The Regatta cruise liner got Oceania Cruises off to a good start in 2003: She is one of eight former Renaissance R ships. Her tonnage is 30,200 and passenger capacity is 684, with a European crew of 400. She sails with the almost identical Insignia and Nautica, and together they cover most of the globe.
Completed in 1988 as one of the original Renaissance octet, the Regatta has gradually been refitted to a higher standard since she came under the ownership of Oceania.
Most passengers are North American, and retired or nearly so, as most cruises aboard the Regatta are longer than the usual 7 days. The midsize capacity of this ship puts her in a unique position, as she is smaller than Holland America and Celebrity ships, the closest rivals. Tipping is billed at $11 a day, and those having access to a butler are charged $3 extra.
Like her siblings, the Regatta spends much of her time in Europe, split between mostly 14-day port-intensive cruises from Dover, southeast of London, and Stockholm, and 10- to 14-day Mediterranean trips. Most cruises have a port a day and just one full day at sea. Positioning cruises linking these regions call at ports in France, Portugal and Spain. In the fall, the Regatta crosses the Atlantic to Miami for some Caribbean cruises and trans-canals (Panama) to Los Angeles and back before returning to the Mediterranean. An enrichment program supports the shore excursions and the expensive rates.
The reception is elegant upon boarding and the main staircase recalls that in the film Titanic. The interior design is Edwardian English country-house-hotel with varying quality of materials but the effect is both homey and comfortable. The casino's adjacent bar lounge typifies the period atmosphere with dark-wood paneling, rich oriental carpets and heavy draperies, cushy sofas and chairs, decorative sconces and a marble fireplace. It's just the place to gather for a drink before or after dinner. High up, the Horizon Lounge, another favorite spot, is light-filled and with stunning wraparound views. A white-glove afternoon tea takes place every afternoon at sea. When first entering the library, one might immediately wish for a damp 
day to be able to squirrel away with a good book seated in a high-back chair facing the fireplace and beneath a raised ceiling featuring a painted tropical-bird setting. The open shelves contain an excellent selection of both fiction and non-fiction books and an honor system prevails. Additional places to roost are the card room, spa (three treatment rooms, steam room, beauty salon and fitness center) and the main show lounge for cabaret, orchestral concerts and jazz and blues. The pool, flanked by whirlpools and surrounded by lounge chairs, is small. Deck 10 sports a fitness track with new teak-style decking. Work-minded travelers get 24-hour Internet access at the Oceania@Sea business center, which also conducts classes in software applications.
Dining, with great food and service for the price, takes place in several locations. The Grand Dining Room has an entrance bar, sweeping ocean views aft, brocade-upholstered seating and a dome ceiling with frescoes. Chef Jacques Pepin designed the menu here and in the ship's other dining venues. Toscana specializes in creative Italian fare; Tapas on the Terraces cooks up Mediterranean-inspired cuisine; Polo Grill serves steaks and chops; and Waves offers casual poolside dining. The restaurants operate on an open-seating basis, and room service never stops.
The 342 cabins range in size from 150 (compact) to 216 sq ft and feature queen or twin beds, seating areas, vanities and small tables. Only 25 are interior and 232 have private teak balconies. The penthouse suites measure 322 sq ft and provide butler service. The 786- to 1,000-sq-ft vista suites have bedrooms and living and dining rooms, and they boast whirlpools. All of the suites and 60% of the staterooms feature private teak verandas and Oceania's branded Tranquility Beds. All accommodations have TVs with news channels, sports and movies.
Regatta, along with her sisters Insignia and Nautica, provide an extremely good value for money, with very good food and service, elegant furnishings and a casual dress atmosphere. The closet equivalent is Celebrity or perhaps Holland America, but their ships are considerably larger.
