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The better-than-new Sirena blends sophistication with a contemporary flair to create a casually elegant ambiance that embodies the most treasured elements of our celebrated ships. Every surface of every suite and stateroom is entirely new, while in the public spaces, a refreshed colour palette of soft sea and sky tones surrounds a tasteful renewal of fabrics, furnishings and lighting fixtures that exquisitely encompasses the inimitable style and comfort of Oceania Cruises.
Beautiful sister ship to charming Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, 648-guest Sirena embodies the most treasured elements of our celebrated fleet and features a few highlights all her own. Better than new, Sirena includes entirely new suites, staterooms and bathrooms and reflects the same beautifully re-inspired ambiance as her sister ships. She features Tuscan Steak, her signature specialty restaurant, which serves Italian favourites, succulent steaks and fresh seafood inspired by Toscana and Polo Grill, as well as the beloved restaurant Red Ginger. Sirena offers 2 additional unique, open-seating restaurants, the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Centre, eight lounges and bars, a casino and 333 luxurious suites and tony staterooms, nearly 70% of which feature private verandas.
About Us: I’m 62 and my girlfriend just turned 60. This cruise was a birthday gift, and also a reward for tolerating me for 10+ years. We’ve been on probably 25+ cruises including MSC, Celebrity, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Pullmantur (RIP), Carnival, and NCL (mostly MSC and Celebrity). This was our first cruise on Oceania. Most of our cruises have been European. I am a former police officer, and I’ve been with a big Wall Street firm in SoCal for decades, and she is an accountant. I am also a product reviewer for Amazon, and I’ve done that for probably 15 years. It’s unpaid, but I can keep what I select for review. Unfortunately, most of what I select constitutes a taxable event. First world problems, right? Pre-Cruise: We stayed at the Villa Italia Hotel in South Beach Miami. Good price, good location, but kind of a dump, in my view. Supposedly 4 stars, but I thought it was more like 2 stars. I don’t recommend it, but it served its purpose. The Sailing: 7-night out of Miami with stops in Costa Maya (Mexico), Harvest Caye (Belize), Roatan (Honduras), and finally onto Cozumel (Mexico). We had 2 sea days, which were both welcome and relaxing. Embarkation: It started off smoothly, but went downhill from there. Once on the ship, we visited the buffet and there were 2 very long, slow-moving lines on each side. Passengers seemed grouchy due to these lines. One line on the left side ended up at a roast beef carving station, and the line to the right ended up at a turkey carving station. I later made the remark that both lines should have converged at a combined turkey & roast beef carving station. As it was set up, one had to cut the long line to get beef, and that wouldn’t have gone over well, so we didn’t do that and simply skipped the beef. On that first day, the food was average to poor. I thought to myself, “What did we get ourselves into?!” I also ordered the Wagyu and lobster sandwich. 1.5 hours later(!), it arrived with the beef severely undercooked to where it looked nearly raw, the lobster both tough and overcooked, and they brought regular fries rather than the sweet potato fries that I ordered. Yikes! Fortunately, things got much better as the cruise progressed. I later found out that Sirena experienced a Coast Guard inspection, a Health inspection and it was their first day ever of self-service in the buffet. So they got hit with the perfect storm of all 3 of those things happening simultaneously, and I was told that accounted for the lapses in service and food quality that we experienced after embarkation on the first day. The Ship: Built in 1999, Oceania Sirena is undeniably old, yet beautifully maintained. It’s also small, at a 680 passenger capacity. There are pros and cons to sailing on such a small ship, as you might imagine. Our Cabin: I had considered a veranda cabin, but instead chose a larger C1 ocean view cabin 7007 due to the lower cost and the fact that it was a fair amount larger. I think I made the right decision, and I made a video cabin review, which you can find on YouTube by searching for Oceania Sirena 7007. The room was clean and comfortable. It was quiet as well, with no unusual sounds. The mattresses were very comfortable and the bedding of a high-quality. The bathroom and shower are tiny due to the size and age of the ship. It is what it is. We did experience above average motion due to the forward location, but it wasn’t an issue for us. If you are sensitive to motion, maybe book a cabin with a mid-ship location. Housekeeping: First rate and the best ever. Journa kept the room spotless. She knew our names and our preferences. I liked Oceania’s system where one simply dials 01 and the cabin steward returns your call, typically within 2 minutes. Something Special: As mentioned, this trip was booked for my girlfriend’s birthday. They went way above and beyond, decorating our room as a surprise. This included