Insignia certainly gets my seal of approval!

Last week, I was delighted to be invited aboard Oceania Insignia for the day and she certainly gets my seal of approval!

MS Insignia began her journey as the lead ship of the R class cruise ships built for Renaissance cruises and now forms part of the Oceania Regatta Class of ships. Built in 1998 this vessel has now come of age, yet is looking absolutely beautiful thanks to a full makeover in December 2018.

We were welcomed aboard with breakfast pastries & mimosas, and treated to a presentation showcasing the details of the refurbishment, offering a sneak peek of what lies ahead for Oceania and some exclusive offers on upcoming sailings for our clients. We were excited by what we learned and keen to explore the ship…

Insignia has a very elegant feel as a whole and the attention to detail is apparent throughout. The English Country House design of the ship has been replaced by  lighter tones and a colour palate of  crisp greens and blues, reflecting the hues of the ocean and evoking a sense of calm.

Interestingly, in response to requests from their loyal cruise clients, Oceania have opted to preserve the Library exactly as it was prior to the refurbishment…  

…this classic design serves the library well and creates a rich and relaxing environment, celebrating the previous interior decor and enabling the contrast to be seen as you pass through the Library to the newly decorated areas of the ship.

There are a number of restaurants, bars and lounges on board, with many of the forward venues offering particularly special views thanks to the floor to ceiling windows – we were docked during our visit, yet it was easy to imagine the impact of panoramic sea views from these venues.

I was particularly taken with the Grand Dining Room which showcases an elaborate glass-blown chandelier in the centre of the room and exquisite table settings; a delightful venue to experience ‘the finest cuisine at sea’.

After exploring the various bars, restaurants and casino, we were taken up to the pool deck and were delighted to see the style and elegance of Insignia was continued through to the outdoor spaces… we found the double rattan sunloungers to be particularly comfortable and could quite happily have spent all afternoon there.

Whilst fine dining is part of the Oceania signature, there are also more relaxed dining venues on board such as the buffet restaurant and the Waves poolside terrace cafe, which offers classic burgers, sandwiches etc as well as unique dishes with Oceania flair…

Surf & Turf Sandwich – Grilled Florida lobster medallions, sliced Black Angus filet mignon, tomato, toasted ciabatta, roasted garlic jus, remoulade dipping sauce

Through the quality and choice of the menus and the true passion for the culinary experience, it is easy to see why Oceania are considered to represent ‘ the finest cuisine at sea’, and catering to 684 passengers with a crew of 400, the service levels are exemplary.

Having spoken to many people following my visit, it seems that the majority are aware of the luxury nature of the Oceania brand, understanding that such fine dining and quality of service has a higher price tag than your average cruise holiday, however I was particularly interested to find out that Oceania are currently offering lower rates than ever before on their upcoming Caribbean sailings, with 7 night fly-cruise rates from as little as £1379 per person for 6* luxury Caribbean cruising!

So if you are interested in finding out more about Oceania and would like to experience a little luxury at prices you’ll love, as always make me your first port of call.

Katrina And The Waves ?