R class cruise ships
|
PROFILE AND REVIEW
AZAMARA and OCEANIA CRUISES R-CLASS |
Insignia (originally R One)
|
The R-class is a series of eight small cruise ships originally built for Renaissance Cruises. Following the bankruptcy of Renaissance in 2001, the eight ships were dispersed across the cruise industry. However, now they have settled with four each at two up-market lines: Azamara (Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest, Azamara Pursuit and Azamara Onward (the recently-purchased Pacific Princess); and Oceania (Regatta, Insignia, Nautica and Sirena).
Each of the ships is approximately 30,000 gross tons and can accommodate 684 passengers at double occupancy. Although the various ships have undergone several refits over the years, they all still maintain an atmosphere of sophisticated elegance. Indeed, despite having had a number of owners, the ships remain remarkably similar in appearance and atmosphere.
These ships have no gee-wiz features and no shock and awe décor. Rather, they are for travelers who are looking for elegant but casual vehicles in which to explore the world. Wood paneling interspersed with wrought iron give the ships the feeling of a country house hotel.
Each ship has a main dining room, two specialty restaurants, a buffet and a poolside venue. For entertainment, there is a show lounge and an observation lounge as well as a small casino and a pair of intimate bars. The beautiful library is a highlight of each ship. There is also a spa, a fitness center, a salon and an outdoor pool.
The R-class ships travel the world. They can be seen in the major cruise ports but they also visit smaller ports that the large cruise ships cannot or do not visit. Consequently, they tend to attract experienced travelers who have already seen the tourist sights. Most passengers are mature and there are few children.
All of the ships were built by Chantiers d'Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France and originally entered service between 1998 and
2001. The ships are diesel-electric with traditional propeller shafts. Despite their small size, they have good seakeeping qualities, which enable them to undertake itineraries that stretch across major oceans. However, with a top speed of less than 20 knots, they are slower than average.
The ships are called “R-class” because the original name for each ship began with the letter “R” followed by the by the
ship's number in the sequence in which they were built. Thus, the first ship built was “R-One”; the second ship built was “R-
Two” etc.
Following Renaissance's demise, the ships were laid-up. Most were owned by Cruisevest, which chartered and later sold them to various lines. R-One and R-Two were sold to Oceania in 2006 where they became Insignia and Regatta. These two ships have remained with Oceania since then although, R-One spent some time (2012-2014) chartered to Hapag-Llyod, sailing under the name Columbus 2.
In 2002, R-Five was chartered to the Spanish cruise line Pullmantur where she was marketed under the name “Blue Dream.” In 2006, she was purchased by Oceania, which renamed her Nautica.
Like R-Five, R-Six was chartered to Pullmantur, marketed first as “Blue Star” and later as “Blue Dream.” In 2006, R-Seven, which had been chartered by the German line Delphin Seereisen, joined Pullmantur where she was known as “Blue Moon.” After Royal Caribbean acquired an interest in Pullmantur, the ships were slated for transfer to Royal's premium brand Celebrity Cruises. However, the decision was made to use the ships to create a new luxury brand Azamara Cruises. In 2007, R-Six became Azamara Journey and R-Seven became Azamara Quest.
A third major player in the R-ship saga was Princess Cruises. In 2002, Princess acquired R-Three, which it renamed Pacific Princess and R-Four, which was renamed first Tahitian Princess and later Ocean Princess. In 2007, Princess acquired R-Eight, which had been on charter to Swan-Hellenic as “Minerva II”. R-Eight became Royal Princess. Unlike Oceania and Azamara, Princess never marketed its R-ships as luxury ships. As a result, passengers were able to enjoy an R-ship experience at mass-market prices.
By the next decade, however, Princess had lost interest in having a series of small ships in its fleet. In 2011, it transferred Royal Princess to sister brand P&O Cruises where she became Adonia. The ship was later used briefly by Carnival Corporation's ill-starred social-impact brand Fathom but was returned to P&O after Fathom's demise. In 2018, she was sold to Azamara where she became Azamara Pursuit.
In 2014, Princess announced that it was selling Ocean Princess and in 2016, she joined Oceania as Sirena.
During the pause in operations caused by the COVID 19 pandemic,Princess announced that Pacific Princess had been sold to an undisclosed buyer. The buyer turned out to be Azamara, which had recently become independent of Royal Caribbean. The ship was re-named Azamra Onward.
