What's it like sailing with Oceania? Here's our full Oceania Riviera Experience Review 2022
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ต.ค. 2022
- #oceaniacruises #oceaniariviera
Welcome aboard Oceania Riviera! What's it like sailing with Oceania? Well, we recorded this video on board while every little detail was fresh in our minds and we give you a full and completely honest review of our voyage on board this beautiful ship. We cover the suite, dining, entertainment, the ship itself and much more. This is the most complete and up to date Oceania review on TH-cam so welcome aboard!
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Voluntary Disclosure:
We were invited on board as guests of Oceania Cruises as Ambassadors of Panache Cruises, the UK luxury cruise provider. We paid for our own transport to and from the ship and received no fees or remuneration for producing media during and after this voyage from either of the aforementioned companies. Any resulting videos have been produced without influence or expectation from Oceania Cruises or Panache (they genuinely just love what we do) and we had complete editorial and artistic freedom. Neither Oceania Cruises or Panache have had no prior preview of this content and are watching for the first time along with you. All our videos contain our personal and unbiased opinion. Please ask us if you want to know more or visit www.asa.org.uk for more information on blogger/vlogger disclosure requirements. Thank you and we hope you enjoy the content as much as we did creating it. Rich and Helen.
Finally! Professional TH-camrs who have done a comprehensive review of the Oceania Riviera experience. I really love the video format and style. We have two sailings on the Riviera early next year, after the drydock and the cabin refresh. It will be our first experience with Oceania.
Glad you enjoyed it and we hope you subscribe as we've got more Oceania Riviera content to come and you'll not want to miss it. Two Riviera cruises next year? Wow, you're going to LOVE them! :D
@@visitwithus Subscribed! We're also hoping to book a sailing on the new Oceania Vista for 2024. The hardest part is booking international airline travel.
@@DaveM-FFB Thank you for subscribing! ❤️ Yes the air travel is by far the biggest stress these days. 😩
This style of video has worked great with you two - I could sit and listen to you guide us through a ship for hours! Really detailed view - I'd love to try Oceania one day - they look fantastic!
Glad you enjoyed it Fraser! We will do more in this format for sure. :)
Love seeing the two of you interact and explain the ship from a very personal perspective. Well done!
Thanks so much Karen! We enjoy this format and will use it for review videos going forward. We'll still keep the Dining Guides and the Ship Tours the same though. People enjoy the narrative style of those. :)
We have been looking closely at doing an Oceania cruise, and this was a great video going into detail of what to expect. Job well done.
Thank you. We hope we covered everything and hope to get the Dining Guide out very soon which hopefully will be helpful too. 🙂
Thank you for posting. Your videos are always so helpful.
Thank you for watching. We really appreciate your support. :)
Love your videos, always so glad to watch a new, excellent work as a sual
Thank you Richard. That really means a lot to us. ❤
Thank you for the wonderful video!! The Riviera is undergoing a significant dry dock in Dec 2022. I hope the ship is as comfortable after the changes. Keep up the great work!!
Thank you Arnold. I'm sure she will be even more comfy after the re-fit. This current version of her will be a hard act to follow though. :D
What a wonderful review. Relaxed, informative, and honest. Thank you. 🥰
This sounds like a ship hubby and I could truly enjoy. We're old and aren't interested in the hubbub that seems to have taken over cruising. Oceania looks beautiful and sounds delightful. When we can cruise... I'm not well and can't travel now... this will be a line we'll definitely look at.
Thank you so much Ebba. ☺️ Oceania is the perfect cruise line for a relaxing, comfortable cruise. I hope your health issues improve soon and you can enjoy cruising again. ❤️
You two are a joy to watch! And I love that in a 30 minute video, you dedicate 10% of the time to scones! I've watched that section multiple times, and made my wife watch it with me. Keep it up!
Thanks for watching and your lovely comment. Scones are very important to us 😂😂😂
Super video. I love you too chatting like this! Funny and informative.
Thank you Laura. That's very sweet of you. Maybe join us tomorrow for our first ever Chat With Us LIVE? Starting at 7pm UK time. :D
Y'all did an excellent job on your video review. We are going on our first Oceania cruise on Riviera soon so it was super helpful. The ship looks beautiful. Thanks for including info about the gym, running track and sports area. We also enjoy a good workout area on a ship!!! Also loved details on the sunbeds as we spend lots of time on them. They sound wonderful. Hope it's not too crowded and we can try the double ones.
Glad it was helpful Amber and thanks for watching and taking the time to comment! You're going to LOVE Riviera! Please subscribe becuase we have a brilliant Dining Guide coming out soon. :D
We sailed Azamara after your reviews, and now we want to try Oceania. Excellent review. Keep up the great work!!!!
Thank you 😊
Thanks for watching 👍
I loved this format and length of video. The little chairs were ideal for the chatty style. Thanks for the comprehensive review.
