Oceania Nautica

We have just returned from a fantastic cruise from Cape Town to Singapore on-board the Oceania Nautica ship. The cruise was superb and one of the best we have ever done and we are seasoned cruises. This was our 5^th Oceania cruise and yet again they did not disappoint and we are not the easiest of people to please. We booked a full packaged trip through six star cruises so everything was taken care off and sorted well in advance of departure. Here is a summary of the various elements of our trip

Flights:

We flew with British Airways business class as this was the best option for out itinerary. Flights were both on time and comfortable and the service was as always very good. We flew to Cape town and transferred to the hotel and flew back on the same day we arrived from Singapore

Hotel:

We stayed for 4 nights pre cruises in Cape town at the One and Only which is an ideal location near the Waterfront. We found this hotel an excellent base to explore this vibrant and lively city, the hotel also felt very secure. The hotel has a real African feel to it yet is also of a deluxe standard with all the amenities you would expect from a hotel of this standard. Our agent booked us in a Island Superior room which was well worth the little extra it cost, the room was spacious with a lovely balcony and to our surprise even had tea and coffee making facilities which is a rarity nowadays. We ate at the hotel a couple of times and the hotel offers excellent dining options and the inclusive breakfast was also of a high standard. Overall an excellent hotel which we would use again.

Transfers:

We had private transfers booked for us by our agent, these went very well and the drivers and cars were all very good, it was nice to arrive after a long flight and be met at arrivals rather than trying to find transfer desks.

Embarkation:

We had booked a Penthouse suite so had the benefit of embarking early, this was great and everything went smoothly, our suite was not quite ready so we had some lunch and after about an hour they advised our suite was ready and out luggage was waiting for us

Accommodation on-board:

Our suite was located mid-ship on deck 8, the location was ideal and not to near the lift so was nice and quiet most of the time. We insisten on having a bath tub for such a long voyage and the bathroom delivered in all our requirements, it was a great size and very luxurious The Bulgari toiletries are also a nice touch. The suite was a good size and I would compare this to Silversea and Seabourn in terms of space and amenities. As we had a Penthouse we also got priority restaurant reservations which we did through out concierge and this also worked very well. The balcony was also a good size and the suite was very clean and kept so throughout our voyage.

Dining:

The main dining venue is the Grand dining room, this was excellent and the food really good throughout, the atmosphere and service were most enjoyable and we had no complaints at all. Each evening we were seated immediately where we dined alone or with other guests we met. We ate in both speciality restaurants, the Polo Grill was perhaps our favourite and the New York Strip was to die for and I am not normally a steak lover but it just melted in my mouth, my husband had the Lamb once which he said was also superb. The Italian themed restaurant Toscana was also excellent quality and the Linguine was superb and made a nice change. The Waves Grill made a nice change with a more casual Ambiance however we only dined there once but it was good and a little more relaxed. The Terrace Café was also ideal for those lazy lunches when you just want to grab a quick snack.

Bars & Drinks:

Drinks are pricey however always of a high standard and excellent choice, the wine list is very diverse and each Sommelier had an excellent understand of the best pairings. We did also decide on-board to upgrade to the all inclusive drinks package which included the many high quality choice we chose, I found this good value for money as did my husband. We also thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere in the Horizons bar and we met some lovely people there, the cocktail list was extensive we enjoyed several evenings working our way through the many options, My husband made a point that the Manhattan was the best he had ever had!!

Spa:

I visited the Canyan Ranch Spa twice during my trip (not my husbands thing) I found it to be very good and good value for the quality and ambiance. The Canyon Stone Massage was excellent and I enjoyed the hour or so in there and found it a wonderful way to escape the sun and break up the sea days. The variety of treatments available is extensive and I only heard glowing reports from other guests about the various options.

Entertainment:

This was fairly low key however all acts were very good and this is how we like it. My husband enjoyed the casino on the off occasion and commented that the atmosphere was good. Horizons was our favourite spot of an evening as already mentioned. My husband also enjoyed an hour or two in the library on a few occasions, a nice touch to help pass the time.

Staff:

All exceptional, how they keep the level of service throughout and a long trip is beyond me. Always happy, smiling and extremely attentive to our needs I simply can not speak highly enough of any of them. Well worth a tip!! The suite was kept immaculate in all aspects. The waiters were swift and knowledgeable, the concierge helped with dining reservations with no fuss I could go on and on. We genuinely had no issues with service at all.

