WE decided on this ship because we wanted something not too big and not too small. WE were 3 people cruising as they has the buy 2 get one child free. It was my mom and my 13 year old daughter. We chose a veranda suite concierge level. At first we thought the cabin was small, but grew to love it. Amenities were fine, towels and linens fabulous, and the veranda perfect. The crew was amazing! Super friendly, always smiling, tripping over themselves to help/ Our cabin steward was so attentive, always anticipating our needs. He knew our schedule and was in and out while we were gone. The food!! OMG I can't understand any bad food reviews. We are a culinary family, in the food biz. The meals were outstanding in all the restairants and the buffet was wonderful too. The Grand dining room was beautiful and the wait staff was extremely well trained and professional. They learned our names and preferences very quickly and always had smiles on their faces. They seemed to really enjoy what they were doing. One delicious, well presented meal after another. Perfectly seasoned and hot if it was supposed to be and well chilled if that was the appropriate. The entertainment was what you'd expect. Most;y, the cruise director Corey stole the show. He was so fun. My suggestion here is to lower the volume. Goodness, it was so so loud several people had their fingers in their ears. I did not understand the need for an evening dedicated to the LGBTQ community though. I don't like any groups being singled out like that. WE did not take advantage of any shore excursions as we tend to go it on our own, takinga bus or cab out of the pert to explore. But other travelers seemed thrilled with theirs. The public rooms were always near empty..giving us the feeling that we had the whole place to ourselves. We spent most of our time in Horizons, but also would sit for a cappuccino in the various other public spaces. Very elegant and beautiful. The artwork on this ship id fabulous. Whoever picked the artists to showcase did an amazing job. Thoroughly enjoyed looking at all the pieces. One negative for us was the cruise Ambassador..the woman helping you book future cruised. I was excited to talk to her about bookibg a trip for me and my husband this fall but she was dismissive, un-helpful and unfriendly. She pretty much just handed me a brochure and told me to look at it. Thanks a lot, there was one in my cabin already. I did not book with her. Other than that, the service was exceptional, the food divine and the crew just fantastic. Loved the cruise, can't wait to see Regatta again! Read Less

On March 21, 2012, I received the news that no person ever wants to hear . . . "You have cancer!" Thus began my journey up through today toward recover from breast cancer. And what a journey it has been! In the past six years, I have endured more than ten operations and procedures relating to my breast cancer plus a total knee replacement of both knees! Couple all that with my husband’s paraplegia from three spinal surgeries and you can then understand why our recent “Glistening Glaciers” cruise to Alaska aboard Oceania Cruises Regatta (September 7–17, 2018) was so special and very important to us. The cruise was a realization of a dream and the completion of a long held wanderlust. We boarded the ship in Seattle after flying in from our home in Miami, Florida. We settled into Penthouse Suite 8065 (which showed signs of wear and tear) and were soon greeted by our butler. What a delight! Throughout the voyage, our butler attended to our needs, our wishes, and our desires! Bravo and thanks to him for making the voyage extra special! The veranda afforded us stunning views and phenomenal photographic opportunities! Compliments are also extended to the entire crew for a mostly lovely experience and pleasant journey. The afternoon tea was charming and the treats delicious, the martini bar tastings were fun and laughter filled, the grand dining room staff and food was delightful though nothing truly special. The specialty restaurant menues were sumptuous but had limited options! The library was cozy and well stocked, the Illy coffee bar was amazing, and all the entertainment was energetic but a tad amaturish! The scenery was a visual and sensual delight! The air was crisp and we were continually amazed by the splendors as we effortlessly glided past! What a boon to our collective spirits! The beauty of nature was in full display and we were ecstatic! It was disappointing, however, that the closest we got to any glaciers was seven miles! I expected more than a long distance view! There were, unfortunately and disappointingly, several aspects of our cruise greatly in need of improvement or enhancement. TOURS: My husband and I each purchased the Unlimited Passport Collection at a cost of $659.00 per person. It was stated in the brochure that this would result in a savings of up to 40% off the ala carte prices. It didn’t! Why? Because many of the “tours” we selected were not worth leaving the ship to experience! I didn’t want to over tax myself or my husband with activities that were too strenuous, but riding the Hoonah tram through a “forest” was a joke! We simply rode a muddy path along the shore! The Saxman Village tour featured a 15 year old who mumbled his memorized speech and got lost when someone interrupted with a question! Most of the tour bus drives were from other states and were in Alaska for only 3-6 months. They learned their speeches from the same guide books that I had read! Not impressive aat all! The “High Tea” at The Empress Hotel was abysmal! It was a rushed affair. We were grouped with people from the ship by the hostess. We were not even given china tea pots but prefilled stainless steel tea pots! No choice of teas was offered! Not at all a high tea. Not worth $199.00 per person! When I complained, I was told that that was what our “package” consisted of! I have been to The Empress for high tea and it was never like this! These Oceania sanctioned and promoted tours were beyond disappointing! SHIP BOARD LECTURES: Who hired some of these folks? I knew more about Alaska than one young guy who struggled all through his “lecture”! He knew almost nothing! Same with the jewelry presentation, a waste of time! MEIDCAL CENTER: Surprise! Don’t ask for anything! They don’t have it or won’t give it! My wrist was hurting and we were near the medical center and stopped in to ask for an Ace bandage to wrap it up. I was told that they weren’t available to give out. So I asked for an ice pack and was told that they didn’t have any! That they just put some ice in a bag when needed! Outrageous! Also, the hours of operation were ridiculously short! SPA: This was very disappointing as I had thought to spend the majority of my free time at this location! I attended a “lecture” on reflexology but could barely understand the young man’s heavy accent. Regardless, 4 of us were crammed into a treatment room for the talk and it was quite unnerving and uncomfortable. FLIGHTS: Who was the masochist that arranged this flight schedule? We traveled for over 8 hours pre cruise as well as nearly 12 hours post cruise! Our landing and connecting gates in Houston was nearly a mile apart and due to a delay, we had only 10 minutes to get there! Were it not for a transporter that we begged for help, we would have missed our flight! Not a pleasant way to end a supposed trip of a lifetime. I realize that I am but one voice, and that my comments and opinions carry little weight. However, I felt it compelled to compliment and commend even if I also had to conversely complain and condemn. I sent these same comments to Oceania. They responded that they didn't often get complaints from passangers but wished us well and hoped to see us on a future cruise! Translation, they did not care! Go for the scenery, but don't expect too much more! Read Less

