Loved the ports of call. Love the size of the ship. We wanted to sail up the eastern seaboard. You feel like you belong to a family when coming on board an Oceania cruise ship. The crew are very helpful and can’t do enough for you. Embarkation was very easy and the ground staff were very friendly and helpful. One criticism is that the cost of the shore excursions are disproportionately expensive. The cabins are fairly well appointed but the balcony on this particular cabin was very exposed and it was extremely noisy and disturbing when the anchor was activated especially first thing in the morning.. At breakfast there was only an option of vegetarian sausage once in the ten day voyage. Generally the food was excellent. We love cruising with Oceania and will always look to cruise with them as our first option. Your cruise director was very entertaining and kept you well informed of what was happening on and off the ship. Read Less

We were a little nervous booking this particular cruise due to the ship going into dry dock immediately after. We figured the weather would be iffy due to the time of year (11/2-11/18) and did have a few chilly, rainy days. We missed only 1 port, Bar Harbor, due to tender issues. For the most part, the ship was in good repair and other than some slightly worn upholstery it was well kept and all areas very clean. Our stateroom, 8000, is considered a suite and was lovely and included a 3 cushion full sized sofa, 2 club chairs and a glass table in addition to a very comfy bed. There was plenty of storage and the bathroom must be larger than other levels as it was plenty big. Oh, and the live orchid in the room was a lovely touch. A slight disappointment was the main dining room with their menu of sameness. Oh, there’d be a special few items thrown in daily but it wasn’t exceptional. What WAS fabulous was The Polo Grill and the grilled lobster tails and grilled shrimp every evening in the buffet. We found the Italian restaurant, Toscana, to be just okay. Husband returned one entree, a veal dish. I tasted it and agreed it wasn’t good either in texture or taste. I will say staff immediately swooped in and expedited his new order. The buffet is handled very well. No cruiser touches the food. You indicate what you want and staff prepare your plate THEN, more often than not, another staff member steps in and carries your plate to your table. There’s no self serve of food or drink. Another true highlight is tea time which is a lovely event served with a background of a string quartet. The house band was good with one member being exceptional. Staff was fabulous. The cruise director, Shawn Carter, was one of the more engaging CD’s we’ve met. All service staff were quick with their greetings and generous in their thank you’s. The only flaw we encountered was a rather disengaged front desk staff but that blip was more than made up by the butler who couldn’t do enough for us. He was so well trained and seemed sincerely vested in our enjoyment. I wasn’t expecting much in the way of entertainment but was surprised—pleasantly. In addition to several enrichment talks (on the ports of call, on the history of where we were traveling, to an marine biologist giving talks on various sea life) the evening show included a comedian, a magician, several singers, a fabulous guitarist, a pianist. True, there’s no production numbers like you find on larger ships but the shows are more like lounge acts. Very intimate and entertaining. There was the usual bingo, trivia, karaoke, bracket making. WiFi was usually good—not speedy but adequate save one day the satellite wasn’t functioning well as some streamed newscasts on the TV were not working either. So would I sail Oceania again? Yes!!! I enjoyed the quietness of the ship, the lack of rowdy games, loud music or intrusive photographer. Fellow passengers were a mature, well traveled group which made for interesting conversation. Read Less

Travelling alone for the first time I found the staff very helpful,friendly and accomodating. The choice of meals in the Main Dining Room was very limited and was very salty overall including the Terrace Grill.Overall I enjoyed it. The Ship was on it's last voyage before dry dock where it was getting a complete overall,so a lot of the other things will not apply. I loved the itinerary of this cruise because it was one of the few that included Bermuda, but because of the time of year we encountered some bad weather and could not get into one Port but nonetheless I still enjoyed the Cruise. The entertainment at night was varied,but wasn't of the caliber of some of the other cruise lines. The Dining Room staff were accomodating in trying to seat me with another couple most of the time. I met a lot of many wonderful people on the cruise which is why I love travelling on a smaller ship. Read Less

My wife and I and two couples sailed on Insignia late October/November from New York to Montreal. A misnamed "Fall " cruise. Having arranged the cruise I boarded with some trepidation because of the imminent refit. However the condition of the ship was fine and we liked the rich colours of the décor (about to go pastel and bland) We had a verandah cabin which was reasonably spacious. The amount of storage space was great. The bathroom small but functional (hate shower curtains!) The bed was very comfortable. We were late to dinner on the first night due to taking full advantage of sailaway from New York which looked magnificent at night. To ease numbers the six of us were asked to dine at Toscana which was a great treat. Very nice food and service. We enjoyed Bar Harbour and Boston very much. Then the issues began. At Bar Harbour it was deemed too rough to tender ashore so" in the interests of passenger safety "(an oft repeated phrase) we spent the day scenic cruising. The day was foggy and we were not near the coast so there was nothing scenic about the day. We have missed ports before for the same reason, even in the Med, so no big deal. St John is a disappointing port. Not particularly scenic, no fall colours on display, shopping malls still in the 1960s. The reversing tide is the drawcard, however that did not occur when we were in port. Oceania in designing the itinerary must know what the tides are for the port. We sailed out into a significant storm. The ship pitched and shuddered all night, worse than any "yips" I have experienced on a flight. While I felt reasonably safe, my wife along with many others was concerned. I do not recall any reassuring words being given by either captain or other officer.When day dawned we could see sizeable swells, estimated by crew at 10 metres. We sailed to Halifax, the captain came on and said we would not be able to dock as it was too rough for the pilot. We would try to dock later in the morning. More scenic sailing, in the interests of passenger safety!. This involved sailing at around 8 knots, seemingly beam on to the large swells. There were sounds of crashing crockery and glassware throughout the day. The crew at the Barrista station and in the dining rooms continued to give very good service despite the difficulties. Several crew members said it was the roughest conditions they had encountered. Late in the afternoon an officer told us thathe ship had to dock at Halifax to take on a high grade of fuel required while in Canadian waters. This was informal information, certainly nothing came from the bridge. We eventually docked at 2200 and sailed again at 200 the following day. That gave the six of us time to hit three bars and listen to Neil Young soundalikes on open mic nights. Because of the late departure we missed going to Sydney. Some months before the cruise we were advised the stop at Sept Isles was cancelled. The reason given was new speed restrictions on the St Lawrence due to the presence of whales. Just before we departed we were advised the stop at Saguney was cancelled because facilities were closed for the winter. We had an overnight in Quebec as some compensation and Quebec is a very interesting port. However an advertised one day at sea became four. Not really what we paid for. We became aware that a group as large as 25 had demanded to speak to the Captain. That meeting did not happen because repotedly the Captain did not speak to passengers! The approach taken by the Captain was followed by other senior officers who were not visible during the voyage. The honourable exception was the Cruise Director Shawn who did a great job of keeping a lid on matters. There was a lack of communication and transparency about why ports were dropped from the itinerary and missed during the voyage. Free drinks were on offer for 2 hours on two evenings. No use for those of us who had purchased the Premium drinks package. No suggestion of a refund. While on the drinks package we only decided once on board to take the package which I found disappointing. My wife and I love chardonnay. There were two in the package, one Californian the other French. The ship ran out of Californian within a few days and then ran out of the French. So no chardonnay for the last two nights. Yes there were pinot gris and pinot grigio available but hardly "Premium" We certainly still had a good time, enjoyed the entertainment and the food. However cruising is very competitive and I would have to think hard about going on Oceania again, and certainly would not cruise on a ship with the particular Captain in charge In hindsight taking the last cruise of the season carries a risk of rough weather. However that does not excuse the lack of effective and open communication.Frankly I think what little we were told was nonsense.. As I said Shawn was an excellentexception. Read Less

