Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, announced that its 1,250-passenger ship, Marina, will undergo an all-encompassing refurbishment in May 2024. The refurbishment will include the addition three new dining options: Aquamar Kitchen, the new wellness-focused dining venue which debuted on Vista this year; an expanded poolside ice cream parlour serving milkshakes and smoothies, plus inventive flavours from artisan ice cream company Humphry Slocombe; and a new casual al fresco trattoria offering sumptuous Italian dishes, including freshly made pizzas.

Marina is the last of Oceania Cruises’ current fleet to be refurbished and means that the line boasts eight new, or better-than-new, ships. Its eighth ship, Allura, is set to launch in Spring 2025.

“Marina is a ship designed by foodies, built by foodies, for foodies,” said Frank A. Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises. “We are renowned for serving The Finest Cuisine at Sea, and this is not just a tagline, it is a mantra which we have built the business around. Food is the foundation of what we do onboard each of our ships, and globally, in the destinations we visit.

“This refresh of Marina will see her updated to offer three exciting new dining venues. We are especially thrilled to expand the Aquamar Kitchen concept to Marina, following its incredible reception from guests since it was unveiled aboard Vista in May.”

Marina and her sister Riviera were the very first true foodie ships in the world and are now joined by Vista and Allura. Marina and Riviera were the first ships ever to have an onboard cooking school and have more galley space and more fresh food storage than any other ship. Oceania Cruises has the highest percentage of culinary personnel devoted to the dining experience than any other cruise company. To ensure the impeccable quality of each dish, the line has one chef for every ten guests; half of the crew onboard is dedicated to the cooking or serving of food.

One of the exciting culinary additions to Marina will be Aquamar Kitchen, a new Oceania Cruises signature restaurant which presents wellness-inspired menus, with a hint of indulgence, sure to satisfy even the most discerning palate. At breakfast, the smoothies, cold-pressed juices and energy bowls shine, while at lunch the avocado toast selections and globally inspired salads and wraps are incredibly flavourful and satisfying. Heartier options include an Impossible burger, yellowfin tuna tacos and a crunchy chicken sandwich among several others.

To reflect the wellness-inspired dishes, the beverage menu will feature a selection of premium, award-winning non-alcoholic wines, Pierre Zero from France as well as a refreshing collection of mocktails crafted with Lyre’s non-alcoholic spirits. Aquamar Kitchen will be open for breakfast and lunch and does not require reservations, and as with all other onboard restaurants, is complimentary for guests.

In the evening, Waves Grill will transform into an al fresco trattoria featuring freshly made pizzas, succulently grilled Italian specialties, spicy dry-rubbed chicken wings, tantalizing salads, rosemary focaccia with lush burrata and indulgent desserts.

For guests with a sweet tooth, an all-day ice cream parlour will be added to the pool deck. Filled with favourite flavours, including options from Humphry Slocombe, plus milkshakes and smoothies, it is sure to entice guests for an afternoon poolside treat.

With the addition of Aquamar Kitchen, Oceania Cruises’ signature pairing dinners featured in La Reserve will be showcased in Privée, Marina’s exclusive private dining space. This intimate venue will host culinary aficionados for long-standing favourite pairing menus of La Reserve, including the Odyssey Menu and the Dom Pérignon Experience.

In addition to the three new dining options, Marina’s private and public spaces will be refreshed to showcase a radiant new ambiance. All upper suites will be reimagined with a revamped look, to become lighter, brighter, and seemingly even more spacious thanks to cleverly designed new features. Classic steakhouse Polo Grill will also be enhanced with new carpet, stylish window treatments and a fresh design of the dining chairs.

The Penthouse Suites will be completely refurbished with custom-crafted furniture as well as new closets and cabinetry to increase guest storage space, plus new carpets, and upholstery, updated modern lighting and thoughtful details such as more outlets and USB ports. Each Penthouse Suite will have a sleek restyled bathroom, with distinctive Italian marble throughout, abundant drawer space, and generous over-sized showers, offering the elegant residential luxury for which Oceania Cruises is renowned.

Favourite public spaces including Martinis, Horizons, The Grand Dining Room, and Library will be elegantly updated with plush new carpets and refreshed upholstery, reflecting a renewed sense of grandeur while maintaining the home-away-from-home ambiance.

The refurbished ship will debut on May 18, 2024, and while the ship will undergo significant cosmetic changes, rest assured that one aspect will remain constant and unchanged: Oceania Cruises’ trademark warm and personalized service. Whether guests are sailing for the first time or the fifteenth, they will note the ease with which the staff remembers their names and their preferences along with the genuine smiles and enthusiasm that can only come from the heart.

