Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
U.S.A.
English
Canada
English
Canada Quebec
Français
  • News
  • Packaged Travel
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Air
  • Training & Resources
  • Luxury Travel Report

Oceania Insignia, Newly ‘Reinspired,’ Sets Sail on 180-Day World Cruise

by Cheryl Rosen  January 15, 2019
Oceania Insignia, Newly ‘Reinspired,’ Sets Sail on 180-Day World Cruise

Just off a redesign, Oceania Insignia is now headed on its inaugural World Cruise. Photo: Shutterstock.com.

Would you pay $6,000 a month for beautiful accommodations — including meals and drinks, entertainment and educational programming — in a warm-weather destination, where dinner is served on Versace china and the ocean views are to die for? For about the same price as snowbirding in Florida, you can sail a world cruise on the newly “reinspired” Oceania Insignia.

Just out of drydock and setting sail out of New York on its maiden round-the-world voyage last week, Insignia is headed to Miami, Cuba, and Colombia; through the Panama Canal to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico and the U.S. West Coast; to Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. Then it will cross the Atlantic to Africa, Mauritius, the Maldives, India and Sri Lanka, Southeast and East Asia; and finally, across the Pacific to Alaska and down the West Coast to San Francisco.

Onboard, the look has been lightened and brightened, with the reds replaced by cool blues and grays. The beautiful Library, however, which is popular for vow renewals or just sitting, remains largely untouched.

This is the first of the R-class ships getting the beauty treatment. Next in line are Regatta and Serena, which will be outfitted this year; with Nautica to follow, in 2020. The program has a $150-million budget.

Insignia’s 342 staterooms and suites have been designed to feel like “a chic Parisian apartment or sleek Amalfi villa,” with new fabrics and abundant USB ports. The public spaces are beautifully appointed; and the iconic Grand Staircase has a magnificent new chandelier.

Oceania Cruises suite
The inside of Oceania’s redesigned suites.

Insignia is also offering new dining experiences. There is a Chef’s Market Dinner, where the chefs buy whatever is fresh and appealing during the day and cook it up at night; and a third, seven-course wine tasting is available, at $95 per person.

In the design, “we’re not moving away from country-club casual; we want to keep that yacht-club feel,” Isabel Galvan, Oceania’s vice president of marketing, told Travel Market Report as we toured the ship in New York harbor. And indeed, Oceania listened to the feedback from travel advisors “to get a better understanding of what their clients are looking for.”

It was travel agents who suggested getting rid of the shower curtains in the staterooms, for example; they have been replaced by sliding French glass doors.

A luxurious experience between premium and luxury niches
“Guests don’t like change, but I think they will like this,” Galvana said. “This is not a luxury product, but it’s a luxurious experience, a niche between premium and luxury, for guests who want the luxury experience but not the full, all-inclusive” — perfect for those who do not drink, for example, and therefore don’t need premium wines.

Grand Staircase Oceania Insignia
Insignia’s Grand Staircase.

And indeed, the niche — and the itinerary — have found an audience. “We’re so sold out, it’s nearly impossible to get a cabin; this ship has no space until April or May, and the majority of 2020 is sold out already,” said our guide on the press tour.

Onboard as a guest for the first half of the world cruise, travel advisor Toni Day said: “We love the small-ship family feel. We always know staff and passengers from other Oceania cruises, whenever we sail. And we lucked out with our favorite cruise director, Leslie John. Lots of activities are available to stimulate the mind. I’m learning how to play bridge, paint with water colors and cook gourmet meals. Our fellow passengers are as well-traveled as we are and all share travel as a passion, which makes for lively discussions. No stuffy people onboard. Just those who have worked hard and planned to enjoy their passion for traveling. Did I mention the food? In my opinion, it is some of the best at sea. Where else can you get ahi tuna, fresh grilled tiger shrimp and unlimited lobster tails in the buffet? No formal nights are another plus! And, their specialty restaurants — Toscana and Polo Grill — are to die for. And no upcharge to eat there.”

