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Frommers | Regatta


With her smallish size, understated decor, and serene atmosphere, this mostly nonsmoking ship is more like a quiet boutique hotel than a cruise vessel, providing a comfortable, laid-back, yet stylish way to experience the Caribbean.

Size (in tons)30200

Number of Cabins343

Number of Cabins with Verandas232

Number of Passengers684

Number of Crew400

Passenger/Crew Ratio1.7 to 1

Year Built1998

Last Major Refurbishment2005

Cabin Comfort & Amenities4.0

Ship Cleanliness & Maintainence4.0

Public Comfort/Space4.5

Dining Options4.0

Children’s Facilities0

Decor4.0

Gym & Spa Facilities4.0

Enjoyment4.0

 

Typical Per Diems: $305+

Regatta sails the Caribbean from Miami (winter); the Panama Canal from Miami (spring) and from San Francisco (fall); Alaska from Vancouver, Anchorage & San Francisco (summer); and New England/Canada from New York & Montreal (fall).

Imagine a cozy, classically styled boutique hotel in the shape of a cruise ship and you’ve pretty much got the idea. Like all of the former Renaissance vessels, Regatta is comfortable and spacious, decorated mostly in warm, dark woods and rich fabrics. She’s traditional and sedate, with an emphasis on intimate spaces rather than the kind of grand, splashy ones you’ll find on most megaships. Of course, her small size means there’d be no room for grand spaces, even if they’d been desired: Carrying only 684 passengers, Regatta‘s intimacy is one of her main selling points. The atmosphere is relaxed and clubby, with no formal nights that demand tuxedos and gowns.

Since the beginning of its existence, Oceania has concentrated on worldwide itineraries, typically positioning just one of its ships — always Regatta — in the Caribbean for the winter season while sister ships Insignia and Nautica sail elsewhere. For 2011, Regatta will be joined on Panama Canal and Caribbean sailings by her newer, larger fleetmate Marina.

Staterooms aboard Regatta are straightforward, no-nonsense spaces with a hint of European city hotel: plain off-white walls, dark-wood trim and furniture, and rich carpeting. The highlight of each, though, is its Tranquility Bed, an oasis of 350-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and duvet covers, down duvets and pillows, custom-designed extrathick mattresses, and a mound of throw pillows to prop you up during the late-late show. Spacious balconies have teak decking for a classic nautical look, and all cabins have televisions, safes, vanities with mirrors, hair dryers, phones, sitting areas, and full-length mirrors. Closet space is a little skimpy considering the lengthy itineraries these ships sail, but drawer space scattered around the cabin, and space under the beds, make up for this a bit. Almost all cabins measure in the 165-square-foot range, with some measuring 216 square feet, including balcony — not tiny, but not exceptionally large, either. There are also some bizarre little quirks. Light switches, for instance, can be mystifying: There doesn’t seem to be any way to turn off the bedside lights until you discover the tiny, almost hidden buttons up near their shades. There are also switches for the overheads right in the headboard, which makes it very easy to switch them on accidentally in your sleep.

Suites (322-982 sq. ft., including balcony) include minibars, bathtubs, and a small area with a cocktail table for intimate in-room dining. Ten Owner’s Suites measure 786 to 982 square feet and are located at the ship’s bow and stern, featuring wraparound balconies, queen-size beds, whirlpool bathtubs, minibars, living rooms, and guest bathrooms. Owners Suites, Vista Suites, and Penthouse Suites feature butler service. Concierge-class staterooms (in between regular cabins and suites) add some warm-and-fuzzy to the amenities, including a welcome bottle of champagne, complimentary shoeshine service, and a DVD player; priority embarkation, check-in, luggage delivery, and restaurant reservations; and additional bathroom amenities, such as massaging shower heads and luxury toiletries.

Three cabins are wheelchair accessible.

The main dining room is an elegant single-level space surrounded on three sides by windows. It’s spacious and understated, with simple wood-veneer wall panels, wall sconces, and teal carpeting. Tables seating between two and eight are available, though the smaller arrangements go fast. Just outside the maitre d’ station is a cozy bar area where you can have a pre-dinner cocktail while waiting for your dinner companions. The ship’s two specialty restaurants, the Polo Grill and Toscana, are both located in the stern on Deck 10, and are decorated to match their cuisine: woodsy, old-Hollywood decor in Polo and a bright white Mediterranean feel with Roman urns and reliefs in Toscana. The restaurants serve 96 and 90 guests, respectively. On Deck 9, the Terrace serves buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the latter out under the stars, with drink service, Spanish cuisine, and candles flickering in lovely hurricane lamps. It’s a very romantic spot if you can time your meal to the sunset.

Overall, Regatta presents an elegant yet homey appearance, with dark-wood paneling, fluted columns, ornate faux-iron railings, gilt-framed classical paintings, Oriental-style carpets, frilly moldings, marble and brass accents, and deep-hued upholstery, all contributing to a kind of “English inn at sea” look. In the bow, the spacious, woodsy Horizons lounge has floor-to-ceiling windows and brass telescopes on three sides. It’s used for dancing in the evenings and for various activities during the day. The 345-seat show lounge has cabaret and variety acts, musical recitals, magic shows, and comedy, and the smallish but comfortable casino allows for blackjack, poker tables, roulette, and slots. The attached Martini Bar has a ridiculously long martini list (some 30 recipes and an equal number of vodka choices) and is a very relaxing space in the pre-dinner hours, when a pianist plays standards. A jazz band performs here in the evenings.

Another notable space is the comfortable library, decorated in a traditional English style with warm red upholstery, mahogany paneling, a trompe l’oeil garden “skylight,” and marble faux fireplace.

The attractive teak Pool Deck, dotted with canvas umbrellas, has a pair of hot tubs plus a slew of deck chairs and large daybeds for sunbathing. The Patio, a shaded outdoor lounge located in the aft port corner of the Pool Deck, is furnished with thickly cushioned sofas, chairs, and daybeds. Drapes and general ambience add a hint of partition from the pool goings-on (not to mention shade), but you still feel like you’re in the action. For more privacy, passengers can rent one of eight private cabanas on Deck 11, each with privacy partitions and white drapes that can be drawn or left open, plus great sea views, a retractable shade roof, and a plush daybed built for two. They’re available either daily ($50 on port days, $100 on sea days) or for the entirety of your cruise, and come with the services of an attendant who provides food and beverage service, chilled towels, and water spritzes. Guests can also arrange to get massages and other spa treatments in their cabanas.

A small jogging track wraps around the deck immediately above the Pool Deck, while the fully equipped Canyon Ranch spa on Deck 9 offers a variety of treatments, including aromatherapy massages, hot-stone treatments, and various wraps and facials. Just forward of the spa there’s an outdoor hydrotherapy whirlpool overlooking the bow. A decent-size oceanview gym and beauty salon are attached.