Iona or Oceana
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Topic author - Able Seaman
- Posts: 7
- Joined: June 2019
Iona or Oceana
Hi all,
We have booked a cruise in Jan 2021 to the Canaries on Iona.
We have since looked and are now thinking of changing and going over to Dubai and doing a 14 day cruise over there.
We have never been on a P & O cruise before, we have been on RC in the past.
What would you all advise, she would stick or twist.
Thanks for any advice.
Mark
We have booked a cruise in Jan 2021 to the Canaries on Iona.
We have since looked and are now thinking of changing and going over to Dubai and doing a 14 day cruise over there.
We have never been on a P & O cruise before, we have been on RC in the past.
What would you all advise, she would stick or twist.
Thanks for any advice.
Mark
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 5613
- Joined: March 2013
- Location: Instow Devon
Re: Iona or Oceana
Chalk and cheese mate.
It's impossible to compare the two ships.
One is state of the art modernism and the other is a traditional cruise liner.
It's impossible to compare the two ships.
One is state of the art modernism and the other is a traditional cruise liner.
Empty vessels .. and all that
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15361
- Joined: February 2013
Re: Iona or Oceana
No-one has been on Iona yet so hard to judge but as Barney says Oceana is a traditional cruise ship. Iona is more likely to be closer to your RC experience. Two very different destinations too. If I were you I'd stick, unless you have a real hankering for Dubai or a smaller ship.
Last edited by Mervyn and Trish on 03 Jun 2019, 16:56, edited 1 time in total.
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 13014
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Dorset
Re: Iona or Oceana
Sailing across the Bay of Biscay in January on Iona wouldn't be my idea of fun, for me springtime or autumn would be a better choice for this particular destination.
A Dubai based cruise is different to most but a good introduction to the Middle Eastern Regions, however it is a destination that may not suit those who have miss-guided issues about Arabs, Muslims, sand or camels. Booze away from the ship is available but can be hideously expensive, we found it to be safe although our preference was to book ship based Tours … we have taken P&O cruises to both of your choices.
ps …. Hello and Welcome
A Dubai based cruise is different to most but a good introduction to the Middle Eastern Regions, however it is a destination that may not suit those who have miss-guided issues about Arabs, Muslims, sand or camels. Booze away from the ship is available but can be hideously expensive, we found it to be safe although our preference was to book ship based Tours … we have taken P&O cruises to both of your choices.
ps …. Hello and Welcome
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being
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- Able Seaman
- Posts: 17
- Joined: July 2013
Re: Iona or Oceana
We are booked on Oceana for a Dubai cruise in November.
We have an aft mini suite booked so I know we will be happy
with cabin. Have been on all P and O except Oceana so did not
know her at all.
Some friends have just come back from Malta cruise on Oceana and they
were not happy! They say the cabins are small and found the ship difficult
to navigate. They are used to RC and say there is no likeness at all!!
However they were very happy with the dining experience.
So don’t know what to advise, maybe upgrade your cabin if you want to do
Dubai, but loads of other lines now do Dubai. Whatever you decide, have a good one.
We are on Iona next June but having been to the fjords several times we just want to see the new ship!
We have an aft mini suite booked so I know we will be happy
with cabin. Have been on all P and O except Oceana so did not
know her at all.
Some friends have just come back from Malta cruise on Oceana and they
were not happy! They say the cabins are small and found the ship difficult
to navigate. They are used to RC and say there is no likeness at all!!
However they were very happy with the dining experience.
So don’t know what to advise, maybe upgrade your cabin if you want to do
Dubai, but loads of other lines now do Dubai. Whatever you decide, have a good one.
We are on Iona next June but having been to the fjords several times we just want to see the new ship!
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Topic author - Able Seaman
- Posts: 7
- Joined: June 2019
Re: Iona or Oceana
Thanks for your replies.
Hi and thanks ManOverboard
Hi and thanks ManOverboard
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15991
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)
Re: Iona or Oceana
Cabins on both Oceana and Iona are small. Personally I don't like Oceana, but we are all different in our likes and dislikes, so perhaps the only way to find out is to try one or the other.
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- First Officer
- Posts: 1861
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- Location: Hampshire
Re: Iona or Oceana
Silkworm
You'll love your aft mini suite on Oceana, we've been in both the C deck aft minis several times and they are fantastic, so much larger than the midship ones. I can't say that we've found Oceana difficult to navigate but then we've got to know her really well. I can understand someone who's been on RC ships would find Oceana completely different. All I can say is that we've never had a poor cruise on Oceana and really love her.
