Yesterday we booked our first cruise on Oceania, the Panama Xing departing on January 28th from LA to Florida. In actuality, we are priority waitlisted (with deposit) for PH1 (first on list) and PH2 (third on list) so I think we're almost certainly to clear. Our preference was really for a Vista suite and our new best friend, Susan Walsh at B&K, is seeing what she can do.

In any case, I'm sure we'll have lots of questions as the cruise nears despite our numerous (almost 30) cruises on other lines. Up until this booking, our favorite lines were RSSC and Crystal in that order.

Although there are several things that I wish Oceania would do differently, it is what it is, I am totally looking forward to the elegant European ambience of the "old" R ships. I am also looking forward to what many consider to be the finest cuisine afloat.

Let's hope that our waitlist clears!!!

Anyone else on this cruise?

Best regards--
Bill (and Nancy)

We will be on board for our first "O" cruise when Regatta cruises from Miami to LA. (Our home port.)
Everything we read and hear from our friends about "O" is positive so we will all, I am sure have a wonderful time. This is taking nothing from "R" which we love, but times are changing and so we will also change our "cruise line of choice." IF we enjoy "O" I think it will be difficult, with its terrific itinerary of cruises, to change back.

I think you will both enjoy your cruises and Oceania.

We cruised them last Feb, and thoroughly enjoyed our experience. We were in a PH and loved the room. Thought the dining venues were all wonderful, we ate at Toscana and Polo twice, Tapa's once (plus going for sushi one night before dinner in Main Dining Room) and enjoyed the food and service in the Main Dining room very much.

Would go back on them in a heartbeat, and most likely will in the next year or two. True you pay for all drinks, but it just didn't seem to be an issue with us and on RSSC until next year you pay for alcoholic drinks, so it just didn't seem any different. And, we brought wine, beer and gin for our cabin onboard with no issue at all.

I'm sure you will have a great time. And we found the passengers to be very friendly and social, well traveled and interesting.

"Hi Bill and Nancy, how are you? Enjoyed meeting you both last year on Voyager".

Our waitlist cleared! We have a PH3 guarantee and are now (actually tomorrow) priority waitlisted (deposit down) for a Vista suite.

I am so looking forward to this cruise. We love RSSC (and Crystal) but there is something extra special about cruising a new, for us, line. I am particularly looking forward to the different ambience (European, almost baroque, elegance as some have described) of Oceania.

JoAnn-- sorry I didn't respond earlier as I just got back from Hong Kong late last night...Nancy and I are both fine...best to you and Frank.

Bill

Bill, Kudos for clearing, pls be sure and report back...we're going (thanks to Claudia raves of her SA cruise) (if I can convince our Princess die hard friends)with two other couples (two spouses are from Argentina)on a South American cruise on Oceania in Jan 2009 (itineraries come out a year from now)..altho I would rather go on Regent or SS, their SA itineraries are too limiting (Regent) or too expensive ($800 day on SS vs $350 on Oceania) r/wes

The ships are the prettiest at sea..you will love them.
Their newest itineraries are from Auckland to Sydney and then Sydney to Bangkok, Thailand lots of Australia then Indonesia (inc. Bali) and Singapore for 2008..Cruises are called " passage to paradise"..
Could not resist..deposit down for both on Nautica.
Can not wait. :banana:

You will love Oceania. We sailed last year from Barcelona to Istanbul. The ship we were on is really beautiful. Food was delicious. The beds are the most comfortable we ever had at sea. The bedding is luxuious, all down pillows and comfortors. The ship is truly elegant (Insignia).We would sail with them anytime. Judy

I just wanted to bring this back to the top.

A good friend of mine sailed on Oceania for the first time over the holidays. They absolutely loved it and immediately booked for the holidays again this coming year.

Yes, J & J, they do a great job!

We recently sailed 25 days Istanbul to Singapore and are booked 33 days b-2-b in December Singapore to Sydney and Sydney to Auckland.

We are definitely Regent regulars, but will be trying Oceania. We were hoping to do SA with R in '08, but will not be able to get away early enough to do the whole thing. Suite selection is important to us, so did not want to risk availability by waiting for segment booking. So, have booked a 28 day B2B - Valparaiso to Buenos Aires followed by BA to Rio.

