Canada's most diverse metropolis, Montréal, is an island city that favors style and elegance over order or even prosperity, a city where past and present intrude on each other daily. In some ways it resembles Vienna—well past its peak of power and glory, perhaps, yet still vibrant and grand.But don't get the wrong idea. Montréal has always had a bit of an edge. During Prohibition, thirsty Americans headed north to the city on the St. Lawrence for booze, music, and a good time, and people still come for the same things. Summer festivals celebrate everything from comedy and French music and culture to beer and fireworks, and, of course, jazz. And on those rare weeks when there isn't a planned event, the party continues. Clubs and sidewalk cafés are abuzz from late afternoon to the early hours of the morning. And Montréal is a city that knows how to mix it up even when it's 20 below zero. Rue St-Denis is almost as lively on a Saturday night in January as it is in July, and the festival Montréal en Lumière, or Montréal Highlights, enlivens the dreary days of February with concerts, balls, and fine food.Montréal takes its name from Parc du Mont-Royal, a stubby plug of tree-covered igneous rock that rises 764 feet above the surrounding cityscape. Although its height is unimpressive, "the Mountain" forms one of Canada's finest urban parks, and views from the Chalet du Mont-Royal atop the hill provide an excellent orientation to the city's layout and major landmarks.Old Montréal is home to museums, the municipal government, and the magnificent Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Montréal within its network of narrow, cobblestone streets. Although Montréal's centre-ville, or Downtown, bustles like many other major cities on the surface, it's active below street level as well, in the so-called Underground City–-the underground levels of shopping malls and food courts connected by pedestrian tunnels and the city's subway system, or métro. Residential Plateau Mont-Royal and trendy neighborhoods are abuzz with restaurants, nightclubs, art galleries, and cafés. The greener areas of town are composed of the Parc du Mont-Royal and the Jardin Botanique.
Québec City's alluring setting atop Cape Diamond (Cap Diamant) evokes a past of high adventure, military history, and exploration. This French-speaking capital city is the only walled city north of Mexico. Visitors come for the delicious and inventive cuisine, the remarkable historical continuity, and to share in the seasonal exuberance of the largest Francophone population outside France.The historic heart of this community is the Old City (Vieux-Québec), comprising the part of Upper Town (Haute-Ville) surrounded by walls and Lower Town (Basse-Ville), which spreads out at the base of the hill from Place Royale. Many sets of staircases and the popular funicular link the top of the hill with the bottom. Cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and elaborate cathedrals here are charming in all seasons. The Old City earned recognition as an official UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985, thanks largely to city planners who managed to update and preserve the 400-year-old buildings and attractions without destroying what made them worth preserving. The most familiar icon of the city, Fairmont Château Frontenac, is set on the highest point in Upper Town, where it holds court over the entire city.Sitting proudly above the confluence of the St. Lawrence and St. Charles rivers, the city's famous military fortification, La Citadelle, built in the early 19th century, remains the largest of its kind in North America. In summer, visitors should try to catch the Changing of the Guard, held every morning at 10 am; you can get much closer to the guards here than at Buckingham Palace in London.Enchanting as it is, the Old City is just a small part of the true Québec City experience. Think outside the walls and explore St-Roch, a downtown hot spot, which has artsy galleries, foodie haunts, and a bustling square. Cruise the Grande-Allée and avenue Cartier to find a livelier part of town dotted with nightclubs and fun eateries. Or while away the hours in St-Jean-Baptiste, a neighborhood with trendy shops and hipster hangouts.
Just after visiting Saguenay, the wonderful Saguenay River pours into the massive St. Lawrence River. Before then, however, it slices through one of the world's most southerly fjords and dense forests of towering pine trees. The nature watching here is nothing short of sublime, with outdoor spots like the Parc National du Fjord-du-Saguenay offering panoramic vistas and sandy river-beaches. Island-sized blue whales cruise through the waters of the mighty rivers, and flick gallons of water into the air effortlessly with a single swish of their colossal tails. With hiking, kayaking and cycling opportunities inviting you to explore the spectacular scenery - you'll find endless ways to fall in love with this majestic outdoor escape. In fall, gorgeous colours ripple through the foliage, and in doing so, they provide one of nature's greatest performances.
Just after visiting Saguenay, the wonderful Saguenay River pours into the massive St. Lawrence River. Before then, however, it slices through one of the world's most southerly fjords and dense forests of towering pine trees. The nature watching here is nothing short of sublime, with outdoor spots like the Parc National du Fjord-du-Saguenay offering panoramic vistas and sandy river-beaches. Island-sized blue whales cruise through the waters of the mighty rivers, and flick gallons of water into the air effortlessly with a single swish of their colossal tails. With hiking, kayaking and cycling opportunities inviting you to explore the spectacular scenery - you'll find endless ways to fall in love with this majestic outdoor escape. In fall, gorgeous colours ripple through the foliage, and in doing so, they provide one of nature's greatest performances.
