Oceania Cruises Takes Delivery of New Flagship 'Marina'

SESTRI PONENTE, Italy - Oceania Cruises officially took delivery today of Marina, the line’s first newly built ship which measures 66,000 tons and accommodates 1,250 guests. The handover took place at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard near Genoa, where Marina officially became a part of the Oceania Cruises’ fleet joining Regatta, Insignia and Nautica. Her sister ship, Riviera, is currently being built in the same shipyard and will debut in April 2012.

A ship of firsts, Marina features the Bon Appétit Culinary Center, the first hands-on cooking school at sea, Master Chef Jacques Pépin’s first namesake restaurant at sea, Ralph Lauren Home-furnished Owner’s Suites, luxurious accommodations by designer Dakota Jackson, Wine Spectator wine program, a Lalique grand stairway and Canyon Ranch SpaClub. Moreover, Marina has been designed for epicureans offering an unprecedented 10 dining venues – comparable in quality to the very best shore-side restaurants.

According to Frank Del Rio, the founder of Oceania Cruises and chairman & CEO of parent company Prestige Cruise Holdings, “Marina is unlike any ship built in the past 50 years and is destined to be a game-changer in the industry. The superb gourmet restaurants and exquisite residential interiors reflect the best of what makes Oceania Cruises such an unrivaled experience.”

“The new Marina is not only beautiful, but one of the most elegant ships we have built in the last years,” stated Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri. “Today is a proud day for all of our employees and partners associated with this first new build for Oceania Cruises. We are honored to have been chosen to build the first ships from the vision of Mr. Del Rio.”

The new flagship of the Oceania Cruises fleet will set sail on her maiden voyage from Barcelona, Spain, on January 22. When she arrives in Miami on February 4, she is expected to receive a celebratory welcome that will last through the weekend. ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT Icon Mary Hart will name Marina at a lavish gala ceremony on February 5 and christen her with a 15-liter Nebuchadnezzar of Champagne, custom-made by Armand de Brignac, commemoratively crashing against the hull. The evening will be capped by an extravagant fireworks display, a gift from Oceania Cruises to the ship’s US home port.

After the christening festivities in Miami, Marina sets sail Feb. 8 on the first of two 18-day Panama Canal transits that visit San Francisco or 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.

Oceania Cruises’ new Marina has been purposefully designed to carry 1,250 guests to the world’s most alluring ports in elegance and style. Rich woods, marble and granite, fine wool carpets and illustrious leathers adorn public rooms. Facilities include 10 dining venues including six open-seating gourmet restaurants, an array of bars and lounges, a full-service Canyon Ranch SpaClub and fitness center, swimming pool and hot tubs.

For more information visit Oceaniacruises.com