oceania cruise insignia reviews

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Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 84 guests have reviewed Insignia , giving it a rating of 4.1 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type, most recent reviews.

Not what we expected

Aug 4th, 2024

Will not return to this cruise line due to poor food. Lack of choices of chardonay, even though we purchased the upgraded beverage package they would not permit us to take a bottle of wine to the room. Plus wi-fi does not work and they don't seem to want to fix it.

Traveler Type

The Great North

Jul 29th, 2024

We were disappointed that 2 of 3 ports in Greenland were eliminated due to weather and icebergs but despite that the visit to Nuuk and the Nuuk fjord gave us the Greenland experience we desired.

Apr 19th, 2024

WE HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE , THE ITINERARY WAS VERY NICE , I WAS A ONE TIME TRIP

Family (young children)

Great fun while on board.

Jan 6th, 2024

We booked another cruise this summer on the same ship, so that should tell you all you need to know!

4-6 cruises

Disappointing experience

Jan 1st, 2024

Beware of the offer of $100 on-board credit for stockholders. They don't honor it for "sale" prices. I've never seen an offer for a cruise that isn't a "sale". I complained in writing after carefully reviewing their Terms and Conditions which list all the exclusions and sales were not excluded. Never got a response, so while on-board, I complained in-person. They checked with "headquarters" and I got the on-board credit the next day. A lot of work for $100, but it was the principle.

No luxury cruises again

Dec 24th, 2023

I would rather do 4 regular cruises,than pay the kind of money I did.Partially my own fault.I am not a big drinker.The crowd was mostly friendly and educated.Not one obese person.

Singles/Friends

Disappointing

Oct 26th, 2023

We had an EXCELLENT experience on this ship last Dec/Jan 18 day Panama Canal). The food was outstanding and so we naturally expected the same on this cruise. I don’t know what happened between Jan and Sept but it appears to be a corporate issue and seems unfortunately to be fleet wide. My brother is currently on Riviera and experiencing the same poor MDR entrees. Specialty restaurants are excellent as are pastries and desserts. Oceania is losing loyal customers due to this poor decision. Menus were terrible as was the execution of entrees. I will not book again until convinced this has been fixed. Oceania is not an inexpensive line and there is no excuse for poor food. The crew was excellent as always!

Fall trip with friends

Oct 11th, 2023

We had a mix of wonderful, mediocre, and disappointing meals. Also, few of our port arrivals were late causing us to miss seeing planned sights. I know some of these delays could have also been due to the port not clearing us to dock promptly but some were not. My biggest issue was the day we returned to the ship and the crew was wearing masks. We asked if there was an outbreak of Covid and we’re told that “Everything is fine, it’s just a precaution “. It was NOT fine. I realize travel is a risky venture since Covid but find their lack of transparency surprising. Honesty and up front awareness of onboard illness gives us all a better chance to protect ourselves.

Extremely Disappointed with Oceania

Sep 24th, 2023

A luxury cruise is supposed to provide just that. The customer service is why you pay extra. Customer service did not even seem to be on Oceania's radar. They were understaffed with a poor attitude (most, not all). They were trained to follow the rules of the corporation, not to satisfy the customer, even in small ways. If you requested something, it was as if they were doing you a favor. It was like a "rule-book" slowdown. If Oceania expects to compete in this space, they should behave like a luxury line, not a low end mass market cruise.

Gorgeous Bermuda Islands

Sep 16th, 2023

We were looking for a relaxing cruise with excellent food - and absolutley found it in this cruise. We had perfect weather. The Bermuda islands - beautiful beaches and stunning, clean water. Wow.

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Oceania Insignia

Former names: columbus 2 (hapag-lloyd cruises), r1, r-one (renaissance cruises).

Cruise line Oceania Cruises

• Miami (Florida)
• New York (NYC Manhattan-Brooklyn)

Oceania Insignia current position

Oceania Insignia current location is at Baltic Sea (coordinates 59.27303 N / 18.96663 E) cruising at speed of 14.6 kn (27 km/h | 17 mph) en route to STOCKHOLM. The AIS position was reported 3 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Oceania Insignia

Oceania Insignia current cruise is 51 days, round-trip Epic Northern Hemisphere New York to New York . The itinerary starts on 12 Jul, 2024 and ends on 01 Sep, 2024 .

Specifications of Oceania Insignia

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Oceania Insignia Itineraries

Oceania insignia review, review of oceania insignia.

The 1998-built (as "R One") Oceania Insignia cruise ship is the first/oldest of the R-(Renaissance)-Class liners, with sisterships Nautica, Regatta and Sirena (former Ocean Princess). Oceania ship Insignia was drydock-refurbished in 2018 (November-December) by the company's OceaniaNEXT fleet renovation project (2019-2020).

The vessel (IMO number 9156462) is currently Marshall Islands /France- flagged (MMSI 538001663) and registered in Majuro .

