Oceania Insignia

The 1998-built (as "R One") Oceania Insignia cruise ship is the first/oldest of the R-(Renaissance)-Class liners, with sisterships Nautica,Regatta and Sirena (former Ocean Princess). Oceania ship Insignia was drydock-refurbished in 2018 (November-December) by the company's OceaniaNEXT fleet renovation project (2019-2020).

History - construction and ownership

Oceania Cruises is a US passenger shipping company and luxury travel brand owned by NCLH-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 RSSC-Regent are owned by NCLH - 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 700-passenger 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 MS Insignia's charter after 2014.

Cruise itinerary program

Insignia itinerary program is based on luxury World Cruises roundtrip 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.

For 2022, the ship has planned a 180-day world cruise visiting 6 continents (44 countries, 43 islands, 91 ports, 68 UNESCO sites), 19 overnights. The Insignia ship will navigate in 4 oceans and 19 seas, with 22 time-zone crossings, 2 equator crossings.

Decks and Cabins

Oceania Insignia staterooms (349 total, in 16 grades) include 62 Suites, 170 Balcony, 89 Oceanview and 28 Inside cabins. Most staterooms (66%) are Balcony and sized 175 ft2 / 16 m2. Most cabin balconies are smaller (sized 45 ft2 / 4 m2). The largest are the Owners Suites (620 ft / 58 m2 plus 345 ft2 / 32 m2 terrace).

The boat has 11 decks, of which 9 passenger-accessible and 5 with cabins.

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 an unforgettable adventure travel 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, jewelry, 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 the Azamara fleetmates Azamara Journey, Azamara Pursuit, Azamara Quest, Azamara Onward (Pacific Princess).

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) 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.

Oceania World Cruise 2023 itinerary

In mid-January 2021 Oceania introduced its "2023 Around The World in 180 Days" voyage. General public bookings opened on January 27.

Leaving roundtrip from San Francisco CA (January 15, 2023), the Insignia ship has scheduled visits to 96 ports/destinations in 33 countries across 4 continents, 60+ UNESCO sites, overnights in 20 ports (South America, Africa, Asia, Alaska) and cruising in Antarctica. The Antarctic experience features 3 full days scenic cruising in the South Shetland Islands - including Half Moon Island and Admiralty Bay (King George Island) and Paradise Harbor (Graham Land).

All bookings on Oceania's World Cruise 2023 receive either 64 free shore excursions or a free USD 6400 per person OBC (shipboard credit) or a free beverage package. In addition to those inclusions, all bookings also receive Oceania's "Exclusive Prestige Package" with free perks like first-class roundtrip flights from various North American airports, pre-paid gratuities (up to USD 8200 pp), onboard medical care, unlimited WiFi Internet, laundry services, shoreside events, visa package, luggage delivery (Canadian and USA passengers), 1-night pre-cruise luxury hotel (in the embarkation port), roundtrip bus transfers (within 80 km / 50 mi from the embarkation port).

Oceania also offers the option for extending the Around The World cruise 2023 up to 218 days by adding the following segments:

• December 28, 2022 - 198-day from Miami to San Francisco
• December 28, 2022 - 214-day roundtrip from Miami
• December 28, 2022 - 218-day from Miami to NYC New York
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• January 15, 2023 - 180-day roundtrip from San Francisco
• January 15, 2023 - 200-day from San Francisco to NYC

Oceania World Cruise 2022 itinerary

For 2022, the ship has planned a 180-day world cruise visiting 6 continents (44 countries, 43 islands, 91 ports, 68 UNESCO sites), 19 overnights. The Insignia ship will navigate in 4 oceans and 19 seas, with 22 time-zone crossings and 2 equator crossings.

The world cruise on Insignia is from Los Angeles to NYC (January 6 through July 5, 2022) with prices from EUR 37540 pp (double-occupancy cabin rates).

Oceania World Cruise 2021 itinerary (CANCELLED)

For 2021, Oceania Cruises planned for the Insignia ship a 181-day World Voyage roundrip from the USA (Miami to NYC). Eventually, in early-October 2020, NCLH (shipowner and Oceania's parent company) cancelled the sailing due to the ongoing Coronavirus-related international travel restrictions.

181-day from Miami to NYC New York - prices from USD 87000 pp

Oceania World Cruise 2020 itinerary

194-day "Grand Expedition" roundtrip from Miami

In 2019, MS Insignia sailed her 5th "Around the World in 180 Days" cruise, available in 8 segments. It departed on March 1, 2019, covered 83,000+ km across 2 oceans and 16 seas, 5 continents, 90 ports/islands (36 countries). As embarkation ports were offered NYC-New York, Miami and Los Angeles. The voyage featured 14 overnights in port cities like Benoa, Hong Kong, Yangon and Luxor (from Safaga).