A cruise of a life time as I thought , very disappointed, I saved so hard for this cruise put me off , I have read some reports I totally agree with there comments from other passengers , I feel cruise should have not taken place . Enjoyed New York , reason for going was to experience the fall in all its colours did not happen . Lack of information @ times !! Last 2 day before coming to end of cruise they put on drinks 5-30 to 7-00 free of charge ( I feel that was to make up for what had happened on cruise as cruise did not go to plan , they was so many unhappy passengers , It made the atmosphere uncomfortable that's not what I wanted to experience on this cruise . Will not be recommending to any one . As they say you hear more about bad experiences not quick enough to give good reports . Read Less

This was our 7 time with Oceania.. Anyone planning on taking a cruise with Oceania Cruise line please read this, what I affectionately call my CRUISE FROM HELL. I have never done this before but we have been treated so badly by this cruise line others should know what happened. Please, Please Share, People need to be warned. My husband and I took the Fall Splendor Cruise from New York to Montreal, leaving on Tuesday, October 23rd for 10 nights. It started in NYC and we immediately noticed a drop in temperature. Boarding the ship was easy and our cabin, Vista suite was ready early. Our first night on the ship and our cabin was very cold. By the time we reached Boston it was unbearable, so we called down and a repair person was sent up. The blowers weren't working right was the first of many diagnosis's. The one door to the outside was bleeding air very badly so someone else would come up to fix that. The blowers were adjusted and the doors were sealed better. Once we docked in Boston, our first port of call, we got off the ship for a little while and took the provided shuttle to Quincy Market. We were bundled but it still was very cold. We were notified that our intended stop in Sanguenney was cancelled because the authorities had closed the park there because of cold weather. It was too cold even for Canada. That night our room was again very cold. We called again and this time the thermostat wasn't working right so that was replaced but our door still kept whistling. They would work on that too. While in Newport, RI, we heard that there was a "Nort easter" coming. We became concerned but was told the ship wouldn't put us in danger. We skipped Bar Harbor, the highlight of the cruise for us, as it wasn't safe to dock.The second trip change On the way to Halifax the seas were so rough, too rough for any ship to be out and I spent the night in agony, throwing up all night and moaning. I couldn't pick my head off the pillow without throwing up. I prayed for daylight and hoping to be on Terra firma by 7 Am at the latest, but the announcements kept coming all day long that the port was closed Finally I called the infirmary and spoke to the Nurse. It was Sunday and they were not on duty, so I paid whatever I couldn't take it any more. I received two shots. I couldn't stay in 7005 as the nurse told me that is the worse place to be with the night we just had. There was no promise of the next night being any better. Finally at 8:30 PM we did dock at Halifax as the ship had to refuel. They stopped for 3 hours in Halifax, which was not much of a stop. We were then advised that we’d be skipping the intended stop in Sydney, change number 3. Would be leaving Halifax at 0200 and sail “forever” in whatever seas there were to Quebec City. We decided “enough was enough” and got off by 9:30 PM luggage and all. A taxi driver, Rex, a native of Halifax told us that no ships should have been out on a night like the one that just passed. My husband and I agreed with him. It felt so wonderful to be on solid ground. This was our 7th cruise with Oceania and we trusted the cruise line. You had many films on the TV about their plans to refurbish the Insignia. I think they waited too long. The ship was not in great shape and that door never stopped leaking. The cabin did warm up after they changed the thermostat, and we spent 3 of the 5 nights on the ship freezing. This cruise should either not been scheduled at all or have been cancelled as soon as they saw the temperature dropping and that a storm was coming in, that is why all those ports were cancelled. This was too late in the season for Oceania to have a cruise to Montreal. They did put us in danger so Please do not take a cruise on Oceania, because I care about your safety and comfort, Oceania does not. Read Less

We chose this cruise for the destinations along the Atlantic coast of the US and Canada and down the St Lawrence - New York to Montreal. We missed half of the scheduled ports of call: Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sidney and Sagueney. Other than Bar Harbor (too rough for the tenders), we have had no proper explanation from Oceania or the onboard staff. The Captain refused to meet the passengers and effectively locked himself in his cabin or on the bridge. The general manager met with the passengers but was clearly in total awe of the Captain and merely said he is sorry. So instead of the scheduled one day at sea, we will have 4 and to compensate for missing Sagueney we will have 2 days in Quebec. Better than another day at sea I guess. However, a suggestion from many passengers, that we spend a day at Halifax and another at Sydney and only one day in Quebec was ignored despite it appearing quite feasible, This is a relatively small boat, so there is very little to do unless you fancy needlepoint, bracelet making, karaoke or bingo. Don’t get me wrong the ship is great, most of the staff are wonderful and the food top class. But I expected it to be somewhere to return to every day not to be on it full time. The library was chockablock! The passengers were going stir crazy. No wonder the Captain won’t show himself. In fact, we understand he didn't attend his own cocktail party. The only compensation the passengers got was 2 two-hour free drinks sessions over 2 days. Wow! Despite having emailed Oceania several times, I have had no explanation as to why we had to miss so many of the scheduled ports of call or nay apology. As for the title of the cruise Fall Splendors - we’ve seen precious little of those. As regards the ship itself. It was excellent. Despite an imminent and extensive refurb. it was in great shape and the public rooms and restaurants were a pleasure to be in. The staterooms are a little small but well appointed and comfortable. The bed was excellent. The bathrooms are tiny and, I suspect a challenge for anyone over 6'. The dining and standard of food were excellent. We generally ate in the Grand Dining Room but had 2 nights each in Polo and Toscana. All were superb. We also tried the Terrace and Waves which were both excellent and the afternoon tea in Horizons was also great. The Staff were excellent, attentive and helpful at all times. The only issue was that one of the Reception staff was quite rude when I tried to get an explanation for the missed ports. When I suggested that the Captian didn't really exist, she thought I was serious and gave me a long explanation as to what would happen if we didn't have a Captain. Obviously had a sense of humour bypass! We didn't think much of the entertainment choices, but that's not why we booked the cruise. Overall, what could have been a great cruise was spoiled by spending so many days at sea. This may have been for good operational reasons but these were never explained to us. Like a lot of fellow passengers, we felt the changes in the schedule were for Oceania's benefit rather than the paying customers. Given the time of year, I don't think this cruise should have sailed. A "cruise too far" perhaps from Oceania Read Less

