Lying near the head of Southampton Water, a peninsula between the estuaries of the Rivers Test and Itchen, Southampton is Britain’s largest cruise port. It has been one of England’s major ports since the Middle Ages, when it exported wool and hides from the hinterland and imported wine from Bordeaux. The city suffered heavy damage during World War Two and as a result the centre has been extensively rebuilt, but there are still some interesting medieval buildings including the Bargate, one of the finest city gatehouses in England.
Lying near the head of Southampton Water, a peninsula between the estuaries of the Rivers Test and Itchen, Southampton is Britain’s largest cruise port. It has been one of England’s major ports since the Middle Ages, when it exported wool and hides from the hinterland and imported wine from Bordeaux. The city suffered heavy damage during World War Two and as a result the centre has been extensively rebuilt, but there are still some interesting medieval buildings including the Bargate, one of the finest city gatehouses in England.
Bordeaux as a whole, rather than any particular points within it, is what you'll want to visit in order to understand why Victor Hugo described it as Versailles plus Antwerp, and why the painter Francisco de Goya, when exiled from his native Spain, chose it as his last home (he died here in 1828). The capital of southwest France and the region's largest city, Bordeaux remains synonymous with the wine trade: wine shippers have long maintained their headquarters along the banks of the Garonne, while buyers from around the world arrive for the huge biennial Vinexpo show (held in odd-number years).Bordeaux is, admittedly, a less exuberant city than many others in France, but lively and stylish elements are making a dent in its conservative veneer. The cleaned-up riverfront is said by some, after a bottle or two, to exude an elegance reminiscent of St. Petersburg, and that aura of 18th-century élan also permeates the historic downtown sector—“le vieux Bordeaux"—where fine shops invite exploration. To the south of the city center are old docklands undergoing renewal—one train station has now been transformed into a big multiplex movie theater—but the area is still a bit shady. To get a feel for the historic port of Bordeaux, take the 90-minute boat trip that leaves Quai Louis-XVIII every weekday afternoon, or the regular passenger ferry that plies the Garonne between Quai Richelieu and the Pont d'Aquitaine in summer. A nice time to stroll around the city center is the first Sunday of the month, when it's pedestrian-only and vehicles are banned.
Bordeaux as a whole, rather than any particular points within it, is what you'll want to visit in order to understand why Victor Hugo described it as Versailles plus Antwerp, and why the painter Francisco de Goya, when exiled from his native Spain, chose it as his last home (he died here in 1828). The capital of southwest France and the region's largest city, Bordeaux remains synonymous with the wine trade: wine shippers have long maintained their headquarters along the banks of the Garonne, while buyers from around the world arrive for the huge biennial Vinexpo show (held in odd-number years).Bordeaux is, admittedly, a less exuberant city than many others in France, but lively and stylish elements are making a dent in its conservative veneer. The cleaned-up riverfront is said by some, after a bottle or two, to exude an elegance reminiscent of St. Petersburg, and that aura of 18th-century élan also permeates the historic downtown sector—“le vieux Bordeaux"—where fine shops invite exploration. To the south of the city center are old docklands undergoing renewal—one train station has now been transformed into a big multiplex movie theater—but the area is still a bit shady. To get a feel for the historic port of Bordeaux, take the 90-minute boat trip that leaves Quai Louis-XVIII every weekday afternoon, or the regular passenger ferry that plies the Garonne between Quai Richelieu and the Pont d'Aquitaine in summer. A nice time to stroll around the city center is the first Sunday of the month, when it's pedestrian-only and vehicles are banned.
