Oceania Sirena

The 1999-built (as "R-Four") Oceania Sirena cruise ship is an R-class vessel with sisterships Regatta, Insignia and Nautica. Until 2016, the boat was part of Princess Cruises fleet under the name "Ocean Princess". Oceania Cruises Sirena ship was drydock-refurbished in 2019 (May) by the OceaniaNEXT fleet renovation project (2019-2020).

The vessel (IMO number 9187899) is currently Marshall Islands/France-flagged (MMSI 538006842) and registered in Majuro.

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 a 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 Sirena was scheduled for a 35-day refurbishment in Marseille, France in March 2016, which cost around USD 40 million. The new Oceania ship Sirena was transformed just like her R-Class sisters to feature renowned speciality restaurants and the line’s latest “luxury cruising” inventions – the Baristas service and the Terrace Cafe (cook-to-order grill).

Decks and Cabins

Oceania Sirena staterooms (349 total, in 16 grades) include 62 Suites, 170 Balcony, 89 Oceanview (including 14 single-occupancy) 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 accommodations are the Owners Suites (620 ft / 58 m2 plus 345 ft2 / 32 m2 terrace).

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

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Sirena 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.

The Sirena ship offers a new bistro-style concept. At lunch, the Dining Room is transformed into the “Jacques Bistro” serving an exclusive menu with signature dishes by Oceania’s executive chef Jacques Pepin.

Follows the complete list of Sirena 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)
• Toscana (96-seat Italian fine dining restaurant, dinner-only, reservations-only, complimentary; offers traditional Italian cuisine)
• Red Ginger (feng shui Asia speciality restaurant with a 5-course “tasting” and a la carte menu)
• Polo Grill (96-seat Steakhouse restaurant, complimentary; reservations required)
• In October 2015, Oceania announced its plan to combine the Toscana and Polo Grill speciality restaurants into a new venue - “Tuscan Steak”, with quality wood paneling decorated with platinum and silver. The gourmet dinner menu of the new restaurant includes items, such as “Bistecca alla Fiorentina”, “Maine Lobster & Shrimp Fra Diavol”, “Tuscan Porterhouse Steak”, and the signature pork chops of Oceania Cruises “Iberico de Bellota”. At the entrance, there is a wine cellar with a selection of fine wines.

Waves Grill is a casual fast-food bar serving the Pool Deck with made-to-order daily specialties and gourmet gelato/fresh-made ice cream. On offer are 20+ items, including burgers with sides of fresh-made salads, coleslaw, hand-cut fries, Surf & Turf Wagyu Burger, Philly Cheesesteak (hot sandwich) and cold sandwiches. In the evenings, Waves Grill transforms into an alfresco Pizzeria serving fresh-backed pizzas, grilled Italian specialties, salads, rosemary focaccia with burrata, and desserts like Nutella pizza.

Terrace Cafe & Bar is a complimentary, casual buffet restaurant open for Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner (daily changing menus), with both indoor and outdoor sitting. Terrace Bar also doubles as a small Pizzeria. In the evenings, Terrace Cafe transforms into "Tapas On The Terrace" restaurant serving traditional Mediterranean food. During dinner service, once per cruise, at Terrace Cafe opens the Indian Corner (themed food station offering 15 authentic Indian dishes).

Lido Buffet's Sushi Station offers 45 recipes, including two kinds of sashimi and uramaki, and three of nigiri, plus a daily vegetarian sushi.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

MS Sirena welcomes her first passengers in 2016 Summer with every luxury one may expect onboard Oceania’s mid-sized ships. She features open-seating restaurants, eight lounges and bars, casino, world-class wellness center.

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

• Sirena 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)
• Baristas Grand (Coffee Bar)
• Sirena 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)
• 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).

Itineraries

MS Sirena's itinerary program is based on European voyages (in the Mediterranean and Baltic-UK), Transatlantic repositioning crossings (between Europe and NYC-New York - Miami Florida), Panama Canal transits, Caribbean (roundtrips from Bridgetown Barbados and Aruba).

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the Oceania ship Sirena was paused for 2 years (March 2020 through 2022), restarting operations on March 29th with a 14-day Transatlantic crossing (RepositionCruises.com) from Bridgetown to Barcelona.

Oceania Cruises Sirena ship ("Ocean Princess" until 2016) was built under the name R Four, as one of the R-class vessels acquired from the fleet of the defunct Renaissance Cruises. In April 2016, the new ship joined her R-Class sisters (and current fleetmates) Insignia, Nautica and Regatta. From this "Renaissance-class" are also the Azamara ships Journey, Pursuit, Quest, Onward (Pacific Princess).

