This was our first Oceania cruise and look forward to our next experience with them.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Moved through the entire process in 15 minutes.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Specialty restaurants were outstanding.
Preferred to eat in the buffet restaurant over the main dining room as the buffet offered the same items and actually had a greater selection. Food quality was outstanding. Plenty of various selections were offered. Service in the buffet was excellent - staff waiting to assist in getting you seated and getting beverage selections.
Red Ginger
5 out of 5
Initially dd not select the Red Ginger to dine in as Asian food is not the highest on our list of preferred cuisine. In talking to others on the ship - many spoke highly of the restaurant and encouraged us to at least try it. Our table was for 8 guests. We enjoyed visiting with the other guests. Meal was delightful. Food was excellent - plenty of selections. Food was very well seasoned and prepared. Service was excellent (as it was in every restaurant that we ate at). We are glad that we took the opportunity to eat at the Red Ginger.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Used the fitness center multiple times. There was plenty of aerobic exercise equipment (treadmill, stationary bike, elliptical). Multiple weight lifting/resistance machines - could usually complete a workout without having to wait very long for a desired machine.
We were concierge level so had access to the Canyon Ranch Spa private deck and pool. Was a relaxing area. Only potential disadvantage that I experienced was the pool was at the very front of the ship and was subject to being windy both from the weather and ship travel.
Had a nice miniature golf course that was fun to play.
Activities were geared for 40+ crowd which seemed to be the audience that booked this cruise. There were ZERO children aboard.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
The entertainment rating ranges from a 1 to a 4. This was the weakest part of the cruise experience. The cruise performing staff were a group of young people - some who sang and some danced. They worked very diligently in providing an entertainment opportunity. The best show was a series of numbers for traveling around the world, which was enjoyable and well done. At time the singing was did not meet the mark.
Entertainment was offered most evenings. There was a single show that started at 09:30 PM so it made for a late evening. None of the restaurants/buffet were open after the show so if you wanted an evening snack you either had to take something from the restaurant to your room or use room service.
Children's Programs
No children were aboard.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Another area that Oceania Riviera shined at.
Wait staff were attentive in many ways - helping us get seated, acquiring our desired beverage, ordering food, following up to make certain the meal was meeting expectations, clearing the table as a serving was completed and engaging in conversation.
Stewards were very courteous. Respectful of our own personal schedule and accommodating to our routine. This trip crossed the Atlantic Ocean from west to east so multiple times we bossed an hour due to time changes - thus we had a tendency to sleep late into the morning but the stewards were able to adjust to their routine to our schedule.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Cleanliness was impeccable. Each morning the pool chairs were covered with a new "terrycloth blanket" and a rolled towel. Pools and jacuzzis were drained and cleaned multiple times during the trip. Foyer around the guest relations, boutique and shore execution counter was very nice with marble flooring, grand stair case and amazing chandelier. There were 6 elevators for moving guests to different floors. 4 toward the mid-front of the ship and 2 toward the aft of the ship. Wait times were surprisingly short except for when large groups were moving at the same time such as at the end of the evening entertainment.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Plenty of room in this cabin. Bathroom facility had both a shower and a separate tub. Stewards kept the room clean and tidy. Balcony was average sized and seating was comfortable - did not use too many times as weather was a bit cool due to the itinerary and weather conditions.
Ship tip
This was the smallest cruise ship that we have traveled on. We thought the ship was subject to motion more than what we have experienced on other cruises. The Captain mentioned a couple times that the forward speed was being controlled in an attempt to lessen the motion. One evening it was particularly noticeable as we passed through a rain shower and we heard from other guests that items actually were falling off shelves. The ship made available a motion-sickness medication from Guest Relations which we did obtain and use.
Have been here a couple times. There is shopping/some sights available right at the dockyard or a very short distance away. Oceania provided a shuttle that stopped at several sights in the dockyard area.
Took a tour of Tangier arranged through an independent vendor. Guide and Driver provided us a wonderful experience. We stopped at several locations that our Guide knew personally that offered a unique experience. Hercules Cave was interesting. Enjoyed a mint flavored tea for a relaxing refreshment. Walking tour of the city involved a substantial amount of walking so be prepared. Also be prepared to be challenged by aggressive street vendors. Our guide adjusted our schedule to accommodate personal requests such as visiting the local market to see the fish/meat vendors and then to a spice vendor where one could obtain freshly prepared spices.
Enjoyable experience. Things are a bit spread out in the city so transportation could be an issue. The ship provided a shuttle from the port to a central drop off location that was near the renowned Cathedral. Immediately around the Cathedral are restaurants, ATM machines for obtaining Euro currency (ship did not have the means to exchange currency) and a wide range of shopping opportunities. We chose to use the Hop-On/Off bus that we have used in other cities. Not a great many sites along the route. We did stop at the Belver Castle and enjoyed a self-guided tour (fee paid for the bus included the entrance fee). We intended to tour the Cathedral when we returned to where we started the bus tour but my wife was not feeling well so we took the shuttle back to the ship.
We had thought about taking a tour to the Caves of Drach - distance is about 20 miles from the port, but the tour would have taken all day and involved a lengthy bus trip. We did not hear from anyone who did take this tour but it is said that the caves our spectacular. There is a smaller cave not far from the port in Genova - we had anticipated going to this cave but chose not to because of the cost of the taxi and how we were felling. We look forward to going back to this location as the island looked to be a wonderful place to visit.
Very quickly accomplished. There was a significant rain shower going on and the cruise line provided assistance down the ramp and umbrellas to avoid getting rained upon. Wait at the Customs area was short. Luggage was easily located. There were plenty of porters available to assist with the luggage. Line for getting into the taxi was short - and we were on our way. Though travel time was around 08:30 AM there was little travel to contend with except in trying to exit the airport.
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