Oceania Nautica

The 2000-built (as "R Five") Oceania Nautica cruise ship is company's third R-class liner, with sisterships Regatta,Insignia and Sirena (former Ocean Princess). Oceania ship Nautica was drydock-refurbished in 2020 (June) by 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 Nautica keeps the strategy of Oceania Cruises to create an atmosphere far more remindful of an English country house hotel, not to a cruise vessel. There is an appropriate range of amenities, yet the ambience is comfortable and intimate. The decor is quite similar fleetwide, and all ships feature nice dining venues, Mandara Spa and a cyber lab. Nautica's crew members routinely rotate between the 3 vessels, so a returning cruiser on any of them is probably to recognize friendly faces.

Cruise itinerary program

Nautica itinerary program is based on luxury cruises to exotic destinations in Asia with departures from Singapore, Thailand and China, European voyages in the Mediterranean and Baltic, South Africa and Suez Canal repositioning transits.

Decks and Cabins

Oceania Nautica 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

Nautica 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 Nautica 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

Just as travellers approach the red carpet that snakes out onto the dock from the gangway of Nautica, they hear the strains of "When the Saints Come Marching In," by the ship's Orchestra, tucked up on Deck 5's promenade. A banner hung over the entrance greets "Welcome Home." All guests are offered fresh juices and hot towels. There is an immediate change in spirit as the cruisers stand up straighter, smile genuinely and shake off their weariness.

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

• Nautica 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)
• Nautica 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 Nautica cruise ship is the line's third vessel of the Renaissance/Regatta-class. Her sisters in the fleet are the Oceania ships Insignia, Regatta and Sirena (Ocean Princess). Regarding the marine vessel-class, Nautica is also related to the Azamara ships Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest, Azamara Onward (Pacific Princess), Azamara Pursuit (Adonia).

MS Nautica was ordered and operated as "R Five" by Renaissance Cruises in the period 2000-2003. After the Renaissance line's bankruptcy, Royal Caribbean (RCCL) bought the ship and transferred her to Pullmantur Cruises fleet (2004-2005). In 2005, after a major refurbishment, she was transferred to Oceania under her current name "ms Nautica".

Making the news as one of the world's most strange cruise ship accidents ever, in 2008 (Nov 30) the Oceania ship Nautica was attacked by Somalian pirates. It happened in the Gulf of Aden (Arabian Sea) en route from Safaga, Egypt to Salah, Oman. The ship was fired eight times but outran the attack without any injuries or damage.

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.

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.