I Test Oceania's New Ship To See Why Cruisers Are So Unhappy

[@7wren]

Hi Gary, Great video, and again, it was fun to meet you on Vista! I mentioned this to you after you had already prepared this video, but just to let others know, apparently there is an active thread on the Cruise Critic Oceania Forum about a planned foam injection in certain areas on Vista. So at least Oceania seems to be aware of the soundproofing issue and is taking steps to try to address it. Hopefully there’s still time to get this fixed on Allura before her debut, and certainly on the 2 new, larger Oceania ships NCL has ordered that will hold 1,400 guests. We did hear our neighbors more than on our previous 4 cruises on Regatta. We’re very light sleepers so thankfully we had brought our sound machine that we cranked up at night which blocks almost all noise.

[@tipsfortravellers]

It was great to meet. I’m not sure how real that rumour is but hopefully. Oceania did contact me via their UK PR to see what I thought and I fed back pros and cons but they did not come back saying it’s being addressed! But definitely going to be following this!!!!

[@festerofest4374]

I have a white noise app on my phone and tablet and anytime I'm traveling I have it on near my head while sleeping and play some rainstorm or ocean waves sounds. Works wonders for covering up outside noise whether hotels, etc.

[@sandiegobill5520]

Hilarious that on an ocean cruise, you need to get an app that plays sounds of ocean waves!

[@Nowabeachbum]

We were on the tenth floor of the Vista as well and agree 100% with your likes and dislikes. The neighbor noise in the cabins is a deal breaker for us so we will be running back to their older ships that we love!

[@mitch_l]

We were on the Vista this past February and your review is SPOT ON down to the issue with soundproofing. We could hear the couple on one side conversing (arguing, truth be told, to the point where we nearly ready to tell the husband, "You know, she's got a point.") We heard the TV loud and clear on the other side. We had never experienced this on the other Oceania ships we've cruised on. If Oceania hears enough about this, I'm wondering what they could actually do about it. The rest of the experience, as you pointed out, was quite wonderful.

[@valeriepark9444]

If the speakers are located on the back of the tvs instead of the front, that could be a factor (that can be fixed)

[@janelleo.5931]

@@valeriepark9444 I wrote to Oceania and asked them to spray foam insulation. Someone mentioned sound redirectors for the tvs but I forgot to add that to my request.

[@francissemmes3403]

Did you have a suite? I’m just wondering if this is a “10th floor” issue or is it widespread?

[@w0mblemania]

@@janelleo.5931 The problem is where they could possibly spray that insulation. The fit on these pre-built cabins is exceptionally tight. They're designed to slot in against each other with no gaps. Any sound insulation would have to be applied to the inside of the cabin, which is very problematic, and costly. It sucks.

[@georgeg.7124]

I wish all reviewers of cruises and hotels would discuss this, even if to just say they didn't have noise intrusion problems. That's the number 1 issue why I don't travel much.

[@abdvantage]

My motto is "Whats a holiday without good sleep and the choice of waking up late for breakfast". As a light sleeper that's a deal breaker as I'd really question the value of 'ultra luxury.'

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

Wear ear plugs as needed

[@abdvantage]

@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm How smart!Why bother cruising on a ship that requires wearing ear plugs to get a good night's sleep, and reducing my ability to hear any emergency announcements.

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

@@abdvantage Because, to put it simply for you, you state you are a light sleeper (apparently sensitive to noise). Noise bothers you. OK, happens to a lot of us, including me. What do you do? Complain about it, of course. Much more fun than doing something to help yourself. As to not being able to hear emergency signals while wearing ear plugs, I even wonder if you are simply a troll and have never heard those signals on a real ship. VERY LOUD. Your concern sbout not hearing those signals because of ear plugs is pure BS. On KZbin everyone is entitled to their own opinion but when someone tries to help you and you come back foolishly snippy, I'll just say I'm truly sorry for having triggered you. Truly sorry I tried to interact with you. See, in the end, you win. Satisfied? Likely not.

[@abdvantage]

@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm Mr Helper of the universe. Seems you're the one triggered by my not accepting your self-righteous, unsolicited, and ill-informed advice. I repeat...it's not a luxury experience if I have to use earplugs on a cruise. Now cry if you must, and btw, having been on many cruises, I've once had to report not hearing announcements in my cabin, and was moved. I guess you're too ignorant to have deemed that a possibility cos your too in your narcissistic space.

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

@@abdvantage You said early on you would a not accept my advice. OK, no one said you had to. I moved one on and you keep sending these little weird rants. It is clearly more than being a light sleeper. Please understand. Which ship and cruise line you choose to cruise with is none of our collective business. Mine included. Your money, your choice. Pretty simple stuff here, but don't listen to me. I'm the guy supposedly, according to you, trying to control your life. "Unsolicited"? You posted to KZbin. I didn't force you to do that. You must realize that all comments get read and many get commented on. "Ill-informed advice"? Ear plugs reduce outside noise and help light sleepers significantly. That makes me "self-righteous"? That I know that has some special significance to you? "Helper of the universe"? I can't even seem to help you and you think my intent is to help everyone in the universe. Good luck with that. I don't even know where all these creatures are in the universe and as far as I know, scientists can't prove intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe either. Me, I'm not sure it exists here either. Our current discourse should be proof of that.

[@honeymcdonald9120]

Chair hogging is something all cruise lines need to deal with. It ruins my holiday and others every time. How hard can it be to manage. Put a big noticable orange tag on a chair if stuff there but no person, 30-60 minutes later if still empty take their stuff leaving a big red tag with a number that the pillocks can take to an embarrassing place for their stuff back. If there is an empty chair with a red tag - sit down.

[@calumshaw]

Must have been disappointing Gary! Noise from adjoining cabins is an intrusion which should not be a factor on this class of ship, particularly as we all know how fussy you are when choosing your stateroom!

[@tipsfortravellers]

And for the cost!!!!

