Oceania Marina Cruises

January 2011 saw the exciting and highly anticipated debut of Oceania Marina, which is scheduled to join the fleet in January 2011. The first of two brand new mid-size Oceania Class ships that the company has on order, Marina is larger than her three fleet cousins, Regatta, Insignia and Nautica and will feature more dining options, larger staterooms and other enhancements whilst maintaining the sense of intimacy, luxury and elegance for which Oceania Cruises is renowned.

Oceania Marina is effortlessly stylish and is small enough to slip into more remote ports of call, and provide her 1,258-guest with an intimate cruise experience whilst offering superb cuisine, outstanding facilities, thoughtfully designed accommodations and extraordinary levels of personalised service.

Dining is a central highlight of Oceania Marina and on board guests are rewarded with no less than 10 dining venues, including two new speciality dining restaurants, Jacques and Red Ginger. All dining venues offer an open seating policy meaning guests can choose when, where and with whom they dine each evening. Simply request a table when it pleases you, and the maître d' will see to your wishes. The elegant Grand Dining Room is the main restaurant, where waiters impeccably serve an astonishing variety of French-inspired Continental dishes. At Jacques, the first namesake restaurant of world renowned master chef Jacques Pépin diners are treated to classic elegant French cuisine. Red Ginger offers Asian classics whilst Polo Grill is a popular alternative restaurant where guests enjoy the finest dry-aged prime beef, chops and poultry, plus succulent seafood, including Maine lobster. Toscana is the line’s upscale Italian venue serving authentic Tuscan fayre whilst the Terrace Café offers a casual, more informal alternative with both indoor and al fresco dining options. There is also Waves, a poolside grill serving lunch. In addition there are two new private dining venues, La Reserve for enlightening wine and food pairings and Privée offering up to ten privileged guests per evening an absolutely over-the-top seven course menu exclusively designed by the Executive Chef. For special coffees and snacks, there is Baristas Coffee Bar. The new Bon Appétit Culinary Centre offers hands on cooking instruction under the guidance of master chefs with 24 individual workstations.

Each night entertainment centres round the Oceania Marina Lounge where everything from headline acts to comedians and magicians to lively jazz ensembles may perform. There are eight lounges and bars to choose from including Horizons Observation Lounge and a plush on board casino.

When it comes to recreation aboard the Oceania Marina, there is a large heated pool and three whirlpool spas, plus a state-of-the-art fitness facility where you can work out on the latest fitness equipment or join a class in indoor cycling, aerobics, yoga or Pilates. For some pure indulgence the famed Canyon Ranch SpaClub is where you can really lose yourself. There are treatments for every part of the body and ways to improve the mind such as acupuncture, aromatherapy, Ayurveda massage, Thai massage, Shiatsu massage and body wraps plus there is a thalassotherapy pool, steam room, fitness track, and beauty salon plus Canyon Ranch cuisine at breakfast, lunch and dinner. A new feature is the Artist Loft, a new enrichment centre, where artists teach a series of fine arts.

Accommodations in every category are incredibly spacious and Oceania Marina has 629 lavish suites and luxurious staterooms, 96% of which having a private balcony. All are beautifully appointed with designer fabrics and fine furnishings whilst amenities include a flat-screen television with DVD player, mini-bar with complimentary unlimited soft drinks and bottled water replenished daily, thick cotton robes and slippers, and French toiletries. Suite guests benefit from a whole host of additional amenities including a welcome bottle of champagne, upgraded Bvlgari toiletries and 24-hour butler service.