We chose this cruise because we had believed the publicity that dining with Oceania was outstanding. We were so disappointed. First let me tell you about the plus side of our sail. Our Penthouse Suite was all that we'd expected and more. The view from the balcony and the extra window was interesting and bright. The butler and maid service was very good. The shows, which we'd been led to believe were stale, were actually quite entertaining and cleverly written. The string quartet was superb. The bars were fun and service was fine. Fellow travelers were friendly and interesting. Embarkation was swift and painless.

On the other hand...the hollandaise and bearnaise sauces were clearly from some sort of packet. The "prime" beef in the steak house restaurant was dry and tasteless. The bread service in the main dining room was laughable. Every day waiters were circulating with the same dry, cold, tasteless bread baskets with bread sticks held high as if they were actually carrying something special. (Our plane trip home at least managed warm dinner rolls.) Lobster dishes were mushy frozen lobster meat. We gave up after our second lobster garnished meal. Food waste is unconscionable in these times; however, tiny packets of butter wrapped in allumimum foil, ordered by the piece, was a bit much. There were many times, when returning from a shore trip, that there was no place to find a meal except the outdoor restaurant which was COLD. Main dining room and buffet area were CLOSED. There was absolutely no dish or part of a dinner that was remotely memorable. Don't sale on O for the food. Lower rated lines have fresher, better prepared food. I note that Jacques Pepin is no longer associated with them.

Disembarkation was a nightmare. Cold, rainy day and once we were off the ship no help in finding a taxi. We queued up in a puddled parking lot; guests had to organize lines and make calls on their mobile phones to local taxi services. There was, though, a well-staffed station collecting umbrellas from those of us foolish enough to think we might use them in the rain. Read more