Cruise Ship Reviews : Oceania Cruises Reviews
Huahine saw things this way:
Mid-size ship offers great service, January 6, 2017
Reviewer: Huahine
Pros: With just 684 passengers and 400 crew service is great and feels intimate.
Cons: Entertainment needs improvement, stateroom baths small
Date of cruise: December 23, 2016
Departure port: Miami
Region visited: Caribbean - Eastern
Cabin category: Balcony
Cabin number: 7031
Good for children: No
Good for teenagers: No
Staterooms: We were on deck 7 in a concierge stateroom, probably middle of the pack between lower-priced rooms and more expensive suites. It was pretty much as I expected, a snug fit for two adults, but we found plenty of room to stow our belongings. The shower was small, a common complaint. Our king bed was quite comfortable, covered in 1,000-thread count Egyptian cotton linens. The beds are such a hit with passengers that Oceania makes its entire bed collection available for sale, including the seven-zone mattress with 400 encapsulated springs and two-inch-thick gel pillow top wrapped in chamomile-infused fiber. Some passengers complained their veranda was too small. With two chairs and a table, we thought it adequate. The desk with U.S. and European electrical outlets, two each, held my laptop with plenty of room to spare. We made use of the TV and DVD player, borrowing titles from the library, and appreciated the mini-frig stocked with complimentary soft drinks. A loveseat and two cashmere throws were great for lounging, but the glass table in the center of the sitting area was constantly in our way. The complimentary bottle of champagne on our arrival was a nice touch. On other cruise lines, appetizers or fruit were brought to our room daily and I missed this on Insignia. Our cabin steward and her attendant kept things tidy with morning cleaning and nightly turn down, chocolates on our pillows. One evening we were relaxing in our stateroom after showering and phoned for ice and a champagne bucket to cool down the welcome bottle we hadnt finished. Bill barely had time to put on his pants when they were at the door with both. Size and service: When we asked passengers why they chose Insignia the No. 1 answer was its size. With 684 passengers its in the mid-size range, and with 400 crew members the ratio of 1.71 passengers to crew keeps the level of service high. Smiling crew members were constantly wishing us a good day, asking if we needed anything. They hailed from more than 50 countries, sommeliers from Honduras and Russia, waiters from India and Italy, bartenders from Guatemala and Ukraine, omelet maker from the Philippines, all well trained and English speaking. We were surprised then that service was often slow in the Grand Dining Room. Even when we entered at 7:30 pm we often missed the beginning of the 9:30 show. We realize Americans are accustomed to speedy meal service, but dining companions from Germany and the U.K. also said they found the arrival of courses lagging. Food: Oceania has a reputation for some of the best cuisine afloat. Our New Years Brunch in the dining room was especially impressive with an array of hot and cold buffet items, carving station, bread table and sumptuous dessert bar with elaborate sculptures in chocolate. Oceanias executive culinary director, the acclaimed chef Jacques Pepin, has supervised five-star menus on all of Oceanias six ships. Insignias Executive Chef Farid Oudir came up with some wonderful main dishes at dinner -- lobster thermidor, roasted guinea fowl, sea bass, prime rib, Vermont turkey, red snapper, osso bucowith creative starters, soups, salads and desserts. The right side of the dinner menu always included Pepins signature dishes (steak, chicken, salmon) and selections from Red Ginger and Jacques, the two specialty restaurants on Oceanias larger ships. On the left side were healthy choices chosen by the ships spa and a four-course degustation menu with suggestions for wine pairing. Still reviews among passengers were mixed. Some were pleased, others felt the food on previous Oceania cruises had been better. Some singled out certain dishes they found lacking. As for me, I enjoyed every dinner course but two on our 12-day cruise. Not a bad batting average. Alternatives to the dining room include reservations-only specialty restaurants, Polo Grill and Toscano, which seemed to please most passengers, including us. The Waves Grill on the pool deck had a salad bar and made-to-order sandwiches, including a Kobe beef burger. We had breakfast every morning in the Terrace Caf and loved the amazing variety of buffet itemseggs, salmon, cheese, fruit, breakfast meats, cereal, yogurt, potatoes. The staff puts your selections on plates for you; healthier than allowing guests to serve