Should I try Oceania? (compare to Viking)

[LHT28]

6 minutes ago, PasadenaDave said:

Our question, it appears the overall satisfaction between Viking and Oceana is similar with one besting the other in some categories.  Do you think it is worthwhile our dipping our toes into the Oceana experience?  While price is always an issue, for the purpose of gathering information up front payment or included or not included items is not a consideration at this stage.

 

Thanks in advance

Always  good to try a different line  if you are interested in it

I would explore the things you like  with other lines  then see if Oceania  would work for your wants & needs  or it could be   a "one & done" or even a "no go"

 

A couple of things on Oceania  that are different from Viking that may be  a deciding factor for you

they do allow children

They do have a casino

they do not  have "free" wine with meals unless you choose the Beverage package  with O life choice

No free excursions  unless you choose the Excursion option with O Life Choice

 

Only you will know  if the line will suit your needs /wants

Enjoy what ever cruise you choose

 

[Redtravel]

It depends on itinerary.  Both cruise lines do a good cruise.  We really love Oceania food and service. Oceania decor is beautiful.  Viking is the best for organized travel. They are superb in transfers, tours, and arranging extra things. Viking has good food and service. Decor is modern and clean.  All cabins have verandas.  We gladly book either.  So, how do we decide?  We are deciding between the 2 lines for a future cruise in northern Europe.  Both lines do a similar cruise.  We chose Viking.  Viking flies in and out of major cities.  Viking has a great spa with an indoor pool. 

[mauibabes]

We have not sailed Viking and not explored their ocean sailing itineraries so I can not comment from experience but we know people who have enjoyed their Viking cruises. We are not drawn to their ships modern design with light woods and chrome and mirrors, etc.  I have looked at their River cruises but we have decided we much more enjoy ocean sailing and for us it is a better travel option and value. 
We found Oceania about 15 years ago after many trips on Princess and Celebrity and decided Oceania was our line of choice as we found our home and cruise niche.  I know nothing about the Viking Loyalty program but we love the Oceania program as over those 15 years we have become Platinum level, >20 cruises and received our FREE cruise and working on qualifying for our next one. No other line to my knowledge offers anything close to the Oceania Club benefits. We love our Oceania family and are not going to leave them. 

We normally book 18-24 months out, especially if on board, and the minimal deposit and incentives O offers work for us.  When we last looked into Viking, they required full payment at virtually the beginning of the booking and I refuse to front load any cruise lines operation, especially if our trip is 2 years out. 
We are also NCLH Shareholders so every 15+ day trip garners an extra $250 in SBC/OBC. No matter what level you are, there can never be too much SBC. 
 

Bottom line, read the huge volume of Newby posters on this Board and you will see that they rave about their Oceania experience and have joined “The Family”. You can move up farther into the luxury cruise line companies and possibly improve your experience but the combination of an Oceania cruise and the wonderful staff and the great guests on board can not be beat. JMHO. 

The only way to know is from your own experience so bookem both and make your own decision. 
 

Ciao, Mauibabes 

[MEFIowa]

On 9/21/2022 at 8:45 AM, LHT28 said:

... Or maybe  just drink what you want where you want... Not everyone wants to sit & drink alone in your cabin

When you've got money to throw away on O's alcohol profits, then I guess money is no expense. Or if you need to drink so much daily to get hammered just to make their drinks packages "worth" the inflated price, then sobriety is of no concern. I'd literally rather not piss away money or sobriety for O's sake. So, I can enjoy alcohol responsibly for a lot less and use that money for whatever I and my wife want.

 

Though I didn't know having drinks with your wife on the veranda in the evening watching the stars and sea is "drinking alone in your cabin". I think you've got the George Thorogood song, "I Drink Alone", confused with cruising? And I'm not cruising solo.