Newfoundland's fourth-largest city, Corner Brook is the hub of the island's west coast. Hills fringe three sides of the city, which has dramatic views of the harbor and the Bay of Islands. The town is also home to a large paper mill and a branch of Memorial University. Captain James Cook, the British explorer, charted the coast in the 1760s, and a memorial to him overlooks the bay.The town enjoys more clearly defined seasons than most of the rest of the island, and in summer it has many pretty gardens. The nearby Humber River is the best-known salmon river in the province, and there are many kilometers of well-maintained walking trails in the community.
If you come directly to Cape Breton via plane, ferry, or cruise ship, Sydney is where you’ll land. If you’re seeking anything resembling an urban experience, it’s also where you’ll want to stay: after all, this is the island’s sole city. Admittedly, it is not the booming center it was a century ago when the continent’s largest steel plant was located here (that era is evoked in Fall on Your Knees, an Oprah Book Club pick penned by Cape Bretoner Anne-Marie MacDonald). However, Sydney has a revitalized waterfront and smattering of Loyalist-era buildings that appeal to visitors. Moreover, it offers convenient access to popular attractions in the region—like the Miner’s Museum in nearby Glace Bay (named for the glace, or ice, that filled its harbor in winter), the Fortress at Louisbourg, and beautiful Bras d'Or Lake.
Surrounded by natural treasures and glorious seascapes, Halifax is an attractive and vibrant hub with noteworthy historic and modern architecture, great dining and shopping, and a lively nightlife and festival scene. The old city manages to feel both hip and historic. Previous generations had the foresight to preserve the cultural and architectural integrity of the city, yet students from five local universities keep it lively and current. It's a perfect starting point to any tour of the Atlantic provinces, but even if you don't venture beyond its boundaries, you will get a real taste of the region.It was Halifax’s natural harbor—the second largest in the world after Sydney, Australia’s—that first drew the British here in 1749, and today most major sites are conveniently located either along it or on the Citadel-crowned hill overlooking it. That’s good news for visitors because this city actually covers quite a bit of ground.Since amalgamating with Dartmouth (directly across the harbor) and several suburbs in 1996, Halifax has been absorbed into the Halifax Regional Municipality, and the HRM, as it is known, has around 415,000 residents. That may not sound like a lot by U.S. standards, but it makes Nova Scotia’s capital the most significant Canadian urban center east of Montréal.There's easy access to the water, and despite being the focal point of a busy commercial port, Halifax Harbour doubles as a playground, with one of the world's longest downtown boardwalks. It's a place where container ships, commuter ferries, cruise ships, and tour boats compete for space, and where workaday tugs and fishing vessels tie up beside glitzy yachts. Like Halifax as a whole, the harbor represents a blend of the traditional and the contemporary.
Like any seaport worth its salt, Saint John is a welcoming place but, more than that, it is fast transforming into a sophisticated urban destination worthy of the increasing number of cruise ships that dock at its revitalized waterfront. Such is the demand that a second cruise terminal opened in 2012, just two years after the first one, and 2013 will see the two-millionth cruise passenger disembark. All the comings and goings over the centuries have exposed Saint Johners to a wide variety of cultures and ideas, creating a characterful Maritime city with a vibrant artistic community. Visitors will discover rich and diverse cultural products in its urban core, including a plethora of art galleries and antiques shops in uptown.Industry and salt air have combined to give parts of Saint John a weather-beaten quality, but you'll also find lovingly restored 19th-century wooden and redbrick homes as well as modern office buildings, hotels, and shops.The natives welcomed the French explorers Samuel de Champlain and Sieur de Monts when they landed here on St. John the Baptist Day in 1604. Then, nearly two centuries later, in May 1783, 3,000 British Loyalists fleeing the aftermath of the American Revolutionary War poured off a fleet of ships to make a home amid the rocks and forests. Two years later the city of Saint John became the first in Canada to be incorporated.Although most of the Loyalists were English, there were some Irish among them. After the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, thousands more Irish workers found their way to Saint John. It was the Irish potato famine of 1845 to 1852, though, that spawned the largest influx of Irish immigrants, and today a 20-foot Celtic cross on Partridge Island at the entrance to St. John Harbour stands as a reminder of the hardships and suffering they endured. Their descendants make Saint John Canada's most Irish city, a fact that's celebrated in grand style each March with a weeklong St. Patrick's celebration.The St. John River, its Reversing Rapids, and Saint John Harbour divide the city into eastern and western districts. The historic downtown area (locally known as "uptown") is on the east side, where an ambitious urban-renewal program started in the early 1980s has transformed the downtown waterfront. Older properties have been converted into trendy restaurants and shops, while glittering new apartment and condo buildings will take full advantage of the spectacular view across the bay. Harbour Passage, a redbrick walking and cycling path with benches and lots of interpretive information, begins downtown at Market Square and winds along the waterfront all the way to the Reversing Rapids. A shuttle boat between Market Square and the falls means you have to walk only one way. On the lower west side, painted-wood homes with flat roofs—characteristic of Atlantic Canadian seaports—slope to the harbor. Industrial activity is prominent on the west side, which has stately older homes on huge lots.Regardless of the weather, Saint John is a delightful city to explore, as so many of its key downtown attractions are linked by enclosed overhead pedways known as the "Inside Connection."