We have just returned from the worst cruise experience ever. The atmosphere on board when the ship docked at Halifax was close to a mutiny. The Captain was being asked to explain why we had endured four days out of ten on the sea instead of one. Why the ship had arrived at Halifax at 22-00 ? My wife had to spend the day in the cabin due to the ship circling for most of the day feeling sick and giddy. Then to add insult to injury a bill was received from the Doctor for $445 for my wife’s treatment for sea sickness---a more appropriate action would have been a note and some flowers to say sorry. It is outrageous to charge a single dime for her treatment caused by the ineptness of the ship . One of your ship staff admitted that out of the last seven scheduled stops at Sydney only once did the ship dock There were many guests calling for an explanation from the Captain and were given the lame excuse that he was asleep. There was not any explanation given for the delayed arrival at Halifax. The General Manager was given an extensive list of cabin numbers so that he could offer an explanation for the delays but he did not have the courtesy to reply. There were free drinks offered to say sorry but these are of no value if you are teetotal Additionally I had requested an anniversary cake and it took three reminders before the “surprise” arrived. The helpful waiter offered to deliver it to our cabin and we are still waiting for its arrival……. I complained about the portion size of the fish at the Toscana restaurant and did not get a proper explanation, only an ansafone message saying that the Restaurant manager will call back. I am still waiting….. The attraction to the cruise was New England in the Fall and the attractive eight places to visit. In the event there were only four Can’t help feeling that the Cruise was for the benefit of Oceania and not its passengers so that passengers could spend more while the ship sailed the Ocean. How wise was it for this voyage to have taken place given the weather conditions in the Atlantic at this time of the year I would like to say that the staff in the dining room and cabins went out of their way to be helpful. The ship was tastefully fitted out but I felt that the entertainment was under par Read Less

We choose this cruise for the itinerary and only one sea day. The food and service in the main dining room and the speciality restaurants was the worst we have ever had on any of the 49 cruises we have done. In the Toscana restaurant I had pasta which was tasteless we waited a good ½ hour between courses. In the Polo restaurant they had on the menu Kobe steak, when I ordered it I was informed that it was a Burger which means it could be any type of meat. I chose the Rack of lamb which i could not chew it was so tough. In the main restaurant i had a stir fry which consisted of a watery curry base with slices of carrot and cabbage which i did not eat.This was the first cruise where my wife and I came home the same weight as we left. The entertainment consisted of singers and dancers and a singing ventriloquist who performed twice he was very average . There were two stops which were cancelled due to sea as it was too rough for the tenders to take us in. We were told that we would have to see the US customs on board at 8am before we got off the ship so everyone was up early when the Captain announced at 8am that we would not be stopping. This wasn't a cheap cruise so we expected a lot more for the amount we paid. Never again will we cruise with this company. Read Less

Advertised as Fall Splendour with varied itinerary along the St Lawrence and Eastern seaboard of the USA from Montreal to New York. Embarkation and disembarkation process efficient except that the taxi pick up point in New York had been closed by the police as 650 people tried to get off the ship . Veranda cabin deck 6 adequate but dated . shower very small ,no bath and intermittent hot water . Italian speciality restaurant overseen by rude arrogant maitre 'd and indifferent waiting staff . Grill restaurant was excellent by comparison. Terrace Cafe overcrowded and chaotic serving area for mediocre repetitive menus. Waiting staff pushing alcohol sales at every opportunity . Afternoon tea a disorganised melee. Entertainment very poor . Nightly shows amateurish at best . Had two extra days at sea due to "weather conditions" . Sydney I can accept but Bar Habor seemed to be aborted to make up lost time as this is a sheltered port.There was no attempt to add or compensate for the loss of these two ports in either entertainment terms or money . The shore excursions were the most expensive I have come across when paid for on board .It was possible to use local guides at half the cost . The cabin stewardess was the only positive . The ship was going for a refurbishment after this cruise ,and it needed it . The overall impression was of complete disdain for passengers comfort by a Captain clearly wanting to get to refitting dock as soon as possible . I would not travel with Oceanic again . Cunard are far superior and professional . Read Less

We were attracted by the itinerary as it visited some places to which we had not been before and we were swayed by the marketing that promised so much but as we discovered actually delivered well below our reasonable expectations. The food arrived invariably tepid or cold and was sent back. The tables were being cleared before all the table had finished eating. The drink prices can only be described as a rip off!!! A run of the mill wine we buy for £7 is marked up at $45 plus 18% service charge. The shower was cold for the early part of the cruise as was the cabin for the whole trip despite our represenations. The wind was lifting the curtains in our cabin and the noise of it could be heard by reception!!! Gaffa tape was provided as a short term measure but it was never fully weathertight. The entertainment was mostly disappointing apart from the pianist. We have enjoyed a number of other cruises but we would not sail with this Company again. Read Less

It was a very small cabin and we could not even put suitcases away or under the bed. We had no hot water in the cabin for 4 days.despite assurances from Cutomer Service staff s that it was being fixed. It was sold as a concierge cabin but we did not have a concierge waiter or any service. We could not make a Wifi connection because a poor signal in the cabin despite being offered "free Wif" as part of the deal. The computer room did have a better connection but that was down for 24hours.. There were no external TV services for the first week of the voyage due to a "problem with the satellite". Despite many problems the Customer service staff did very little to help and the cruise did not live up to the reputation of an upmarket cruise line. Since our return we have complained and were told that our complaints had been and were offered an increased on-board spend on our next cruise. When we pointed out that we were inlikely to go another cruise with their Company "they were disappointed". Read Less

