Oceania Nautica

The 2000-built (as “R Five”) Oceania Nautica cruise ship is the fleet’s third R-Class liner, with sister ships Regatta,Insignia and Sirena (formerly Ocean Princess). Oceania ship Nautica was drydock-refurbished in June 2020 as part of the company’s OceaniaNEXT fleet renovation project (2019-2020).

The vessel (IMO number 9200938) is currently Marshall Islands/France-flagged (MMSI 538001665) and registered in Majuro.

History - construction and ownership

Oceania Cruises is a USA-based 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 equity investment funds.

Since September 2014, Oceania and its sister company RSSC-Regent have been owned by NCLH, acquired at a total cost of USD 3 billion.

Since January 2026, Oceania has operated as an adults-only cruise line and ocean travel brand.

Oceania ships offer luxury cruises with relatively shorter itineraries, as well as Around The World voyages of up to 180 days.

The 700-passenger ship Nautica follows Oceania Cruises’ strategy of creating an atmosphere more reminiscent of an English country house hotel than a cruise vessel. The range of amenities is well balanced, while the ambiance remains comfortable and intimate. The decor is largely consistent fleetwide, and all ships feature quality dining venues, Mandara Spa, and a cyber lab. Nautica’s crew members routinely rotate between the three vessels, so returning cruisers are likely to recognize familiar faces.

Decks and Cabins

Oceania Nautica staterooms (349 total, in 16 categories) include 62 Suites, 170 Balcony cabins, 89 Oceanview cabins (including 14 single-occupancy), and 28 Inside cabins. Most staterooms (66%) are Balcony cabins, sized at 175 ft2 / 16 m2. Most balconies are relatively small, measuring approximately 45 ft2 / 4 m2.

The largest accommodations are the Owner’s Suites (620 ft2 / 58 m2 plus a 345 ft2 / 32 m2 private terrace).

The ship has 11 decks, of which 9 are passenger-accessible and 5 contain cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Nautica guests enjoy the flexibility of four open-seating dining venues. The Grand Dining Room serves Continental cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Alternative, reservation-required venues include Toscana, offering gourmet Italian cuisine, and the steakhouse Polo Grill. The buffet-style Terraces serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and transforms in the evening into “Tapas on the Terrace” for a more relaxed atmosphere. All dining venues feature bars, and there are no cover charges. In addition, a poolside grill serves hamburgers, sandwiches, and salads at lunchtime, while a pizzeria operates within the buffet area. The observation lounge Horizons hosts afternoon tea, and room service is available 24 hours a day.

Below is the complete list of Nautica restaurants and food venues.

• Grand Dining Room (complimentary 340-seat restaurant with open seating for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; offers French-inspired cuisine with daily changing menus)
• Toscana (96-seat Italian fine dining restaurant, dinner-only, reservations required, complimentary; offers traditional Italian cuisine)
• Polo Grill (96-seat steakhouse restaurant, complimentary; reservations required)
• Red Ginger (feng shui-inspired Pan-Asian fusion specialty restaurant)

Red Ginger is a Pan-Asian specialty restaurant serving fusion cuisine and offering a five-course tasting menu (a-la-carte priced). Menu highlights include shareable platters for two to four guests (skewers, sushi, and tempura), soups (Tom Kha Gai, chili miso), salads (Spicy Duck and Watermelon Salad, Thai Beef Salad, Avocado Lobster Salad, BBQ Baby Back Rib Salad, Sesame Wakame Salad, Asian Greens), appetizers (Seared Salmon with Scallop Ceviche, Vietnamese Banh Trang Summer Rolls, Imperial Crispy Potato Roll, Vegetable Tempura, Caramelized Tiger Prawns, Crispy Ginger Calamari, Tuna Tataki, Chicken Satay, Sushi Chef’s Selection), and main courses. Main dishes include seafood (Miso Glazed Seabass, Sole Tempura, Lobster Pad Thai, Bay Scallop Trilogy, Red Snapper in Banana Leaf), vegetarian options (Thai Vegetable Curry, Stir-fried Udon Noodles), and meat dishes (Red Curry Chicken, Twice-cooked Crispy Chicken, Malaysian Beef Penang, Beef Teriyaki, Bulgogi Rib-eye Steak, Seven Spices Crusted Lamb Rack, Pork Luc Lac). Side dishes include Organic Steamed Brown Rice, Steamed Jasmine Rice, Red Ginger Stir-fried Rice, Stir-fried Udon Noodles, Broccoli with Shiitake Mushrooms, and Green Asparagus with White Miso Glaze. Fleetwide since 2026, Red Ginger’s menu also features 12 Nikkei dishes (Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine developed by master chef Gustavo Sugay), combining traditional Peruvian ingredients with Japanese culinary techniques.

