Oceania Cruises

Best For People Who Want:
A casual cruise experience on a small ship; a port-intensive itinerary;open seating dining; no additional charge alternative restaurants; a strict smoking policy.

Should Be Avoided By People Who Prefer:
Languid days at sea with nothing to do, onboard sports facilities, extensive children's activities.

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Onboard Experience
Oceania Cruises offers more bang for your cruising buck than nearly any other line at sea - unbelievable food and service at a moderate price. Regatta has retained many of the features that made her popular in a previous incarnation as Renaissance's R2 � single, open-seating dining; four alternative restaurants, and a casual dress policy. There's a computer room with classes; cushy mattresses, down comforters and extra pillows, plenty of open-deck space, two Jacuzzi whirlpools alongside the pool, and myriad comfortable and inviting bars. The library is open 24 hours a day and will lend you one of its vast collection without a deposit. And the new restaurant Tapas on the Terrace may offer the most romantic dining at sea; you dine by candlelight on the wide aft deck at a table with starched white linens.

Regatta's ports of call include smaller (and small-ship-friendlier) places like Bordeaux, Guernsey, Palma de Majorca, Malaga, and Oporto.

On the other hand, we'd be derelict to fail to note that, spirits, wine, airport/cruise transfers and shore excursions are all somewhat pricey on Regatta. Moreover, Oceania makes no bones about not caring one way or another if there are children aboard. After endless hours of ping-pong, shuffleboard, small-pool swimming and TV in the cabin, yours are likely to sulk. Smoking is forbidden everywhere but on the starboard side of the outdoor Pool Deck.

Decor:
With wingback chairs facing faux marble fireplaces, paintings hung on landings above Chinese vases, miles of brocade drapes and fabric, dark wood paneling, carved moldings and wrought-iron staircases, the ship has the feel of boutique hotel. The no-nonsense staterooms evoke modern European city hotels.

Public Rooms
In general, the ship has an "English inn at sea" look. In the bow, the spacious, woody Horizons lounge has floor-to-ceiling windows and brass telescopes on three sides. The Martini Bar attached to the casino can make you 29 kinds of martini making it a very relaxing space in the afternoons while the pianist is playing standards. At night, a jazz band takes over.

Decorated in traditional English style with warm red upholstery, mahogany paneling, and faux garden skylight and marble fireplace, the library is veddy comfortable, and well-stocked.

Cuisine:
With single, open seating and four restaurants to choose from, dining is as varied as it is consistently delightful. The accent is on variety, and it is highly recommended that you make as many reservations as possible in the alternative restaurants if you are not too tired after a day in port. If you are tired, a casual stroll at your leisure to Tapas on the Terrace is a great way to get fast service and great food without waiting.

Restaurants:
The Grand Dining Room, which opens at 6:30 p.m. and serves until 9:30 p.m., is commonly very crowded, and the acoustics in the center of the room preclude easy conversation. Bowing to customer sentiment, Oceania recently added 26 tables for two. Don't, if you enjoy seafood, miss the pan-seared scallops over Parmesan risotto.

The Terrace Café, adjacent to the pool deck, is a grand place for breakfast. There are always servers ready to put the food on your tray for you, which we suggest you allow them to do.

Reservations are required for the popular Polo Grill (catering to the carnivorous) and Toscana restaurants. The clubby Polo Grill is the most intimate of the three, and offers fresh seafood in addition to the the kind of delicious red meat entrees carnivores adore. Tapas on the Terrace adds new dishes every evening. , with is unusually good.

Waves, the outside luncheon grill, offering burgers, chicken, salmon,and even fried calamari, plus a daily special and salads, is the place to head for a late lunch ('til 5 p.m.). Everything's served with fries that are wonderful when hot, so-so when not, and cole slaw that will make you moan ecstatically. There's a high tea every afternoon at four in Horizons.