Marina Summer 2024 Featured Sailings:

July 6: Oslo to Copenhagen, 20 days aboard Marina: Sing the praises of Scandinavia and the Baltic countries while uncovering treasure upon treasure, from the epic beauty of Norway’s fjords to the perfectly preserved historic hearts of Gothenburg and Gdansk.

July 16: London to London, 44 days aboard Marina: Soak up a vast array of destinations on this wide-ranging quest to reveal the best of the North Atlantic and Northern Europe, revelling in an astonishing variety of unforgettable sights, from dazzlingly lavish palaces to beguilingly blue glaciers.

July 26: Copenhagen to Tromsø, 10 days aboard Marina: Explore Norway in depth on this journey that spotlights its extraordinary fjord country, where spellbinding fishing villages rich in Viking heritage are hidden in stunningly beautiful fjords guarded by colossal mountains.

August 5: Tromsø to Reykjavik, 15 days aboard Marina: Strike out on this intrepid voyage visiting lands that reveal our planet at its most primal, from the rugged Arctic shores of the Svalbard archipelago to the volcanic terrain of Iceland and the stunning hinterlands of Greenland.

For additional information on Oceania Cruises’ small-ship luxury product, exquisitely crafted cuisine, and expertly curated travel experiences, visit OceaniaCruises.com, or speak with a professional travel advisor.

About Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises is the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line. The line’s eight small, luxurious ships carry a maximum of 1,250 guests and feature the finest cuisine at sea and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe. Expertly curated travel experiences aboard the designer-inspired, small ships call on more than 600 marquee and boutique ports in more than 100 countries on seven continents on voyages that range from seven to more than 200 days. Oceania Cruises is a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH). To learn more, visit www.nclhltd.com.

Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, revealed its 2025 Summer Collection of voyages, featuring an extensive and diverse lineup of more than 100 itineraries, plus nearly 50 Grand Voyages, to alluring corners of the world. Travellers can choose from a selection of perfectly curated Europe voyages, classic Canada and New England cruises, exciting adventures in Alaska, plus blissful South Pacific sailings that visit paradise islands in French Polynesia and beyond aboard Oceania Cruises’ eight small, luxurious ships. The itineraries are available to preview online at www.OceaniaCruises.com and open for reservations on October 4.

The collection of diverse voyages includes more than 70 distinct sailings across the Mediterranean and Northern Europe with Marina splitting her time between the Mediterranean, the western wine countries, and the northern regions of Iceland, Greenland and the Canadian Maritimes; Vista sailing through the capitals of Scandinavia, the Norwegian Fjords and the British Isles; and the maiden Mediterranean season of Allura, Oceania Cruises’ newest ship.

“2025 is slated to be our biggest year yet at Oceania Cruises with Allura’s maiden season and our first collection featuring all eight boutique ships on sale,” said Frank A. Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises. “With our 2025 Summer Collection, we look forward to continuing to show why Oceania Cruises is acclaimed for its destination-rich itineraries by offering new ports of call and expanded service into highly sought-after regions.”

2025 Summer Collection Highlights

• More than 100 destination-rich itineraries, plus nearly 50 Grand Voyages
• Riviera sails in Alaska for the very first time, offering the ultimate Last Frontier experience
• Allura, Vista, Marina, Sirena and Nautica explore Europe with 70+ diverse itinerary options
• Itinerary lengths ranging from 7 to 56 days
• 100+ overnight stays including Seville, Jerusalem, Istanbul, Bordeaux, Berlin, Antwerp, Montreal, Bora Bora and Papeete, giving guests more time to explore Oceania Cruises’ ports of call
• 10 new ports of call including Cesme, Turkey; Kemi, Finland; Lulea, Sweden; Maniitsoq, Greenland; Pozzallo (Sicily), Italy; Samos, Greece; Scrabster, Scotland; Sibenik, Croatia; Sundsvall, Sweden; and Vaasa, Finland.

Alaska

An Oceania Cruises first, the 1,250-guest Riviera will explore the best of Alaska with more than a dozen explorations of the glaciers and wilderness of the Last Frontier. With itineraries ranging from 7 to 12 days, travellers will discover the soaring glaciers, pristine wilderness and unique local culture of the region paired with Riviera’s luxurious ambiance and myriad of gourmet culinary experiences, creating unforgettable travel experiences.

Canada & New England              
Oceania Cruises’ perennially popular fall foliage sailings will bring travellers to unforgettable French-Canadian gems along the St. Lawrence River. These classic 11- to 15-day autumn voyages conveniently depart from New York City, Boston and Montreal and feature overnight stays in Montreal, Quebec City and New York City. During July and August, 16- to 19-day sailings contrast popular Canada and New England harbours with the remote hinterlands and dramatic landscapes of Iceland and Greenland.