A resort town since the 19th century, Bar Harbor is the artistic, culinary, and social center of Mount Desert Island. It also serves visitors to Acadia National Park with inns, motels, and restaurants. Around the turn of the last century the island was known as the summer haven of the very rich because of its cool breezes. The wealthy built lavish mansions throughout the island, many of which were destroyed in a huge fire that devastated the island in 1947, but many of those that survived have been converted into businesses. Shops are clustered along Main, Mount Desert, and Cottage streets. Take a stroll down West Street, a National Historic District, where you can see some fine old houses.The island and the surrounding Gulf of Maine are home to a great variety of wildlife: whales, seals, eagles, falcons, ospreys, and puffins (though not right offshore here), and forest dwellers such as deer, foxes, coyotes, and beavers.
There’s history and culture around every bend in Boston—skyscrapers nestle next to historic hotels while modern marketplaces line the antique cobblestone streets. But to Bostonians, living in a city that blends yesterday and today is just another day in beloved Beantown.
There’s history and culture around every bend in Boston—skyscrapers nestle next to historic hotels while modern marketplaces line the antique cobblestone streets. But to Bostonians, living in a city that blends yesterday and today is just another day in beloved Beantown.
Established in 1639 by a small band of religious dissenters led by William Coddington and Nicholas Easton, the city by the sea became a haven for those who believed in religious freedom. Newport’s deepwater harbor at the mouth of Narragansett Bay ensured its success as a leading Colonial port, and a building boom produced hundreds of houses and many landmarks that still survive today. These include the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House and the White Horse Tavern, both built during the 17th century, plus Trinity Church, Touro Synagogue, the Colony House, and the Redwood Library, all built in the 18th century.British troops occupied Newport from 1776–1779, causing half the city’s population to flee and ending a golden age of prosperity. The economic downturn that followed may not have been so great for its citizens but it certainly was for preserving Newport’s architectural heritage, as few had the capital to raze buildings and replace them with bigger and better ones. By the mid-19th century the city had gained a reputation as the summer playground for the very wealthy, who built enormous mansions overlooking the Atlantic. These so-called "summer cottages," occupied for only six to eight weeks a year by the Vanderbilts, Berwinds, Astors, and Belmonts, helped establish the best young American architects. The presence of these wealthy families also brought the New York Yacht Club, which made Newport the venue for the America’s Cup races beginning in 1930 until the 1983 loss to the Australians.The Gilded Age mansions of Bellevue Avenue are what many people associate most with Newport. These late-19th-century homes are almost obscenely grand, laden with ornate rococo detail and designed with a determined one-upmanship.Pedestrian-friendly Newport has so much else to offer in a relatively small geographical area— beaches, seafood restaurants, galleries, shopping, and cultural life. Summer can be crowded, but fall and spring are increasingly popular times of the year to visit.
From Wall Street's skyscrapers to the neon of Times Square to Central Park's leafy paths, New York City pulses with an irrepressible energy. History meets hipness in this global center of entertainment, fashion, media, and finance. World-class museums like MoMA and unforgettable icons like the Statue of Liberty beckon, but discovering the subtler strains of New York's vast ambition is equally rewarding: ethnic enclaves and shops, historic streets of dignified brownstones, and trendy bars and eateries all add to the urban buzz.
From Wall Street's skyscrapers to the neon of Times Square to Central Park's leafy paths, New York City pulses with an irrepressible energy. History meets hipness in this global center of entertainment, fashion, media, and finance. World-class museums like MoMA and unforgettable icons like the Statue of Liberty beckon, but discovering the subtler strains of New York's vast ambition is equally rewarding: ethnic enclaves and shops, historic streets of dignified brownstones, and trendy bars and eateries all add to the urban buzz.
