Marcie,

Ok thanks. I can't understand why anyone would *not* prefer open seating, but didn't want to rush to any assumptions.

So far the reason we haven't been on RSSC are the shorter itineraries, though I guess if we found a pre or post cruise city we wanted to spend a good amount of time in, we would book it. As it is, we usually spend about 2-3 pre-cruise days visiting a city before embarking. I was invited to a lunch on an RSSC ship when it was docked in NY a few months ago so I got to have a look around. The cabins are plain looking but large, and the public area's were kind of plain, almost dreary. A friend was with me, who's never been on any cruise ship in her life (but is a real 5 star traveler) said it looked like "a typical 3 star hotel". Don't ask me *which* ship....sorry, but I don't recall. The lunch they served was wonderful.

If not being allowed to smoke on your balcony is a deal breaker for you, then yes, avoid Oceania, you wouldn't be happy. The policy is very strict about the two area's that people can smoke in.

CJ