themselves. One night when we didnt feel like getting gussied up for the dining room, we had dinner in the Terrace Caf, expecting burgers and hot dogs. Not so. Many of the menu items served at dinner downstairs on deck 5 appear on the buffet up on deck 9. We had lobster and grilled-to-order steak. We never made use of room service. Bill felt it would feel too confining, but some passengers seemed to appreciate the convenience of dining in their staterooms. One, however, said she complained to the concierge that her morning coffee and evening soup were both cold. Entertainment: Reviews of Insignias lineup of nightly entertainment were mixed, too. Most passengers seemed to enjoy the guest comedian and pianist, others were lukewarm on the guest singer and ventriloquist. The on-board cast, from the U.S. and U.K., sang and danced their hearts out at night, though some guests seemed not to appreciate their performances. On the first night I looked around the Insignia Lounge and noticed some were actually asleep. During the day the Four Seasons String Quartet played in the Hall and Horizons Lounge. In the evening Constantine tickled the ivories in Martinis and the Insignia Show Band backed up performers in the Insignia Lounge. Cruise Director Leslie Jon, whose long career as a performer put him in the Hollywood Bowl, Japans Mikado Theatre and the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, among many others, kept the ship running smoothly, overseeing the nightly entertainment and daytime activities, including the many special events on our holiday cruise. Fellow passengers: Among the most positive aspects of a cruise on Insignia, its relatively small size gives passengers the opportunity to get to know each other. We didnt meet every Tom, Dick, and Harry but did have dinner with one of each, along with their spouses. There is no assigned seating or time for dinner in the Grand Dining Room and two specialty restaurants. Passengers usually have the option of dining alone or at a table with others. We met people from Germany, the U.K. and states across the U.S. and overhead conversations in Italian, French and Spanish.
bardeg60 saw things this way:
From start to finish, one of the most amazing trips we have been on, August 9, 2011
Reviewer: bardeg60
Pros: The staff, the food, the camaradarie among passengers
Cons: Cannot think of one
Date of cruise: June 8, 2023
Departure port: Rome
Region visited: Mediterranean
Cabin category: Outside
Cabin number: 3029
Good for children: No
Good for teenagers: No
From the very moment you get off the airline, the staff and crew of Oceania Insignia take care of you. They are efficient in getting you through the airport and onto the ship. The ship is great. The rooms are wonderful, the beds are to die for, and the staff that take care of your rooms are always superb. Dining in the main dining room is a fantastic experience, but dining in the specialty restaurants is an out-of-this-world experience. The trips are always planned to appeal to the most people and, generally, their guides are outstanding. They are able to balance sightseeing with shopping and local specialties. We are looking forward to our next cruise with Oceania.
jerryw saw things this way:
A well run ship, excellent service and food, January 22, 2011
Reviewer: jerryw
Pros: great sGrvice aboard, great food
Cons: Poor entertainment; small staterooms, all same size; expensive computer e-mail
Date of cruise: January 2, 2011
Departure port: Buenos aires
Region visited: South America
Cabin category: Balcony
Cabin number: 7084
Good for children: No
Good for teenagers: No
Overall, a fine ship, excellent service, great food. Some small stops in Brazil were a waste of time All staterooms are same size, too small, even though most had balconies Very poor entertainment and onboard shopping Expensive charges for computer use for e-mails Excellent library
morplorp saw things this way:
Very pleased with the ship, especially the culture of the crew, October 21, 2010
Reviewer: morplorp
Pros: Size, food, dress policy
Cons: Rooms are small unless one books the butler level
Date of cruise: October 1, 2010
Departure port: Barcelona
Region visited: Mediterranean
Cabin category: Suite
Cabin number: 8059
Good for children: No
Good for teenagers: No
This ship is excellent. The food was delicious and the staff exhibited a great spirit. They seem to enjoy working on this ship. The executive chef is quite approachable, the cellar master is a master sommelier, the workout director is excellent and the purser's desk is into customer service. Do not know about the excursions as my husband and I book our own tour guides for our stops. The only negative is the lack of adequate laundry facilities. This was a source of angst for many!
