Karl WP Beyer Oceania Cruises, a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., will operate four small and two medium-sized cruise ships in 2022. The commissioning of a seventh ship is planned for 2023. The cruise line presents itself to its guests under the motto: “Exquisite cuisine. Selected travel experiences. Small, luxurious ships.
A maximum of 648 guests per voyage experience all of this on board the Oceania Sirena. We took the opportunity to visit the ship in Bremerhaven. Like her identical sister ships Insignia, Nautica and Regatta, the Oceania Sirena is positioned in the four-star plus segment. A total of eight ships of this class were built. The other four ships operate under the Azamara Club Cruises brand.
Oceania Sirena in front of Columbuskaje in Bremerhaven
The 30.277 GT cruise ship went into service in 1999. It has been flying the flag of since 2016 Oceania Cruises. Cared for by 400 employees, guests can choose from four restaurants and eight lounges and bars during their trip. You use the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center and enjoy the stylish ambience of the ship. Special features are the spacious public areas and the excellent cuisine. Despite the upscale environment, women's evening wear and men's tuxedos or dinner jackets are allowed to stay at home. "Sporty, chic fashion" is the order of the day on board.
Oceania Sirena - Destination Services
Oceania Sirena - art object in the stairwell
Staterooms
Oceania Sirena features 329 luxuriously appointed suites and staterooms. The rooms feature hardwood decorations, rich fabrics and furnishings, and original artwork. The number of suites and mini suites (here: penthouse suites) is estimated at 62. The balcony rate is 70 percent. Among the suites, the six owner's suites stand out with a size of 92 square meters. The four Vista Suites are 73 square meters and the Penthouse Suites are 30 square meters.
Below the suite level are the 20 square meter balcony cabins (including the balcony). The size of the outside cabins is given as 13 to 15 square meters. The 22 inside cabins have fourteen square meters of living space. Although the cabins appear a bit small from today's perspective in relation to the 4-star-plus segment, they are extremely cozy and comfortable. Only the wet cells should be larger. The Sirena also offers ten single cabins with sea views and three inside cabins suitable for the disabled. The following photos show a balcony cabin and an outside cabin with a window.
Oceania Sirena onboard restaurants
Oceania Cruises boasts "the finest cuisine on a cruise ship" thanks to its collaboration with Jacques Pépin, the US-based French master chef. The Sirena has three service and one self-service restaurant. On the pool deck, the Waves Grill satisfies the "small hunger in between".
The Grand Dining Room
The culinary center of the on-board catering is the Grand Dining Room. The elegant and spacious restaurant aft on deck 5 is open at all dining times. Guests will experience fine continental cuisine. Dinners in the Grand Dining Room include a minimum of ten appetizers, soups and salads and twelve different main courses. All dishes are prepared à la minute and served on fine porcelain. After all, the eye eats with you.
Tuscan Steak
The menu of the Tuscan Steak Restaurant on deck 10 aft on starboard is, as the name suggests, inspired by the flair of Tuscany. At Tuscan, masterful meat and fish dishes are served, accompanied by traditional side dishes. Whether filet mignon or steamed main lobster, the kitchen gives its best.
Oceania Sirena - Tuscan Steak
Oceania Sirena - table setting at Tuscan Steak
The Tuscan Steak is only open in the evenings. Reservations are required. Visiting the restaurant does not require an extra charge.
Red Ginger
In the Red Ginger (deck 10, aft to port) guests enjoy contemporary interpretations of classic Asian specialties. We've been assured that dinner at Red Ginger can last for hours.
Oceania Sirena—Red Ginger
Oceania Sirena—Red Ginger
The Red Ginger is only open in the evenings. Reservations are required. Visiting the restaurant also requires no extra charge.
Self-service restaurant Terrace Café
The Terrace Café is located on the 9th deck at the rear of the ship. It is dedicated to “informal dining” morning, noon and evening. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating. The quality of the dishes served at the respective times of the day does not differ from the previously mentioned service restaurants. The appetizers, main courses and dessert make the viewer's mouth water. The Terrace Café offers a variety of meat dishes, fish cooked to order, sushi and sashimi or lobster tails. By the way: Self-service at the buffet does not necessarily mean that you have to carry what you want to the table. Friendly waiters support the guests if necessary.
Waves Grill
Also worth mentioning is the Waves Grill, adjacent to the starboard side of the pool area. The outdoor grill provides guests who want to meet the "small hunger in between" with American classics such as burgers, barbecues and fish for lunch and dinner. The Waves Grill stands out from burger stations on other cruise ships both visually and in terms of what is on offer: the meat of the beef burger comes from Kobe beef. What else? And lobster meat is also available.
Oceania Sirena- Waves Grill
Oceania Sirena bars and lounges
The number of bars and lounges is manageable. This is solely due to the size of the ship and the number of passengers. All bars are very inviting. Our presentation starts with the Sirena Lounge on deck 5 and ends in the Horizons on deck 10.
Sirena Lounge
The large lounge forward on deck 5 is the focal point of the evening entertainment programme. The dance floor in front of the stage indicates that the lounge is not used solely for entertainment purposes.
