Cruise Ship Review of MS Nautica by Oceania Cruises
Ms Nautica is an “R-class” cruise ship of Oceania Cruises and sister ship of Insignia and Regatta. Although almost identical in design to its sister ships, Ms Nautica is a very distinctive ship with its very own personality characterized by teak wood, tile work and custom stone detailing. It has a cozy and intimate atmosphere of a English county hotel rather than a cruise ship complete with private cabanas, quality modern and traditional art collection worthy to be museum pieces and exemplary personalized service from experienced crew and staff. Ms Nautica, together with its two sister ships, occupy their very own niche in the cruising industry, small luxury ships big in amenities at reasonable prices.
Photo by Corvair Owner
Dining is a high spot in a cruise on board Ms Nautica. All gourmet menus in the four major dining area of Ms Nautica are supervised by Jacques Pepin, author of 19 cookbooks and an illustrious chef. The Grand Dining Room serves continental dishes with an American twist served impeccably in exquisite Villeroy & Bosch china, fine crystal and sparkling silver in an elegant room decorated with hand-painted murals. Toscana, a reservation – only (with no extra charge) Italian restaurant dazzlingly furnished and adorned with rich fabric reminiscent of Tuscany’s charm, offers an authentic Tuscan menu complemented with Tuscan wines. Polo Grill, another reservation – only steakhouse and seafood restaurant but with no extra charge is set in a club-like setting complete with comfortable leather chairs. Finally, there is the Lido Terrace Café, a buffet venue that is converted into Tapas on the Terrace in the evenings that serves a wide selection of food. Casual dining is also available at the poolside Waves, Horizon Lounge for afternoon tea and a room service for breakfast, desserts and sandwiches.
Other amenities on board Ms Nautica are the Oceania Spa by Mandara with its massage rooms Thalassotherapy whirlpools; an outdoor jogging track; a fitness center; a main pool; a library of more than 1,000 books; and a card room. Guests can also take part in cooking demonstration, dance classes and the “Your World “lecture series while on board Ms Nautica.
Oceania Cruises Regatta Cruise Ship Review
Oceania Cruises Regatta Cruise Ship Review
Regatta, a chic, stylishly charming cruise ship is the star of the Oceania Cruises fleet. It is characterized by fabulous décor in the impressive public rooms and provides opulent cruising in a stylish yet relaxed atmosphere. Regatta’s decks are dazzling in polished teak, beautiful tile works and rich stones. This magnificent cruise ship is proud of its suites, lounges and state rooms with lavish neo-classical furnishings. It has 342 luxurious suites and staterooms, almost 79% of which have private balconies. It only has 684 guests pampered by 400 well-trained staff accounting for an exceptional 1: 1.8 crew to passenger ratio. Regatta’s passengers are mostly discerning Americans 40 years old and above. The efficient and competent European staff ensures every guest’s comfort and provides for every guest’s needs.
Oceania Cruises – Regatta Cruise Ship
Photo by JohnBurke
Dining on board Regatta is an unforgettable experience in its four one-of-a-kind restaurants. The Grand Dining Room, with its cozy and genial ambiance offers an astounding array of French-inspired Continental cuisine; Toscana serves authentic Tuscan dishes, the recipes of which have been handed down from generation to generation; Polo Grill, with its classic décor of a traditional steak house offers course after course of time-honored favorites and are ultimate examples of perfection; and Wave Grill serves the most mouth-watering burgers, piquant tasting barbeque and luscious sea foods. The freshest and crispiest salads, creamiest gelatos and rich milk shakes are also available at Wave Grill. Aside from the most delectable offerings of all four restaurants of Regatta, what add to the dining pleasure is the ambiance and lavish décor adapted to the theme of each and every venue, the excellent wines served to accompany every meal and the service of the most attentive and friendly staff.