The vessel was initially owned by a group of French investors and operated by the Renaissance cruise line company. Renaissance bankrupted in 2001, and Princess Cruises purchased two of its vessels - Ocean and Pacific. First, they renamed the "R Four" ship to "Tahitian Princess" and later to "Ocean Princess".

The boat was delivered to Oceania in March 2016. It was purchased from its previous owner Carnival Corp for USD 82 million and underwent a 35-day long drydock refurbishment in France (Marseille) at the cost of UD $50 million before entering Oceania's fleet.

The name "Sirena" means "mermaid" in Spanish. The ship was transformed from "Princess" to "Oceania" with both new and traditional touches, including the addition of the Italian seafood/steakhouse restaurant Tuscan Steak (in the place of Toscana and Polo Grill restaurants), the Asian restaurant Red Ginger, also Terrace Cafe and the popular Baristas bar.

In December 2015, Claudine Pepin (TV host, cookbook author, daughter of master chef Jacques Pepin) was announced as godmother for MS Sirena. Jacques Pepin is also Oceania Cruises' Executive Culinary Director. The naming ceremony was held on April 27, 2016, in Barcelona. The traditional bottle smashing failed the first time (considered very bad luck for the ship), but the "Moet & Chandon Champagne" bottle was utterly smashed in the ship's hull on the second try. Following the christening, the godmother and her famous father sailed on the Inaugural Cruise, featuring themed onboard events (including cooking demonstrations and cookbook singing). All guests booked on the maiden voyage received a complimentary copy of Claudine Pepin's book "Let's Cook French".

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.

Inaugural itineraries 2016

MS Sirena's itinerary program (for Oceania) started in April 2016, with an inaugural season in Europe (Mediterranean Sea). Follows the list of special and repositioning cruise itineraries with ports of call times and suggestive Euro prices per person:

• April 27 (Inaugural cruise / "Maiden Voyage" for Oceania) 14 day Barcelona to Venice - from €4000 - ports of call Marseille, Monte Carlo, St Tropez, Elba, Rome, Positano, Messina, Malta, Kotor, Split, Koper
• September 20 (28-day Transatlantic crossing) Barcelona to New York - from €5600
• October 4 (14-day Transatlantic) Barcelona to New York - from €2160
• October 4 (24-day Transatlantic) Barcelona to New York - from €4560 - Alicante, Almeria, Cadiz, Madeira, Bermuda/Hamilton
• October 28 (28 day) New York to Miami - from €5680 - Bermuda (Hamilton), St Barthelemy, St Lucia, Tobago, Amazon River cruise (Brazil - Santarem, Boca da Valeria, Manaus, Parintins), Cayenne/Devil's Island, Barbados, Martinique, BVI (Virgin Gorda), Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic (La Romana)
• November 25 (16 day Panama Canal transition) Miami to Los Angeles - from GBP 3050 - Great Stirrup Cay, Cartagena, Golfito, Puntarenas, Corinto, Puerto Quetzal, Acapulco, Cabo, San Diego

Cuba cruises from Miami 2018

For 2018 Caribbean season (April-June and September-December) Oceania Cruises Sirena ship had scheduled a total of 15 roundtrip Miami Florida itineraries (7-10-days) visiting ports in Cuba (Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Cienfuegos). The longer itineraries also visited ports in the Bahamas (including Great Stirrup Cay Island).

Each Cuban voyage featured a wide array of traditional Cuban dishes, as well as expert-led onboard lectures themed on the country's history, art and music.

Next table shows a 7-day round-trip itinerary (themed "Timeless Cuba") with prices starting from USD 3400 pp (double occupancy Inside cabin rates).

Oceania Sirena refurbishment 2019 review

Sirena ship's OceaniaNEXT refurbishment 2019 (May 5-18, at CNM-Chantier Naval de Marseille in Marseille France) resulted in the following changes.

• New public spaces include open-floor design Lobby with Reception Hall (lower level) and Upper Hall (2nd level). They are connected via Grand Staircase (decorated with railings and balustrades) and feature a large crystal chandelier (with hanging pieces of hand-painted glass).
• Grand Dining Room (aft on Deck 5) received new premium dining furniture (leather chairs with metallic bronze threading) and new crystal chandelier.
• Martinis (piano bar lounge on Deck 5) was redesigned, new silver-white marble bar top and walnut paneling were added.
• All staterooms were completely overhauled (redesigned and refurnished) and upgraded with custom-made furniture, polished wood, stone finishes, designer accessories, smart HDTVs (interactive / infotainment system with movies-on-demand and Internet), USB ports, LED lighting.
• All cabin bathrooms were overhauled and received new tiling, surfaces, fixtures, designer accessories, vanities, glass shower enclosures.
• Penthouse-Vista-Owner suite bathrooms were enlarged and upgraded with Carrara marble, onyx and polished granite tops.

