Oceania Marina is floated out at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard

Oceania Cruises floated out its first new build, Marina, at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard this morning then surprised attendees by also cutting steel for a second ship.

The second 65,000gt new build, Riviera, is planned for April 2012 delivery.

‘There’s only one thing better than one new ship, and that’s two new ships,’ said Oceania founder Frank Del Rio, adding: ‘Good things come in threes, but we’ll see.’ For its part, Fincantieri is pleased to demonstrate competence in a new market segment of smaller, upscale vessels, Mauro Leboffe, operations manager at the Sestri facility, told Seatrade Insider.

Del Rio, chairman and ceo of Oceania parent Prestige Cruise Holdings, and Oceania president Bob Binder led hard-hat tours of Marina to groups including key travel agent partners, top customers, international media, investors and board members including Crescent Heights’ Russell Galbut and Apollo Management’s Steve Martinez and Kevin Crowe.
Del Rio described Marina’s overall look as ‘very elegant’ and ‘more contemporary’ than Oceania’s existing ships, and said Riviera will be an exact copy.

He pointed to rich materials like the marbles and granites in the bathrooms, extra storage space and natural light in the suites, roomy galleys (a key to good food, he said) and features like the double-height ceiling of the Grand Dining Room. New venues include a Culinary Center with 24 cooking stations, a gourmet coffee shop with great views high above the sea and an Artist Loft where artists-in-residence will teach different courses.

Del Rio disclosed that new partnerships will soon be announced in connection with a first-at-sea brand for Marina’s boutiques and with a company that will create new production shows for the main lounge. Also, an American wine institution will be associated with Le Reserve, a 24-seat venue for tastings and exclusive food and wine pairing dinners.
Marina already has ties with famous names like Jacques Pépin, who will open his first restaurant at sea on board, with Canyon Ranch for the spa and spa cuisine, Lalique for the grand staircase, Bon Appétit for the Culinary Center, Ralph Lauren Home and Tocar Interior Design for the Owner’s Suites and, newly announced yesterday, Dakota Jackson for the Oceania and Vista suites.

The ship’s chief architect is Gunnar Åserud of Yran & Storbraaten.
Robin Lindsay, evp vessel operations for Oceania, said the biggest challenge in building Marina was to make it resemble the existing ships in style and general arrangement while also adding new features like the multiple specialty restaurants.
Marina symbolizes the evolution of the brand, Apollo’s Martinez told Seatrade Insider. Three years ago, when Apollo invested in Oceania, ‘[Del Rio] had a vision of what it could be, and we believed in that vision,’ Martinez said. ‘You’re beginning to see that vision come true.’
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Points of Interest:
Marina is the ultimate expression of the Oceania Cruises Experience. She is the ideal consort to Regatta, Insignia and Nautica – and yet she is a vessel with unique characteristics, the very first of our new Oceania-class ships. Marina is a work of art, the natural extension  and refinement of everything our guests love about Oceania Cruises.
Marina Hallmarks:
• Ten dining venues, including six open-seating gourmet restaurants
• Two new specialty restaurants – Jacques and Red Ginger
• Bon Appétit Culinary Center – the only hands-on cooking school at sea
• The revered dining classics you love – The Grand Dining Room, Polo Grill, Toscana and Terrace Café
• The most spacious accommodations – Veranda Staterooms are an amazing 282 square feet and include expansive     granite-clad bathrooms with separate bathtub and shower
• Luxurious Penthouse Suites are 429 square feet and feature a bedroom, separate living area and dedicated dining area
• The lavish Vista Suites and Oceania Suites feature extraordinary appointments such as large teak verandas with   Jacuzzi tubs, spacious private bedrooms, separate living room and dining room and even an en-suite Media Room      or Fitness Room
• The opulent Owner’s Suites are the only suites at sea designed and furnished with Ralph Lauren Home. At over 2,000 square feet, they feature wraparound verandas, dramatic window walls and feel like a fine designer home
• Magnificent Reception Hall and sweeping Lalique Grand Staircase
• Beloved signature spaces Oceania Cruises is famous for – Martinis, Grand Bar, The Patio and Horizons
• The Grand Dining Room is truly grand, with soaring 14-foot high ceilings and a magnificent crystal chandelier that encompasses virtually the entire space

Beginning January 22, 2011, her first journeys will take her across the Atlantic, to the sapphire waters of the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal up the jewelled Pacific coast of Mexico and to the storied capitals of Colonial history on the United States’ east coast.
 
Phil's comment: Oceania is for many of my readers, a little know cruise line. But that is by no means a negative.

If you are a "Foody" - I think you will love Oceania cruises..... Oceania delivers the most amazing cruise experience on many levels. If you want to know more about these super sized ships - and by that I mean 69,000 tons is a lovely size of cruise ship - then please call Kathy or Susan on 01253 341014.

I will tell you that some of the more popular sailings with Oceania sell out very quickly, but we will advise you where the best deals are when you call us.

This is a cruise blog entry by Phil