many balloons taped to the ceiling, multiple towel teddy bears and towel cakes, even flashing colored LED lights. We were floored by the effort. They also did a really nice birthday song and cake slice for her in Red Ginger. We really appreciated those little touches. The Passengers: Old. Hey, we’re no “spring chickens”, but average age at least 70 and perhaps even 75. Still, they were young at heart and generally casually sophisticated, unpretentious, intelligent and friendly. We tend to keep to ourselves, but we enjoyed the company and interaction with several guests and made new friends. Shopping: Quite weak. This is an old, small ship, so only 2 shops with limited offerings. Entertainment: Hit and miss. We enjoyed most of the musicians. The shows were of an average to below average quality based on what we are used to. After one show, one of the performers came over to us and thanked us for attending, which we appreciated. Our fellow passengers seemed to really enjoy the shows, and certainly they weren’t bad. The Crew: Top notch. The best ever, based on my experience. Everyone was so genuinely friendly. I never had to ask for anything twice. Many knew our names. My girlfriend is originally from the Philippines, as was much of the crew, so that made it kind of fun. But super-friendly people with a great attitude, and often really interesting and cute personalities. Also, kudos to the senior officers who could be found mixing with the passengers on a nightly basis, and seemed to sincerely and intently listen to the thoughts and opinions of the passengers. I was super impressed by the staff on Oceania Sirena. This is what makes Oceania special, and in my view, they should focus advertising on the pampered experience rather than on the food. The Food: Let me clear one thing up. Oceania, in our opinion, should ditch their motto of having, “The Finest Cuisine at Sea”, because in my opinion, it isn’t. Don’t misinterpret what I just wrote, because it is anywhere from very good to excellent, but I think the focus is misplaced and as previous mentioned, should be on the staff and overall experience. That said, there weren’t a lot of leftovers on our plates, although I did find most dishes to be over-salted. In terms of drinks, we bought wine onboard and paid the corkage fee. We also bought drinks at the bar, mostly during their happy hours. The Oceania Value Proposition: Oceania prices include extras not found on other cruise lines at this price point. So the prices may be higher than some of the mass market lines, but more may be included. For example, on a 7-night sailing, at least 2 specialty restaurants are included (be sure to book in advance), but you can ask for more, and we did. We ended up eating in Red Ginger and the Tuscan Steakhouse 5 out of 7 nights, which is unusual, but on one reservation, we had some help from an Oceania corporate Director who we met, so thanks to him for that. The food in the specialty restaurants was top-notch, as was the service. The Director of Food & Beverages came around almost every night to ask how everything was. But again, all of these specialty restaurants, 2 or more, are included in the price. A really good room service menu, including things like steak, is included at no extra cost. Look for my YouTube video entitled Oceania Sirena Room Service Menu. They also have plenty of washers and dryers, again available at no extra cost. We did 2 loads of laundry. Wi-Fi is also included, and was generally reliable and speeds were very reasonable for basic wi-fi. There is a Captain’s welcome cocktail party on the 2nd night, which included unlimited free drinks for 2 hours. We enjoyed that and took full advantage of it. There is an early and a late happy hour, with 2-for-1 priced drinks, which must be the same. Again, we took advantage of that almost nightly. We also enjoyed the complimentary afternoon tea, and did that maybe 3 or 4 afternoons. You can pretty much bring as much wine and alcohol onboard as you wish. While there is a limit, it’s typically not enforced. You can drink it in your room, or pay the $25 corkage fee in the restaurant. We did both. Conclusion: We had a terrific time onboard Oceania Sirena. In a sense, it offers what many of the 6 star ships offer, but at a lower price point. It’s not a good option for those with kids, in my view, but for a slightly more “seasoned” clientele, I think that you will enjoy the experience and I do recommend Oceania. If you’d like to read my more in-depth daily photos and notes on this cruise, including which excursions we booked, look for the thread “Live from Oceania Sirena Dec. 4, 2024 by yours truly in the Cruise Critic Oceania community forum. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/3038942-live-from-oceania-sirena-dec-4-2024/
Ultimate Suites
The re-inspired Owner’s, Vista and Penthouse Suites on board the elegant Sirena exude a residential character and refined personality like never before. These suites are adorned in designer fabrics and furnishings that echo the serene seas and expansive skies, transforming them into calming and tranquil oases of relaxation. All of our suites include exclusive 24-hour Butler service and are uncommonly spacious, further adding to the luxurious suite experience.
