MS Nautica
MS Nautica is a small cruise ship operated by Oceania Cruises and originally built as R Five for Renaissance Cruises.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
MS Nautica is a cruise ship in Oceania Cruises' Regatta Class. The vessel was constructed at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, as the fifth of eight closely related ships ordered for Renaissance Cruises. Its keel was laid on 22 March 1999, the ship was launched from drydock on 31 July 1999, and it was delivered on 29 January 2000 under the name R Five. The ship entered commercial service on 1 February 2000 on Mediterranean itineraries. Renaissance Cruises operated R Five for a relatively short period. The company experienced severe financial difficulties after the September 11 attacks and entered bankruptcy proceedings in September 2001. R Five was subsequently laid up at Gibraltar with several sister ships. In December 2001 it was sold to Cruiseinvest, a France-based company, and moved to Marseille while awaiting a new operator. From June 2002, the ship was chartered by Pullmantur Cruises for the Spanish market. Pullmantur promoted the vessel as Blue Dream, although its registered name remained R Five. During Northern Hemisphere winters, it operated from Brazil as part of Pullmantur's joint service with CVC. This charter ended in 2004. The ship returned to service in November 2005 after being chartered by Oceania Cruises and renamed Nautica. It became part of Oceania's small-ship fleet, which emphasizes destination-focused itineraries, onboard dining, and access to ports that may be unavailable to larger cruise ships. Nautica has operated voyages across regions including the Mediterranean, northern Europe, the Middle East, and longer international routes. On 30 November 2008, Nautica encountered two Somali pirate skiffs while sailing from Safaga, Egypt, to Salalah, Oman, through an area affected by persistent piracy. The captain ordered evasive maneuvers and maximum speed. The ship escaped after coming under fire eight times; none of the 684 passengers or 401 crew members was injured, and the voyage continued to its next scheduled port. Nautica was also involved in a serious mooring incident at Greenock Ocean Terminal in Scotland during Storm Ali on 20 September 2018. At approximately 11:00, its mooring lines parted and the ship drifted into the Tail of the Bank area of the Firth of Clyde. Tugs assisted the vessel, which returned to its berth later that evening. The 478 passengers and 26 crew members who were ashore were cared for while the ship was away from the terminal. The ship was included in Oceania Cruises' OceaniaNEXT fleet-improvement program. A major renovation was announced for 2020, and a later announcement described a planned bow-to-stern refurbishment with updated suites, staterooms, and guest amenities. The announced plan calls for capacity below 500 guests, longer voyages, and around-the-world itineraries, followed by a proposed relaunch under the name Oceania Aurelia in late 2027. These future plans distinguish the vessel's established identity as Nautica from its proposed subsequent branding.
History
MS Nautica was built as R Five for Renaissance Cruises, the fifth vessel in an eight-ship series constructed at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire. Construction began with keel laying on 22 March 1999, followed by launch from drydock on 31 July 1999. The completed ship was delivered on 29 January 2000 and entered service on 1 February, initially sailing Mediterranean cruises for Renaissance Cruises. The first phase of the ship's career ended when Renaissance Cruises became insolvent in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. R Five was laid up at Gibraltar with several sister vessels after the company entered bankruptcy in September 2001. Cruiseinvest purchased the ship in December 2001 and transferred it to Marseille, where it remained out of regular service while a new commercial arrangement was developed. Pullmantur Cruises chartered the ship from June 2002. For the Spanish market it was marketed as Blue Dream, although R Five remained its registered name. The ship also operated seasonal Brazilian voyages under Pullmantur's joint service with CVC. It left Pullmantur service in 2004. In November 2005, Oceania Cruises chartered the vessel, renamed it Nautica, and placed it in its Regatta Class fleet. Under Oceania, the ship operated international itineraries oriented toward destination variety and smaller ports. Its career included a notable security incident on 30 November 2008, when it encountered two Somali pirate skiffs in the Gulf of Aden while traveling between Safaga and Salalah. The ship accelerated and maneuvered away under the direction of Captain Jurica Brajcic. Although the attackers fired eight times, Nautica escaped without injuries to its 684 passengers or 401 crew. A separate operational incident occurred at Greenock Ocean Terminal on 20 September 2018. Storm Ali caused the ship's mooring lines to break, and strong winds carried the vessel toward the Tail of the Bank. Tugs assisted Nautica, allowing it to return to the terminal later the same day. Passengers and crew who had been ashore were accommodated while the incident was resolved. Oceania Cruises later placed Nautica within its OceaniaNEXT improvement program. A 2020 renovation was announced, followed by a later plan for a more extensive refurbishment involving suites, staterooms, and guest areas. The announced future configuration would reduce capacity to fewer than 500 guests and emphasize longer voyages, including around-the-world itineraries. The same plan projected a late-2027 relaunch as Oceania Aurelia, subject to completion of the proposed program.
