Experience a luxurious cruise with personal service and plenty to do onboard Oceania Insignia. Most of the adult-focused voyages host a special guest speaker — historians, naturalists or former ambassadors — to share insights and stories about the ship’s destinations. Other forms of entertainment include a Monte Carlo-style casino, live music, a sophisticated steakhouse, coffee and cocktail bars, a singing contest à la American Idol and a sports deck complete with an outdoor track.
The ship, refurbished in 2018, carries 684 passengers and puts a modern-day spin on old-school cruising. Insignia sails out of numerous ports, for example, the seven-day New York-to-New York trip, which visits Bermuda. There's a 20-day cruise from New York City to San Francisco, hitting the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean and plenty of stops in between. For more international travel, book the 15-day Hong Kong-to-Singapore itinerary, which also stops in Vietnam and Thailand.
Between the rich programming and even richer food — Oceania prides itself on its culinary offerings, enlisting the likes of master chef Jacques Pépin to oversee its food — a trip on Insignia will be memorable.
- Dining is a highlight with world-renowned chef Jacques Pépin serving as Oceania Cruises’ executive culinary director since 2003. On this ship, guests gain entry to all restaurants, like Toscana, which serves Italian cuisine on custom-made Versace china. Order plates like gnocchi with pesto, risotto with lobster and osso bucco, and make sure to try something from the imported olive oil and balsamic vinegar menu, which details the nuances of each for a tasty education.
- Dusty beige hues and blue highlights found in cushions, art and the sky and sea outside the window make the suites feel spacious and serene. For maximal square footage, book the Owner's or Vista suites — both feature separate sitting room and dining areas; bathrooms covered in Carrara marble, onyx and granite; and wrap-around verandas with lounge chairs. The suites also come with premium amenities like a 24-hour butler, complimentary laundry service, unlimited spa terrace access and priority embarkation.
- Book time in Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center to unwind in the aromatic steam room, thalassotherapy pool and whirlpool, all of which can be used before a treatment or with a day pass. While you should consider signature services such as the Vital Bamboo Massage, marine algae detox body wrap, acupuncture and the caviar and collagen facial, be sure to also take advantage of the complimentary classes like sunrise and sunset stretch, guided meditation, HIIT (high-intensity interval training) and Pilates. For those who seek even more ways to focus on well-being, try Aquamar’s Wellness Discovery Tours, excursions that include visiting Rome’s thermal baths of the popes; practicing mindfulness meditation in Lima, Peru; or trying reflexology on a Bangkok rice barge.
- Golf fans will want to check out the nine-hole putting green, outside in the heart of the ship on Deck 11, or head to the other nearby court for a friendly game of shuffleboard.
- Waves Grill scoops famed San Francisco company Humphry Slocombe’s gourmet ice cream in distinctive flavors, including Secret Breakfast (bourbon ice cream with cornflakes cookies), Elvis (the Fat Years) (banana ice cream with bacon peanut brittle) and a cruise-only option, Regatta Royale (bittersweet dark chocolate with orange zest and smoked sea salt). Enjoy a sweet treat or following a hearty lunch featuring burgers, hot dogs and grilled fish.
- The pool onboard is filled with temperate salt water, with two additional whirlpool spa pools right next to it. Take a dip before stretching out on one of the many cozy lounge chairs surrounding the water.
- Indulge in afternoon tea service complete with a live, classical string quartet. Pick from the four-tiered pastry cart laden with delicate finger sandwiches, sweet petits fours, quiche, fresh scones and more. Of course, the tea itself is a highlight, diners are encouraged to try a variety of blends.
- You will find an interesting excursion at every port — join a haunted history tour in Bermuda, watch humpback whales or visit a pineapple plantation in Hawaii, see Komodo dragons in the wild in Indonesia and relax under a bed of steaming black sand in Kagoshima, Japan.
- The Terrace Café’s teak tables offer breakfast, lunch and dinner with a view. The buffet-style menu highlights cuisines from all around the world, depending on where the ship has traveled, as well as a great wine list. Order from the sushi bar, nibble on oysters Rockefeller, fill a plate with grilled lamb and sample a citrus tart for dessert.