Time in Bilbao (Bilbo, in Euskera) may be recorded as BG or AG (Before Guggenheim or After Guggenheim). Never has a single monument of art and architecture so radically changed a city. Frank Gehry's stunning museum, Norman Foster's sleek subway system, the Santiago Calatrava glass footbridge and airport, the leafy César Pelli Abandoibarra park and commercial complex next to the Guggenheim, and the Philippe Starck AlhóndigaBilbao cultural center have contributed to an unprecedented cultural revolution in what was once the industry capital of the Basque Country.Greater Bilbao contains almost 1 million inhabitants, nearly half the total population of the Basque Country. Founded in 1300 by Vizcayan noble Diego López de Haro, Bilbao became an industrial center in the mid-19th century, largely because of the abundance of minerals in the surrounding hills. An affluent industrial class grew up here, as did the working class in suburbs that line the Margen Izquierda (Left Bank) of the Nervión estuary.Bilbao's new attractions get more press, but the city's old treasures still quietly line the banks of the rust-color Nervión River. The Casco Viejo (Old Quarter)—also known as Siete Calles (Seven Streets)—is a charming jumble of shops, bars, and restaurants on the river's Right Bank, near the Puente del Arenal bridge. This elegant proto-Bilbao nucleus was carefully restored after devastating floods in 1983. Throughout the Casco Viejo are ancient mansions emblazoned with family coats of arms, wooden doors, and fine ironwork balconies. The most interesting square is the 64-arch Plaza Nueva, where an outdoor market is pitched every Sunday morning.Walking the banks of the Nervión is a satisfying jaunt. After all, this was how—while out on a morning jog—Guggenheim director Thomas Krens first discovered the perfect spot for his project, nearly opposite the right bank's Deusto University. From the Palacio de Euskalduna upstream to the colossal Mercado de la Ribera, parks and green zones line the river. César Pelli's Abandoibarra project fills in the half mile between the Guggenheim and the Euskalduna bridge with a series of parks, the Deusto University library, the Meliá Bilbao Hotel, and a major shopping center.On the left bank, the wide, late-19th-century boulevards of the Ensanche neighborhood, such as Gran Vía (the main shopping artery) and Alameda de Mazarredo, are the city's more formal face. Bilbao's cultural institutions include, along with the Guggenheim, a major museum of fine arts (the Museo de Bellas Artes) and an opera society (Asociación Bilbaína de Amigos de la Ópera, or ABAO) with 7,000 members from Spain and southern France. In addition, epicureans have long ranked Bilbao's culinary offerings among the best in Spain. Don't miss a chance to ride the trolley line, the Euskotram, for a trip along the river from Atxuri Station to Basurto's San Mamés soccer stadium, reverently dubbed "la Catedral del Fútbol" (the Cathedral of Football).
La Coruña, the largest city in Spain's Galicia region, is among the country's busiest ports. The remote Galicia area is tucked into the northwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula, surprising visitors with its green and misty countryside that is so much unlike other parts of Spain. The name "Galicia" is Celtic in origin, for it was the Celts who occupied the region around the 6th-century BC and erected fortifications. La Coruña was already considered an important port under the Romans. They were followed by an invasion of Suevians, Visigoths and, much later in 730, the Moors. It was after Galicia was incorporated into the Kingdom of Asturias that the epic saga of the Pilgrimage to Santiago (St. James) began. From the 15th century, overseas trade developed rapidly; in 1720, La Coruña was granted the privilege of trading with America - a right previously only held by Cadiz and Seville. This was the great era when adventurous men voyaged to the colonies and returned with vast riches. Today, the city's significant expansion is evident in three distinct quarters: the town centre located along the isthmus; the business and commercial centre with wide avenues and shopping streets; and the "Ensanche" to the south, occupied by warehouses and factories. Many of the buildings in the old section feature the characteristic glazed façades that have earned La Coruña the name "City of Crystal." Plaza Maria Pita, the beautiful main square, is named after the local heroine who saved the town in 1589 when she seized the English standard from the beacon and gave the alarm, warning her fellow townsmen of the English attack.
Lively, commercial Oporto is the second largest city in Portugal after Lisbon. Also called Porto for short, the word easily brings to mind the city's most famous product - port wine. Oporto's strategic location on the north bank of the Douro River has accounted for the town's importance since ancient times. The Romans built a fort here where their trading route crossed the Douro, and the Moors brought their own culture to the area. Oporto profited from provisioning crusaders en route to the Holy Land and enjoyed the riches from Portuguese maritime discoveries during the 15th and 16th centuries. Later, port wine trade with Britain compensated for the loss of the spice trade and the end of gold and gem shipments from Brazil. In the 19th century, the city went through a period of new prosperity with the rise of industries. In its wake followed the building of workers' quarters and opulent residences. Since the declaration of Oporto as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the city aims to build up a cultural reference that will provide it with a new image, based on deep historical roots. Among the attractions that make Oporto such an interesting place are its graceful bridges spanning the Douro River, a picturesque riverfront quarter and, most notable, its world-famous port wine lodges. Although Oporto is a bustling centre and home to many different businesses, the source of its greatest fame is the rich, sweet fortified red wine we know as port.
