We just toured the Regatta and it was a wonderful day. First, we were sent to the Horizon Lounge which is on Deck 10. It’s absolutely the most beautiful and comfortable Observation Lounge ever! Sofas and chairs have large colorful pillows, sheer drapes adorn the windows and there is a combo and dance floor.
The specialty restaurants, Toscana and Polo Grill are on the same deck and they both offer their own bar area and luxurious seating with fabulous menus….no extra charge of course. In between the restaurants is the largest library I’ve seen on any size ship and also the most inviting. It was like an English Manor drawing room, with bookcases and books piled upon tables, a central fireplace with sofas and love seats, again with comfy pillows propped everywhere…wanted to stay there,
The Lobby area is stunning with its double staircase in wrought iron and gold, carpeted in red and black. Surrounding the area are oversized chairs and sofas inviting you to sit and chat. When you ascend the grand staircase, feeling as if you’re in “Gone With the Wind”, you enter the Upper Hall which has boutiques, a beautiful Grand Bar and a very inviting Martini’s Bar and a very small casino. Forward is the lounge which also has a dance floor. There is a wonderful feel of casual elegance all over the ship. Aft is the Grand Dining Room which is also lovely and we enjoyed a multi course delicious lunch with white glove service. The cuisine on Oceania Cruises is considered one of the very best at sea.
I would certainly wholeheartedly recommend Oceania to all but the under 40 set as there are not a lot of different venues as offered by the larger ships.
Oceania Cruises runs wonderful promotions throughout the year including 2 for 1 rates, free airfare and more. Call us at 800-942-3301 for more details on the latest Oceania Cruise deals.
The Oceania marina is Oceania Cruise Line’s newest cruise ship. Atlas Cruises & Tours is pleased to announce that past Oceania guests can now book the new Marina.
The Oceania Marina opens for reservations to the public on January 18th, 2010. Oceania Cruise Line is not offering the inagural itineraries on their site until the 28th, so here is a sneak peak!
It’s almost time! Reservations for the Oceania Marina will open exclusively for past guests tomorrow, January 13th. Oceania Club Members may make their reservations during an Exclusive Five Day Members only reservation period. Itineraries and fares will not be posted on Oceania’s website until the 18th when Marina opens for reservations to the general public.
The Oceania-Class Marina, sailing in 2011 represents an evolution of the line’s extremely popular Regatta-Class ships. Since the inception of Oceania Cruises, our ships have delivered an unparalleled onboard experience. So many of the indulgences are a direct result of our ships’ ideal mid-size, a tradition that Marina will proudly continue, but in an even more refined incarnation. She personifies the Oceania experience and then some.
While larger than her consorts Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, Marina remains comfortably mid-size, adroitly utilizing the additional space for even greater amenities. She rewards guests with our signature “finest cuisine at sea” in six restaurants, including two new gourmet venues — Jacques and Red Ginger. Her new La Reserve holds enlightening wine and food pairings. For special coffees and snacks, there is Baristas Coffee Bar. The new Bon Appétit Culinary Center offers hands-on cooking instruction under the guidance of master chefs. Similarly, artists-in-residence teach fine arts in Artist Loft, a new enrichment center. Intimate lounges abound. Accommodations in every category are incredibly spacious, especially with regard to the lavish bathrooms.
Yet remarkably, with so many additions, the onboard ambiance and experience remains comfortably familiar. We have retained everything guests adore about our ships and raised the bar ever higher.
Contact us for more information or Reservations at 800-942-3301.
The experience of sailing with Oceania Cruises is unlike any other. You will immediately be struck by the sense of calm and comfort, a feeling that puts you completely at ease. Smiles are genuine, service impeccable and the ambiance wonderfully casual. Being away from home has never felt so much like home.
The difference is the happy consequence of Oceania’s ships being mid-sized, with space for only 684 guests. It’s the ideal proportion for the staff of 400 to work wonders by offering highly personalized service, the finest cuisine at sea and a level of luxury not found on larger ships. The staff takes great pride in knowing your name and remembering your preferences, liberating you to enjoy life at your own pace and according to your schedule.
Oceania ships also cruise where others cannot, an advantage clearly reflected in their itineraries. Unique destinations such as stunning Cinque Terre and colorful Amalfi fold beautifully into itineraries that also feature classic cities such as Rome, Athens and Istanbul Another advantage is the generous time afforded in port with many evening departures and overnight stays. These are hallmarks of Oceania Cruise voyages, allowing you to explore more deeply, enhancing your enjoyment ashore.
The Atlas Advantage offers over 30 Oceania cruises with value added amenities such as ship board credits, pre-paid gratuities and more. Due to the size of Oceania ships and the unique itineraries they offer, most sailings do sell out at least six months in advance. Begin researching your Oceania Cruise for 2010 today!
To learn more about Oceania, including the new ship the Oceania Marina, we invite you to read our blog.
Many cruise line’s boast that they have the best cuisine, but Oceania Cruises is the only cruise line that has been inducted into the Maître Cuisiniers de France, led by the menus of Jacques Pepin, Dean of Special Programs at the French Culinary Institute and holder of the Legion d’honneur. Pepin’s new menus will be introduced in May and December, and each new cycle typically includes 350-400 new items.
Twenty-five percent of the staff on each Oceania ship is galley staff, and the company says it has twice as many chefs as other lines. Oceania’s onboard chefs have previously showcased their talents at prestigious culinary destinations.
In addition, many of Oceania’s suppliers provide products tailored to the line’s specifications. The company has its own exclusive producer of foie gras in France; lobsters are raised exclusively for Oceania at its farm in Marin; and Viron flour from the Beauce region of France is exclusively produced for its ships, allowing Oceania to claim the only authentic French baguettes at sea. The baguettes are only one facet of the line’s special bread program, which was developed by Star Boulanger and Executive Corporate chef Frank Garanger. Each dining room has its own distinctive breadbasket – to fill them all, the staff bakes more than 60 varieties.
Another very carefully crafted aspect of the dining experience is the regional cuisine offered on board, much more than a tip of the hat to the countries to which Oceania cruises. To ensure you are getting an authentic representation of each country, Oceania works with distinguished chefs from London to Mumbai.
Here is a sample of the menu at the Grand Dining Room onboard Oceania.
If you have sailed on Oceania, we’d love to hear your feed back on the cuisine.
The difference is the happy consequence of Oceania’s ships being mid-sized, with space for only 684 guests. It’s the ideal proportion for the staff of 400 to work wonders by offering highly personalized service, the finest cuisine at sea and a level of luxury not found on larger ships. The staff takes great pride in knowing your name and remembering your preferences, liberating you to enjoy life at your own pace and according to your schedule.
