Is it used much?

[G&G]

We just completed our 5th cruise on the Riviera. Ship is beautiful and food is excellent.

 

My only negative with Oceania is their shows at night; only one show at 9:30 or 9:45 PM. Other than live music in several areas of the ship and trivia, not much activities after dinner.

 

There is ping pong table on pool deck with daily tournaments for O points that can be redeemed for free stuff; caps, t shirts, etc. They is a small tennis court on Deck 15 next to putt putt course; not much play.

 

I have the daily programs from our Riviera cruise we just completed 12/22/15. I can email you a couple if you like to review.

[LHT28]

I guess it depends on what you consider early ;)

I usually go back to the cabin about 11 pm unless we are having a good time with new friends

There is a show usually 9:30 or 9:45 ends about 10:30Pm some people will go to Martinis for the music or to Horizons they have things going on there most night but it is nothing like Carnival

 

Oceania is more low key

It may be boring if you like to party into the night

 

in our experience ages range from 20'somethings to 80 somethings with the majority in the 50-70 range ... it varies from sailing to sailing

[GUT2407]

I'd never call Ociana a party ship.

 

But boy is fits me.

[corpkid]

I've done three cruises on Marina in the past three years (Marina is almost identical to Riviera) and it really does vary in terms of post-dinner liveliness. If it's a very port-intensive cruise (e.g. the Baltics) it gets quiet pretty early. I'd say by 11:30pm almost everyone has gone to sleep. On my cruise around the British Isles the casino and Martini's was usually very busy in the evenings until after 1am (the craps table was lots of fun) especially on sea nights. Really after the show (if you go see it) there's 3 options: Martinis with a piano/singer, Horizons with a live band (and dancing though very few do), and the Casino (which literally varies from completely dead to very busy). My husband likes to go to bed around 10:30 whereas I am usually up until midnight and there's almost always a small group at Martinis until pretty late if you want to stay up later, but that's about it.

 

The way I look at it it's a 5 star floating hotel with interesting itineraries, very good food and good service. Certainly not a destination unto itself (for me at least). Once you try their mattresses you might not want to stay up late - they are the best beds I've ever slept in! :)

Edited January 1, 2016 by corpkid

[hypercafe]

They have a table tennis table next to the pool bar, on my trips it was used. I know because the players were chasing the ball under my feet as I sat at the bar. These are very quite ships at night, we took two trips out of Miami. Average age 60 plus. Ships are nice, food is good with many choices. Everything is including except liquors. We are 65 plus and do find it a little boaring at times.

 

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[LHT28]

They have a table tennis table next to the pool bar,

I thought that was ping pong :eek:

 

 

I know on the O class ships there is tennis on deck 16 but rarely hike up there

Edited January 2, 2016 by LHT28

[ORV]

My husband and I are in our mid fifties and we have cruised on thr carnival Magic and the Breeze several times because carnival leaves out of Galveston and we live in Houston.We are thinking of going on thr oceania riviera from Miami fot trn days to Gustsvia the D.R. snd dome other ports on January 23.Is there anything to do after dinner or is it mostly older people who retire early? We like good resturants but like to do something after dinner.A show, or listen to music.The ship looks amazing .My husband is swiss and is an avid tennis player and I see that they have a table tennis court.Is it used much?

 

Are you referring to the Paddle Tennis court or the Ping Pong table?

[StanandJim]

My husband and I are in our mid fifties and we have cruised on thr carnival Magic and the Breeze several times because carnival leaves out of Galveston and we live in Houston.We are thinking of going on thr oceania riviera from Miami fot trn days to Gustsvia the D.R. snd dome other ports on January 23.Is there anything to do after dinner or is it mostly older people who retire early? We like good resturants but like to do something after dinner.A show, or listen to music.The ship looks amazing .My husband is swiss and is an avid tennis player and I see that they have a table tennis court.Is it used much?

 

Every Cruise may count on there being a pianist in the Martini Bar from about 4 PM until Midnight, a Show in the Main Lounge starting between 9:30 and 9:45PM, and dancing in Horizons (the Observation Lounge) starting after the show, and continuing as long as passengers show interest (typically Midnight).

 

Occasionally, there will be a themed Party on the pool deck, sessions of Name that Tune in Martini's, and/or evening Trivia.

 

Oceania passengers are not laggards, but they don't party the nights away because they are typically "up and at 'em" every morning trying to maximize their port visits.

 

If you patronize your Roll Call here on Cruise Critic, you will be amazed at how determined some people are to make every island a "significant stop".

 

I am second to none in my appreciation of "Islands in the Sun", but to my thinking, badly air conditioned spaces featuring memorabilia tracing their twelve peaceful governmental transitions, do not a museum make....

 

Then again, if one can't take the Sun, an alternate activity is probably appreciated.

 

Enjoy whatever cruise you choose! :D

 

 

 

 

Edited January 2, 2016 by StanandJim

[RJB]

Are you referring to the Paddle Tennis court or the Ping Pong table?

Table tennis and ping pong are the same thing.

[TravelerThom]

Are you referring to the Paddle Tennis court or the Ping Pong table?

Table tennis and ping pong are the same thing.

Oceania Riveria has a Paddle Tennis Court on Deck 16 forward beside the miniature golf course. It also has one Table Tennis (aka Ping-Pong) table on the Deck 12 Pool Deck.

[gay head]

I was asking about the table tennis court with the net, not ping pong.My husband played this game in Marbella and would like to play on the ship.