mo33biz saw things this way:
Wonderful cruise experience on Insignia, August 18, 2010
Reviewer: mo33biz
Pros: Ship decor, cleanliness, food and service
Cons: Nightly entertainment good but not great
Date of cruise: November 7, 2010
Departure port: Amesterdam
Region visited: Europe
Cabin category: Outside
Cabin number: 6026
Good for children: No
Good for teenagers: No
We went on the Windmills and Wonders cruise in July. We were able to get 2-for-1 pricing with pre-paid gratuities and an onboard credit from our travel agent. The food and the service on this ship is all top shelf. The crew is genuinely friendly and everyone we met had a "can do" attitude. Nothing was ever a problem. We had an oceanview stateroom, not a balcony, which I thought I would be disappointed in but it was fine. Bathroom and especially the shower area is small but again, fine. Nightly entertainment is just okay but that's what you can expect from small ship cruising, they don't have the room for lavish productions. Overall, a great cruise- I highly recommend Oceania.
jpsm31 saw things this way:
The right size -- a pleasure not to have to get dressed up, wonderful food, August 17, 2010
Reviewer: jpsm31
Pros: Food. attitude of staff, ship size and design, library
Cons: Bathroom size
Date of cruise: April 3, 2010
Departure port: Rio de Janeiro
Region visited: Transoceanic
Cabin category: Balcony
Cabin number: ? Concierge Deck
Good for children: No
Good for teenagers: No
This is a most wonderful experience, from staff attitude to the "country club casual" dress code. The food is the equal of New York five-star restaurants. We are looking forward to the French specialty restaurant when the Marina starts up. I would recommend Oceania to anybody except those with minor children.
Oceania Insignia reviews
Average customer rating:
4.52 / 5
4.52 / 5Average Rating based on 6 Reviews:
Value For Money
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Spa
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Spa
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
4.60
4.00
3.00
4.50
4.83
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
4.50
4.83
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
Huahine saw things this way:
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
4
3
4
5
5
5
5
3
4
5
5
5
5
Mid-size ship offers great service, January 6, 2017
Reviewer: Huahine
Pros: With just 684 passengers and 400 crew service is great and feels intimate.
Cons: Entertainment needs improvement, stateroom baths small
Date of cruise: December 23, 2016
Departure port: Miami
Region visited: Caribbean - Eastern
Cabin category: Balcony
Cabin number: 7031
Good for children: No
Good for teenagers: No
Staterooms: We were on deck 7 in a concierge stateroom, probably middle of the pack between lower-priced rooms and more expensive suites. It was pretty much as I expected, a snug fit for two adults, but we found plenty of room to stow our belongings. The shower was small, a common complaint. Our king bed was quite comfortable, covered in 1,000-thread count Egyptian cotton linens. The beds are such a hit with passengers that Oceania makes its entire bed collection available for sale, including the seven-zone mattress with 400 encapsulated springs and two-inch-thick gel pillow top wrapped in chamomile-infused fiber. Some passengers complained their veranda was too small. With two chairs and a table, we thought it adequate. The desk with U.S. and European electrical outlets, two each, held my laptop with plenty of room to spare. We made use of the TV and DVD player, borrowing titles from the library, and appreciated the mini-frig stocked with complimentary soft drinks. A loveseat and two cashmere throws were great for lounging, but the glass table in the center of the sitting area was constantly in our way. The complimentary bottle of champagne on our arrival was a nice touch. On other cruise lines, appetizers or fruit were brought to our room daily and I missed this on Insignia. Our cabin steward and her attendant kept things tidy with morning cleaning and nightly turn down, chocolates on our pillows. One evening we were relaxing in our stateroom after showering and phoned for ice and a champagne bucket to cool down the welcome bottle we hadnt finished. Bill barely had time to put on his pants when they were at the door with both. Size and service: When we asked passengers why they chose Insignia the No. 1 answer was its size. With 684 passengers its in the mid-size range, and with 400 crew members the ratio of 1.71 passengers to crew keeps the level