Oceania Cruises Reviews
Thursday 9th Feb 2012
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Oceania Regatta - Small But Perfectly Formed.
Oceania Regatta - small but perfectly formed. |
1 of 1 people found this review informative
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Reviewed By: Tyrrell, Lagoa, Portugal on 14th Oct 2009
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| Cruise Line: Oceania Cruises |
Times cruised before: 3-5 |
| Cruise Ship: Regatta |
Sailed:
September,
2009 |
| Destination:
Baltic
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Age: 36-45 |
| Cabin: Balcony |
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Having previously cruised on the Queen Mary 2, we weren’t sure what to expect from the much smaller Oceania Regatta. Would there be enough happening on ship? Would we miss the buzz of a big cruise liner? We needn’t have worried. We loved every minute. Travelling on a smaller ship is a bit different – the evening entertainment tends to be more low-key, usually laid on by members of staff, but some of the acts were nonetheless very entertaining. There are far fewer daily activities than you find on the larger ships, and those that are on offer are a bit sedate – shuffleboard, ping pong, specialist lectures etc. You won’t find any rock climbing or wave pools, but there’s a good reason for this. Oceania itineraries are port-intensive so much of the day is spent ashore and most people want to relax when on board. The dress code is smart-casual and there are no formal nights, so the atmosphere is elegant but pleasantly chilled out. For those who want a bit of excitement, all is not lost - there is a casino and the Horizons bar, which turns into a music venue in the evening, and there’s a great gym if you have any extra energy to burn off.
The food on board is excellent. Many passengers raved about the formal restaurants, Toscana and Polo Grill, but we preferred the more casual self-service ‘Tapas on the Terrace’ which is a lovely place to sit, and the menu was fresh and varied. We didn’t bother with the main dining room, which was too big and noisy for our liking. The food is of equal standard whichever restaurant you choose.
The staff are all very friendly and helpful, all areas of the ship are kept pristine at all times, and the balcony cabins are extremely comfortable, although a few people commented that the lower grade cabins are a bit cramped.
Our 14-day itinerary started in Stockholm, and took in Tallinn, St Petersburg, Gdansk, Warnemunde (Berlin), Helsinki, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Bruges, ending in Dover. It was simply brilliant. Each port was fascinating in its own way. One member of our party had wanted to cruise the Mediterranean instead, thinking the Baltic would be a bit serious and grim. It wasn’t. As far as I know, everyone on the ship loved the trip, and St Petersburg is a must-see.
Overall, we would highly recommend Oceania. In fact, we’re already planning the next cruise. And one extra bonus – most ships give no concessions to single travellers, but with Oceania you can have a double cabin for single occupancy and will pay not much more than the pp rate for a double. Only one possible word of caution – this is not a ship that caters for children. There were none on our cruise, and many people commented that it would be hopeless trying to travel with a child.
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| Quality of Food |  |
| Tapas on the Terrace - lots of sushi! And great vegetarian options. | | Entertainment |  |
| | Shore Excursions | |
| We didn't book any excursions through the ship, mainly because the prices were extortionate. The highlight for us was a 3-day tour in St Petersburg with tour company Denrus. Excellent value, excellent guide, and a fraction of the price offered onboard. | | Staff | |
| All were very helpful and friendly. | | Children's Facilities | n/a |
| | Onboard Activities |  |
| Not as many options as the larger ships, but there was plenty to do nonetheless. Never a dull moment. | | Cabins | |
| Extremely comfortable 'Tranquillity' beds...! | | Overall Rating | |
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