Australian Operator Takes Over Oceania’s Regatta

The Regatta has completed her final voyage for Oceania Cruises and is now entering a new chapter under an unusual new concept. 

The 684-passenger ship has been chartered for two years by Australian travel company My Cruises and will operate under the Explorations by Norwegian brand.

The Regatta’s final Oceania Cruises voyage ended in Istanbul on August 27, 2026. Just a few days later, on September 1, the ship is scheduled to begin the first voyage of her new programme from Civitavecchia. The initial programme runs through August 2027 and includes a wide range of individual itineraries.

The ownership and charter structure is worth a closer look. My Cruises is the charterer of Regatta – not Norwegian Cruise Line. The ship remains owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, the parent company of both Oceania Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line. In its latest quarterly report, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings confirms that Regatta is entering into a two-year time charter. Once that initial period ends, the charter can be extended or the ship could be sold to another cruise operator.

Norwegian Cruise Line nevertheless plays an important role in the new operation. Explorations by Norwegian was developed by My Cruises in collaboration with Norwegian Cruise Line. The new product is marketed exclusively through My Cruises and combines elements of ocean cruising, river cruising, expedition travel and extended touring.

The name “Norwegian” could therefore easily cause some confusion. Regatta is not becoming a conventional Norwegian Cruise Line ship. Instead, My Cruises is using its partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line to create a separate cruise product. Regatta is the ship on which this concept is being operated, with My Cruises responsible for the charter operation and product.

The new concept places less emphasis on traditional cruise itineraries and more on longer voyages and extended experiences ashore. Passengers can choose individual voyages or combine longer sections of the programme. The offerings range from eight-day itineraries to an extraordinary 371-day world cruise. My Cruises says the world voyage will visit more than 220 ports across six continents.

The world cruise begins in Rome before taking Regatta through a wide range of regions. Planned destinations include the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, North and Central America. The Amazon is also included in the programme.

The first itineraries already demonstrate the geographical scope of the new operation. From Civitavecchia, Regatta is scheduled to call at destinations including Livorno, Naples, Messina, Corfu, Split, Rijeka, Zadar and Dubrovnik before continuing towards Athens.

On board, My Cruises is positioning Regatta as a smaller and more personal cruise ship. The vessel has 348 cabins and suites and has been refreshed for the new product. The offering includes Wi-Fi, premium beverages, speciality dining, bottled water in the cabin and onboard credit for shore excursions.

The “exploration cruise” concept should nevertheless not be confused with a conventional expedition cruise. Regatta is not a dedicated expedition vessel. Originally built in 1998, the ship has been operated by Oceania Cruises since 2003. Unlike specialist expedition ships, the focus is therefore not on features such as Zodiacs or dedicated polar expedition equipment. Instead, the new product combines a smaller ship with long voyages and more extensive destination experiences.

For My Cruises, the charter represents an interesting strategic move. Rather than introducing an entirely new ship for a new brand, the Australian company gains access to an established premium vessel. At the same time, it can offer a product designed to stand apart from conventional cruise programmes.

For Oceania Cruises, meanwhile, the move marks the departure of a long-standing member of its fleet. Regatta has been one of the smaller ships in the Oceania fleet for many years. Whether she will return to Oceania after the two-year charter remains uncertain. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has indicated that both an extension of the charter and a potential sale to another operator are possible.

Regatta therefore provides an interesting example of the increasing flexibility within the cruise industry: the ship remains owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, My Cruises holds the charter and operates and markets the product, while Norwegian Cruise Line is the strategic partner behind Explorations by Norwegian.

For passengers, meanwhile, a new chapter is beginning for a familiar ship – one that is no longer sailing under the Oceania brand, but remains within the wider Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings corporate structure.