Thank you. We’ve got another in the format on a different cruise line to edit and release. Might have to crack in with it. ☺️
I'm with you on the early to rise and hit the gym. Looks really nice! We have a sailing scheduled on her, so enjoyed the vid. Thanks! (And agreed on the scones too ;)
Thanks for watching, enjoy your cruise (and the gym 💪 😁)
Thank you for your review….I love the comfort aspect and that’s what I am on a cruise for! Comfort, service, enjoyment and relaxation…lovely ship!
Thanks for watching Andrea. You won't find a more comfy cruise ship than this one. We never wanted to get off on port days! :D
I have been fortunate enough to cruise on the Oceania Sirena, one of the smaller ships. I loved it. After seeing this video of the Riviera I think I would like to try one of the larger Oceania ships.
Thanks for watching Aimee! We'd love to try the smaller Oceania ships now we've enjoyed Riviera. I think you'd like the larger ships. There's a lovely feel to them and they definitely don't seem overly large. :)
Love your reviews , calm amusing and informative.
Thanks Tony. Such kind words mean a lot to us. ❤️
Loved your reviews of celebrity Beyond . My wife and I are going on the Beyond next September. Wold you know if Suite guests pay for Specialty Dining ?
@@tonyhayes8298 Thanks Tony. Unfortunately suite guests still have to pay for speciality dining although they do get Blu and Luminae included. 👍
Thank you both . ❤️
Wow,looks gorgeous!💫👌🏻
She was! Thanks for watching! :D
gym is super important to my hubby. He will be thrilled by this feature!
Rich too 💪 🏃
Thanks for watching 👍
Your Oceania blog was SO interesting, and well done!
Regarding the tea, my wife & I totally agree with you, that a ‘tea’ must have scones as the centre of the tea universe! We also noticed the sandwiches were a bit too large, and that cucumber sandwiches, as you mentioned, should be on the tea tray as well.
We hope they pick up on your suggestions, including the 3 tiered cake plate!
Thanks for offering such a lovely overview!
We actually mentioned the sandwiches were too large but we edited it out! 😆 Thanks for watching and your kind comments Gordon. ☺️
Thank you so much for your review; you have answered many of the questions I had such as if Mocktails are included in the all-inclusive. I have just booked my first ever cruise on Oceania Nautica, but it's not until Dec 2024 so I have a wee bit of a wait. You have got me so excited about my pending adventure. Am also disappointed that there might not be any scones w/clotted cream for afternoon tea. Hopefully they would have changed this by the time I venture aboard.
Great review agree with everything you said
Thank you Jo 😊
And thanks for watching 😊
Thank you. I really enjoyed your video. I liked and subscribed. It was very informative and relaxing.
Thank you so much for watching and subscribing Elizabeth. We really appreciate it. (you have a lovely name too - our daughters name) ☺️
Thank you so much for watching and subscribing Elizabeth. We really appreciate it. (you have a lovely name too - our daughters name) ☺️
Looking at a cruise on Oceania Rivera from Japan to Singapore, and I must say your constructive and honest review has been very helpful. Well Done!!! Really enjoyed watching you both.
Thank you ☺️
Excellent presentation and information. Thank you. I’m booked in March 2023!
Thank you for watching. We hope you subscribe. Much more Oceania to come this year and next. 👍😀
Great video, have never considered a Oceania cruise , might look into it. Totally agree with you that the scone is a necessary part of afternoon tea .
Glad you enjoyed it Barb! Thanks for watching! :D
Great video on Riviera. We were on her in June 2022. By the way, we did the Bourgeoisie menu at La Reserve, and it was fabulous. Loved your video. Just subscribed.
Thank you Brenda, we really appreciate it. There will be a dining guide video from our voyage coming soon (though no La Reserve though as we didn’t get to do it - next time hopefully 🤞)
I watched it from Sydney Australia, I love your channel
Thank you 😊
And thanks for watching 👍
Great review! I love the Rivera! Sirena is nice too but smaller.
Thank you Anita 👍
Yes, we would love to try one of their smaller ships. We love Azamara’s R class ships so would be interested to see the Oceania versions 😁
Thanks for your review.
Thank you for watching 😊
Oceania is a real good fit for us especially as you have a greater variety of cabins (and price points) then the “suite only” top lines. Without doubt the food overall is excellent (though subjective) and a “Cuban” at waves grill is to die for! Many thanks Helen & Rich for another really informative video 🙏👍. OTBC!
Couldn’t agree more NB, the Cuban is a cheesy, hammy feast. Absolutely delicious. ❤️
You watching the game? Need to improve 2nd half or it’s another drubbing. 😩
Yes, we’re getting pulled around all over the place. A point seems a good result right now!
Thanks for the tip about the Cuban sandwich at the Waves grill.