Veranda Staterooms
Our spacious staterooms afford the ultimate in luxury. Sleekly re-designed interiors reveal a chic and becoming palette, designer fabrics, modern furnishings and original art. Plump the cloud-like pillows and relax in your Tranquility Bed, a luxury bedding experience exclusively on Oceania Cruises. As you sail on to your next destination, relax on the private teak veranda, a feature of the vast majority of accommodations.
Luxurious Staterooms
A modern palette blends sea, sky and comforting earth tones in each of these sanctuaries to create a soothing environment that invites relaxation. Every stateroom is imbued with a luxurious ambiance, featuring designer residential furnishings, fine fabrics and plush draperies, chic lighting and much more.
Culinary Masterpieces
The superb gourmet restaurants aboard Sirena serve delectable dishes created à la minute and offer a remarkable array of choices, from Continental cuisine and vibrant Asian dishes to casual all-American favourites. Every restaurant on board Sirena is complimentary and features open seating so you may dine wherever and whenever suits your taste and schedule. Enjoy dinner for two or a gathering with newfound friends, knowing the experience is certain to be extraordinary.
The Luxury of Casual
You’ll savour cuisine renowned as the finest at sea no matter where you choose to dine or relax on Sirena – whether that means a poolside burger, a scoop of Humphry Slocombe’s bourbon-flavoured cornflake-studded Secret Breakfast ice cream or a perfectly prepared cappuccino accompanied by freshly baked biscotti. Our culinary team’s attention to detail, passion for artisanal ingredients and dedication to technique extends to our casual dining, poolside experiences, Baristas coffee bar and the cherished ritual of Afternoon Tea at Horizons too.
Enrich the Mind and Soul
The satisfying balance of enriching activities and peaceful havens in which to relax means you always feel right at home. Enjoy an engaging talk by a Guest Speaker that may be a historian, naturalist or former ambassador eager to share insider knowledge. Curl up with a classic novel or travelogue in the cozy library and reconnect with friends and family by visiting our Oceania@Sea Internet Centre. Team Trivia, Mensa quizzes and a host of other lively activities and diversions await each day.
Life On Board
Each day aboard our ships is a spectacle and adventure to experience, from world-class music, high-energy production shows and dazzling cabarets to rousing deck games, spirited wine tastings and evenings at our atmospheric casino. For those seeking more cerebral pursuits, engaging talks by passionate Guest Speakers, chef-led demonstrations inspired by the local cuisine and animated Team Trivia sessions invite you to experience each new horizon more fully.
Music & Entertainment
Evenings aboard Sirena can be anything you desire. Marvel at the continuously changing talented guest entertainers as you delight in high-energy production shows, talented vocalists, classical music and more. Perhaps stop by the lively Monte Carlo-style Casino for a rousing game or two. Unforgettable evenings are just steps from your stateroom.
Bars & Lounges
From chic Martinis to the laid-back poolside Waves Bar, there's a perfect enclave on board Sirena for every mood. Visit the elegant Grand Bar for a pre-dinner cocktail, catch a headline act in the Lounge or watch the sun set in Horizons accompanied by a glass of wine and lively music. As you explore the world, these bars and lounges are the place to unwind, gather together, laugh and take in one-of-a-kind shows and musical performances.
Wellness at Sea
Explore the complete array of holistic programs, services and experiences available at Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center – rejuvenating massages, facials, nutrition and lifestyle consultations and so much more are all at your fingertips. Keep up with your exercise routine at our state-of-the-art fitness centre or try something new at one of our free fitness classes. Of course, complete relaxation awaits on the gleaming Pool Deck…the perfect place to unwind after an adventurous day ashore.
A Spa Within a Spa
Take advantage of time during your Oceania Cruises voyage to focus on your wellness. Unwind, relax and reconnect with your inner balance. Explore our rejuvenating massages, body therapies, facials and more below.
Sirena does not offer any dedicated Kids & Teens facilities. On selected cruises, however, the Alaska Explorer Youth Program is available: For guests who travel with children, Oceania's Alaska Explorer Youth Program offers the opportunity for everyone to experience the excitement of exploring the Northwest Coast and Alaska in a meaningful, enriching way. Designed for age groups between 5 and 12, the program is supervised by experienced and enthusiastic youth counsellors and includes games, activities and Alaska-inspired special events.