Waves Grill is a casual fast-food venue serving the Pool Deck with made-to-order daily specialties and gourmet gelato or freshly made ice cream. The menu includes more than 20 items, such as burgers with fresh-made salads, coleslaw, hand-cut fries, Surf & Turf Wagyu Burger, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, and cold sandwiches. In the evenings, Waves Grill transforms into an alfresco pizzeria serving freshly baked pizzas, grilled Italian specialties, salads, rosemary focaccia with burrata, and desserts such as Nutella pizza.

Terrace Cafe & Bar is a complimentary casual buffet restaurant open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering both indoor and outdoor seating with changing menus. Terrace Bar also functions as a small pizzeria. In the evenings, Terrace Cafe transforms into “Tapas On The Terrace,” serving traditional Mediterranean cuisine. Once per cruise during dinner service, the Terrace Cafe also hosts an Indian Corner, featuring approximately 15 authentic Indian dishes.

The Lido Buffet’s Sushi Station offers approximately 45 recipes, including two types of sashimi, uramaki rolls, three varieties of nigiri, and a daily vegetarian sushi option.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

As travelers approach the red carpet extending from Nautica’s gangway onto the pier, they are greeted by the sound of “When the Saints Come Marching In,” performed by the ship’s orchestra positioned along Deck 5’s promenade. A banner above the entrance reads “Welcome Home,” while guests are offered fresh juices and hot towels. The atmosphere immediately changes as passengers relax, smile, and leave behind the fatigue of travel.

Below is the complete list of Nautica lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues.

• Nautica Lounge (main showroom and theater for live evening entertainment and themed dance parties; also hosts daily trivia quizzes, lectures, and presentations)
• The Casino (operates with USD wagers; served by the Casino Bar)
• Martinis (piano bar serving a wide selection of martinis)
• Two Boutiques (duty-free perfumes, jewelry, Oceania-branded merchandise, clothing, gifts, and convenience items)
• Upper Hall lounge area (features a grand piano for live performances; served by the Martinis Bar)
• Grand Bar (wine bar hosting wine tastings; served by Baristas offering complimentary illy beverages)
• Nautica Wellness Center (includes Spa Terrace, Spa Whirlpool, steam rooms, treatment rooms, styling salon, Canyon Ranch Spa Club, fitness center, and boardroom for card and board games; Canyon Ranch Spa Club treatments include acupuncture, Ayurveda, healing energy therapies, body wraps and scrubs, skin care, tanning, massages, and exotic treatments)
• Oceania@Sea (24-hour Internet computer room; private lessons and group classes available)
• Pool area (one swimming pool, two whirlpools, sunbathing area, and bandstand; served by the Waves Bar)
• The Patio (shaded outdoor lounge with chairs, daybeds, and sofas)
• Horizons (lounge and bar with floor-to-ceiling windows, live entertainment, and full bar service; also serves afternoon tea and transforms into a nightclub at night)
• Fitness Track (power walking and jogging track) and Promenade (Deck 5)
• The Library (over 1,000 books, including numerous port and destination guidebooks)
• Sun Deck (served by the Polo Bar; features sun loungers, showers, and deck games such as shuffleboard, a golf driving net, and a 9-hole mini-golf putting green)

Itineraries

MS Nautica’s itinerary program focuses on luxury voyages to exotic destinations in Asia, with departures from Singapore, Thailand, and China, as well as European itineraries in the Mediterranean and Baltic, South Africa, Suez Canal transits, and Transatlantic crossings (RepositionCruises.com).

Oceania Nautica cruise ship is the fleet’s third vessel of the Renaissance/Regatta class, with sister ships Insignia, Regatta and Sirena/Ocean Princess. Regarding her class, Nautica is also related to the Azamara ships Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest, Azamara Onward and Azamara Pursuit.

The vessel (built at Chantiers de l’Atlantique, hull number R5-P31) is powered by four Wartsila marine diesel engines (model 12V32) with a combined output of 13.5 MW. The registered shipowner is NCL BAHAMAS LTD, while the current ship manager is NAUTICA ACQUISITION LLC.