Guests of Regatta will discover a celebrated spa experience at the Canyon Ranch, the recognized world leader in fitness and healthy –living know-how. It is a luxurious retreat and a haven of warmth and comfort for almost 30 years now. The Canyon Ranch on board Regatta increases the guests’ cruising pleasure with its extravagant services, imaginative presentations, caring wellness rituals, and invigorating exercise classes that builds resistance, promotes tranquility and peace and leaves the guests feeling great.
Insignia Ship by Oceania Cruises
Insignia Ship by Oceania Cruises
Insignia cruise ship is an elegantly redecorated ship of Oceania Cruises’ ship that offers magnificent cruising experience in chic yet relaxed atmosphere. This cruising style appeals to 40 and above passengers that are mostly American, the usual guests of Insignia. These discriminating passengers enjoy the intimate environment that encourages camaraderie among the guests as well as the exemplary personalized service of its crew, characteristics of ships the size of Insignia. But the facilities and amenities of Insignia are comparable or even better than those in much larger ships.
Insignia features classy touches from the glory days of traditional cruising such as the opulent yet warm mahogany and teak wood furnishings and décor, rich carpeting and an impressive, sweeping staircase. The onboard ambiance is laid back and evocative of the casual stylishness of a private country club. Formal dinner jackets and evening dresses are not requisites on board Insignia and guests can dine where, when and with whom they choose and take pleasure in the flexibility of the open seating arrangements of the restaurants.
Almost 70% of Insignia’s staterooms include a veranda and 90% of the rooms have ocean views. An example of Insignia’s tastefully decorated and elegant staterooms are its Concierge Level Staterooms that epitomize a new norm in luxury conveniently located in ideal locations on Deck 7. These 216 sq ft Concierge Level Staterooms features an exclusive teak veranda, opulently decorated sitting room, roomy closets and other first class amenities characteristic of Insignia’s Penthouse suite class that boosts the ship’ s high standards of luxury and ease to a new level.
Insignia guests take pleasure in the flexibility of four open-seating dining areas. For breakfast, lunch and dinner, The Grand Dining Room offers continental cuisine while Terraces also serves buffet breakfast and lunch but at night is transformed into Tapas on the Terrace for dinner in an alfresco dining style amid a relax atmosphere. For an alternative dining on a reservation-required dinner option there is Toscana for superb Italian cuisine and Polo Grill, the steak house.
Marina Cruise Ship for Amazing Dining Experience
Marina Cruise Ship for Amazing Dining Experience
If you are traveling to Western Mediterranean to Greece up to Scandinavia, why don’t you try Oceania Cruises’ newest baby, Marina. Made by the cruise line already known for its dining experience, aboard this new ship, you are going to experience the culinary focus the ship is known for. Marina can carry 1,258 passengers ob board, it is larger than its three sisters, namely, Insignia, Nautica and Regatta.
Marina
Photo by Ralph Grizzle
Marina has so much to offer. It has the first Asian fusion restaurant in the Oceania line. Aptly named Red Ginger, it has varied Asian cuisine, ranging from Malay to Vietnamese. These would certainly suit everybody’s palate who wants to enjoy a sumptuous dinner on board.
Diners will also enjoy Jacques, the new restaurant named after one of the superstar chef, Jacques Pepin. It is a French Cuisine restaurant which the first of the said chef’s eponymous line of eatery.
Another first in the new Marina experience is the wine-themed restaurant. La reserve offers not only gourmet fare made by their seasoned chefs, but the menu is in congruent with the wines carefully selected by their connoisseurs so your dining experience will be augmented to another level. This restaurant is strategically located next to the Terrace Café, which once in a while will host, together with the said restaurant wine tastings and other wine-related events.
True to its already-popular dining experience, passengers on board can also experience learning the art of cooking in one of its workshops. Truly, cooks and cooks at heart will enjoy this memorable experience. The culinary arts center has 24 food stations which are equipped with complete and state of the art cooking utensils and equipment. Be assured that what passengers will learn is authentic as the lessons are in conjunction with Bon Appetit magazine.
Marina – Jacques Restaurant
Photo by Josh Friedman Luxury Travel