Set on seven hills on the banks of the River Tagus, Lisbon has been the capital of Portugal since the 13th century. It is a city famous for its majestic architecture, old wooden trams, Moorish features and more than twenty centuries of history. Following disastrous earthquakes in the 18th century, Lisbon was rebuilt by the Marques de Pombal who created an elegant city with wide boulevards and a great riverfront and square, Praça do Comércio. Today there are distinct modern and ancient sections, combining great shopping with culture and sightseeing in the Old Town, built on the city's terraced hillsides. The distance between the ship and your tour vehicle may vary. This distance is not included in the excursion grades.
Set on seven hills on the banks of the River Tagus, Lisbon has been the capital of Portugal since the 13th century. It is a city famous for its majestic architecture, old wooden trams, Moorish features and more than twenty centuries of history. Following disastrous earthquakes in the 18th century, Lisbon was rebuilt by the Marques de Pombal who created an elegant city with wide boulevards and a great riverfront and square, Praça do Comércio. Today there are distinct modern and ancient sections, combining great shopping with culture and sightseeing in the Old Town, built on the city's terraced hillsides. The distance between the ship and your tour vehicle may vary. This distance is not included in the excursion grades.
Valencia, Spain's third-largest municipality, is a proud city with a thriving nightlife and restaurant scene, quality museums, and spectacular contemporary architecture, juxtaposed with a thoroughly charming historic quarter, making it a popular destination year in year out. During the Civil War, it was the last seat of the Republican Loyalist government (1935–36), holding out against Franco’s National forces until the country fell to 40 years of dictatorship. Today it represents the essence of contemporary Spain—daring design and architecture along with experimental cuisine—but remains deeply conservative and proud of its traditions. Though it faces the Mediterranean, Valencia's history and geography have been defined most significantly by the River Turia and the fertile huerta that surrounds it.The city has been fiercely contested ever since it was founded by the Greeks. El Cid captured Valencia from the Moors in 1094 and won his strangest victory here in 1099: he died in the battle, but his corpse was strapped into his saddle and so frightened the besieging Moors that it caused their complete defeat. In 1102 his widow, Jimena, was forced to return the city to Moorish rule; Jaume I finally drove them out in 1238. Modern Valencia was best known for its frequent disastrous floods until the River Turia was diverted to the south in the late 1950s. Since then the city has been on a steady course of urban beautification. The lovely bridges that once spanned the Turia look equally graceful spanning a wandering municipal park, and the spectacularly futuristic Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences), most of it designed by Valencia-born architect Santiago Calatrava, has at last created an exciting architectural link between this river town and the Mediterranean. If you're in Valencia, an excursion to Albufera Nature Park is a worthwhile day trip.
The infinite variety of street life, the nooks and crannies of the medieval Barri Gòtic, the ceramic tile and stained glass of Art Nouveau facades, the art and music, the throb of street life, the food (ah, the food!)—one way or another, Barcelona will find a way to get your full attention. The capital of Catalonia is a banquet for the senses, with its beguiling mix of ancient and modern architecture, tempting cafés and markets, and sun-drenched Mediterranean beaches. A stroll along La Rambla and through waterfront Barceloneta, as well as a tour of Gaudí's majestic Sagrada Famíliaand his other unique creations, are part of a visit to Spain's second-largest city. Modern art museums and chic shops call for attention, too. Barcelona's vibe stays lively well into the night, when you can linger over regional wine and cuisine at buzzing tapas bars.
The infinite variety of street life, the nooks and crannies of the medieval Barri Gòtic, the ceramic tile and stained glass of Art Nouveau facades, the art and music, the throb of street life, the food (ah, the food!)—one way or another, Barcelona will find a way to get your full attention. The capital of Catalonia is a banquet for the senses, with its beguiling mix of ancient and modern architecture, tempting cafés and markets, and sun-drenched Mediterranean beaches. A stroll along La Rambla and through waterfront Barceloneta, as well as a tour of Gaudí's majestic Sagrada Famíliaand his other unique creations, are part of a visit to Spain's second-largest city. Modern art museums and chic shops call for attention, too. Barcelona's vibe stays lively well into the night, when you can linger over regional wine and cuisine at buzzing tapas bars.