Our 4th cruise with OCEANIA. Both types of ships have advantages. Marina and riviera have more specialty restaurants. Regatta is more familiar, but on waves a little bit less stable as the bigger ships. Always very good service and fantastic food. The ports of call more interesting than expected ( after having done similar cruise 10 years ago with Celebrity). Itinerary overall very good. You can explore a lot of things by yourselves. The ship should undergo a refurbishment in some parts. ( will be done 2019) Rooms and bathrooms are small but ok. The new Barista coffee bar is fantastic for an espresso and small bites. The quality of the shows are a little bit better on the bigger ships, but overall very good. Comedian was useless. We did not use casino or the loudly offered bingo games. The fitness center was good equipped, but no one looked for the guests. Read Less

First time on Oceania. Found the food to be the best I've had on non-luxury lines. Usually never eat dinner in the buffet, but they had much the same offerings as the dining room, so we found ourselves there more and more. It's a nice touch as you can try lots of things. It's pretty popular, so if you need a table for four or six, you may be hard pressed to get a table on arrival. The staff were excellent. We were frequently referred to by name and felt very well taken care of. I thought the ship was in very good shape although it is time for a decor change as will happen in 2019. Small showers, but I'll manage with that to be on a smaller ship and have a more personalized experience. We caught the first magician show and ended up leaving early. A little too hokey and underwhelming for us. Personal preference. I'm sure some people loved him. Production shows were good. All in all it was an excellent cruise and I will definitely consider Oceania for my future cruising! Read Less

We chose this cruise because of our prior cruise to Tahiti on Marina. We wanted a smaller ship able to dock without tendering and able to navigate in to the Hubbard glacier. Alaska was on our bucket list. We also enjoy fine dining which Oceania is known for. We had a great trip. The excursions were all very good. However, you can book them cheaper yourself but we prefer to pay extra for the convenience and having Oceania cover any risk associated with them and be covered with the insurance. The other issue is that some of the excursions are limited and when several ships are in port, you might not get one. The excursions in Alaska were great. We expecially liked the bears of Anan, the White Pass Railway, and the Whale watching tours. Our weather could not have been better. Seeing the Hubbard glacier from the ship was magnificent. I would recommend checking trip advisor for more in depth reviews of the considerable amount of excursions, because its too much to review here. From what I researched, Oceania has the most available. The service on board was very good, and we had no issues. The entertainment was even a bit better than our previous voyage. Liked the comedians and the ventriloquist. Even played bingo for the first time. The casino was small and I think the odds are better in Atlantic city, but just a feeling, can't prove it, but people seemed to be losing money very quickly and the place was never crowded. I did miss the two specialty restaurants, Jacques and Red Ginger that are on the larger ships. We have a lot of local Italian restaurants so a French restaurant is a real treat for us, especially one inspired by Jacques Pepin. We liked Polo and Tuscan but there was limited availability, owing in part I think to the size of the ship. On Marina we were able to obtain a reservation in a specialty restaurant any time we wanted one. The only issue we had was with the food preparation. This was an initial disappointment and not up to our previous cruises on Oceania or their reputation, in my opinion. So much so that I brought it to the attetion of the food director and exec chef who took it seriously and rectified the issues, of which there were several. I was very surprised at these issues. I won't relate them all, but for example, the scrambled eggs for breakfast on the buffet were the consistency of soup and could be poured off the plate, meat cooked improperly, etc.. But to their credit, they were resolved the next day, which is why I kept my rating at excellent overall. We liked the barista and good expresso was always available without a long wait. I did like the afternoon tea when we could make it. Seating was hard to come since it was popular and limited on this smaller ship, especially on sea days. Also had to wait a bit longer for tea and pastries here. Love the string quartet, especially when they played a song by "Guns and Roses". Talented folks. One thing I learned is that you are allowed to bring wine on board, so if you are not a heavy drinker, we did that and used the credit for the occasional wine at dinner and gratuities owed at the end of the cruise. Even used the saltwater pool one warm sunny day. Fun but a cold trip back to the cabin. Great captain and crew and great interacting with them and other passengers on a smaller ship. Would go back to Alaska on Oceania. Read Less