History - construction and ownership

Oceania Cruises is a US passenger shipping company and luxury travel brand owned by NCLH-Norwegian (shipowner), Between April 2007 and September 2014, the company (as part of "Prestige Cruise Holdings") was owned by Apollo Management LP - one of the world's largest private investment equity funds. Since September 2014, Oceania and the sister company RSSC-Regent are owned by NCLH - acquired at a total cost of USD 3 billion. Oceania ships offer luxury cruises with relatively shorter itineraries, as well as Around The World voyages up to 180 days in length.

The 700-passenger ship Insignia is currently back to Oceania Cruises. The concise history of ms Insignia includes the names of ms R One (1998-2003), ms Insignia (2004-2012) and ms Columbus 2 (2012-2014) as former names of a single passenger ship. Hapag-Lloyd decided not to renew MS Insignia's charter after 2014.

Decks and Cabins

Oceania Insignia staterooms (349 total, in 16 grades) include 62 Suites, 170 Balcony, 89 Oceanview (including 14 single-occupancy) and 28 Inside cabins. Most staterooms (66%) are Balcony and sized 175 ft2 / 16 m2. Most cabin balconies are smaller (sized 45 ft2 / 4 m2).

The largest accommodations are the Owners Suites (620 ft / 58 m2 plus 345 ft2 / 32 m2 terrace).

The boat has 11 decks , of which 9 are passenger-accessible and 5 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Oceania guests take advantage of the flexibility of 4 open-seating dining venues. The Grand Dining Room serves Continental cuisine. it is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Alternative, reservations-required options are Toscana, which offers gourmet Italian food, and the steak house Polo Grill. The buffet restaurant Terraces serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is transformed into "Tapas on the Terrace" at night for a relaxed atmosphere. All dining venues have bars, and there is no cover charge. In addition, a poolside grill offers hamburgers, sandwiches and salads at lunchtime. There is also a pizzeria in the buffet area. The observation lounge Horizons serves afternoon tea. Room service is available 24 hours.

Follows the complete list of Insignia restaurants and food bars.

• Grand Dining Room (complimentary 340-seat restaurant for open seating Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner; offers French-inspired dishes, and menus change daily)
• Toscana (96-seat Italian fine dining restaurant, dinner-only, reservations-only, complimentary; offers traditional Italian cuisine)
• Polo Grill (96-seat Steakhouse restaurant, complimentary; reservations required).

Waves Grill is a casual fast-food bar serving the Pool Deck with made-to-order daily specialties and gourmet gelato/fresh-made ice cream. On offer are 20+ items, including burgers with sides of fresh-made salads, coleslaw, hand-cut fries, Surf & Turf Wagyu Burger, Philly Cheesesteak (hot sandwich) and cold sandwiches. In the evenings, Waves Grill transforms into an alfresco Pizzeria serving fresh-backed pizzas, grilled Italian specialties, salads, rosemary focaccia with burrata, and desserts like Nutella pizza.

Terrace Cafe & Bar is a complimentary, casual buffet restaurant open for Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner (daily changing menus), with both indoor and outdoor sitting. Terrace Bar also doubles as a small Pizzeria. In the evenings, Terrace Cafe transforms into "Tapas On The Terrace" restaurant serving traditional Mediterranean food. During dinner service, once per cruise, at Terrace Cafe opens the Indian Corner (themed food station offering 15 authentic Indian dishes).

Lido Buffet's Sushi Station offers 45 recipes, including two kinds of sashimi and uramaki, and three of nigiri, plus a daily vegetarian sushi.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Insignia welcomes her guest in an amazing country club atmosphere while her cruises offer an unforgettable adventure travel experience. The mid-size of ms Insignia and the fact that she is non-crowded allows her guest to relax completely.

Follows the complete list of Insignia lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Insignia Lounge (main showroom/theatre for live evening entertainment and themed dancing parties; hosts daily trivia quizzes, lectures and presentations)
• The Casino (operates with USD bets; served by the Casino Bar)
• Martinis (a piano bar serving a variety of Martinis)
• Two Boutiques (duty-free perfumes, jewelry, Oceania-logo merchandise, clothes, gifts, convenience goods)
• Upper Hall lounge area (with grand piano for live performances; served by the Martinis Bar)
• Grand Bar (wine bar; hosts wine tastings; served by Baristas making complimentary illy beverages)
• Insignia Wellness Center (includes a Spa Terrace, Spa Whirlpool, Steam Rooms, Treatment Rooms, Styling Salon, Canyon Ranch Spa Club, Fitness/Gym, and Boardroom (cards playing and board games; Canyon Ranch Spa Club treatments include: Acupuncture, Ayurveda, Healing Energy, Body Wraps and Scrubs, Skin Care, Tanning, Massages and Exotic Treatments.)
• Oceania@Sea (24-hour Internet computers room; Private lessons/group classes are also provided)
• Pool area (with one swimming pool, two Whirlpools, sunbathing area and a Band Stand; served by the Waves Bar)
• The Patio (outdoor shaded lounge with chairs, daybeds, sofas)
• Horizons (Lounge & Bar served by the Horizons Bar; has floor-ceiling windows, live entertainment, full bar; also serves Afternoon Tea; becomes a nightclub at night)
• Fitness Track (Power Walking/Jogging Track); Promenade (Deck 5)
• The Library (1000+ books of which many port-destination guide books)
• Sun Deck (served by the Polo Bar; has sunloungers, showers, deck games - Shuffleboard, Golf Driving Net, 9-hole Mini-Golf putting greens).

