Will Be Remembered as One of our Favorites

Insignia Cruise Review to Europe - Northern Europe

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 2
Helpful Votes: 175

Overall rating:

5 out of 5
Verified Review
Insignia

10 Night Nordic Quest (Reykjavik To Stockholm)

Sail date: July 19, 2016

Ship: Insignia

Cabin type: Oceanview

Cabin number: 6007

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

Our recent Nordic cruise on Oceania's Insignia will be remembered as one of our favorite cruises among the many that we have taken.  The itinerary was a perfect introduction to this part of the world -- taking us to places we hadn't been before.  It was a nice blend of ports that featured stunning natural wonders (geysers, waterfalls, mountains and fjords) as well as cosmopolitan cities and historic neighborhoods worth exploring on foot.  We enjoyed a variety of experiences on the ship's shore excursions and on our own.  The ship won our hearts with its tasteful and refined decor, outstanding cuisine, and excellent service.  We found it to be the perfect size for us:  not too big and not too small.  We appreciated its quiet, relaxing atmosphere, smoke-free venues, and the fact that there were very few children on board.  I overheard one passenger complaining about the lack of activities onboard, but we rejoiced that there was no rock-climbing wall, no non-stop disco, bingo, karaoke, art auctions, and all the other noise and nonsense of big cruise ships.  We cruise for the sheer pleasure of cruising and to visit interesting ports of call.  We don't need a floating amusement park.  We look forward to sailing on Oceania's Insignia again someday.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5
The cuisine was outstanding. Some of the best meals we've had onboard any cruise line.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5
They do not offer many onboard activities, so if you have difficulty entertaining yourself, you may be bored on days at sea.

Entertainment

5 out of 5
We enjoyed the entertainment very much; however, those accustomed to big, flashy production numbers, ice shows, etc. will be disappointed. Our cruise featured a string quartet, a comedian, a violinist, and singers.

Children's Programs

1 out of 5
Not a ship for children -- they will be bored unless they like to read or play chess.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
Excellent service and attention to detail. The staff always greeted us by name throughout the ship.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5
Loved the tastefully elegant decor. A well- maintained ship.

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5
Very comfortable accommodations, but the bathroom and shower was a little smaller than expected. Very glad we upgraded to a veranda on this cruise because of the ports -- but there are many public spaces on the ship to enjoy if you're in a lesser cabin.

Ship tip

If you're an early riser, coffee is available in the Horizons Lounge. Don't miss afternoon tea in Horizons -- but get there early for the best seats! On days at sea, take breakfast in the dining room -- it's more relaxing than the buffet in the Terrace Cafe.

Ports of call

Reykjavik, Iceland

5 out of 5
We arrived a day early and booked a private excursion to tour the Golden Circle.

Isafjordur, Iceland

5 out of 5

Akureyri, Iceland

5 out of 5

Torshavn, Faroe Islands

5 out of 5

Oslo, Norway

5 out of 5
Lots to do in Oslo. Too bad we didn't have an overnight here. We'll have to come back.

Copenhagen, Denmark

3 out of 5
We took the shore excursion that combined a Canal Boat tour with a visit to Tivoli Gardens. They took us to Tivoli Gardens first and we only had an hour (not enough time). Canal boat tour was disappointing -- could not see as much as you would on a walking tour of the city.

Warnemunde (Berlin), Germany

5 out of 5
So glad that we did not go to Berlin. Instead of spending most of the day on a bus, we walked around this delightful seaside resort instead.

Stockholm, Sweden

5 out of 5
The cruise ended here. Instead of going directly to the airport, we took a hotel overnight so that we could spend a day exploring this lovely city.
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1 Comment

WeCruiseToo    8 years ago

Thank you so much for the wonderful review! Where would you like to cruise next with Oceania?