The infinite variety of street life, the nooks and crannies of the medieval Barri Gòtic, the ceramic tile and stained glass of Art Nouveau facades, the art and music, the throb of street life, the food (ah, the food!)—one way or another, Barcelona will find a way to get your full attention. The capital of Catalonia is a banquet for the senses, with its beguiling mix of ancient and modern architecture, tempting cafés and markets, and sun-drenched Mediterranean beaches. A stroll along La Rambla and through waterfront Barceloneta, as well as a tour of Gaudí's majestic Sagrada Famíliaand his other unique creations, are part of a visit to Spain's second-largest city. Modern art museums and chic shops call for attention, too. Barcelona's vibe stays lively well into the night, when you can linger over regional wine and cuisine at buzzing tapas bars.
Having been controlled by Arabic, Venetian and Ottoman empires over the years - it's no surprise that Heraklion is a diverse patchwork of exotic cultures and historical treasures. Celebrated as the birthplace of the Spanish Renaissance artist, El Greco, you can visit to explore the storied ruins of the Minoan empire's capital, and unearth the rich cultural treasures that Crete’s bustling modern capital has to offer.
A major commercial port, cruise ship port of call, and wine-making center on the south coast, Limassol, 75 km (47 miles) from Nicosia, is a bustling, cosmopolitan town, with some of the liveliest nightlife on the island. Luxury hotels, apartments, and guesthouses stretch along 12 km (7 miles) of seafront, with the most luxurious ones just to the north of town. In the center, the elegant, modern shops of Makarios Avenue (where you'll mainly find clothes and shoes) contrast with those of pedestrian-only Agiou Andreou in the old part of town, where local handicrafts such as lace, embroidery, and basketware prevail; make sure you avoid shopping on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, when many shops close at 2 pm. A luxurious marina that will hold 650 yachts as well as house apartments, shops, and restaurants should further boost the town's lively appeal.
Busy Ashdod is not only one of Israel's fastest-growing cities, it's also the country's largest port. Perched on the Mediterranean, it processes more than 60% of the goods imported into Israel. Home to many ancient peoples over the centuries, Ashdod today is a modern, planned city. It's also a convenient jumping-off point for exploring several of Israel's most interesting cities, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Bethlehem.
Spilling down from the pine-covered heights of Mount Carmel, Haifa is a city with a vertiginous setting that has led to comparisons with San Francisco. The most striking landmark on the mountainside is the gleaming golden dome of the Baha'i Shrine, set amid utterly beautiful garden terraces. The city is the world center for the Baha'i faith, and its members provide informative walking tours of the flower-edged 100-acre spot, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the top of the hill are some small but interesting museums, the larger hotels, and two major universities. At the bottom is the lovingly restored German Colony, a perfect area for strolling.Israel's largest port and third-largest city, Haifa was ruled for four centuries by the Ottomans and gradually spread its tendrils up the mountainside into a cosmopolitan city whose port served the entire Middle East. The climate is gentle, the beaches beautiful, and the locals friendly.You don't see the religious garb of Jerusalem or the tattoos and piercings of Tel Aviv in this diverse but fairly conservative city. In fact, you can't always tell at a glance who is part of an Arab or Jewish Israeli family, or if someone is a more recent immigrant from the former Soviet Union.
Spilling down from the pine-covered heights of Mount Carmel, Haifa is a city with a vertiginous setting that has led to comparisons with San Francisco. The most striking landmark on the mountainside is the gleaming golden dome of the Baha'i Shrine, set amid utterly beautiful garden terraces. The city is the world center for the Baha'i faith, and its members provide informative walking tours of the flower-edged 100-acre spot, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the top of the hill are some small but interesting museums, the larger hotels, and two major universities. At the bottom is the lovingly restored German Colony, a perfect area for strolling.Israel's largest port and third-largest city, Haifa was ruled for four centuries by the Ottomans and gradually spread its tendrils up the mountainside into a cosmopolitan city whose port served the entire Middle East. The climate is gentle, the beaches beautiful, and the locals friendly.You don't see the religious garb of Jerusalem or the tattoos and piercings of Tel Aviv in this diverse but fairly conservative city. In fact, you can't always tell at a glance who is part of an Arab or Jewish Israeli family, or if someone is a more recent immigrant from the former Soviet Union.