With a permanent resident population of 1,500 households, Hamilton doesn't qualify as a major metropolis. Yet it has enough stores, restaurants, and offices to amp up the island’s energy level. Moreover, it has a thriving international business community (centered on financial and investment services, insurance, telecommunications, global management of intellectual property, shipping, and aircraft and ship registration), which lends it a degree of sophistication seldom found in so small a center. The central parishes cover the large area of Paget, Warwick, and Devonshire. These parishes are much sleepier than Hamilton and provide great nature and beach respites when you tire of city life. Convenient bus and ferry connections connect the parishes, so trips outside of Hamilton are easy and a fun way to get off the tourist track.
With a permanent resident population of 1,500 households, Hamilton doesn't qualify as a major metropolis. Yet it has enough stores, restaurants, and offices to amp up the island’s energy level. Moreover, it has a thriving international business community (centered on financial and investment services, insurance, telecommunications, global management of intellectual property, shipping, and aircraft and ship registration), which lends it a degree of sophistication seldom found in so small a center. The central parishes cover the large area of Paget, Warwick, and Devonshire. These parishes are much sleepier than Hamilton and provide great nature and beach respites when you tire of city life. Convenient bus and ferry connections connect the parishes, so trips outside of Hamilton are easy and a fun way to get off the tourist track.
You can easily explore all of Gustavia during a two-hour stroll. Some shops close from noon to 3 or 4, so plan lunch accordingly, but stores stay open past 7 in the evening. Parking in Gustavia is a challenge, especially during vacation times. A good spot to park is rue de la République, alongside the catamarans, yachts, and sailboats.
Although it's one of the smallest capitals in the Caribbean, Roseau has the highest concentration of inhabitants of any town in the eastern Caribbean. Caribbean vernacular architecture and a bustling marketplace transport visitors back in time. Although you can walk the entire town in about an hour, you'll get a much better feel for the place on a leisurely stroll. For some years now, the Society for Historical Architectural Preservation and Enhancement (SHAPE) has organized programs and projects to preserve the city's architectural heritage. Several interesting buildings have already been restored. Lilac House, on Kennedy Avenue, has three types of gingerbread fretwork, latticed verandah railings, and heavy hurricane shutters. The J.W. Edwards Building, at the corner of Old and King George V sreets, has a stone base and a wooden second-floor gallery. The Old Market Plaza is the center of Roseau's historic district, which was laid out by the French on a radial plan rather than a grid, so streets such as Hanover, King George V, and Old radiate from this area. South of the marketplace is the Fort Young Hotel, built as a British fort in the 18th century; the nearby statehouse, public library, and Anglican cathedral are also worth a visit. New developments at the bay front on Dame M.E. Charles Boulevard have brightened up the waterfront.
The typical image of a lush tropical paradise comes to life on the friendly island of St Lucia. Despite its small size – just 27 miles long and 14 miles wide – St Lucia is rich in natural splendour with dense emerald rainforest, banana plantations and orchards of coconut, mango and papaya trees. The twin peaks of Les Pitons, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site rise dramatically 2,000 feet into the sky and dominate the island. Look out for unusual birds with brilliant plumage such as the St Lucia parrot, see a surprising diversity of exotic flora and enjoy the warm hospitality of the islanders in the small villages and open-air markets. Please be aware that St Lucia is a small, mountainous island, with steep, winding and bumpy roads. Customers with back and neck problems should take this into consideration when booking an excursion.
Located beside the island’s only natural harbour, the capital of Barbados combines modern and colonial architecture with glorious palm tree-lined beaches and a number of historical attractions. Experience the relaxed culture of the city renowned for its British-style parliament buildings and vibrant beach life, and seek out the Anglican church and the 19th-century Barbados Garrison. The distance between the ship and your tour vehicle may vary. This distance is not included in the excursion grades.
Nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, cocoa those heady aromas fill the air in Grenada (pronounced gruh-nay-da). Only 21 miles (33½ km) long and 12 miles (19½ km) wide, the Isle of Spice is a tropical gem of lush rain forests, white-sand beaches, secluded coves, exotic flowers, and enough locally grown spices to fill anyone's kitchen cabinet. St. George's is one of the most picturesque capital cities in the Caribbean, St. George's Harbour is one of the most picturesque harbors, and Grenada's Grand Anse Beach is one of the region's finest beaches. The island has friendly, hospitable people and enough good shopping, restaurants, historic sites, and natural wonders to make it a popular port of call. About one-third of Grenada's visitors arrive by cruise ship, and that number continues to grow each year. Grenada's capital is a bustling West Indian city, much of which remains unchanged from colonial days. Narrow streets lined with shops wind up, down, and across steep hills. Brick warehouses cling to the waterfront, and pastel-painted homes rise from the waterfront and disappear into steep green hills. The horseshoe-shaped St. George's Harbour, a submerged volcanic crater, is arguably the prettiest harbor in the Caribbean. Schooners, ferries, and tour boats tie up along the seawall or at the small dinghy dock. The Carenage (pronounced car-a-nahzh), which surrounds the harbor, is the capital's center. Warehouses, shops, and restaurants line the waterfront. The Christ of the Deep statue that sits on the pedestrian plaza at the center of The Carenage was presented to Grenada by Costa Cruise Line in remembrance of its ship, Bianca C, which burned and sank in the harbor in 1961 and is now a favorite dive site. An engineering feat for its time, the 340-foot-long Sendall Tunnel was built in 1895 and named for Walter Sendall, an early governor. The narrow tunnel, used by both pedestrians and vehicles, separates the harbor side of St. George's from the Esplanade on the bay side of town, where you can find the markets (produce, meat, and fish), the Cruise Ship Terminal, the Esplanade Mall, and the public bus station.
Dutch settlers came here in the 1630s, about the same time they sailed through the Verazzano Narrows to Manhattan, bringing with them original red-tile roofs, first used on the trade ships as ballast and later incorporated into the architecture of Willemstad. Much of the original colonial structures remain, but this historic city is constantly reinventing itself and the government monument foundation is always busy restoring buildings in one urban neighborhood or another. The salty air causes what is called "wall cancer" which causes the ancient abodes to continually crumble over time. The city is cut in two by Santa Anna Bay. On one side is Punda (the point)—crammed with shops, restaurants, monuments, and markets and a new museum retracing its colorful history. And on the other side is Otrobanda (literally meaning the "other side"), with lots of narrow, winding streets and alleyways (called "steekjes" in Dutch), full of private homes notable for their picturesque gables and Dutch-influenced designs. In recent years the ongoing regeneration of Otrobanda has been apparent, marked by a surge in development of new hotels, restaurants, and shops; the rebirth, concentrated near the waterfront, was spearheaded by the creation of the elaborate Kura Hulanda complex.There are three ways to cross the bay: by car over the Juliana Bridge; by foot over the Queen Emma pontoon bridge (locally called "The Swinging Old Lady"); or by free ferry, which runs when the pontoon bridge is swung open for passing ships. All the major hotels outside town offer free shuttle service to town once or twice daily. Shuttles coming from the Otrobanda side leave you at Riffort. From here it's a short walk north to the foot of the pontoon bridge. Shuttles coming from the Punda side leave you near the main entrance to Ft. Amsterdam.
Aruba's capital is easily explored on foot. Its palm-lined central thoroughfare runs between old and new pastel-painted buildings of typical Dutch design (Spanish influence is also evident in some of the architecture). There are a lot of malls with boutiques and shops—the Renaissance mall carries high-end luxury items and designer fashions. A massive renovation in downtown has given Main Street (a.k.a. Caya G. F. Betico Croes) behind the Renaissance Resort a whole new lease on life: boutique malls, shops, and restaurants have opened next to well-loved family-run businesses. The pedestrian-only walkway and resting areas have unclogged the street, and the new eco-trolley is free and a great way to get around. At this writing, Linear Park was well and will showcase local merchants and artists. There will be activities along a boardwalk that will eventually run all the way to the end of Palm Beach, making it the longest of its kind in the Caribbean.
Both designer-inspired and luxurious, the 656-guest Insignia offers entirely new suites, staterooms and bathrooms along with a sweepingly re-inspired atmosphere throughout the ship. The public spaces have been tastefully refreshed with a soft sea and sky palette of fabrics, designer furnishings and custom light fixtures that exquisitely showcase the inimitable style and comfort of Oceania Cruises. Insignia features four unique, open-seating restaurants, the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Centre, eight lounges and bars, a casino and 333 luxurious suites and stylish staterooms, nearly 70% of which feature private verandas.
The better-than-new Insignia blends sophistication with a contemporary flair to create a casually elegant ambiance that embodies the most treasured elements of our celebrated ships. Every surface of every suite and stateroom is entirely new, while in the public spaces, a refreshed colour palette of soft sea and sky tones surrounds a tasteful renewal of fabrics, furnishings and lighting fixtures that exquisitely encompasses the inimitable style and comfort of Oceania Cruises.