Carole
You'll love your aft mini suite on Oceana, we've been in both the C deck aft minis several times and they are fantastic, so much larger than the midship ones. I can't say that we've found Oceana difficult to navigate but then we've got to know her really well. I can understand someone who's been on RC ships would find Oceana completely different. All I can say is that we've never had a poor cruise on Oceana and really love her.
Carole
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- Commodore
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Re: Iona or Oceana
I do.
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 8977
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- Location: Huddersfield
Re: Iona or Oceana
According to cruisemapper Carnivals Mardi Gras's smallest balconies are 170sq ft, the remaining standard balconies are 200 sq ft, I know that cruisedeckplans show Iona's as 150 and 170, but Aidanova's standard balconies are 180 - 240.
So take your pick which you believe.
Last edited by towny44 on 04 Jun 2019, 13:12, edited 1 time in total.
John
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
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- Commodore
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- Location: Down Souf. The civilised end of the country :)
Re: Iona or Oceana
I did get the cabin specs from somewhere, I think it may have been while onboard our previous cruise but didn't get any written datails. However, I did find this, how accurate who knows, but it looks comprehensive in detail.
https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Iona
https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Iona
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- Senior Second Officer
- Posts: 666
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- Location: North East
Re: Iona or Oceana
If those are accurate then they are generally in line with Aurora /Oriana and slightly smaller than Arcadia. The suites at 400sf +. 110sf ie over 500sf are bigger than most.Stephen wrote: ↑04 Jun 2019, 13:35I did get the cabin specs from somewhere, I think it may have been while onboard our previous cruise but didn't get any written datails. However, I did find this, how accurate who knows, but it looks comprehensive in detail.
https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Iona
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 8977
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Huddersfield
Re: Iona or Oceana
Mind you if cruisedeckplans are correct then Iona's cabins will be bigger than Azura/Ventura, but the same size as Aurora's, although smaller than Britannia's. Which is strange because IMO Azura/Ventura balcony cabins are bigger than all except Arcadia, and Britannia's are smaller than all of them, which sort of suggests that maybe we need to wait and test them ourselves.daib GC wrote: ↑04 Jun 2019, 21:37If those are accurate then they are generally in line with Aurora /Oriana and slightly smaller than Arcadia. The suites at 400sf +. 110sf ie over 500sf are bigger than most.Stephen wrote: ↑04 Jun 2019, 13:35I did get the cabin specs from somewhere, I think it may have been while onboard our previous cruise but didn't get any written datails. However, I did find this, how accurate who knows, but it looks comprehensive in detail.
https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Iona
John
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
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- Senior Second Officer
- Posts: 666
- Joined: February 2013
- Location: North East
Re: Iona or Oceana
Those figures certainly show the balconies on Iona to be on the small size , except the stern suites which look much bigger 5/6 times bigger. Nd the suites are all at the stern an a few at the bow and non at midships.towny44 wrote: ↑04 Jun 2019, 22:44Mind you if cruisedeckplans are correct then Iona's cabins will be bigger than Azura/Ventura, but the same size as Aurora's, although smaller than Britannia's. Which is strange because IMO Azura/Ventura balcony cabins are bigger than all except Arcadia, and Britannia's are smaller than all of them, which sort of suggests that maybe we need to wait and test them ourselves.daib GC wrote: ↑04 Jun 2019, 21:37If those are accurate then they are generally in line with Aurora /Oriana and slightly smaller than Arcadia. The suites at 400sf +. 110sf ie over 500sf are bigger than most.Stephen wrote: ↑04 Jun 2019, 13:35I did get the cabin specs from somewhere, I think it may have been while onboard our previous cruise but didn't get any written datails. However, I did find this, how accurate who knows, but it looks comprehensive in detail.
https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Iona
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 6520
- Joined: January 2013
Re: Iona or Oceana
Hi MarkDS,MarkDS wrote: ↑03 Jun 2019, 16:24Hi all,
We have booked a cruise in Jan 2021 to the Canaries on Iona.
We have since looked and are now thinking of changing and going over to Dubai and doing a 14 day cruise over there.
We have never been on a P & O cruise before, we have been on RC in the past.
What would you all advise, she would stick or twist.
Thanks for any advice.
Mark
we did the UAE cruise earlier this year (my review is elsewhere on this site) and enjoyed it so much that we have booked it again for 2021. There is just so much to see.
