Zoe and Laura explore Oceania Cruises' Nautica

Oceania offer luxury cruise holidays on elegant ships, voyaging around the world from Australia and Alaska to Tahiti and New Zealand. Their fleet comprises just six ships, each unique in its own right. The largest - the Marina and Riviera - both have a maximum capacity of 1,250, considerably smaller than many other cruise lines. The other ships are smaller still: Nautica, Regatta, Insignia and Sirena all accommodate a maximum of 684 guests. This small size also has the (huge) added benefit of being able to access smaller ports which large vessels are unable to.

What makes Oceania different from many other lines is their staff:guest ratio. On all ships, it's at least 1.5:1 - so that's 1.5 staff members (!) per guest. Phenomenal. 

It was aboard Nautica that Laura and I (Zoe) had our first experience of an Oceana ship, and the bar has certainly been set very high!

The ship is small and has a real personal touch from the moment you step aboard. The décor is grand and luxurious and you're made to feel a million dollers with all the special touches in the suites, such as luxury amenities and high level of service. With six restaurants and many other dining options (room service, for example), you're never short of a bite to eat. It goes without saying that the chefs know what they're doing, and the food really was top-notch. The highlight of our little trip has to be sitting in the grand dining room being waited on and enjoying a five course meal!

The whole fleet (and company as a whole) is best suited to couples, groups of friends and is always popular with clientele who really know what they want from a cruise holiday. As with all holidays, luxury comes at a price, but often it can feel expensive for the sake of it. I can safely say that an Oceania Cruise very much feels like good value for money. For example, when you look at Nautica's Royal Keepsakes voyage:

> 12 days Stockholm to London via Helsinki, St Petersburg, Tallinn, Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Bruges
> Free dining at all speciality restaurants including free room sevice
> Unlimited soft drinks, bottled waters, tea and coffee and juices
> $600 on-board spending credit
> Shore excursions

All this from £3,039pp. That works out at £250 per person per day. Some of their cruises are as cheap at £1,400pp.

For more information, or to chat through any of Oceania Cruises' voyages, please do not hesitate to drop Zoe or Laura a line, or contact us through the website.