Just finished a great family cruise on the Regatta. The service was outstanding, by the second day the staff we saw the most (bars and dinning rooms) knew our names. The food was as expected - top knotch. We ate in both of the specialty rest (Polo Grill & Toscana) the food was fabulous and the service very attentive. Other than that we normally ate in the Terrace Cafe ( breakfast & dinner) or Waves ( lunch outside) and did not try the main dinning room and we were very happy with the quality of the food and the casualness which by the third day had folks at different tables toalking each other, it very much felt like the grill at a club.Horizons the main bar up near the bow offered great views and attentive staff. One of the things I like about Oceana is the low passenger count (640) and the high ratio of crew (400+). You always feel pampered but not smothered. The entertainment was very good the comedian and the special singing act were excellent. We only saw one of the shows by the ships troop and it was good. Sadly one of the troop got sick and they had to cancel the rest of the shows. However on the last night they put on a variety show with the show band, some of the troop, comedian, magician and speciality singer that was well accepted by the packed audience. It is true that Oceana caters to a older more well to do group of folks so they do not tend to have a lot of children on board. The other thing I enjoyed about being on a smaller ship was that we got to dock in two smaller towns Hannah and Wrangel that the large ships pass by. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we are going to book our next cruise with Oceana next summer and have been spoiled by the small ship with a large crew. Read Less

Jacques Pepin is the chef who drives the food on this cruise. Enough said, in that it was excellent! Service was almost one to one ratio, so you can imagine how that feels. In the buffet, you are served- it's not a free for all where everyone is grabbing stuff. We met quite a few people who were extremely happy as well. Some we met are the type that would probably find fault no matter what. I don't recommend going if you are looking for a lot of excitement. Shore excursion was cancelled in SItka due to technical issues with boat. Would have been nice if we knew that prior to getting off, but we just found other things to do. Pack for EVERY kind of weather- hot cold, rainy, windy, you name it- it will change on a dime! Having been on NCL, Royal Caribbean and Carnival- there's no comparison. Price is also higher than those above. Also, be very sure of drink package purchased- it is NOT the norm in that it only includes wine with dinner unless you upgrade. I'd do another Oceania cruise, although probably not Alaska due to the fact you only see the ports, which is an iota of the state. Read Less

We had always wanted to go to Alaska - chose 4 days pre cruise in Denali - expensivel rip off for 3 actual hours in park. They dont bother to tell you the Mtn is actually 90 miles away from park..... Restaurants so tightly packed you can barely move......not enough staff - very haphazard service - overworked staff and not very personalized as they see you a couple of hours later and look right through you as if they have never served you.....menu looks amazing very well presented but does not taste that good - tasteless , badly cooked fish - food cooked way in advance......although some of the meals were good but not reliably so.... serve coffee with no spoon sugar and cream and have to wait 5 mins for someone to bring it in specialty restaurant...... did have 3 very nice waiters , excellent hostess in main dining room. Huge emphasis on drinking and gambling............shows mediocre and cruise director needs to retire. Cant hear any announcements from cabin. Book your own tours ridiculousy expensive - can book for ½ the amount on shore. Thing that really really pushed us over the edge was $89.00 transfer charge per person from ship to airport - transfers have always been included - very rude unhelpful destination services. Took taxi for $40 to airport for 2 people ......The service or food is NOT 5 star - have been spoilt by Viking River and Sea Cruises would not travel Oceania again. Great ports though. The first time I have not felt sad leaving. Not very personalized service like Viking. Read Less