[@lindseysharon259]

I’m finding myself stepping away from “luxury experiences” like this. The fact that everything has to be booked so far in advanced is a huge no for me. Luxury isn’t knowing what I’ll want to eat weeks in advance and waking up at midnight to book it. That’s the kind of rush that I associate with budget purchases.

[@ves0939]

My wife and I cruised the Caribbean on the Vista two months ago and we had NO issues with noise between cabins or even from the hallways. We were on deck 10 in cabin 10061. We thoroughly enjoyed the cruise and food options. Loved the cruise director and the staff in general. Have already booked two more cruise’s on the same ship.😊

[@SaraMC-v3b]

Hi Gary - I posted a comment about a month ago regarding my upcoming trip on the Vista. Sadly, the cruise has come and gone. I wanted to share my thoughts regarding the issue you raised regarding soundproofing or lack thereof. I'm a light sleeper, so I was concerned by your video. My stateroom (more on that later) was located on Deck 9. I had neighbors on both sides. At no point did I ever hear any noise coming from my neighbors. One afternoon, one neighbor turned on their TV. I could definitely hear it, but the sound was muffled. If I hadn't watched your video, I'm not sure I would have paid any attention to it. I could also hear a tiny bit of hallway noise, but no more than on any other cruise ship or hotel room. I packed a white noise machine, which proved unnecessary. The Vista is an absolutely beautiful ship and I found the stateroom to be perfectly quiet and comfortable. I look forward to sailing again as soon as my schedule allows! I shared my stateroom with my husband and young son, who was very comfortable on the sofa bed. Neither my husband nor my son noticed any noise issues. I think the term "stateroom" is somewhat misleading. It was much larger than some "suites" in which I've stayed. In my opinion, it's the square footage that matters, not whether it's called a "stateroom" or a "suite." This was our first cruise on Oceania partially due to your complimentary review of the line. It will definitely not be our last!! We loved it so much! No complaints whatsoever.

[@Michele-ot8bh]

The lack of sound proofing would be a serious issue for me too

[@bobjennings7144]

Thank you, another excellent and complete review. We were in Oceania Vista Suite 10001 for 11 days in late January and did not have any noise issues. Like most we found the food excellent in all venues. However, we believe we were scammed by Oceania and our cruise travel agent-we paid an incredible amount of money for this excellent room on the front of the ship, but not once was it mentioned that you cannot use any deck furniture except in port. Not while cruising, not while sail out and not on arrival, meaning thousands and thousands of dollars spent for an incredible balcony that we could not use! Like buying a cabin and not being told it was an obstructed view! Let me again compliment you on your review though-as always the best online! Thank you.

[@Smokeyham]

Looking at the deck plan, you had a forward facing balcony cabin. On many ships those have no deck furniture, and also you are required to keep your curtains closed if you have your cabin lights on after dark (to preserve the night vision of staff on the bridge). It is unfortunate that they did not make these restrictions clear to you at the time of booking.

[@doctorboy5892]

​@@SmokeyhamWhy no furniture on forward facing cabins?

[@Marshal_Dunnik]

This has got to be one of the best looking cruise ships I've ever seen, every interior is top shelf

[@drofwarcnwahs2108]

I was on the Vista the trip just prior to your cruise. My wife and I have 10 cruises under our belt but this is the first on Oceania and we found it to be the quietest of the cruises. We had a standard stateroom just above the casino on deck 7. We had zero noise from the surrounding cabins, the hallway or from the casino below. We were really pleased. Some of this is due to the older clientele. Maybe the penthouse suites are different. We found the food to be amazing. Although I didn't think the Red Ginger lived up to the hype you and others have given it. It was above average but it wasn't the best asian I have experienced. The buffet was extremely good as was the Aquamar Kitchen. The entertainment was subdued but appropriate for the clientele and the performers were very good. I'm not into the big shows on other cruise lines mostly because if I wanted to see that Broadway show I'd just go to NY and get a top notch performance. My only complaint (which is true across all of cruising) is the hogging of deck chairs/lounges. During sea days you had to get your chair by 7am or you were screwed. The biggest irritation is that most of the chairs a left unattended for hours during the day with just a book to claim it.

[@chriswilliams6568]

Gary is only talking about the new ship, the Vista, he did not say the others of Oceania had noisy cabins. Good wishes.

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

Perhaps, the designers added some more insulation around your stateroom knowing it was near the casino and knowing the problem would exist for you otherwise. Clientele is also a big plus. No college age partiers. Older, more sedate crowd. Many have been on multiple cruises and realize sound carries great distances. Smarter is better.

[@fjb4932]

"...just a book to claim it." Lounge, read the book, or bring your own. Be ready to move to another lounge / book at a moments notice... ☆

[@g.davidwalters6450]

NCL's policy is if it is unoccupied for more than 30 minutes, your towel will be removed for other guests.

[@downieduck2414]

@@g.davidwalters6450 that is great IF they enforce it||...no one should be standing around waiting for a chair if hasn't been occupied...the MAIN reason i do go on cruises --- who needs to go somewhere when you know something before you get on will be a problem

[@louisemckinnon2260]

My husband and I went on the vista and had no problem with the sound. Our only complaint was that on all the other Oceania cruises ships we have been on we never had an issue with chair hogs. The staff always made sure people don't do this. Not so on Vista. They let people put a book on a lounge chair and go away for 3 to 4 hours. It was disappointing not to be able to relax by the pool on many occasions. We still love Oceania and are booked for another cruise but on the Marina.

[@downieduck2414]

why did you not insist!!!

[@chrishugo]

Noise was an issue on our Vista cruise in November, but not cabin-to-cabin. It was the incessant loud talk and raucous laughter of fellow cruisers poolside that disrupted our tranquility. We were with another couple - relative strangers - sharing one of the perimeter "cabanas" and the issue was in the adjacent space of defined, but open design. After enduring them a second day on the 19-day trip, I asked them if they could reduce the volume a bit. The response was defiant and aggressive. Some bad behavior ensued both ways, ending up with us in the purser's office a few hours later. We had no further issues with the group, but there were other occasions that guests were louder than what we've ever experienced on the more intimate 450 and 600 passenger Seabourn ships we've sailed. A lesson in ship size confirmed.

