Riveria Sailing and Shore Excursion Review Oct 10-20

[ak1004]

13 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Anytime the description says “Panoramic,” it’s usually a bus of 30+\-.

“OE” is 10 to 16.

The “strenuous” icon in the description can usually affect the number as well (I.e., 3 figures will have less folks).

 

We stopped doing panoramic tours long ago. Still had at least 35 people on every single tour. Maybe an anomaly.

[Vineyard View]

So on an OE excursion, with maximum of 16, how common is that transportation a van with everyone elbow to elbow, so to speak?  Does anyone have a good feel for the expected experience, vs the best, or worse experience? We booked 8 1/2 hrs in Tunisia.

[Flatbush Flyer]

24 minutes ago, ak1004 said:

 

We stopped doing panoramic tours long ago. Still had at least 35 people on every single tour. Maybe an anomaly.

Odd. Many of our O tours have been in those 16 passenger mini-busses (though we too have had the occasional bigger bus with 30+\- folks).

[chloemonkey]

21 hours ago, osandomir said:

These aren’t bad numbers for a group tour. There’s always a compromise when you choose the ship shore excursion vs your private tour. This only indicates that the ship tours are in general not for you. I believe that you knew that even before you tried.

 

21 hours ago, ak1004 said:

Thanks for the review.

 

What was the average group size on O excursions?

We were on the same cruise as well as the one before and the total number of shore excursion participants on "regular" excursions was always well above this number.  We always try to do the OE ones to ensure a smaller group of participants and did so on these two cruises BUT 80% of them were cancelled due to "lack of interest" as per Oceania.

However, I do agree with the childish nature of most of the Oceania excursions along with the feeling of being "herded" like small children.  At one point I even voiced my upset with the guide as we were given a total of 10 minutes to choose to either shop or use the restrooms! lol....

The shore excursions of Oceania are in desperate need of change.....and we had much more enjoyable times on the ones where we had previously planned for private tours/guides/drivers etc.  We even did better at some of the 20+ ports just getting off of the ship and hiring someone at the dock!

[pinotlover]

I could write pages on why we dodge Oceania shorex even though certain threaders here push them adamantly.

 

To address comments above. We have had tour buses park directly in front of bathrooms and had fellow passengers get lost on a bathroom break. We’ve had tour guides say repeatedly “ we’re going left here” while the oblivious ( or cognitive diminished) go off to the right. There’s a reason why the groups are herded like children , it matches some of their capabilities.

 

On our last Vista cruise, with 13 port days, we took zero O shorexs. Two of our private tours had Oceania OE passengers along with us. Twelve of us paying $85 each for the private tour, and four (4) each paying $365 each to Oceania to ride along for the OE tour . 😂. Happens regularly. Hey! We only had 16! 🙄

 

 

[Flatbush Flyer]

10 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

I could write pages on why we dodge Oceania shorex even though certain threaders here push them adamantly.

 

To address comments above. We have had tour buses park directly in front of bathrooms and had fellow passengers get lost on a bathroom break. We’ve had tour guides say repeatedly “ we’re going left here” while the oblivious ( or cognitive diminished) go off to the right. There’s a reason why the groups are herded like children , it matches some of their capabilities.

 

On our last Vista cruise, with 13 port days, we took zero O shorexs. Two of our private tours had Oceania OE passengers along with us. Twelve of us paying $85 each for the private tour, and four (4) each paying $365 each to Oceania to ride along for the OE tour . 😂. Happens regularly. Hey! We only had 16! 🙄

Ah yes, the cost of convenience can be pricey though often priceless when “the poop

hits the fan.” As for “adamant pushing,” please be reminded as to who here on CC constantly bemoans those true O tour screwups perpetrated by the several incompetent DS managers who really need to be fired. 

[ak1004]

14 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

I could write pages on why we dodge Oceania shorex even though certain threaders here push them adamantly.

 

To address comments above. We have had tour buses park directly in front of bathrooms and had fellow passengers get lost on a bathroom break. We’ve had tour guides say repeatedly “ we’re going left here” while the oblivious ( or cognitive diminished) go off to the right. There’s a reason why the groups are herded like children , it matches some of their capabilities.

 

On our last Vista cruise, with 13 port days, we took zero O shorexs. Two of our private tours had Oceania OE passengers along with us. Twelve of us paying $85 each for the private tour, and four (4) each paying $365 each to Oceania to ride along for the OE tour . 😂. Happens regularly. Hey! We only had 16! 🙄

 

 

 

What you describe cannot happen on a private tour of 12 people?

[the more ports the better]

FYI, none of the tours I chose were panoramic.  All were visiting specific sites, getting off the bus for a period of time and receiving a tour, then sometimes time on our our own before regrouping.  Anyway you look at it, if you have more than a few people, the guides are herding cats.  A facility break with six people is quick.  With 16 people it is a 20 minutes, 30 people is a way too long.

 

When visiting historical sites, we typically hire a qualified guide.  The interaction between a guide and 4-6 people is much greater than a group of 22.  With the group tours, we listened and the guide talked.  We could ask questions but there are just too many people for the guides to engage with everyone.

 

If we are visiting a scenic site, it is always nicer to take our time on our own.

 

One more thing, we have hired at least 100 private guides over the years and many have been outstanding but for the top sites in Europe, it is hard to beat the Rick Steves Audio Europe walks in his app.  They are free, fun, informative, and entertaining.  We have done almost all of them, many multiple times, and would do them all over again and probably will.  It is tough to find any guide that is better than good old Rick.

Edited October 31, 2023 by the more ports the better