This is our third Alaska cruise on Oceania's Regatta. My husband tried for years to get me to go on a cruise, and I always refused because the thought of being on a huge ship with 3,000 people was not at all appealing to me. Then I found out about Oceania, with its smaller ships (Regatta carries just 680 passengers and 400 crew), and its reputation for having some of the finest cuisine at sea and beautiful ships. We took our first Alaska cruise 3 years ago, and we both enjoyed it so much that we took another Alaska cruise last summer, and just returned 2 weeks ago from our third. We've already booked the same cruise for next summer; we may take a Mediterranean cruise the following year. There is so much we love about this cruise line and Regatta -- first, the incredible food! It's like eating in a fine restaurant at every meal; the Grand Dining Room is beautiful (Versace china is a nice detail), and the two specialty restaurants, Polo Grill and Toscana, are beautiful as well (no extra charge to eat at them). The breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets at the Terrace Grill are also excellent. And Afternoon Tea, served daily at 4 p.m. in Horizons with trolleys laden with fabulous desserts made by the French pastry chef and his team, waiters bringing china teapots to each table, and the string quartet playing classical music, is a real highlight of Oceania cruises for us. I listened to 3 of the 4 daily performances of the string quartet; all excellent musicians. We stay in the least expensive inside cabin (G class) on Oceania since we spend little time in our cabin. The rooms are small, but laid out very well with lots of storage space, and they are very comfortable. The beds and 1,000 thread count sheets are like sleeping in a cocoon (the beds and linens are so popular that you can buy them). The ship is beautiful -- from the furnishings (I was surprised to learn that an upholsterer is on each cruise in case something needs to be repaired) to the artwork to the lounge areas and the restaurants. Just class all the way. Oh, and the entertainment is also excellent -- my husband has cruised in the past on another major cruise line and said the quality of the entertainment on Oceania was far superior. There is even a naturalist on board to give presentations on the wildlife that might be seen, and he was always looking for whales, seals, orcas, etc. to point out. We saw about 50 humpback whales and many seals, dolphins and other wildlife. I wouldn't recommend Oceania to the younger crowd or couples with children; it's definitely aimed at middle-aged and older guests. Being summer, there were some grandparents with their kids and grandkids, but the overwhelming majority of guests are in their 50s and older. We don't do any excursions so I can't comment on those, but the big majority of guests did get off for excursions at the different ports and seemed to really enjoy their activities. We just like to relax and enjoy the quiet on the ship when most guests are off, or we get off and walk around the small towns on our own. I can't imagine us ever taking a cruise on any other cruise line! Read Less

We chose this cruise because of the itinerary and our previous experiences on the Regatta. The three star rating is an average between excellent food and dining experience, poor stateroom accommodations and very poor service with luggage delivery upon embarkation. One of our suitcases was not delivered because the room tag had fallen off. When we inquired about it we got excuses and downright lies, but no apology. It was a challenge to get staff to bring out undelivered luggage so that we could identify ours and get unpacked prior to sailing. The destination staff were not well informed about the shore excursions and provided poor advice for our excursion in Juneau. In general, we think we could have done better arranging our own excursions. When we last sailed on the Regatta in 2006, our experience was completely positive. We have sailed on the Regatta since it was owned by Renaissance. The food and service in the dining venues was excellent. Read Less

Oceania Regatta was our choice because of the size of the ship, the itinerary, the length of the cruise, and the reputation for excellent food. The cruise delivered on all fronts. The restaurants, particularly Toscana, were excellent. I haven't had so much foie gras in years -- always in a different preparation each night. The entertainment was very good. As good or better than Vegas cabarets. The itinerary was goof and we very much enjoyed our helicopter excursion to the top of Herbert glacier. The Whale watch at Hoonah/Icy Straits was a winner -- saw both orcas and humpbacks. Glacier Bay was amazing. And Butchart Gardens in Victoria lived up to its reviews. The ship's decor is a bit tired but everything is clean and operational. The service crew was first-class. Maybe they could use one or two more people in the Main Dining Room. We did have a couple of slow meals. The only thing that was irritating was that the people who went to Martini's, the bar on the same deck as the Main Dining Room, congregated in two large groups watching sports on laptops and hooting and cheering for their teams. Maybe it was because of the World Cup, but it made things difficult for other guests. Read Less

This was wife and my first cruise on Oceania’s Regata. The entire experience was a delight. Our stateroom, a deluxe ocean view cabin, was comfortable and maintained perfectly by our cabin steward. The food was amazing—all the food—in every restaurant and dining room. The Grill offered not only the usual burgers and hot dogs, but also lobster and filet mignon! The service was extraordinary, in the bars/lounges, dining room, and on deck. There wasn’t a single ship’s photographer aboard which we found refreshing after running the gauntlet of photographers on other cruise ships we’ve sailed on. The entertainment was great, especially the fantastic string quartet that performed several times each afternoon and evening. The Regatta herself was a little jewel box, with elegant/comfortable furniture, beautiful artwork, wood paneling, and soaring domes over the elegant staircases. We were hoping that we wouldn’t enjoy the cruise much more than on one of the larger ships we’ve always sailed on previously. Instead, because we enjoyed it so much, we’ve already booked another cruise on Oceania’s Insignia. If you like smaller scale cruising on an elegant ship with superb food and service, the Regatta’s your ship! Read Less

