However, those in the know are keen fans. The newest addition to the six-strong fleet, Oceania Sirena, is sailing a 34-day round-trip from Sydney in March and it's already wait-list only. Oceania Cruises christened the beautifully refurbished, 684-passenger ship in April this year; it is similar in size and design to its fleetmates Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, which are all former Renaissance R-class vessels. (As are Azamara Club Cruises' Azamara Journey and Quest.) Oceania's other two ships are the elegant, custom-built 1258-passenger Marina and Riviera, which were launched in 2011 and 2012.

Oceania Cruises has a reputation for fine dining and was the first cruise line to introduce a hands-on cookery school, the Bon Appetit Culinary Centre. Obviously they were on to something – today cooking classes at sea are incredibly popular and are even popping up on river cruise ships. Oceania also started the trend for culinary-inspired, shopping-with-the-chef-type shore excursions.

French masterchef, TV star and author Jacques Pepin has been the line's executive culinary director since the start. He is still responsible for inspiring a team of chefs to produce a range of cuisines served across the fleet, in world-class restaurants that are all complimentary. Sirena has two new dining venues, Tuscan Steak, which pairs Italian fine dining with fresh seafood, and Red Ginger, which serves spicy Asian cuisine.

Oceania Insignia is also visiting Australia this season, as part of its 180 World Voyage, and will return in 2018 offering a series of Australia, New Zealand and Asia Pacific cruises.

What else is new for the line? Steve Odell, senior vice president and managing director Asia Pacific for NCLH, says, "With the launch of Oceania Sirena we introduced a range of new entertainment which we will be rolling out across the fleet. These new stage shows have been incredibly well received and include Cabaret Cinema, immersive acoustic musical performances and dance shows."

Will we be seeing more of Oceania Cruises' ships Down Under in the future, seeing as they have been so popular for the upcoming season? Odell says, "We are always looking for opportunities to develop new itineraries, and as we develop our 2017-18 plans for Oceania Cruises, which we will be announcing in the coming months, Australia is certainly high on the agenda." 

MEET THE CREW

NAME Monica Cimmino, from Naples, Italy

POSITION Cruise Director, NCL's Norwegian Epic

MY JOB I'm in charge of all the entertainment on board, including kids' and teens' programs, daily acts, the technical aspect of our shows – and I'm also the "face and voice" of the ship for our guests.

A TYPICAL DAY It varies according to the itinerary. I make public announcements, and have meetings and briefings with the hotel director and captain – all the departments are connected. I host "Deal or No Deal", sometimes conduct Italian and Spanish lessons, open shows in the evening and greet guests at the end of the shows. I studied languages at university and travelling is my dream job – I'm very lucky to do what I love.

FAVOURITE CRUISE MOMENT Looking at sunset and sunrise over the ocean gives me energy – and a bit of me time.

FAVOURITE CRUISE PORTS In 16 years I've seen many ports; highlights are Alaska and the Seychelles, and everywhere in Europe.

INSIDER TIPS Make the most of NCL's Freestyle experience; there's so much choice for dining and entertainment on board Norwegian Epic.

TIP

Save baggage space and plastic wastage by investing in a collapsible, re-usable water bottle. The Platypus SoftBottle has no plastic taste as it's made with zero BPA. About $16, plus postage. See www.gogogear.com.au

NEWS 

North Star Cruises' 30th anniversary

Aussie adventure line North Star Cruises is celebrating 30 years of continuous operations next year, with end-of-year cocktail parties on board the renowned True North and a gala event in Broome – where it all began – in May 2017. The 36-passenger ship, which launched in 2004 and has its own helicopter and six expedition boats, sails exciting itineraries in the Kimberley, Papua New Guinea, Western Australia and Indonesia. It also cruises into Sydney Harbour every Christmas, in time to take up pole position for the start of the Sydney-Hobart race and New Year's Eve fireworks before heading north for a leisurely cruise around Pittwater and the Hawkesbury River. However, the ship fills quickly; you might have to book now for Christmas 2017. See www.northstarcruises.com.au