Itineraries

MS Insignia's itinerary program is based on luxury World Cruises roundtrip from Miami with various segments, Mediterranean itineraries, Asia cruises with departures from Singapore and Hong Kong , voyages in Australia and South Pacific, Panama Canal transits and Transatlantic repositioning crossings.

The ship's 2022 schedule included a 196-day world voyage visiting 6 continents (44 countries, 43 islands, 91 ports, 68 UNESCO sites), 19 overnights, navigation in 23 waterways (4 oceans, 19 seas), with 22 time-zone crossings, 2 equator crossings.

Photos of Oceania Insignia

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Other Oceania Cruises cruise ships

• Oceania Allura
• Oceania Marina
• Oceania Nautica
• Oceania Regatta
• Oceania Riviera
• Oceania Sirena
• Oceania Vista

Oceania Insignia Wiki

Oceania Cruises Insignia ship is the company's first and oldest vessel of the R-class (R stands for "Renaissance"), with sisterships the fleetmates Nautica , Regatta , Sirena. Other vessels with this design are the Azamara fleetmates Azamara Journey , Azamara Pursuit , Azamara Quest , Azamara Onward .

The vessel (Chantiers de l’Atlantique yard/hull number H31R1) is powered by four WARTSILA marine diesel engines (model 12V32) with combined output 13,5 MW. The registered shipowner is NCL BAHAMAS LTD, while the current ship manager is INSIGNIA VESSEL ACQUISITION.

MS Insignia was ordered and operated as "R One" by Renaissance Cruises in the period 1998-2003. After the line's bankruptcy, the ship was bought and renamed "Insignia" (2004-2012). Between 2012 and 2014 she was operated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises as "Columbus 2".

On September 2, 2014, the NCL Norwegian company purchased the company "Prestige Cruise Holdings" (owner of Oceania and RSSC-Regent Seven Seas ) for USD 3,025 billion, thus becoming the official owner of all vessels in both fleets.

In 2017, Insignia became the 3rd Oceania Cruises ship to visit Cuba - following the fleet mates Marina (2016) and Regatta (2017). In February 2017, the company announced the addition of 6 more (Insignia) cruises to Cuba from Miami Florida . Itineraries (ranging 6-13 days in length) were scheduled between November 14 and December 21 (2017). Four of those included Havana overnight stays. Oceania ships operated a variety of itineraries, including a circumnavigation of Cuba (with stops in ports Cienfuegos and Havana ) and also visiting Cuba as part of some Panama Canal transition cruises .

The Apollo Group company provides all Oceania ships with the entire onboard hotel product and services. This includes administration, food staff (preparation and serving), housekeeping staff, also the vessel's provisioning and crewing. Other cruise lines served by Apollo are Thomson UK (Marella Cruises) and RSSC-Regent .

Oceania Insignia refurbishment 2018 review

Insignia ship's OceaniaNEXT refurbishment 2018 (November 18 - December 6, at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport Bahamas ) resulted in the following changes.

• New public spaces include open-floor design Lobby with Reception Hall (lower level) and Upper Hall (2nd level). They are connected via Grand Staircase (decorated with railings and balustrades) and feature a large crystal chandelier (with hanging pieces of hand-painted glass).
• Grand Dining Room (aft on Deck 5) received new premium dining furniture (leather chairs with metallic bronze threading) and new crystal chandelier.
• Martinis (piano bar lounge on Deck 5) was redesigned, new silver-white marble bar top and walnut paneling were added.
• All staterooms were completely overhauled (redesigned and refurnished) and upgraded with custom-made furniture, polished wood, stone finishes, designer accessories, smart HDTVs (interactive / infotainment system with movies-on-demand and Internet), USB ports, LED lighting.
• All cabin bathrooms were overhauled and received new tiling, surfaces, fixtures, designer accessories, vanities, glass shower enclosures.
• Penthouse-Vista-Owner suite bathrooms were enlarged and upgraded with Carrara marble, onyx and polished granite tops.

Oceania's 2018-2022 refurbishment projects (ships Insignia, Nautica, Regatta, Sirena) cost the company ~USD 100 million.

