Oceania Cruises is a line formed back in 2002 by three luxury cruise industry veterans who wanted to offer the world intimate ships with ultimate luxury.
If you haven’t seen anything about Oceania cruise line before you’ll want to know that they aim to provide guests with a truly extraordinary travel experience by offering the finest culinary experience at sea with a warm and luxurious ambience on every voyage.
So, what do you need to know? What type of guests will you find on-board? What type of dining is on offer? We’ll give you a rundown about everything from the type of cabins you can choose to whether you’ll need to bring your best frock.
Meet The Fleet
Riviera – Built: 2012 Refurbished: 2019 Capacity: 1250
Mariner – Built: 2011 Refurbished: 2016 Capacity: 1250
Nautica – Built: 2000 Refurbished: 20104 Capacity: 684
Sirena – Built: 1999 Refurbished: 2019 Capacity: 684
Insignia – Built: 1998 Refurbished: 2018 Capacity: 684
Regatta – Built: 1998 Refurbished: 2019 Capacity: 684
Is there a ‘typical’ Oceania passenger?
If you like luxury, you’ll fit in here. Oceania attracts sophisticated travellers in search of something world-class, whether it be the cuisine, décor or service. You’ll be surrounded by dark mahoganies, muted fabrics and rich-coloured carpets so if the traditional is to your taste, so will all six ships of the fleet.
Anyone looking for a particularly memorable dining experience will feel satisfied on-board and any couples who fancy a romantic getaway, where exquisite attention to detail is key, will feel the most comfortable on any ship you pick.
Oceania doesn’t discourage or encourage children on-board and state that any children travelling on the ship must be one year old, although there aren’t any children programmes in place. There is however, a strong country club feel where passengers may feel they are part of an exclusive experience onboard with the luxe surroundings and style that Oceania is notorious for.
On-Board Entertainment
You might be surprised at the immense variety of entertainment and activities on-board these ships with such grand, rich taste…
Like most ships, you’ll have more than enough live shows to choose from with spectacular headliners and enriching performances! That’s Entertainment offers you a visit to the past from the Golden Age of Cinema to the glitz glamour of current pop culture, inspired by Sinatra, Elvis, Monroe and Madonna. One More For The Road takes you to the Las Vegas strip through an evening concert that gives you the sparkle of the big city along with the voices of Michael Buble, Alicia Keys, Adele and Justin Timberlake!
Sticking with the Las Vegas theme you can head straight to the casino if you fancy a go on the slot machines or if you think you can try your hand at a game of blackjack. If you’re feeling a little more creative though, Oceania invites you to the Culinary Centre where you can learn and prepare a variety of dishes yourself in their state-of-the-art teaching kitchen.
On the days where you feel like some quiet time on deck, grab one of the 2000 books from the English style library, sit back and relax. Quiet time can turn into an excuse to get educated and you won’t even have to lift a finger with the chance to sit and listen to a famous guest lecturer; it could be a historian, a naturalist or former ambassador that shares their exclusive inside knowledge with you one day on the ship…
But ultimate relaxation is not possible until you’ve found the Canyon Ranch Spa Club. With a focus on healthy living and spiritual awareness, you can rejuvenate with their state-of-the-art fitness centre: indoor cycling, yoga, pilates, fitness track and so on. You can immediately reward yourself with the relaxation room, sauna, steam room or just head straight to the salon.
Food and Dining
If you don’t already know, Oceania Cruises has a reputation for cuisine that is the finest at sea. The cruise line’s exquisite dining experience is open seated and all of them are complimentary! This means you’ll have a lot of freedom with when and where you dine and there’ll be no additional charge for any restaurant you choose: whether it’s continental cuisine, authentic Italian or classic steakhouse fare.
You can choose from a variety of classic favourites:
Grand Dining Room: The ambience is inspired by Europe’s five-star hotel restaurants and will feature Jacques Pépin’s signature dishes along with continental cuisine and some savoury selections from Canyon Ranch.
Terrace Café: Here you can choose to dine indoors or alfresco and the menu of international dishes will change daily: select from grilled lobster tails, jumbo shrimp, hand-cut steaks, a sushi bar and fresh pasta.
Waves Grill: If you’re in the mood for a gourmet burger, head here and you’ll also have the option of succulent seafood with sides of hand-cut truffle fries. Even the dessert is one not to be missed with a choice of creamy homemade gelato or a hand-dipped milkshake!
Horizons: What else is there to do at four o’clock in the afternoon? Teatime is a daily event on-board where you can indulge in treats elegantly displayed on four-tiered carts like scones, desserts, petit fours, finger sandwiches and artisanal teas!
Did you know: even room service is complementary and is 24-hours! We think this calls for a midnight feast…
Polo Grill: You’ll find all the elements of a classic steakhouse here, from filet mignon to New York strip, and there’s even something for seafood lovers, such as whole Maine lobster!
Jacques Bistro: Time for lunch? Why not transport yourself to an authentic Parisian bistro at the Grand Dining Room? Savour some fresh and seasonal French dishes that are inspired by Jacques Pépin’s personal recipes- exclusive or what!
Toscana: We all love a family recipe that’s handed down through generations, so come here to experience these masterpiece dishes that hold the essence of Tuscany and are elegantly presented on Versace china.