[LHT28]

8 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

When you've got money to throw away on O's alcohol profits, then I guess money is no expense. Or if you need to drink so much daily to get hammered just to make their drinks packages "worth" the inflated price, then sobriety is of no concern. I'd literally rather not piss away money or sobriety for O's sake. So, I can enjoy alcohol responsibly for a lot less and use that money for whatever I and my wife want.

 

Though I didn't know having drinks with your wife on the veranda in the evening watching the stars and sea is "drinking alone in your cabin". I think you've got the George Thorogood song, "I Drink Alone", confused with cruising? And I'm not cruising solo.

Well certainly a personal choice

We  have one or 2 drinks  a day

we will buy a drink at the bar  & socialize  with others

DH  has taken a bottle of cognac or Scotch for  a night cap in the cabin

 

Why assume because people buy  a drink in the bar they are rich??

 

[edgee]

On a recent cruise (not Oceania or Viking) I had a nice conversation with a college geology professor who was giving lectures on that cruise. He told me that he lectures on several cruise lines, but that Viking Ocean is his favorite, due to the higher level of engagement he gets from the guests. He mentioned that Viking has a saying among its crew that their cruise line is for "thinkers rather than drinkers."😆

[jazznruby]

50 minutes ago, edgee said:

He mentioned that Viking has a saying among its crew that their cruise line is for "thinkers rather than drinkers."😆

Not mutually exclusive.

[MEFIowa]

1 hour ago, LHT28 said:

Well certainly a personal choice...Why assume because people buy a drink in the bar they are rich??

 

Though I think we're really discussing O's drink packages? At least I am. Which are quite expensive for what you get versus what you might bring with you at embarkation or buy in port.

 

But regardless, at O's prices, I never said they were rich. But as for being potentially financially "foolish", that's a different matter. Thus, for me I'll bring my alcohol on board and buy mine in ports and get what I want at market prices to consume at my leisure. Saving a considerable amount of money that I can either then spend on something else or save.

 

And it is a bit "rich" to disclaim "rich" if we discuss say a $25 corking fee to drink your own bottle of wine when you don't have to drink wine at the meal to begin with. As if someone can't wait a few minutes to sit on their veranda after dinner, for example. Money is fungible. Thus, we see threads or comments on people trying to save $10 or $15 a day on parking! Or grousing about $16 per day gratuities in light of additional tipping issues.

[edgee]

30 minutes ago, jazznruby said:

Not mutually exclusive.

You are right, but for good or for bad it does give an indication of attitude which may prevail on the cruise and therefore a new cruiser's potential comfort level on the ship.I also found the anecdote pretty funny so thought I would share.

Edited November 12, 2022 by edgee
clarity

[LHT28]

15 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

Though I think we're really discussing O's drink packages? At least I am. Which are quite expensive for what you get versus what you might bring with you at embarkation or buy in port.

 

But regardless, at O's prices, I never said they were rich. But as for being potentially financially "foolish", that's a different matter. Thus, for me I'll bring my alcohol on board and buy mine in ports and get what I want at market prices to consume at my leisure. Saving a considerable amount of money that I can either then spend on something else or save.

 

And it is a bit "rich" to disclaim "rich" if we discuss say a $25 corking fee to drink your own bottle of wine when you don't have to drink wine at the meal to begin with. As if someone can't wait a few minutes to sit on their veranda after dinner, for example. Money is fungible. Thus, we see threads or comments on people trying to save $10 or $15 a day on parking! Or grousing about $16 per day gratuities in light of additional tipping issues.

It is their choice to buy the package or not

That is what OBC is for   ...Right 😉

 

 

[Mariastreby]

17 hours ago, mauibabes said:

We have not sailed Viking and not explored their ocean sailing itineraries so I can not comment from experience but we know people who have enjoyed their Viking cruises. We are not drawn to their ships modern design with light woods and chrome and mirrors, etc.

