Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	416
Accommodation	200	160
Food	400	312
Service	400	295
Entertainment	100	76
Cruise	400	313

How this score is created

Regatta was formerly one of a series of eight almost identical ships, originally built for the now-defunct Renaissance Cruises, the cruise industry’s first totally non-smoking cruise line. The ship’s present owners (Cruise­invest) have chartered the ship to new start-up company Oceania Cruises. The exterior design manages to balance the ship’s high sides by painting the whole ship white (it previously had a dark blue hull), with a large, square white funnel. The addition of teak overlaid decking and teak lounge chairs have greatly improved what was formerly a bland pool deck outdoors. .

The interior decor is stunning and elegant, a throwback to ship decor of the ocean liners of the 1920s and ’30s, with dark woods and warm colors, all carried out in fine taste (but a bit faux in places). This includes detailed ceiling cornices, both real and faux wrought-iron staircase railings, leather-paneled walls, trompe l’oeil ceilings, rich carpeting in hallways with an Oriental rug-look center section, and many other interesting (and expensive-looking) decorative touches. It feels like an old-world country club.

The public rooms are spread over three decks. The reception hall (lobby) has a staircase with intricate wrought-iron railings. A large observation lounge, called the Horizon Bar, is located high atop ship.

There are plenty of bars – including one in each of the restaurant entrances. Perhaps the nicest is the casino bar/ lounge, a beautiful room reminiscent of London’s grand hotels and includes a martini bar. It has an inviting marble fireplace, comfortable sofas and individual chairs.

The Library is a grand Regency-style room, with a fireplace, a high, indented, trompe l’oeil ceiling, and excellent selection of books, plus very comfortable wingback chairs with footstools, and sofas you could sleep on. Oceania@Sea is the ship’s internet connect center.

The dress code is “smart casual.” The onboard currency is the US dollar. Gratuities are added at $10.50 per person, per day (accommodation designated as suites have an extra $3 per person charge for the butler). A 15% gratuity is added to bar and spa accounts.

There is no wrap-around promenade deck outdoors (there is, however, a small jogging track around the perimeter of the swimming pool, and port and starboard side decks). Stairways, though carpeted, are tinny. Oceania Cruises is a young company with a refreshing vision and desire to provide an extremely high level of food and service in an informal setting that is at once elegant yet comfortable, and that is exactly what it has achieved in a short space of time.

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008