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New cruise ship for Epicureans

Oceania Cruises will raise the bar once again on culinary excellence when it launches Riviera in April 2012. Purposely built for epicureans, the 1,250-guest ship offers 10 dining venues comparable to the very best shore-side restaurants.

“Our guests are in for a true epicurean odyssey with Riviera,” states Kunal S. Kamlani, the line’s president. “Riviera offers diverse dining experiences that cater to the palates of inquisitive travellers. Best of all, regardless of which gourmet restaurant they choose to enjoy, there are no additional dining charges.”

Continental Cuisine, Asian Fusion & American Favorites

Riviera offers six, open-seating gourmet restaurants, two private-dining venues and two casual eateries. The décor of each is distinctive, yet a common design thread is evident in the extensive use of rich woods, marble and granite, fine wool carpets and supple leather. Below is an outline of the ship’s dining venues:

1. The Grand Dining Room – Tuxedo-clad wait staff serve a six-course menu in a setting reminiscent of a grand European hotel. Menus include Continental and American dishes plus spa cuisine from Canyon Ranch. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

2. Toscana – Three, illuminated etched-glass panels provide a dramatic backdrop to savoury Italian specialties, many of them family recipes handed down from Oceania Cruises’ staff and crew. Open for dinner, reservations suggested.

3. Polo Grill – Fine cuts of Prime, dry-aged beef, as well as chops and fresh seafood, are featured. The décor evokes a classic steakhouse with leather upholstery, mahogany wall panels and rich crimson, gold and green colours. Open for dinner, reservations suggested.

4. Jacques – One of only two restaurants by the world-renowned chef Jacques Pépin, this French bistro is exquisitely decorated with antiques, pickled wood furnishings and rough-hewn wood floors. Open for dinner, reservations suggested.

5. Red Ginger – Thai, Japanese and Vietnamese flavours are showcased in a contemporary setting that features three Buddha’s carved from a single piece of backlit glass as a dramatic centrepiece. Open for dinner, reservations suggested.

6. Terrace Café – Shades of burgundy, rust, gold and yellow create a bright and pleasant indoor ambiance or guests may dine al fresco. Lunch and dinner buffets feature carved meats and regional delicacies. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

7. Waves – This relaxed, open-air brasserie serves gourmet burgers, swordfish, chicken and other grilled items, and features a salad bar and homemade ice cream bar. Open for lunch.

8. Baristas – This coffee bar adjoining the library is the place to enjoy Illy espresso and cappuccino, plus homemade biscotti and coffee cake. Open throughout the day.

Optional Wine Dinners & Private Dining

9. La Reserve by Wine Spectator – This intimate venue hosts tastings and seven-course pairing dinners with premium wines selected in consultation with Wine Spectator editors. This venue is also home to wine-tastings during the day. Per guest charge for premium wines applies. Reservations required.

10. Privée – This elegant private dining room can accommodate up to 10 guests. Selections from the Polo Grill and Toscana menus are served with great flair. Room charge applies. Reservations required.

Oceania Cruises’ Riviera also features a Bon Appétit Culinary Centre, which offers hands-on cooking classes with a changing curriculum. In select ports guests can accompany the chef to shore-side markets to purchase fresh, local ingredients, which they later learn how to prepare in the culinary centre.

Oceania Cruises’ new upper-premium cruise ship Marina was Christened in Miami on Saturday 5th February. The ship’s godmother, “Entertainment Tonight” Host Mary Hart, named the ship at a lavish, invitation-only gala ceremony, which culminated with a 15-litre Nebuchadnezzar of champagne, custom-made by Armand de Brignac, crashing against the hull. Among the ceremony highlights were inspirational performances by the Marina Choir, assembled for the event, and the appointment of Master Chef Jacques Pépin as honorary commodore of the Oceania Cruises’ fleet.

Entered into service in January 2011, Marina brings the vision of Frank Del Rio, the founder of Oceania Cruises and chairman & CEO of parent company Prestige Cruise Holdings, to reality with the line’s first newly built ship measuring 66,000 tons and accommodating 1,250 guests.

“The saying goes, ‘good things come to those who wait.’ Although Marina’s arrival has been long awaited, she’s more than just GOOD,” stated Del Rio “She’s the most beautiful, sophisticated and stylish ship launched in the modern era of cruising – a span of some 50 years.”

Marina is a ship of firsts, featuring the first Bon Appétit Culinary Center, Master Chef Jacques Pépin’s first namesake restaurant at sea, Ralph Lauren Home-furnished Owner’s Suites, luxurious accommodations by Dakota Jackson, a Wine Spectator wine program and a Lalique grand stairway.

“Marina is not just ‘another’ ship, she is special in so many ways,” stated Bob Binder, Oceania Cruises’ president. “When we set out to design and build our first new ship, we wanted it to set new standards for comfort, service and culinary excellence.”

Oceania Cruises’ new Marina arrived in Miami on February 4, after her maiden voyage from Barcelona. Following a short preview cruise, on February 8 she will depart on the first of two 18-day Panama Canal transits that visit San Francisco and San Diego, both new ports for Oceania Cruises. Marina then operates a 12-day Caribbean cruise, round-trip from Miami, departing March 16, before sailing along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and on to Europe to begin her inaugural Mediterranean season.

Marina has been purposefully designed to carry guests to the world’s most alluring ports in elegance and style. Marina is full of rich woods, marble and granite, fine wool carpets and lustrous leathers which adorn public rooms. Facilities include 10 dining venues – six of which are open-seating gourmet restaurants, an array of bars and lounges, a full-service Canyon Ranch SpaClub and fitness centre, swimming pool and hot tubs.