Europe

Oceania Cruises will be offering a stunning array of Iceland- and Greenland-intensive itineraries with nine voyages to the region, including two sailings from New York and two sailings from Montreal. Marina and Sirena will both explore the two North Atlantic Island nations at length in July and August. An expansive offering of enchanting Mediterranean voyages is available with sailings from Spain, France and Italy to Greece, Israel and Turkey. Nautica will be dedicated to the region with Marina bookending the North Atlantic summer season with Mediterranean sailings and Vista sailing the region in autumn. An enticing breadth of culture-rich Northern Europe voyages aboard Vista and Sirena is available where travellers will discover the mediaeval cities and fortresses lining the Baltic, the striking architecture and modern design of Scandinavia, the famous castles of Scotland, the legendary landscapes of Ireland and the historical and iconic attractions of England. Allura will call on iconic cities and lesser-known gems including Cadiz, Olbia, Messina, Palma de Mallorca, Palermo and Cinque Terre and feature overnight stays in Istanbul and Monte Carlo.

The possibilities for adventure become loftier and more inspiring with Oceania Cruises’ more than 40 European Grand Voyages. Each of the line’s Grand Voyages introduces guests to a dazzling array of diverse and fascinating ports of call across the Mediterranean and Northern Europe and also features a carefully curated selection of extended evening stays and overnights so guests can explore even more deeply.

The South Pacific

Regatta will sail the first summer season of voyages in French Polynesia and Hawaii with an alluring selection of seven new exotic sailings and itineraries ranging from 10 to 18 days that offer a utopia of cultural encounters, memorable adventures, and pristine natural surroundings. The new cruises will visit the region during the ideal months of August, September and October with itineraries spanning the gorgeous blue lagoon of Bora Bora, the black sand beaches of Tahiti, the colourful coral reefs of Raiatea, the soaring mountains in the verdant jungles of Nuku Hiva and more. Four of the seven new sailings link French Polynesia with the captivating craters, dramatic canyons, and lush waterfalls of the Hawaiian archipelago.

New Boutique Ports
In addition, Oceania Cruises’ 2025 Summer Collection reveals a carefully curated selection of 10 new boutique ports across the Mediterranean and Northern Europe promising unforgettable experiences and even more opportunities for seasoned travellers to strike off the beaten path and discover new destinations that reveal even more of Europe’s incredibly diverse treasures and wonders. New ports of call include Cesme, Turkey; Kemi, Finland; Lulea, Sweden; Maniitsoq, Greenland; Pozzallo (Sicily), Italy; Samos, Greece; Scrabster, Scotland; Sibenik, Croatia; Sundsvall, Sweden; and Vaasa, Finland.

simply MORE
Oceania Cruises offers travellers simply MORE, with virtually everything included in the voyage fare: a generous shore excursion credit of up to $1,600 per stateroom to be spent on tours of their choice; and a comprehensive beverage package available during lunch and dinner at onboard restaurants featuring dozens of vintage Champagnes, premium wines, and international beers. Created to elevate the guest experience, simply MORE means travellers receive the greatest value in luxury cruising.

For additional information on Oceania Cruises’ small-ship luxury product, exquisitely crafted cuisine and expertly curated travel experiences, visit OceaniaCruises.com, or speak with a professional travel advisor.

About Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises is the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line. The line’s eight small, luxurious ships carry a maximum of 1,250 guests and feature the finest cuisine at sea and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe. Expertly curated travel experiences aboard the designer-inspired, small ships call on more than 600 marquee and boutique ports in more than 100 countries on seven continents on voyages that range from seven to more than 200 days. Oceania Cruises is a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH). To learn more, visit www.nclhltd.com.

OCEANIA CRUISES INTRODUCES 2024-2025 TROPICS & EXOTICS VOYAGES

JOHANNESBURG, November 1, 2022 – Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, unveiled its 2024-2025 Tropics and Exotics Collection of itineraries, which open for sale on November 2, 2022.

The new collection of 157 voyages spans seven continents and ranges from 7 to 200 days in length. Featuring more than 300 ports of call, the collection includes 14 new off-the-beaten-path ports. With 30% to 50% more time in port than premium lines, the itineraries include an astounding 451 overnight stays across 123 voyages.

“This new collection of itineraries showcases iconic ports of call along with a wealth of opportunities to explore corners of the globe nearly untouched by tourism, and with seven brand-new or better-than-new ships, the journey will be just as rewarding as the destinations,” stated Howard Sherman, President and CEO of Oceania Cruises.

Travelers seeking to explore more of the world will revel in the selection of 70 Grand Voyages that afford opportunities for epic explorations across distinct regions and multiple continents. Destination immersion is another key element of the 2024-2025 Tropics and Exotics Collection with a wide variety of voyages focused on singular destinations such as the Amazon, the coastal villages of Brazil, the Arabian Peninsula, Japan, and an epic circumnavigation of Australia.