The vessel was delivered on January 27, 2000. MS Nautica was ordered and initially operated as “R Five” by Renaissance Cruises during the period 2000-2003. Following Renaissance’s bankruptcy, Royal Caribbean/RCCL acquired the vessel and transferred her to Pullmantur’s fleet (2004-2005). In 2005, after a major refurbishment, she was transferred to Oceania and entered service under her current name, “MS Nautica.”

The ship’s namesake is STENA LINE’s 1986-built cruiseferry Stena Nautica.

In one of the world’s most unusual cruise ship incidents, on November 30, 2008, Oceania ship Nautica was attacked by Somali pirates. The incident occurred in the Gulf of Aden (Arabian Sea) while the vessel was en route from Egypt to Oman (Safaga to Salalah). The ship was fired upon eight times but successfully outran the attackers without sustaining injuries or damage.

On September 2, 2014, NCLH-Norwegian purchased Prestige Cruise Holdings (owner of Oceania and RSSC-Regent Seven Seas) for USD 3.025 billion, becoming the official owner of all vessels in both fleets.

The Apollo Group company provides all Oceania ships with the complete onboard hotel product and services. This includes administration, food and beverage staff (preparation and service), housekeeping personnel, as well as vessel provisioning and crewing. Other cruise lines served by Apollo include Thomson UK (Marella Cruises) and RSSC-Regent.

Oceania Nautica was last drydocked in June 2024 (June 19-28, at Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam) for routine maintenance and classification works, as well as extensive interior upgrades and selected machinery improvements.

Oceania Nautica refurbishment 2022 review

Nautica’s OceaniaNEXT refurbishment was originally scheduled for June 8-21, 2020, at CNM – Chantier Naval de Marseille (Marseille, France). Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the drydocking was postponed and ultimately carried out in 2022.

The following changes were planned for this project:

• New public spaces, including an open-floor-design Lobby with a Reception Hall (lower level) and an Upper Hall (second level), connected by a Grand Staircase with decorative railings and balustrades, and featuring a large crystal chandelier with hand-painted glass elements.
• The Grand Dining Room (aft on Deck 5) received new premium dining furniture (leather chairs with metallic bronze threading) and a new crystal chandelier.
• Martinis (the piano bar lounge on Deck 5) was redesigned, with the addition of a silver-white marble bar top and walnut paneling.
• All staterooms were completely overhauled, redesigned and refurnished, and upgraded with custom-made furniture, polished wood and stone finishes, designer accessories, smart HDTVs (interactive infotainment systems with movies on demand and Internet access), USB ports and LED lighting.
• All cabin bathrooms were refurbished with new tiling, surfaces, fixtures, designer accessories, vanities and glass shower enclosures.
• Penthouse, Vista and Owner Suite bathrooms were enlarged and upgraded with Carrara marble, onyx and polished granite surfaces.

Oceania’s 2018-2022 refurbishment projects (covering Insignia, Nautica, Regatta and Sirena) cost the company approximately USD 100 million.

Oceania Nautica refurbishment 2016 review

Deck plan changes following the 2016 drydock (Marseille, April 24-May 16) included:

• All passenger cabins received new décor, furnishings and luxury fabrics.
• All cabin bathrooms were upgraded with oversized showers. Owner and Vista Suite bathrooms received new vanities made of onyx and granite.
• Penthouse Suites were remodeled to a standard similar to that of the Marina and Riviera ships.
• The “Horizons” bar lounge (Deck 10) received new color schemes and furnishings.
• All lounges were renovated with new carpeting, chairs and premium fabrics and upholstery.
• The “Martinis” bar lounge (Deck 5) and the Lido Pool area (Deck 9) received new furnishings.
• The ship’s Spa complex (Deck 9) was remodeled with two new steam rooms, while locker rooms were redecorated with custom-made tiles and mosaics.
• The Terrace Cafe (buffet on Deck 9 aft) was redecorated, and the Terrace Grill station was added, similar to those on Marina and Riviera.
• The Grand Bar (Deck 5) received Barista coffee machines, and the amenities were upgraded with complimentary illy coffees and gourmet desserts.
• New deck games were added on Deck 11, including shuffleboard and a 9-hole mini-golf putting green.

Oceania’s 2016 drydocking projects (covering Nautica, Insignia and Regatta) cost the company approximately USD 50 million.