Ocean Pointe views & unit updates questions

[beckster914]

Am contemplating booking a week here this summer. Never been before, but have stayed at Oceana Palms.

Does every building offer oceanside and oceanfront views? No gardenviews at this property?

When was the property most recently refurbished? Are all buildings updated, which are the most recent? What building is best to request?

Thanks in advance!

 

[dioxide45]

There are no garden view units. However the lower floor ocean front could be considered garden view because you will not see much if any of the ocean. Mostly the pools and landscaping. Some people don't like the ocean side units because they have clear views of the parking lots. Though the higher floors have pretty good views of the ocean.

There are five buildings at Ocean Pointe, they are on a five year refurbishment schedule, so no building has refurbishments more than five years ago.

 

[beckster914]

Thanks, good info here! Would most likely get an oceanside unit, as the dates I'm looking don't have much oceanfront availability, and I think I'd rather save the extra points.

Do you have a favorite building?

 

[dioxide45]

We prefer Cobia or Dolphin. We usually request a south facing unit as they tend to get a little more sun.

 

[BocaBoy]

If you liked Oceana Palms, and especially if you like views of the water, I suspect you will be disappointed in Ocean Pointe. Ocean Pointe is maybe better for kids, but we were hugely disappointed in the resort. You are not likely to see a drop of water from an oceanside villa. In my opinion, it is a very deceptive name for the views.

 

[beckster914]

No kids going, just thought we might try something new (to us). Have always read good things about Ocean Pointe. Thanks for your note on the oceanside views. Sounds like in that case, my party would be very unhappy in anything but an oceanfront unit.

 

[Superchief]

We own Oceanview at both Oceana Palms and Ocean Pointe and enjoy both resorts. While Oceana Palms clearly has excellent ocean views in almost every villa, you can still get a good view of the ocean on higher floors at Ocean Pointe. The key is to be on the third floor or higher, and ask for the villas as close to the ocean as possible. The balconies and windows are angled so you can see the ocean, but the view diminishes as you get farther from the ocean.

We typically are assigned the top two floors and have been able to see the ocean from all of our balconies. Although some avoid it, we actually like the Pompano bldg south view overlooking the 'pink building'. This is an older condo that is typically very quiet and empty, and reminds us of the motels in the 70's.
Since it is lower than the OP buildings, the higher floors can actually get a good ocean view all the way south over the top of the pink building.

While not Oceana Palms, we have always enjoyed our visits there.

 

[beckster914]

Thanks for that info. This is still very up in the air, so when we are sure on the timing and location, I suppose it will depend on which properties have availability and which views are available. We will be using destination points, by the way.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

I now prefer Ocean Side top floors over Ocean Front at Ocean Pointe. Even if you get a top floor OF unit, the main balcony view is blocked one direction by the protruding wall of the studio side. Only the studio balcony has a front and center OF view. One of my favorite units is actually top floor corner on the inter-coastal side. You can see the inter-coastal at night and still have a clear view of the ocean.

 

[DanR]

If you liked Oceana Palms, and especially if you like views of the water, I suspect you will be disappointed in Ocean Pointe. Ocean Pointe is maybe better for kids, but we were hugely disappointed in the resort. You are not likely to see a drop of water from an oceanside villa. In my opinion, it is a very deceptive name for the views.

If you are not an owner of Ocean Pointe don't expect a good view.
We are owners of Beach Place and traded into OP.

We had a great view of the parking lot that's in front of the building where you check in.
Saw many cars.....No ocean in sight.

 

[Superchief]

Thanks for that info. This is still very up in the air, so when we are sure on the timing and location, I suppose it will depend on which properties have availability and which views are available. We will be using destination points, by the way.

If you are using DC points, I would expect you will find better availability at Oceana Palms since a majority is owned by the trust. I think the point cost would be similar unless you only need a 1BR unit. I also like that Oceana Palms has free lounge chairs (self service) for the beach, while your only option at OP is to rent beach chairs. The beach is also wider at Oceana Palms.

I like Ocean Pointe, but if I can only use one of my owned weeks, i would always choose Oceana Palms. The view is a primary advantage.

 

[beckster914]

If you are not an owner of Ocean Pointe don't expect a good view.
We are owners of Beach Place and traded into OP.

We had a great view of the parking lot that's in front of the building where you check in.
Saw many cars.....No ocean in sight.

So how can those units possibly be considered Oceanside?!?

I mean with no ocean in sight they wouldn't even be Oceanview. That would be very maddening to arrive expecting a nice Oceanside view and get a parking lot view.

 

[dioxide45]

So how can those units possibly be considered Oceanside?!?

I mean with no ocean in sight they wouldn't even be Oceanview. That would be very maddening to arrive expecting a nice Oceanside view and get a parking lot view.

Not sure that a view of the ocean is to be expected in Ocean Side. The word view doesn't show up in the description. Ocean Side is more of a placement. There are only two views at Ocean Pointe, Ocean Front and Ocean Side. There are other properties where you have the word View or Side in the name but there isn't a sliver of the ocean to be seen.