Undoubtedly the most extraordinary island in the Aegean, crescent-shape Santorini remains a mandatory stop on the Cycladic tourist route—even if it's necessary to enjoy the sensational sunsets from Ia, the fascinating excavations, and the dazzling white towns with a million other travelers. Called Kállisti (the "Loveliest") when first settled, the island has now reverted to its subsequent name of Thira, after the 9th-century-BC Dorian colonizer Thiras. The place is better known, however, these days as Santorini, a name derived from its patroness, St. Irene of Thessaloniki, the Byzantine empress who restored icons to Orthodoxy and died in 802. You can fly conveniently to Santorini, but to enjoy a true Santorini rite of passage, opt instead for the boat trip here, which provides a spectacular introduction. After the boat sails between Sikinos and Ios, your deck-side perch approaches two close islands with a passage between them. The bigger one on the left is Santorini, and the smaller on the right is Thirassia. Passing between them, you see the village of Ia adorning Santorini's northernmost cliff like a white geometric beehive. You are in the caldera (volcanic crater), one of the world's truly breathtaking sights: a demilune of cliffs rising 1,100 feet, with the white clusters of the towns of Fira and Ia perched along the top. The bay, once the high center of the island, is 1,300 feet in some places, so deep that when boats dock in Santorini's shabby little port of Athinios, they do not drop anchor. The encircling cliffs are the ancient rim of a still-active volcano, and you are sailing east across its flooded caldera. On your right are the Burnt isles, the White isle, and other volcanic remnants, all lined up as if some outsize display in a geology museum. Hephaestus's subterranean fires smolder still—the volcano erupted in 198 BC, about 735, and there was an earthquake in 1956. Indeed, Santorini and its four neighboring islets are the fragmentary remains of a larger landmass that exploded about 1600 BC: the volcano's core blew sky high, and the sea rushed into the abyss to create the great bay, which measures 10 km by 7 km (6 mi by 4½ mi) and is 1,292 feet deep. The other pieces of the rim, which broke off in later eruptions, are Thirassia, where a few hundred people live, and deserted little Aspronissi ("White isle"). In the center of the bay, black and uninhabited, two cones, the Burnt Isles of Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni, appeared between 1573 and 1925. There has been too much speculation about the identification of Santorini with the mythical Atlantis, mentioned in Egyptian papyri and by Plato (who says it's in the Atlantic), but myths are hard to pin down. This is not true of old arguments about whether tidal waves from Santorini's cataclysmic explosion destroyed Minoan civilization on Crete, 113 km (70 mi) away. The latest carbon-dating evidence, which points to a few years before 1600 BC for the eruption, clearly indicates that the Minoans outlasted the eruption by a couple of hundred years, but most probably in a weakened state. In fact, the island still endures hardships: since antiquity, Santorini has depended on rain collected in cisterns for drinking and irrigating—the well water is often brackish—and the serious shortage is alleviated by the importation of water. However, the volcanic soil also yields riches: small, intense tomatoes with tough skins used for tomato paste (good restaurants here serve them); the famous Santorini fava beans, which have a light, fresh taste; barley; wheat; and white-skin eggplants.
Katakolon could not seem less of a cruise port if it tried. A tiny enclave clinging to the western Peloponnese coast, it's a sleepy place except when ships dock. But it's a popular cruise destination because of its proximity to Olympia. Ancient Olympia was one of the most important cities in classical Greece. The Sanctuary of Zeus was the city's raison d'être, and attracted pilgrims from around the eastern Mediterranean, and later the city played host to Olympic Games, the original athletic games that were the inspiration for today's modern sporting pan-planetary meet. At the foot of the tree-covered Kronion hill, in a valley near two rivers, Katakolon is today one of the most popular ancient sites in Greece. If you don't want to make the trip to Olympia, then Katakolon is an ideal place for a leisurely Greek lunch while you watch the fishermen mend their nets, but there's just not much else to do there.
