Oceania Cruises | Silversea Cruises | |
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Where do they cruise? | ||
What type of ships do they have? | Small & Mid-Sized Ships | Small & Expedition Ships |
How many passengers are on board? | R-Class: 684 / O-Class: 1250 | 100 – 608 |
What type of cruise line are they? | Premium | Luxury |
What are they known for? |
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What is the average cost per day? |
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Are fares all inclusive? | No | Silversea positions themselves as an all-inclusive line. However, there are some benefits that incur charges, such as shore excursions which are not included on classic cruises, and some specialty restaurants where surcharges apply |
Are gratuities included? | Yes | Yes |
Are there any additional gratuities payable on board? | Yes. 18% gratuity added to spa services, bar bills, & the bill for extra-charge eatery La Reserve | Additional gratuities are payable on spa treatments |
Can I get any reciprocal loyalty club benefits? | No. Guests only accrue Oceania Club benefits | No. Venetian Club only |
What is the onboard currency? | USD | USD |
What language is spoken on board? | English | English |
Who cruises with them? |
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What is the average passenger age? | Primarily 50+ | Primarily 50+ |
Are they good for families? | Children are accepted from 12+ months, however, Oceania does not provide for the care, entertainment or supervision of children on most cruises. Select journeys offer the Alaska Explorer Youth Program for 5 – 12 years | Children are accepted from 6+ months (12+ months on select cruises/ships). Children under the age of five years are unable participate in any expedition excursions or embarkations that require the use of a Zodiac. An adult family member will be required to remain on board with their child(ren) during Zodiac excursions |
Are there children’s programs? | No, except on select Alaska sailings where the Alaska Explorer Youth Program is available | Only on Silver Muse which has an activities room for children when 12 or more children sail |
Is there childcare and/or babysitting? | No | No |
What are the accommodation options? | Interior, Oceanview, Balcony & Suites | Oceanview & Balcony Suites |
Are there accessible staterooms? | Yes |
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Are shore excursions included? | No. However, guests can select ‘Free Shore Excursions’ as their chosen benefit under Oceania’s OLife Choice Program (the number of ‘free excursions’ depends on length of sailing). A complimentary shuttle is also offered in select ports |
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What types of onboard activities are available for free? | Guest lectures, seminars, and destination-focused activities |
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Are there any onboard activities that I need to pay for? | Specialty onboard seminars, classes in the Culinary Centre (available on select ships) incur additional charges | No |
Is there free evening entertainment? | Yes | Yes |
Is there any paid evening entertainment? | No. All shows and entertainment are included in the cruise price | No |
Are there complimentary dining options? | Yes | Yes |
Are there specialty restaurants? | Yes. Complimentary. A surcharge applies only to La Reserve and private dining in Privee | Yes. Meals in La Dame, Seishin Restaurant and Kaiseki Restaurant attract a charge |
Are there dining packages for purchase? | No | No |
Are non-alcoholic beverages included? | Yes. Bottled water, soft drinks, fresh juices, specialty coffees and teas | Yes. Soft drinks, water, tea and coffee |
Are alcoholic beverages included? | No. However, guests can select a ‘Free House Select Beverage Package’ as their chosen benefit under Oceania’s OLife Choice Program | Yes. Premium wines and spirits and mini bar is stocked with guest preferences. Some premium champagne, premium wine and spirit selections are available to purchase at extra cost |
Can I purchase a beverage package? | Yes | No |
Is there room service? | Yes. Complimentary 24/7 | Yes. 24 hour in suite dining is an option and there is a butler service for every suite |
Is there Wi-Fi on board? | Yes. Free internet is included as part of the OLife Choice Program (one login per stateroom) | Yes. Complimentary Wi-Fi for every suite for 1 device at a time. Premium suites are offered Wi-Fi for 2 devices at a time |
Can I purchase Wi-Fi packages? | Yes | Yes. Upgraded premium access packages are available for purchase |
Is there a Spa? | Yes | Yes |
Are spa and salon services available? | Yes. Charges Apply | Yes. Charges Apply |
Is there a gym? | Yes | Yes |
Are there group fitness classes? | Yes. Included complimentary. Some specialised training programs may incur additional charges | Yes. Circuit training is complimentary while Pilates and Yoga classes may be offered and incur charges. Services many differ between Classic and Expedition ships |
Is there personal training available? | Yes. Charges Apply | Yes. Charges Apply |
Is there a self-service laundry? | Yes. Complimentary | Yes. Complimentary |
Is a laundry service available? | Yes. Charges Apply | Yes. Charges Apply |
Is there a casino on board? | Yes. Oceania Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises share the same Casinos At Sea rewards program | On classic ships only |
Please Note: There may be additional inclusions and privileges for select stateroom and suite guests or select loyalty member tiers. Activities and entertainment vary by ship, itinerary and departure and are a guide only.
