Marina Review
I love it - of course there is no such thing as perfection :)
Rating by category
Additional details
This is my second cruise on Oceania, the first one was on Riveira, in the Med. Marina is almost the same as Riveira,with very small differences. On both cruises we booked Penthouse 1 (PH1) cabin and have been very very satisfied. Both ships are in very good shape, nicely apppointed, decorated, pleasant and smart but not OTT (over the top). Everything is smart causal, including the required attire and that suits us very well. Captain, crew and staff are well trained and very nice in a relaxed way. 99% are doing their best to please the guests. Very high staff to guest ratio.
Oceania's cruises are for middle-aged and older people (though we have a few families and younger couples now) and everything is set up accordingly. There is entertainment but not around the clock. A lot of music: all afternoon, evening and up to midnight there is some music somewhere on the ship (from string quartett to rock-and-roll) but not incessantly. Various musicians move around the ship in various lounges and bars.
Wonderful band and singer every night up top on level 15 (Horizons bar and lounge) for dancing. Bound to bring even the shy to the dance floor with a superb mixture of various types of dance music for everyone.
Cabin Review
Penthouse Suite
Simply wonderful! Walk in wardrobe (huge), very big and superb bathroom with full size bath and great shower cubicle. Nice big room with slightly seperate area with openable sofa bed, two seating areas, one with high table for meals and one with coffee table. Vanity unit, desk, curtesy laptop, fridge, 110 and 220V sockets (US and European type), lots of good lighting, big mirrors, loads of drawers and bedside cabinet space, nice balcony with comfy loungers with cushions .... everything you would want and more. Buler service comes with the cabin.
Port Reviews
Stanley
For me the Falkland Island were the highlight of the cruise. We managed to get ashore (due to weather and swell it is not always possible, it being a tendering port) and found quite a few locals offering tours. In the information centre we picked up an elderly local chap, he took us 2 and another couple with two children on a tour by his 4x4 to see some nature, penguins, birds etc. It was great, leasurely, easy and cheap. We paid US$ 90 for the two of us. Returning from there we had a drink and fish and chips (excellent) in the local pub, talked to people there. Then we walked along the sea front, saw everything worthwhile by ourselves and on the way back to the port we went to the museum too that is not cheap at (I think) £12, but very interesting, absolutely recommended. It made a great day.
Montevideo
We took a private Jewish and city tour by Fanny Margolis (nfirst@netgate.com.uy) - fantastic.
Highly recommended.
Buenos Aires
We spent 5 days in BA prior to the cruise. Nice city but almost unbearable trraffic due to demonstrations and strike every day (literally). So beware. Some of our party actauuly had to abandon a private tour because we stood in traffic for hours.
On the cruise, later, I talked to a couple who spent the day of embarkation at BA airport, with thousands of other people, stuck due to the transport strike. Their aircraft was allowed to land but they couldn't get their luggage, nor a sip of water for many hours. People eventually rioted, broke a door down and tried to get their luggage that stood on the tarmac. Police was called in. Dreadful experience.
If your cruise starts in BA, fly in at least 3 days before, look at the city, take in a great tango show and get to the terminal well in time.