Oceania Cruises redefined the upper-premium cruise ship market on Saturday with the christening of Marina. Entertainment Tonight host Mary Hart named the ship at a gala ceremony. The ceremony culminated with a 15-liter Nebuchadnezzar of Champagne, custom made by Armand de Brignac. Among the ceremony highlights were inspirational performances by the Marina Choir, assembled specially 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 was strategically 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 center, swimming pool and hot tubs.
"Marina is not just ‘another’ ship, she is special in so many ways," said 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."
Marina is a ship of firsts, featuring the first Bon Appétit Culinary Center, 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.
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 will then operate 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.
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.
For more information, call 800-531-5658 or visit www.oceaniacruises.com.