Nautica in Helsinki, 20 June 2012

Entry number three of the R Week features Oceania Cruises' Nautica. Previously featured were the Ocean Princess and Azamara Journey. To come is the Columbus 2 (and possibly the Blue Moon, presuming that I can find my old photographs of her somewhere).

Nautica

IMO 9200938
Former names: R Five
Built 2000, Chantiers de l'Atlantique St. Nazaire, France
Tonnage 30 277 GT
Length 181,00 m
Width 25,46 m
Draugth 5,80 m
824 passengers (maximum)
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 13 500 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 18 knots

As far as the R-class ships go the Nautica is slightly boring in the sense that her history is fairly straightforward, without a confusing array of former names and operators. She was built as the R Five for Renaissance Cruises and entered service in January 2000. Like all the other Renaissance ships she was laid up following the company's bankruptcy in October 2001, first in Gibraltar and later in Marseille. For the summer seasons 2002 and 2003 the R Five was chartered to Pullmantur Cruises for Mediterranean cruising under the marketing name "Blue Dream" (for the 2003 season she was joined by the R Six as the "Blue Star"). In 2004 the ship was renamed Nautica  - presumably preparation for the upcoming charter to Oceania Cruises - but stayed in service with Pullmantur under the marketing name "Blue Dream" until late 2005.

In November 2005 the Nautica was chartered to Oceania Cruises (established in 2002 by Joe Watters and Frank del Rio, the latter being the former vice-president of Renaissance Cruises), joining her sisters Regatta (ex-R Two) and Insignia (ex-R One). Since then the ship has remained in service with Oceania Cruises. In November 2008 the Nautica was attacked by Somalian pirate skiffs on the Gulf of Aden. Rifle shots were fired at the ship but she managed to outrun the pirates and no harm came to either crew, passengers or the ship itself.

The photographs below show the Nautica on the afternoon of 20 June 2012, passing through the Kustaanmiekka strait shortly after departing Helsinki's South Harbour. Click on the images to see them in larger size.

Compare, if you will, to the Ocean Princess. Notice how much the simple addition of a blue stripe on the hull improves the ship's looks.

Panoramic fiddling. Haven't done that in a while, now it the perfect time.

Compare, if you will, this time with the Azamara Journey. Notice how much the more colourful logos and added paint around the bridge windows improve the ship's look.

Panoramic fiddling, part 2. I rather like this particular shot myself.

Taking advantage of what is there in our long-running series of "crap in the foreground".

Less crap in the foreground - but notice the spray at the bow.

Marina in Helsinki, 23 June 2011

Marina

IMO 9438066
Built 2011, Fincantieri Genoa, Italy
Tonnage 66 084 GT
Length 239,30 m
Width 32,19 m
Draugth 7,60 m
1 258 passengers
1 258 berths
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 24 000 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 19,5 knots

The Marina is Oceania Cruises' first newbuilt ship, completed this year by Fincantieri. She bears a passing resemblance to the company's pre-existing trio of ships (the Regatta, Insignia and Nautica), originally built for the now-defunct Renaissance Cruises as a part of their eight-ship R-class. This semblance is particularly unsurpsing when you remember that many of the same people who were behind Renaissance are also behind Oceania. However, where the R-class ships were fairly small and capable of entering smaller harbours off the beaten path, the Marina and her upcoming sister Riviera are fairly large at 66 084 gross tons - as testified by the fact the Marina's 240 metre lenght barred her from entering Helsinki's South Harbour.

For a detailed look inside the Marina I strongly recommend Peter Knego's two-part Decked! tour of the ship at Maritime Matters.

The photographs below show the Marina departing Helsinki West Harbour on 23 June 2011 on her second (and to date last) visit to the city. Photographed from Sisä-Hattu. Click on the individual images to see larger size.

Seen from this direction the Marina for some reason reminds me of a 1970s sportscar. Not an unpleasant assiciation, as I'm quite fond of 70s cars as design objects.

There is, however, an odd design discrepancy between the forward and aft halves of the ship, with the aft looking far less thought-out.

Evening sun reflecting from the windows and doors of the private balconies. The ship was scheduled to depart at 18.00 but it was almost seven in the evening before she finally left.

The traditional pic with Pihlajasaari in the background.

More panoramic fiddling with sailboats and also the Harmaja lighthouse in the background on the left.

The more you see of the rear superstructure of the ship, the worse she looks. This viewpoint is still alright, but further on her aft bears an unfortunate resemblance to a ship made of Lego blocks.

Regatta, 27 July 2010

Regatta

IMO 9156474
Built 1998, Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France
Tonnage 30 277 GT
Length 181,00 m
Width 25,46 m
Draught 5,80 m
824 passengers
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 13 500 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thruster
Speed 18 knots

Regatta was originally named R2, the second in a series of eight identical ships built for Renaissance Cruises (I think you can guess what the names of the other seven were). Following the bankruptcy of Renaissance Cruises in 2001 the R2 was auctioned to Cruiseinvest. After spending a year laid-up she was chartered to a new company, Oceania Cruises, which had been founded by Joe Watters and Frank del Rio (the latter having been the vice-president of Renaissance Cruises). For her service with her new owners the R2 was renamed Insignia. In 2003 the Insignia was briefly chartered to TMR, but returned to the fleet of Oceania Cruises after just two months. At this time she was renamed Regatta, the name Insignia having passed to her sister R1, which Oceania took under charter at the same time. Since 2003 the Regatta has remained in Oceania Cruises' service. Oceania itself passed under ownership of Apollo Management in 2007. The same company also owns Regent Seven Seas Cruises and 50% of Norwegian Cruise Line.

Regatta photographed at the Kustaanmiekka strait, departing Helsinki South Harbour on the evening of 27 July 2010. Pictures taken from the north-eastern shore of Kustaanmiekka.