First cruise for my partner. Her comment: "every day is like two days. First you go out and visit a place, then you come back and party all night". We will sail Oceania again, but it will probably be a few years. Our objective was to see several Italian spots we hadn't been too, and Greece/Monte Carlo were bonuses. But our general style is to go someplace for 10 days and live there.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Very smooth and well-organized. We were scheduled for noon embarkation but arrived at 11:15--oh, no problem! Luggage was handled quickly and efficiently. 10/10, particularly compared to some other experiences I've had!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The main and specialty restaurants were all excellent. Service was attentive and food was very good. Grand Dining Room menu did change regularly (good). Did not experience Terrace Cafe or Waves Grill. Bar service equally excellent. Only minus was what I would consider a very thin selection of Italian wine for a cruise that was mainly set in Italy.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Pool is smallish but well maintained. Pool deck staff were good. Canyon Ranch spa was outstanding; we had two couples' massages that were amazing.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
I enjoyed the shows. It's not Cirque de Soleil but that's ok.
Children's Programs
This ship has no children's programs
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Service was exceptional, up and down the line. They made things happen. We had Butler service for our room level and it was very much worth it.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Very clean ship. Not difficult to navigate.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
I had wanted to book one room class up but it was not available. This room class, however, was excellent. Plenty of room to relax, enjoy breakfast, get ready for the day. Closet space was exceptional. Bathroom was excellent.
Ship tip
Penthouse Suite as a minimum. The experience is significantly upgraded.
Didn't expect much but was such that we'd go back for an extended stay. No organized excursion, but we got a taxi to Perivolos Beach for the day. This beach is well-organized and quiet. Nice relaxing day.
We did a 4 hour Mt. Etna excursion, which I would not recommend unless it's simply to check the box ("I've been to Mt. Etna"). A short visit on our own to Taormina saved the day. "Next Time" we would just go to Taormina directly and spend the day there.
Positano/Amalfi excursion. Not enough time in Positano, but the ferries run often enough that you could get yourself back. in time. Both towns were quite fun and well worth a visit. "Next Time" we would just hop the water taxi to Positano and back.
It's Rome, what can you say? The Civitavecchia train station is a 7-8 minute walk from the port; we took the train to Roma San Pietro (don't go to Roma Termini) and cabbed in to the Trevi Fountain. The train is 10 euros r/t per person.
Excursion to Cinque Terre. Amazing visit. Well organized tour with plenty of free time and excellent guides. Pro Tip: Look for the Leaning Tower of Pisa on the right side of the bus on the way up, not too far out of town.
No formal excursion; overnighted at Le Meridien Beach Plaza and played craps at Sun Casino. Would have been better to have not been on a Sunday, but was an enjoyable time. You will never see so many supercars in your life, and every gal under 30 is a model.
Dockside at Monaco is a bit crowded. Luggage delivery was very well organized, but if you have a car coming it's basically one-way traffic. Written explanation (e.g., newsletter etc.) of the disembarkation process was poor; we learned a lot by accidentally coming across a TV channel that actually explained things.
Thanks for the review, love the every day is like two days quote! All of the port info you provided is fantastic. Where will your travels be taking you to next?
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