Regatta is a 684-guest R-class ocean cruise ship closely associated with the foundation and growth of Oceania Cruises. Built in France in 1998 as R Two, the ship joined the newly established Oceania brand in 2003 and went on to operate destination-rich voyages around the world for 23 years.
In August 2026, Regatta completed its final Oceania-branded voyage before beginning a long-term charter programme marketed as Explorations by Norwegian. The arrangement gives the veteran ship a new role rather than sending it into retirement.
Construction and early career
Chantiers de l'Atlantique built the vessel at Saint-Nazaire for Renaissance Cruises as the second of eight near-identical R-class ships. It was delivered in November 1998 and entered service as R Two.
The class was designed for port-intensive cruising, combining a relatively shallow draught and compact dimensions with the accommodation and public spaces expected aboard an upmarket ocean ship.
Following the collapse of Renaissance Cruises in 2001, the ship was laid up and later renamed Insignia. After a brief charter to French operator TMR, it returned to Oceania and received the name Regatta in June 2003.
An Oceania Cruises original
Regatta was one of the ships that established Oceania Cruises during the company's first year of operation. Its small scale, elegant interiors, flexible dining and destination-led itineraries became defining characteristics of the brand.
Oceania subsequently added sister ships and larger newbuilds, but Regatta remained an important part of the fleet. Its deployments have covered the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Alaska, Asia, Australia, the South Pacific, South America and extended world voyages.
The ship's final Oceania sailing departed Dubrovnik on 17 August 2026 and concluded in Istanbul following calls in Montenegro, Greece and Turkey.
Size and accommodation
Regatta measures 30,277 gross tonnes, approximately 180.96 metres in length and 25.46 metres across the beam. Its registered draught is approximately 5.95 metres.
Oceania's current ship page lists 340 suites and rooms. Established R-class technical material records accommodation for 684 guests at double occupancy and a crew of approximately 400.
The vessel's statutory maximum capacity is higher than the marketed double-occupancy figure. Deck7 therefore uses 684 guests for the public profile and records 824 as the technical maximum in the Ship Index.
Nine guest decks contain accommodation, dining rooms, lounges and outdoor facilities. The compact layout means most venues are within a short walk while the ship remains large enough to offer several restaurants and distinct public spaces.
Dining and life on board
Signature dining venues include the Grand Dining Room, Italian restaurant Toscana, steakhouse Polo Grill, Terrace Café and the poolside Waves Grill. Oceania's flexible approach allows guests to dine without fixed table assignments or traditional seating times.
Public areas include the forward-facing Horizons lounge, Martinis, the Grand Bar, an English-style library, casino, theatre lounge and boutiques. Outdoor facilities include a swimming pool, two whirlpools, sun deck, running track and sports deck.
The Aquamar Spa and Vitality Centre provides treatment rooms, a fitness centre and wellness facilities. Entertainment typically combines guest performers, production shows, live music, lectures and destination-focused enrichment.
2019 OceaniaNEXT refurbishment
Regatta underwent a major refurbishment in September 2019 as part of Oceania's OceaniaNEXT programme.
The project renewed every suite and stateroom with new furnishings, finishes and bathrooms. Public spaces also received updated fabrics, lighting and colour palettes while retaining the dark woods and traditional details associated with the R-class design.
The 2019 work remains the latest clearly documented major completed refurbishment at the Ship Index verification date. My Cruises describes the vessel as newly refined for its 2026 charter programme, but Deck7 has not entered a later refurbishment year without a confirmed completion date and defined shipyard project.
Explorations by Norwegian charter
From September 2026, Regatta is scheduled to operate for Explorations by Norwegian, a travel concept created by Australian company My Cruises in collaboration with Norwegian Cruise Line.
The move is a charter arrangement rather than a sale of the vessel to My Cruises. The ship remains within the wider Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings structure while operating a programme designed and packaged for the Australian market.
The first published voyage departs Civitavecchia on 1 September 2026. The wider schedule links the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia, the Americas and polar regions through individual cruises and extended combinations.
My Cruises advertises journeys from eight nights to a 371-day world voyage visiting more than 220 ports. Familiar venues including Toscana, Polo Grill, Terrace Café, Waves Grill, the library, pool deck and Aquamar Spa are retained within the new product.
Identification and environmental record
The ship's permanent identifier is IMO number 9156474. At verification it is registered at Majuro under the Marshall Islands flag, with MMSI 538001664 and call sign V7DM3.
Regatta uses conventional diesel propulsion and was not designed for liquefied-natural-gas operation. Public sources reviewed for this profile do not provide sufficiently reliable ship-specific confirmation of shore-power connection equipment or an exhaust-gas cleaning system. Those Ship Index fields are therefore recorded as Unknown rather than inferred from fleet-wide information.