I am NOT an expert on Oceania at all. Not sailed the ship so I speak only from touring the ships and from my staff's experience from sailing on the ships. The comments below are ONLY my personal observation.

I know I need to sail Oceania at some point just to really experience the cruise, as I did with Crystal. I just dont want to give up the Regent cruises and keep putting it off and not making the booking, I have to bring myself to do this at some time.

My little list on Oceania

Food will be good on Oceania, this is one of their strong points.

Cabins will be smaller, even the larger penthouse cabins just did not look or feel as good as the Regent cabins to me. I just dont get that quality feel in the cabins. Crystal has small standard cabins with very small bathrooms, however the cabins still have a quality feel to them. To me Oceania misses the mark here. Others may disagree. I just did not like the cabins, even the larger ones.

Air problems could arise if you do air through Oceania. I cannot tell you exactly what the problems are, and I am sure some have done air with Oceania with no problems. However, I know the girls in my office are always having fits with the air department and complaining about how it is done. They cant talk to a "real" person it is all by fax and I think they nickel and dime the itinerary with extra connections, long layovers etc to save some $$ whereas Regent normally takes the best and direct route where possible. People still complain about Regent air but lets face it, flying these days is a minefield with the best of schedules. Just a suggestion, if possible do your own air if you sail Oceania.

I felt claustrophobica as the ceilings were so low throughout the ship. That really bothered me - may not bother others.

Some of their public rooms are absolutely gorgeous, more decorated than Regent. Other rooms were really poorly designed. The main lounge for shows the sight lines were terrible. Just dont understand how they could design something like that.

You will be nickled and dime, just accept that up front. The tipping issue of a land trip (ROAR) or any trip that does not truly include all major tipping situations is truly a pain for me, others handle it with ease.

To make a choice between Oceania or Regent or any other line is a personal decision depending on each persons current situation.

The itinerary, the cost, the amount of vacation time you have etc. If you get very little time off and your vacation is something you want to be perfect spend the money and go on a Regent or Silversea ship. If you go often and just want to fit in an itinerary and dont mind a different experience from Regent then go on Oceania, or Celebrity or whatever else it is that you considering.

I think the bottom line is that you do not go expecting a Regent or Silversea experience. Go with an open mind and recognize you are paying less and appreciate the value.