Oceania Insignia refurbishment 2016 review

The list of deckplan changes after the ship's 2016 drydock refurbishment (April 24-May 8, at CNM-Chantier Naval de Marseille in Marseille France ) included:

• All passenger cabins received new decors, new furnishings and luxury fabrics.
• All cabin bathrooms were upgraded with oversized showers. Owner and Vista suite bathrooms received new vanities (made of onyx and granite).
• Penthouse Suites were remodeled like on Marina-Riviera ships.
• "Horizons" bar lounge (Deck 10) received new colors and furnishings.
• All lounges were renovated with new carpeting, chairs, premium fabrics and upholstery.
• "Martinis" bar lounge (Deck 5) and Lido Pool area (Deck 9) received new furnishings.
• Ship's Spa complex (Deck 9) was remodeled with 2 new steam rooms, while locker rooms were redecorated with new custom-made tiles and mosaics.
• Terrace Cafe (buffet on Deck 9 aft) was redecorated, and Terrace Grill station was added (similar to Marina-Riviera ships).
• Grand Bar (Deck 5) received Barista coffee machines and the amenities were upgraded with complimentary illy coffees and gourmet desserts.
• New deck games (Deck 11) include Shuffleboard and 9-hole Mini-Golf putting green.

Oceania ships refurbishment 2016 project (for Insignia, Nautica, Regatta) cost the company ~USD 50 million.

Oceania World Cruise 2024 itinerary

On March 2, 2022, Oceania opened for booking Insignia's "2024 Around the World in 180 Days". The voyage visits 96 ports/islands (34 countries, 78 complimentary shore excursions) and crosses 3 oceans and 15 seas. Curiously, the voyage was sold out within just ~30 minutes of the sale opening. Oceania announced that 42% of the "World Voyage 2022" customers booked "World Voyage 2024", and 18% of the bookings opted for the 196-day extension package.

The 180-day itinerary departs from Los Angeles (January 14) and visits popular destinations in Hawaii, French Polynesia, Samoa, Australia and New Zealand, Asia - Indonesia (Bali), Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto), Myanmar (Yangon/Rangoon), India, Arabian Peninsula, Europe (Mediterranean), follows a Transatlantic crossing to the USA and the voyage ends in NYC New York.

Prices started from USD 48500 per person with double occupancy (for the 180-day voyage) and USD 53000 pp (for the 196-day voyage). The 196-day itinerary starts from Miami Florida (Dec 29, 2023) and prior to Los Angeles visits George Town Grand Cayman (Dec 31), Cartagena Colombia (Jan 2), Panama Canal (transit on Jan 3)Puntarenas Costa Rica (Jan 5), Corinto Nicaragua (Jan 6), Puerto Quetzal Guatemala (Jan 7), Acapulco Mexico (Jan 9), Cabo San Lucas Mexico (Jan 11) and Ensenada Mexico (Jan 13).

Fares were inclusive of First Class Roundtrip Flight, Roundtrip Transfers, Visa Package, Pre-Paid Gratuities (max US$8200), Onboard Medical Care, Onboard Internet, Laundry Services, Luggage Delivery, 1-Night Pre-Cruise Hotel.

Oceania World Cruise 2023 itinerary

In mid-January 2021 Oceania introduced its "2023 Around The World in 180 Days" voyage. General public bookings opened on January 27. The company's "ultimate B2B" (back-to-back) was the 217-day itinerary from Miami to NYC.

The 180-day roundtrip from San Francisco CA (January 15, 2023) visits 96 ports/destinations in 33 countries across 4 continents, 60+ UNESCO sites, 20 port overnights, cruising in Antarctica. The Antarctic experience features 3 full days of scenic cruising in the South Shetland Islands - including Half Moon Island and Admiralty Bay ( King George Island ) and Paradise Harbor (Graham Land).

Next table shows the 217-day B2B leaving in 2022 (Dec 28).

All bookings on Oceania's World Cruise 2023 receive either 64 free shore excursions or a free USD 6400 per person OBC (shipboard credit) or a free beverage package. In addition to those inclusions, all bookings also receive Oceania's "Exclusive Prestige Package" with free perks like first-class roundtrip flights from various North American airports, pre-paid gratuities (up to USD 8200 pp), onboard medical care, unlimited WiFi Internet, laundry services, shoreside events, visa package, luggage delivery (Canadian and USA passengers), 1-night pre-cruise luxury hotel (in the embarkation port), roundtrip bus transfers (within 80 km / 50 mi from the embarkation port).

Oceania also offers the option for extending the Around The World cruise 2023 up to 218 days by adding the following segments:

• December 28, 2022 - 198-day from Miami to San Francisco
• December 28, 2022 - 214-day roundtrip from Miami
• December 28, 2022 - 218-day from Miami to NYC New York
• January 15, 2023 - 180-day roundtrip from San Francisco
• January 15, 2023 - 200-day from San Francisco to NYC

Oceania World Cruise 2022 itinerary

The 196-day "World Cruise 2022" itinerary (Dec 21, 2021, thru July 5, 2022) covers 6 continents (44 countries, 43 islands, 91 ports, 68 UNESCO sites), and features 18 port overnights, navigation in 23 waterways (4 oceans and 19 seas), 22 time-zone crossings and 2 equator crossings.

