Oceania Cruises Refurbishes Ship in Time for Mediterranean Cruises

Oceania Cruises has completed a multi-million dollar refurbishment of the Insignia cruise ship. This small casual luxury Mediterranean cruise ship sports stylish new furnishings and new amenities. The Oceania Cruises Insignia has been in service for less than two years.

Oceania Cruises timed the refurbishment to coincide with the beginning of her 2006 Mediterranean season. Sparkling like new, Insignia will soon host Oceania Club members who are sailing on the line's second annual Oceania Club Reunion Cruise. Repeat guests, and those sailing for the first time alike, will be equally impressed with the luxurious new appointments.

Deck 11 is now a top-of-ship oasis with luxury cabanas and teak decking. Several thousand meters of custom-milled woolen carpets were laid throughout the public areas and accommodations. All of the staterooms and suites received new third generation Tranquility Beds with new Imperial Mattresses. Owner's and Vista Suites have been rebuilt and lavishly furnished with custom Empire-style furnishings. All of the wood paneling was restored and the upholsterers worked around the clock to reupholster more than 300 sofas and hundreds of chairs.

The Insignia's observation lounge and nightclub got new upholstery and carpeting, a new sound and light system and a new inlaid dance floor. A dramatic new bar has a hand-crafted granite top and a bar front composed of crackled, backlit Murano glass. Insignia is also the first of the Oceania Cruise ships to receive a museum quality nautical art collection comprised of antique paintings and ship models that have been acquired from private collections around the world.

In 2006, Insignia's itineraries span all of Europe, from the Greek Isles to the British Isles and Iceland. The spring of 2007 sees her return to Europe where she joins Nautica in the Mediterranean and Greek Isles.

The Oceania Cruises Insignia will make three special Mediterranean cruises in 2007:

The third annual Oceania Club Reunion Cruise from Athens to Rome on September 13, 2007 visits Kusadasi, Turkey; Rhodes, Greece; Antalya, Turkey; Limassol, Cyprus; Alexandria, Egypt; Heraklion, Greece; La Goulette, Tunisia; Valletta, Malta; and Messina, Sorrento and Rome, Italy.

A Mythology and Archeology cruise from Istanbul to Barcelona which, as the name conveys, calls upon the great wonders of the archeological world - Mitilini, on the Greek isle of Lesbos; Kusadasi, Turkey; Rhodes, Greece; Antalya, Turkey; Limassol, Cyprus; Alexandria, Egypt; Heraklion, on the Greek isle of Crete; Valletta, Malta; La Goulette, Tunisia; Cagliari, on the Italian isle of Sardinia; and Mahon, Spain.

Join Jacques Pepin and his special guests as they sail onboard Insignia on August 6, 2007 from Barcelona to Saint-Tropez, France; Monet Carlo, Monaco; Florence/Pisa, Italy; Rome, Italy; Sorrento, Italy; Taormina, Italy, Athens, Greece; Santorini, Greece; Delos, Greece; Mykonos, Greece; Kusadasi, Turkey and culminates with and overnight stay in Istanbul, Turkey.

Reserve your vacation on Oceania Cruises for a casually luxurious mid-size cruise. The low-key ambiance features excellent service and good food.