Really enjoying your channel, and I'm catching up on all your videos. In this one you asked who liked using the gym on the ship, I am definitely one of those early morning gym rats too!
Thanks for watching and we hope you subscribe too Kevin! Yes, I'm a huge gym fan and a decent one is important to me, especially with all those calories tempting you! :D
Very nice video! We sailed on Riviera in June 2022. Loved your reference to LG in Martini's. We loved him! I am a musician, and at the end of one of his sets he let me play a few notes on that beautiful Steinway grand piano (a very unique model!).
Glad you enjoyed the video Dale - thanks for watching! That piano is stunning! LG is such a lovely guy but I am right - he does 'croon' doesn't he? 😂
So pleased with this review. I would not have thought of Oceania as a line for me..but so many things checked my cruising boxes. Ex you had me at Thallosotherapy pool and gym. But i really love listening to quartets and violinists. And since i have a bad back those recliners at the pool was ahhh to me…Thank you so much
Thank you so much for watching (it's rather a long video for us so hope you made it to the end). We've got to say, this was one of the most comfy cruise ships we've ever sailed on. Fabulous!
I love your videos always, we already booked for next year Oceania Allura from Lisboa to New York, concierge level
Thank you so much ☺️
Sounds great, have a wonderful cruise 🚢 ❤️
Great review! You have convinced us to try Oceana over Viking. We don't drink alcohol so we like how Oceana handles drinks compared to Viking where we felt like we subsidized everyone else on the ship. Viking had had few considerations for non alcoholic drinkers we discovered.
Thank you and so glad you found it useful 👍 Please let us know what you think 😁
Tha ka for a great review of Oceania Richard & Helen. I am also a keen daily gym goer when I cruise - in the afternoon, so I miss high tea but always ready for cocktail hour.
The key to an enjoyable cocktail hour or afternoon tea is a gym sesh beforehand. No guilt then is there? 😂
Love the video. Sailing Riviera in August. I am a gym rat as well and appreciate the info. on the gym, the spa , etc
Thanks for watching Rando 💪 😁
Thanks for doing this. Next time try the afternoon tea on a Viking ship. They get it right scones and all! Saying that, we have cruised a number of times on Oceania and have loved it. Greetings from South Carolina.
Thanks for watching Lynn. We’re still planning to do an Oceania dining guide some time soon so please make sure you’re subscribed 👍
And yes, we have tried the Viking afternoon tea and agree it is one of the best at sea (alongside Seabourn in our opinion). I’ll leave a link to our Viking cruises dining guide video below if you’re interested 👍
th-cam.com/video/mht4EUyjESU/w-d-xo.html
It’s so lovely and the itinerary sounds great but I think I am more of a quiet cruise line person. Not that everyone’s forced to dance and see the band but I think it behooves one to try to match their cruise to their baseline participation desires :) Thanks for sharing this with us!
I can promise you Jennifer if you like a quiet cruise line, this one would be right up your street. There's a ton of quiet comfy areas and the entertainment is much lower key than on most other lines we've tried. This is one seriously relaxing cruise ship! :D
@@visitwithus ooh, good to know!!
Doing the Vista (newest ship) early December next year. Can't wait to see it
Thanks Brad. We can't wait to try Vista too. She promises to be incredible!
It is even more fabulous on the ship now - the cabins and suites are totally redecorated on renovated - new furniture, linens, etc in a light bright color scheme and fabulous NEW BATHROOM - all new bathroom fixtures, vanity marble - all done at end of 2022.
We really hope we get to see the refit soon. We loved our cruise on Riviera and would love to see what they’ve done with her.
Thanks for watching and commenting 😊
Sailed on Sirena in 2019 and again this coming January. Sirena is the smaller class with 640 passengers which we prefer. The smaller ships can get into some smaller ports that the larger ships cannot. Oceania is our preferred cruise line because it's an upscale experience at a reasonable price. But what put Oceania over the top is the food. It's like a upscale star restaurant every day. We are so looking forward to our Panama Canal cruise at the end of January...something we've not yet done.
Absolutely Charles, you’re spot on about Oceania. We’ve never done the Panama Canal, it’s on our to do list. Hope you enjoy your cruise 🚢👍
Love Oceania-will be on the Marina in April and the Nautica in October!
Oooh, how lovely Cheri. hope you have a fabulous time. :D
We will be on Riviera next July. This gives me all the information I wanted. We're in a Veranda cabin (suite?) at the front of the ship.
Riviera will have been refurbed by the time you sail on her so hopefully will be even nicer ❤️
Thanks for watching 👍😊
I’m off to see where they sail! ❤️👏👏👏👏
Where would you like to go 😁👍?
Thanks for watching 😊
Thanks for your review. Only one quibble, on the O class ships I definitely lean toward the Terrace grill on nights I don't feel like eating at one of the specialty restaurants or getting room service. I think I ate in the Grand Dining room twice on my last cruise, 15 days on Marina. Different strokes though. I'm going to "mash the subscribe button". Looking forward to seeing more of your content.
