Oceania Insignia

Launched in 1998 as R One, Oceania Insignia cruise ship is the first (and oldest) in the fleet of R-class liners, with sisterships Nautica,Regatta and Sirena (former Ocean Princess). Oceania ship Insignia will be drydock refurbished in 2018 (November-December) by the company's new OceaniaNEXT fleet renovation project (2019-2020).

History - construction and ownership

Oceania Cruises is a US company, and brand owned by NCL Norwegian (shipowner), Between April 2007 and September 2014, the company (as part of "Prestige Cruise Holdings") was owned by Apollo Management LP - one of the world's largest private investment equity funds. Since September 2014, Oceania and the sister company Regent Seven Seas Cruises are owned by NCL, acquired at the total cost of USD 3 billion. Oceania ships offer luxury cruises with relatively shorter itineraries, as well as Around The World voyages up to 180 days in length.

The 30,277-ton, 698-passenger cruise ship Insignia is currently back to Oceania Cruises. The concise history of ms Insignia includes the names of ms R One (1998-2003), ms Insignia (2004-2012) and ms Columbus 2 (2012-2014) as former names of a single passenger ship. Hapag-Lloyd decided not to renew Insignia's charter after 2014.

Cruise itinerary program

Insignia itinerary program is based on luxury World Cruises round-trip from Miami with various segments, Mediterranean itineraries, Asia cruises with departures from Singapore and Hong Kong, voyages in Australia and South Pacific, Panama Canal transits and Transatlantic repositioning crossings.

The first half of 2017 and 2018, ms Insignia will sail her 5th 'Around the World in 180 Days' cruise. 8 segments are available, including 20 days from Miami to Reykjavik via Greenland and 28 days from Rome to Montréal.

A 180-day world cruise is scheduled to depart March 1, 2019, aboard ms Insignia. Oceania Insignia will carry 684 passengers during the world cruise which covers over 83,000 km across 2 oceans, 5 continents and 16 seas.

• Travellers will visit 90 destinations in a total of 36 countries. For added flexibility, cruisers will be able to embark from New York, Miami or Los Angeles.
• The 180-day voyage will offer 14 overnight stays in cities including Bali, Hong Kong, Yangon, and Luxor. There will be shore excursions in Tokyo (Japan), Jerusalem (from Port Ashdod, Israel) and Bordeaux (France).

Cabins

Oceania Insignia has a total of 349 cabins (of which 49 Suite, 184 Balcony, 28 Inside rooms) in 16 grades. Most Insignia staterooms (66%) are 175-sq. foot Balcony rooms. The largest aboard Insignia is the Owner’s Suite (735 ft2).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Oceania guests take advantage of the flexibility of 4 open seating dining venues. The Grand Dining Room serves Continental cuisine. it is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Alternative, reservations-required options are Toscana, which offers gourmet Italian food, and the steak house Polo Grill. The buffet restaurant Terraces serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is transformed into "Tapas on the Terrace" at night for a relaxed atmosphere. All dining venues have bars, and there is no cover charge. In addition, a poolside grill offers hamburgers, sandwiches and salads at lunchtime. There is also a pizzeria in the buffet area. The observation lounge Horizons serves afternoon tea. Room service is available 24 hours.

Follows the complete list of Insignia restaurants and food bars.

• Grand Dining Room (complimentary 340-seat restaurant for open seating Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner; offers French-inspired dishes, and menus change daily)
• Waves Grill (casual dining fast-food bar; serves the pool deck area with made-to-order daily specialities and gelato ice cream)
• Terrace Cafe & Bar (casual buffet restaurant, complimentary; open for breakfast and lunch; features indoor and outdoor sitting areas; the Terrace Bar serves as a small pizzeria as well; the Terrace Cafe transforms into “Tapas On The Terrace” at night serving traditional Mediterranean cuisine)
• Toscana (96-seat Italian fine dining restaurant, dinner-only, reservations-only, complimentary; offers traditional Italian cuisine)
• Polo Grill (96-seat Steakhouse restaurant, complimentary; reservations required).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Insignia welcomes her guest in an amazing country club atmosphere while her cruises offer unforgettable adventurous experience. The mid-size of ms Insignia and the fact that she is non-crowded allows her guest to relax completely.

