Regatta Kicks Off Service for New Explorations by Norwegian Brand
If you're considering the Regatta's 371-day world cruise or one of its shorter regional segments through Explorations by Norwegian, note the ship departed Civitavecchia, Italy, earlier this month and entered official service September 1, 2026. The brand, aimed at the Australian market, also offers itineraries to Scandinavia, Southeast Asia, Alaska, Central America, the Amazon and the Mediterranean. Check with Explorations by Norwegian or Ignite Travel Group directly for booking details on these routes.
My read on this: Ignite Travel Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings have taken a 27-year-old Renaissance-built ship, retired it from Oceania, and repositioned it as a niche play for the Australian market under a two-year charter. That's a smart way to wring value from an aging 684-passenger, 30,200-ton hull rather than scrap it — Regatta gets a second act instead of the breakers. The 371-day, 230-port world voyage from Civitavecchia is the headline grabber, but the real business is likely the shorter segments to Scandinavia, Alaska, the Amazon and beyond, which will fill more cabins more often. Whether "longest cruise in the industry" holds up to scrutiny from ultra-long-voyage rivals is worth watching. If I were shopping this, I'd look hard at the shorter segments before committing to over a year at sea.