Oceania Cruises will be the only upscale cruise line to homeport in New York City, offering more than 20 planned sailings starting in 2017. These voyages will depart from Manhattan’s convenient West Side cruise terminal at 48th Street, providing easy access for travelers from the city and surrounding regions.
The elegant Insignia will present a diverse selection of round-trip itineraries that explore New England, Canada, Bermuda, Greenland and Iceland. Each voyage has been designed to combine scenic coastal cruising with immersive overnight stays in ports such as New York City, Charleston, Reykjavík, St. George and Hamilton in Bermuda. These calls are timed to allow for deeper cultural, historical and culinary experiences ashore.
Insignia is known for a signature culinary program that aims to rival top restaurants on land, and the ship’s onboard amenities include the luxurious Canyon Ranch SpaClub. Bob Binder, president and chief executive officer of Oceania Cruises, emphasized the fit between ship and city: “Insignia offers an acclaimed culinary experience that rivals the best restaurants ashore as well as an irresistible blend of culturally rich and fascinating destinations. Combined with her elegance, sophistication and luxurious Canyon Ranch Spa Club, Oceania Cruises’ Insignia is the perfect match for New York and New York is the perfect match for Oceania Cruises.”
Highlights from the 2017 program emphasize a mix of short coastal trips and longer northern adventures. Cottages, Coves and Coasts is a 10-day round-trip voyage that visits ports across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine and Nova Scotia, while Seaside Medley is an 11-day itinerary that extends those coastal calls to include Bermuda before returning to New York. Capitals and Coastlines is a 10-day route focused on prominent northeastern ports, calling in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Québec.
For travelers seeking more remote scenery and adventurous sailing, the North Atlantic Seafarer itinerary spans 15 days and links remarkable northern destinations, including Iceland and Greenland, with stops in Nova Scotia and Massachusetts before concluding in New York. These extended sailings cater to guests who want to combine dramatic landscapes with time in culturally significant ports.
Across all itineraries, Oceania Cruises emphasizes a refined onboard atmosphere, attentive service and dining experiences curated by accomplished chefs. The ship’s design and public spaces provide a comfortable and sophisticated environment for passengers to relax between excursions. Shore excursions are selected to offer a balance of guided tours, independent exploration and opportunities to sample regional cuisine and local traditions.
Departing from Manhattan’s West Side terminal makes these voyages particularly attractive to New York-area passengers and visitors who want to begin and end their journey in the city. The variety of itineraries—from short, coastal explorations to extended transatlantic-style adventures—gives travelers ample options to match their interests, whether they prefer culinary-focused trips, historical and cultural discovery, or scenic wilderness and polar vistas.
Overall, Oceania Cruises’ deployment of Insignia from New York in 2017 aims to provide discerning travelers with an upscale cruising alternative that combines convenient homeport access, thoughtfully crafted itineraries and elevated onboard amenities. The program’s mix of overnight port stays and carefully chosen routes is intended to maximize time ashore and deliver memorable experiences across some of the North Atlantic’s most compelling destinations.