We chose this cruise because of it's itinerary from Montreal to New York. We chose Oceania because of it's food and luxury. The itinerary was great even though the weather has not been too good. The cabin was comfortable enough but too small compared to equivalent luxury small ships. It was also dated, main problem was the old, small plastic shower room, and the storage was about enough for 2 weeks, any longer and there's not enough storage. Other reviews say the same thing. We are in cabin 7088 which suffers a lot from engine noise, again a sign of poor design and age. The noise was very disappointing so keep away from 7088 if you can. Because the weather wasn't great and fairly cold the outside spaces and dining was not being used. This made the ship seem absolutely packed. I think this is because the cabins are small so there are too many passengers for the ship facilities if the outside spaces can't be used. Getting a seat for afternoon tea is impossible if you're late. We had a problem on the first night where we had to wait for 50 minutes for a table for the grand dining room, we were eventually the last in. We found that when we got in there were plenty of empty tables which hadn't been reset. We were told it was because people weren't using the other facilities. We did get a good outcome as we got extra bookings in the speciality restaurants as a result and everyone was apologetic. I just think there are not enough indoor facilities if people can't go outside. This is possibly caused by the small cabins allowing more passengers than the facilities can really support on a small ship. Having said all that we are enjoying ourselves, the food is generally very good and the staff and friendly and helpful. If you drink I would strongly suggest you get the drinks package.as drinks are expensive on board. Read Less

We chose this cruise for the itinerary and because there was only one sea day.Unfortunately the weather meant we missed two ports. There was inadequate provision of on board entertainment on theses days. The cabins are small but adequate and storage would be a problem for more than fourteen days. The bathrooms are tired and very small. We chose a cabin on the front but this meant that our cabin bore the brunt of the weather. The heating in our cabin could not cope and, in their efforts to improve this, the staff sealed our balcony door for several days. They gave us compensation for this on the final day of the cruise ,which was generous but there was little to purchase in the very small on-board Boutique. We enjoyed free laundry service this cruise which was very good. We also had problems with water temperature in the bathroom and our television set kept losing the programme memory so we could not access port info or ship/info. The food was generally very good though we noticed less choice than we had enjoyed on previous voyages. The Horizon self service was always crowded and it was difficult to find a seat. The specialist restaurants were very good.The wines are over priced . Why can’t cruise ships provide ripe melons ?. They are always hard and tasteless. Entertainment was good , particularly the singers, orchestra and the string quartet. Service, especially our cabin staff, was excellent. The least good were the reception staff who seemed off hand. We never use the ship’s excursions as they are very expensive. For example on the last day they sold a trolley tour of Newport for over $100 while we paid $19 for virtually the same trip. We probably won’t be in a hurry to book on Oceaniavagain though our previous cruises have beeb faultless. Read Less

Chose this cruise for the itinerary, in particular the visit to Bermuda. Unfortunately, the Bermuda sojourn was cancelled due to hurricane Florence but was substituted with visits to Portland Maine and St John's New Brunswick. The ship with 645 guests was the smallest we have cruised on by far but worries about space and amenities ranges were quickly dismissed.. Public spaces, gym, pool area etc were all sufficiently spacious for demand and the ship felt "spacious" throughout. Embarkation and disembarkation were efficient, stress free and speedy which was very different to most previous cruises we have taken. Additionally, two tendering days were handled efficiently by the crew to provide a faultless, efficient and comfortable service. Levels of service in every respect were exemplary from an excellent crew - it was very obvious that the ship had an excellent crew to guest ratio. Guest services was manned by highly efficient, capable and courteous staff 24 hours a day and on each of several visits made there were no queues whatsoever - never had this before on 23 previous cruises! Questions and queries were always dealt with reassuring words of advice and information which certainly left one feeling satisfied with the service received. The gym was very well furnished with an excellent range of technogym equipment which allowed us to train all body parts effectively. Additionally, treadmill and stepping equipment was always available with no waiting on all of our numerous visits although the fairly high age profile of guests on board might be a factor here! Gym staff were excellent in terms of support and advice and was the best experience we have received in a gym to date. Staterooms were very spacious and well appointed with high quality bathroom toiletries provided alongside bathrobes and slippers.The stateroom was kept immaculately clean and tidy by our steward for which we were very grateful. The only slight negative with stateroom space was that we could not store our luggage under the bed or elsewhere effectively so limiting our stateroom space. This being said, we know that other guests managed to store their luggage under beds so maybe our luggage was too large! The food in all venues visited was absolutely superb and Oceania's claim to providing the best food at sea was well substantiated in our opinion. We did not use the Grand Dining Room for either breakfast or lunch preferring the buffet at the Terrace Cafe for both. However, this was by no means 2nd best with both the service, range and quality of food available being magnificent. Guests were served at each station efficiently and with a courteous manner, hot and cold beverages were served by very attentive waiters throughout who were always available to lend a hand or find a table in your chosen location. Evening dining was open sitting which worked brilliantly and we only had to wait for a few minutes on the first cruise night which was expected. Again, service was exemplary in all respects and food options and quality superb. Our visits to both Polo Grill and Toscana were memorable with unrivaled menu choices and really special service levels although we agree that the Grand Dining Room experience daily was in itself very special day in and day out! Entertainment provided on board was the weakest area as the on board singers and dancers were few in number and performing in a small show lounge with unsuitable seating for show viewing and with poor sight lines for all further back than the first few rows.Seating was on a level with the very small stage which limited what performers could provide. All of the entertainment team worked incredibly hard but entertainment is not Oceania's main focus and in no way detracts from the overall experience as numerous other factors combine to provide an overall brilliant cruise. The pool area was very well managed with very comfortable sun loungers provided as well as blankets on a couple of breezy mornings.We always found available sun loungers where we wanted and we were very frequent daily visitors to the pool deck. Additionally, the running, walking track was a real bonus providing an unimpeded resource which was well used throughout the day. Altogether a memorable cruise and our best cruising experience to date fulfilling all of our high expectations of the cruise itself and oceania in general. The gratuities payable each day by guests were richly deserved by all of the crew in our opinion and we thank everyone on board for looking after us so well throughout the cruise Read Less