Other things:

If I had to find one negative it would be the charge the internet which is excessive, however we do not go away to work and only used it a couple of times so no real issue. Excursions are also pricey however always very good with great guides and clearly only very good quality is all ports, it is cheaper to book pre departure however we like to arrange on-board in case we change out minds. They will charge gratuities to you cabin which was fine with us however a couple of guests on-board did ask to have this amended which I think they did but like I say the service was so exceptional we had no problem in paying it.

Summary:

Overall a truly excellent trip organised from start to finish with wonderful efficiency. I am very much looking forward to our next trip to the South Pacific and New Zealand and have no worries at all that it will be just as good. Oceania are a fantastic 5 star luxury cruise line and the size of the ship and service level is ideal if you want to avoid the massive mass market cruise lines. The price level also represents good value for the quality you actually get. Great job all round and 10/10!!

I have just returned from a wonderful cruise on-board the Oceania Nautica. We cruised from Cape town to Singapore and it was fantastic, great weather and nice to do a more unusual itinerary. The ship was great and the food amazing. We had a balcony stateroom which was excellent and easily met our needs. I have cruised several times with various cruise but have to say the staff ship and food on-board Nautica is the best we have ever had.

Oceania Cruises certainly know what they are doing when it comes to offering a wonderful Cruise Experience. I was fortunate enough to sail on the Nautica, with only 684 passengers at full capacity there were never any worries about queuing for anything. I always got a lovely seat in the theatre to watch the shows and the speciality dining choices were superb!

I did enjoy the Canyon Ranch Club Spa, amazing. I felt like I was in my own private retreat.

What I enjoyed the most was the ambience onboard. Very country club elegant. No stuffy tuxedos, no ties it was great.

I’m looking forward to my next Cruise on Marina. I’ve heard wonderful things and I cant wait.

The Oceania Nautica is a splendid ship, the crew, officers and waiting staff really set this boat apart from any other we have experienced. This was our second trip on-board and was every bit as superb as our first. We always have a Penthouse as love the extra room and would thoroughly recommend these suites to anyone. The food is divine and caters wonderfully for all tastes and the open dining is ideal for making a relaxed experience. The trips are expensive but we understand are cheaper is booked before departure however we like to enjoy the ship and do our own thing. We have yet to try the two newer larger ships but hear great thing from friends however we still prefer fewer than 1000 passengers so have no plans to change from Nautica or Reggata. Overall this was another excellent trip and we have already booked for the Baltics!!

Although Nautica is an older ship we found it still to be elegant and of a high quality throughout. With just less than 700 passengers we felt there was lots of space and nowhere was crowded. There was no shortage of staff anywhere around the ship who where always courteous and attentative to out every need. They were always very enthusiastic and had warm smiles fro you. The ship gave you the felling of a relaxed private club that we had become part of and with there being no need for tuxedos this was even better news. Everything on board has obviously been designed with the guests in mind and our comfort. Toscana and Polo Grill where amazing and the fact that we did not have to pay any supplements for these was a refreshing change.

When we started investigating cruising we were aware of different ratings. We came across something called luxury cruising or Sixstar cruising. The name instantly shouted “we are going to cost a fortune” but everything looked so ideal I thought I’d enquire anyway. I got through to Sixstar cruises and spoke to Joe. He was just wonderful from the start. He made me feel comfortable and I openly admitted we liked the look of luxury cruising but weren’t convinced we could afford it. From the start Joe said just because a stigma is attached to something saying 6star doesn’t mean you won’t be able to afford it. He started telling us about Oceania Cruises. They sounded like exactly what I wanted and I was afraid of the price he’d say at the end of it as all the facilities and extra included in the price made me want it. So when he turned round and it was within our budget I nearly fell of my chair. The fact that the only extras were alcoholic drinks and neither of us drink much it meant we could afford the holiday and a few added extras we’d like for the same price as our landbased holiday we normally take. Once on-board we were whisked up into a world of luxury and exceptional service. I will never holiday a different way we have been truly spoilt and at a fantastic price to. Thanks to Joe and Oceania for finding something that’s perfect for us.