Culinary Masterpieces
The superb gourmet restaurants aboard Insignia serve delectable dishes created à la minute and offer a remarkable array of choices, from Continental cuisine and vibrant Asian dishes to casual all-American favourites. Every restaurant on board Insignia is complimentary and features open seating so you may dine wherever and whenever suits your taste and schedule. Enjoy dinner for two or a gathering with newfound friends, knowing the experience is certain to be extraordinary.
Each day aboard our ships is a spectacle and adventure to experience, from world-class music, high-energy production shows and dazzling cabarets to rousing deck games, spirited wine tastings and evenings at our atmospheric casino. For those seeking more cerebral pursuits, engaging talks by passionate Guest Speakers, chef-led demonstrations inspired by the local cuisine and animated Team Trivia sessions invite you to experience each new horizon more fully.
Music & Entertainment
Evenings aboard Insignia can be anything you desire. Marvel at the continuously changing talented guest entertainers as you delight in high-energy production shows, talented vocalists, classical music and more. Perhaps stop by the lively Monte Carlo-style Casino for a rousing game or two. Unforgettable evenings are just steps from your stateroom.
Bars & Lounges
From chic Martinis to the laid-back poolside Waves Bar, there's a perfect enclave on board Insignia for every mood. Visit the elegant Grand Bar for a pre-dinner cocktail, catch a headline act in the Lounge or watch the sun set in Horizons accompanied by a glass of wine and lively music. As you explore the world, these bars and lounges are the place to unwind, gather together, laugh and take in one-of-a-kind shows and musical performances.
The satisfying balance of enriching activities and peaceful havens in which to relax means you always feel right at home. Enjoy an engaging talk by a Guest Speaker that may be a historian, naturalist or former ambassador eager to share insider knowledge. Curl up with a classic novel or travelogue in the cozy library and reconnect with friends and family by visiting our Oceania@Sea Internet Centre. Team Trivia, Mensa quizzes and a host of other lively activities and diversions await each day.
Explore the complete array of holistic programs, services and experiences available at Aquamar Spa + Vitality Centre – rejuvenating massages, facials, nutrition and lifestyle consultations and so much more are all at your fingertips. Keep up with your exercise routine at our state-of-the-art fitness centre or try something new at one of our free fitness classes. Of course, complete relaxation awaits on the gleaming Pool Deck…the perfect place to unwind after an adventurous day ashore.
A Spa Within a Spa
Take advantage of time during your Oceania Cruises voyage to focus on your wellness. Unwind, relax and reconnect with your inner balance. Explore our rejuvenating massages, body therapies, facials and more below.
Fitness & Training
Aquamar Spa + Vitality Centre provides you a blissful wellness retreat at sea that includes complimentary fitness classes and a state-of-the-art fitness centre. From sunrise yoga on deck to boot camp to core conditioning, you are sure to find a class to suit your preferences. One-on-one personal training is also available, as is the latest exercise equipment, such as treadmills with heart-rate monitoring and LCD screens, strength-training machines and free weights. Marina and Riviera also feature a Kinesis® exercise wall.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to continually improve our sustainability culture through fresh innovation, progressive education and open collaboration.
Our environmental commitment is continually evolving and expanding into additional areas of our operations, both shipboard and shoreside. Our industry is inextricably linked to the condition of our oceans and as such, continual improvement is one of our core responsibilities. In line with this accountability comes our commitment to preventing accidents and incidents involving pollution, reducing the environmental impact of our operations, managing waste through methods that promote recycling and reusing materials and ensuring continual refinement of our ISO 14001 certification objectives and targets.
Our objectives:
Water Conservation & Management
Oceania Cruises has introduced the Gold Standard in still and sparkling water service on board with our new Vero Water® service. All suites and staterooms will be stocked with refillable and reusable Vero Water decanters as well as all restaurants and bars.
We have also expanded Vero service to our shoreside experience, providing guests with keepsake refillable water bottles to take Vero Water ashore with them, eliminating several million more bottles per year.
VERO Facts
Oceania Cruises became the first cruise line to introduce Vero Water, the gold standard in still and sparkling water. With the introduction of Vero, we will eliminate several million single-use plastic bottles per year from onboard use. Later in the year, we will extend Vero service to our shoreside experience, providing guests with keepsake refillable water bottles to take Vero Water ashore with them, eliminating several million more bottles per year.
Going Green Through Technology
We are eliminating the consumption of millions of pages of paper per year via new digital technology on board.
These new digital initiatives will help us save millions of pieces of paper and thus reduce waste and reduce our carbon footprint.
