Oceania has about the best food and service of any cruise line. The Riviera is a wonderful ship that is large enough to not lack important amenities without being too large. We simply won't cruise on ships carrying more than 1,500 passengers to avoid feeling like cattle in a roundup. The itinerary took us to so many islands we might not otherwise be able to visit. The staff, all the way up to the cruise director, were wonderful. One noteworthy exception was the Concierge on Deck 5, who was at best useless and at worst condescending. But don't let that detract from what was otherwise an outstanding cruise.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
COVID sure makes everything harder, and the process used at the Barcelone cruise terminal sure had it's twsits and turns, but we didn't have to wait long anywhere except for the COVID test results.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The food on Oceania rarely disappoints. The Terrace Cafe is the best buffet on any ship I have sailed and the specialty restaurants are all excellent. Service is excellent and always with a smile.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Fitness center, enrichment talks, trivia games, and ports of call were all great. If the weather had been better, the pool looked inviting.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Great entertainers mostly. As usual, it's a matter of taste. But the talent was good. Just don't expect big production type shows.
Children's Programs
Oceania does not offer children's programs.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Very attentive and gracious with the exception of the matre di at Polo Grill and the Concierge. The former was a bit dismissive and the latter was simply a waste of time who would rather read you rules than help solve your issues.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The Riviera and the Marina are identical in layout and we love the way they are designed. Easy to get to most places and decorated in good taste. Some of the artwork was a bit "out there".
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Excellent and the verandah was huge! A bit more space between the bed and the closet would have been nice and the table was a bit too large for the space.
Ship tip
Not sure that the Concierge level staterooms are worth the extra cost, especially if you can get one of the B3 level staterooms on deck 7.
Skip Santa Cruz and go to La Laguna. An easy and cheap light rail ride from near the port, which is close in to the center of Sana Cruz. La Laguna is an historic and charming small town that used to be the capital of Tenerife.
Amazing island with a fascinating geologic and climate background. Took the excursion from the ship to visit the volcanic national park, ride camels and taste local wine. Well worth it!
Probably the nicest "city" in the Canary Islands. Port is walking distance from the busy beach and city. Took the scenic excursion to get an overview of the island and visit Teror. Well worth it.
Amazing city. Did a self guided walking tour. It was very crowded because we arrived on Good Friday. And it is a long bus ride from the port a Civitavechia.
What an adorable town and area!! We took an excursion to Pompeii and Herculaneum so we only went through Sorrento. This whole area needs a couple of days to truly appreciate. If you do visit Sorrento from the ship, it's a tender ride and then quite an uphill climb to the town itself.
Scenic area. We took an excursion that took us through the old town and to a museum. The city itself did not compare well with several other places we visited on this cruise.
OMG! Very nice town and the port is a very short walk into town and the town is so very nice and scenic. We took an excursion to Cargese and the Calanches of Piana. Simply stunning! Corsica is a beautiful island.
Rain spoiled our day here. You could spend several days in Florence and still want more. Pisa is similar. And yet our excursion only gave us about 4 hours in Florence and 1 hour in Pisa. The drive from Livorno ate up the rest.
We did not go on an excursion. The port is so close to everything within walking distance. Beautiful but obviously expensive local. Very clean and safe.
The port is quite a hike from the main part of town, but the ship provided a free shuttle to take you close in. What a lovely town! Did not do an excursion but had a wonderful time walking the old city and visiting the cathedral and palace there.
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