Oceania Regatta Ship Inspection

We recently had the opportunity to attend a ship inspection in North Haven, Adelaide, to view the Oceania Regatta ship on its 77 day Grand Pacific Expedition from Los Angeles to Sydney. The ship, originally constructed in 1999 and refurbished in 2019, strives to offer a casual but elegant ambiance with its renewed suites, staterooms and public spaces. With its smaller design, the Oceania Regatta is a ship that is easy and convenient to navigate. This can be ideal for passengers after that intimate small ship experience wanting to avoid the busyness often associated with larger vessels. However, with its smaller vessel size, it may be too confining for others on those lengthier journeys.

Outside view of Oceania Regatta

The current expedition when we onboarded was day 71 of its 77-day Grand Pacific Expedition which embarked on October 4th, 2023 in Los Angeles. Accommodating 670 guests – in double occupancy, means spaces do not feel too busy which helps foster an intimate cruising experience. 593.7 feet in length, a tonnage of 30,277 and a classic décor and sleek design of soft sea and sky tones encompasses the Oceania Regatta cruise ship. Our inspection revealed that some spaces on the ship appeared slightly worn, and were looking a bit tired. We could suggest a slight refresh and perhaps a need for refurbishment that would improve this.

Entrance to Reception Area

Oceania Regatta Layout

The public areas are light, bright and inviting. As we toured the ship we noticed that the cabin spaces and bathrooms are quite small and the hallways may seem a bit claustrophobic for some travellers due to the narrowness and small size of the overall ship.

Lighting Onboard the Oceania Regatta

Shared Spaces on the Ship

The room’s we inspected were the Penthouse Suite, the Concierge Level Veranda, the SOLO Oceanview Stateroom, and the Oceanview room. Overall, all rooms viewed were compact but comfortable with a neutral and calming design palette. The Penthouse Suite, through to the Owners suite have personalised service with a Butler. The most popular cabin type to book is the Concierge Level Veranda with the standard Veranda Staterooms able to be upgraded from approximately $500-700. A special edition to this ship is that they have dedicated solo staterooms which were previously obstructed Oceanview cabins and are now dedicated solo cabins converted.

Regatta Ship Penthouse Suite

Regatta Ship Veranda Stateroom

Regatta Ship Deluxe Oceanview

We recommend booking this ship if you’re after more of a ‘small ship’ cruising experience. For those who have preference of and are used to bigger, grandeur and more ‘over the top’ or ‘luxury’ experiences, should look at other Oceania cruise ships with larger passenger capacities such as their Vista or Riviera ship – or their new ship Allura.

Oceania Regatta Dining

The Oceania Regatta Ship emphasises their culinary experiences with every meal being made to order, an inclusion of specialty dining options and catering with a chef for every 10 guests on board. All food served onboard is seamlessly included in the cruise fare, fostering an inclusive atmosphere. Soft drinks, specialty coffee, beer and wine with lunch and dinner are included and premium drinks packages are available onboard to purchase.

Dining Set

Terrace Cafe Menu

Waves Cafe Menu

Polo Grill Restaurant Menu

Toscana Restaurant Menu

Grand Dining Room Menu

The Grand Dining Room on the Oceania ship provides an avenue for guests to enjoy signature dishes from these specialty venues, offering a taste of their unique culinary offerings. It also offers a daily high-tea that can be accessed by all guests with no booking required. The ship’s commitment to personalised dining is evident in the made-to-order approach for every meal, including specialties, ensuring a tailored experience for each passenger. Noteworthy is the absence of queues for meals, contributing to a smooth and efficient dining process. Oceania Regatta boasts a ratio of one chef for every 10 guests, and there is also a cooking school onboard providing an interactive and educational dimension to the dining experience. To indulge in the specialty dining spaces onboard, passengers need to pre-book these restaurants, which come at no extra charge.

Grand Dining Room

The Oceania Regatta ship offers three specialty dining spaces – Toscana, Polo Grill and Acquamar . Toscana draws inspiration from the recipes of Oceania’s own Italian culinary staff. Polo Grill specialises in time-honoured favourites particularly notable for its certified Black Angus USDA Prime beef dishes that are dry-aged for enhanced tenderness and flavour. Meanwhile, Acquamar stands out for offering over 300 plant-based meals, catering to passengers with specific dietary requirements. During our ship inspection we had some canape style food as a tasting experience of what was available on board.

Toscana Specialty Dining Restaurant

Polo Grill Specialty Dining Restaurant

Waves Grill

Baristas Lounge Space

Bar Lounge

Terrace Cafe

Oceania Regatta Ship Features

Oceania’s noteworthy feature is its commitment to personalised service as observed through interactions between staff and guests during our inspection. The attention to detail that staff provided contributed to a sense of familiarity and camaraderie among passengers, especially since the duration of this cruise was over 2 months onboard.

The ship’s itinerary reflects a destination-focused approach with an emphasis on ports traditionally active later at night, offering passengers opportunities to explore and experience the local culture. Additionally, the inclusion of overnight stays in the itinerary provides an opportunity for passengers to do full day excursions. Oceania offers shore excursion credit on every sailing and can do tailor made shore excursions which is helpful for cruisers visiting new places.

Gingerbread House

Christmas Decor

During the time of our ship inspection, the ship had decorated the ship with Christmas decorations, including a Gingerbread house village with electric trains and village arrangements. Passengers on board also got involved in the decoration spirit by adding Christmas decor on their cabin doors.

Oceania Regatta Terrace Cafe Deck

Pool Deck

With 11 decks, the ship offers a range of ‘Regatta Experiences’ and features to keep travellers comfortable and entertained on board. Deck 11 or the top deck is their sports deck which includes Shuffleboard and Golf Putting Greens as well as the Sun Deck. Deck 10 discovers the ship’s two specialty dining restaurants, Toscana and Polo Grill as well as a library, fitness track and the Horizons Bar. Deck 9 has the Terrace Café, Waves Bar & Grill, the Pool Deck, Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center, Oceania@Sea Internet Center and the Card Room. Decks 8-6 are cabins from Owner’s & Penthouse suites on Deck 8 to stateroom variations on deck 6. On Regatta’s Deck 5, discover The Grand Dining Room, Baristas & The Grand Bar, the Boutiques, Martinis, the Casino and Lounge. On Regatta’s Deck 4, discover the Reception Desk, Destination Services, the Concierge, the Medical Center, Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms and Inside Staterooms and Deck 3, discover Oceanview Staterooms.

Pool Deck Lounge Area

Gym

Casino

Oceania Regatta Summary

Overall being able to explore the Oceania Regatta ship through an inspection was a great experience and this small ship has a lot to offer. While some areas displayed minor wear during our inspection, for an intimate cruise experience you can expect great personalised service, an array of dining options and a destination focused itinerary. Despite the need for slight refurbishment, the Oceania Regatta offers an easy, convenient and a personalised voyage.

Now’s the best time to book an Oceania Cruise! Visit the cruise line’s latest deals here. If you’re looking for a more cosy and small-scale cruise experience, check out our Small Ship Cruising deals page. Alternatively, if you’re unsure where to start in the cruising world, submit an enquiry to one of our Tour + Cruise experts or take our quiz!