For those seeking to chart a course less traveled, there are in-depth explorations of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, the yacht harbors and tiny atolls of the South Pacific, and even an invigorating early-spring traverse of the North Pacific that combines Japan’s verdant northern prefectures with the rugged Alaska outposts of Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, and Whittier.

2024-2025 Tropics and Exotics Collection Highlights

• More than 150 itineraries, featuring 123 cruises with overnight stays and 70 Grand Voyages spanning the globe
• With Caribbean, Mexico and Panama Canal voyages, travelers can revel in new corners of the tropics with visits to refreshingly less-traveled islands such as Bonaire, Carriacou, Dominica and Guadeloupe
• In South America, there are multiple adventures into the pristine landscapes of Patagonia, sailings along the Amazon River or voyages that explore the golden coasts of Brazil and Uruguay
• Across Asia, explorers will delight in traveling to far-flung places and iconic attractions that many only dream of with expansive options for Southeast Asia explorations and a number of fascinating Japan-focused journeys
• Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific journeys reveal a blend of dynamic marquee cities as well as unsung treasures in delightfully off-the-beaten-track places such as the coast of Western Australia; Bluff, Gisborne and Timaru in New Zealand; and blissful islands in French Polynesia and Melanesia
• The collection offers a sweeping array of far-flung Grand Voyages, with options linking multiple distinct regions and region-specific journeys that feature in-depth explorations of South America, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, and even extended Caribbean and Panama Canal journeys

New Ports of Call

• Camarones, Argentina
• Champagne Bay, Vanuatu
• Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, Tristan da Cunha
• Fernandina Beach, Florida
• Hambantota, Sri Lanka
• Hillsborough (Carriacou), Grenada
• Hitachinaka, Japan
• Hualien, Taiwan
• Isla de los Estados, Argentina
• Kupang, Indonesia
• Puerto del Rosario, Canary Islands
• St. Helier, Channel Islands
• Takamatsu, Japan
• Waingpu, Indonesia

THE EVOLUTION OF PERFECTION – A BETTER-THAN-EVER EXPERIENCE

OceaniaNEXT is Oceania Cruises’ continual quest to evolve and elevate the guest experience. It focuses on the hallmarks that inspire guests to return to Oceania Cruises time and again: Exquisitely Crafted Cuisine, Curated Travel Experiences and Small Ship Luxury. Reflecting the crisp sophistication of Regatta, Insignia, Nautica, Sirena and Vista, the sweeping Re-inspiration of Marina and Riviera presents a symphony of entirely new suites and staterooms as well as elegant public spaces imbued with a new light, airy ambiance. The signature onboard experience is better than ever too, with the addition of an extensive collection of new flavors and culinary experiences that transforms dining into a sublime experience and service into an art form. The gourmet cuisine has been entirely reimagined, from a bounty of new flavorful dishes at The Grand Dining Room to a Dom Pérignon pairing dinner that is the only one of its kind. Oceania Cruises’ newest ship, Vista, offers multiple unique firsts in the realms of dining and guest experience. Across all ships, holistic wellness encounters at Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center encourage a lifestyle of health and longevity, while new destination experiences such as Go Green, Go Local, Beyond Blueprints, Culinary Discovery Tours, Food & Wine Trails tours, and Wellness Discovery Tours by Aquamar encourage deeper explorations.

THE HEART OF THE EXPERIENCE

One aspect of the Oceania Cruises experience remains constant and unchanged: the trademark warm and personalized service. Whether guests are sailing for the first time or the fifteenth, they will note the ease with which the staff remembers their names and their preferences along with the genuine smiles and enthusiasm that can only come from the heart.

For additional information on Oceania Cruises’ small-ship luxury product, exquisitely crafted cuisine, and expertly curated travel experiences, visit OceaniaCruises.com, or speak with a professional travel advisor.

About Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises is the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line. The line’s seven small, luxurious ships carry a maximum of 1,238 guests and feature the finest cuisine at sea and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe. Expertly curated travel experiences aboard the designer-inspired, small ships call on more than 450 marquee and boutique ports across Europe, Alaska, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, New England-Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Tahiti and the South Pacific in addition to the epic 180-day Around the World Voyages. The brand has a second 1,200-guest Allura Class ship on order for delivery in 2025. With headquarters in Miami, Oceania Cruises is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., a diversified cruise operator of leading global cruise brands which include Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

About Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) is a leading global cruise company which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands. With a combined fleet of 28 ships with nearly 60,000 berths, these brands offer itineraries to more than 490 destinations worldwide. The Company has nine additional ships scheduled for delivery through 2027, comprising of approximately 24,000 berths.

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Locally Issued by
Claire Lathe, Big Ambition

claire@bigambitions.co.za