Win a Roman Cruise Holiday

Celebrity Cruises is setting sail on an exciting new partnership as gold sponsor of the 2016 Lavazza Italian Film Festival, presented by Palace Cinemas. The festival runs until October 9 in Sydney and Melbourne (dates vary in other cities) and a highlight is the closing-night screening of the 1953 classic Roman Holiday, starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. Guests who enter the Lavazza Italian Film Festival's People's Choice Award will have the chance to take a Roman Cruise Holiday of their own. To go in the draw to win a European cruise for two on Celebrity Reflection, festival patrons simply need to choose their favourite film from the Lavazza Italian Film Festival offering. See www.italianfilmfestival.com.au

Plan a Cruise Month 

National Cruise Week has been extended to the whole of October – check with your local CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) Australasia travel agent for special deals and promotions. You can find an accredited agent near you at cruising.org.au. For the first week, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises are offering $US100 on-board credits along with savings of up to 30 per cent on a range of 2017 cruises. The local cruise season officially starts this week, when Celebrity Solstice arrives in Sydney Harbour on October 8; Royal Caribbean's Explorer, Voyager, Radiance and Legend of the Seas will be here in November, while the hotly anticipated Ovation of the Seas makes its Australian debut in December. Azamara Journey follows in February; between them the three lines offer more itineraries and ships Down Under than ever before. 

DEAL OF THE WEEK 

Cruise on all three Cunard queens with ecruising.travel's new 33-night fly/cruise/stay package, which starts with a seven-night cruise on Queen Victoria from Rome to Barcelona on October 28. Fly to London, embark Queen Elizabeth for a 10-night Iberian cruise round-trip from Southampton, then take the seven-night transatlantic crossing on Queen Mary 2 to New York. Return flights, accommodation in Rome, Barcelona, London and New York, private transfers and sightseeing passes in London and New York included; from $9439. Phone 1300 369 848. See www.ecruising.travel 

MORE DEALS

ARANUI CRUISES has released early-bird deals for Aranui 5's first sailings in 2018. The cargo-passenger ship operates 14-day itineraries in French Polynesia's Marquesas, Tuamotus and Society Islands. Fares from $5750 when booked by December 31, 2016. Phone 03 9449 3778. See aranuicruises.com.au

UNIWORLD Fly free when you book a 2017 Uniworld Europe cruise of 13 days or more. For example, fares for the 13-day Amsterdam to Basel cruise, operating between April and November 2017, start from $7399. All on-board drinks, transfers on arrival and departure days and gratuities are included. Offer valid until October 31, 2016; phone 1300 780 231. See www.uniworld.com

AZAMARA CLUB CRUISES Book an inside cabin before November 30, 2016, and you'll be upgraded to a Club Verandah stateroom on most of Azamara's 2017 European cruises. For example, fares for Azamara Journey's seven-night Tapas and Wine cruise from Barcelona to Lisbon, departing on June 7, 2017, start from $2999. Phone 1800 754 500, see www.azamaraclubcruises.com 

Curiouser and curiouser   

If you're looking for an escorted cruise to the Galapagos islands, with a maximum of 16 like-minded travellers (including experienced hosts Ian Connellan and Gail MacCallum), check out The Curious Traveller's March 2017 itinerary. March is the "green season" in the islands when sea turtles are hatching, newborn sea lion pups are exploring, frigate birds are nesting and blue-footed boobies are performing their mesmerising mating rituals. The 11-night trip incudes eight days' cruising on the 16-passenger catamaran Seaman Journey, daily hikes, snorkelling, small-boat trips, visits to the Galapagos tortoises' breeding centres on San Cristobal island and at the Charles Darwin research station, plus two days in the 16th-century town of Quito. See www.curioustraveller.com.au