New look Oceana delivers

I recently had the pleasure to cruise on P&O’s Oceana and was treated to a few treats from the newly refurbished ship. I have done a short cruise on her before but was still impressed with the welcoming Atrium that greets you on embarkation.

The Oceana is a mid-size ship and is a delight to cruise on with plenty of speciality restaurants, bars, Le Club night club with a great atmosphere (and a bit of fun karaoke), 2 large main restaurants, large pool bar, pool and hot tub, big theatre with popular shows, bands and comedy acts and during this trip decorated beautifully for the christmas festivities.

I was only on the ship for 2 days and know I missed out on a few things as I did not have enough time to expereince everything on offer but having spoken to my colleagues that cruised with me I can say nothing disappointed.

As soon as I embarked I made my way straight to the buffet restaurant on the top deck with a great view over Southampton. There was plenty to choose from, curry, fish and chips, salad, cheese boards, roast, deserts, fruit, yogurts and hot and soft drinks, too much choice really so in true style I went up 3 times!!

Then it was time to leave Southampton and wave goodbye to a very wet England and head for a not so wet Bruges, this was my queue for a little rest, shower and then getting ready for my meal in the speciality restaurant, The Horizon, this restaurant is normally outside but due to the cold December evening we moved inside. I have to say that the starters, the main and the desert were prepared, presented and tasted with quality and a little class, although the service itself was a little slow.

After our meal it was time for some socialising in the bars and then to see the night out we went to Le Club, a nightclub with amble of standing room, an adequate dance floor size and plenty of chairs and sofas to chill out on. I only managed to stay out until 2am before the toll of the 3 hour drive to Southampton got a grip of my eyelids. I had the beautiful city of Bruges to look forward to too so bed time it was.

Breakfast time and it was back to the top deck buffet restaurant (through choice, you good also dine in  of the main restaurants and have table service). Again plenty to choose from, the good English fry up, continental options with plenty of cold meats and cheeses, yogurts, fruits, cereals, what ever you wanted.

Straight from breakfast was disembarking time and boarding 1 of the many free buses that took us to the town of Blackenberge about 10 minutes away, here we caught the train into Bruges at a cost of 5.60 euros for a return, the train leaves at 10 past every hour, this journey was also 10 minutes long as was the the walk into Bruges from Bruges train station.

On the way into Bruges we visited a Ice Sculpture display, this was amazing and very cold, it was based on a medieval period featuring a Dragon, a castle and lots of guards and characters. the castle came with towers, dungeons, steps, slides and of course a guillotine. Everything made from ice.

Off to the beautiful city of Bruges with its wonderful chches, Clock Towers, canals, Bars and restaurants selling local beers and waffles and then finally the Belgium chocolate shops, where most of my euros went.

I got back onto the ship for about 3pm, the journey in reverse with P&O complimentary buses waiting at the train station to take us back to the ship. Once on-board I went to the pool bar and picked up a freshly made beef burger with freshly made chips and a nice hot coffee, all free.

In the evening I dined in the Liguarian restaurant which is 1 of the 2 main restaurants, this offered a 5 course meal and again tasted great, the service was better too.

After the meal and it was straight to Le Club for Karaoke and a dance, I did neither and my voice and dancing abilities are very poor, and at times comical, I chose to support those that did sing though including some very young and talented children who stole the show.

1am and it was time for bed, breakfast at 8.30 and off the ship at 9.30, all in very quick time and no waiting around.

In all I had a great 2 nights on-board the Oceana and would do it again, all round entertaining ship with fun and class well combined.