[@mmcgoverne]

I'm sorry you had that experience, that would be a total deal breaker for me too! I recall you said in a previous video that this cruise was the worst in your more than 100 cruises for cabin noise; would you consider a video on those ships with the best cabin, noise insulation wise? I'd be very interested as this would be the deciding factor for me and is exactly the issue preventing me from trying out cruising!

[@dustin3094]

It blows my mind to see so much modern construction that just completely drops the ball on noise isolation. Also, when did the hospitality industry suddenly decide that it's acceptable to flood a room with LED lights that can't be switched off at night? This is why it's often so great to have a publicly visible billionaire founder and CEO of a hospitality brand, like a Steve Wynn, who is invested in the brand and will personally tour their facilities to stamp out details like this. Because if you leave it up to a bunch of anonymous MBAs in a boardroom, these details are totally glossed over in today's business climate of cost-cutting.

[@imgee7620]

We were on deck 8 mid ship aft balcony room. No noise at all on either side of our stateroom. Enjoyed everything about Vista including the four speciality restaurants.

[@eugenewalton7336]

I just returned from a voyage on Vista (Colonial America, March 16-27). The ship is stunningly beautiful, the food was very good and our stateroom was quiet (11034). Two things I found troubling: we had what I thought were mild swells yet the ship seemed to roll quite a bit. And second, I think another set of elevators are needed. There are just two sets placed quite far apart and older cruisers might find the distance between the two sets a challenge. I like Oceania, but will probably gravitate to Seabourn and Silversea in the future.

[@SherryMay-s4v]

I sailed on Vista last May. I found the noise level in the restaurants was too much. We were unable to have a conversation. We had reservations at restaurants booked before sailing. However one evening we had to wait over an hour to be seated. The quality of the food has decreased since we first cruise on Oceania. I have cruised on 4 of Oceania’s ships. I missed Jacques on Vista. Ember was my least favorite restaurant.

[@robertscott6595]

Liked your views but please, as a retired professional tv editor, i think there are too many shots with not enough time to take in what we're seeing. Often 2 or 3 shots when 1 would be fine. Slow down! I doubt any shot is more than 2 seconds if that. Too short. Good info though.😊 Sorry for this but it spoiled my viewing.

[@donnachapman3548]

Good point I think. I was getting dizzy watching and almost ended watching mid-way through but I wanted to know the "real" problem with the ship. His videos usually don't do this to me. Just too fast and too many clip changes,

[@andrewstorm8240]

Agree

[@bryansilverberg8501]

Eh I dunno I enjoyed being able to see the spaces from multiple angles to really get a sense of what being there is like.

[@jq8913]

Reminds me of that 5 second scene from Taken 2 or 3 where Liam Neesan jumps over a fence and there's like 15 cuts.

[@stedydubdetroit]

@@bryansilverberg8501yes, but still it’s too fast. Each shot should pause 2-3 more seconds, in order to take in the photo.

[@Lovemelikeareptile]

I'll be on this ship for the first time for a 21 day cruise from Venice to Rome beginning 8 days from now. Really enjoy Oceania and am stoked to try the new ship. Cheers!

[@lesleywaghorn1627]

Thanks for this review, Gary. I really hope the soundproofing issues can be fixed as the ship seems to have so much going for it otherwise. I especially love that they have informal dining options throughout the day, and I may be one who likes the more 'academic' enrichment talks😉

[@tipsfortravellers]

yes I agree!!!

[@pj7342]

Do ships ever get "fixed" for issues? Celebrity Beyond has a well reported noise and popping issue and it's been 2 years with no acknowledgement from the company or remediation.

[@b0ejens0n25]

I heard of this issue, but I've stayed forward, midship and aft, and never experienced it across Balcony or inside cabins.

[@robertpaintsabstract9609]

The issue could be advanced age guests with hearing loss so televisions etc are at max volume which bothers non hearing impaired. On the flip side the hearing impaired don't hear other cabin noise so its no issue. I worked in geriatrics and this is usually the case in tight spaces.

[@Kittyburgers]

Something tells me you might be onto something with this theory.

[@jeffreyclinard2002]

That was informative. Like Gary, I also book rooms between two decks of staterooms and away from venues. It's done for the same reason - noise isolation. I like quiet enough that on land I don't favor hotels, instead opting for traditional bed and breakfasts, or vacation rental houses where there are no shared walls. Oceania is probably not the right cruise line for me at this point in my life, but things may change.

[@southerncaladygolfer8651]

As you already know, I am one that moved my month long reservation on Vista to the Marina in the fall. I love the Marina and Riviera and will admit the Vista is gorgeous but the cabin noise….we were a PH 1 on deck 11 with no noise from the pool deck but our neighbors chatting was too intrusive. We missed Jacques and found that unless you were having a bone in rib eye or fish and chips Ember was no comparison. That combined with the elevator issue, the chair hogs and the inability to see over the person in front of you in the showroom due to the layout were dealbreakers for us. On the positive side with the exception of Ember we found the food to be even better than our other Oceania cruises. They have some tweaking to do and hopefully it’s not too late to do it on the next ships being built because overall the Vista is beautiful.

[@tipsfortravellers]

~I agree totally with all of this! I do hope they sort it out......

[@waynewhitman1561]

Hi Gary Hope you and Mark are well. I’d like to share this recent interaction I’ve had with Oceania. I called yesterday to inquire about the Newest ship Allura coming out next year. I deal with the same representative every time I call. I asked are there any major differences between the Vista and Allura I should know about. He stated minor decor change and the relocation of the library. He stated the biggest change will be the addition of increased sound proofing because of pax feedback .. How about that , he said your point so maybe someday you can review the Allura and let us know. Cheers Wayne Your the best 👍

[@JBM425]

I wonder if there is some sort of plan to retrofit some of the current Vista ships. That can be a difficult task short of gutting the cabins; perhaps they can put some kind of interim solution in place such as lining the walls with some insulating material similar to ceiling tiles and covering that over; they might lose 25-50 mm/1-2 inches of cabin width, but it might make for a more satisfactory passenger experience overall.