Red Ginger: The Red Ginger’s chefs offer you their own contemporary interpretations of Asian classics and even the striking décor will be a feast for the eyes!
Privée: the ultimate in exclusivity. You can reserve the area for a party of up to ten guests and will have a choice of the full menu from both Polo Grill and Tuscany. It counts as a one-of-a-kind experience and most importantly, you’ll be seated under a white Venini glass chandelier around a custom-made oval table.
Did you know: one more thing you can enjoy for an added fee is an exquisite wine experience with La Reserve. You can sample distinctive vintages from the wine cellar and even enjoy wine seminars.
Cabins
If you don’t feel like you’ve experienced luxury in your first few moments on the ship, then wait until you get to your stateroom or suite! Every room features a Prestige Tranquility bed- exclusive to Oceania Cruises! Across all six ships, you’ll have a choice of staterooms…
Owner’s Suite: Lavish new fabrics and designer furnishings grace the Owner’s Suites which are always among the first to be reserved. Every imaginable amenity is found here, further enhanced by a sumptuous re-designed bathroom with an oversized shower, a private teak veranda and two flat-screen televisions.
Vista Suite: Named for their sweeping views over the ship’s bow, the four Vista Suites each sprawl over 786 square feet. You’ll feel privileged in this suite as the flawless décor came from the mind of the famous New York designer, Dakota Jackson. These eight suites are in very high demand so make sure you get here first!
Oceania Suite: This is what you call home at sea. A suite that features a living room, dining room, fully equipped media room, large walk-in closet, king-size bed, private veranda and outdoor whirlpool spas.
Penthouse Suite: The elegant Penthouse Suites rival any world-class five-star hotel for comfort and beauty. Enjoy exclusive card-only access to the private Executive Lounge and the services of a dedicated concierge.
Concierge Level Veranda Stateroom: Located in the most desired of locations, these staterooms offer an unrivalled combination of luxury, privilege and value. You will even have the services of a dedicated Concierge, unlimited access to Aquamar Spa Terrace and even free laundry service.
Veranda Stateroom: This is the largest stateroom at sea at 282-square-foot! It is handsomely decorated and features a private teak veranda where you can watch the ever-changing panoramas.
Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom: These comfortable 242-square-foot staterooms with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows feel even more spacious with the curtains drawn back and the ocean in full view.
Ocean View Stateroom: The light from a classic porthole illuminates the stunning decor in these 165-square-foot staterooms, tastefully designed to maximize space and convenience.
Inside Stateroom: Named as a private sanctuary, these inside rooms can stretch to 174-square-foot and, of course, feature-rich and elegant décor. Highlights include a comfortable seating area, vanity desk, refrigerated minibar and plenty of storage.
Amenities
It really is the little things with Oceania and the thoughtful touches will leave you feeling valued and homely on your holiday, such as the signature Belgian chocolates and nightly turndown service!
Oceania describes their staterooms and suites as the ultimate sanctuary from the outside world and your escape includes 24-hour butler service and free access to the Wi-Fi so you can stay in touch with those back home.
Did you know: You can even upgrade your experience with Concierge. This would include a complimentary welcome bottle of champagne, an iPad upon request for you to enjoy on-board and complimentary shoeshine service!
Oceania pride themselves on never charging for a dining supplement on-board and allowing their guests unlimited soft drinks, bottled water, speciality coffees, teas and juices. But they do also offer special beverage packages where wine, beer and spirits can be purchased for a fair price.
It gets better, Oceania offers value without compromise in the form of free shuttle service from the ship to the city centre in many ports of call (the daily value is up to £34 per guest!)
Staff, Dress Codes and Gratuities
You’ll find that Oceania have an impressive staff-to-guest ratio (1 to 1.6) and claim their staff to hold enthusiasm, sincerity and exquisite attention to detail all at once. Their butlers are formally trained by members of the Guild of Professional English Butlers and the suite/stateroom attendants are carefully selected from the world’s finest 5-star hotels!
As you already may know, the amount you’re advised to tip varies on each cruise line; for Oceania cruises just over £10 is automatically added per day, per person and an extra amount of just under £5 is added per day, per person, for cruisers occupying Penthouse, Oceania, Vista or Owner Suites (where butler services is provided). And like most other cruise lines, you have the freedom to adjust your gratuities while on-board at your own discretion.
Although you might assume you need a new sequined dress or fancy tuxedo for Oceania cruises, this is actually not the case as there are no formal nights on-board, but instead a simple and casual policy (some of you may feel a sigh of relief at this!) The cruise line understands the need to feel comfortable when travelling and so gives you intimate casual spaces where everything is designed with your well-being in mind.
The ships go with the ‘country club casual’ theme to make you feel relaxed and as if you’re just visiting your own private country club where everyone knows your name! The warm and welcoming ambience makes it easy to be sociable and the ‘come and go as you please’ rule will leave you feeling the ultimate comfort as if you’re just at home.
View All Oceania Cruises Here
So, there you have it; everything you need to know about Oceania cruises! Have you sailed with them before? Which ship is your favourite? Do you fancy a stateroom or suite? Let us know in the comments below!