Corfu town today is a vivid tapestry of cultures—a sophisticated weave, where charm, history, and natural beauty blend. Located about midway along the island's east coast, this spectacularly lively capital is the cultural heart of Corfu and has a remarkable historic center that UNESCO designated as a World Heritage Site in 2007. All ships and planes dock or land near Corfu town, which occupies a small peninsula jutting into the Ionian Sea.Whether arriving by ferry from mainland Greece or Italy, from another island, or directly by plane, catch your breath by first relaxing with a coffee or a gelato in Corfu town's shaded Liston Arcade, then stroll the narrow lanes of its pedestrians-only quarter. For an overview of the immediate area, and a quick tour of Mon Repos palace, hop on the little tourist train that runs from May to September. Corfu town has a different feel at night, so book a table at one of its famed tavernas to savor the island's unique cuisine.The best way to get around Corfu town is on foot. The town is small enough so that you can easily walk to every sight. There are local buses, but they do not thread their way into the streets (many now car-free) of the historic center. If you are arriving by ferry or plane, it's best to take a taxi to your hotel. Expect to pay about €10 from the airport or ferry terminal to a hotel in Corfu town. If there are no taxis waiting, you can call for one.
Home to the Museo Regionale of Messina, known for featuring two of Caravaggio's paintings, the city is also famous for having been the capital of the ancient kingdom of Sicily.
Malta's capital, the minicity of Valletta, has ornate palaces and museums protected by massive fortifications of honey-color limestone. Houses along the narrow streets have overhanging wooden balconies for people-watching from indoors. Generations ago they gave housebound women a window on the world of the street. The main entrance to town is through the City Gate (where all bus routes end), which leads onto Triq Repubblika (Republic Street), the spine of the grid-pattern city and the main shopping street. Triq Mercante (Merchant Street) parallels Repubblika to the east and is also good for strolling. From these two streets, cross streets descend toward the water; some are stepped. Valletta's compactness makes it ideal to explore on foot. City Gate and the upper part of Valletta are experiencing vast redevelopment that includes a new Parliament Building and open-air performance venue. The complex, completed mid-2013, has numerous pedestrian detours in place along with building noise and dust. Before setting out along Republic Street, stop at the tourist information office on Merchant Street for maps and brochures.
Timelessly sophisticated, Marina was designed for the ultimate epicurean. She embraces the elegant ambiance of our renowned 1,238-guest ships while also offering an array of amenities and choices. In addition to multiple open-seating gourmet restaurants, Marina features memorable food and wine experiences at La Reserve by Wine Spectator as well as the opportunity for private dining at exclusive Privée. From the sparkling Lalique Grand Staircase to the Owner's Suites furnished in Ralph Lauren Home, designer touches are everywhere, highlighting the finest residential design and furnishings. More than anything, Marina personifies the Oceania Cruises experience.Yet remarkably, with so many additions, the onboard ambiance and experience remains comfortably familiar. We have retained everything our guests adore about our ships and raised the bar even higher. We look forward to welcoming you aboard.
Small Ship Luxury
Marina blends sophistication with a contemporary flair to create a casually elegant ambiance. From the sparkling Lalique Grand Staircase to the stunning Owner's Suites furnished with Ralph Lauren Home, designer touches are everywhere, highlighting the finest residential design and furnishings. More than anything, Marina personifies the Oceania Cruises experience.
Designed for epicureans and travel connoisseurs, Marina features an array of complimentary specialty restaurants and unique dining experiences you’ll remember long after your cruise ends. The gourmet restaurants each serve a distinctive set of dishes created à la minute, from Continental cuisine at The Grand Dining Room and classic French fare at Jacques to vibrant Asian cuisine at Red Ginger and steakhouse favourites at Polo Grill.
Exclusive Dining Experiences
You’ll savour cuisine renowned as the finest at sea no matter where you choose to dine or relax on Marina – whether that means a poolside burger, a scoop of Humphry Slocombe’s bourbon-flavoured cornflake-studded Secret Breakfast ice cream or a perfectly prepared cappuccino accompanied by freshly baked biscotti. Our culinary team’s attention to detail, passion for artisanal ingredients and dedication to technique extends to our casual dining, poolside experiences, Baristas coffee bar and the cherished ritual of Afternoon Tea at Horizons too.
Privée & La Reserve
Celebratory, indulgent and unforgettable – a night in either of Marina’s exclusive culinary venues, Privée and La Reserve by Wine Spectator, offers a divine experience. La Reserve by Wine Spectator creates distinctive pairing dinners and also features sommelier-led tastings and wine seminars. Meanwhile, the opulent private dining venue of Privée transforms a dinner into a luxurious affair. Each creates an extraordinary evening to laugh, savour and remember.
