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If circling the world in 80 days inspired a classic novel that spawned a five-time Oscar-winning film and work, a hit song, and a television series, what does circling the globe in 180 days inspire?
If you’re free from mid-January to mid-July 2024 and have a couple vacation budgets in the low six figures, you can find your inner Jules Verne on the next long-booked Oceania cruise out of Southern California. Two years.
Embarking in San Pedro and disembarking in New York City, the sleek 684-passenger Insignia will make 98 calls to ports on six continents, barring viral and non-viral surprises. As bucket lists go, this itinerary checks off more boxes than a UPS driver on a busy day. Call it “Earth’s Greatest,” with special stops that include, in order, French Polynesia, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Bali, the Philippines, Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, India, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Israel, Greece. Italy, Spain, France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Denmark, Iceland and Greenland.
Making this dream trip even sweeter, in addition to the tempting display of delicacies on board, 55 scheduled sea days is one of the best cruise lines in the highest premium category. This class of cruises is meant to be a step below the category shared by the celebrity and princess and Regent Seven Seas, Silversea and others in the next highest echelon of luxury.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings prides itself on sailing boutique ships that offer high-end Oceania boutique itineraries. Another marketing pillar is the standard food that keeps Oceania’s loyal followers away from its closest competitors, Azamara and Windstar.
Indeed, Oceania makes many long distance calls to destinations often not listed with other lines. Cochin? Kao-hsing? Mayotte? Stornoway? Never heard of them. When it comes to company meals, no brand spends more on a passenger meal than Oceania. Or so they say.
Well, having eaten 33 meals and eight snacks on a recent 11-night “Holy Land Explorer” cruise from Malta to Israel, this floating foodie can testify that the cruise line puts its money where its mouth is. Despite supply chain issues that have prompted passengers to lower expectations since cruises returned due to the coronavirus, much of the food served on MS Nautica was good, with every meal down to the freshly baked artisan bread.
Speaking of dough, though they vary from the baked to the fancy, if over $100K couples fancy a vacation, not to mention a half-year commitment to circumnavigate the globe in 180 days, Oceania has loaded cruise ships. All shapes and sizes until 2024. Many will lift anchor from LA Harbor’s World Cruise Center, so talk about convenience.
A few sailings out of San Pedro are 7-night cruises aboard MS Regatta’s sister ship, Nautica, which was built in 1998 and is the largest of Oceania’s six-ship fleet. The first two of these Southern California cruises – on May 4 and 11 – make a mandatory international stop in Ensenada, Mexico before visiting San Francisco, Monterey and Santa Barbara. On September 20, the regatta heads to Catalina Island, San Francisco and Ensenada before returning to LA. The September 27 trip goes to Ensenada, San Francisco and Santa Barbara. Another weeklong voyage scheduled to depart San Pedro, again at Regatta, September 26, 2024, will touch Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Francisco, and Ensenada, a Civil War era maritime law.
Other SoCal-cruising cruises on Oceania’s bi-annual docket make stops in Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney and Vancouver, and yes, the Workhorse Regatta is being asked to put more nautical miles on those sails. Coming to Regatta Rescue on one cruise each from San Pedro will be the MS Insignia, Regatta and Nautica’s younger sister, and the 1,200-passenger MS Vista, which will be Oceania’s new flagship and debut when it launches in early spring. Two planned Alura class ships.
San Francisco is the only other California port where passengers will board Oceania cruises over the next two years. The longest of the five planned itineraries starting from the Bay Area is an enviable 200-night trip, unlike the aforementioned 180-night one from LA in 2024 that goes through the Panama Canal.
Experience Oceania
Guests sailing with Oceania will be up north, well off and brand loyal over the age of 60. In fact, only 90 of the 503 Nautica aboard the Mediterranean recently were reported to be first-timers in Oceania. A couple on board said they were on the 11th Oceania cruise and any talk of sailing on another line was considered an insult. “Affordable luxury,” “exclusive itineraries” and “perfectly sized ships” await as loyal Oceania Club members.
Another plus with Oceania is the freedom. Dinner time, for example, is anytime and anywhere in the open-air Grand Dining Room. Depending on which menus are on the cruise line’s 14-day cycle, winning entrée choices include beef wellington, prime rib, chermoula butter-fried Maine lobster and any Indian. Each evening the main dining room offers a four-course healthy, international and wine-paired menu that can be mixed and matched. The lunchtime menu features French fare created by head chef Jacques Pepin.
Food served in the Grand Dining Room is reflected in the Terrace Cafe, a buffet restaurant called Oceania. As with all broadcasts, the area for guests to check in and see crew members is hampered by a layout that begs for efficiency on regatta class ships.
A wide choice at breakfast and lunch is the nearby Waves Grill, home of decent hamburgers and hot dogs, great Cuban sandwiches and fried mahi mahi, but the worst corned beef at sea. It’s too salty, and what do they have when they hash the meat for a sandwich? All is forgiven Poolside restaurant Ice cream fountain with a delicious selection including a daily guest. Never had a scoop of potato chips or toast and jam? Here’s your chance. Even better — or worse for Weight Watchers — are the custom-made malts and milkshakes, both delicious and at no extra charge.
Also included in the fare are the two specialty restaurants on regatta class ships. Likewise, Polo Grill for steaks, chops and fresh seafood, and Toscana, which, as the name suggests, serves Italian cuisine with a Tuscan flavor. Reservations are suggested, as are the roasted beetroot with garlic goat cheese, oysters Rockefeller, and surf and polo, and the caprese salad with buffalo mozzarella and the not-so-spicy Aragosta FRA Diavolo, one of two dishes at least at Nautica the other week, thanks to the talents of executive chef Michal Jagielski. It really showed. Another melt-in-your-mouth short ribs served during a cruise in Mykonos, Greece.
Speaking of parties, there’s at least one every night, and it’s seeded by four soul singers, two dancers and a band. Stage shows are modest compared to those on larger ships, but who needs elaborate sets when you’ve got the timeless music of ABBA, Broadway, the Beatles and Motown? Each ocean cruise usually features soloists and comedians performing two sets before departure, leaving the resident talent, piano and string trio, to entertain passengers at midnight.
A key part of any cruise line to far-flung destinations, shore excursions are superbly organized and well-timed. Especially for Oceania newbies, it’s best to book in advance as the line’s patrons are active to say the least. About 70% of Oceania’s guests book tours weeks in advance, waiting for the ship to make a trip as they board the cabo instead of the dolphins.
Oceania Cruises can be reached at oceaniacruises.com or by calling 855-623-2642.
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