While I have sailed on Celebrity 30 times, I returned last week from my first cruise on Oceania on the Marina. We had sailed on Equinox 45 days earlier so it was interesting to compare the different products in such a tight time frame. My partner and I are both in our late 40's.

We sailed in a "B4" which is the lowest veranda category but offers huge extended verandas. Its direct equivalent on a Solstice Class ship would be an extended veranda category "1A". The cost of Oceania was exactly $100 per person per day more than the Equinox sailing that same week. On Oceania, all coffees, specialty restaurants, soft drinks and water are included.

Our first impressions on embarkation were underwhelming. There was one entertainment staff member to greet you and one staff person to direct you to the Terrace Cafe. One boards the ship directly into Marina's two story large circular atrium. It is an odd space reminiscent of a private bank -- lots of dark-coloured marble, lit Lalique panels on the front wall next to the glass elevators and twin curved staircases that meet in a central podium. The large chandelier and lit panels provide an unpleasant, ultra-while light making the space extremely over lit. The podium is raised a single step and is glaringly marked in yellow and black caution tape -- really an accident waiting to happen. Each and every time we descended the stairs, we called out "step" to each other so as not to go face first onto the floor. We walked though the public areas on deck 6 and I started to get a sinking feeling as we explored Martinis (the central bar), the Casino and bar and The Grand Bar itself (but more on that later). Read more