Oceania Marina Debuts

Oceania Cruises last week released its first itineraries for the brand new Oceania Marina.  The Marina expands Oceania's fleet to four, and is the first ship built for Oceania.  Its existing three ships -- the Regatta, Insignia, and Nautica -- were all formerly part of the Renaissance fleet.

Clients familiar with Oceania have lamented the fact that the Marina will carry just under twice the number of guests as its three existing ships.  We believe, however, that guests who like the small-ship feel will be pleasantly surprised with the Marina.  For one, despite catering to 1258 maximum guests (as compared to 684 on the three existing ships), the Marina is more than twice the tonnage resulting in a much greater space ratio.  Though clients on the three existing ships never feel crowded, they will feel even less so on the Marina.  The greater tonnage also carries with it significant other benefits.  Most noticeable to past Oceania guests will be the expanded stateroom sizes.  Balcony staterooms go from 165 square feet on the three current ships to an impressive 282 square feet on the Marina, more than 100 square feet larger.  This allows Oceania to incorporate larger bathrooms with full-size tubs in every stateroom category except for the interiors.

Additionally, the Marina expands on Oceania's culinary choices.  Joining Toscana, Polo Grill, and Tapas on the Terrace, the Marina adds Famous Master Chef Jacques Pepin's signature restaurant, aptly named Jacques, and Red Ginger offering "contemporary interpretations of Asian classics."  The Marina also adds the Bon Appetit Culinary Center, the only culinary center at sea to offer hands-on instruction.  Guests can sign-up to take these hands-on lessons onboard their cruise with leading expert master chefs.

Judging from the recently-released Marina brochure, the Marina also will boast stunning decor in muted and soothing neutral tones, exuding elegance throughout.  Most importantly, Oceania continues its pursuit of service excellence.  The Marina improves Oceania's already impressive guest-to-staff ratio of 1.75-to-1 to a near industry-leading ratio of just 1.57 to 1.

With so much to offer, it is no wonder the Marina's debut generated Oceania's largest single booking day in its history, with the company fielding more than 1500 calls.  One of the first itineraries to sell-out was the Maiden Voyage, a 13-night Transatlantic crossing departing Barcelona on January 22, 2011, sailing to Miami.  No doubt the price contributed to its rapid sell-out:  $1,499 per person, inclusive of roundtrip airfare, taxes, and port charges.  Other itineraries included the Inaugural Passage, an 18-night voyage from Miami to San Francisco through the Panama Canal departing February 8, 2011, offered from $3,799 per guest, inclusive of roundtrip airfare, taxes, and port charges, and Colonial Crossing, a 19-night Transatlantic voyage departing Miami on March 28, 2011, making ports of call in Savannah, Charleston, New York, Bermuda, Funchal, and Malaga before ending in Barcelona.  Rates on the March Transatlantic begin at just $2,499 per guest, inclusive of roundtrip airfare, taxes, and port charges.  Cruise Holidays of Alexandria is holding staterooms for our clients on all three of these sailings, which are available for booking on a first-come, first-serve basis with a deposit of $750 per person.  Our clients also will enjoy additional amenities on board, including prepaid gratuities and $50 per stateroom amenity credit.  If interested, please e-mail, or call (866) 368-7327.