Service:
The primarily Eastern European staff is very attentive. They even carry your trays to your table in the casual breakfast and luncheon buffet. And those in the ship's computer center must be the best tech staffers at sea. Room service is unfailingly prompt. The only inevitable crunch occurs in the dining room when everyone arrives for "open-seating" dining at the same time, usually within the first half-hour of opening. The best bet is to be either the first in line, or wait until an hour after opening, in order to avoid the rush.

Tipping:
Since Oceania has a flexible dining program, gratuities of $11.50 per person per day (including children) are automatically added to the shipboard account for all dining room and stateroom personnel. An additional $3.50 per passenger per day is added for suites where Butler Service is provided. Tipping is at the passenger's discretion, however, so the amount may be increased, decreased, or all gratuities can be removed, by contacting the front desk. Gratuities of 18 percent are automatically added to bar charges and spa services.

Entertainment:
Regatta has a fine onboard orchestra, a string quartet and pianist. Each evening you can enjoy shows in the 358-seat Cabaret Lounge. However, Oceania will tell you frankly that entertainment is not high on their list of priorities as most people find a long day in port followed by haute cuisine to be more than enough for a satisfying day.

The casino is small, with 30 slots and tables for blackjack and roulette, but no craps. Depending upon itinerary, standard shipboard activities like bingo, bridge and dance lessons are limited, since you're in port most of the time. The incomparable cyber-cafe offers instruction, but classes fill up quickly, so don't dawdle.

Cabins:
Inside cabins are the smallest aboard at 160 sq. ft. Outside staterooms measure 165 sq. ft., some with portholes and others with large picture windows. Category C and D outside cabins with private balcony are 216 sq. ft., including a 45 sq. ft. balcony. Suites with private balconies are a spacious 322 sq. ft., including a 17' x 4.5' balcony with two chairs and a table.

Regatta has 330 guestrooms, suites and penthouses, more than half of the outside staterooms with verandas. Every cabin aboard has a "Tranquillity Bed," dressed in 350-count Egyptian cotton linens, silk-cut duvets and goose-down pillows.

Standard cabin amenities include TV with CNN, MSNBC, another news channel and six movie channels showing continuously throughout the day; good closet/drawer space; hair dryer, and a personal safe. All cabins except suites and owner's suites have bathroom with shower. Suites and owner's suites offer butler service, bathtubs and mini-bars. Oceania has added wonderful mattresses and down comforters, but the only mini-refrigerators are in Concierge Level cabins and suites. Staterooms are homey and attractively furnished in Wedgwood blue fabrics and carpeting, accented by yellow drapes and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Those who have cruised in suites aboard other ships will find the standard bathrooms to be small on these ships. While there is a large mirrored cabinet for toiletries, counter space is very skimpy.

The Category A Owner's Suites, ranging from 786 to 962 sq. ft., are all located either completely forward or aft, bad locations in inclement weather. Forward owner's suites (numbers 6002, 6003, 7004, 7005) have direct sight lines of the rope deck on the front of the vessel. Two forward suites facing the front of the ship lack ocean views. Suites have large bathtubs and more counter space.

Though prominently displayed in cabin as though to say, "I'm complimentary; drink me," the bottles of Evian are in fact $3.50. You'll feel as though in London! The sole Laundromat, on Deck 7, charges $3 per load, but nonetheless attracts long queues.

Fitness/Spa:
The small fitness center has five treadmills, five bikes, and several weight machines and free weights. A walking/jogging track circles the top of the ship. Several aerobics classes are scheduled each day.

The small spa. operated by London-based Harding Bros. Ltd., offers a menu of treatments ranging from lavender deep-cleansing facials (only $59), holistic citrus facials ($99), foot and ankle massages (a bargain at $39) and aroma stone therapy massages ($159, though most massages start at $99). Fitness classes, including Pilates, are complimentary.

Attire:
With no ties required and "country club casual" recommended at night, you'll see women in everything from blouses with pants and skirts to much more elegant attire.