The voyage was also offered in smaller itinerary segments, including the "180 Days Around The World" itinerary leaving from Los Angeles.

Insignia's World Voyage 2022 prices started from EUR 37540 pp (double-occupancy cabin rates).

Oceania World Cruise 2021 itinerary (CANCELED)

For 2021, Oceania Cruises planned for the Insignia ship a 181-day World Voyage roundrip from the USA (Miami to NYC). Eventually, in early-October 2020, NCLH (shipowner and Oceania's parent company) canceled the sailing due to the ongoing COVID-related international travel restrictions.

181-day from Miami to NYC New York - prices from USD 87000 pp

Note: Oceania Insignia World Cruise 2020 (194-day itinerary "Grand Expedition" roundtrip from Miami) was INTERRUPTED due to the pandemic.

• Oceania Cruises

By Goofyisme , December 8, 2021 in Oceania Cruises

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Don't see much on these boards about Insignia.  Considering a cruise on her and would like to hear other's opinions.  What do you love or dislike about her?  Any input appreciated.

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37 minutes ago, Goofyisme said: Don't see much on these boards about Insignia.  Considering a cruise on her and would like to hear other's opinions.  What do you love or dislike about her?  Any input appreciated.

Oceania has four Regatta Class “R ships” including Insignia. With a few exceptions (mostly Sirena mods), they are all identical.

Insignia is O’s ATW ship which has it doing non-repeat segments over basically the first six months of each calendar year. Beyond the ATW passengers, you’ll find a fair number of folks doing multiple segments. That includes us. We’ll be doing about seven weeks from May to July in 2022 (CPT-LIS and LIS-NYC).

Beyond the non-repeat itineraries over those first six months, you’ll also find that the Insignia Exec chef has a bit more of a discretionary budget and flexibility to avoid menu repetition. 

We like the small ship experience  We like the R ships  as well as the O class ships  just depends on the itinerary

You get to see the same people  more often  than on the larger ships

No line ups or at least if any they are short

 We do not mind the smaller cabins but some do  not  it is  a personal choice

 The ship gets into some of the smaller ports 

Anything specific you are concerned about?

We were on Insignia just prior to the Covid shutdown.  The ship was in great shape.  Everything looked updated.  We had PH8057.  It was a nice quiet location.  We sailed from Miami and check-in was smooth and quick.  Of course, that may be different now 😩 .  The food in every venue was wonderful, the staff was friendly and our butler was super efficient.  He took good care of us with daily canapés and pouring our chilled champagne.  Since we previously sailed on Riviera we did miss having four specialty restaurants to choose from.  We were not able to get any extra reservations for the specialties so we made good use of the GDR and the Terrace.  The lobster tails are always a winner.  We  liked the size of the ship - it’s very manageable.  Overall, it was a lovely cruise.  We would be happy to sail on Insignia again.

We've sailed on Insignia as well as the other R ships and always had a wonderful time. That said, we do miss the variety of speciality restaurants offered on the O ships.  Itinerary is the main factor in our decision and our 2022 cruise is on the Sirena (hopefully). Then, we can't wait for 2023 when we get to sail on the new Vista.

3 hours ago, LHT28 said: We like the small ship experience  We like the R ships  as well as the O class ships  just depends on the itinerary You get to see the same people  more often  than on the larger ships No line ups or at least if any they are short  We do not mind the smaller cabins but some do  not  it is  a personal choice  The ship gets into some of the smaller ports    Anything specific you are concerned about?        

No specific concerns.  Have been on ships this size before and enjoyed them.  I guess a small concern with cabin and bathroom size but as long as there is a nice balcony and good food we should be fine.  Just haven't seen much discussion about this ship.

2 minutes ago, Goofyisme said: No specific concerns.  Have been on ships this size before and enjoyed them.  I guess a small concern with cabin and bathroom size but as long as there is a nice balcony and good food we should be fine.  Just haven't seen much discussion about this ship.

Have you perused the Insignia Roll Calls? Some of them (like the ATW ones) continue into/during the cruise.  Right now, the “December 21, 2021 ATW and segments” one is active.

Insignia is being worked on now..

1 hour ago, Goofyisme said: No specific concerns.  Have been on ships this size before and enjoyed them.  I guess a small concern with cabin and bathroom size but as long as there is a nice balcony and good food we should be fine.  Just haven't seen much discussion about this ship.

yes bathrooms in the A & below are tight  but work fine  LOL

We do not have a problem with the shower but some people do

We have been in smaller ships & the R ships can handle their own in rough seas

DeanoNorthPerth

My first ever cruise was on Insignia. Great way to start and made me fall in love with all things Oceania.

Yes I guess the shower is my biggest concern, but everything else looks really nice and I have enjoyed  ships this size in the past so just trying to make a decision.  Everyone's help is appreciated.