We have just returned from a fantastic cruise from Cape Town to Singapore on-board the Oceania Nautica ship. The cruise was superb and one of the best we have ever done and we are seasoned cruises. This was our 5^th Oceania cruise and yet again they did not disappoint and we are not the easiest of people to please. We booked a full packaged trip through six star cruises so everything was taken care off and sorted well in advance of departure. Here is a summary of the various elements of our trip

Flights:

We flew with British Airways business class as this was the best option for out itinerary. Flights were both on time and comfortable and the service was as always very good. We flew to Cape town and transferred to the hotel and flew back on the same day we arrived from Singapore

Hotel:

We stayed for 4 nights pre cruises in Cape town at the One and Only which is an ideal location near the Waterfront. We found this hotel an excellent base to explore this vibrant and lively city, the hotel also felt very secure. The hotel has a real African feel to it yet is also of a deluxe standard with all the amenities you would expect from a hotel of this standard. Our agent booked us in a Island Superior room which was well worth the little extra it cost, the room was spacious with a lovely balcony and to our surprise even had tea and coffee making facilities which is a rarity nowadays. We ate at the hotel a couple of times and the hotel offers excellent dining options and the inclusive breakfast was also of a high standard. Overall an excellent hotel which we would use again.

Transfers:

We had private transfers booked for us by our agent, these went very well and the drivers and cars were all very good, it was nice to arrive after a long flight and be met at arrivals rather than trying to find transfer desks.

Embarkation:

We had booked a Penthouse suite so had the benefit of embarking early, this was great and everything went smoothly, our suite was not quite ready so we had some lunch and after about an hour they advised our suite was ready and out luggage was waiting for us

Accommodation on-board:

Our suite was located mid-ship on deck 8, the location was ideal and not to near the lift so was nice and quiet most of the time. We insisten on having a bath tub for such a long voyage and the bathroom delivered in all our requirements, it was a great size and very luxurious The Bulgari toiletries are also a nice touch. The suite was a good size and I would compare this to Silversea and Seabourn in terms of space and amenities. As we had a Penthouse we also got priority restaurant reservations which we did through out concierge and this also worked very well. The balcony was also a good size and the suite was very clean and kept so throughout our voyage.

Dining:

The main dining venue is the Grand dining room, this was excellent and the food really good throughout, the atmosphere and service were most enjoyable and we had no complaints at all. Each evening we were seated immediately where we dined alone or with other guests we met. We ate in both speciality restaurants, the Polo Grill was perhaps our favourite and the New York Strip was to die for and I am not normally a steak lover but it just melted in my mouth, my husband had the Lamb once which he said was also superb. The Italian themed restaurant Toscana was also excellent quality and the Linguine was superb and made a nice change. The Waves Grill made a nice change with a more casual Ambiance however we only dined there once but it was good and a little more relaxed. The Terrace Café was also ideal for those lazy lunches when you just want to grab a quick snack.

Bars & Drinks:

Drinks are pricey however always of a high standard and excellent choice, the wine list is very diverse and each Sommelier had an excellent understand of the best pairings. We did also decide on-board to upgrade to the all inclusive drinks package which included the many high quality choice we chose, I found this good value for money as did my husband. We also thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere in the Horizons bar and we met some lovely people there, the cocktail list was extensive we enjoyed several evenings working our way through the many options, My husband made a point that the Manhattan was the best he had ever had!!

Spa:

I visited the Canyan Ranch Spa twice during my trip (not my husbands thing) I found it to be very good and good value for the quality and ambiance. The Canyon Stone Massage was excellent and I enjoyed the hour or so in there and found it a wonderful way to escape the sun and break up the sea days. The variety of treatments available is extensive and I only heard glowing reports from other guests about the various options.

Entertainment:

This was fairly low key however all acts were very good and this is how we like it. My husband enjoyed the casino on the off occasion and commented that the atmosphere was good. Horizons was our favourite spot of an evening as already mentioned. My husband also enjoyed an hour or two in the library on a few occasions, a nice touch to help pass the time.

Staff:

All exceptional, how they keep the level of service throughout and a long trip is beyond me. Always happy, smiling and extremely attentive to our needs I simply can not speak highly enough of any of them. Well worth a tip!! The suite was kept immaculate in all aspects. The waiters were swift and knowledgeable, the concierge helped with dining reservations with no fuss I could go on and on. We genuinely had no issues with service at all.

