Regatta Cruises

Life aboard Regatta
After Regatta’s cruises around French Polynesia, by May 2020 she is back sailing the Alaskan fjords out of Vancouver and Seattle. Some voyages visit Anchorage. During October Regatta crosses the North Pacific to Japan, and winds her way south to Sydney by late November. Through December 2020 a 35-night curated journey circumnavigates Australia, and include ports in PNG and Indonesia. Regatta again arrives in Sydney in December 2020, to circumnavigate Australia over 35 nights and visit 16 mainland ports. In early 2021 there’s a selection of cruises from Australia to the South Pacific and New Zealand. Then you can cross the Pacific to Seattle and repeat the itineraries along the North American Pacific coast. This particular vessel is very appealing to its guests, who prefer the atmosphere of a smaller vessel. Cruises range from one to six weeks, and usually visit a port a day. Many sectors are available. In ports that hold special interest the ship stays for two or three nights to allow for serious on-shore excursions. No itineraries could be considered ordinary or repeated.

Refurbished in September 2019, the 30,277 GT Regatta carries just 684 passengers. This is a ‘small ship’ boasting many big-ship features. Dress is informal in a luxurious setting, with an accent on personalised service and five-star cuisine. Guests are generally older, well-travelled, and convivial. Much thought is evident in the furnishing of public spaces and staterooms. The comfortable public leather seating, teak loungers, and impressive library with ceiling murals and telescopes spoil guests at sea. Dining is open-seated with excellent menus in four main restaurants. While this is not a family ship, children enjoy the ports by day and hot tubs by night. The ambiance resembles that of a private country club - casual, yet elegant. Regatta was “Best Refurbished Ship 2015” in TravelAge West Wave Awards.

Accommodation
Most cabins have an outside view, and two-thirds have a private balcony. The standard interior and outside cabins are smallish but comfortable, with twin/queen-size bed and ‘best beds at sea’, bathrobes, plenty of built-in cabinets, flat-screen TV, DVD player, writing desk, satellite phone, wireless Internet, and personal safe. Décor is attractive with dark wood accents. Maid service is twice daily. Cabins with balcony have a fridge mini-bar, lounge area with breakfast table, and balcony with teak chairs and table. Speedy room service is available from a separate in-room dining menu.

Suites are much like that of a top hotel room, with expanded living areas, bath with a tub, and ocean views across the teak deck verandah. Suites come with butler service, priority check-in and dining reservations, and a welcoming bottle of Champagne. Four Vista Suites at the bow have a very private teak-decked balcony, separate bedroom facing the sea, top electronic systems, and a Jacuzzi bathtub. The six very large Owner’s Suites overlook the stern.

Food and Dining
All dining is open-seated and dining is when you choose. There are four different restaurants. The Grand Dining Room features 'American-inspired continental cuisine' in an elegant atmosphere with fine table settings and top service. The Toscana Italian Restaurant offers genuine Tuscan cuisine and wines, with unique touches. The Polo Grill features steakhouse and seafood in a leather-chair club setting. (Reservations, but no extra charge for these last two venues.) The lido Terrace Cafe - indoors and outdoors - is the ship's self-service buffet, that transforms in the evenings to Tapas on the Terrace, servicing an eclectic mix of dishes.

Afternoon tea is served at 4pm daily in the Horizon Lounge. For early risers Horizon is also the place for a quiet bite. Complimentary room service is available from a separate menu, and includes continental breakfast, sandwiches and desserts. For a hot breakfast the Waves Grill is best. Before dining, chat and have pre-dinner drinks in the Grand Bar or Polo Bar. Martinis with its club atmosphere, and Horizons with forward floor-to-ceiling views, are the places for cocktails, background music, and perhaps some dancing.

Entertainment
On-shore itineraries are the main daytime fare. However, on the ship, day classes include small-group Microsoft software instruction, use of the Internet, and digital photography - that is, if you are not absorbed in the Library, wine tasting, or relaxing in a top-deck Jacuzzi. In the evening the ship is filled with music in several bars and lounges. The Regatta Lounge is the centre for lectures, some social events, and a mix of comedians, magicians, classical recitals, and staff entertainers.

The spa and beauty salon offer an extensive range of services sponsored by Mandara from Bali. A small fitness centre has all the usual equipment. Other features are the thalassotherapy pool, walking track, single salt water pool and two Jacuzzis. There are no special facilities for children. Dress for country club casual.

Explore the decks

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