Oceana Review
Good itinerary, great weather, ship good but not great
Rating by category
Additional details
Thomson flights and P&O organisation into/out of airports and cruise terminals was very good. But we got on board at 12pm and didn't see our cases until 8:30pm after we'd eaten. We had to spend all day in the clothes we travelled in and didn't see Venice because our suncream was in the cases with our shorts/sandals etc. Our mistake to some extent for not packing a change of clothes in hand luggage, but an eight hour wait for cases was bad. Cynically, we wondered if we were being penalised for having paid the 'saver' fare for our cabin (which also excludes some shuttle buses.) I'd hate to think this was true, but we know that other people on our coach from the airport had their cases quickly. Also, the inside cabins seemed to get theirs more slowly. I hope that's not deliberate.
The plaza buffet was chaos on embarkation day because some passengers' flights were not leaving until late afternoon, so although they'd had to leave their cabins early, they were still aboard and in the eateries - the pools were quiet though, so put your swimwear in your hand luggage.
Food was generally good but not great. Nothing I would complain about but not fantastic. However, it seemed to go down well with my very traditional in-laws. Presentation and inspiration was lacking in the buffet, and space was tight, particularly as everybody seemed to wander around aimlessly with trays rather than just a plate, taking up more elbow room. In the Adriatic restaurant, it was better but there could have been a little more variation in the menu. Table service was friendly and up to par with other ships. Cakes and pastries were not up to the level of Holland America, Princess, Royal Caribbean.
Cabin Review
Inside Twin with Shower
Our inside cabin was compact but functional with good storage. Only downside was the lightswitch for the bathroom on the 'wrong' side of the door - you had to close the door to reach it and/or use the built-in hairdryer. First time we'd had an inside cabin - we missed the daylight in the mornings of course, but I suppose it made us spend less time inside and more on deck. The bed was very comfortable. The TV service was pretty appalling - no service in certain ports, bar the on-board info channels, and just a couple of movie channels showing the same two films all day.
Other than a drone (from the engines?) coming via the ventilation duct, it was very quiet, with only a few drunks coming past chatting loudly on one or two occasions in the early hours - couldn't hear anything from either side or above.
Port Reviews
Kotor
Worth getting the tender for a wander. Go early if you want to climb the hillside walls, but possible not wise on a very hot day.
Cheap bars and ice cream through the walls in the old town (not the area in front)
Monaco (Monte Carlo)
Tender into harbour and walked around to train station to get to Nice in about 20 mins (£13 for two, return). Lunch on the beach after a few hours wandering and then back to Monaco for a walk up to the casino and the Cafe de Paris. Brilliant day.