[@sl4193]

Thank you, Gary for highlighting features of the Oceania Vista that you liked as well as the soundproofing issue. Worth pondering the possible impact of hearing neighbours' conversations and sound from their television --- Appreciate your taking the time to give us your measured review and explaining some differences between Oceania ships.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks for watching. there are some stories doing the rounds that they are talking about trying to address the issue, but not still trying to find out of this is based on fact!

[@marvinabugov4579]

Just returned from 2 weeks on the Marina (May 30, 2024): the first group of guests on the ship after the boat’s refit in dry dock. The food, as expected throughout the ship, was impeccable! But a big upgrade was in the entertainment as compared to 2017 when we did the Baltic on the Marina. Over the two weeks, the entertainment crew (excellent singers and dancers all) consistently got very warm applause and even standing ovations for some shows. Two special standouts were surnamed “Bateup and Commander”. Their voices were the icing-on-the-cake! Simply divine. Bateup much like Frank Sinatra in quality; and Commander who has focused on operatic arias over the past four years. Her performance of a Mozart Aria from the Magic Flute got everyone in the audience up on their feet for an extended standing ovation! Truly a magical performance! Overall, we had a great time. In particular as well were the ship’s tours. We took them all in this port intensive cruise to bucket-list destinations such as Malta, Santorini, Toaromina, and Capri. All the tour guides were very well prepared, highly knowledgeable and very attentive to getting us all back to the ship - on-time!

[@marvinabugov4579]

BTW / FYI: We also visited the “future cruise” office to discuss this topic for ourselves. We discussed the idea of a “world cruise” on Vista and noted the issue you raised about sound intrusion between cabins on Vista. Suffice to say: the company certainly KNOWS about this challenge. No indication about what the company intends to do about it . . . yet.

[@billnolte8644]

Thank you for sharing what is and what is not on this cruise. I can see how it would appeal to some, but being an engineer by day, the last thing I want on a cruise is one of the main attractions being the chance to be in a class or meeting type setting. That would be the deal breaker, not the sound. Again, thank you for the review!

[@FraserAtSea]

This is actually the first that I've seen of Oceania - the ship itself looks absolutely stunning! Entertainment-wise, I expected a bigger theatre on here, and interesting to see that they seem to be going really close to copying NCL with their Choir of Man show. Re: your deal breaker issue, I'd be absolutely devastated if I spent all of that money to then find I could hear all of my neighbours - I just wouldn't expect it at that price point, especially when not in an adjoining cabin!

[@andrewphillips4508]

Gary you make me feel better. I will never get on a cruise so through you I can really get a feel of cruising. You are the best ❤

[@Geoduck.]

Random intrusive noise would be a deal breaker for us as well Gary. Good to know. The ship did look marvelous and food choice were great too.

[@tipsfortravellers]

I do hope they solve this as the ship is so great!

[@scifimonkey3]

TBH we had no problems with noise transfer between cabins on board and thought it was a great ship. We have now booked Allura on the strength of how good Vista was.

[@garytilkin]

Gary, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all of your video's. You are balanced, fair and call them like you see them. So hard to find in todays influencer rich cruise blogs. Thank you. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

[@miriamcromwell7260]

I agree, the speakers were a bit scholarly for the average vacationing person. Found the tile floors very slippery in damp, wet weather. Yes I was the first of three people who fell in the same day, in terrace food areas. Also entrances to lounge

[@garyblinston193]

As a guilty pleasure I occasionally watch these reviews. Gary seems such a thoroughly decent chap and makes them so interesting and informative however I still have no desire to ever go on a cruise 🥴.

[@gogreen7794]

I have made plans to take a transatlantic cruise on the QM2 in 2025, but I'm not planning to take a more "typical" cruise. They just don't appeal to me, even on the more "elite" ships.

[@mileshigh1321]

The ones that had no issue with noise, are most likely creating the most noise! Haha!

[@roundandroundmyworld]

I'd bet on that too!

[@gdr38515]

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

[@janinholland7236]

Thanks for the review, Gary, love your videos. I feel that I have to put my two cents’ worth in here though. We sailed with Oceania in 2021 and had a bad experience with the cuisine. As a vegetarian, I felt definitely left out of the “finest cuisine at sea” situation. I had two evening meals where the only vegetarian options were the appetizers and sides. Trying to make the most of it, I asked if the various sides could be put on a single plate, so I didn’t look like the kid at the adults table. This they would not do. In addition, because of bad weather we missed three ports, I realize this can happen, but it was the first time the port fees were not refunded. After the cruise I wrote to Oceania to complain about the lack of vegetarian options and was told, “We haven’t had this complaint from anyone else.” I replied that those people probably just decided to never cruise Oceania again, as we had.

[@carolynsteele9929]

I love quiet as well - thanks for the caution

[@joanp9135]

Was on Vista in May 2024, mid ship deck 6 and had no cabin noise issues. The evening entertainment was disappointing when it was the on board singers only. Other than that, loved the ship and the cruising experience (Mediterranean).

[@nealeTH]

Shame about the noise. That would be a problem for me. We have just come back from a cruise on Oceania Riviera from Bangkok to Hong Kong and it was stunning. We loved the balance of what was on offer across the ship. Never feeling full, never feeling empty, never having to wait for anything. The Riviera went through a recent refurbishment and very much in the modern style found on Vista. The food, without exception, was outstanding. We felt the main dining room was an absolute gem of a restaurant and better than speciality restaurants on other cruise lines. We noticed some suite guests only going to the speciality (which were all stunning) but felt they were missing a trick by not going to the main dining room for some evenings.

[@westhavenor9513]

That's good to know with regard to the cabin noise. I'm sensitive to sound as well, however my partner couldn't care less. We've only been on Regents and the cabin sound insulation was good, other than our first cruise when we were above the card room. Now I make sure we're surrounded by cabins on all sides, as you suggest.