2 hours ago, DeanoNorthPerth said: My first ever cruise was on Insignia. Great way to start and made me fall in love with all things Oceania.

So was ours - all the way back in the prehistoric year of 2007!  

• 3 weeks later...

Trying to decide between concierge veranda and penthouse suite. We normally don’t like being under the pool area and outdoor eating areas where people are often moving chairs and making noise especially early morning on sea days. I was wondering if this has ever been an issue for anyone on Insignia?

 Our last O cruise was on the Insignia. We enjoyed our cruise so much , that we decided NO more Celebrity or Royal Carib cruises. Even Viking  did not satisfy us the way Insignia did.

Best food we had ever eaten. That is saying a lot, since we are very picky. 

The size of the ship, almost felt we were on a large private yacht. The staff went out of their way to treat us very specially. 

The activities were fun. Lots to do. 

Yes you get to see the same people, very conducive to forming bonds. 

Would go right now...but Alas....

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7 best Bermuda cruises for 2024 and beyond

Those who live in the Northeast have long known the lure of cruising to Bermuda. Word is out that, like cruises to the Bahamas or the Caribbean , many cruise lines offer both long and short cruises that include a stop in Bermuda. Cruise lines are deploying some of their best ships to serve these routes — sometimes even their newest.

And what's not to love about Bermuda? The archipelago encompasses a mere 21 square miles. Six main islands are connected by bridges, and all are encircled by pink sand beaches, coral reefs with genuine shipwrecks waiting for divers and even snorkelers to explore and surprisingly warm turquoise water, considering Bermuda's subtropical location in the North Atlantic.

Many Bermuda itineraries include an overnight stay in port, providing greater flexibility for on-island activities than the few hours you typically get at other ports of call. It's easy to book an excursion independent of the ship when you know there's little risk of being left behind by an afternoon or evening departure. There are multiple beaches, restaurants and bars that you might never have the time to visit on a shorter stay.

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Many dedicated Bermuda cruises (those with Bermuda as their primary destination) leave from East Coast port cities like New York, Baltimore and Boston. Mainstream lines like Carnival Cruise Line , Royal Caribbean , Norwegian Cruise Line , MSC Cruises and Celebrity Cruises operate Bermuda cruises. The Bermuda cruise season for most of these lines typically runs from early May to well into October, with a few outliers stretching the season all the way to the December holidays.

You'll also find nondedicated cruises that stop in Bermuda as part of the Caribbean, the Bahamas or repositioning cruises.

We rounded up some of our favorite Bermuda itineraries that depart from the East Coast and offer something for every type of traveler. Whether you've cruised to Bermuda in the past or not, these are all worth considering.

6-, 7- or 14-night Bermuda cruise on MSC Meraviglia

Meraviglia offers a multiple-choice array of Bermuda cruises, all sailing from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in New York City's Red Hook neighborhood.

The 5,714-passenger vessel is fully loaded with a water park and a high-tech mall-like promenade with an LED-illuminated ceiling. Guests looking for a more luxurious cruise can book a cabin in the MSC Yacht Club, which provides exclusive ship-within-a-ship amenities like a private pool and a lounge area.

Meraviglia's six- and seven-night Bermuda cruises include two nights docked in King's Wharf on the southern portion of the Royal Naval Dockyard, where most Bermuda cruises dock. This allows guests ample time to fully explore the island's nautical history at museums in Hamilton or to eat and drink their way through a few British pubs. The six-night sailing includes two sea days, while the seven-night cruises have three.

The 14-night cruises pair a six- or seven-night itinerary with either a cruise north to Canada and New England or one bound for the Bahamas. The southern version includes a stop at MSC's Ocean Cay Marine Reserve private island with its spa treatments at the beach, cabana rentals and even late evening stays at the island, complete with beach bonfires and stargazing. MSC only operates these routes late in the season, in August and September.

Who should go : Fans of Big ships will be at home on Meraviglia. It's among the largest ships currently cruising to Bermuda, offering the full megaship experience. The cruise itineraries offered on Meraviglia are for anyone looking for almost three full days in port in Bermuda and the ability to take advantage of an add-on itinerary that goes elsewhere. Even booking back-to-back cruises on most other lines only gets you two cruises to Bermuda, not a completely different itinerary as MSC offers.

Related: Everything you need to know about MSC Cruises cabins and suites

9-night Bermuda and Perfect Day cruise on Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas

This sailing might be an ideal cruise for honeymooners or couples of all ages. The itinerary pairs an overnight stay at King's Wharf with a trip to the Bahamas that includes Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay .

Vision of the Seas is an intimate ship by Royal Caribbean standards, carrying just over 2,000 passengers. However, it's not light on Royal Caribbean-style fun, so expect a full array of stage shows and dance parties. There are a rock climbing wall and an adults-only Solarium pool, and dining choices include Giovanni's Table and the line's famous Chops Steakhouse.