Oceania is a high-end premium cruise line with a six ship fleet. Their four O Class vessels and two R Class ships accommodate roughly 700 and 1,250 passengers respectively, with a few more bells and whistles on the larger ships such as the Artist Loft, the Culinary Centre, and a couple more dining options (you can see how the two classes compare here).
Oceania markets a ‘Country Club Casual’ atmosphere on board, and although there are luxurious touches throughout each ship, this doesn’t detract from the relaxed environment. There are no jackets or ties required, and with roughly two staff to every three guests, the personalised service makes you feel right at home.
Silversea’s luxury ships are smaller, with their intimate classic fleet welcoming roughly 400 – 600 passengers. Silver Wind is the exception, and her 2020 refurbishment will see her carry just over 250 guests on both classic and expedition sailings. For the purposes of this comparison, we’ll just be looking at Silversea’s traditional cruises.
The décor on board Silversea’s classic ships is elegant and refined, and guests can enjoy the full white glove experience with a butler service for every suite. The environment is more formal on Silversea, with at least one dedicated ‘formal night’ on every voyage (two to three on cruises of 10+ days), and other evenings designated as either ‘casual’ or ‘informal’, each with their own dress code.
The dining experience on both Oceania and Silversea is highly regarded, and you will find a similar number of venues to choose from. When cruising with Silversea you’ll have 3 – 6 complimentary options depending on the ship, as well as one for-fee dining venue (La Dame) across the fleet and the Seishin Restaurant and Kaiseki Restaurant on select ships where charges apply.
On Oceania cruises you’ll find 4 – 6 complimentary options depending on the ship. All dining on R Class vessels is free of charge, including the specialty restaurants. O Class ships also offer two additional venues where special dining experiences incur a fee – there is a wine or champagne experience surcharge for pairing dinners in La Reserve and a room reservation surcharge for private dining in Privee.
Deciding which line is better value comes down the features that are important to you. Silversea markets themselves as all-suite ships, and they have options from oceanview to veranda and the Owner’s Suite, reminiscent of a stylish apartment. Oceania has more options, ranging from inside, oceanview and veranda staterooms through to their very own spacious and beautifully appointed Owner’s Suite. Given you can opt for an inside stateroom, you’ll find lower priced fares with Oceania than Silversea for a similar cruise.
When comparing oceanview options, Oceania’s prices will still be less than Silversea’s. That being said, a Silversea oceanview suite will give you double the space of an oceanview stateroom on Oceania’s R Class ships. Silversea’s come in at 27 – 31 m² (287 – 334 ft²) depending on the ship as opposed to Oceania’s R Class at 13 – 15 m² (143 – 165 ft²). You’ll get a bit more space in an oceanview on O Class ships (22 m² / 242 ft²), albeit still not as much as Silversea offer.
When it comes to inclusions, both Oceania and Silversea have a generous selection of complimentary dining options and non-alcoholic beverages included in their fares, but you’ll have to pay for your shore excursions on each line (except on Silversea expedition sailings, where shore excursions are included).
When you cruise with Silversea there are some additional inclusions for every guest, such as free flowing alcoholic beverages (including premium wines and spirits), a mini bar stocked with your preferences, and a butler service. Alcohol is not included in standard Oceania fares, and it is only suite guests who will have additional privileges such as butler service and an in-suite bar setup with premium spirits and wines (available in Vista Suites and higher on R Class ships and Oceania Suites and higher on O Class ships).
Oceania does however have a rolling OLife Choice promotional offer that allows guests to choose one of three bonus inclusions, such as a house beverage package, shipboard credit, or free shore excursions (number varies by cruise duration). These promotional fares add extra value to your Oceania cruise, so look out for these as well as Silversea’s deals (which may include discounted fares, early booking bonuses or air offers) when you are weighing up which cruise line is the best value for you.
Oceania and Silversea both have hundreds of itineraries to choose from around the globe. From popular cruise destinations like the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and Alaska to more unique itineraries along the coastlines of Africa, India and South America. Thanks to the size of their ships, both lines cruise to places that larger liners can’t, so you’ll find some lesser-visited ports among their collections. If you are looking to cruise from Australia, Silversea has more sailings on offer, particularly across to New Zealand.
On shore, there are excursions for purchase that cater to varied interests, from history to culture and culinary explorations. Both Oceania and Silversea feature late night stays and overnights in select ports, so guests can get to know destinations after dark. There are also mid-cruise multi-day shore programs offered by both lines, so travellers can seek out more in depth experiences and venture further ashore.
Whichever cruise line you choose, an enriching and immersive cruise experience awaits on both Oceania and Silversea.
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