Thus, the R-class ships are now evenly distributed between Oceania, a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and Azamara, which is now owned by Sycamore Partners after the line's sale by Royal Caribbean. It should be noted that following the various changes in ownership, substantial amounts were invested in the ships. As a result, the R-class ships remain first-tier luxury cruise ships.
Each of the ships is approximately 30,000 gross tons and can accommodate 684 passengers at double occupancy. Although the various ships have undergone several refits over the years, they all still maintain an atmosphere of sophisticated elegance. Indeed, despite having had a number of owners, the ships remain remarkably similar in appearance and atmosphere.
These ships have no gee-wiz features and no shock and awe décor. Rather, they are for travelers who are looking for elegant but casual vehicles in which to explore the world. Wood paneling interspersed with wrought iron give the ships the feeling of a country house hotel.
Each ship has a main dining room, two specialty restaurants, a buffet and a poolside venue. For entertainment, there is a show lounge and an observation lounge as well as a small casino and a pair of intimate bars. The beautiful library is a highlight of each ship. There is also a spa, a fitness center, a salon and an outdoor pool.
The R-class ships travel the world. They can be seen in the major cruise ports but they also visit smaller ports that the large cruise ships cannot or do not visit. Consequently, they tend to attract experienced travelers who have already seen the tourist sights. Most passengers are mature and there are few children.
All of the ships were built by Chantiers d'Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France and originally entered service between 1998 and
2001. The ships are diesel-electric with traditional propeller shafts. Despite their small size, they have good seakeeping qualities, which enable them to undertake itineraries that stretch across major oceans. However, with a top speed of less than 20 knots, they are slower than average.
The ships are called “R-class” because the original name for each ship began with the letter “R” followed by the by the
ship's number in the sequence in which they were built. Thus, the first ship built was “R-One”; the second ship built was “R-
Two” etc.
Following Renaissance's demise, the ships were laid-up. Most were owned by Cruisevest, which chartered and later sold them to various lines. R-One and R-Two were sold to Oceania in 2006 where they became Insignia and Regatta. These two ships have remained with Oceania since then although, R-One spent some time (2012-2014) chartered to Hapag-Llyod, sailing under the name Columbus 2.
In 2002, R-Five was chartered to the Spanish cruise line Pullmantur where she was marketed under the name “Blue Dream.” In 2006, she was purchased by Oceania, which renamed her Nautica.
Like R-Five, R-Six was chartered to Pullmantur, marketed first as “Blue Star” and later as “Blue Dream.” In 2006, R-Seven, which had been chartered by the German line Delphin Seereisen, joined Pullmantur where she was known as “Blue Moon.” After Royal Caribbean acquired an interest in Pullmantur, the ships were slated for transfer to Royal's premium brand Celebrity Cruises. However, the decision was made to use the ships to create a new luxury brand Azamara Cruises. In 2007, R-Six became Azamara Journey and R-Seven became Azamara Quest.
A third major player in the R-ship saga was Princess Cruises. In 2002, Princess acquired R-Three, which it renamed Pacific Princess and R-Four, which was renamed first Tahitian Princess and later Ocean Princess. In 2007, Princess acquired R-Eight, which had been on charter to Swan-Hellenic as “Minerva II”. R-Eight became Royal Princess. Unlike Oceania and Azamara, Princess never marketed its R-ships as luxury ships. As a result, passengers were able to enjoy an R-ship experience at mass-market prices.
By the next decade, however, Princess had lost interest in having a series of small ships in its fleet. In 2011, it transferred Royal Princess to sister brand P&O Cruises where she became Adonia. The ship was later used briefly by Carnival Corporation's ill-starred social-impact brand Fathom but was returned to P&O after Fathom's demise. In 2018, she was sold to Azamara where she became Azamara Pursuit.
In 2014, Princess announced that it was selling Ocean Princess and in 2016, she joined Oceania as Sirena.
During the pause in operations caused by the COVID 19 pandemic,Princess announced that Pacific Princess had been sold to an undisclosed buyer. The buyer turned out to be Azamara, which had recently become independent of Royal Caribbean. The ship was re-named Azamra Onward.
Thus, the R-class ships are now evenly distributed between Oceania, a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and Azamara, which is now owned by Sycamore Partners after the line's sale by Royal Caribbean. It should be noted that following the various changes in ownership, substantial amounts were invested in the ships. As a result, the R-class ships remain first-tier luxury cruise ships.
|
|
|
Cruise ship class profile and review - - Norwegian Cruise Line - - Jewel class