Thanks for watching and commenting 👍
We found the Terrace so busy and a little disorganised but the food was still good but we loved the Grand dining room. Like you say, everyone is different and one persons dislikes is another persons like. And at least Oceania offer plenty of choice, so there should be something to keep everyone happy 😁
With you on the gym bit, no free-weights, no cruise.
💪🏋️😂
Thanks for watching 👍
Fantastic video, we were on the Riviera last Christmas and New Years for 12 days and I agree with everything you said. The cuisine was excellent, but, a few small drawbacks in the buffet. We did 9 of the 12 nights in the 4 specialty restaurants and they were excellent in every way. We did do the wine spectator pairing dinner as well and it was fabulous, but, way too much to eat. I agree about the afternoon tea, a bit disappointing and they should do what Viking does and just put a tower of sandwiches and cakes at each table. Also, scones are indeed the sun around which all planetary goodies must revolve. I am also a gym person and the gym was excellent and I was there every morning so I could enjoy all the food and drinks. We did have the drinks package although we might only have a couple over the course of the day, it was just easy not to be concerned with prices. Since we did Concierge we really enjoyed the Aquamar space on the ship as well. They do have the most comfy outdoor furniture of any ship we've been on. All in all, I think your review was right on target.
Thanks for that really interesting summary Lou! Regarding afternoon tea, you're spot on and I was thinking of Viking when I made the comment. I think they have one of the best ATs on the seas. So easy for Oceania to change that to make a huge difference too! You did 9 nights in the 4 speciality restaurants? How did you pull that one off? I need to try that next time! :D
@@visitwithus I had booked two in advance and I just went to the reservation desk each morning and booked as far ahead as I could. They said I would be on a wait list since many others had not yet booked, and I said fine and pretty much got nearly every night.
You had me at Smoothie !
Smoothies have that effect on people! :D
Thanks for the review. I hope the Marina will be up to those standards when we cruise on her 6/24.
We hope so too! Thanks for watching 👍
Love the gyms on the ships..10K steps a day and an hour workout in the gym allows me the indulgences one loves on vacay!
Exactly why I use them! More cocktails, more cake! :D
@@visitwithus not a sweet tooth but like to enjoy my wine 🍷 onboard. Going on Riviera for the second time next Nov 9! Looking forward. Doing transatlantic on Friday Southampton to Fort Lauderdale and world cruise on Jan 19 Los Angles to Fort Lauderdale. So the gym is essential for me! Love your vids. Especially the Nile river cruise. Gonna book that one!
Can I ask if you commented on the review card re your ideas regarding the afternoon tea? Thanks for the review. I'm sailing on Marina around South America in January. Loved that you found the little hideaways and just how comfortable the ship is as a whole.
Hi Lynn. No, actually we totally forgot to do that! We just felt that given Oceania's reputation for culinary excellence, the afternoon tea would be such a simple and effective problem to fix. :)
We’re with you in January. Can’t wait for it.
@@charlesredick9424 Wiil have to look out for each other
Enjoyed your review of Oceania - it’s my line of choice. As for the scones, they do indeed have scones, but they keep them in a warmer which is why you have to request them, and they do of course come with clotted cream (I understand the importance of clotted cream with a good scone!), I would agree that two carts are not enough, and I think that may be a blip - you should have commented on it in the mid cruise comment form! I love the O class ships, but the R class ships are smaller and at 680 passengers are another level completely. We are on Riviera for Christmas and I am looking forward to it very much. Oh the trick with The Terrace is to go after 7pm - as you know our Colonial cousins the Americans like to eat early - eat later when the officers eat and it’s much more civilised ;)
Thanks Dynamo! It would've been nice if someone had told us that the scones would be served warm. We weren't even told they were available! Definitely needs a little bit of sharpening up in that respect. :)
Good to see some criticisms at the end.
Thank you. We do like to keep the reviews balanced. Genuinely though most lines at this level have very little to moan about but we will mention those we think are important. 🙂
Thank you for including afternoon tea in the review! Sad to find out that its not to the level of all the other food service, since its something I was really looking forward to and would want to dress up for for fun.
The experience itself is quite refined with the tables laid out nicely and live music to enjoy so you think you would enjoy it (even if the delivery is a little less refined than we would like)
This is a wonderful review! We are just about to go on our first Oceania cruise. We have done Princess in the past but I suspect Oceania may be our future! We are foodies and the Princess food has gone downhill.
Thank you 😊
Would recommend them to food lovers, especially the specialty restaurants 😋
Thanks for watching 👍
No scone! Sacrilege! Definitely not afternoon tea with out a scone. Great video. Love your honesty.
Thanks for watching! Agreed! ❤
They’re available-you just have to ask!