We have cruised with other lines, Cunard, Celebrity, Azamara and wanted to try Oceania as we had heard the food was so good.....they did not disappoint, but more of that later. Also we have been to Alaska before but not Sitka or Prince Rupert. We made our own arrangements for hotels and stayed near English bay, got a taxi to the port which was $11. Embarkation was the easiest we have ever had, filled out one form and we were on, it is all very low key, two people directing people to the buffet as our cabins were not ready. Had a wonderful lunch, they announced at 2pm all cabins were ready, our cases were inside when we got there. Plenty of room for two ladies sharing to hang and put away all the clothes, our cases fitted under the beds, but the steward can take them if yours is too big. We all know the showers are tiny and so is the toilet, I am tall and could not fit on the seat!!!! From the very first meal, to the last the food was wonderful better than most Michillen Star Restaurants we have been too! I am vegetarian but also have a food allergy, they could not have been kinder asking me to choose and offering to cook something different if nothing on the menu was suitable, I did have to do this the night before but did change my mind on arrival at dining room which was never a problem. Our waiter Jeffrey was the best. The food in the waves grill and the buffett were all good and the milkshakes are out of this world! Everything was served hot, the two meat eaters and 1 person who ate fish all had excellent meals, we could not fault it. The shows are low key, but all of the entertainers had good voices and could dance. Dottie the cruise director was brilliant. We really enjoyed the ensemble playing classical music they were excellent.The quizzes were good fun and I liked the little gesture of O points to win prizes.you could always get a chair on deck in the sun it was never crowded and the weather was very hot all the time. The service from every member of staff was the best we have ever had, everyone said hello, smiled and asked if we were having a nice time. The shore excursions were a mix, some I thought were a little overpriced and I wish we had done a bit more research and done our own thing, the trip to the valley to see the bears was the best day out, worth every penny. We were lucky to have a lovely mix of ages on this trip, as I understand it is often older people who go, we were aged 59-65, it made for a fun trip, one of the best we have ever had, I would book again and recommend it especially if you like good fun & nice service. Read Less

This was our 12th O Cruise and we have been cruising with this line since 2006. To begin, the ship was very delayed getting in to San Fran and we were 8 hours late in boarding. We choose to head into the city and have lunch and walk around, but with some luggage in tow, only so much we could do. I've learned after over 25 cruises that we never leave essentials or valuables with the porters! The embarkation process was the worst we have ever been through in all our years of cruising. Oceania waited until all the passengers had left the very late arriving Regatta to begin to start even checking in the new passengers. A complete mess with long lines and very angry people everywhere! Even on larger ships, we NEVER had this horrible of an embarkation issue. Completely mishandled by Oceania. The ship was also arriving with 19 people on board (we were told by an officer this number) that had picked up Norvo Virus or something of that nature in route around Mexico. Due to that, a complete Sanitary process had to be completed on the ship before anyone could board, of course. That process takes an extra 2 hours, we were informed. Upon boarding, we noticed that the ship was extremely dated and looked old and worn out. Much of the furniture along window areas was faded and in dire need of replacement. This ship was so overdue for a dry dock and when we asked them when it was going in for that, all we were told was sometime in the end of 2019, they think!!! Our stateroom was extremely small, but we could have been ok with that if the bathroom wasn't so completely disgusting! The toilet seat had deep cracks in it, to the point it was uncomfortable to use and was very old looking, and yellowed. The sink faucet was scratched and green with corrosion and the shower handles/faucets were also in bad condition with much corrosion and chipping. The flooring was a dark rose pink colored non slip plastic and was so ugly and dated. Needless to say we could not stand to spend much time in the room due to its size and poor condition. There were even some dirty spots on the carpet due to the carpet being so old. The ship had not had any dry dock time in many years and it was very apparent! Throughout the ship there was a very stale and musty odor due to the age and poor maintenance of the ship. The food was no where near the quality that we have had with our past cruises with Oceania. Many meals arrived room temperature as if they had been sitting out too long or service was so slow and food sat too long. We had the worst meal of all in Polo Grill on one night with every item that we ordered was horrible and on the cold side. On top of the poor food quality, there was very spotty service. Some meals were ok, and others, terrible. We were told multiple times by crew members that they preferred working on the small ships because there wasn't much management on them, that was certainly obvious!!! There was an odd "stale" taste in many of the cold food dishes, salads, appetizers, etc. Similar to if one leaves an item in the freezer too long. We believe they must have had some sort of mold in the refrigeration on board as I opened wrapped butter and it had a huge overgrowth of mold in it!!! Overall, if this was my first Oceania cruise, it would certainly be my last!!! We have cancelled 3 future cruises with them due to this disappointing cruise and will NEVER go on any of the "small ships" again due to the dated, worn look all over the smaller ships. We heard nothing but complaints from so many of the passengers that we spoke with. We were not offered any type of compensation at all for all the things that went terribly wrong with this cruise. Our TA has sent multiple emails to corporate Oceania regarding all the problems and we are waiting to see if Oceania steps up and compensates us in some way. If they do not, then we will be taking our loyalty and money to another cruise line in the near future and cancelling all the other future cruises we have booked with O. It appears to us that Oceania is cutting corners and looking to become the "budget" end of luxury cruising. How is it possible for this ship to keep going in the shape that it is in? Certainly NOT A FIVE STAR EXPERIENCE. MORE LIKE A 2 STAR CRUISE!!! Read Less

