The itinerary was the main reason for selecting this cruise. Also the boat is identical to an Azamara cruise we went on in the past which we absolutely loved. Plus Oceania was rated 1/2 star more "luxurious" than Azamara. I thought we couldn't go wrong. Post cruise: I feel the ratings are reversed. Azamara outshines Oceania for several reasons.

First: Oceania charges for alcohol. OK, great. Seems cheap to me to charge for the basic package. Sure, charge for premium spirits and high-end wines, but rail pours or basic beers and wines you charge? So I emailed Oceania from their "contact us" link on their website a month before sailing to ask questions about the beverage package options posted on their website. Oceania did not respond to my message. OK great, their customer service is also lacking and I haven't even embarked yet.

Second: Sometimes the customer service on board was just as lacking as the customer service prior to embarking. Several times when we dined at Terrace Cafe or Waves Grille, we sat for a long time before being greeted by the wait staff. Service there was hit or miss. Examples of some of the more frustrating incidents (there were many, many more but these are the highlights): Read more