From sipping fine vintages at a wine tasting to attending a show-stopping performance in the ship lounge, a wonderful spectrum of enriching activities and lively entertainment awaits you on board Marina. Join one of our esteemed Guest Speakers to discover their unique destination expertise, indulge in a treatment at Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center or take a hands-on cooking class at The Culinary Center. As the sun lowers, gather with friends in one of the convivial bars, attend a spectacular production show or take in an unforgettable musical performance.
Music & Entertainment
World-class musical performances will dazzle you, showcasing an ever-changing array of guest entertainers such as pianists, classical string quartets, dynamic vocalists and spectacular headliners. Marina features a unique lineup of onboard shows and entertainers to ensure that your interests are constantly piqued. Unforgettable evenings at energetic, show-stopping performances are just steps from your stateroom.
Bar & Lounges
From chic Martinis to the laid-back poolside Waves Bar, there's a perfect enclave on board Marina for every mood. Visit the elegant Grand Bar for a pre-dinner cocktail, catch a headline act in the Lounge or watch the sun set in Horizons accompanied by a glass of wine and lively music. As you explore the world, these bars and lounges are the place to unwind, gather together, laugh and take in one-of-a-kind shows and musical performances.
The satisfying balance of enriching activities and relaxing havens encourages you to enjoy your voyage exactly as you wish. Attend an engaging talk by a historian, naturalist or former ambassador eager to share insider knowledge. Learn to prepare a variety of exquisite dishes at The Culinary Centre, our state-of-the-art cooking school aboard Riviera, or embrace your inner artist at Artist Loft, where talented Artists in Residence offer inspiring workshops. Curl up with a classic novel in the cozy library or join one of the many other lively activities hosted each day.
Explore the complete array of holistic programs, services and experiences available at Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center – rejuvenating massages, facials, nutrition and lifestyle consultations and so much more are all at your fingertips. Keep up with your exercise routine at our state-of-the-art fitness center or try something new at one of our free fitness classes. Of course, complete relaxation awaits on the gleaming Pool Deck…the perfect place to unwind after an adventurous day ashore.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to continually improve our sustainability culture through fresh innovation, progressive education and open collaboration.
Our environmental commitment is continually evolving and expanding into additional areas of our operations, both shipboard and shoreside. Our industry is inextricably linked to the condition of our oceans and as such, continual improvement is one of our core responsibilities. In line with this accountability comes our commitment to preventing accidents and incidents involving pollution, reducing the environmental impact of our operations, managing waste through methods that promote recycling and reusing materials and ensuring continual refinement of our ISO 14001 certification objectives and targets.
Our objectives:
Water Conservation & Management
Oceania Cruises has introduced the Gold Standard in still and sparkling water service on board with our new Vero Water® service. All suites and staterooms will be stocked with refillable and reusable Vero Water decanters as well as all restaurants and bars.
We have also expanded Vero service to our shoreside experience, providing guests with keepsake refillable water bottles to take Vero Water ashore with them, eliminating several million more bottles per year.
VERO Facts
Oceania Cruises became the first cruise line to introduce Vero Water, the gold standard in still and sparkling water. With the introduction of Vero, we will eliminate several million single-use plastic bottles per year from onboard use. Later in the year, we will extend Vero service to our shoreside experience, providing guests with keepsake refillable water bottles to take Vero Water ashore with them, eliminating several million more bottles per year.
Going Green Through Technology
We are eliminating the consumption of millions of pages of paper per year via new digital technology on board.
These new digital initiatives will help us save millions of pieces of paper and thus reduce waste and reduce our carbon footprint.