[@julieashcroft6264]

We were on Vista last month. I am a VERY light sleeper and very sensitive to noise and had no issues at all on any day or night.

[@eugenecraig8787]

My wife and I were on a 17 day December 2023 Caribbean cruise and had no problems with noise around us. We loved the Vista. Our issue now is with Oceania's new cancellation policy. Now, instead of getting all our deposit back if cancelling before 180 days, they keep $150 for each of us. And I thought Azamara's $75 per person was bad.

[@gohchungpin3800]

Thank you for this. Noise is an issue for me and if there's noise, it will make my stay and sleep less memorable and more likely to avoid the cruise line completely

[@marnelroberts1968]

We have been on the Vistas and there were no noise issues. Loved the ship and love the cruise line.

[@karenamore2560]

What type of room did you have?

[@daleniehaus4309]

Enjoyed your video, Gary! We were on the Vista in January 2024 (wife, sister-in-law and I) in a Penthouse suite on deck 7. I have heard/seen the discussion about noise on Cruise Critic as well. But have to admit we had not issue with neighbors on either side. I've also seen people talk about squeaking ceiling panels as well, but we did not experience that either. We booked a transatlantic in December 2025 (also deck 7 penthouse), so will see what that brings!

[@davis9971]

Had a very similar pro/con experience on Viking Sky. Especially being left out of “included” tours and on board activities due to passengers with early access booking those things. Viking also had only one enrichment speaker, so the presentations were repetitive in style. I am also sensitive to sound and that would be a major issue for me too, but I had no issues with that on Viking Sky.

[@christinepotts6415]

Our issue with Viking is the timing of booking your tours sadly causing us to have to cancel our trip to Alaska in June 2023, we find this unacceptable and we feel dates for booking tours should be the same for all passengers not related to the status of your cabin. Alaska cruise was the first time this had happened I suspect due to its popularity very sad as we love Viking.

[@RodBourne]

Was on the Vista Montreal to Miami in October and really enjoyed the. cruise.... It was my 3rd Oceania, previously being the Riveria, (Venice to Istanbul) and the Sirena (Buenos to Rio).. Had no noise issues in my accommodation.

[@Cruisinjules]

What a beautiful ship. I’d love to try Oceania one day! Thanks for the video. I think I’d be ok with the noise as long as I knew ahead of time what to expect.

[@downieduck2414]

like traveling with a snorer, if you know it is not as hard to take

[@stephencollicoat1226]

Totally agree with you. Noise would be a deal breaker for me as well.

[@irapbmd]

I’ve been on the Vista twice. Once in a Penthouse suite and the second time in Concierge class. I didn’t experience fortunately any noise issues in the cabin. I completely agree with everything you said about the ship. Its quirks and its positives. One quirk you didn’t mention is two of the forward elevators are ridiculously narrow to get into before it widens to the glass rear. This was an absurd design flaw that should have never happened. Unless you are riding the elevator alone it can be somewhat unpleasant.

[@datavortex]

Thanks for the detailed review and heads up! Oceana is definitely on our list once the kids are old enough we feel comfortable leaving them at home.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks for watching! Hopefully they sort this only one issue out!

[@Andreascruisebazaar]

I worked with Regent and Oceania and their ships are stunning! Thanks for the video on the guests perspective, started also my channel with ship tours where I work for. Subscribed to your channel, great content

[@deimosmuc]

The worst sound issues I had at sea were on the Renaissance class cruise ships, that you find at Azamara and Oceania. The inside cabins are always near heavy machines that cause extreme noise and sometimes even vibrations - making it impossible to sleep.

[@roundandroundmyworld]

I cruised on one of those and had to get used to the roaring noise of the exhaust uptakes from the engines to the funnel -- right across the hall from my cabin! I've never noticed it on any other ships I've been on.

[@crimlarksSteve]

Good to hear about the noise issue. My wife is very sensitive to noise, so we'll most likely do as you are and book on other classes of ships when sailing on Oceania.

[@tipsfortravellers]

It was such a disappointment......

[@downieduck2414]

@@tipsfortravellers i guess you can't request to move ? can you request that the quests are spoken to about loud voices and tv? I have moved in hotel rooms many times because of this

[@tytso]

Last year my wife and I did a Panama Canal cruise on Insignia, and we were quite disappointed with the food. Some of it was deliberate ---- a Pad Thai was made with just a hint of fish sauce, with perhaps a tenth of the amount that you would expect at a real Thai restuarant. We talked to the Executive Chef, and he said that the receipes were dictated by corporate, and we surmised that it was because if you are targetting US Midwestern folks in their 80's (my wife and I are in our 50's and we were one of the youngest couples on board), they don't have very adventurous palates. We could ask them to make the dishes as if they were meant for their own crew, and so they were able to create dishes that were properly seasoned, but the only way we could get decent food was to only eat dinner in the main dining room, and they sent us menus the day before, and we'd make our selections so they could know in advance what dishes to make just for us. Kudos for them for trying to accomodate us, but it was a bit exhausting to have to do that, and of course it meant that we couldn't eat at the Terrace Cafe. Other failures were of execution. For example, the soups were placed in a heated serving dish, and towards the end of service, enough water had evaporated out that they were so salty as to be inedible. (And that's saying something, because many other dishes were vastly underseasoned, with not enough salt.) And when they served us a cheese course at the Terrace Cafe, the person who served it allowed the soft chesese, especially the blue cheese, to be touching, and smearing against, the other cheeses. That was clearly just a staff training issue. And last month, my wife and her sister went on the Korea to Japan cruise on Riviera, and they apparently so over-cooked the lobster in the lobster pad thai that it was "an insult to the lobster" (as my wife put it). Essentially the food was so awful that they preferred eating on shore rather than on board the ship, and we will probably not cruise on Oceania again. Here's to hoping that our Viking cruise to the Norweigian Fjords will be better in the food department! We're definitely looking forward to the destination!!

