Nautica Ship Inspection & Cocktails
The Nautica is in town and Sally Macmillan (Editor, Cruise Passenger Magazine) and I hosted a group of our Magazine’s subscribers on a ship inspection followed by champagne and canapés. Our group was shown around this magnificent ship by Phillippa Baker, Director, Sales & Marketing – Australia and Craig Owens, National Sales Manager, representing Oceania Cruises.
The ship boasted the best of everything and I was very interested to learn that this cruise line spends more per head on food than any other. I have dined on this vessel and was certainly impressed by the quality and variety of food. The company will be launching a new ship next year, more than twice the size – but more about that later.
At the conclusion of the ship inspection we went to one of Nautica’s many lounges and were served champagne and absolutely delicious canapés while listening to a live chamber orchestra. This is definitely a ship to keep in mind when you want that little bit of extra luxury cruise. Two of our group said they were off to book straight away they were so impressed. I cannot show all the photos on this site but if you want to see photos from our shipboard excursion GO TO my personal website: www.jpond.com
Please leave comments below.
PICTURE: Ella Rejc, Sally Macmillan, Colin Fisher, Philippa Baker, David Bunn. 
John Pond, Editor at Sea – Cruise Passenger Magazine
Back to main page: www.cruises.com.au
Cruises Australia
We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon touring the Nautica yesterday, many thanks for the opportunity. We were very impressed with the ship as we have previously sailed on Pacific Princess, but the Nautica’s refurbishment certainly makes a difference. We look forward to possible future tours and we will keep informed of current cruise news by perusing your daily blog.
Regards,
David and Yvonne Bollard
DEAR JOHN THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YESTERDAY CANNOT WAIT TO GO CRUISING ON OCEANIA LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU AGAIN SOON KINDEST REGARDS COLIN
Dear John and Sally,
Thank you so much for including me in the visit to “Nautica”. She is without doubt the most elegant ship I have ever seen. It was also wonderful to have the opportunity to meet and talk with other subscribers.
Being a single traveller, I am always concerned about single supplements. Perhaps you and Sally could include an article on the subject in a future issue, comparing different companies. I read where “Saga Pearl II” has more than 60 single cabins. Some company brochures have the annoying habit of saying “single supplement on application”. The “Orion” only seems to want couples, judging by their advertising.
According to the Census, about 30% of the population live on their own and many may not have an available companion able/willing to travel and share a cabin or hotel room.
I expect to have to pay a supplement for a single cabin, but 100% is outrageous. I know many companies charge this for this superior suites but lesser grade cabins have lower supplements. I have travelled in many freighters and their supplements for single occupancy are very modest.
Thank you again for the great experience on the Nautica yesterday!
Kind regards,
Stella Green
Sydney Australia.
From John Pond: Dear Stella,
What a great pleasure to have you with our group on Nautica. Your comments on ’single suppliments’ are very relevant and we will looking into this in the near future. Enoy your cruise on QM2 soon.
Many thanks to John, Sally and Oceania Cruises for the privilege of having us on board the Nautica for a tour last Friday. We had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. We were most impressed with the ship as we have previously sailed on the Pacific Princess and thought Oceania’s refurbishment really made the Nautica 5 star rating. We would love to be included in any future tours and will check the daily blog should the opportunity arise.
Many thanks,
David and Yvonne Bollard
Dear John
What a pleasure it was to host your group aboard Nautica and I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much. Thank you to everyone who came along.
Kind regards
Philippa Baker
Dear John
I have read with great interest the comments of your guests who attended a recent visit on board “Nautica”. Together with a companion, we will be joining the ship in Beijing for a 16 days cruise to Hong Kong, which I am looking forward to very much! I have travelled on “Pacific Princess” so it will be interesting to see just what Oceania Cruises have done to the ship.
On the subject of single supplements, it is something VERY DEAR TO MY HEART as I normally travel alone. I will never travel with Royal Caribbean/Celebrity as their policy is 200%, which I refuse to accept – my favourite cruise line is Crystal where in the low to mid range cabins it is 135% – quite acceptable and a wonderful cruise line, after 4 cruises over the last 3 or 4 years. Unfortunately, I live in Perth so there is usually a long air trip involved to join their ships. Incidently, I have been cruisng for the last 15 years, sometimes twice a year.
Thought you may be interested in my comments.
Regards
Ken Bateman