of service high. Smiling crew members were constantly wishing us a good day, asking if we needed anything. They hailed from more than 50 countries, sommeliers from Honduras and Russia, waiters from India and Italy, bartenders from Guatemala and Ukraine, omelet maker from the Philippines, all well trained and English speaking. We were surprised then that service was often slow in the Grand Dining Room. Even when we entered at 7:30 pm we often missed the beginning of the 9:30 show. We realize Americans are accustomed to speedy meal service, but dining companions from Germany and the U.K. also said they found the arrival of courses lagging. Food: Oceania has a reputation for some of the best cuisine afloat. Our New Years Brunch in the dining room was especially impressive with an array of hot and cold buffet items, carving station, bread table and sumptuous dessert bar with elaborate sculptures in chocolate. Oceanias executive culinary director, the acclaimed chef Jacques Pepin, has supervised five-star menus on all of Oceanias six ships. Insignias Executive Chef Farid Oudir came up with some wonderful main dishes at dinner -- lobster thermidor, roasted guinea fowl, sea bass, prime rib, Vermont turkey, red snapper, osso bucowith creative starters, soups, salads and desserts. The right side of the dinner menu always included Pepins signature dishes (steak, chicken, salmon) and selections from Red Ginger and Jacques, the two specialty restaurants on Oceanias larger ships. On the left side were healthy choices chosen by the ships spa and a four-course degustation menu with suggestions for wine pairing. Still reviews among passengers were mixed. Some were pleased, others felt the food on previous Oceania cruises had been better. Some singled out certain dishes they found lacking. As for me, I enjoyed every dinner course but two on our 12-day cruise. Not a bad batting average. Alternatives to the dining room include reservations-only specialty restaurants, Polo Grill and Toscano, which seemed to please most passengers, including us. The Waves Grill on the pool deck had a salad bar and made-to-order sandwiches, including a Kobe beef burger. We had breakfast every morning in the Terrace Caf and loved the amazing variety of buffet itemseggs, salmon, cheese, fruit, breakfast meats, cereal, yogurt, potatoes. The staff puts your selections on plates for you; healthier than allowing guests to serve themselves. One night when we didnt feel like getting gussied up for the dining room, we had dinner in the Terrace Caf, expecting burgers and hot dogs. Not so. Many of the menu items served at dinner downstairs on deck 5 appear on the buffet up on deck 9. We had lobster and grilled-to-order steak. We never made use of room service. Bill felt it would feel too confining, but some passengers seemed to appreciate the convenience of dining in their staterooms. One, however, said she complained to the concierge that her morning coffee and evening soup were both cold. Entertainment: Reviews of Insignias lineup of nightly entertainment were mixed, too. Most passengers seemed to enjoy the guest comedian and pianist, others were lukewarm on the guest singer and ventriloquist. The on-board cast, from the U.S. and U.K., sang and danced their hearts out at night, though some guests seemed not to appreciate their performances. On the first night I looked around the Insignia Lounge and noticed some were actually asleep. During the day the Four Seasons String Quartet played in the Hall and Horizons Lounge. In the evening Constantine tickled the ivories in Martinis and the Insignia Show Band backed up performers in the Insignia Lounge. Cruise Director Leslie Jon, whose long career as a performer put him in the Hollywood Bowl, Japans Mikado Theatre and the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, among many others, kept the ship running smoothly, overseeing the nightly entertainment and daytime activities, including the many special events on our holiday cruise. Fellow passengers: Among the most positive aspects of a cruise on Insignia, its relatively small size gives passengers the opportunity to get to know each other. We didnt meet every Tom, Dick, and Harry but did have dinner with one of each, along with their spouses. There is no assigned seating or time for dinner in the Grand Dining Room and two specialty restaurants. Passengers usually have the option of dining alone or at a table with others. We met people from Germany, the U.K. and states across the U.S. and overhead conversations in Italian, French and Spanish.