Day is taking a three-month sabbatical from her full-time job as president of Toni Tours, Inc., for this trip. Her friends and colleagues, Kathy and Ken Walden of On Track Travel, will hold down the fort while she is gone.

Her thoughts on the new décor? “The revitalized staterooms are beautifully decorated and will serve as our bedroom for the journey, as the ship itself will be our living room on this amazing journey as we sail from New York City to Tokyo!”

  
  
Related Articles
The Best Places to Cruise in 2019 According to Travel Advisors
Border Security Expert and Air Force Vet Turned Agent is Making Travel Accessible
Four Travel Agents Shake Up Their Business Models for 2019
Harley Davidson’s Ken Schmidt Offers Advice for Travel Agents
Travel Agents Saved the Day as Hurricane Lane Approached Hawaii
Seven Tips for Traveling During Hurricane Season
Experts Say MGM’s New Resort Fee Might Be Good for Travel Agents
What We Did for Love: Tales of Travel Agents Who Went the Extra Mile
Two Tour Operators Disappear, Leaving Travel Advisors and Customers in the Lurch

MOST VIEWED

  1. U.S. Issues Worldwide Travel Warning for All Americans Traveling Abroad
  2. Travel Leaders Network President John Lovell to Depart for Cruise Role
  3. Hilton Rewards Reservations Canceled Amid Transition of Playa Hotels to Hyatt
  4. Ask-an-Advisor: How Do I Know When It’s Time to Fire a Client?
  5. Here Are All the New Cruise Ships Coming in 2026, 2027, and Beyond
  6. Norwegian Cruise Line Cancels 40+ Cruises on Two Ships


  1. U.S. and International Airlines Halt Dubai, Mideast Flights Due to Iran-Israel Conflict
  2. Overtourism Backlash Heats Up in Europe as Summer Season Kicks Off
  3. New Greece Cruise Passenger Tax Coming this July
  4. What Does Success Look Like for a Travel Advisor?
  5. New U.S. Travel Bans Would Hinder Tourism, Industry Leaders Say
  6. The Travel Corporation Overhauls Structure and Sales Team
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth luxury coverage, analysis of luxury news, luxury trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
Avalon Introduces Lineup of “After Dark” Activities
Avalon Introduces Lineup of “After Dark” Activities

From a new sunset Sky Deck dinner option to lively after-dinner entertainment, Avalon is extending the typical river cruise day.

First-Time ASTA River Cruise Expo Attendees on Why Travel Advisors Shouldn’t Miss Next Year’s Show
First-Time ASTA River Cruise Expo Attendees on Why Travel Advisors Shouldn’t Miss Next Year’s Show

First-time ASTA River Cruise Expo attendees talk about why you shouldn’t miss next year’s event — and how to make the most of it.

Catching Up with Uniworld’s Michelle Palma
Catching Up with Uniworld’s Michelle Palma

TMR sat down with Uniworld’s executive vice president of sales for North America at the 2025 ASTA River Cruise Expo.

How PONANT and Paul Gauguin Cruises Merge Excellence in Expedition and Exploration Travel
How PONANT and Paul Gauguin Cruises Merge Excellence in Expedition and Exploration Travel

Expedition travel isn’t a trend — it’s a mindset shift.

Princess Cancels All Galveston Departures from November 2026 On
Princess Cancels All Galveston Departures from November 2026 On

Princess said the move is part of its global deployment strategy.

What to Know about Avalon Waterways’ New Itinerary on the Garonne and Dordogne
What to Know about Avalon Waterways’ New Itinerary on the Garonne and Dordogne

TMR was among the first guests onboard Avalon’s all-new Bordeaux river cruise. Here’s what the experience is like.

TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
View All
Advertiser's Voice
The Collette Premium Experience
About Travel Market Report Mission Meet the Team Advisory Board Advertise Syndication Guidelines
TMR Resources Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
© 2005 - 2025 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Manage cookie preferences