Although the cruise had a late start (almost one entire day) and missed one of the ports to be visited, the experience was good. Service on board is very good, as is the food and the restaurants. The size of the ship and number of passengers on board made it possible that, with very few exceptions, there was always places in any of the ship's restaurants, bars and living spaces. Embarkation and Disembarkation procedures were very well organized and swift. While value for money of the entire cruise was good, the tours offered by the company, although good, are very expensive and the same basic tour can be found at the ports for prices that are around 20/30 per cent cheaper. My wife needed to use the medical services and was very well attended to, altough the price charged for the antibiotic eyedrops was outrageous, The same drug the could be purchased at land drugstores in the US for around 16 dollars was charged at 103 dollars. Read Less

My husband and I were celebrating a big anniversary, we had never been to Alaska, and we wanted to do something memorable so we decided to go visit this huge state. We began our cruising on Oceania shortly after this cruise line was founded, but we had not sailed with them since the ownership change. We more recently sailed with some luxury category cruise lines on ocean and river but this timing worked for us and the embarkation was perfect out of San Francisco since we also wanted to visit friends in Sacramento. Next time we will begin our Alaska journey farther north. The Regatta was late arriving to San Francisco due to problems on the previous cruise but we had gotten a phone call from Oceania informing us of this late arrival so we were able to extend our time in our airport hotel room and wait until we could board. Some passengers chose to visit San Francisco but we had been in California for a week so we were fine to just relax. Once we were onboard we were told our ship would not leave until the following morning and we would not stop in Astoria, Oregon in order to make up the lost time. Since we were celebrating our anniversary we did book a PH 1 cabin and, while the ship is an older ship, we really enjoyed our room with the wide windows letting in lots of light. Anna, Puku, and Xavier took excellent care of us and our room. As seniors, we would have enjoyed a walk-in shower but after receiving a requested tub mat we were able to make the bath/ shower combination work without any mishaps. The food is still wonderful!!! Every meal was delicious and served so beautifully. Executive Chef Gary Potiphar was delightful in his cooking demonstrations and we saw him quite often throughout the ship with a smile on his face as he stopped at many tables to introduce himself to the guests. He obviously loves what he does. The staff and crew were also excellent as they served us efficiently and warmly. A surprise for us on this small ship were the production shows. The vocals and choreography were wonderful in all 4 shows presented during this 11-day cruise. The presentations from Sandra Mowry about Alaska and, later in the cruise, about nutrition were quite good and informative. She was always prepared and her handouts were helpful. We also very much enjoyed the strings and the ship's band. I must say after reading some of the discussions about Regatta prior to the cruise I was wondering if we had chosen the right ship on the right cruise line for our special celebration, but we were quite pleased and actually booked a future cruise while onboard. We did book our own private excursions in several ports and we did not use Oceania's air since we were visiting California a week prior to the cruise. We did choose the onboard credit and I would definitely do that again if I went with "OLife choice". Next time I will give some thought to going cruise only, but it was fun to have some "spending money" while onboard. We will be on Marina for our next cruise and look forward to the bigger ship with more specialties, but Regatta and its crew and staff provided us with a wonderful trip. Read Less

This was our 5th Oceania cruise, but the 1st one on one of the smaller ships (have always been on Riviera or Marina) -- and we will never travel on the smaller ship again. We understood that the cabins would be smaller, but didn't realize that the bathroom (the shower in particular) would be so tiny that it was almost unworkable. No countertop space, no place to put the clothes you wish to put on after your shower, and very little storage space in the bathroom at all; also no plug for the hairdryer. We have always touted Oceania for their excellent service and food. It seems that the sale to NCL had caused them to diminish their staff to the point that the service is definitely suffering. We have brought 10+ customers (with multiple cruises each) to Oceania, but are no longer sure we can recommend Oceania after this cruise. Read Less

Our first cruise with Oceania, and second cruise overall. Service was excellent. Lots of nationalities on board and they gave a really welcoming feeling. They also cared about the guests : when my wife got seasick, several asked her, the next day, if she was feeling better. Catering was also very good, even excellent in the speciality restaurants. Only two remarks : 1) We found the Terrace Cafe on deck 9 to be very draughty. When doors where simultaneously open back (terrace) and front (pool side) a cold wind blew through the restaurant. 2) several times unripe fruit was served. A pity and a waste of food. We had the impression that the itinerary and timing were not high on the priority list of Oceania. At least twice we arrived at noon in a port, with excursions starting at 12:15. Instead of being able to view the arrival, this forces people to be in a restaurant instead. The biggest disappointment was the passage of Seymour Narrows. While the daily newsletter addressed and documented it, the captain was more honest in his announcement : it was planned for 2:00 AM ! In other words : in the dark. Yet, when we'd stayed in the nearby village of Campbell River, we'd seen cruise ships during day time. You understand our disappointment. "Luckily" we actually woke up shortly before and were on our terrace : but the only thing we saw, near the ship, in the lights of it, were at least 10 dolphins following at short distance. Poor pictures, but at least some exitement. Actually, we cannot recall having heard the cruisedirector mention anything about the interesting things along the route. Quite a difference from our first cruise. But everybody was clearly informed about opening hours of boutiques and casino. To show were the priorities were. Read Less

