give me some reasons to go OCEANIA ?

[Merriem]

GoEurope,

 

Sorry, but if you think Oceania is a LUXURY line, talk to some of the TA's. More and more are not wanting to book this cruise line.

 

Also, Oceania did not provide good food (it was cold and the orders were constantly mix-up)

[Jancruz]

I just wonder if you could share with us where you have heard that more and more TA's do not want to book this line..as far as I know everyone, but a few, love Oceania..

 

Jan

*****

[Merriem]

Jan, I realize that you are a Oceania only TA which is your choice.

 

However when I was booking our Crystal South America/Antartica cruise for 2005, I talked to about 6 TA before booking...that was what I was hearing.

 

It would not be proper to mention company names, but EVERYONE does not not think that Oceania has LUXURY product.

[Jancruz]

I did not mean to be rude..but you said that TA's dont want to book Oceania and I just wondered at the reason..if it is because it is not a luxury line..I certainly believe you and I already discussed that I feel it is a premium line and never sell it as luxury..I LOVE Radisson as luxury and if you havent tried them, I suggest you might want to..I have been on Crystal many times and love the product..I do not like the set seating nor the dressing up (I am a California girl(oh goodness old girl??) so I dislike formal evenings..My favorite ship of all time is the Navigator and 2nd is the PG in Tahiti..I love Oceania but I know their shortcomings and accept them for the price difference..I wish you could give them another chance..I really feel the cruise you were on might have been the exception..

Regards,

 

Jan

*****

[Merriem]

Jan, you were not rude. I would have liked to have given Oceania another chance, as would have another couple we were with.

 

We were told that they would do nothing about our issues with that cruise. Nothing at all. They never answered our letters or emails. I spoke with Fiona Applebaum the assistant to the CEO, and was assured that we would be contacted. Nothing......just a rude phone call from the booking TA.

 

So I guess they do not want our business.

[Jancruz]

My email address is in my public profile..I would love to chat about the difference in lines..

 

Jan

*****

[smeyer418]

Jan they removed all email addresses from the public profile if you want you need to add it to your signature

 

Proud charter member of the PPS-Passport Pusher Society

Oceania Insignia(Athens to Venice)-something new!

smeyer418@yahoo.com

Celebrity, NCL, Overnight Ferry, hydrofoil between countries, car ferries and river cruise and of course the Staten Island Ferry

[goeurope]

>>Sorry, but if you think Oceania is a LUXURY line, talk to some of the TA's.<<

 

As Jan has pointed out, Oceania isn't a luxury line; it's in the "premium" category. (However, having cruised twice on a luxury line, I'll add that REGATTA's food is on a luxury-line level unless you crave daily helpings of caviar and foie gras.)

 

>>More and more [travel agents] are not wanting to book this cruise line.<<

 

Such comments are highly suspect when they aren't backed by evidence--especially in light of your previous use of hyperbole and vitriol when writing about Oceania. :-)

 

Not all travel agents sell Oceania, of course, but that's for a simple reason: Most travel agents prefer to sell the lines they know and with whom they have working relationships. There's nothing unique about this; the same thing is true in most other businesses. If you want a Dyson vacuum cleaner, you'll need to find an appliance dealer that sells Dyson; if you want a pair of Magnapan speakers, you'll need to find a stereo dealer that sells Magnapan; if you want a Patek Philippe watch, you'll need to find a jeweler that sells Patek Philippe. Oceania is a small, new cruise line that most travel agents haven't cruised on, so it's only natural that most travel agents will tend to promote the other lines they know (especially if their volume qualifies them for incentives from those other cruise lines).

 

--

Durant Imboden

Europeforvisitors.com

[Merriem]

Durant,

 

Oceania is not new, it is just a reborn renaissance.

 

I assume you are aware that they do not own their ships. They are on lease from the bank of France, and the captain works for the bank.

 

Kind of interesting. And I am well aware of how to shop. All of the TA's that I talked to did book Oceania, and had mixed reviews from their customers.

[LNielsen]

Merriem,

 

Oceania is NOT Renaissance reborn! Do they have their ships? Yes? Do they have the same business sense? No!

 

They are not Renaissance!

 

Get your facts straight!

[rubyclk]

I understand it is not uncommon for the ship's crew/staff to be employed by organizations other than the cruise line.

[Jancruz]

If anyone wants to email me on this subject..my email address is Jancruz1@yahoo.com

 

Jan

*****

[Merriem]

Check your facts:

 

Many of the employees were from Renissance.

 

The CEO is from Renissance. Frank D

 

There are more things similar than you probably realize.

[Jancruz]

Merriem, only a small minority of Oceania employees are from Renaissance..this company is NOTHING like Ren was in any regard..and truthfully, I thought Ren was a good cruise line until it was sold and put under..

