Regatta is entering the final day of its last Oceania Cruises voyage, bringing a 23-year association with the upper-premium cruise line to a close.
The 684-passenger ship departed Dubrovnik on 17 August 2026 for a ten-night farewell sailing through the Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean seas. The itinerary is due to conclude in Istanbul on 27 August.
After leaving Oceania's branded operation, Regatta will begin an extensive charter programme for Australian travel company My Cruises under its new Explorations by Norwegian concept.
Final Oceania voyage reaches Istanbul
The farewell cruise links Dubrovnik with Istanbul and includes calls at Kotor in Montenegro, Igoumenitsa and Katakolon in Greece, Santorini, Mykonos, Piraeus, Kusadasi and the Turkish island of Bozcaada.
Its port-intensive route is a fitting conclusion for a ship closely associated with Oceania's destination-focused style since the cruise line's earliest days.
Oceania has not published a separate formal farewell announcement, but the ship's final itinerary and its forthcoming charter programme confirm the transition.
One of Oceania's original ships
Regatta joined Oceania Cruises in 2003, the brand's first year of operation. Its arrival helped establish the formula that would define the company: relatively small ships, destination-rich itineraries, country-club-style informality and a strong emphasis on food.
The vessel was built in 1998 by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, for Renaissance Cruises. It originally entered service as R Two and briefly carried the name Insignia before becoming Regatta.
Measuring 30,277 gross tonnes and approximately 181 metres long, the ship accommodates 684 guests at double occupancy. Its modest dimensions allow it to visit ports that cannot routinely receive today's largest cruise ships.
Oceania repeatedly modernised the vessel during its career, including a major OceaniaNEXT refurbishment that renewed accommodation and public rooms while retaining its traditional small-ship character.
A charter, not a sale to My Cruises
The next chapter is best described as a charter rather than an outright sale. My Cruises, part of Flight Centre-owned Ignite Travel Group, has secured exclusive use of Regatta for its Explorations by Norwegian programme.
The ship remains connected to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, the parent company of Oceania Cruises. Explorations by Norwegian is a collaborative travel product created by My Cruises with Norwegian, combining the vessel and shipboard operation with a new collection of packaged, long-duration itineraries.
This distinction matters because Regatta is not being transferred into a conventionally operated My Cruises fleet. Instead, the Australian company has designed and marketed the programme around a chartered ship.
New programme begins on 1 September
Regatta's first published Explorations by Norwegian voyage departs Civitavecchia on 1 September 2026. It will visit Livorno, Naples, Messina, Corfu, Split, Rijeka, Zadar, Dubrovnik and Mykonos before arriving in Piraeus on 14 September.
Subsequent itineraries take the ship across the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia, the Americas and polar regions.
My Cruises is selling the programme as a series of individual journeys from eight nights as well as linked grand voyages. Its flagship option runs for 371 days and visits more than 220 ports across seven continents.
The model is intended to blend elements of ocean, expedition and river cruising, with longer stays and a strong emphasis on exploring destinations ashore.
Regatta receives a refreshed identity
My Cruises describes the ship as a newly refined, contemporary small vessel with 348 rooms. Published plans retain familiar venues including the Grand Dining Room, Toscana, Polo Grill, Terrace Café, Waves Grill, the library, pool deck and Aquamar Spa.
The new product adds packaged benefits including drinks, Wi-Fi, speciality dining and shore-excursion credit, although inclusions vary according to the particular fare and journey booked.
For passengers familiar with Oceania, the ship itself will remain recognisable even as its branding, programme and onboard delivery enter a new phase.
Oceania reshapes its small-ship fleet
Regatta's departure is part of a broader evolution at Oceania Cruises as the company introduces newer vessels and reorganises its original R-class tonnage.
Sirena is also expected to leave Oceania's operation, while Nautica is due to undergo a major transformation and return as Oceania Aurelia. At the same time, the line is expanding with newer and larger ships, including vessels in its Allura and forthcoming Sonata classes.
For Regatta, however, the transition is not retirement. After 23 years helping to define Oceania Cruises, the veteran ship is moving directly into one of the industry's most unusual year-round global programmes.