I chose a Penthouse Suite because it is one of the few class cabins that has a tub in the bath. Expensive but it gives you a nice size cabin and extra service and amenities. The crew was the very best and the cruise was as good as it could be. The remnants of hurricane Florence hit us during the sixth day but the ship rocked a little but it weathered the rough seas well. The deck and security crew were the best in the attention they paid to the guests. The skies cleared for our dock in Quebec and we had a wonderful tour of the city. The destination services crew did an outstanding job in handling the refunds of the excursions that had to be cancelled due to weather. I must give an outstanding rating overall to this cruise. It was exactly what we wanted. Food was excellent the activities were to our taste and the crew were the best. Again, the employees made the cruise outstanding. We really felt that they cared for our experience. Read Less

We chose this cruise because of the time of year and because we wanted to see Bermuda. Paying a six star price for this supposedly six star cruise, we were so shocked when we walked into the cabin that if it had been a hotel, we would have walked out. You could stand in the bathroom and touch all four walls from the middle, and I am only 5ft tall! Overall the ship was very dated and shabby and the food distinctly average. I fully concur with the other reviews on this ship and would never travel with this line again, and shame on the six star booking company for not being honest about the state of this ship too. Did not get to Bermuda as we were scuppered by Hurricane Florence and spent 3 days parked in a dreary port near Canada. Although we were disappointed not to reach Bermuda, this review is not based on this fact. Read Less

We like smaller ships and we like the elements of luxury that Oceania provides. However, and it's a big however, we will not sail on Oceania's (or Princess's) small "R" ships again. They are simply too old. Signs of age were everywhere - salt corrosion around window frame bolts in the public areas, rust peeking through in numerous places in the overhead, major signs of wear and tear in the tenders, and a feeling of genteel shabbiness all through the ship. The cabin (we were in a concierge verandah cabin, 8023), had a small old flat screen TV that couldn't be viewed from the bed. The ship intercom worked only part of the time. The distance between the floor of the bathtub/shower and the overhead is about 71", so if you are taller than that you shower with your head at a cocked angle. We read about major overhauls coming. When have we heard that before? At this point it's like the proverbial putting lipstick on a pig. Having said all that, we are very fond of Oceania - the people are well-trained, the management operates by walking around, and are on top of problems as soon as they appear. The food is exceptional, in the MDR as well as the specialty restaurants. The buffet food was also excellent. The housekeeping crew was well-trained and attentive to all our request. So was the dinig room staff. No complaints at all there. Read Less

I chose this cruise as I missed our New England coast, and haven't been to Bermuda since I was a child. This cruise was right before the Insignia went into dry dock, to be completely refurbished. It was still very pretty. It’s a great size, not too big. Embarkation was a breeze, the only problem being that, our cabins weren’t available til 3 PM, so we were all in the buffet dining area, and seating was impossible at first. My cabin, small window on 4th deck, was just fine, except TV was small, which I’m sure they’re changing during dry dock. Amenities were lovely, INCLUDING hair conditioner, which didn’t used to be included, and was mentioned in an old review. The reception staff were great, and there was never a long line. Getting on an off for excursions was quick and painless. The pool was lovely and warm the first three nights, then, not so much. I had a terribly negative experience with their one hairdresser, on the first day, who refused to do my hair, insulted me, and pretended to be scared of touching it. It was bizarre, insane, rude, hostile and completely illogical, and colored my perception of the cruise, day one. I had made my appointment 2 months before and had been eagerly looking forward to having my hair done at sea. Actually, quite traumatizing. I then went back to the Spa, to ask the young woman there in which port I could now find a last minute hair salon, this person, was snooty, (she had straight, short black hair, sort of like Vidal Sassoon used to do in the 60’s), and she said Bermuda was expensive, and Halifax was my best bet, as Bar Harbor was a hick town. Bar Harbor is, in fact, absolutely beautiful and charming, and I found a hairdresser there who could take me, last minute, and she did a great job- easy-peasy. I don’t understand why this girl had an attitude? Another weirdo. The rest of the staff at the Spa were lovely. The food was plentiful, to say the least, and being we sailed up the New England coast, we had Lobster coming out of our ears! I adore lobster, and at so much, I actually grew tired of it- a real treat. The food in the main dining room was sometimes simply amazing, and other times, a flop. I had a Boeuf Bourginon, which was Heaven, a Dover Sole done and presented to perfection, and a Vacherin dessert, which was nearly too lovely and delicious to be believed. However, the Croque Monsieur at lunch was dry as a bone, and the service was not great either. My first night, the menu offered a fancy French desert, but upon arrival, it was just a dish of ice-cream. The hamburgers at the pool grill left much to be desired, using fake cheese, etc., while you could also get a lobster tail there, which was amazing, however, I ordered a brisket sandwich, and the toast was badly burnt. The dining in the Italian specialty restaurant was lovely, but it took 3 hours, and the Caprese salad had pale, hothouse tomatoes, and no fresh basil leaves. The specialty steak restaurant was nice, but my filet was tiny, and the meat was not great quality, plus they got our orders mixed up, and one lady at the table sat with no food while we ate, then, her replacement steak was burnt as well. The buffet food was very good, especially as it was buffet. The waiters, throughout, though there were some mistakes, worked incredible hard and did a great job. In fact, most everyone was amazing. Jenifer and Min, who took care of my cabin, were as sweet, smart, polite and helpful as could be, and took great care of me. The musicians who played on the 5th floor, were great, and soulful, and a delight to listen to. I checked out the comedian, and he was one hard worker, and people were laughing- not an easy job. I didn’t attend the other entertainment, as I grew up in an acting family, and it just makes me miss my parents. I didn’t get to do any of their excursions, as Hurricane Flo diverted us from Bermuda. Sadly, so many ships were being diverted, sort of last minute, as no one could predict Flo’s path, that we ended up all the N in St. John, New Brunswick, which was cold getting there, windy and rainy, so no swimming possible, then, a very boring town, that looked like a Mars Space station, seemingly built with legos or 100% IKEA. Personally, I didn’t care for Halifax either - for me, no character, and boring, but with crowds, pigeons and cigarette smoke. Bar Harbor was incredible, as was Newport, Rhode Island- charming and interesting and clean. Leaving St. John, we stopped in rainy Portland, which was pretty interesting, though not on our original itinerary, and again, foggy, rainy and colder. I had one issue- I returned to my cabin after swimming, and found a new phone had been installed. I checked with house-keeping, and they hadn’t reported a problem, so was told it might be part of the coming refurbishment. However I received no notice that maintenance was coming, so my purse, phone, passport, credit cards, were all on my desk. I knew when house-keeping came, so I hadn’t put them in the safe, as no one would be entering while I swam. I think they need to alert us when maintenance is coming. Also, having grown up in NYC, and cruised out of there as a child, teen, and in ’13, I was aghast at the sight I encountered at disembarkation. 9 AM, rush hour, 12th Avenue, between 48th and 49th, two way traffic, plus bike lanes, plus a mega ship next to use disembarking at the same time- it was a scene from Hell. I’ll never do it again. All I kept thinking was: “GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!” WAY too many people. Except for the hair dresser, the pool getting colder, having to head N because of Flo, freezing, without any cold weather clothes, and not being able to swim, and missing Bermuda, it was good, and my fellow passengers were a nice bunch. But the mood changed drastically, half way trough, when we realized we weren’t going to Bermuda.This wasn’t the Captain’s fault, or Oceana’s, but I do wish they’d kept us further South- ANYWHERE South, not New Brunswick. At least then, we could have swam. Pretty grim, the last half. I did email guest services, re getting a discount on a future cruise, or some kind of remuneration, but no one ever contacted me. I think that shows very poor form. Eassily reached to place a new booking, or make a payment, but a query or complaint, is utterly ignored. That’s not the way to do business. It shows incredible disrespect. Even if the reply is that they can’t do anything. Just reply. So I’m not sure if I’d go again. Customer service is extremely important. Finally- PLEASE don’t book a cruise going anywhere near the Caribbean in September. September 10, is LITERALLY the HEIGHT of hurricane season. Traveling anywhere near there, including the US S/E coast, and/or the Gulf of Mexica, is a risk, a BIG risk. And even if you avoid the sea, you can encounter flight problems. Never again. Read Less