Oceana is not the biggest or most modern of ships, but I have generally found her to be one of the most friendly - something that seems to be diminished in the larger ships.
We have also done RC, and others, while they all have their pros and cons, our favourite remains P&O. One of the reasons is that all the entertainment is geared towards a UK market (whereas on the American lines they are trying to cater for many different nationalities).
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Topic author - Able Seaman
- Posts: 7
- Joined: June 2019
Re: Iona or Oceana
Hi,Kendhni wrote: ↑05 Jun 2019, 07:52Hi MarkDS,MarkDS wrote: ↑03 Jun 2019, 16:24Hi all,
We have booked a cruise in Jan 2021 to the Canaries on Iona.
We have since looked and are now thinking of changing and going over to Dubai and doing a 14 day cruise over there.
We have never been on a P & O cruise before, we have been on RC in the past.
What would you all advise, she would stick or twist.
Thanks for any advice.
Mark
we did the UAE cruise earlier this year (my review is elsewhere on this site) and enjoyed it so much that we have booked it again for 2021. There is just so much to see.
Oceana is not the biggest or most modern of ships, but I have generally found her to be one of the most friendly - something that seems to be diminished in the larger ships.
We have also done RC, and others, while they all have their pros and cons, our favourite remains P&O. One of the reasons is that all the entertainment is geared towards a UK market (whereas on the American lines they are trying to cater for many different nationalities).
Thanks for the advice. I will search out your review.
Mark
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 13014
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- Location: Dorset
Re: Iona or Oceana
Last edited by Manoverboard on 05 Jun 2019, 09:22, edited 1 time in total.
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being
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- Able Seaman
- Posts: 17
- Joined: July 2013
Re: Iona or Oceana
Oh thanks CaroleF, you have put my mind at rest, have never
done an aft cabin let alone on Oceana. Am just looking to book
a couple of nights pre-cruise, PandO seem very helpful in doing this.
I must admit to being surprised when my friends were so not liking
Oceana, but each to his own. Have to try in order to know!
Terri
done an aft cabin let alone on Oceana. Am just looking to book
a couple of nights pre-cruise, PandO seem very helpful in doing this.
I must admit to being surprised when my friends were so not liking
Oceana, but each to his own. Have to try in order to know!
Terri
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- Commodore
- Posts: 15361
- Joined: February 2013
Re: Iona or Oceana
Oceana is a real marmite ship. We don't like her for various reasons, but she's number 1 for many.
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 13014
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Dorset
Re: Iona or Oceana
We had a mini-suite on her White Sister Adonia, brilliant cabin right on the aft … fingers crossed for some high rollers
We enjoyed Oceana, particularly one back-to-back, but restricted ourselves to the regular outside cabins.
We enjoyed Oceana, particularly one back-to-back, but restricted ourselves to the regular outside cabins.
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being
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- Deputy Captain
- Posts: 5613
- Joined: March 2013
- Location: Instow Devon
Re: Iona or Oceana
It's been over ten years since we've been on Oceana, but I remember it very fondly.
I particularly liked the point of the two main show venues being at opposite ends of the ship.
I do also remember the cabins being on the small side and the bathroom miniscule, with the lovely 'hugging' shower curtain.
The cruise that we were on had a lovely atmosphere and I remember Magnums and a barman called Fernando.
He was as camp as a row of tents but what a laugh he had with everyone.
He lifted the bar to another level when he was on shift.
I particularly liked the point of the two main show venues being at opposite ends of the ship.
I do also remember the cabins being on the small side and the bathroom miniscule, with the lovely 'hugging' shower curtain.
The cruise that we were on had a lovely atmosphere and I remember Magnums and a barman called Fernando.
He was as camp as a row of tents but what a laugh he had with everyone.
He lifted the bar to another level when he was on shift.
Empty vessels .. and all that
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Topic author - Able Seaman
- Posts: 7
- Joined: June 2019
Re: Iona or Oceana
As a group we have decided to change our cruise to the dubai cruise.
Going on the 10th January 2021 for 14 nights.
Thanks to everyone who replied to my post.
Mark
Going on the 10th January 2021 for 14 nights.
Thanks to everyone who replied to my post.
Mark
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 6520
- Joined: January 2013
Re: Iona or Oceana
Nice one Mark. We go a bit later in the year but it is a fantastic itinerary. if I can help with any information just let me know
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- Ex Team Member
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- Location: Dorset
Re: Iona or Oceana
I thought that I had posted about asking if info is required for the Ports, ie DIY vs Tours … seems to have vanished
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being