The cruise includes a total of four sea days (because you know you need a vacation from your vacation), 23 hours in port in Bermuda and a stop in Nassau in the Bahamas, with a wrap-up at CocoCay for even more beach time. It's a boatload of fun bundled into one package.

The ship is currently listed as sailing from Baltimore, but guests are advised directly of alternate port accommodations for their specific sailings.

Who should go : This is not a "quick escape" cruise. It's a big cruise, perfect for an extended break from the world. While there are activities for kids on board, it's a ship adults are more likely to enjoy — large enough to stay entertained but small enough to allow some quiet space on those long days at sea. In addition to ocean view and interior cabins, the ship has 229 balcony cabins and 97 suites, giving everyone plenty of options.

Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean cruise ships and itineraries

4-night Bermuda cruise from Manhattan on Carnival Venezia

Carnival Venezia offers the perfect opportunity to spend a night or three in New York City and then easily hop on a ship bound for Bermuda. You'll get an initial sea day to recoup from your whirlwind visit to the Big Apple, followed by a beachy day in port at King's Harbor and a final day at sea to enjoy all the ship offers.

Venezia carries just over 4,000 passengers at double occupancy. It was originally owned by Italy-based Costa Cruises, joining the Carnival fleet in 2023. (Carnival Corporation is the parent company of both Costa and Carnival.) It's a bit of a hybrid. The vessel underwent an overhaul to add many of Carnival's signature venues but kept some of the original Costa-aligned design. You'll get all the Carnival fun surrounded by elegant Italian decor — specifically, Venetian decor with light colors accented by lots of gold and glass. There's even a faux canal and a full-size gondola in the main dining room. The theme carries through right to the wall coverings and art in the cabins.

The ship features two pools (including one with a retractable roof in case the weather isn't cooperating), a water park and an adults-only Serenity sundeck area with two whirlpool spas. In place of the exclusive Havana areas found on some Carnival ships, the Terrazza Carnevale area features a private sundeck and whirlpools for use only by guests staying in Terrazza cabins.

Who should go : Carnival Venezia's short itinerary makes it ideal for a New York City/Bermuda combo trip. The ship works well for families or groups of adults traveling together, with plenty of activities around the clock for all ages. The ship has an abundance of budget-friendly interior and ocean-view cabins. However, with fewer than 1,000 balcony rooms and only 20 suites, guests looking for those options should book early because Carnival runs a rather short Bermuda season between late May and the end of September. Also, look for six- and seven-night options at the end of the season.

Related: America's cruise line has gone Italian — or has it?

5-night Bermuda cruise on Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas

If you're looking for a bit more time in Bermuda but can't devote a whole week, this may be your cruise. Sailing from the Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey, means you don't even have to go into Manhattan if you don't care to explore the city. Five nights is a nice length for an escape cruise — just enough time to explore Bermuda and two full days at sea enjoying all the goodies on board the ship.

Liberty of the Seas is a workhorse in the Royal Caribbean fleet, featuring something designed to please every age or type of cruiser. It's outfitted with the line's iconic top-deck waterslides and FlowRider surf simulator. It also features an ice rink, parades in the massive interior promenade and even a pickleball court. The ship has an adults-only solarium if you're looking for a quiet zone. There are more specialty eateries than you're likely to be able to try out in five days, including the line's elegant Chef's Table experience.

Who should go : The ship is fantastic for anyone looking for a quick escape. A multigenerational family reunion, perhaps? There are enough cabin choices to please family members in the group with different sizes and budget needs. Liberty of the Seas is also a good choice for suite lovers. There are 120 suites on board, including a four-bedroom Family Villa and a handful of two-bedroom Family Grand suites.

Related: The best cruises from New York you can book in 2024 and 2025

7-night multiport Bermuda cruise on Oceania Insignia

For a completely different Bermuda cruise, Oceania Cruises has a couple of Bermuda cruises from Manhattan that include two overnights in the capital city of Hamilton before moving to the lesser-known port of St. George. A bonus port of call is in Newport, Rhode Island. Having the ship positioned somewhere other than King's Wharf cruise port gives passengers easy access to shopping and dining in Hamilton and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of St. Catherine's Fort in St. George without either an hourlong bus ride or a ferry crossing. Oceania doesn't always cruise from U.S. ports, so when it does, you can often save big simply by not having international airfare to worry about.

Unlike the larger ships in the above-mentioned itineraries, Insignia only carries 670 passengers. Oceania offers luxurious accommodations and food that is some of the best at sea. Cabin categories are similar to mainstream lines, ranging from interior and ocean-view rooms to balcony cabins and suites. In most categories, you can expect slightly larger rooms than you'd find on a mainstream line. Special offer pricing typically includes Wi-Fi, some shore excursion credit and a house beverage package.

Who should go : Oceania cruises provide more of an adult-focused environment than most of the other lines. It offers regular cruises to Bermuda, making this an ideal cruise for seniors or adults escaping the kids and grands. Single travelers looking for an upscale cruise will find what they are looking for in Insignia's solo cabins.