bardeg60 saw things this way:
Value For Money
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
4
5
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
5
5
5
5
From start to finish, one of the most amazing trips we have been on, August 9, 2011
Reviewer: bardeg60
Pros: The staff, the food, the camaradarie among passengers
Cons: Cannot think of one
Date of cruise: June 8, 2023
Departure port: Rome
Region visited: Mediterranean
Cabin category: Outside
Cabin number: 3029
Good for children: No
Good for teenagers: No
From the very moment you get off the airline, the staff and crew of Oceania Insignia take care of you. They are efficient in getting you through the airport and onto the ship. The ship is great. The rooms are wonderful, the beds are to die for, and the staff that take care of your rooms are always superb. Dining in the main dining room is a fantastic experience, but dining in the specialty restaurants is an out-of-this-world experience. The trips are always planned to appeal to the most people and, generally, their guides are outstanding. They are able to balance sightseeing with shopping and local specialties. We are looking forward to our next cruise with Oceania.
jerryw saw things this way:
Value For Money
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Staff and Service
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Staff and Service
4
4
1
5
5
5
4
1
5
5
5
A well run ship, excellent service and food, January 22, 2011
Reviewer: jerryw
Pros: great sGrvice aboard, great food
Cons: Poor entertainment; small staterooms, all same size; expensive computer e-mail
Date of cruise: January 2, 2011
Departure port: Buenos aires
Region visited: South America
Cabin category: Balcony
Cabin number: 7084
Good for children: No
Good for teenagers: No
Overall, a fine ship, excellent service, great food. Some small stops in Brazil were a waste of time All staterooms are same size, too small, even though most had balconies Very poor entertainment and onboard shopping Expensive charges for computer use for e-mails Excellent library
morplorp saw things this way:
Value For Money
Cabin Design
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Spa
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
Cabin Design
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Spa
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
5
4
5
4
5
5
5
5
4
5
4
5
5
5
5
Very pleased with the ship, especially the culture of the crew, October 21, 2010
Reviewer: morplorp
Pros: Size, food, dress policy
Cons: Rooms are small unless one books the butler level
Date of cruise: October 1, 2010
Departure port: Barcelona
Region visited: Mediterranean
Cabin category: Suite
Cabin number: 8059
Good for children: No
Good for teenagers: No
This ship is excellent. The food was delicious and the staff exhibited a great spirit. They seem to enjoy working on this ship. The executive chef is quite approachable, the cellar master is a master sommelier, the workout director is excellent and the purser's desk is into customer service. Do not know about the excursions as my husband and I book our own tour guides for our stops. The only negative is the lack of adequate laundry facilities. This was a source of angst for many!
mo33biz saw things this way:
Value For Money
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
5
4
3
5
5
5
5
4
3
5
5
5
5
Wonderful cruise experience on Insignia, August 18, 2010
Reviewer: mo33biz
Pros: Ship decor, cleanliness, food and service
Cons: Nightly entertainment good but not great
Date of cruise: November 7, 2010
Departure port: Amesterdam
Region visited: Europe
Cabin category: Outside
Cabin number: 6026
Good for children: No
Good for teenagers: No
We went on the Windmills and Wonders cruise in July. We were able to get 2-for-1 pricing with pre-paid gratuities and an onboard credit from our travel agent. The food and the service on this ship is all top shelf. The crew is genuinely friendly and everyone we met had a "can do" attitude. Nothing was ever a problem. We had an oceanview stateroom, not a balcony, which I thought I would be disappointed in but it was fine. Bathroom and especially the shower area is small but again, fine. Nightly entertainment is just okay but that's what you can expect from small ship cruising, they don't have the room for lavish productions. Overall, a great cruise- I highly recommend Oceania.
jpsm31 saw things this way:
Value For Money
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Specialty Restaurant
Staff and Service
5
3
4
5
5
5
5
5
3
4
5
5
5
5
5
The right size -- a pleasure not to have to get dressed up, wonderful food, August 17, 2010
Reviewer: jpsm31
Pros: Food. attitude of staff, ship size and design, library
Cons: Bathroom size
Date of cruise: April 3, 2010
Departure port: Rio de Janeiro
Region visited: Transoceanic
Cabin category: Balcony
Cabin number: ? Concierge Deck
Good for children: No
Good for teenagers: No
This is a most wonderful experience, from staff attitude to the "country club casual" dress code. The food is the equal of New York five-star restaurants. We are looking forward to the French specialty restaurant when the Marina starts up. I would recommend Oceania to anybody except those with minor children.
