Shortly after purchasing the “Navigator of the Seas” from the American shipping company Regent, Crescent Seas has acquired a second ship.
The “Insignia” from Oceania Cruises, also a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which was built in France in 1988 and currently still has 700 passenger seats, will be handed over to Crescent Seas in 2026.
After an extensive refurbishment costing over $50 million, the ship will have 290 private suites, which will be available for purchase for between $650,000 and $10 million, depending on the amenities, location and size, according to the company. The amenities will include a private butler service, upscale gourmet cuisine, individual experiences on deck, Starlink internet connection and much more.
In consultation with Oceania Cruises, which recently took delivery of a newbuild, the ship will join Crescent Seas at the end of 2026 and set sail on its maiden voyage on New Year’s Day 2027. Sales of the Insignia Residences will begin in late summer 2025, with the first private suites on the Navigator Residences ship going on sale in the next few days, priced between $750,000 and $8 million. Crescent Seas is also planning to launch three more luxury residence ships over the next five years.
“Insignia” joins Crescent Seas as second residential ship
Marisa Galbut, President of Crescent Seas, said: “Imagine traveling the world without leaving the comfort of your home. With our ownership model, families can share unique experiences seamlessly. Forget the stress of vacation planning – enjoy the freedom of remote working and discover the world from your home at sea.”
The “Insignia”, built in France in 1988 as the first of six identical ships in the so-called R-Class, is a ship that is no stranger to the German-speaking cruise market, having sailed for Hapag Lloyd Cruises as the “Columbus 2” between spring 2012 and April 2014. It initially sailed as “R One” for the now insolvent company Renaissance Cruises in. Following the insolvency of Renaissance Cruises in 2001, it was sold to Cruise One Invest SA, which chartered the ship to Oceania Cruises. After the end of the charter with Hapag Lloyd Cruises and another refurbishment of the ship, it was put back into service with three other identical sister ships from this series for worldwide cruises with Oceania Cruises. (CE)
