Just returned from Regatta Stockholm-to-Dover

[Juanito]

We just returned home after our two-week Baltic cruise on Regatta. This is our second cruise on Oceania, having sailed Insignia for two weeks last year in the Eastern Med.

 

Oceania continues to provide a terrific cruising experience, and I would not hesitate to cruise with them again. They provide a small (680 pax), rather luxurious ship, no kids, no smoking (well, adequately limited), port intensive, fine dining, open seating, and no formal nights. As discussed on this board many times, entertainment is low-key but this cruise line is focused on other things.

 

EMBARKATION

 

We chose to purchase the airport-to-ship transfers. but provided our own airline arrangements. About five couples arrived at the Stockholm airport on the BA flight from London at about 5:30 PM. The Oceania rep was right there, assisted with luggage retrieval, escorted us to the bus, and we were aboard ship by 6:45 PM. Luggage was delivered promptly to the cabin. Last year we had a PH (8022), but chose an A1 cabin for this cruise (7074). It felt like home when we were warmly greeted by staff members who remembered us from last year.

 

CABIN

 

The veranda cabin was smaller than the PH, but more than adequate. We were concerned at first about the close proximity of this cabin to the laundry room, but the cabins are soundproofed so well that we experienced no negative effect. The bathroom was smaller than last year, but adequate, with plenty of storage and a small shower with a sliding curtain. PH has a larger bathroom with a bathtub, but it is still a one-person at a time bathroom. In addition, the bathtub made it difficult to get in and out of the shower, plus it reduced the headroom significantly.

 

FOOD

 

The food in all venues continues to impress.

 

DESTINATION SERVICES

 

We did not utilize them except for airport transfers, which were satisfactory. We used Red October for three days in St. Pete, and highly recommend them. Our guide, Julia, was an absolute delight. We made our own arrangements at all other stops.

 

ENTERTAINMENT

 

 

As discussed many times on this board, this is a port-intensive cruise line and does not provide big-time, late-night entertainment. Last year, we were very satisfied with the CD (Leslie Jon) and his crew. They were mingling every evening , and provided great fun in Martini Lounge after the 9:45 PM show. This year, however, was a disappointment compared to last year. The CD (Peter Hofer) came aboard last April, and I don’t think he will last long. At breakfast on the morning of debarkation, I ran into Leslie Jon who boarded the ship in London. He indicated that he was trying to get Tod McCovsky, the assistant CD from last year, to return to Oceania. Tod would make a great CD.

 

SUMMARY

 

Another awesome vacation by FDR and crew. A revamping of the CD and his staff, plus possible replacement of mattresses, are the only two areas I would suggest be reviewed.

 

Food and beverage operations on a cruise ship will make or break a vacation. Oceania is tops, because they have a staff that is eager and well-trained. The man in charge of this operation for Oceania is Enzo Mazzolli, who impressed me last year when he visited every dining venue every day to make certain that staff had everything they needed to do their job. It didn’t matter whether I was seated in Polo, Toscana, Grand Dining Room or Tapas, Enzo would make a sweep through each room to keep everyone on their toes and to greet passengers. Enzo was not on Regatta this cruise, and I was disappointed to not see a friend, and concerned as to whether or not staff would perform as well without him. Well, the place ran fine without him, which in my mind proves his ability to lead and train. I was informed early in the cruise that Enzo had received a promotion and had left the ship to help organize staffing for the new ship coming on line. I was delighted when Enzo reboarded the ship in Amsterdam. He immediately recognized me and Terry and was as charming and graceful as last year. I congratulated him on his promotion, and in his typical humble manner indicated that it was not really a promotion, just more responsibility.

 

We are eager to sail Oceania again. This is a terrific operation.

 

If I can answer any questions, please email me.

 

John

[raffeer]

John- What a wonderful review! Now I really can't wait till we get back onboard.

Thanks, Beatrice

[Druke I]

I guess we were on the same cruise (8-31-06).

 

It was our first experience with Oceania, and were quite impressed with the food and service levels - although I would prefer that the Lido expand their hours, or at least have a set opening time, rather than changing daily. The food and service in the Grand Dining Room was excellent.

 

I do think Oceania should have provided some sort of shuttle service at Zeebrugge. It was a two mile hike into town, with no local bus service, and cab drivers who would not take passengers into Zeebrugge, only Brugge. I presume there was some sort of licensing problem for the cabs.

 

We had been on Regatta's sister ship, Pacific Princess (new), 11-03, and it was interesting for us to compare how differently the two ships were run, particularly the Lido restaurant operation. I do think Princess has a slight edge there. Food quality in the Lido was very comparable, but Princess has a 24 hr operation, certainly handier for early risers and late to retire types both.