[@user-tb4xw2fu1y]

We were in veranda B2 cabin on 7 th deck🎉 K and no adjoining noise. Most complaints in user groups seem to be penthousecabins

[@tipsfortravellers]

Yes interesting as many seem more in those cabins, though some in others but it feels like that may be more of an issue??

[@harrietthowever3351]

I was thinking the same. It does sound (no pun intended) as though the noise problem is within a certain area of the ship. I wonder if Oceania was charged for sound insulation that wasn't installed during the construction.

[@athenaskellion6171]

We are considering a Grand Voyage on her in 2026 (really like the itinerary and the fact that there are no long international flights involved). We watched videos of this beautiful ship last night.. Stunning! Personally, the bigger concern for us is the elevator situation. This definitely is a design flaw.

[@pterrypower5140]

Thank you Gary for the informative review! We will take your advice and book on older ships. That is really disturbing that you had to experience the lack of soundproofing after spending a great deal of money on your cabin. I too need to have a quiet cabin and I would have been miserable.

[@jorgschwantje1239]

The ceiling heights look incredible low, like 7 feet. 😮 The main dining room reminds me a bit of Titanic. Beautiful.

[@jimbellomo]

We sailed 14 nights on Vista and loved it. Had Concierge verandah and never heard any noise at all from any adjacent stateroom. Not from a TV, nothing from conversations. Not sure what kind of people you had next door to you. We are early to bed, early to rise people and never noticed any noise at all. Our biggest complaints were that we could find no place to have a nice cocktail with friends without music playing. Every lounge had loud music. Good luck having a conversation. And the fact that except for your stateroom there is no place to see the ocean until you get to deck 12. No place to step out side and look at the sea. Everything else (especially the food) was wonderful.

[@ypark2877]

We have been on Oceania on the regatta. The food was the best we had of any cruise line. No noise but a bit smaller ship than some.

[@marias902]

We have a 24 day b2b from November 11 - Dec 5 this fall. On a Facebook post, a gentleman who had just disembarked was in the exact same PH cabin we’re booked for. He said that of the 36 ships he has sailed on, he’s never heard so much noise from his neighbors. That makes us very wary about our long cruise. But others on the same FB thread claimed to have no noise issues. But since we know it’s a problem in our specific cabin, I fear it may be too late to change to a different one now. It’s partially a near full transatlantic cruise, with no PH cabins left.

[@vanessaroughsedge9574]

We went on Vista on her 3rd cruise I believe, beginning of June last year. 10 day Med cruise in concierge cabin. She was so lovely and new. Our first trip with Oceania. In brief we loved the specialty dining but were disappointed with Red Ginger, poor service and chaotic. I actually really enjoyed Ember, didn’t feel like we were on cruise ship! We also loved waves grill for lunch, Aquamar for breakie and the main dining room, well for everything! We did not like the terrace cafe, found it too small, too many tables so it was actually hard to navigate through outdoors and chaotic. Room service was a definite miss sadly for us also. The ship was beautiful, we loved the spa and the nice sunbeds on upper deck. The bars were lovely. I thought the bathroom was the star of show in our cabin. I can’t say about the noise as I am deaf in one ear so that proves handy at times in hotels , cruises etc😂 What I did not like was the fact the cushions were pushed down the side of sofa at turn down and curtains closed making it a pain to go out on the balcony even though it was still light which I love doing. I was disappointed in the lack of things to do, I am not a fan of those kind of shows and beyond that, well there was nothing. We could not get in the culinary school either. I did think that an acoustic duet would be well received and have enjoyed those on Celebrity. It was always just a string quartet, who worked very hard but that is not my scene. The ship was full but very quiet. Overall a good holiday, good service but as of yet I have not booked again with Oceania. I do think if it had been noisy that would have been a deal breaker for us going forward. Thanks for showing us the cabin, penthouse suites are definitely way bigger! Cheers!

[@astronav24]

we really like your videos but cruise The Vista in May for two weeks. We had a PH3 cabin on the 11th deck and had no issues with any adjacent cabin noise, and I'm a fairly light sleeper.

[@pauldagg7519]

We were on the same cruise, but in a balcony cabin on deck 7 near the bow. We did get some TV noise from the cabin next to us, but did not find it any worse than the Insignia. We do agree that Oceania overall needs to keep moving towards shows that are more contemporary although found the show “Into the Night “ to be a very positive move in that direction. We eat late and there are gaps in the music and entertainment schedule in the evening - I wish that the live music was more often, and continuously available. It would be great to have someone playing the guitar for example in Baristas in the evening. The bars on the ship are very impressive with very sophisticated mixology, with different bars featuring different styles of cocktails. The Founders Bar in particular was amazing with very creative drinks using different infusions and syrups made by the bartender on board. Baristas had a great sparkling wine focused theme with opportunities to mix and match syrups, blending spirits, and fruit in a playful setting. Our biggest complaint though is the shrinking dance floor. My wife enjoy dancing and a lot of people enjoy watching people dance but the dance floor on Vista is quite small and has a strange slanted apron around the very small flat space in the middle making dancing a challenge. It is also no longer in the centre of Horizons but off to the side so not very visible to many people. There just seems to be a deliberate de-emphasis of dance on the new ships that is annoying. The gym and gym programs also do not feel like a priority anymore. Sign ups were haphazard for the classes offered and the space available is again tiny for the size of the ship. The gym is well equipped but the same size as the older Insignia and related ships that have half the passengers. Overall there seems to be a move away from active space for guests which seems inconsistent with the demographic of cruisers and especially new cruisers. And the chair hogs were annoying.

[@l.a.rivasesq.8841]

I dislike cabin noises so much that I too will not consider cruising on this ship. Thanks again for an excellent review!

[@MartinDetloff]

We are on the Vista now and experienced the noise issue coming from the neighboring cabin. We heard voices and the TV was blaring. Very disappointing from Oceania.

[@charlesredick9424]

Noise is NOT A PROBLEM on Vista. Have taken 2 cruises on her so far and have had no complaints. One of the cruise had us in a connecting cabin so there was a locked door to the neighboring cabin but no noise spillover. Oceania is not a Carnival party ship so have never been next to a wild cabin. Do hope no one will forgo the pleasure of cruising on this ship out of fears of noise!

