Cruise line comparison
Azamara vs Oceania: which should you choose?
Azamara and Oceania Cruises sail some of the same ships in all but name, so the choice is about what each line includes and emphasizes. Choose Azamara for destination immersion: late nights and overnights in port, house wine, beer and spirits plus gratuities included, and an AzAmazing Evening on most voyages. Choose Oceania for food: more included specialty restaurants, hands-on cooking classes on its larger ships, gratuities, specialty dining and Wi-Fi in the fare, and a wider range of ship sizes.
- Azamara
- Oceania
Photo: Ivan T., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Our verdict
Azamara and Oceania are close cousins with distinct priorities. Azamara is built around destination time and an easygoing, drinks-included atmosphere, which suits travelers who want to linger ashore into the evening. Oceania is built around the dining room, with more included restaurants, cooking classes and a broader fleet that includes larger, newer ships. If evenings in port and a relaxed bar tab appeal, choose Azamara. If the dinner table is where your day peaks, Oceania is the better fit. On R-class ships the cabins and public rooms will feel familiar either way.
Here’s a detail many cruisers don’t realize: Azamara’s four ships and Oceania’s four Regatta-class ships (Insignia, Nautica, Regatta and Sirena) were all built for the defunct Renaissance Cruises around the turn of the century as part of the same R-class design. Each carries roughly 650 to 700 guests, with similar layouts, a wood-paneled library and a country-house feel. The lines have since gone their own ways with refurbishments and very different service philosophies.
Azamara, owned by private-equity firm Sycamore Partners since 2021, sells time in port. Its itineraries feature late departures, overnights and Country-Intensive Voyages that circle a single nation such as Japan or Greece. Oceania, part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, sells cuisine. Even its R-class ships offer two included specialty restaurants, Polo Grill and Toscana, and its larger Marina, Riviera, Vista and Allura add more restaurants and a Culinary Center cooking school.
Azamara vs Oceania: head to head
| Feature | Azamara | Oceania |
|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Sociable and laid-back, with a lively bar and an emphasis on going ashore. | Refined and food-centric, with dinner as the main event of the evening. |
| Typical guest | Experienced travelers in their 50s to 70s who like independent exploring. | Well-traveled couples 55 and older and devoted foodies. |
| Ships and size | Azamara Journey, Quest, Pursuit and Onward, all R-class ships of about 700 guests. | Four Regatta-class ships near 670 guests, and four larger ships (Marina, Riviera, Vista, Allura) of roughly 1,200 to 1,250. |
| What’s included | Tips plus a house pour of spirits, wine and beer at any hour, with soft drinks, espresso drinks and a shoreside AzAmazing Evening on most sailings. | Gratuities, specialty restaurants, Wi-Fi, soft drinks and specialty coffee; alcohol is an add-on or perk. |
| Specialty dining | Prime C steakhouse and Aqualina Mediterranean, each with a cover charge. | Polo Grill and Toscana included on every ship; Red Ginger, Jacques or Ember on larger ships. |
| Time in port | Late nights and overnights on most voyages; ideal for evening exploring. | Port-packed routes with fewer late nights; days ashore are full, evenings are for dinner. |
| Enrichment | Destination-focused talks and local performers brought aboard. | Cooking classes in the Culinary Center on larger ships, plus guest lecturers. |
| Cabins | Compact standard cabins; Club Continent, Club Ocean and Owner’s suites at the top. | Similar on R-class ships; larger ships add roomier verandas, Concierge Level and Owner’s Suites. |
| Itineraries | Country-Intensive Voyages, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. | Classic European routes, long Asian and African voyages, South America and full world cruises. |
| Wi-Fi | Included for higher suite categories; packages for everyone else. | Included for all guests. |
| Price positioning | Upper premium; strongest value for guests who enjoy a drink or two each day. | Upper premium; R-class sailings usually cost less than the larger Allura-class ships. |
| Loyalty | Le Club Voyage, Azamara’s night-based past-guest program. | Oceania Club, whose status levels build with each completed voyage. |
Which should you choose?
Choose Azamara if…
- You want house wine, beer and cocktails covered from lunch through the last call.
- Evenings ashore matter to you, and you want the ship to stay late or overnight.
- A Country-Intensive Voyage focused on a single nation, such as Japan or Greece, appeals to you.
- You enjoy a social bar scene and an included AzAmazing Evening event on most voyages.
Choose Oceania if…
- You want several specialty restaurants included with no cover charge.
- You want cooking lessons in the Culinary Center, found on Marina, Riviera, Vista and Allura.
- You want Wi-Fi included regardless of cabin category.
- You’d like the option of a larger, newer ship with more restaurants and roomier cabins.
The fleets by the numbers
| Measure | Azamara | Oceania |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean ships in our guide | 4 | 8 |
| Average ship age | 26 years | 19.9 years |
| Average ship size | 30,000 GT | 46,000 GT |
| Newest ship | Azamara Pursuit | Allura |
| Largest ship | Azamara Onward | Allura |
Calculated from the ocean ships in our guide, with build years and tonnage from Wikidata.
Azamara vs Oceania: FAQs
Are Azamara and Oceania ships the same?
Partly. Azamara’s four ships and Oceania’s four Regatta-class ships, Insignia, Nautica, Regatta and Sirena, were all built as R-class ships for Renaissance Cruises. They share a similar size and layout, though each line has refurbished and styled them differently. Oceania also operates larger, newer ships.
Which includes more, Azamara or Oceania?
It depends on how you travel. Azamara includes house drinks and gratuities, which suits guests who enjoy wine and cocktails. Oceania includes gratuities, specialty dining and Wi-Fi, which suits guests who care most about food and connectivity.
Which has better food, Azamara or Oceania?
Oceania. Cuisine is the line’s signature, with included specialty restaurants such as Polo Grill and Toscana on every ship. Azamara’s food is good, but its specialty restaurants, Prime C and Aqualina, carry a cover charge.
Which line spends more time in port, Azamara or Oceania?
Azamara. Late departures and overnights are a core part of most Azamara itineraries, making it easy to enjoy dinner or a show ashore. Oceania’s routes are port-intensive but usually depart in the early evening.
Read the full reviews
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Azamara official site, Oceania official site.