- 2026
Proposed Aurelia relaunch announced
[1]A later announcement outlined an extensive refurbishment and a proposed late-2027 relaunch as Oceania Aurelia.
- 2020
OceaniaNEXT renovation scheduled
[1]Nautica was scheduled for significant refurbishment under Oceania Cruises' OceaniaNEXT program.
- 2018
Storm Ali mooring incident
[1]The ship broke free from its Greenock berth during Storm Ali and was assisted back by tugs.
- 2008
Piracy incident in the Gulf of Aden
[1]Nautica evaded two Somali pirate skiffs while sailing between Egypt and Oman.
- 2005
Renamed Nautica under Oceania Cruises
[1]Oceania Cruises chartered the ship, renamed it Nautica, and returned it to active cruising.
- 2002
Chartered to Pullmantur
[1]Pullmantur began operating the ship for the Spanish market under the marketing name Blue Dream.
- 2001
Renaissance Cruises bankruptcy
[1]R Five was laid up after Renaissance Cruises entered bankruptcy during financial difficulties associated with the post-September 11 travel downturn.
- 2000
Delivered as R Five
[1]Renaissance Cruises accepted delivery of the ship on 29 January 2000.
- 2000
Entered Renaissance Cruises service
[1]The ship began Mediterranean cruising on 1 February 2000.
- 1999
Keel laid at Saint-Nazaire
[1]The keel of the future R Five was laid at Chantiers de l'Atlantique on 22 March 1999.
Products and positioning
A small, destination-oriented cruise ship positioned within Oceania Cruises' premium fleet, combining access to smaller ports with longer international itineraries and upgraded onboard accommodation and amenities.
Cruise ship · 1999
MS Nautica
A small ocean cruise ship in Oceania Cruises' Regatta Class. Built for destination-oriented cruising, it offers passenger accommodation, dining, entertainment, and access to a broad range of international ports. The vessel has served Mediterranean, European, Middle Eastern, Brazilian, and longer global itineraries under several operators and names.
Cruise ship marketing identity · 2002
Blue Dream
The commercial name used by Pullmantur Cruises while operating R Five for the Spanish market from 2002. The ship's registered name remained R Five during this period.
Brand decisions
2026
Planned conversion and relaunch as Oceania AureliaGeneration changeBackground
Oceania Cruises announced a further fleet-upgrade plan for the vessel.
Action taken
The announced plan calls for a bow-to-stern refurbishment, new suites and staterooms, updated guest amenities, reduced capacity below 500, and a proposed relaunch as Oceania Aurelia in late 2027.
Aftermath
The relaunch and refurbishment are future plans in the supplied reference and are not presented as completed.
2020
OceaniaNEXT refurbishment planStrategyBackground
Oceania Cruises included Nautica in a fleetwide improvement program intended to update guest spaces and amenities.
Action taken
The company scheduled a significant renovation for Nautica under OceaniaNEXT.
Aftermath
The supplied reference does not establish the completed scope or final completion date of this renovation.
2005
Oceania Cruises charter and renamingStrategyBackground
After leaving Pullmantur service, the ship required a new operating arrangement.
Action taken
Oceania Cruises chartered the vessel and renamed it Nautica for its Regatta Class fleet.
Aftermath
The ship returned to active service in November 2005 and continued operating under the Nautica name.
Recent events
- 2026
Planned relaunch as Oceania Aurelia announced[1]
Product generation
A later fleet-upgrade announcement described a planned bow-to-stern refurbishment, reduced guest capacity, longer voyages, and a proposed relaunch under the name Oceania Aurelia in late 2027.
- 2020
Nautica included in OceaniaNEXT refurbishment plans[1]
Other
Oceania Cruises scheduled Nautica for a substantial renovation as part of the company's OceaniaNEXT fleet-improvement program.
- 2018
Storm Ali breaks Nautica's mooring lines at Greenock[1]
Other
High winds during Storm Ali caused Nautica's mooring lines to part at Greenock Ocean Terminal. The ship drifted into the Tail of the Bank before tugs helped return it to the berth.
- 2008
Nautica escapes Somali pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden[1]
Other
While sailing from Safaga to Salalah, Nautica was approached and fired upon by two Somali pirate skiffs. The ship used evasive maneuvers and high speed to escape. No passengers or crew members were injured.
Sources1 sources
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