[@w0mblemania]

The noise situation really sucks. Taking ear plugs is standard for any hotel/cruise/train, but there should be *some* sound-proofing so you don't hear your neighbours toooo much. Unfortunately, I don't think this is fixable, in any reasonable timeframe. These cabins were designed with very tight tolerances... they slot in against each other, so there's no room for insulation to be applied afterwards. It really sounds like they've forgone proper insulation, in order to maximise space.

[@JBM425]

There is a way to mitigate it somewhat by lining walls with cellulose-type material (similar to ceiling tiles) and covering that over. You might lose 1/2” to 3/4” (12-18 mm) along each wall but it will help reduce the noise somewhat.

[@bobcarr5497]

Gary..... Thank you for the review first of all. My wife and I had a cruise booked with Oceania Vista in a Penthouse suite for the December 30th 2023 sailing of 10 nights to the Caribbean in suite # 11062. Unfortunately we had to cancel it just 48 hours before leaving due to a family emergency with my mother n law. She was hospitalized 43 days. The good news here in June of 2024 she is doing well and continues to get stronger. I'm sorry you had noise problems in your Penthouse suite and if we would of had that we would of had a BIG PROBLEM. Our cruise fare plus plus the package of wifi, drinks, gratuity and excursions and the cooking class and spa appointment even with a generous OBC of $600 we used towards some of the amenities we were close to 20K. If I'm spending that much money for us to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary I should here no noise between the walls of other cabins especially in a suite category. It sounds like it was a blessing in disguise and thank goodness we had travel insurance to recoup all the funds. Now that my wife's mother is better we booked a couple cruises in the future. One being October 20th for 11 nights on Celebrity Ascent in a Aqua class Infinite balcony out of Rome Italy for our wedding anniversary #32 Also a second cruise mid March 2026 for a 11 night Panama Canal and Southern Caribbean again on Celebrity Ascent but this time in a Aqua Sky Suite with a true balcony. We have sailed on Celebrity ounce before on Equinox back in October 2023 in Aqua and enjoyed it even though it was a older ship and the cabin was dated but overall the experience was definitely better and elevated vs past cruises on NCL and Carnival which is why we wanted to try the edge class. We wouldn't mind trying Oceania again as it's the class above Celebrity but I will reference your concerns for sure before booking to make sure the Allura class are up to par. Maybe try Rivera as suggested by you. Also on a side note how is it CHAIR HOGS are a problem with a ship of only 1200 people?? Is it me or are older people the problem?? I know it's industry wide but usually I hear of this more on larger ships NOT ships with ONLY 1,200 passengers or smaller. LOL. Thank you Sir.

[@paulinenelson9904]

Noise in a cabin would be a deal breaker for me too. I watch a lot of TV and am so aware of sound going to the next cabin. I would love ships to have a grade of insulation between cabins so that noise wouldn't be an issue !!

[@janelleo.5931]

I have been reading about thin walls/TV & neighbor noise issues on Vista for months now. Does not seem to be an issue for every room, but when it is bad, it is bad and it seems to occur on every floor. I hope they will finally take steps to place sounds diverters on TVs and spray foam insulation in between walls for problem rooms (or whatever it takes to soundproof). Oceania is not a cheap motel, the rooms throughout the entire ship should be properly soundproofed.

[@janelleo.5931]

We are back from our sailing! Brought tiny white noise machines and slept like babies through the night and early morning. We only heard our neighbors in our PH on the 11th floor on rare occasions but not often and not too intrusive. Never heard our neighbor's tvs. Was port intensive cruise though so not sure how often neighbors were in. Brought stick on TV Speaker Sound Redirectors so we could watch TV without having to worry about the sound bothering our neighbors (worked great and made it easier for us to hear tv). All staff reported that it is a known issue and believe Oceania will fix but question is when as it is sailing all the time of course! That said, the ship is BEAUTIFUL and crew INCREDIBLE! As was the food. Never had such amazing buffet food in my life. We are head over heels in love with Oceania and we booked our next cruise with them and plan to take many more in the future. We have sailed in the Celebrity Retreat but with Oceania, the entire ship IS the Retreat which we love!

[@Bess9779]

Is it only due to the walls being 'thinner' or is there also a possibility people aren't as mindful and respectful of others as they used to be? People don't care if they bother others in stores, neighborhoods, or any venue.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you for sharing this cruise ship.😊😊

[@martinmoody5734]

We've been on Vista twice in A2 Concierge for a total of 19 days and heard NOTHING - no problems with soundproofing and we had neighbors on both sides of our cabin.

[@MadeNCda]

Clips of the food sure made me hungry 😅

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Noise issues would be a deal breaker for me. Thank you for the video.

[@wendypoon1649]

We took the Oceania Sirena in April 2023 with a group of more than 20 passengers. In one of the oceanview cabins, the headboard which was attached to the wall above the bed, fell off. That piece was quite heavy. Luckily, my friend was not hurt as she was sitting at the other end of the bed. When we informed the reception, there was no apology and the staff just shrugged her shoulders. When we returned home, we informed the agent in Singapore…..their reply was there’s nothing they could do…..no apologies too. We will never consider Oceania again…never again.

[@gerardacronin334]

I’ve never sailed on Oceania but it looks lovely. I’m hard of hearing, so the soundproofing would not be such a dealbreaker for me. I take out my hearing aids at night and I could add earplugs.