Other things:

If I had to find one negative it would be the charge the internet which is excessive, however we do not go away to work and only used it a couple of times so no real issue. Excursions are also pricey however always very good with great guides and clearly only very good quality is all ports, it is cheaper to book pre departure however we like to arrange on-board in case we change out minds. They will charge gratuities to you cabin which was fine with us however a couple of guests on-board did ask to have this amended which I think they did but like I say the service was so exceptional we had no problem in paying it.

Summary:

Overall a truly excellent trip organised from start to finish with wonderful efficiency. I am very much looking forward to our next trip to the South Pacific and New Zealand and have no worries at all that it will be just as good. Oceania are a fantastic 5 star luxury cruise line and the size of the ship and service level is ideal if you want to avoid the massive mass market cruise lines. The price level also represents good value for the quality you actually get. Great job all round and 10/10!!

The Oceania Nautica is a splendid ship, the crew, officers and waiting staff really set this boat apart from any other we have experienced. This was our second trip on-board and was every bit as superb as our first. We always have a Penthouse as love the extra room and would thoroughly recommend these suites to anyone. The food is divine and caters wonderfully for all tastes and the open dining is ideal for making a relaxed experience. The trips are expensive but we understand are cheaper is booked before departure however we like to enjoy the ship and do our own thing. We have yet to try the two newer larger ships but hear great thing from friends however we still prefer fewer than 1000 passengers so have no plans to change from Nautica or Reggata. Overall this was another excellent trip and we have already booked for the Baltics!!

Although Nautica is an older ship we found it still to be elegant and of a high quality throughout. With just less than 700 passengers we felt there was lots of space and nowhere was crowded. There was no shortage of staff anywhere around the ship who where always courteous and attentative to out every need. They were always very enthusiastic and had warm smiles fro you. The ship gave you the felling of a relaxed private club that we had become part of and with there being no need for tuxedos this was even better news. Everything on board has obviously been designed with the guests in mind and our comfort. Toscana and Polo Grill where amazing and the fact that we did not have to pay any supplements for these was a refreshing change.

When we started investigating cruising we were aware of different ratings. We came across something called luxury cruising or Sixstar cruising. The name instantly shouted “we are going to cost a fortune” but everything looked so ideal I thought I’d enquire anyway. I got through to Sixstar cruises and spoke to Joe. He was just wonderful from the start. He made me feel comfortable and I openly admitted we liked the look of luxury cruising but weren’t convinced we could afford it. From the start Joe said just because a stigma is attached to something saying 6star doesn’t mean you won’t be able to afford it. He started telling us about Oceania Cruises. They sounded like exactly what I wanted and I was afraid of the price he’d say at the end of it as all the facilities and extra included in the price made me want it. So when he turned round and it was within our budget I nearly fell of my chair. The fact that the only extras were alcoholic drinks and neither of us drink much it meant we could afford the holiday and a few added extras we’d like for the same price as our landbased holiday we normally take. Once on-board we were whisked up into a world of luxury and exceptional service. I will never holiday a different way we have been truly spoilt and at a fantastic price to. Thanks to Joe and Oceania for finding something that’s perfect for us.

I have just returned from a wonderful cruise on-board the Oceania Nautica. We cruised from Cape town to Singapore and it was fantastic, great weather and nice to do a more unusual itinerary. The ship was great and the food amazing. We had a balcony stateroom which was excellent and easily met our needs. I have cruised several times with various cruise but have to say the staff ship and food on-board Nautica is the best we have ever had.

Oceania Cruises certainly know what they are doing when it comes to offering a wonderful Cruise Experience. I was fortunate enough to sail on the Nautica, with only 684 passengers at full capacity there were never any worries about queuing for anything. I always got a lovely seat in the theatre to watch the shows and the speciality dining choices were superb!

I did enjoy the Canyon Ranch Club Spa, amazing. I felt like I was in my own private retreat.

What I enjoyed the most was the ambience onboard. Very country club elegant. No stuffy tuxedos, no ties it was great.

I’m looking forward to my next Cruise on Marina. I’ve heard wonderful things and I cant wait.