Oceana Review
Rating by category
Additional details
Oceana is a mixed bag, the public areas are nice, but many of the cabins are mean and utilitarian, and bsthrooms cramped. This at 12 days the shortest cruisecwe have done, i would not recommend this ship for a long cruise.
We did freedom dining for the first time and enjoyed it, no rushing for a fixed time, and we met lots of nice people. Food mainly good, i had lobster twice and dining service pleasant.
A highlight of this cruise for us and other jazz fans was the resident Elena safanova trio. We arrangedcour evenings around their schedule. As previously the headliners theatre company impressed us.
Cabin Review
Outside Twin with Shower (Part-Obstucted View)
Good location, quiet and easy access to prom deck one deck below. We ve had success booking obstructed view cabins, as p and o provide photos on their website to show the view. This one has a good view out between two lifeboats. But it is small, nothing like as nice as similar grade cabins on arcadia which have a good bathroom and a proper sitting area. So dont choose this for a long cruise. Nb contra p and o s website there is only ONE 13 amp british style socket in this cabin. You get a fridge which is great, our cabin steward arranged for a jug ofcsemi skimmed milk each day, so tea was just like at home! Noise damping on this ship is best we ve experienced, no bother from engines, and could not hear neighbours either side.
Port Reviews
Lisbon
Lisbon is ideal to wander on your own. We had coffee and lisbon speciality custard tarts at the swiss cafe, same as a previous visit, then chose the historic alfama district to wander. Found a brilliant shop where wectasted different ports with tuition from the owners, and came away with a bottle of tawney port for 9 euros, it is cheepwinebar in rua dos romedios, close to the cruise terminal, recommended.
Cartagena (Spain)
High point of this visit is the womderful roman amphitheatre and its museum. Easy walk from the terminal and well worth the effort. The naval museum is worth a visit.
Malaga
Malaga is a big busy city. The red city tour bus is not good value, use the local buses instead.
Cadiz
Cadiz is very characterful, many lovely old buildings and narrow streets. Easy walking around the peninsula and lovely views. Wechad planned to hire bikes ,but it was so rainy thatvwecdropped that idea. Hope to visit again.
Vigo
Walking off the ship you are straight into the old town, with granite paved streets and steps, lovely buildings. There is also a fashionable shopping street, and a bit farther a branch of El Corte Ingles, Spain s poshest department store, always worth seeking out.
The modern shopping centre by the port is ugly and not good, what a pity they built it there,cut past it and head forcthe old town.
The setting of Vigo is spectacular, a wide estuary with rocky islands, worth being on deck for arrival.
Gibraltar
Trying walk from cruise terminal, fixed price taxis are avsilable, we should have taken one. Town Very busy and packed with traffic. Recent building is uglyso spoils historic area. Trip up the rock well worth it, best value is taxi rather thsn csble car, as taxis stop at seversl viewpoints. Agree price first. ( we did cable car, heard later from other passengers that taxi was better). Walk away from other visitors to find apes behaving naturally and with charm.
Alameda gardens (sp?) nice and worth effort to walk around.