For the safety and security of all guests and staff on board, Designated Smoking Areas are available on the forward, starboard corner of the Pool Deck and in the aft, port corner of Horizons. These areas are comfortably furnished and conveniently located near food and beverage areas. Smoking is expressly forbidden in all staterooms and suites, on verandas, or in any areas of the ship other than officially Designated Smoking Areas. Smoking in a stateroom or suite or on a veranda represents a serious fire and safety hazard to all guests and staff. Guests choosing to disregard this policy will be disembarked at the next port of call and may also be subject to additional fees that will be imposed to cover the costs associated with any damage to and the required cleaning of furnishings, verandas and surrounding deck and accommodation areas. All areas other than those specified as Designated Smoking Areas will remain smoke-free. This includes all guest suites and staterooms, verandas, restaurants, public areas, the Casino and all other areas of the ship. Cigar and pipe smoking is only permitted on the forward, starboard corner of the Pool Deck. The use of electronic cigarettes is allowed within designated smoking areas only.
Wireless Internet service is available throughout all ships.
Recommended onboard clothing is resort or country club casual. For evening dining, elegant casual resort wear is suggested. We request that casual jeans, shorts, t-shirts, baseball caps, or tennis shoes not be worn in the restaurants after 6 PM. Baseball caps may be worn in the Terrace Café after 6 PM.
Special arrangements can be made if you require diabetic, gluten-free, lactose-free, kosher, vegetarian and vegan meals. Other diets must be requested for approval and, in some cases, may require additional medical documentation.
Kosher Dining
Please contact special services at least 90 days in advance of your sailing so that we may provide your preferred selections.
The chefs of Oceania Cruises have worked with Sterling Kosher Catering to provide up to 70 kosher meal options, prepared with the finest USDA Certified glatt kosher meats, Grade A produce and ingredients, in facilities which are under strict Rabbinical supervision and daily USDA inspection. Each meal is frozen and delivered to our ships in double-wrapped packaging to allow the kosher meals to be reheated in non-kosher ovens. Each meal is served on kosher china with proper flatware.
While Oceania Cruises’ vessels do not have separate kosher kitchens, guests may also order a variety of kosher meats that can be cooked to taste (medium, well done, etc.) in addition to the Sterling Kosher Catering meal options. Please note that although the food is kosher, the onboard preparation and galley environments are not.
We are pleased to serve guests kosher meals in the Grand Dining Room restaurant. Please contact the Maître d' to make arrangements once on board. We regret that kosher meals cannot be served in other restaurants at this time. Please contact reservations for additional information.
Although children and teenagers are welcome onboard, there are no specially designed amenities and facilities. Families travelling with Oceania should be aware that the on-board experience is focused around providing adults with a relaxing and sophisticated cruise.
The sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages is limited to guests aged 21 years or older. Oceania Cruises reserves the right to prohibit and retain all alcohol bought ashore for consumption onboard the vessel.
Guests with any medical condition(s) or special needs that may require treatment or attention or accommodation during the voyage, or needing to travel with medical apparatus, including wheelchairs, motorised scooters, oxygen therapy, etc., must advise Oceania Cruises in writing at the time of deposit. Please note some ports of call may not be suitable for guests with limited mobility and in such cases, may disallow debarkation with a wheelchair or motorised scooter or for any individual with limited mobility. Oceania Cruises is unable to accommodate women past their sixth month of pregnancy. Oceania Cruises has the right to refuse or revoke passage to anyone who, in its judgment, is in a physical, mental or emotional condition unfit for travel or whose comfort onboard may be compromised due to situations beyond the care that can be provided by Oceania Cruises. Oceania Cruises will under appropriate circumstances permit its guests to use special equipment such as those noted above, which satisfy the criteria stated in the Oceania Cruises' Policy Statement.
Guests and travel partners inquiring about rental equipment to use on any of our cruises are to be referred to Scootaround Personal Transportation Solutions at the telephone numbers or website provided below:
1-888-441-7575
The link for Scootaround online reservations:
https://www.scootaround.com/mobility-rentals/book-a-rental/rent-online
Each ship is equipped with limited medical facilities and staffed by international medical personnel. Customary Emergency Room fees and charges do apply for medical services and are dictated by the services performed by the ship's medical staff.
Our doctors are international and meet American College of Emergency Physicians and ICCL (International Council of Cruise Lines) guidelines, including: current physician licensure, three years of post-graduate / post-registration clinical practice in general and emergency medicine or Board certification in: emergency medicine, family practice or internal medicine or competent skill level in advanced life support and cardiac care.
The re-inspired Owner’s, Vista and Penthouse Suites on board the elegant Insignia exude a residential character and refined personality like never before. These suites are adorned in designer fabrics and furnishings that echo the serene seas and expansive skies, transforming them into calming and tranquil oases of relaxation. All of our suites include exclusive 24-hour Butler service and are uncommonly spacious, further adding to the luxurious suite experience.