We chose this cruise because of the smaller ship experience and the claims about the food (gourmet). We have cruised back in the classic days of cruising (e.g. the 1970's on Homeline's Oceanic which was 5 star) as well as in the late 80's on Celebrity (which was not as good as Oceanic days but pretty darn close). We have also sailed on Carnival, NCL, and MSC. Our last cruise (late last year) was on MSC and comparing MSC to Oceania Insignia is like comparing a buffet at the Golden Corral to dinner at a 5 star gourmet restaurant (Oceania Insignia being the latter). First the ship: no complaints. Classy, clean, simple to navigate, and well organized. We find the very large ships to be extremely difficult to navigate and find your way around. Insignia was perfect. You could get from your cabin to any venue within a minute or two. I liked that very much. However, be aware that with a smaller ship comes more motion during rough seas. The internet was the best I've experienced on a ship. Cabin: we had a concierge level veranda cabin in the back of the ship with a view of the ship's wake. Loved this room and balcony,. The refrigerator was refilled every day and there was no charge to drink the sodas or water in the room. Ice bucket was filled at least once a day if not twice. Carpeting, room temperature, and everything else about the room was just perfect. The cabin stewardess (Dyana) was always available, did her best to make us happy, and ALWAYS made sure to address us by our last names, a classy move. In fact, all staff on this ship were amazing. They did their best to address us by our names and ALWAYS said hello in passing with a smile and a "yes sir or madam." This ship, unlike most of the larger ships of today, was all about class, class, class. It was classy but not pretentious or snobby. The dining was simply amazing. Caviar with dinner, gourmet food at every turn, always hot food, excellent taste, helpful and extremely professional wait staff (Budi from Bali was amazing), classy tableware, etc. etc. We chose to sit at the same table every night and this was great because our waiter got to know us and our likes and dislikes. He truly seemed interested in pleasing everyone at our table and he went out of his way to make our cruise particularly special. The food in the specialty restaurants was also very good and we particularly enjoyed the steakhouse. The specialty restaurants are also included in your fare which was a particularly nice touch. The buffet was one of the best I have ever experienced on a cruise ship. It was more like being at a wedding venue in that all food is served to you from the staff. Not only was this classy but it also cuts down the chances that one might be exposed to germs or bacteria (from the utensils). The food was definitely gourmet quality. I was particularly impressed that the head chef (yes, he actually came out to socialize from time to time with the passengers as did the captain of the ship) told us he bought fresh lobster while we were docked in Maine and served it in the buffet. Entertainment and Activities were a bit minimal but we liked this as we do not like the frenetic pace of the mass cruise lines and/or ships. The comedian was very good but we did not attend any other shows. We tended to go to bed after dinner and wake up early to enjoy the ship during the day. But I did attend a lecture by the cruise historian and really enjoyed her talks on the ports we would be visiting. The service was beyond our expectations. As mentioned earlier, always a yes sir, no sir, yes madam, no madam. Every staff member greets you in passing with the above statements and a broad smile. We rarely if ever had to look for a staff member to serve us as the staff to guest ratio ensured that someone was always available or right there when needed. Oh...and there were ALWAYS seats available in the buffet or by the pool. Staff members seemed genuinely interested in making you happy. If you asked for one of something, they would give you two. If you asked for another, they would give you three. If you were seen carrying a plate of food to your table, a staff member would often offer to carry the plate for you and accompany you to your table. Simply amazing service. No nickel and diming. I particularly liked not being hounded by photographers who want to take your pictures at every turn and then sell them to you. The drinks had real liquor in them (not watered down like on mass cruise lines that offer the free drink packages). Lastly, the staff have the patience of saints. I watched waiters serve some truly rude people and still did so always with a smile. Another nice touch is this line allows you to bring on wine (and bring liquor back to your room while in port) which was a really nice (and generous) touch. I had a problem in the past doing this on an NCL cruise (and the sommelier on the ship that confronted me when I brought a tiny bottle of liquor from a port in Greece was particularly nasty and rude). This was NEVER an issue on Oceania. Ports and shore excursions were also excellent. We got to sail through the Cape Cod Canal (which I didn't even know existed) and this was a lot of fun. We enjoyed our excursion but found that finding our own entertainment or excursion was a better deal financially rather than purchasing the ones offered by the cruise line. Staying overnight in Bermuda was a great idea for the line as this made our stay in St. Georges particularly enjoyable and relaxing. We did not travel with children and particularly enjoyed the fact that there were VERY few kids on this ship. Kids, in general, will not enjoy this ship as there is really not a lot for them to do. One of the people in our party did have a young teen with her and he seemed to be bored a lot of the time (but I think he still enjoyed himself). We would DEFINITELY sail again with Oceania. In fact, we booked another cruise while we were onboard and enjoyed the discounts offered from this method of booking. I have to say that Oceania restored my faith in cruising. I had been very disappointed by the mass cruise line experiences of the past few years but Oceania was nothing like those lines. Yes, you do pay at least twice as much to be on an Oceania cruise but it it well worth the additional cost. This fact was also why the other guests on this ship were of such nice quality. There was no pushing and shoving at the buffet, people were very polite (but not snobby or stuck-up), there were no (or very few) lines or overcrowded venues, and I enjoyed conversing with many of the other passengers. The dress was always (in the dining venues) country club casual which I also enjoyed and found relaxing. You never had to wear a jacket, tie, or suit (yet it was still extremely classy or eloquent). No fake, chintzy formal nights. As long as Oceania does not change to the style of the mass cruise lines, we will ONLY sail with them. But if you like partying, loud people, buffets where your goal is to pile on as much mediocre food as possible, large crowds, chintzy formal nights and photography sessions, bling, 24 hour entertainment, lots of loud children (and lots of activities geared toward children), you won't like Oceania. Try the larger, mass cruise lines like Celebrity, NCL, MSC, etc. For us, we will stick with Oceania. Read Less