[gay head]

I was referring to the paddle tennis courts not ping pong

[Silver Sweethearts]

This from http://www.differencebetween.com:

 

Question: What are the differences between table tennis and ping pong?

 

"Table tennis is the accepted name of the game at a formal level. For athletes who engage in the game, it is table tennis.

 

Ping pong is the colloquial version of table tennis which does not have as many rules as table tennis as it is played purely for fun".

[G&G]

I was referring to the paddle tennis courts not ping pong

 

Per my Post #2 the paddle tennis courts are on a Deck 15 forward and get very little play.

 

Also if you wish to see the Daily Program for the Riviera from 2 weeks ago I can email to you. It shows all ships activities. my email address is rsnconsult at aol dot com.

[TravelerThom]

The Paddle Tennis courts are on Deck 16. Deck plans at https://www.oceaniacruises.com/ships/riviera/deck-plans/ The forward elevators go to Deck 15, and you have to walk up to Deck 16.

[StanandJim]

I was referring to the paddle tennis courts not ping pong

There is a single Paddle Tennis Court on Deck 16 forward, occupying the space which would otherwise be called the roof of the Horizons Lounge just behind the ships mast.

There are no bathrooms up there, although there is an outdoor shower (not illustrated in the deckplan), and the Elevators only go as high as Deck 15, but you will find an "almost regulation" sized Paddle Tennis Court swathed in green mesh netting.

 

Court time may be booked, during daylight hours only, through the Concierge and equipment is provided in deck-lockers adjoining the space.

 

Oceania will arrange matches, if one is in search of a tennis partner, and on sea days "Tournaments" are pre-scheduled to further encourage participation.

 

Hope that this helped, Enjoy!!!

 

 

 

Edited January 2, 2016 by StanandJim

[hondorner]

Things I learn at an advanced age: I was on Riviera's Christening voyage and Maiden voyage, and have sailed on her at least twice since then, and was never aware there was a paddle tennis court on deck 16. But then, I've never been on deck 16, as much as I can remember. I was on that deck on Marina as she sailed into Miami Harbor for the first time, but I don't think there was a paddle tennis court there at that time. I don't know if one has been added.

[Tarpeian Rock]

"Difference?" As someone who fell in love with Oceania's product, and who will be on Marina next week, I would have thought the only "similarity" between O and Carnival was that each line's ships have a pointy part on one end. Other than that . . . . .

[CintiPam]

On a sea day on Riviera, husband and I will engage in a round or two of putt-putt golf; we often see people using the adjacent paddle tennis court. Ping pong table quite often in use as well, particularly when "O" points are on offer, probably because you do not not need even to climb a flight of stairs from the pool deck to participate. :).

[Travelcat2]

"Difference?" As someone who fell in love with Oceania's product, and who will be on Marina next week, I would have thought the only "similarity" between O and Carnival was that each line's ships have a pointy part on one end. Other than that . . . . .

 

Could not agree more. I was thinking that trying to compare Carnival to Oceania is akin to comparing Motel 6 and the Hyatt:-) IMO, unless you are 100% certain that the serene, quiet atmosphere is for you, I'd try a mid-level cruise line before Oceania (Princess or Celebrity). I'm not suggesting this because Oceania isn't great but if you are used to the Carnival atmosphere, you could get on an Oceania ship and dislike it simply because it has so much less to offer (due to size). You are used to many dining venues - Oceania's ships have only two places to eat without reservation and you may only get one reservation per cruise. While I'm sure that many have transitioned from mainstream cruise lines to Oceania, I suspect that many hated it and will never return (which is a shame because if they had done their research, they would have waited a few years to book Oceania). Again, just my opinion.

 

P.S. Never heard of paddle tennis. Do the smaller ships have that? Sounds interesting!

Edited January 2, 2016 by Travelcat2

[StanandJim]

P.S. Never heard of paddle tennis. Do the smaller ships have that? Sounds interesting!

 

The R ships do not have Paddle Tennis, as there is a deck-house (the base of the mast really) which bifurcates almost the entire length of their Sun Decks (aka Deck 11) .

There is barely room for shuffleboard on one side and the golf cage on the other.

[RJB]

The R ships do not have Paddle Tennis, as there is a deck-house (the base of the mast really) which bifurcates almost the entire length of their Sun Decks (aka Deck 11) .

There is barely room for shuffleboard on one side and the golf cage on the other.

Does not really matter as the paddle tennis on the O ships is totally worthless when the ship is at sea. In the bow and the wind could be 20 to30 MPH or more. Can't play. Ball is blown all over the place. Very poor planing.

[StanandJim]

Does not really matter as the paddle tennis on the O ships is totally worthless when the ship is at sea. In the bow and the wind could be 20 to30 MPH or more. Can't play. Ball is blown all over the place. Very poor planing.

 

Which is something to be considered if the ships were at sea constantly, but most people reading this will experience them on one of Oceania's a more typical port intensive itineraries, where they are stationary at least 50% of each waking day. :p

[StanandJim]

Things I learn at an advanced age: I was on Riviera's Christening voyage and Maiden voyage, and have sailed on her at least twice since then, and was never aware there was a paddle tennis court on deck 16. But then, I've never been on deck 16, as much as I can remember. I was on that deck on Marina as she sailed into Miami Harbor for the first time, but I don't think there was a paddle tennis court there at that time. I don't know if one has been added.

 

Sensational memory, Don! I'm Impressed.

The Court was there for the Marina maiden, but they weren't defining it as being for tennis, back then.

((Sigh)) We actually had a confirmed reservation for one of those Cabanas on Marina's voyage #2, but they were never to be built in the "real world".