You two should watch your video again with the Closed Captioning on. It’s hilarious!!
Oh gosh, I dare not! 😂
Well good to see that you did finally try Oceania. Pretty much since the last time and I commented we've done two more Oceania cruises just got off the last one about a week ago. I did change my icon name to Charles m Jones. You probably remember me is Keithm. We met a number of people this past crews who have basically ditched princess. They're introducing their new sun princess coming up. The big problem is their food quality continues to decline. They still try to nickel-and-dime you for everything too many announcements things like that. Oceania still has very few announcements and the cruises are just excellent. On our most recent Cruise they did something we call shortcutting. The use the excuse that it was environmentally friendly. What they did was to arrive in Port rather than around 7 or 8 in the morning but arrived around 11 to 11:30 in the morning. We've noticed they've been skipping some ports saying that the seas are too rough that sort of thing. Most of us of the most recent Cruise weren't buying this. The most recent Cruise itself has excellent food quality was as good as always staff quality good as always entertainment pretty standard. It pretty much is rather lame entertainment on a small ship. The food on oceana is the entertainment. Now we have booked another 12-day Cruise on the New Vista next January. We do miss the 14 day cruises that Oceania specialized in. We find that doing the back-to-back cruise this is too long and too expensive. Overall however these minor incidents still don't detract much from the cruise. We've decided that basically we will a day or two in our stay in Florida.
Okay make a quick comment on the gym's unfortunately on our cruise a lot of the equipment specially the treadmills were out of order something we've not seen before so they definitely have to give attention to that for the next cruises coming.
Ah yes I should have replied also that they did have the renovations done. Cabins all had bathtubs converted to showers at least in the smaller accommodations and we actually love the showers we had a regular cab and because it was sold out we couldn't get a suite. New furniture new carpeting a lot of touches here and there the rooms have all been refreshed it looks much nicer than what it was before. Not like it wasn't bad before.
We really enjoyed our Oceania cruise and hopefully it won’t be our last. Like you say the food was very good. We still like Princess but know that it’s a very different experience to Oceania. We’re currently on our first Holland America cruise on one of their vista class ships which we are loving. In our opinion the food is almost up to Oceania standards and we love this size of ship (reminds us of QV and QE).
Thanks for continued support and detailed comment 👍
This is the complaint I'm seeing more and more. The problem comes when you have booked shore excursions of a certain length based on the times they say they will be in port. If they warned you well in advance, you might be able to adjust but some of the complaints I'm hearing are people find out the day of the tour. My cruise is very port intensive but some ports are essential to the reason I booked the cruise. It would be upsetting to have them cut for bogus reasons. If weather or regional conflicts or something occurred, that would be one thing but these lame excuses about climate change are ridiculous. They could plan those considerations into the original itinerary. It starts to feel like a bait and switch but I'm glad you enjoyed your cruise anyway. Sounds like Oceania still provides enough value to make it worth it so I won't cancel my cruise just yet.
Please get the Seabourn Encore dining guide on soon. Waiting with great anticipation. Pleeease.
Coming soon Maurie! We're just as eager as you to get it out but oh my giddy aunt am I busy! 😂 thank you for your patience.
Thank you both - I am watching this a year on from you making it so your video certainly has longevity! Silly quick question - was that delicious ice cream you raved about included in the 'food' for the base fare or was it an extra you purchased, like alcohol? Thanks and happy cruising, Craig.
Thank you for watching, we’re pleased it’s still helpful. And yes, the amazing ice cream is included in the fare and available every day at the buffet and the poolside restaurant. We still dream about it now 😂❤️
Great review of the ship! Did you find the penthouse with the butler was worth the additional expense? I know it’s more space but did you find the additional butler service worth the added cost?
We loved the size, design and comfort of the penthouse suite and our butler was excellent. Suppose it depends on how much your budget is 🤷 Pretty sure we would still have a wonderful time if we weren’t in a penthouse suite though 😁👍
This was a 2022 review. Cruises had only just started sailing again after Covid.
I’ve sailed on Oceania several times now and find the comments about the buffet and especially the afternoon tea not to be true to the normal experience I have experienced. Definitely the best afternoon tea at sea, The food is all set out and you help yourself, but you do have to order your scones so they are warm.
Thank for watching.
A computer joke I love it
Yes, the scone is necessary to a good afternoon tea.
Absolutely essential! thanks for watching Sherry. :)
Hello to you both!! I try to catch all your vlogs and really enjoy them. QUESTION...I am considering an Oceania cruise to Norway/Scandinavia. I recently took a Viking cruise to that area and, for the most part, really enjoyed it. Ship was wonderful, we had a PS1 (Penthouse Junior Suite) which was phenomenal. Service throughout was great. Downside...we thought the food was good, but not great, even in speciality restaurants and we were not happy with the majority of the excursions. Way too many people, about 50 per excursion. Oceania has penthouse suites, which look good, but not quite as homely as Viking? Oceania seems more glitzy, more bling and sparkle, may not be "us". Looks like excursions can be under 16 people, but not sure if that incurs an additional cost. Food on Oceania better than Viking? I'm really not sure what would be a better fit. Your opinion please? Many thanks.