Curated Luxury Services
+ Certain limitations apply
Veranda Staterooms
Our spacious staterooms afford the ultimate in luxury. Sleekly re-designed interiors reveal a chic and becoming palette, designer fabrics, modern furnishings and original art. Plump the cloud-like pillows and relax in your Tranquility Bed, a luxury bedding experience exclusively on Oceania Cruises. As you sail on to your next destination, relax on the private teak veranda, a feature of the vast majority of accommodations.
Luxurious Staterooms
A modern palette blends sea, sky and comforting earth tones in each of these sanctuaries to create a soothing environment that invites relaxation. Every stateroom is imbued with a luxurious ambiance, featuring designer residential furnishings, fine fabrics and plush draperies, chic lighting and much more.
Lavish new fabrics and designer furnishings grace our six new Owner’s Suites – always among the first to be reserved. Immensely spacious and exceptionally luxurious, these suites span nearly 1,000 square feet and are oases of quietude and relaxation. Every imaginable amenity is found here, further enhanced by a sumptuous re-designed bathroom with an oversized shower, a private teak veranda and two flat-screen televisions.
Owner's Suite Privileges
In addition to Stateroom Amenities
+Up to 20 garments per laundry bag; additional restrictions apply.
++Certain limitations apply.
Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.
Named for their sweeping views over the ship’s bow, our four Vista Suites feature a calming palette echoing the serene seas and expansive skies. Each sprawls over 786 square feet and offers every imaginable comfort, including a second bathroom for guests as well as a master bathroom finished in onyx, Carrara marble and granite with a luxurious shower. Relax on your teak veranda or watch a movie on your customised entertainment system.
Vista Suite Privileges
In addition to Stateroom Amenities
+Up to 20 garments per laundry bag; additional restrictions apply.
++Certain limitations apply.
Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.
Our collection of new 322-square-foot Penthouse Suites is adorned with sumptuous designer fabrics and furnishings in serene shades of the sea and sky. Spacious enough for private in-suite dining, the living area features a refrigerated mini-bar and vanity desk, and the sleekly transformed bathroom features luxury stone finishes and a shower.
Penthouse Suite Privileges
In addition to Stateroom Amenities
+Up to 20 garments per laundry bag; additional restrictions apply.
++Certain limitations apply.
Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.
Located in some of the most desirable locations on the ship, Category A Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms offer the attractive blend of both value and luxury. These sleekly redefined 216-square-foot staterooms offer coveted amenities and exclusive privileges, such as free laundry service, that make your experience that much more carefree. Fresh new decor, sumptuous Tranquility Beds and re-inspired verandas with stylish new furniture complete the Concierge experience.
Exclusive Concierge Privileges
In addition to Stateroom Amenities
+Up to 20 garments per laundry bag; additional restrictions apply.
++Certain limitations apply.
Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.
Custom-crafted furnishings, exotic stone finishes, supple upholstered headboards and chic lighting are just a few of the enhancements within these 216-square-foot staterooms that also boast our most popular luxury – a private teak veranda for watching the ever-changing panoramas. Conveniences within each stateroom include a vanity desk, refrigerated mini-bar, breakfast table and spacious seating area.
Veranda Stateroom Amenities
Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.
With entirely re-designed closets, dressers and vanities, these 165-square foot staterooms feel even more spacious. A generous seating area, vanity desk, refrigerated mini-bar and breakfast table are perfectly complemented by the soothing hues and stylish fabrics of the sleek new decor.
Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom FREE Amenities:
Deluxe Oceanview Accessibility Features:
Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.
Either featuring a classic porthole or a panorama window with obstructed views, these exquisitely appointed 165-square-foot staterooms showcase sophisticated new decor and a modern design that maximises both space and convenience. Enjoy a comfortable seating area with a sofa on which to stretch out, as well as a vanity desk, breakfast table and refrigerated mini-bar.
Oceanview FREE Amenities:
Oceanview Included Amenities:
Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.
Centrally located on deck 6, these 143-square-foot staterooms offer a fresh new palette and a panorama window with obstructed views. Features include a vanity desk, refrigerated mini-bar, small breakfast table and an ample closet.
Ocean View Stateroom Amenities
All Suites and Staterooms are Smoke-Free
Beautifully re-designed with a modern flair, these delightful private retreats boast 160 square feet of luxury. Highlights include a comfortable seating area, vanity desk, refrigerated mini-bar and plenty of storage. The ingenious use of space is complemented by the re-inspired decor.
Inside Stateroom FREE Amenities:
Inside Stateroom Included Amenities:
Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.