 
We found Oceania about 15 years ago after many trips on Princess and Celebrity and decided Oceania was our line of choice as we found our home and cruise niche.  I know nothing about the Viking Loyalty program but we love the Oceania program as over those 15 years we have become Platinum level, >20 cruises and received our FREE cruise and working on qualifying for our next one. No other line to my knowledge offers anything close to the Oceania Club benefits. We love our Oceania family and are not going to leave them. 

 

We normally book 18-24 months out, especially if on board, and the minimal deposit and incentives O offers work for us.  When we last looked into Viking, they required full payment at virtually the beginning of the booking and I refuse to front load any cruise lines operation, especially if our trip is 2 years out. 
 

Hi, new to this discussion.  We also are trying to decide whether to try O after a couple of cruises with Viking. So I will try to share our positive and negative feelings about aspects of Viking.
 

One big thing - all cabins are roomy and have verandas, with probably the best bathrooms at sea for cabins at the lower-than-suite level. Heated floors and anti-fog mirrors. Great beds. 
 

We don’t get the beverage package, but most drinks are only between just $7.50 and $10, with no tax/gratuity added. We do like the included wine or beer at dinner, though you need to get the beverage package to get a bottle of finer one. For your own wine bottles, there is no corkage fee at all, and $25 seems a bit much. 

 

Yes, full payment is ridiculously far in advance, unless you already have one cruise booked, then book another, you pay “only” 6 months ahead. As for the food, we took a maiden voyage on their new Mars in May, and “The Restaurant” food and Manfredi’s Italian restaurants were 75% quite good, but 25% disappointing. We chalked that up to a whole new kitchen staff and crew, which must truly need time to gel, as in any new restaurant on land. There was actually better food in their upscale (food wise) “buffet”, the World Café. Truly outstanding choices at lunch and dinner. That being said, I am looking forward to the many specialty and casual eateries on the Riviera. 
 

The Scandinavian design of the ships does not include any chrome, but has a lot of light wood, clean lines, and chairs and sofas in neutral tones with accents of blue, tans, with some color pops. Lovely natural groupings of furnishings in the two main lounges and other spaces that are perfect for drinking/talking with friends, or just reading quietly. From late afternoon through about 11 pm, there are classical string duets or piano players performing in the atrium, and a singer/guitarist in other areas. Evening theater entertainment can be repetitive and a bit dull, or sometimes quite good. Shows are at 9:00, with dancing to a band in a small nightclub from about 10-midnight. Afternoon teas are served in their own gorgeous area, which is disappointingly underused. A huge plus with Viking is their included spa area for all passengers. Absolutely beautiful and sophisticated, rarely busy. 
 

Another disappointment in Viking, in addition to the far ahead payment, is that there are no perks for repeat cruisers other than maybe $2-300 discount pp after first cruise. You get no special treatment, cabin upgrades, or further discounts, yet people stay loyal and cruise with them over and over. All ships are identical, so returning cruisers also have the feeling of returning home, no matter to which ship.  Which was a feeling that an O cruiser described about sailing with them. Another ship went into service in May, another one will next month, and two more in 2023. But I now admit, the repeated design is getting a bit tiresome, to say the least. 

Ship design is important to me. The look of the World Cafe is nearly that of a cafeteria, with the dining room (The Restaurant) not much better in decor. Tables way too close together. But both do have expansive windows without curtains for great views. The design in other public spaces is much more pleasing. But I am drawn to the online photos of all the restaurants on the Riviera and Marina. However, the Riviera is now (or soon) in drydock until December 7th. The media articles said they are totally changing the bathrooms to make them bigger, and almost all the cabins from penthouse suites on down will get new upholstery, wall colors, artwork, bed duvets, etc. Many public spaces are also getting a real facelift, so if we do take the March 2023 Caribbean cruise, it will be like a totally new ship. And they are updating the electronics, with more USB ports and interactive TVs. 
 