Hello and thanks for your support. We would love you to join us on one of our fortnightly TH-cam lives and ask this question where we would be able to go into much more detail. We have stayed in both of these suites and they are both lovely but personally we prefer the more Scandi feel of the Viking suites. We enjoyed the food on both and would put them in a par with each other (maybe if we had to choose we would say Oceania had the slight edge). With regards to excursions we think you would probably have to pay extra with both lines to get a better shore excursion experience. We have only done one excursion with both lines (an included Viking one and one on Oceania which was part of their promotional package) and again they were on par with each other. Hope this helps. Overall we would probably pick Viking personally because we like the design and decor of the ship but in all fairness we have only been on Riviera and Vista is supposed to be a gorgeous ship so 🤷♀️
Did a Concierge in Jan.2022. Wish we knew about the terrace area for Concierge & spas. We're a little late booking for our Jan.31 cruise but will try for a paid upgrade for Concierge or Suite (Availability & price point) Otherwise, it's a B-4, which is still nice
How frustrating! Bit like the scones - if you don’t know you can’t enjoy 😩
Still, she’s a wonderful ship isn’t she?
Happy cruising and thanks for watching 👍
M wife convinced me to do a Tahiti cruise in 2000 on a Rennaisance cruise ship. That was our first "someone else drives the boat cruise. " Previously, we had done BVI (8 people) and a number of cruises to Catalina (2 or 4 people). Rennaisance went Bankrupt in 2001. In early 2003, my wife found a Baltic cruise on a Rennaisance size ship called Regatta operated by Oceania. We took our boys with us and liked it. We have done eleven of cruises on Oceania ships. Many were on Regatta just because of the itinerary (Baltic, Alaska, Rio to Buenos Aires, Miami to Los Angeles. We have done 3 ocean cruises on Viking and like both lines. The decor of the Viking ships is close to what our home looks like. The food on Oceania is a bit better than the food on VIking. On the Miami to Los Angeles trip, I bought a case of Root Beer in Miami and had root beer floats with lunch at Waves Grill. Left the unused ones for our cabin stewardess to enjoy.
Thanks for watching and your detailed comment. We like both Viking and Oceania too (especially the food 😋😁).
Hey guys you mentioned a dining guide. I’m still waiting, with much anticipation, for the Dining Guide for Seabourn Encore……please please please
It'll be worth the wait Maurie. :D
My husband and I returned from a 10-day Oceania cruise on October 31. I left home weighing 123, and I returned weighing 128. I had to have their wonderful ice cream at lunch and dinner. One thing I don't think you mentioned is that you can have lobster tails, as many as you want, every night in the Terrace Grill.
We know what you mean Debbie. Even an hour in the gym/pool each day didn’t halt the weight gain 😆
Thanks for watching and your advice re the lobster tails 👍😊
Cruised on the Riviera in the Med this summer. We had a very similar experience to you. We found the food excellent with the exception of the buffet and the afternoon tea. I cruise as my mother's carer as she is blind and uses a wheelchair. We found the buffet difficult to navigate and the choices very "American" and if you wanted something light and simple you were doomed. Pizza, burgers and highly spiced food seemed to be the norm. Even the salads were all mixed combo's. However, I agree the ice cream was to die for and I am not an ice cream fan. Staff were really excellent. My mother and her partner were in an aft facing Oceania Suite, truly stunning, butler excellent, can't fault Oceania on its customer service.
Thanks for your detailed comment Jo. Yes, overall we had a wonderful time and the service was exceptional. Still trying to source Humphry Slocombe ice cream in the UK 😆
Thanks for watching 😊👍
@@visitwithus We are off on the QM2 to the Caribbean in 7 days time. Queen's grill! Very excited. It was your review of the QM2 that inspired the trip! Also loved your video of Norwich in lockdown, we live just outside King's Lynn.
Loved the review as I’ve been seriously considering Oceania for a future cruise. No scones for afternoon tea?? Seriously? May have to reconsider…..Hope my Viking cruise in the Spring doesn’t disappoint in that area 🤞
Thanks for watching! I have been reliably informed that scones ARE available of course, but they're in the warmer, so they are served warm and delicious. It would've been nice if someone actually TOLD us that though! Doh!
@@visitwithus Good to know, they are back on my list 😉
Regarding your gym question, I’m with you as I hit the gym right when it opens. On Celebrity it doesn’t open until 6am, I prefer 5 to 5:30. We are considering Oceania in 2024, so this overall review is very helpful. Have you sailed Insignia? How does it compare to the larger Oceania ships ? Your thoughts. Thanks!
