Marina Review
“The Finest Vegan Fare Afloat” on This Ship Not Necessarily Healthy
Rating by category
Additional details
We recently decided to pursue more healthy diet lifestyle and noticed an Oceania brochure cover advertising “The Finest Vegan Fare Afloat”. Based on that ad, we signed up for a cruise on the Marina from Miami to Montreal, April 22-May 8, 2018 (Seaside Sojourn). We also had a number of pre-voyage email communications with a Special Services Coordinator at Oceania, regarding our dietary requests.
Having been on over 60 cruises without a significant dietary complaint, we know what to expect from cruise food. We also know that most cruise passengers are not there for healthy food, but they were not enticed by a brochure promising that.
We were disappointed from day one when the veggie burger was served with french fries and the “steamed vegetables” in Terrace Cafe were buttered. Many choices in the dining room may have been technically vegan, but they were by no means healthy. They were high fat and high calorie. Multiple requests to minimize fat and oil were ignored.
Cabin Review
Verandah Stateroom
Super comfortable veranda cabin with excellent steward. Our steward was outstanding and even noticed how neat we kept our cabin. Although we tend to be super-neat people in general, no other ship or hotel employee has ever commented on it before. We appreciated that he noticed and that it made his very difficult job a little easier.
Port Reviews
Port Canaveral (Orlando)
We had been there twice before and had taken both excursions. Fascinating area worth seeing.
Charleston
We had personal plan in the area and did not take an excursion this time
New York (Manhattan)
Excursions were very expensive. Most of them did very similar tours in different order. We did not want to be involved in high-traffic areas.
Instead we walked to Broadway,did a lot of people watching, and some shopping. It was much more crowded and frenzied than in our last visit few years ago.
Boston
We took private transportation to Harvard to meet friends.
Miami
We went directly to the cruise terminal from the airport
Bar Harbor
We love Bar Harbor and walk up and down the streets every time we visit. It is worthwhile visiting Acadia Park
Saint John (New Brunswick)
Interested friendly town that we have visited several times before.
Halifax
No excursions this voyage. Beautiful harbor shopping area
Quebec City
Definitely worth a tour of the city. Very hilly and difficult to walk thru in some areas, but there are interesting little shops near the port. Magnificent Chateau
Montreal
We couldn't visit Montreal since the water level was too high for the ship to pass under the bridges. Instead we had to dock at Three Rivers, an industrial town about 100 miles from Montreal. We could not leave the ship. We were bussed to Montreal airport for our flight home. Traffic was heavy and route was industrial/commercial and took over 3 hours.