We are confirmed in OS on the first leg and confirmed in a Vista Suite and wait listed for an OS on the second leg. Will anyone who has sailed in these suites provide some feedback?

We like ship size and open seating - food seems to get high marks. Nickel and diming is a pain. We have been very satisfied with our R experience, but this seems like a reasonable risk. We'll see....

Ted, our resident "O" oholic..Claudia did a good portion of your itinerary last year...believe Claudia always takes the OS too. Try a search here and CC Oceania board and you will find tons of her useful posts. Also, Susan Walsh, of B&K has sailed O and may be able to help get some of your ? answered..Have a great cruise--we can't wait to do SA when we retire (and have the time)..r/wes

We have done the VS twice. We were on deck 7 which is better view than 6. Have not been on since they were refurbished. Were disappointed that they include very few extras for the top suites. Wanted a few extras for a cocktail party with friends but all we could get free were chips and nuts. Did have some extra cashwell and massey in bathroom and flowers. The room itself is great. Lots of room and even though in front did not seem to have much movement. We are not real sensetive to it. Our butler was grand but he still had trouble booking us a second night in the alternative rest. Oceania needs to be alittle more flexible with their rules. The last night out when we were in the Italian rest. which had very few passenger but some of the staff, we asked for shrimp cocktails from the steakhouse(same kitchen) and they said they couldn't do it. That and a corkage fee for a personal bottle of wine we had left over after buying two to three bottles anight(a group of 6) seemed pennywise and pound foolish. Left a bad taste and the group has been reluctant to sail with them again. We now are Regent fans.

We are also trying Oceania cruises this year after several cruises on Radisson/Regent. We are booked on the Nov 25th sailing from Rome to Singapore. The itinerary, the word of mouth by previous cruisers and a stellar review by our travel agent were hard to resist.

Wes

Thanks for the response - Susan W. is our TA for this trip - she has already been incredibly helpful and has provided first hand insights into the O fleet. Yeah, having to work for a living can be a pain - I definitely recommend retirement - hope that you're getting some diving in - we're headed for Bonaire in May.

Pammy

Why is the view better from a VS on deck 7 than it is on deck 6? We think that a stern location might be a better choice on the SA itinerary as a consequence of cold temperatures and not facing into the wind. Comments? You reflect some of our concerns - hope that does not affect our enjoyment.

Ted

Ted, Susan is our T/A too--you're precisely right, an incredible T/A...have a kitchen pass from my bride am diving in Belize for a week in June. Intent was to dive with Whale Sharks..but water (gladden spit) is too unpredictable for me (like key largo) am going to Ambergris Caye...www.elpescador.com. Two weeks ago rcvd the 2007 Undercurrents, Traveling Diver's Chapbook...based on reviews, plan on doing Curacao next year...Have a great dive
trip in Bonaire! r/wes

OS and VS are the best..I prefer the OS because they are aft which is just BETTER to me than forward!

But, the layout of the 2 are basically the same.
6th deck OS are a bit larger than the rest as are their balconies due to configuration of the ships.
You will love the ships they are the prettiest at sea.
:app:

Wes

Just finished going through the Undercurrent "Chapbook" myself. Your Belize plans look great - have dived Belize from St. George's lodge and on the Peter Hughes Wave Dancer (the one where 20 divers died a few years back). Have not dived in Curacao, but have gone on day trips from Bonaire and changed planes there a bunch of times!

Claudia

Have been hoping for a response from you after Wes identified you as the resident O expert. On R ships we normally opt for forward facing suites, but this itin in colder climes seems to suggest a stern location. Have you done the SA trips? If so, any comment on the Iguacu Falls shorex? We have asked Susan W to sign us on when it becomes available - 2K per couple is a bit heavy, but we don't want to miss it.

Ted

Ted,
Did the SA 2 years ago on O and what a fabulous time..Iquacu falls with the ship tour seemed to be the way to go when we went as it was a tour that was mid-cruise, so getting people back to ship on time before it left that port was left to the ship. I can't recall at moment which one it was, but the ship did an overnight there so that people could go to the falls and it is certainly something you don't want to miss.