Follows the complete list of Insignia lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Insignia Lounge (main showroom/theatre for live evening entertainment and themed dancing parties; hosts daily trivia quizzes, lectures and presentations)
• The Casino (operates with USD bets; served by the Casino Bar)
• Martinis (a piano bar serving a variety of Martinis)
• Two Boutiques (duty-free perfumes, jewellery, Oceania-logo merchandise, clothes, gifts, convenience goods)
• Upper Hall lounge area (with grand piano for live performances; served by the Martinis Bar)
• Grand Bar (wine bar; hosts wine tastings; served by Baristas making complimentary illy beverages)
• Insignia Wellness Center (includes a Spa Terrace, Spa Whirlpool, Steam Rooms, Treatment Rooms, Styling Salon, Canyon Ranch Spa Club, Fitness/Gym, and Boardroom (cards playing and board games; Canyon Ranch Spa Club treatments include: Acupuncture, Ayurveda, Healing Energy, Body Wraps and Scrubs, Skin Care, Tanning, Massages and Exotic Treatments.)
• Oceania@Sea (24-hour Internet computers room; Private lessons/group classes are also provided)
• Pool area (with one swimming pool, two Whirlpools, sunbathing area and a Band Stand; served by the Waves Bar)
• The Patio (outdoor shaded lounge with chairs, daybeds, sofas)
• Horizons (Lounge & Bar served by the Horizons Bar; has floor-ceiling windows, live entertainment, full bar; also serves Afternoon Tea; becomes a nightclub at night)
• Fitness Track (Power Walking/Jogging Track); Promenade (Deck 5)
• The Library (1000+ books of which many port-destination guide books)
• Sun Deck (served by the Polo Bar; has sunloungers, showers, deck games - Shuffleboard, Golf Driving Net, 9-hole Mini-Golf putting greens).

Oceania Insignia cruise ship is the line's first and oldest vessel of the R-class (R stands for "Renaissance"). Her sisters in the fleet are the ships Nautica, Regatta and Sirena (Ocean Princess). Other vessels with this design are Azamara Journey, Azamara Pursuit and Azamara Quest (Azamara Club Cruises), Pacific Princess (Princess Cruises).

Oceania Cruises Insignia ship was ordered and operated as "R One" by Renaissance Cruises in the period 1998-2003. After the line's bankruptcy, the ship was bought and renamed "Insignia" (2004-2012). Between 2012 and 2014 she was operated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises as "Columbus 2".

On September 2, 2014, the NCL Norwegian company purchased the company "Prestige Cruise Holdings" (owner of Oceania and RSSC-Regent Seven Seas Cruises) for USD 3,025 billion, thus becoming the official owner of all vessels in both fleets.

In 2017, Insignia became the 3rd Oceania Cruises ship to visit Cuba - following the fleet mates Marina (2016) and Regatta (2017). In February 2017, the company announced the addition of 6 more (Insignia) cruises to Cuba from Miami Florida. Itineraries (ranging 6-13 days in length) were scheduled between November 14 and December 21 (2017). Four of those included Havana overnight stays. Oceania ships operated a variety of itineraries, including a circumnavigation of Cuba (with stops in ports Cienfuegos and Havana) and also visiting Cuba as part of some Panama Canal transition cruises.

The Apollo Group company provides all Oceania ships with the entire onboard hotel product and services. This includes administration, food staff (preparation and serving), housekeeping staff, also the vessel's provisioning and crewing. Other cruise lines served by Apollo are Thomson UK (Marella Cruises) and RSSC Regent Seven Seas.