Oceania's 2018-2022 refurbishment projects (ships Insignia, Nautica, Regatta, Sirena) cost the company ~USD 100 million.

Oceania Sirena refurbishment 2016 review

MS Sirena's 2016 drydock refurbishment (35-day refit, March-April, in Marseille) cost ~USD 50 million.

The remodeled ship had all its outdoor deck spaces and cabin balconies covered with top-quality teak and features custom-made tiles, luxury china (Villeroy&Boch), silver flatware (Christofle) and crystal (Riedel), plus the traditional for all Oceania vessels large collection of artworks displayed throughout the ship.

• During the drydock, all Owners and Vista suite accommodations were updated with colorful artwork, plush carpeting, dark walnut furniture finishes.
• All Owners Suites received custom-made furnishings, Oceania's signature luxury beds, renovated bathrooms, teak balconies.
• All Vista Suites had their bathrooms upgraded with marble touches and teak balconies.
• All cabins were renovated with new furnishings, luxury bedding, artworks.
• Suite categories Owner-Penthouse-Vista were redesigned and upgraded with marble bathrooms with larger showers.

Following the 2016 refurbishment, MS Sirena also introduced 2 new specialty restaurants - Tuscan Steak (Italian seafood and steakhouse restaurant on deck 10) and Jacques Bistro (gourmet lunch venue on deck 5, with signature dishes by chef Jacques Pepin).

Ocean Princess ship review

Follows the table with information regarding the previously named "MS Ocean Princess" vessel.

• Last refurbished 2012
• MMSI number 310505000
• Callsign code ZCDS4
• Flag State (registered in) Bermuda
• Christened by three godparents (Ali McGraw, Ryan O'Neal, Tonita Flosse)
• Passenger decks: 9
• Cabin grades number: 25
• Total number of cabins: 338 (of which 62 Suites, 170 balcony rooms)
• Dining Rooms: Club Restaurant
• Restaurants and food bars: Sterling (steakhouse), Sabatini’s (Italian), Panorama (buffet), Pizzeria
• Lounges & Bars: Cabaret (theatre), Tahitian (nightclub), Club Bar, poolside bars
• Casino, Library, Art Gallery, Lotus Spa, Swimming Pools (2 -Main pool, Thalasso pool, Jacuzzis (3), Golf cage, Jogging track, Shuffleboard nets, Beauty salon, Sauna.

This Princess cruise ship had a bit more godparents than usual - Madame Tonita Flosse (First Lady of French Polynesia at the time) and Ali McGraw and Ryan O'Neal (stars of the 1970 movie "Love Story").

Fun fact is that the P&O Oceana was operated under the same name (Ocean Princess) in the period 2000-2002.

In 2014, the vessel was purchased by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings from Carnival Corporation for USD 82 million. The USD 24 million were paid in cash in November 2014. The other USD 66 million was the "Sirena loan" - provided to NCLH by Carnival Corp (running through Nov 2019) at an annual interest rate of 2,75%.

Princess Cruises Ocean Princess itinerary program offered a diverse set of exotic itineraries with departures from UK, USA (Florida and California ports), from South Africa (Cape Town), Asia (Singapore) and Australia (Sydney). The ship also operated on World Cruise tours leaving from UK and Australia.

The last Ocean Princess itinerary was the 64-day around South America cruise (January 3 - March 7). The itinerary included the following ports - Miami, Florida (3 Jan), Philipsburg, St. Maarten (6 Jan), Roseau, Dominica (7 Jan), Bridgetown, Barbados (8 Jan), Trinidad, Tobago (9 Jan), Iles Du Salut, French Guiana (11 Jan), Natal, Brazil (15 Jan), Rio De Janeiro, Brazil (19 Jan, 20 Jan), Ilhabela, Brazil (21 Jan), Santos (Sao Paulo), Brazil (22 Jan), Montevideo, Uruguay (25 Jan), Buenos Aires, Argentina (26 Jan, 27 Jan), Puerto Madryn, Argentina (30 Jan), Port Stanley, Falkland Islands (1 Feb), Ushuaia, Argentina (3 Feb), Cape Horn, Chile (4 Feb), Punta Arenas, Chile (6 Feb), Puerto Chacabuco, Chile (9 Feb), Puerto Montt, Chile (11 Feb), Valparaiso, Chile (13 Feb), Coquimbo, Chile (14 Feb), Arica, Chile (16 Feb), Pisco, Peru (18 Feb), Callao, Peru (19 Feb, 20 Feb), Salaverry, Peru (21 Feb), Guayaquil, Ecuador (23 Feb), Puntarenas, Costa Rica (26 Feb), Panama Canal (transit 28 Feb), Santa Marta, Colombia (1 Mar), Willemstad, Curacao (3 Mar), Miami, Florida (7 Mar).