Related: The 3 types of Oceania Cruises ships, explained

5- and 7-night new ship Bermuda cruise on Norwegian Aqua

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a longer Bermuda season than most other mainstream lines, often sailing five- and seven-night itineraries from both Manhattan and Boston nine months of the year. Look for Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Joy in 2024, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Jewel in 2025 and Norwegian Breakaway in 2026. Those are great choices, but we zoomed in on this opportunity to preview a shiny new ship in August and September of 2025, when the newest Prima Class ship, Norwegian Aqua, sails to Bermuda for a brief run.

The five-night cruises dock at the Royal Naval Dockyard overnight. The seven-night itineraries offer two nights and almost three full days in port.

Aqua is expected to be larger than earlier Prima Class ships, carrying roughly 3,500 passengers. Norwegian is particularly good at squeezing megaship attractions into slightly smaller ships than the newly built ships of its competitors like Royal Caribbean or MSC, which have ships that carry closer to 6,000 passengers. Expect to experience the world's first hybrid roller coaster and waterslide, the Aqua Slidecoaster, three infinity pools and four infinity hot tubs, plus Norwegian's ship-within-a-ship suite category called The Haven, which comes with perks like a 24-hour butler and a private sundeck, pool and lounge.

Who should go : New ship lovers and NCL aficionados will likely flock to Manhattan to enjoy an early look at Aqua. Cruises to Bermuda on any Norwegian ship mean not only a fabulous time in port exploring Bermuda but fun of all sorts on board the ship. This could be an ideal cruise for those who've already experienced Bermuda and can spend every minute enjoying the new ship.

7-night Bermuda cruise on Celebrity Eclipse or Celebrity Silhouette

Celebrity Cruises offers a big-ship experience for those looking for fewer waterslides and frenetic fun. That doesn't mean there won't be children on board, though, as Celebrity offers activities for kids and teens of all ages. What Celebrity does best is provide spaces and activities designed with vacationing adults in mind.

The cruises depart from Bayonne, New Jersey, and include three sea days and three full days in Bermuda. With two nights docked at King's Wharf, it's plenty of time to explore Bermuda your way and enjoy the ship on the way there and back. Eclipse and Silhouette are sister ships in Celebrity's Solstice Class, each carrying fewer than 3,000 guests. They are elegant in design, with features you won't find on any other ship at sea. Eclipse offers a Hot Glass Studio where you can make your own glass souvenir. The upper decks of both ships feature real grass lawns, hosting boccie tournaments. Guests can reserve cabanas on the lawn or lounge in giant beanbags in the grass, watching movies on a big screen.

Both ships feature an adults-only Solarium, a gelateria and multiple specialty dining options, and almost 50% of the cabins have verandas. With nooks like The Hideaway near the elevator banks on Decks 7 and 8, the outdoor promenade on Deck 5, plus a forward-facing relaxation lounge and the Spa Verandah on Decks 11 and 12, respectively, Celebrity seems to have mastered the art of providing spaces to escape the masses.

Who should go : This cruise is a sure bet for couples who either already love Bermuda or are eager to become better acquainted with it, thanks to the extended port visit. Golfers and scuba divers can delight in three full days spent on their pastimes. There are multiple dive shops in Bermuda, offering boat dives and guided shore dives, along with gear rental. Golfers have their pick of seven world-class courses, some with club rentals. This is not a cruise for those who seek a new port every day.

Bonus: Other Bermuda cruises to consider

If you don't mind a short port call in Bermuda instead of a night or two stay, a few itineraries can accommodate you. Some transatlantic sailings to and from Northern Europe or the Mediterranean stop in Bermuda. Examples include Celebrity Apex transitioning from Southampton, England, to Fort Lauderdale on a 12-night itinerary that includes Bermuda and Regent Seven Seas Mariner from Barcelona to Miami on a 14-night cruise.

Norwegian Prima has a whopper of a holiday cruise that stops in Bermuda. It's a 12-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary round-trip from Manhattan with a one-day stop in Bermuda with six other ports of call, including St. Kitts, St. Thomas and Tortola. If you'd like someone else to do all the cooking during the holidays, this would be a fun cruise to consider.

There are several one-hit Bermuda wonders to consider, including sailings on Windstar Cruises , Regent Seven Seas Cruises , Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Silversea Cruises . All of these are ideal for luxury cruisers wanting to add Bermuda to their list of ports of call. Most are point-to-point sailings, with the exception of Regent Seven Seas, which offers a round-trip from Miami.

Bottom line

Bermuda is one of the few beachy cruise destinations where staying in port overnight is the norm. The lack of an end-of-day time crunch makes cruising there an attractive and relaxing proposition for many, especially those who live on the East Coast.

You can enjoy a weeklong vacation or escape for as little as four nights. Try a new cruise line or try a different itinerary on your favorite ship. Combine your cruise with a visit to the Big Apple. Any way you want to do it, there is a Bermuda cruise to fit your style.

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