Thanks for watching and proving I'm not the only mad one when it comes to very early morning workouts! :D We've never been on the Regatta Class so I can't tell you but the Riviera gym was outstanding considering the size of ship.
So sorry they did not serve scones at tea in Horizons. I'm surprised because it was available every day with clotted cream and jam on the Oceania Sirena in Apr/May of this year!
It was an odd one. They WERE available but they were not offered and they weren’t on view and you had to request them. Most unusual. 🤔
@@visitwithus Ahh..... Interestingly I did often find them at a side counter near the self service tea and coffee machine area before and after the formal 4pm tea time. So you're in fact correct about the part that they did not come about on the tray carts. BTW love your videos. I'll keep "visiting with you".
Sorry, Helen - Rich is right! Scones - preferably with currants or golden raisins - indeed are the center of the afternoon tea universe. One never, ever, ever should have to ask for scones or clotted cream at afternoon tea.
Absolutely right Mason. We couldn't believe that scones were available but weren't offered to us! An utter travesty! :D
Afternoon tea universe does indeed revolve around the sun that is the scone with jam and clotted cream.
Couldn't agree more! Clotted cream is a MUST too!
Humphry Slocombe isn't a person, lol. It's an ice cream shop run by Anglophiles in San Francisco. They named it after two characters from Are You Being Served.
Haha! NOW we know! Thanks for that clarification. Mr Humphries and Mrs Slocombe? I remember them, although I was very young. 😂
@@visitwithus Yup! Those are the characters! If you ever end up in SF, you should go to one of their shops 😄
@@BeantownMrs We definitely will! Do they have an in store pussy? 😂
See you Sunday
Glad to have you with us! See you there! 😀👍
Has the Oceania dining guide gone up yet? Interested to hear more of your thoughts about the various venues in detail. 😊
Not yet, sorry. We’re busy travelling atm but we promise it will be worth the wait 😄
Btw there is a written blog on our website if that helps 👍
Regarding the art classes, when did you book in for this, pre cruise or first day on board?
You book on the day you board. Just go to the Art Room on Deck 12 and Graham or Shuna will be there to sign you up. It's great fun! :D
If alcohol was not included and you enjoy a drink before dinner, some wine with dinner and drinks after the show how much was your bar tab for how many days ? Was this cruise invited or did you pay out of your pocket? Enjoyed your candid review shame about afternoon tea. Nice string quartet but scones on demand how 😢
Thanks for watching Warren. This was a comped cruise but as always please see the video description for full disclosure. With regards to drinks we didn’t purchase the drinks package and tended to tended to have our pre-dinner drink during happy hour which was very reasonable 🍸
Is there an opportunity on Riviera to really dressed up or is it more casual like Azamara?
Both of you are amazing and always enjoy your videos
Oceania is country club casual attire in the evenings at all venues, so you won't see anyone with a tuxedo or a ball gown. However, the captain's welcome aboard party is on the 2nd evening in Horizons, and you will often see men with a sports jacket or a suit for this pre-dinner event and for the remainder of the evening. On my first Oceania cruise I wore a nice button down shirt with dress slacks, but I wished I had a sports jacket. Oceania doesn't have photographers taking photos to sell you later, so if passengers dress up beyond country club casual, it's their option.
I love this format but if it continues, please get some lav mics!
Thanks for the feedback. We were using a Sony Shotgun on top of the camera but although we took our lav mics we didn’t use them. We definitely will next time. We were just playing with the format to see if it worked. 🙂
Y’all talking about scones makes you the most stereotypical Brits I’ve ever heard. I was dying 😂😂😂😂
Yup, that’s us. More tea vicar? 😂
Hello, can you tell me if the locations that are included, like the spa , are they swamped with people? Do you have to get there at 6:00 a.m. to book a reservation? Same question for the day beds on the decks? Do you have to get there super early and compete for a daybed?
We never had any issue getting by a bed, there seems to be plenty about without having to get out early 👍
Can you compare the food quality with Celebrity Edge class ship you been on recently. Is Oceania comparable to regular dining on Celebrity or comparable to specialty dining on Celebrity?
Thanks for watching Luke. 🙂 Yes to both. The food on Oceania is definitely comparable to Celebrity regular and speciality. I would go further and say it’s better, particularly as it’s included in your fare on Oceania and the premium dining on Celebrity is very expensive.
How does Oceana compare to Viking for price, food, entertainment, general experience?
We found the food on both great and a similar price point and size of ship. Oceania isn’t quite as contemporary as Viking but is a very comfortable ship 😁
Any comment regarding the o life choice?
Its a 1 out of 3 choice
I cnt decide going with the credit or shore extrusion
Thanks for watching. With regard to the O Life choice I would hunk it depends what you like to do and where you are cruising. We tend to prefer to do our own thing when ashore so would probably opt for the credit, but if you think you would like the shore excursions then they do offer good value for money 👍
Thanks for your reply! I will be joining this ship soon and feel excited about this since this is the first time. Regarding boarding back to the ship, is it necessary to board 1 hour before it depart?