 

[bazzap]

Not sure that a view of the ocean is to be expected in Ocean Side. The word view doesn't show up in the description. Ocean Side is more of a placement. There are only two views at Ocean Pointe, Ocean Front and Ocean Side. There are other properties where you have the word View or Side in the name but there isn't a sliver of the ocean to be seen.

I don't know this resort, but I agree that unless a view category actually has "ocean" and "view" in the name I would have no expectation of getting a view of the ocean.
When they use names though like "ocean front" and "ocean side", I really don't know what I would expect - possibly one front on to the ocean one side on to the ocean, maybe with an ocean view maybe not?
The MVC descriptions are not especially clear, to me anyway.

 

[Vacation1]

I also like that Oceana Palms has free lounge chairs (self service) for the beach, while your only option at OP is to rent beach chairs.

There is an option of buying beach chairs at Wings or some other store for the week - we did that one week at Ocean Pointe and were quite happy - we have also stayed at Oceana Palms and used the free lounge chairs - that was a very nice perk -

 

[Saintsfanfl]

So how can those units possibly be considered Oceanside?!?

I mean with no ocean in sight they wouldn't even be Oceanview. That would be very maddening to arrive expecting a nice Oceanside view and get a parking lot view.

Ocean Side is labeled as such because the units are on the side. It's not called "Ocean View" for a reason.

Imagine paying for Ocean Front on marriott.com and then getting placed in the first two floors, which is likely since marriott.com bookings are very low priority.

This has always been an issue with Ocean Pointe but Marriott really didn't have a choice. I don't think Palm Beach Shores allowed them to build the buildings any higher than they are.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

When Ocean Pointe was first constructed in 1998 or 1999 the current landscaping was almost non existent (other than the beach sea grapes). Marriott put in a lot of landscaping over the years which has caused a view problem as it matures and gets a lot taller + thicker.




.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

When Ocean Pointe was first constructed in 1998 or 1999 the current landscaping was almost non existent (other than the beach sea grapes). Marriott put in a lot of landscaping over the years which has caused a view problem as it matures and gets a lot taller + thicker.

I am pretty sure that landscaping was required as part of the deal. Marriott would certainly trim those bushes if they could. It has to do with the legally protected turtle nests. I am sure you know this already but my point is that Marriott knew the view would become a problem even if the buyers didn't. I just don't think they had any choice. It was fewer units or just go with it.

 

[beckster914]

Not sure that a view of the ocean is to be expected in Ocean Side. The word view doesn't show up in the description. Ocean Side is more of a placement. There are only two views at Ocean Pointe, Ocean Front and Ocean Side. There are other properties where you have the word View or Side in the name but there isn't a sliver of the ocean to be seen.

I guess I have not been to many of the beach properties. I was thinking of Oceanwatch in Myrtle Beach, where an Oceanside unit definitely has an ocean view, IIRC.

Leaving next month for Aruba Surf Club, and that as well has Oceanside units, that I do believe you can see the ocean from. We are booked in Oceanfront though so I have no worries about being able to see the ocean. :whoopie:

 

[Saintsfanfl]

I guess I have not been to many of the beach properties. I was thinking of Oceanwatch in Myrtle Beach, where an Oceanside unit definitely has an ocean view, IIRC.

If you examine the details it is not the same. If you look at "Room Overview" underneath "Unit Details", Ocean Watch reads "Oceanside View". If you look at the same place for Ocean Pointe it just reads "Oceanside". The descriptions are intentional. Anyone who has been to Ocean Pointe knows that there are units that cannot see water from any angle. First timers can obviously be disappointed but it is what it is.

 

[Superchief]

I'll be honest that I get confused by Oceanside vs Oceanview and previously considered them to be about the same. As an owner, I was always able to at least see the ocean from the living room and balcony as long as I was on the third floor or higher. I was actually able to see it from a second floor villa several years ago in the early days. The units are angled so even the villas furthest from the ocean can at least 'view' the ocean. Has anyone stayed in a unit on the third floor or higher where you couldn't see (and hear) it?

 

[Saintsfanfl]

I'll be honest that I get confused by Oceanside vs Oceanview and previously considered them to be about the same. As an owner, I was always able to at least see the ocean from the living room and balcony as long as I was on the third floor or higher. I was actually able to see it from a second floor villa several years ago in the early days. The units are angled so even the villas furthest from the ocean can at least 'view' the ocean. Has anyone stayed in a unit on the third floor or higher where you couldn't see (and hear) it?

I know for sure that Ocean Front right now can see the ocean from the 3rd floor but it is not a clear view. It is partially blocked by the bush. I am betting the Oceanside units are about the same.

 

[Superchief]

Cruise Ship

Although this is a little off topic, has the new cruise ship started sailing from Palm Beach? I read that a bigger ship is replacing the one that had been sailing from this port. We always enjoyed watching the ships from our balconies at Ocean Pointe and Oceana Palms.