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I liked the itinerary--an Alaska cruise, and Oceania has been our go-to cruise line for 10 years. While somewhat expensive, we always enjoy ourselves, given their EXCELLENT quality of food and service all the time. Shore excursions are OK, but overpriced, and their wi-fi is sporadic and very much overpriced if you actually paying for it. Nightly entertainment is OK, but not great, and the entertainers double as co-ordinators of sports activities (such as shuffleboard, putting contest, bean-bag toss, etc). The ship is always kept spotless as it is always being cleaned and polished. Common-area furniture is upscale. Large wine list, but most bottles are around $50 when the 18% service charge is factored in. All soft drinks and juices are always free, as is ice cream all day if you want it. Very informal atmosphere--formal clothing is never required, but "dressy casual" is required for dinner in the restaurants, but acceptable in the buffet. I've booked two more cruises as we feel the benefits outweigh the shortcomings of Oceania. Read Less

We chose this cruise for the itinerary. Alaska was on our bucket list. We had cruised with Oceania on the larger Riviera in the Med last November and wanted the same quality experience. We flew into Seattle a day early, staying at the Fairmont - great downtown location. Stayed on in Vancouver for two days after disembarkation. Both embarkation and disembarkation were smooth as silk - definitely first class. This ship is half the size of the Riviera; so it's much easier to negotiate = not so many long treks down the hall to elevators ,etc. With half as many passengers, you recognize faces within a couple days. Not so on the Riviera. But, we missed some things. We missed the additional specialty restaurants, Jacques and Red Ginger (especially the later). There was no culinary center, with classes to take. The Canyon Ranch Spa did not offer acupuncture. There was noticeable crowding in the Terrace Café and the Library. On several occasions, after circulating through the Terrace twice, we gave up and went to Waves, both at breakfast and lunch. We liked the Main Dining Room better on this ship. We quickly discovered that Vijay was a terrific server and requested him each time we ate there. We found the MDR a great place for a quiet breakfast and always got a window table at that time of day. Baristas was just outside the MDR, which made it quite convenient. The cappuccino and pastries were always delicious. There was a bridge instructor on board. He knew his stuff, but was not very engaging with the few people who showed up for the first class. That, combined with rough seas and the resulting tummy upset, put me off of further classes and play. Our butler, Rahman, was always pleasant and, once he understood our routine and preferences, anticipated our needs and took good care of us. When we were on the Riviera, in a Vista suite, we had utilized our butler a great deal. In retrospect, we should have done the same on the Regatta. It wasn't until almost the last night that we ordered room service dinner from Toscana. We did order breakfast room service twice - nice to have a hot breakfast before heading out for shore excursions. We did not attend any of the shows, nor did we go to the casino, play Trivia, etc. We had one rough sea day. Aside from that, aside from almost constant rain, the sail was pleasant. We didn't get to use our balcony very much, mostly at the beginning and end of our cruise. We had arranged private excursions in most ports; but we did do Oceania's "Sea Otters, Raptors and Bears, Oh My" in Sitka. It was actually fabulous - bus driver/guide on for the first portion of the excursion was full of knowledge and enthusiasm. Alaska Raptor Center is a wonderful spot, and the show there was fascinating. Bear rescue was alright. The sea otter portion, on the water, ended up a wonderful, surprising whale watching adventure. We literally saw dozens of humpbacks, who put on quite the show for us. We did eventually see sea otters and sea lions; but they had already been upstaged by the whales. We are happy to have done the Alaska cruise, to see the magnificent scenery and some of the wildlife. But, once is enough. Next for us, the Baltic, back on a larger Oceania ship. Read Less

Oceania generally offers an excellent experience. But not in the summer!! Our Alaska cruise was overrun with undisciplined kids. We could have saved packing our swimsuits, sunscreen, deck shoes and coverups, because there was no way to get anywhere near the pool or jacuzzis. Since Oceania specifically discourages children on board, shame on the parents who think that they are the exceptions, and that their own children are angels? NOT SO! There were 40 (or was it 60?) kids onboard. It really doesn't matter, because when two kids get in a pool, no one else need apply. They were jumping off of handrails, running, yelling, splashing, and taking over the entire area. It's what kids do in and around pools - duh! It was very disappointing to have been denied that part of our cruise experience, which was important to us. Parents, please take your darlings on Disney Cruises, where they (and the other pax) can enjoy themselves. A note about the entertainment: There were two of the best entertainers we have seen on a cruise ship - a magician (Becker) and a comedian (Tom Blake). There were also some of the worst - a troupe of young singers and dancers who tried very hard, but would have been excellent at a high school musical. Read Less

