A Look at the Future of Oceania Cruises’ R-Class Ships

Posted on 3 August, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

A Look at the Future of Oceania Cruises’ R-Class Ships

Oceania Cruises is set to undergo significant changes over the next few years with the debut of newbuilds and the retirement of its older vessels.

Having been fully repositioned into the luxury market, the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ (NCLH) brand is moving on from its older R-class ships, which are being sold off, repurposed or chartered.

Cruise Industry News looks at the company’s plans for the four ships, which originally debuted between 1998 and 2001.

Sirena
Capacity: 684
Tonnage: 30,200
Year Built: 2000
Fate: Sold to undisclosed buyer
Farewell Cruise: March 24, 2028

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced the sale of the Sirena in late July. While a buyer was not named, the ship is expected to be delivered to its new owners after its spring 2028 deployment.

Originally launched as the R4 in 2000, the 684-passenger ship was acquired by Oceania in 2016, after spending over a decade sailing for Princess Cruises.

Nautica
Capacity: 684
Tonnage: 30,200
Year Built: 2000
Fate: To become Oceania Aurelia
Farewell Cruise: October 15, 2027

The Nautica will remain in service for Oceania Cruises after undergoing a significant refurbishment in late 2027.

According to the company, the 2000-built ship will be reimagined as the “ultimate world explorer,” embarking on longer cruises and the brand’s 180-day Around the World Voyages. Renamed Oceania Aurelia, the vessel will offer larger suites and capacity will be trimmed from 684 to under 400.

Regatta
Capacity: 684
Tonnage: 30,200
Year Built: 1998
Fate: Chartered to My Cruises
Farewell Cruise: August 17, 2026

The Regatta will leave Oceania Cruises’ fleet this year having been chartered to My Cruises’ Explorations by Norwegian brand.

The Australian tour operator will operate world cruises onboard the 30,200-ton vessel, currently holding a two-year charter agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

“At the conclusion of the initial term, the charter may be extended for multiple years or, alternatively, the vessel may be sold to a third-party cruise operator,” NCLH stated in its 2026 second quarter earnings presentation.

Insignia
Capacity: 684
Tonnage: 30,200
Year Built: 1999
Fate: To remain in fleet for the time being
Farewell Cruise: TBD

The Insignia is staying in the company’s fleet for the time being. The 30,200-ton ship was previously slated to be withdrawn in 2027 to become a residential cruise ship for Crescent Seas but the plan later fell through.

While no new long-term plans have been announced, Oceania’s published deployment includes departures onboard the 30,200-ton ship through November 2027.

Qatar Charters Two MSC Cruises Ships as Hotels for the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Posted on 18 November, 2019 by Spacejunkie2

Qatar has signed an agreement with MSC Cruises to charter two ships to accommodate fans during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

The two ships, with a combined capacity of nearly 4,000, will act as floating hotels during the tournament. They will be berthed at Doha Port.

According to Qatar, chartering cruise ships for fans has long been part of its accommodation strategy, with the country keen to offer sustainable solutions for the month-long tournament, which will kick-off on Nov. 21, 2022.

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Under the terms of the agreement, the State of Qatar will charter MSC Cruises’ MSC Europa and MSC Poesia. Scheduled for delivery in 2022, the MSC Europa is currently under construction at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France. As the first LNG-fueled ship in MSC Cruises’ fleet, she will run on this fuel while at berth in Doha. Being the most environmentally friendly marine fuel currently available, her air emissions will thus be kept to a minimum, according to a statement from MSC.

The cruise ships will be served by shuttle buses which will take fans to Qatar’s transport infrastructure, including Doha Metro, from where they will be able to access stadiums, fan zones and other attractions.

In addition to floating hotels, Qatar’s other accommodation options will include hotels, apartments and fan villages.

FEMA Carnival Charter Cost $74.7 Million

Posted on 8 January, 2018 by Spacejunkie2

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) charter of the Carnival Fascination will cost the agency $74.7 million, according to the contract between FEMA and Carnival Corporation, which was obtained by Cruise Industry News through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

The ship was chartered to provide housing for relief staff in the United States Virgin Islands following a number of hurricanes in September.

The charter period runs from October 11, 2017, to February 3, 2018, at a cost of $39.7 million, while a separate provision for port costs and other vessel costs comes in at $35 million, totalling $74.7 million.

By comparison, a 116-day operating period for the 2,056-guest Carnival Fascination would have resulted in gross revenue of approximately $44.2 million (versus the $39.7 million for the charter), calculated using gross revenue per passenger day reported by Carnival Corporation in the fourth quarter of 2016 and analyzed by Cruise Industry News.

By comparison, FEMA chartered the Grand Celebration in a similar deal for $25.8 million.

The contract stipulates Carnival will provide three hot and cold buffet meals per day as well as drink availability (water, coffee, tea, juice) between meals. Staterooms will be cleaned on a weekly basis. In addition, Carnival will provide access to public spaces for FEMA personnel.

The separate $35 million line item includes docking and port fees in San Juan, various logistics provisions, waste removal, fuel costs, incremental costs related to crew compensation, and the “refurbishment of the ship at the end of the charter period to bring the ship to the same standards as the beginning of the charter period.”