Service on both lines sounds exceptional. An earlier post talked about O crew being friendlier with smiles and being more conversational. I know that was true of Viking crew members until 2020. But now they are still wearing masks, so you can only see smiles in their eyes. We had lovely short conversations with some crew members, but other times they seemed to have to cut them short. This was last May, and I suspect they were told to have less face to face interaction because Viking was super strict with Covid protocols and onboard PCR testing. 
 

Reserving optional excursions with Viking is difficult and a hugely sore subject, as it is done by specific advance dates, depending on the level of cabin you’re in. I already see the great difference in that aspect with O. I won’t go into the whole included flights purchasing/deviation cost issue, as we always book our own flights. 
 

Sorry this is so long, but I wanted to share more aspects of the good and bad of Viking for those who only know Oceania ships. My one question is - why would I cruise on one of Oceania’s smaller ships? Wouldn’t they have much more of a chance to toss about in any kind of slightly rougher waters than ships that are nearly twice their size? Seems as if you’d personally have to have literally NO issues with seasickness in order to enjoy those ships. 
 

Maria from SC

 

[LHT28]

13 minutes ago, Mariastreby said:

 My one question is - why would I cruise on one of Oceania’s smaller ships? Wouldn’t they have much more of a chance to toss about in any kind of slightly rougher waters than ships that are nearly twice their size? Seems as if you’d personally have to have literally NO issues with seasickness in order to enjoy those ships. 

 

Maria from SC

 

We have been in both size ships  in rough seas

 both bounce around  if the conditions are right

choose a cabin mid ship  or lower down if you suffer from the motion of the ocean

 

Why cruise on an R ship ??  Itinerary 

We like  the R ships & the small W/C  does not bother us   as it does with others

My first cruise was on  a 20000 GRT ship with bunk beds & w/c & showers down the hall

I am just happy to be  onboard  with a private  w/c

JMO

[MEFIowa]

16 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

It is their choice to buy the package or not

That is what OBC is for   ...Right 😉

 

 

And it is an equally viable CHOICE to NOT buy any drinks package or buy any alcohol on board and BRING YOUR OWN! That's what the wine policy is for, for example. And what they tell you in the Currents. You don't have to feel pressured into buying alcohol from O. Or feeling pressured to pay a corkage fee or buy wine at meals. Or drinks by the pool. Or near the casino. (With that added gratuity to add insult to an overpriced drink to begin with.) Right. 🙂

[1985rz1]

30 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

And it is an equally viable CHOICE to NOT buy any drinks package or buy any alcohol on board and BRING YOUR OWN! That's what the wine policy is for, for example. And what they tell you in the Currents. You don't have to feel pressured into buying alcohol from O. Or feeling pressured to pay a corkage fee or buy wine at meals. Or drinks by the pool. Or near the casino. (With that added gratuity to add insult to an overpriced drink to begin with.) Right. 🙂

Overpriced is a relative term.  On board O, a single shot of Bombay Sapphire is US$12, including gratuity.  In Toronto at a moderately upscale restaurant a single shot of gin is CAD$23 plus gratuity, or about US$20, including gratuity.  In our small city, a single shot of Bombay sapphire is about  US$13 including gratuity.  So O's prices are not out of line with most US restaurant prices.  While enjoying cocktails while eating out is certainly much more expensive than in-home (or in-cabin) drinks, for us, there is often more to enjoying a cocktail in the bars and lounges than sitting in our room when on vacation.

 

But as is always true, preferences are personal.  We have ours, and you have yours. We wouldn't try to convince you otherwise.

Edited November 12, 2022 by 1985rz1

[tvmovielover]

We tried Viking Ocean because we had enjoyed some of their river cruises but we have cruised more on Oceania.  Like many, we choose by itinerary.  As said above, Viking has the best bathrooms at sea and I like that all cabins have balconies.  Viking has some excellent lectures and lecturers.  If not equal to O, the food on Viking is still very good and they have some nice cooking classes too. 