[Druke I]

Forgot to add that again the Kiel Canal was truly a highlight of this itinerary - and perhaps the main reason we chose Regatta - many of the larger cruise ships cannot use the Kiel - too big and too tall for the low bridges.

 

I do think that the itinerary could be tweaked a bit, so all of the canal would be in daylight, rather than entering the locks at 4am.

 

Also, itinerary could have been tweaked to give more time in Gdansk - a charming place.

[Juanito]

Thanks to this board, I made taxi arrangements in Brugge well in advance. We had a taxi waiting at the dock at 9:00 AM which drove 8 of us to the center of town, then picked us up at 5:30 PM for the return trip, for $10.00 per person, round trip.

 

Note that Destination Services did in fact offer shuttle service into town, but the cost was $59.00 per person.

 

Also, what did you mean by "sister ship"?

 

Restaurant hours were clearly defined each day in the daily newsletter.

[Druke I]

Juanito

 

The $59.00 service was into Brugge, not Zeebrugge, where I wanted to go, after my organized tour was cancelled due to lack of participation.

 

Sister ship - Tahitian Princess, Pacific Princess (new), Regatta and Insignia were all built for Renaissance, as was the forthcoming Nautica. Two or three other sisters, with different cabin configuration on deck 8, are also still out there, one sailing as Swan Hellenic's Minerva II, and the others for Pulmantour of Spain. Aside from the deck 8 differences as noted, they were identical - hence sister ships as defined by the shipbuilders.

 

Yes, the dining hours for the Lido and other restaurants were printed in the Currents flyer - my complaint was the varying opening hours for Terraces, rather than a consistent time.

[joan24]

Juanito.

I'm surprised to hear that David Shermet is not still CD. He was on our Med cruise in May and his assistant CD was JR. Are they both off the Regatta for good or is David on vacation?

Joan

[Juanito]

Joan

 

JR was aboard, and he was the one positive. I don't know where David Shermet is.

 

John

[sandbag7]

How were the specialty restaurants? Does everyone get at least one reservation in each? Are the reservations honored in a timely fashion or is there delay? Was there any problem or delay being seated in the regular dining room?

I'll hang up now and wait for your response.

[Juanito]

There was never a wait for seating in the Grand Dining Room more than two or three minutes. We were always seated in Polo and Toscano at the assigned time, and the selection and presentation were very good.

 

I do not know what the limits are for reservations in Polo and Toscano except to say that "it depends". Cancellations, etc., can make a big difference.

 

We shared tables in both restaurants twice with a couple in 7003, which is an inside cabin.

 

John

[Druke I]

Reference Polo's and Toscana - reservations were limited to one in each per cabin, but as Juanito notes, there were exceptions made - cancellations, etc. We were seated at our reservation time - no wait. As we were travelling with another couple, we were able to reserve a table for four with no problems.

 

Food in Polo's was excellent, and we thought very good in Toscana.

 

We ate early, usually 6:30pm when the Grand Dining Room opened, never had to wait, and always had a table close to a window.

[Boreus]

Juanito, Druke I and anyone else who knows: Thank you Juanito for your review which makes me look forward more than ever to my 2006 sailing on the Regatta over the same itinerary. Can you or Druke I give me details on how reservations in the Polo and Toscana work? When can I first make them? How can I find out about cancellations or other openings? I recall the Toscana fondly when it was the Italian specialty restaurant on the REN, and there are many ports I have pulled out from sitting aft in that restaurant. In those days I used to call first thing every morning to reserve for that night and it was first-come first-reserved.

 

Just to judge my chances of docking downtown in St. Petersburg, Juanito, did your ship get to

[Druke I]

Reference reservations for Polo & Toscana - a steward has a station set-up in the Terraces Lido, adjacent to the bar, and makes the reservations there.

Not sure of his hours, but he was there in the mornings through the lunch time.

 

Possible to check daily for cancellations, waitlisting, etc.

[Juanito]

Regatta docked at the "English Pier" about 2 blocks up-river from Hermitage. We were right in center city. My portside veranda looked over the river and the city, which was gorgeous.

 

John

[Boreus]

Thank you Druke I and Juanito for your information. Juanito, you mention making your own port arrangements, which is what I usually do. What did you arrange for Gdansk? If you had a guide, could you recommend the service? I am particularly interested in a tour of Malbork Castle, which is about an hour's drive from Gdansk, and a tour of the old town in Gdansk.

[Hot2Travel]

Will be on Insigna from Stockholm to Copenhagen in 06. Ocean transfers from airport to ship in & ship to the airport seem to be a bit overpriced. Anyone have info on using a taxi for the transfers? Like distance and price. :)