The cruising crowd is divided into two basic camps; those who are in it for the ride and those who are more excited about the destinations. It is quite difficult for a cruise line to juggle between these two necessities, onboard entertainment and offshore excursions; especially if it is four-night voyage, wherein everything has to be crammed in to provide the best experience for the cruiser. As a result, most cruise lines had to go either way; this trend is fortunate for the seasoned traveler, as cruises by Oceania boasts of port destinations for almost everyday of the trip.
Everything onboard feels like a prelude or preparation for the next day's onshore excursion. The three ships (at present) in Oceania's fleet are virtually floating hotels which are docked on some foreign port almost everyday. The ambiance is low-key with few onboard activities, and entertainment serves more of a cap-off for a long day at port rather than a major extravaganza. The amenities are superb, but rather toned down since most of your activities will be spent on foreign shores, and not onboard. To be sure, there's a pool and sun deck, though there is little opportunity to use them; there are, however, numerous private cabin balconies where you can find peace and quiet amid the soft lulling sounds of the sea, and you won't be interrupted with intercom announcements of onboard luaus, as activities such as these are practically non-existent.
Apart from the onshore excursions, Oceania's cuisine is one of the fleet's most attractive experiences. Indeed, the cruise line does take pride in investing 25 percent more of its expenses on food, comparable even to the more luxurious lines, and for having employed Jacques Pepin, a celebrated American chef, as the fleet-wide executive culinary director. The dining area boasts of three specialty restaurants aside from the main dining room, so there's a wide variety of cuisine to indulge in. The seating arrangement does away with reservations, and you can dine at specialty restaurants sans the extra charges.
The general feel of the entire experience is one of informality. Indeed, the dress code says it all; casual slacks and polo shirts are the norm. You can familiarize yourself with the ship in as little as half the first day of travel, and the muted fabrics, dark-polished furniture, and deep-hued carpeting suggests a homey feel more than anything else. This shouldn't matter, though, as you'll probably spending a small fraction of your time onboard, usually for meals and relaxation, while you go after an exotic trip to offbeat or frequented ports of destination for the remainder of the trip. Oceania cruises are ideal ways of visiting foreign lands, and with longer itineraries (11-day voyages are common), going on an authentic world tour between the ports of Europe, South America, and the Orient is that much more possible, not to mention convenient. The voyages are port-focused, to say the least, and with each new port you visit (sometimes you'll even stay for a couple of nights) you'll earn your stripes to becoming a full-fledged world traveler.