[@keithm1138]

On our Jan. cruise in Concierge accommodations, food overall was excellent. Portions are a little smaller, but you can ask for more. Ember was fine. True we like Jacques more, but a lot of Jacques favorites are available I do wish the Seabass in puff pastry was offered, but it is NOT a deal breaker. We did notice a lot of tiles falling off in pools & areas like that. The ship is not as "tight" as it could be. I feel that the Italian shipyard Finicari (excuse the poor spelling here) I feel this shipyard does not build ships with the stability of some of the yards from Fance or Britain. The noise mentioned was not really an issue. I have a CPAP machine that gives off a bit of white noise. We could hear our neighbors. They luckily were not too intrusive. We did hear a lot of door slamming, however. This results from pax who don't close the door by hand but let it slam shut. This is a real problem if they leave the balcony door open even a bit. The pressure difference can really slam the door. Overall, we like it enough to have booked a PH with an extended balcony on deck 7 for 2025. Unfortunately, the wrap around cabin on deck 7 is the first to get booked. Still though, the extended balcony we have goes out about 4-6 ft. more than standard Penthouses. These will come with lounges that a lot of other PH cabins don't have.

[@KLEINMAN12]

We were on the Vista last month. Had no problem with noise from either cabin next to ours. The only problem we had, and actually it's on many ships, is people talking too loudly on their balconies. One couple next to us made a FaceTime call with their grandkids. Way too long and way too loud. Other than that, we loved the ship. Lobster was disappointing but the lobster tails at dinner upstairs /outside ( can't remember the name of the buffet) were really good.

[@jodiburchard2993]

We were on the Vista over last New Years. We could hear the TV from the cabin next to us. But still were able to sleep. I thought the entertainment was very poor. And it seems like after 9:00, there wasn’t much going on nor were many people even at the venues that did have something going on. We did love the buffet very much. And we enjoyed the Specialty Restaurants. What I truly consider a deal breaker was the saving of chairs by the pool. I got up one day at 7:00 to get a chair and there wasn’t anything on the lower deck available. As I was standing looking, a man came up to me and said he was looking also, but said they were all reserved at 6:40 when he got there. That’s just ridiculous!!!!! Oceania needs to do something about reserving chairs. Especially people who block off the under hang areas with chairs! Yes people actually did that!

[@downieduck2414]

I will only go on a cruise when the chair issue has been solved. Can't imagine going on a holiday where i am already in a state knowing it will be a problem

[@charlesjw2]

No experience but it would be a deal breaker for me. Thanks for highlighting this.

[@crazyelf1]

I wonder if the ship could be overhauled to have better sound insulation in the cabins. Even for me as a non-cruiser, I could see how this would be a major deal breaker.

[@AuthorCAL]

Soundproofing would be a huge issue! I would probably not be in my cabin enough to notice, but my sis and bil spend a lot of time in their cabins on cruises and that would be an issue for them, I think.

[@bobcochran2890]

Yes, lack of soundproofing is indeed a dealbreaker. Not had this problem on Seabourne or Viking.

[@shonadixon609]

Thank you Gary, you’ve given us such reassurance for our upcoming coming cruise on Nautica ‘coast to coast Panama Canal’. I shouldn’t have read the cruise critic reviews as it seems it’s only negative people that comment. I promise not to read anymore !

[@chriswilliams6568]

Hi Gary, I totally agree with you about noise issues in cabins. I have to say that in over 25 cruises we have been lucky in the cabins that we choose. Shame that the other passengers can’t all be Japanese as they are very considerate of not being noisy. Like you with other cabins all around. So I will avoid this ship. Easy for us as they are too expensive for us. LOL. Thank you.

[@AnitaMRoberts-xh4de]

Although we didn't personally experience a noise issue on the Vista, we did hear quite a few people mention this was a problem for them. It's hard to believe that the company would skimp on soundproofing while putting so much money into the fancy things. I guess u just have to hope for quite neighbors! Frequent Oceania passengers thought that the food wasn't as good as before & that Seabourn & Regent were better. It was spotty. I was told that he entertainment venue seated about 500 people while the ship had 1200 passengers. Come early, I guess.

[@ericbedenbaugh7085]

The Oceania ships are the exact same as Regent, except Regent has 300 fewer passengers so that could be the reason for the noise.

[@RaymondMullen-t9j]

An Oceania Cruise Looks great just the Air Fare from Carolina to the Port would be as much as the Cruise if not more .. Thanks for Taking Us for a Tour ... Gary Happy Cruising..

[@mike2510]

Thanks for that. My wife and I are booked on regatta (Alaska) in Sept. for our first cruise. Noise is a big consideration for me, so I hope this will not be an issue here. We do have a restaurant above us, so we’ll see if this is an issue. What upscale cruise lines or ships offer the best “quiet” cabins?

[@mgweir3252]

I love your videos, Gary. If fact we are going on our first ocean cruise in a couple of weeks. Your videos helped so much with our decisions on cruise lines. My question is how you stay so skinny with all that wonderful looking food you are exposed to?

[@harlanabraham7772]

Haven't sailed on Oceania as yet. Noticed a craps table in the casino which is a good thing. While food might be good have to check a menu. Have certain dietary restrictions and other things that I like and dislike. They don't do many round trips out of NYC.

[@andreamacritchie8468]

Love love love your videos though I have never cruised. my first cruise will be this fall from Edinburgh up around the notth to the western isles, west coast of Ireland ending in London. Any suggestions or ideas???? it is an A &k expedition cruise. i couldnt find any videos from you on this but would love your thoughts! thsnk you Gary!

[@michaelking42]

I worked on the Insignia back in...2003 or 2004. I was the art auctioneer on board. I remember they did some dodgey name changing thing, and I believe it's the Regatta now? Great cruise line, for sure.

[@harrietthowever3351]

"Art auctioneer"!? We've been on five Oceania cruises and I have never been aware of an art auction. Also, what's "dodgey" [sic] about changing the name of a ship? I may just be dense but I really don't understand.

[@michaelking42]

@@harrietthowever3351 Maybe they don''t do auctions at sea on Oceania any more? Don't know, it was 20 years ago I was on one. If I remember correctly, they changed the name of the ship for itinerary or customs purposes. Imagine if you'd paid to sail the Insignia as you'd met your spouse onboard previously, and they pulled a swift one and you were on the rebadged Regatta instead. I have nothing against the line, but I think that's dodgey.

[@gilliandrysdale5306]

you are always very fair in your reviews ❤