I chose the Oceana for an upscale cruise I had penthouse Suite 8059 and butler service I thought the room was absolutely filthy they even put a napkin a linen napkin down on each side of the bed thinking that’s where your slippers would go no it’s because the carpet was so filthy my feet were black The chairs at my dining room table the fabric was absolutely filthy I’m sure 15 years ago that’s must’ve been beautiful but the where and tear on it definitely needs renovation On the flight up a woman told me that her friend just got insignia and it was a big disappointment because it was filthy and I thought maybe she just always had a problem with things but no she was right I did not complain but I just want to say that did not help anybody else after which I told the butler that I’ll give him a nice survey but it’s not helping any other passengers on other cruises The food was excellent and the service and some departments was actually wonderful the pool deck boys were terrible they were nasty some of the help wanted to Please and others were just Nasty I know some passengers can be horrible nasty and rude I don’t understand how people can treat help in such a bad way Over all food was delicious entertainment stunk service was just OK and the ship is absolutely filthy Read Less

We chose this cruise for several reasons. The itinerary had something for each of us- New England and Canada for DH and Bermuda for me. Another reason was that we did not need to fly. It was NY to NY. Oceania came highly recommended by friends and family especially for its small ship size and great food. Embarking was a breeze though the terminal waiting room was not inviting and not comfortable. Disembarking was well organized and carefully explained. They took into consideration passengers needing to disembark earlier and we had a choice. We chose to linger over breakfast in the Terrace Cafe and leave at 9 am. Though the decor will be changing, we found it warm and inviting. The ship was well maintained and to us, it was obvious the crew took pride in its appearance. Our cabin was immaculate. We were in a PH2 and though spacious, the tub in the bathroom needs to go. It was difficult to get in and out of to shower, despite handrails. The lounges on the balcony were not practical. The foot rest seemed to be in a permanently fixed position. I have celiac disease and must adhere to a strict gluten free diet by medical necessity, Anywhere I eat causes me anxiety until I certain they understand what that means. The dining staff on the Insignia were amazing. As soon as we embarked, I went straight to Dining Services to introduce myself and ensure they were notified of my special diet. They knew despite our very late booking (we were notified of our cabin less than 3 weeks before sailing). I was told what to expect and the procedure that is followed. Later, that was followed up with a phone call and a letter explaining the procedure. If I planned to dine in the GDR, Polo or Toscana, I would be sent the menu the evening before and my choices submitted in the morning. I was also to expect at least 1 gluten free desert at each meal. It was with trepidation that we entered the Terrace Cafe when we embarked. I needn't have feared! I introduced myself to the head waiter, who was so knowledgeable and caring. Each time I arrived the head waiter got a chef who took me on a tour of the buffet informing me of my choices and always adding if there is anything else I would like that is on in something not GF, he would make it separately for me. Because the buffet is not self serve, cross contamination was not an issue for me. Throughout the cruise, gluten free rolls and bread were made fresh, menu items were tweaked and I was always made to feel comfortable with my dietary needs. One evening in particular, I had chosen a scallop pastilla which I prefaced I would understand if this couldn't be made GF. I was so impressed. The chef used a rice wrapper instead of wheat pastry. All the food was so delicious, wonderfully and happily presented. You have to try their ice cream (gelato). A minor complaint was at afternoon tea. There was only 1 item I could have: a warm fruit type cake with raspberry sauce. Though it was tasty, I would have liked a GF scone with jam and clotted cream. DH was able to thoroughly enjoy afternoon tea. The butler did bring me chocolate covered strawberries between 5 and 6 pm. Fresh lobster was brought onboard from Bar Harbor. We love lobster! I ate a great deal of seafood and enjoyed all of it. The sea bass and salmon were well prepared. Sometimes in restaurants when they make sure everything is GF, it is also taste free, plain and bland. Not on the Insignia. I was able to have items such as curried prawns- yummy! DH also loves steak and on our last evening had a very tasty chateaubriand. We are really not "butler people." The reason we booked PH was the reported larger bathroom and we went guarantee and upgraded to PH2. Perhaps half the cruise we ate breakfast in the stateroom served by the butler. He was very personable and gave us lots of helpful information. However, we did not avail ourselves of much of the services he could provide. It is really something for which we would not pay extra. We have had butlers before and my DH finds it intrusive. For instance DH would request no canapes and the butler would bring something anyway and don't ever interrupt a nap lol! Next cruise- more breakfasts on the Terrace! As we do not drink very much, we did not choose either drink package. I would usually have a Nutty Martini or Frosted Capuccino then 2 glasses of wine and DH would have possibly 2 beers and maybe something else. We mad a wise choice. The drinks ended up costing us approximately $500 while the drink package about $1200, for both of us. Speaking of Martinis, the Martini Tasting was fantastic at $17.50 pp plus 18% gratuity. Some of the reviewers will not agree, but it is also the only time we get to lose our money at BINGO :-) The entertainment was just OK. Certainly the larger cruise ships put on more spectacular shows. However, we really don't cruise for the shows. The deck party was great and though only a spectator, we enjoyed the karoake. The service was excellent. Our cabin stewards were fantastic. We wanted for nothing. The crew was friendly and patient with elderly and youngsters alike! Though there were children onboard, there was not much for them to do on sea days, It didn't seem to bother any of them because there is a pool and fitness center. The kids were well behaved. Several were so happy to be dressed up for dinner. We did not go on any shore excursions because we had been to all the ports in the past. However, either on the ship or near the ship there was always someone representing the port who gave the passengers individual suggestions and directions. Timing is an issue.Eating in a specialty restaurant at 7:30 could make it almost impossible to get to the entertainment on time. Also, there were some events such as informative talks conflicting with one another or some other activity. There was the auto tip of $23/day pp (extra 7 for the butler). We left it on because there is no set seating and being served by different people precluded us from tipping individually. We did tip extra to the butler, cabin attendants, barista and the head waiter that helped me tremendously. We are never certain what piece of the pie any of these wonderfully hardworking people get. We add a bit extra for those who gave us extra attention and service. It was a wonderful cruise. We loved it so much, we booked a similar destination next year. 2 other couples new to Oceania did as well. Read Less