Oceania Sirena - Lounge, Stage and Dance Floor
Martinis
The name says it all: the bar located midships on the 5th deck offers its visitors various martini creations. Soft piano music played to accompany the conversations. The cozy bar is adjacent to the on-board casino.
Oceania Sirena - wet bar at Martinis
Oceania Sirena - in martinis
Grand Bar & Baristas
The Grand Bar and Baristas are located on the 5th deck in front of the Grand Dining Room. The exquisitely designed bar serves as a pleasant waiting area in front of the dining room. Fine pastries or sandwiches are served with various coffees, and wines and spirits shorten the waiting time before dinner in the Grand Dining Room.
Waves bar
The Waves Bar is located on the pool deck (deck 9). Guests at the open-air bar can have a drink there at any time of the day.
Oceania Sirena - Pool Deck with the Waves Bar
horizons
The Horizons at the front on deck 10 with the huge window fronts is a tastefully furnished viewing platform and a place of tranquility during the day. In the evening and at night it turns into a nightclub with live music and good drinks.
Oceania Sirena - Horizons Lounge
Sport & Wellness
The three upper decks 9, 10 and 11 are ideal for sports and wellness. Compared to the mega ships that have been established in recent years, the range on offer should not be considered particularly lavish. But it would be enough for us. We pay particular attention to the exclusively designed spa area and the fitness center. The spa operator is Canyon Ranch, the Tucson, Arizona-based operator of luxury health resorts on land and ships.
Sports offers
The fitness center is located to starboard on the 9th deck next to the spa. It is equipped with the most modern equipment. In addition to the equipment activities, passengers are also offered a wide range of courses. These include Pilates, yoga, cycling, aerobics and fitness – privately or in a group.
The heated pool is very small. Guests will also find it, the two whirlpools installed next to it and the generously dimensioned sunbathing area with excellent sun loungers on the 9th deck. The short jogging track runs one deck higher. The golf putting greens and the shuffleboard field are located in the front area of the small sun deck (deck 11).
Wellness
Canyon Ranch promotes healthy living and spiritual awareness. There are steam rooms, a variety of treatments, nutrition and lifestyle advice on board the Sirena. The offer is supplemented by stays in the "Sanctuary" or in the non-public whirlpool. Concierge Level and Suites guests are granted complimentary access to the Spa Terrace; the other guests pay for the little luxury.
Entertainment
The shipping company describes the entertainment program on board an Oceania ship as follows: "Every day on board one of our ships is a spectacle and an adventure that you should not miss." Some program items: music in the bars and lounges, shows in the Sirena Lounge, deck games or cooking demonstrations. Guest speakers will perform and trivia games will be hosted. If that's not enough for you, you might want to visit the on-board casino with slot machines and table games. Not to forget the English-style library. This is what a library on English country estates should look like. A card room, indispensable on English and American ships, is also planned.
Internet access is available everywhere on board free of charge. In the front part of the ship on deck 9, several PC workstations are available to guests under the name Oceania@Sea.
Shopping experiences in between are also taken care of. Two elegant boutiques stock cosmetics, jewelry, watches, Oceania logo products, clothing and everyday necessities.
Oceania Sirena - Boutique on Deck 5
Ship related information
|
Commissioning |
1999 |
|
Size: |
Length 181 meters; Width 25,45 meters |
|
measurement |
30.277 GT |
|
guest decks |
9 decks |
|
Cruising speed |
18 knots |
|
number of passengers |
648 |
|
Cabins & Suites |
329 |
|
Crew |
400 people |
|
Relationship between guests and crew |
1,6 to 1 |
|
Flagge |
Marshall Islands; Home port Majuro |
|
Shipyard |
Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Saint-Nazaire |
|
Last maintenance |
2019 |
|
Godmother |
Claudine Pepin |
|
Board language |
English |
|
Currency on board |
U.S. dollar |
Current position of Oceania Sirena
Our conclusion - a small ship for high demands
The cruise brand Oceania positions its ships as Premium Plus ships. The shipping company honors this kind of “modesty”. In our opinion, the Oceania Sirena is a cultivated ship for high-quality travel to selected destinations. It is not comparable to the megaships that have become fashionable in recent years. The Sirena impresses at first sight with its attractive exterior design. Inside, the noble valuable furnishings, art objects and the generous, lavish space are impressive. There is no feeling of tightness anywhere on board. The Sirena is a ship for cosmopolitan, international travelers.
Oceania Sirena - Reception Hall
Although the number of guests from Germany in relation to English-speaking holidaymakers (still) leaves a lot to be desired, the shipping company is trying to attract polyglot German-speaking customers who appreciate superior comfort. In terms of Europe, guests from German-speaking countries take second place after British citizens at Oceania Cruises. – Knowledge of the English language is certainly a considerable advantage for communication on board. However, a lack of English language skills is made up for by German-language menus in the restaurants, a German-language on-board program and German contact persons on board the ship.
Like a few years ago, we really liked the Oceania Sirena. We recommend our readers to test the ship. Worth it.
October 2022