 

Jan

*****

[goeurope]

Merriem:

 

Oceania's chairman is a past president of Crystal. So I guess that means Oceania is a "reborn Crystal," too. :-)

 

Many of the senior staff are from Silversea, Celebrity, and other long-established cruise lines. So, if you're going to call Oceania a "reborn Renaissance (and Crystal)," I guess you'll also need to add those other cruise companies to Oceania's family tree.

 

The ships are under long-term charter from Cruise Invest (with an option to buy, I believe). As I understand it, Cruise Invest reviewed a number of business plans before selecting Oceania to take over the ships. The favorable terms that Messrs. Watters and Del Rio were able to obtain are the reason why Oceania can offer a high-quality product at competitive prices.

 

It's worth noting that many shipping lines--and airlines, too, for that matter--use chartered or leased hardware. That's also true in the hotel industry. Such arrangements work well for the travel operators because they allow flexibility and don't require huge amounts of capital; they work well for the investors because they let the investors earn revenues from their assets without trying to become experts in a business where they have neither experience nor skills.

 

Bottom line: Oceania isn't a "reborn Renaissance." (Not that Renaissance wasn't a good cruise line; it just grew too fast and alienated travel agents under the management that preceded Mr. Del Rio, who was ousted by a new batch of investors before he had a chance to turn the company around.)

 

--

Durant Imboden

Europeforvisitors.com

[Juanito]

Merriem

I am looking forward to my first cruise on Oceania in October. I will post my comments on this board when I return, as most posts I have read thus far have been informative and helpful, and I will return the favor.

Your posts, however, make me wonder why you bother with this board. I have read your opinion of this cruise line (repeatedly) and and frankly don't want to hear any more. I will decide for myself whether or not it is a "premium" or "luxury" line, or a "recycled ren".

Juanito

[Andee]

We're going on Oceania in October, as well. I appreciate all the comments, the good, the bad and the ugly. Not everyone likes the same restaurants, movies, cruiselines, so I take people's opinions with a grain of salt, especially if I don't know them. The merit in hearing all experiences is having a better idea of what to expect.

We were at a theater production recently that most people liked; we, and a few others, didn't like it at all. Does that make them wrong? Or us? No, we just had different taste.

[roothy123]

I didn't read this whole thread, since I'm trying hard to load all my pictures and not get too caught up in the message boards any more. HOWEVER, I just wanted to put in my 2-cents worth. Just returned from the Regatta in the Med and it was the most fabulous cruise, and the most fabulous vacation I've ever taken. Oceania is terrific. There was little to criticize, and even the "mild" shows and "not all that terrific destinations staff" seemed much better than what they were made out to be. O. is trying hard to make everything perfect - saw lots of evidence of that. I had a fantastic time, and everyone else I talked to did as well. I don't think I'll ever book any other cruise line (with the possible exception of Viking River Cruises - love those river cruises) after experiencing O. And no, I'm not a travel agent, or associated in any way with O!

[Juanito]

Andee

Glad to see your post. We are flying in to Venice two days early, and are looking for hotels. Are you going early, also? Do you have any hotel suggestions?

Juanito

[ClaudiaF]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Merriem:
Durant,

Oceania is not new, it is just a reborn renaissance.

I assume you are aware that they do not own their ships. They are on lease from the bank of France, and the captain works for the bank.

Kind of interesting. And I am well aware of how to shop. All of the TA's that I talked to did book Oceania, and had mixed reviews from their customers.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Nope not a reborn R.. nor a reborn Crystal for that matter. Yes there are some folks who came from R.. perhaps the ships are leased , perhaps the Capt. " from the bridge" works for the bank.. and the kitchen /dining room staff work for a company ( not Oceania)the casino people ( work for a company ( not Oceania) the tours/excursions desk work for another company ( not Oceania) the spa people work for another company ( not Oceania).. heck maybe the laundry room is leased by some other company ;-)
This is true on all ships Merriem.

Barcelona to Venice on Oceania - "Insignia"
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;5;3;18;00;00&timezone=GMT+0100[/img]
Buenos Aires to Rio Oceania - "Insignia"
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;2;2;18;00;00&timezone=GMT-0300[/img]

[img]http://www.gifs.net/animate/mermaidswim.gif[/img]
[img]http://jammerbabe.com/images/gifs/icon_treasurebox.gif[/img]

[Andee]

Hi Juanito,

We're not flying in early, but I am toying with the idea of staying a day late to see a little of Athens. I think the fodors.com talk section has lots of info about Venice hotels.

Did you have to pay an air deviation fee to go early? If so, how much was it? Did you get to pick your flights?

Are you going to join us with the private guide that Arlene is arranging?

Looking forward to meeting you.

[smeyer418]

The deviation fee is $50.00 plus any additional costs....

[Juanito]

Andee

The air deviation fee is $50.00.

No, I do not have info re: flights. I gave my TA some suggestions, and I am waiting to hear.

Juanito