We recently decided to pursue more healthy diet lifestyle and noticed an Oceania brochure cover advertising “The Finest Vegan Fare Afloat”. Based on that ad, we signed up for a cruise on the Marina from Miami to Montreal, April 22-May 8, 2018 (Seaside Sojourn). We also had a number of pre-voyage email communications with a Special Services Coordinator at Oceania, regarding our dietary requests. Having been on over 60 cruises without a significant dietary complaint, we know what to expect from cruise food. We also know that most cruise passengers are not there for healthy food, but they were not enticed by a brochure promising that. We were disappointed from day one when the veggie burger was served with french fries and the “steamed vegetables” in Terrace Cafe were buttered. Many choices in the dining room may have been technically vegan, but they were by no means healthy. They were high fat and high calorie. Multiple requests to minimize fat and oil were ignored. Because vegan requests were unusual, miscommunication was common. Delays of 30-60 minutes were typical. One time after waiting more than an hour for our first lunch course, we had to leave. (We had scheduled a personal training session in the fitness center which we would have still been charged for if we didn't show up). One of the dining room staff literally ran after us holding a plate of food and told us to "eat fast" in the chairs near the hostess stand. We were dumbfounded by this suggestion- this was not a fast food joint! When we complained about this event, the individual denied that he said that. We eventually gave up and went back to a standard diet. Our frustrating “vegan” experience ruined many hours of the voyage and overshadowed other good experiences on the ship. The promise of healthy vegan food was the only reason we took the voyage, and we did not get what we paid for. Breakfasts and non-vegan selections were always satisfactory. Other than our problem with dining, many other aspects of the ship were wonderful. The cabin, most activities, and fitness center were first class. Although the itinerary was interesting, the excursions were very expensive and did not appeal to us. The weather was very hot for the first few days which somewhat limited exploring on our own. Unfortunately we were not able to dock in Montreal for our overnight visit. The water level was too high for the ship to pass under the bridges. We had to dock at another port and wait a day and a half to get bussed into Montreal for our return flight. This was obviously beyond the control of any cruise line. There were two lecturers on board. The one who spoke about space travel was excellent. Most of the entertainers were average for ships. None were memorable. The singers and dancers offered the best shows of the bunch. They were fabulous. There was significant delay for embarkation. Although we were allowed to board the ship at about 1pm, we had to stay in the public areas. Passengers were not allowed to go to their cabins until after 3pm. Concierge and above passengers were allowed in their cabins earlier. No explanation was given for the delay. It was particularly difficult for passengers who were on red eye flights from West coast. I am always surprised that Oceania offers free coach fare for its voyages, but charges very high fees for ship transfers from airport and vice-versa. To my knowledge, most other cruise lines do not do that. (At least I personally have never been charged transfer fees if the cruise line arranged the flights). I heard many complaints from long-time cruisers about this voyage. The good points include a beautiful ship and cabin. The itinerary sounded a lot better on paper that it turned out to be. If you love rich fancy food and are lucky enough to get a reservation at one of the specialty restaurants, you will have a fabulous meal. Getting a reservation prior to 8:30pm might be difficult unless you are in a concierge cabin or above. In summary, we will not sail on Oceania again. Any business should really think twice before disagreeing with a customer. The experience of one dining room lunch turned me against Oceania. There are other wonderful cruise lines out there and none of their employees have implied that I was lying about an incident. Read Less

I've been trying to get my husband to do the 'leaf peeper' cruise for, at least, 4 years &, to my surprise, he acquiesced this year. Of course, we always choose Oceania when possible. We flew in early to Montreal and spent two wonderful days/3 nights so our happiness began there! Embarkation was flawless and we were greeted by our beautiful & gracious cabin stewardess who immediately noted my only two requests...ONLY dark chocolate @ night and ALWAYS Diet Coke in the fridge; and the requests were always met as well as her sweet greeting every day! This ships far excelled over Nautica because of service; the crew was not only flawless but went the extra mile by memorizing names immediately as well as details about what we liked, wanted and needed with our meals! Quebec City was our first port and it was fabulous and then things began to go downhill. Whoever decided that Saguenay was worth even 1 hour must have lived in a VERY remote village because it is a real snooze. Unfortunately for the poor captain, the weather was extremely uncooperative as we were forced to completely pull out of one port right before we were going to drop anchor and so we had a second sea day and, to make matters worse, rough seas AGAIN made the captain switch from Bar Harbor to Portland so, again, our itinerary was rocking as much as we were on the ship. Everybody around us was becoming the coughing and sneezing brigade so when I ended up going to the Medical Center as well it was no surprise that I was not alone. If we had been longer at sea I think we would have turned into one of those 'Sick Ships' that you read about! Luckily, the crew was able to dispatch us to our respective fates...me to my own doctor! On the bright side...after the previous 3 cruises I've had to work for 3 months to take off the weight that I gained and this time I have nothing to lose! Such a shame though when one chooses a bowl of mashed potatoes & a pot of tea for dinner...but those breakfast smoothies saved me! Read Less

This review is a bit late, but better late than never. This was my first cruise with Oceania Cruises and I was very impressed with the experience. I have cruised in the past and this has been my fifth cruise but they have not been as good as Insignia. I have to say that I was delighted with the experience. My daughter and I cruised together this time and it was her first cruise and she really enjoyed it. The crew everywhere on the ship were amazing, happy people. Always courteous and joking around with my daughter and I which made an even better and fun experience for the both of us. Most of the people that we talked to were returning Oceania cruisers and were very happy with their experience. Our cabin was an ocean view and the size was good. The food was amazing, except for one dish that I found very bland, but the rest was superb. It was great to see the menus for the Grand Dining Room listed in one of the TV channels which made it easier to decide if we wanted to eat there or at the Terrace Café. Our experience at Toscana and Polo Grill were really good as well. Also the 4 pm Tea Time was excellent. I was also happy to see that every day in the early and late evening for an hour at the bars they would have a two for one drinks. Overall I had an excellent experience and I will definitely book another cruise with Oceania. Read Less