You mentioned that you like G&Ts and Martinis. Do they have proper gins onboard or just the typical common gins?
It was a while ago that we sailed and it’s difficult to remember the specifics but from memory it was the usual gins on board.
The buffet on the Riviera is very good, I thought it was the finest buffet at sea.
Thanks for watching! We're not saying it's bad, but we thought it could be better. Cant fault the food though. Superb in every respect. :D
Very good review. I been looking to try this cruise line because tired of celebrity and princess. How would you compare food quality of cunard vs oceania?
Thanks for watching Michael. The food? No contest. It completely OWNS Cunard. Sorry Cunard.
@@visitwithus figured that. I just did first cunard transatlantic and was not much fun.
@@michaelb1985 ah that’s a shame. 😕
We have a cruise booked on the Rivera for next year. I just checked the culinary class cost CAD 120 /guest/class. Curious to know how you were able to book classes for $8 or $9.
We didn’t do any of the culinary classes as they were fully booked (and costly). Not sure where you got the $8/$9 thing from, sorry. Enjoy Riviera 👍
@@visitwithus phrase refer to your video at around 27min35sec. May be you meant $89?
Tell us about the butler! I have a penthouse suite in April and I don't know what the butler will actually do!
The Butlers are absolutely great! They will basically do anything you ask. Book speciality restaurants, organise your laundry, bring you canapes each evening, sort out any little problems you may have. Ours was a delight! :D
Also, is the dining comparable to ultra luxury lines as Regent, Siversea, and Seabourn?
That’s an interesting question and I’d have to say it’s pretty indistinguishable from the ultra luxury lines, although we haven’t yet tried Regent. Very little to choose between them.
Very similar to Regent, except that Toscana, the Italian specialty restaurants, is MUCH better than Sette Mari!
Thank you. I am afraid that all Oceania cruises are too port intensive for me, way too busy, especially in the Med.
I’m sure they do repositioning cruises with more sea days too if you wanted to try them 👍 Or maybe just stay on board and enjoy a quiet ship (we did this quite a lot on our voyage 😍)
Thanks for watching Chris 😊
@@visitwithus thx. Yes repositioning cruises will have more sea days but their others do not. Love your videos. Much appreciated. Our next one is an Alaska Cruisetour. With 6 days on land, starting in Fairbanks then a 7 day southbound cruise from Seward to Vancouver, where we live. Have done the round trip Alaska 3 times, but the one way has more glaciers and some have different ports. So the one port we will see that is new to us is Icy Strait Point. Bye
I have booked a 27 day Oceania cruise in May 2024. I've been reading a lot of complaints on cruise critic about last minute cancellation of ports for ridiculous reasons and shortening the port schedule after final payment. It's making me nervous and now I'm booking my excursions with providers like Viator with a 24 hour cancellation policy or private car/tour services in European ports that won't charge your credit card if the cruise doesn't dock. Does anyone have any experience with this? Sounds like the food may be on the downward spiral also but I know that's subjective and I don't care as much about the food.
Oh dear, sorry to hear that you are concerned about these issues. We last sailed with them in October last year and found the food to be very good, hopefully it’s remained so. We had one port missed on our cruise because of a delayed departure but not sure if this is a common thing or a one off on our voyage.
We hope you have a lovely cruise and enjoy Oceania as much as we did.
We are going on Riviera this June and I shall definitely mention the cucumber sandwiches orbiting around the scone as the centre of the universe on a one stop tiered cake tray. I will report back if they confine me to a darkened room. One of the best afternoon teas is on Viking (which I think you have experienced as I think we have glided past each other on one of their ships).
😂😂😂
We agree - our favourite afternoon teas to date are Viking and Seabourn 😋 👍
if you are a vegetarian, you might want to think twice before you book a Oceania ship. January 2019, my husband and I went onboard Riviera for a 10 day cruise from Miami for our 50th anniversary celebration. Being a vegetarian for over 30 years, I brought to the attention of the head waiter and the head chef that there were no VÉGÉTARIEN dishes on the main dining room menu. I was told "chefs are not going to go out of their way to cook anything that is not on the menu. you can always order an appetizer or a salad". Even though we booked a Concierge room and yet, I felt very much like a second class passenger. Since then, I have traveled with Royal Caribbean, NCL, and Celebrity, never never again with Oceania!
Sorry you experienced this but we never found it an issue. Helen eats mainly vegetarian and there was always a vegetarian option on the menu in the main dining room at all mealtimes and she found them all to be very nice 😋
This is Neo-Platonism - circular objects (scones) being the centre of the universe you must be a renaissance man!
😂😂😂
Thanks for watching Brian 👍