Oceania Cruises' Regatta: A trip that inspires the desire for more

When starry-eyed wanderlusters dream of that trip of a lifetime, don’t be surprised if Oceania Cruises’ Regatta glides into their mental picture. The ship is elegant but comfortable, exquisitely styled but approachable, expensive but worth every. single. penny.

Much of the allure lies within the ship’s luxury-level décor, finishing appointments and amenities — thanks to a multimillion-dollar stem-to-stern redesign in 2019 — paired with attentive service, an unstuffy attitude and warmly welcoming atmosphere.

From its sweeping Grand Staircase, its balustrades framing a gold-leafed tree against a silver backdrop and given soft illumination by the crystal chandelier, to chummy lounge areas and seating nooks to tastefully decorated staterooms and suites, each an oasis of calm and comfort with custom furnishings and designer accessories, this ship is catwalk-ready.

DINING IN BEAUTIFUL DIGS

The Grand Dining Room channels a five-star sensibility one might find in European restaurants, with seating, linens and tableware working in concert beneath a chandelier centerpiece that sets the stage for the global-inspired cuisine featured on the Chef’s Tasting Menu. Chicken ballotine, molten cheese souffle and caviar-stuffed potato fritters open an evening of gastronomy that moves onto Marseillaise fish soup, duck a l’orange and butter-roasted Maine lobster and finishes with iced cappuccino parfait, apple crumble pie and a velvety-rich ice cream dish called “Elvis, the Fat Years.” (The chef is not without a sense of humor.)

Two specialty dining experiences await at Tuscana’s, where family recipes of the Italian staff are incorporated into the menu, and Polo Grill, a classically styled steakhouse with all the time-honored food and furnishing traditions one would expect, including the tableside fanfare of preparing a Caesar salad. There is no upcharge for either restaurant, but reservations are required and should be made as early in the cruise as possible.

At Horizons, the English custom of 4 o’clock tea is celebrated daily. Four-tiered, glass-topped carts laden with finger sandwiches, petits fours, crumbly scones with clotted cream and bite-size sweets roll from table to table, the white-gloved waitstaff plating the goodies. As napkins drop in laps and tea is poured and sipped, a string quartet plays softly.

LIBATIONS, LIVE MUSIC, LIBRARY

Martinis offers the classic cocktail in a sophisticated setting that feels like the kind of place James Bond might foil an espionage plan — all Grecian blue and chocolate brown, silver-white marble and walnut paneling. Live piano music adds charm in the evening. Poolside, Waves sets the afternoon cocktail hour in motion with the Grand Bar.

Showtime in the Regatta Lounge might mean an afternoon watching an Oscar-winning movie or attending a guest lecture on astronomy or another topic. Evenings bring on the Motown classics or Great American Songbook standards, a 1920s floor show accompanied by Prohibition-era cocktails or a dance party tribute featuring such hit makers as Gloria Estefan and Michael Bublé.

An old-world aesthetic emanates in the library, from the glass-fronted cabinets shelving two thousand books to wingback and leather chair and ottoman seating groups to cushioned window seats overlooking the sea to the fireplace focal point. Above, a curved atrium ceiling charms with its painting of birds, florals and trees against a sky blue background. The library is a refuge for reading and working (if one must) where everyone tends to talk in whispers.

ONBOARD INDULGENCES

Regatta has numerous places to indulge in a little self-care, with the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center topping the list. The wellness retreat menu includes rejuvenating therapies that pair well with a vibe of relaxed luxury, like the moisture-boosting Caviar Firm and Lift Facial. A selection of complimentary classes offers gentle guidance for finding your center: sunrise and sunset stretches, guided meditation and reset breathing classes, and yoga flow vinyasa sessions.

Some cruise lines host hairy chest contests and come-as-a-pirate party nights, but Regatta eschews these in favor of an atmosphere designed for R and R, with a shimmering pool flanked by two whirlpool spas and surrounded by plump loungers and daybeds. A frothy cocktail in one hand and book or tablet in the other completes the picture of sliding directly into vacation mode.

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS

At a time many cruise lines are trimming housekeeping staff and duties, Oceania continues to offer twice-daily maid service to refresh and restock cabins and provide evening turndown with those coveted Belgian chocolates. Bathrooms are stocked with Bulgari bath amenities — shampoo/shower gel, shave balm, lotion and more — fragrant with notes of green tea, the citrusy scent of Italian bergamot, cardamom and other spices. Complimentary 24-hour room service is an appreciated touch (and one many cruise lines not only limit in terms of menu options but charge for) that includes such items as avocado toast, Tuscan kale salad, omelets, petit beef filet and Thai coconut red curry.

Luxurious with an atmosphere of laissez-faire, Regatta strikes just the right balance to inspires dreams of future Oceania cruises.

PLAN YOUR TRAVELS

Featuring a beautifully reinspired ambience with decks resplendent in teak, custom stone and tile work and lounges, suites and staterooms showcasing designer residential furnishings, Oceania Regatta carries fewer than 700 passengers. It is the flagship of a fleet of six designer-inspired ships; cruises are offered across Europe, Alaska, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, New England-Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Tahiti and the South Pacific; there's also an epic 180-day Around the World Voyages. For more information, visit oceaniacruises.com.

Contact author and travel and lifestyle writer Kathy Witt at KathyWitt24@gmail.com, @KathyWitt.