Immerse Yourself in the Best of Alaska aboard Oceania’s Regatta

We explored the Last Frontier aboard Oceania’s beautiful Regatta in June 2022. With more than 400 crew to serve a maximum of 670 guests, the Regatta is the flagship of the Oceania Cruises, offering four unique, open-seating restaurants, the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center, eight lounges and bars, a casino and 333 suites and sleekly redefined staterooms, nearly 70% of which feature private verandas. The scenery is breathtaking on both sides of the ship.

For our roundtrip out of Seattle, my daughter and I sailed in an Oceanview stateroom. We found the room spacious enough for two guests, but the bathroom was quite small with an oddly shaped shower.

The entertainment on the ship was very good and there were plenty of activities on sea days to keep us happily occupied. One not-to-be missed daily event is teatime at four o’clock sharp in Horizons. As a classical string quartet plays softly in the background, guests are served a selection of artisanal teas as staff guide bountiful four-tiered pastry carts around the room filled with freshly made finger sandwiches, colorful petits fours, richly textured scones with clotted cream and wonderfully sinful desserts. No reservations are required for this splendid afternoon pastime.

The specialty restaurants, Polo Grill and Toscana were wonderful, the food was delicious, the presentation and service was incredible.

Many of Toscana’s recipes originated with the mothers and grandmothers of Oceania’s own Italian culinary staff. Presented on elegant, custom-designed Versace china, these masterfully prepared dishes exemplify the essence of Tuscany and celebrate Italy’s culinary passion. Toscana is open for dinner only and reservations are required.

Polo Grill embodies all the elements of a classic steakhouse with crisp, white linen tablecloths, dark wood furnishings and supple, high-back, burgundy leather chairs. The beef dishes are all certified Black Angus USDA Prime and dry aged to enhance tenderness and flavor. Succulent seafood dishes such as grilled swordfish are also worth trying. The classic Caesar salad is prepared according to tradition, tableside and with gusto. Polo Grill is only open for dinner and reservations are required.

The beautiful Grand Dining Room is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with no reservations required. Menus change daily with an expansive choice of at least 10 appetizers, soups and salads and 10 dinner entrées, along with healthy options such as Aquamar Vitality Cuisine, gourmet vegetarian selections and the most extensive array of plant-based dishes at sea.

The Terrace Café is a good informal option any time of day (no reservations required) and you can dine inside or alfresco at one of the shaded teak tables on the terrace.

Located in a shaded area steps from the swimming pool, Waves Grill offers a nice selection of food as well as decadent desserts. One might treat themselves to a scoop of San Francisco ice cream company Humphry Slocombe’s bourbon-flavored cornflake-studded “Secret Breakfast” or Oceania’s signature flavor “Regatta Royale,” which is comprised of bittersweet dark fruity chocolate from Berkley, California based TCHO Chocolate with orange zest and smoked sea salt. Waves Grill is open for lunch and afternoon dining and no reservations are required.

My daughter has several food allergies, and the dining staff was very accommodating.

Alaska is a beautiful state and we found cruising the Inside Passage and Seymour Narrows simply breathtaking. The calm Inside Passage is filled with everything from snowcapped mountains and calving glaciers to wildflowers and plenty of wildlife during the summer. When sailing through the Inside Passage, the best viewing is outside on the top deck.

Ketchikan is a charming port and we enjoyed the shopping and dining opportunities on Creek Street. One of the main Ketchikan attractions are the colorful totem poles that reflect the native heritage of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people, illustrating family lineage and sacred cultural heritage. In Ketchikan, you can visit the Totem Heritage Center, which is a national landmark housing 33 totems preserved from abandoned Tlingit and Haida villages. In Ketchikan, the ship docks at Ward Cove, which is at least a 20-minute ride into town. It’s important to select an excursion that allows you enough time to visit the port before heading back to the Regatta.

Sitka’s small-town appeal has a blend of Russian, Tlingit and American history. You can soak up the Russian influence with a scenic walking tour of the city, stopping at St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral, the Russian Bishop’s House and the Russian Orthodox Cemetery as well as many historic houses. Sitka also offers an impressive collection of totems near its visitor center and along the walking trail. Marine wildlife is abundant in the waters surrounding Sitka, and we saw many whales, sea otters and eagles.

Victoria, British Columbia is a beautiful city and Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island is spectacular and well worth a visit. The gardens have been designated a National Historic Site of Canada.

My favorite excursion was the Ocean Raft Adventure in Sitka. It was thrilling and adventurous while seeing so much wildlife and the volcanic coastline of Kruzof Island. Fun Kruzof Island facts: It hosts the region's only volcano, Mount Edgecumbe, and does not have a permanent resident population.

The weather in Alaska is very unpredictable, so I would recommend dressing in layers and wearing comfortable shoes. It’s also a good idea to bring an extra pair of shoes in case your first pair gets wet.

One tip: Book early, as the season in Alaska is short.