This Week in Cruise: Oceania Cruises to Refurbish Three Ships at $50M

Oceania Cruises revealed the details of the largest refurbishment program in the company's history, as its three R-Class ships - Regatta, Insignia and Nautica - prepare to undergo a combined $50-million transformation during the second quarter of 2014. All public rooms, suites and staterooms aboard these vessels will have their furnishings and decor updated, while amenities now standard on the line's newest ships will be added, including Baristas, Oceania Cruises’ specialty coffee bar, and the grill in the Terrace Café.

The updated Insignia will debut on May 8, 2014 in Barcelona for her seven-day Jewels of Europe cruise. This will be Insignia's first cruise after she returns from her two-year charter. Nautica will debut on May 16, 2014 in Civitavecchia for her 10-day Cliffs & Coves cruise and Regatta on June 7, 2014 in Vancouver for her 10-day Majesty of Alaska cruise.

Another line preparing for a large-scale update is Costa Cruises, which is docking its 2,680-guest Costa Mediterranea at the Fincantieri shipyard for planned maintenance. The multimillion-dollar refit is taking place from Nov. 21 through Dec. 4, 2013, consisting primarily of routine maintenance that occurs every 2.5 years. The hull of the ship will be cleaned and repainted, while the hotel department will update carpets, curtains, upholstery and other furnishings in public areas.

Following the dry dock, Costa Mediterranea will depart from Savona, Italy, Dec. 6 on a trans-Atlantic cruise to the French Caribbean island of Guadalupe, where the ship will be home ported through the 2013-14 winter season, sailing seven-day Caribbean cruises.

On the tail end of refurbishments is Silversea Cruises' Silver Wind, which finished a two-week dry dock in Palermo, Italy, where the ship's restaurant, Le Champagne, enjoyed a complete makeover. The ship's suites, public spaces and dining venues also received new carpets, upholstery and soft goods, including The Bar. The ship also received new tiling and deck furniture in the pool area, as well as a redesigned buffet area in the specialty restaurant at La Terrazza.