travel42 Cruise Line Overview: Oceania Cruises

travel42 Professional Cruise Line Review

Born out of the ashes of Renaissance Cruises, a youngish line that folded in 2001, Oceania entered the cruise business with some of the same players and one, then two and now three of the former 680-passenger Renaissance ships built between 1988 and 1990. Almost from the start, the Regatta, the first ship, garnered favorable passenger reports, and Oceania did not make the mistake of excluding travel agents the way Renaissance had. The line’s pricing is often different from the pack, sometimes offering two-for-one rates and free air, but overall, the cruises are very fairly priced for what passengers receive. The ships are now owned by Prestige Cruise Holdings, a subsidiary of Apollo Management, and the company also owns Regent Seven Seas Cruises.