This cruise was planned to celebrate DH's 90th birthday and was to include the entire family -- our four children, their spouses, if any, and six grandchildren. Altogether, 13 family members participated: DH and me,our four children, one daughter-in-law, 5 granddaughters aged from 19 to 23, and one grandson of 15. Our son-in-law could not attend. Most of us came to the port of Seattle on Friday before a Monday cruise departure for the Awe of Alaska cruise on the Oceania Regatta. We really enjoyed Seattle. We stayed in the Best Western Executive Inn which was ideally located just 2 blocks from the Space Needle and walking distance for everyone but DH and me from Pike's Place and a host of other attractions. On Monday my daughter arranged with the hotel for a van to take us to the port. It was not quite big enough for all of us and our luggage -- I have a mobility scooter -- but in two minutes a limousine appeared to take DH and me -- and we all arrived at the port within a couple of minutes of each other. Boarding the ship was painless and we enjoyed lunch at the Waves Café before going to our cabins. The cabins are definitely small for concierge level accommodations and the bathrooms are really tiny. .But there was lots of storage space which swallowed up all our belongings. Two of the cabins had to accommodate three people each, but nobody complained after they put their belongings away, and everybody learned quickly how to shower in the tiny shower. The food was mainly very good. We had made advance reservations in the two special restaurants, the Polo Grill and Toscana, and everybody enjoyed the meals there. But I think everybody except DH and me preferred the meals in the Terrace Café where you could be out and done in less than two hours. We enjoyed the food in the Grand Dining Room more than the food in the Terrace Café. Our last cruises were on Seabourne and on Viking River Cruises and we felt they had more and better salads for lunch. We prefer to eat salads rather than meat for lunch. I also missed the complementary wine flowing like water on those two lines. But we used our $400 per cabin OBC to cover wine at dinner plus most of us got in some spa time. We had signed up for a bunch of shore excursions long before we sailed. In Ketchikan, our children and grandchildren loved the Neets Bay Float Plane Bear Watch trip. We took a cruise to Misty Fjords which was not misty and we saw no wild life so it was somewhat of a disappointment. One son and his family also did the Saxman Village and Lumberjack Show and enjoyed them. In Sitka most of us took the Sea Otter and Wildlife cruise and we did see sea otters, seals and sea lions, and a bear. One son, his kids and another granddaughter went hiking. In Prince Rupert that same son went hiking again while the rest of us went on a whale watch and saw lots of whales. Our 15 year old grandson could have found other male teens on board but stayed with his older cousins and made no effort to make other friends. We thought the entertainment was disappointing, but it was not great on Seabourne either. We went to two lectures and would have enjoyed a few more. Overall, everybody had a great time and it was a very good cruise. Read Less

I love Alaska, this was my second cruise through Alaska. Chose Oceana for food reviews. Didn’t disappoint. Excellent in dining rooms and buffets. They took great care to serve you at buffet so as not to contaminate service ware. They have organic food which is important to my digestive system. Shows were good. Tours were fair, we enjoyed hiking the rain forest, kayaking in the rain, loved it all. I’m physically challenged, none of the tours were difficult and we chose the most athletic ones. Never needed my cane. Until the next day. LOL. Wish we had toured the college fiords. Room service was amazing. Surf n turf burgers were my favorite by the pool. Alaska never disappoints. Love the ship size, great ages. Few children. Cabins are small but adequate for two. Traveling with best friend, her first cruise. Will definitely go on Oceana again. Tried to book Nov Tahiti, ended up on Seabourne October. Excellent gluten free choices, daily homemade ice creams. You won’t be disappointed. Read Less

I have been on six Oceania cruises. The first was June 2009 Rome to Istanbul.We ate in the Grand Dining Room. It was beautiful. The service was great and the food amazing. Just like what one would expect in the finest restaurant around the world. Everyone at our table was a real "foodie" and the topic of conversation fine dining. I loved it! The 2nd was 2012 and there was a big difference with the quality of the food served. Traveled with Oceania again in 2014, 2015, 2016 and in Aug 2017. I have been on Regatta 3 times and Insignia, Riviera and Sirena. The staff has always been great. Always there to help with any need (I even scattered my mothers cremains from Regatta in 2012). They always have a smile and work very hard to make your cruise the best ever. The cooks (I will not call them Chefs) are horrible!!! I've heard people say that they had better food at a Hometown Buffet. The Special Restaurants are OK but you can't eat there every night. On the last cruise we had a running joke about how many ways they would serve the same bland ground meat with a little onion in it. It was keftka, albondigas , Italian meat balls, some other meat balls, and one morning they placed a fried egg on top and gave it a French name. Even a poor cook would have added an herb or spice every now and then. They should have some of the regular staff help them out as I think they would do alot better. I don't ever want to go on another Oceania cruise again. I have stayed with them in hopes they would return to the great experience of the past. I am embarrassed that I have touted them to so many friends!! They say "you pay for what you get," NOT on Oceania anymore. If all I wanted was a way to go from here to there on a moving hotel there are other cruise lines costing much less. Have been told there are still other lines that are what Oceania once was. I'll try them next. And make sure they are not the same owners. Read Less