The new Marina joins the Oceania Cruises’ fleet consisting of the 684-passenger Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, which have taken guests around the world since 2002. Her sister ship Riviera will be christened in April 2012. A leader in destination cruising and defining the upper-premium market, Oceania Cruises offers gourmet cuisine, gracious service and award-winning itineraries at an exceptional value.

Oceania Cruises’ new ‘Marina’ to feature 10 dining venues, including 6 gourmet restaurants
Oceania Cruises’ new Marina will set new standards for culinary excellence at sea with 10 dining venues, six of which are gourmet restaurants and offer culinary excellence at no supplement. The 1,250-guest ship, which debuts later this month, has been designed for food and wine lovers with the aim of offering dining experiences comparable to the best shore-side restaurants.

Bob Binder, Oceania Cruises’ president, said “Marina is the first ship purpose-built for epicureans. Unlike many cruise lines, all of our meals are cooked to order, a la minute. We are committed to serving cuisine that rivals some of the world’s very best restaurants.”

Continental Cuisine, Asian Fusion & American Favorites

Marina will offer six, open-seating gourmet restaurants, two private-dining venues and two casual eateries. The décor of each is distinctive, yet a common design thread is evident in the extensive use of rich woods, marble and granite, fine wool carpets and supple leather. Below is an outline of the ship’s eight no-charge dining venues and two exclusive options:

1. The Grand Dining Room – Tuxedo-clad wait staff serve a six-course menu in a classic setting reminiscent of a five-star restaurant at one of Europe’s grandest hotels. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

2. Toscana – Three, illuminated etched-glass panels provide a dramatic backdrop to savory specialities, many of them family recipes handed down from Oceania Cruises’ staff and crew. Open for dinner, reservations suggested.

3. Polo Grill – Plush and supple leather upholstery, a rich palette of crimson, gold and green, and gold-edged mahogany wall panels evoke the glamour of a vintage Hollywood steakhouse. Fine cuts of Prime, dry-aged beef, as well as chops and fresh seafood, are featured. Open for dinner, reservations suggested.

4. Jacques – The first-ever restaurant at sea for its namesake, internationally renowned chef Jacques Pépin, draws inspiration from fabled brasseries of Paris and his hometown of Lyon. Open for dinner, reservations suggested.

5. Red Ginger – Thai, Japanese and Vietnamese flavours are showcased in a contemporary setting that features three Buddhas carved from a single piece of backlit glass as a dramatic centerpiece. Open for dinner, reservations suggested.

6. Terrace Café – Shades of burgundy, burnt orange, gold and lemon create a bright and pleasant ambiance or guests may dine al fresco. Regional delicacies and sumptuous buffets are served for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

7. Waves – This relaxed, open-air bistro serves gourmet burgers, swordfish, chicken and other grilled items, and features a salad bar and homemade ice cream bar. Open for lunch, weather permitting.

8. Baristas – This coffee bar adjoining the library is the place throughout the day to enjoy Illy espresso and cappuccino, homemade biscotti and coffee cake.

Optional Wine Dinners & the Ultimate Chef’s Table

9. La Reserve by Wine Spectator – La Reserve is an intimate venue that hosts wine tastings and seven-course pairing dinners with premium wines selected in consultation with Wine Spectator editors. Extra charge for wines; reservations required.

10. Privée – An exclusive private dining room that offers the ultimate Chef’s Table. Eight fortunate guests can create a personalised menu featuring such specialities as Kobe beef, Brittany lobsters, foie gras, caviar and truffles. Room charge is $1,000. Open select evenings, reservations required.

Oceania Cruises’ new Marina also features a Bon Appétit Culinary Centre and full-service Canyon Ranch® SpaClub. Interior design highlights include a Lalique-designed grand lobby, luxurious suites designed by Dakota Jackson as well as Owner’s Suites furnished exclusively in Ralph Lauren Home.

Miami, September 27, 2010 – Oceania Cruises’ 1,250-guest Marina, scheduled to launch in January 2011, successfully completed sea trials on Sept. 26, which included three days of sailing the Mediterranean for the first time (Photos from the sea trials and new construction photos can be seen at www.oceaniacruisesblog.com).

During the sea trials, technicians and engineers from the Fincantieri shipyard along with Oceania Cruises’ marine and technical teams evaluated the vessel’s speed, maneuverability, hydrodynamics and propulsion, among many other aspects of the ship’s performance.

“She is a beautiful ship. Marina was extremely maneuverable with virtually no vibration to be felt, even at high speeds,” stated Captain Dimitrios Flokos, the ship’s master. “Marina exceeded all expectations. In fact, shipyard representatives commented this was the most successful sea trial in recent history for technical performance.”

A second and final round of trials will be run just prior to the ship’s delivery. The 65,000-ton ship – being built at Fincantieri in Sestre Ponente, Italy – is scheduled for delivery Jan. 17, 2011.

“Her first foray at sea was a resounding success. Marina exhibited exceptional sea-keeping abilities, is amazingly agile and cruised at more than 22 knots with plenty of power in reserve,” said Robin Lindsay, the line’s executive vice president of vessel operations, who was on board during the sea trials. “Now that sea trials were successfully concluded, we will focus on finishing her magnificent interiors.”

The ship’s inaugural schedule includes a 13-day Maiden Voyage Jan. 22 from Barcelona to Miami, where inaugural activities are planned. On Feb. 8, Marina departs on the first of two 18-day Panama Canal transits that visit San Francisco or San Diego, both new ports for Oceania Cruises. Marina operates a 12-day Caribbean cruise, round-trip from Miami, departing March 16, before sailing along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and on to Europe to begin her inaugural Mediterranean season.

To learn more about Marina, contact your travel agent, visit OceaniaCruises.co.uk or call on 0845 505 1920.