 

The one thing where O is better is excursions.  Vikings walks around towns on river cruises have always been very good.  These "free" excursion are not the same for the ocean ships because they are not always close to town so many of the freebies become bus tours that are not as good.  There are some O tours that are more bus than anything but that is what some cruisers want.

 

The big drawback for Viking is that they changed their policy on when payment is due.  They used to have final payment within 6 months of cruise and for a long time kept that for repeat customers but no more.  I love the Viking ships but it will have to be a great new itinerary to get me on one again.

[jazznruby]

24 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

And it is an equally viable CHOICE to NOT buy any drinks package or buy any alcohol on board and BRING YOUR OWN! 

Guess what? We do both! Love bringing wine onboard...for stateroom consumption. Rarely pay corkage; but we always have before dinner cocktails and wine with dinner, and are happy to use our much afore mentioned OLife choice of OBC for those purchases. 😀

[1985rz1]

3 minutes ago, jazznruby said:

Guess what? We do both! Love bringing wine onboard...for stateroom consumption. Rarely pay corkage; but we always have before dinner cocktails and wine with dinner, and are happy to use our much afore mentioned OLife choice of OBC for those purchases. 😀

The best of both worlds 🍸🍷

[AMHuntFerry]

1 hour ago, Mariastreby said:

Ship design is important to me.

 

Hi Maria, I think you may really enjoy the interior design of the Oceania ships. For the most part, each public space has its own design, plus the variety of artwork (wall art, sculptures, lighting, even the bases of table lamps) is amazing and unique to each ship. I am far from an art expert, but you could literally spend the entire cruise admiring the artwork that is EVERYWHERE. It's also useful for identifying which floor you are on when using stairs (e.g., "when going up the forward staircase, get off after the green abstract painting" 🙃 I get turned around a lot when decor is uniform! ).

[ORV]

3 hours ago, Mariastreby said:

Wouldn’t they have much more of a chance to toss about in any kind of slightly rougher waters than ships that are nearly twice their size?

Not necessarily, it's more about the design than the size. The R ships are really well designed structurally and mechanically. 

[Kiwifromkiev]

On 11/13/2022 at 4:32 AM, LHT28 said:

DH  has taken a bottle of cognac or Scotch for  a night cap in the cabin

 

 

 

We are new to Oceania. I've read that you can bring 6 bottles of wine on a cruise. Are you saying you can bring spirits too (or instead of)?

 

Thank you 🙂

[1985rz1]

6 minutes ago, Kiwifromkiev said:

We are new to Oceania. I've read that you can bring 6 bottles of wine on a cruise. Are you saying you can bring spirits too (or instead of)?

 

Thank you 🙂

Yes. Both within reason, but only to be drunk in your stateroom.  Wine can be consumed in any restaurant at a $25 per bottle corkage fee.  Neither can be consumed in any other public areas.  It's a generous policy, which O can revoke if it's abused.

Edited November 13, 2022 by 1985rz1

[Kiwifromkiev]

30 minutes ago, 1985rz1 said:

Yes. Both within reason, but only to be drunk in your stateroom.  Wine can be consumed in any restaurant at a $25 per bottle corkage fee.  Neither can be consumed in any other public areas.  It's a generous policy, which O can revoke if it's abused.

thank you, understand about public areas 🙂 the reason I was asking is that the T&C only referred to wine. Presumably, you can only bring it on the embarkation day?

 

[LHT28]

1 minute ago, Kiwifromkiev said:

thank you, understand about public areas 🙂 the reason I was asking is that the T&C only referred to wine. Presumably, you can only bring it on the embarkation day?

 

you can pick more up along  the way 

 

According to some they bring cases of wine on embarkation day

 

[Kiwifromkiev]

5 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

you can pick more up along  the way 

 

According to some they bring cases of wine on embarkation day

 

oh, this sounds like fun (NOT!) - skip the excursions, drink BYO wine 🙂

[Kiwifromkiev]

can anybody share (as a ball park figure) what a cocktail and a glass of wine would cost on O, please?