Oceania Cruises Reviews

Thursday 9th Feb 2012

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Cruise Reviews

Oceania Cruises

Nautica

Black Sea Cruise

Black Sea cruise	3 of 3 people found this review informative

Reviewed By: brown, Beaconsfield on 8th Jul 2010
Cruise Line: Oceania Cruises	Times cruised before: 3-5
Cruise Ship: Nautica	Sailed: June, 2010
Destination: Mediterranean	Age: 65+
Cabin: Balcony	Occasion: Annual/regular holiday

Cruise round the Black Sea. This was our second cruise on Nautica, and once again it was of a very high standard. The itinerary was full, the crew was excellent and the cuisine was much improved over our previous visit. We initially had a few problems with the stateroom, including being up at 3am because of the faulty air conditioning, but the attendant sorted these out immediately. We embarked at Istanbul, and please beware of the local taxi drivers, who refuse to use the meter and just think of a figure. Very unpleasant. Athens was different - see below. Embarkation was smooth, though you do have to collect your own luggage from the end of the deck - it is not put outside your cabin. The itinerary was a plus, with only one day at sea during the 12 days. We visited cities in Bulgaria and Romania, Yalta, Sebastopol, Odessa, Sochi, two cities in northeren Turkey, then we sailed in daylight with a commentary through the Dardanelles to Kusadasi: and thereafter to Athens. Excursion costs are quite high - the visit to the monastery in Trabzon in north Turkey cost 189 dollars each - but the visits are well organised. Oceania flew in some english speaking guides from Istanbul for the north Turkey visits. One item did surprise us: the Oceania bus to Athens airport at the end of the cruise cost 89 dollars each. The taxi cost, from a well organised taxi rank, was only 45 euros. Cuisine was very good, better than our last trip, particularly in the quality of the meat. All the various reataurants are a pleasure to eat in with excellent service and great variety. We ate once in the two speciality restaurants, Polo Grill and Toscana. The food in each seemed the same as in the dining room but the service is special: it's almost as if they are run so that the staff can extend themselves! The staterooms are fine (once we had sorted out the initial problems) - we were on the 7th deck - not huge but well fitted and the attendant was excellent. Service throughout was excellent, well managed by the Captain and General Manager who were frequently visible. Sometimes the wine waiter could be a bit slow appearing, so maybe they've economised there. On one occasion we didn't order wine because it was too late, so it seems like a false economy. Entertainment is never a strong point on Oceania, and with only one day at sea this doesn't matter much. But apart from a shall-we-say mature english singer and a New Jersey comedian, it looked like amateur night. The Cruise Director is very positive and well organised, but didn't appear to be a people person in our limited experience. The ship is well maintained, immaculate and clean in all areas, without any noisy or disruptive work to interfere with the passengers. Disembarkation was smooth. We suggest you avoid the Oceania buses and take local taxis even if you have to bargain - this was not necessary in Athens where the price is fixed (see above).
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Overall Rating

3 of 3 people found this review informative

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Question by smith, onchan (09 Jul 10 17:03) about this REVIEW

Hi, we are going on a Black Sea Cruise later this summer and we have a couple of dicisions to make and would appreciate opinions/information from people who have been. We go to Yalta and would like to do the palaces and go to Balaklava/Sevastapol, however we are only there for a day so can't do both which would you recommend and why? Also we go to Odessa but there doesn't seem to much on offer in terms of trips again what would you recommed? Finally! We go to Athens does anyone have any experience of what happens if they are having one of their strikes as we would like to go out and about on our own, that is assuming that any stike action would allow us to dock in the first place. Thanks

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Answer by brown, Beaconsfield (09 Jul 10 21:19) to a QUESTION by smith (09 Jul 10 17:03)

Sebastopol is interesting for the Crimean War and the diorama is remarkable. Yalta is interesting for 20th century history: the palaces as such are not as grand as, say, Blenheim Palace or even Waddeston, but they are famous for the WW2 conferences. You choose what your main interest is. We walked on our own round Odessa without any problem. There didn't seem to be any need for an organised outing. We were lucky in Athens, no strikes and the taxis were honest.

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Question by Batchelor, Watton At Stone (15 May 11 16:34) about an ANSWER by brown (09 Jul 10 21:19)

We are doing the Black Sea cruise on Nautica on 27 June. We usually prefer to do our own thing rather than organised excursions, but there don't seem to be many reviews on this website of the destinations: Sinop, Trabzon, Sochi, Yalta, Sebastopol, Odessa, Constanta, Nessebur. Just wondering how easy it is to get around these places and whether there is something we really shouldn't miss that can best be seen on an excursion?

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