For the safety and security of all guests and staff on board, Designated Smoking Areas are available on the forward, starboard corner of the Pool Deck and in the aft, port corner of Horizons. These areas are comfortably furnished and conveniently located near food and beverage areas. Smoking is expressly forbidden in all staterooms and suites, on verandas, or in any areas of the ship other than officially Designated Smoking Areas. Smoking in a stateroom or suite or on a veranda represents a serious fire and safety hazard to all guests and staff. Guests choosing to disregard this policy will be disembarked at the next port of call and may also be subject to additional fees that will be imposed to cover the costs associated with any damage to and the required cleaning of furnishings, verandas and surrounding deck and accommodation areas. All areas other than those specified as Designated Smoking Areas will remain smoke-free. This includes all guest suites and staterooms, verandas, restaurants, public areas, the Casino and all other areas of the ship. Cigar and pipe smoking is only permitted on the forward, starboard corner of the Pool Deck. The use of electronic cigarettes is allowed within designated smoking areas only.
Recommended onboard clothing is resort or country club casual. For evening dining, elegant casual resort wear is suggested. We request that casual jeans, shorts, t-shirts, baseball caps, or tennis shoes not be worn in the restaurants after 6 PM. Baseball caps may be worn in the Terrace Café after 6 PM.
Special arrangements can be made if you require diabetic, gluten-free, lactose-free, kosher, vegetarian and vegan meals. Other diets must be requested for approval and, in some cases, may require additional medical documentation.
Kosher Dining
Please contact special services at least 90 days in advance of your sailing so that we may provide your preferred selections.
The chefs of Oceania Cruises have worked with Sterling Kosher Catering to provide up to 70 kosher meal options, prepared with the finest USDA Certified glatt kosher meats, Grade A produce and ingredients, in facilities which are under strict Rabbinical supervision and daily USDA inspection. Each meal is frozen and delivered to our ships in double-wrapped packaging to allow the kosher meals to be reheated in non-kosher ovens. Each meal is served on kosher china with proper flatware.
While Oceania Cruises’ vessels do not have separate kosher kitchens, guests may also order a variety of kosher meats that can be cooked to taste (medium, well done, etc.) in addition to the Sterling Kosher Catering meal options. Please note that although the food is kosher, the onboard preparation and galley environments are not.
We are pleased to serve guests kosher meals in the Grand Dining Room restaurant. Please contact the Maître d' to make arrangements once on board. We regret that kosher meals cannot be served in other restaurants at this time. Please contact reservations for additional information.
Although children and teenagers are welcome onboard, there are no specially designed amenities and facilities. Families travelling with Oceania should be aware that the on-board experience is focused around providing adults with a relaxing and sophisticated cruise.
The sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages is limited to guests aged 21 years or older. Oceania Cruises reserves the right to prohibit and retain all alcohol bought ashore for consumption onboard the vessel.
Guests with any medical condition(s) or special needs that may require treatment or attention or accommodation during the voyage, or needing to travel with medical apparatus, including wheelchairs, motorised scooters, oxygen therapy, etc., must advise Oceania Cruises in writing at the time of deposit. Please note some ports of call may not be suitable for guests with limited mobility and in such cases, may disallow debarkation with a wheelchair or motorised scooter or for any individual with limited mobility. Oceania Cruises is unable to accommodate women past their sixth month of pregnancy. Oceania Cruises has the right to refuse or revoke passage to anyone who, in its judgment, is in a physical, mental or emotional condition unfit for travel or whose comfort onboard may be compromised due to situations beyond the care that can be provided by Oceania Cruises. Oceania Cruises will under appropriate circumstances permit its guests to use special equipment such as those noted above, which satisfy the criteria stated in the Oceania Cruises' Policy Statement.
Guests and travel partners inquiring about rental equipment to use on any of our cruises are to be referred to Scootaround Personal Transportation Solutions at the telephone numbers or website provided below:
1-888-441-7575
The link for Scootaround online reservations:
https://www.scootaround.com/mobility-rentals/book-a-rental/rent-online
Each ship is equipped with limited medical facilities and staffed by international medical personnel. Customary Emergency Room fees and charges do apply for medical services and are dictated by the services performed by the ship's medical staff.
Our doctors are international and meet American College of Emergency Physicians and ICCL (International Council of Cruise Lines) guidelines, including: current physician licensure, three years of post-graduate / post-registration clinical practice in general and emergency medicine or Board certification in: emergency medicine, family practice or internal medicine or competent skill level in advanced life support and cardiac care.
Wireless Internet service is available throughout all ships.
The avowed crème de la crème of accommodations, our Owner’s Suites, Vista Suites, Oceania Suites and Penthouse Suites are studies in perfection. Their grandeur and spaciousness are truly astonishing. Guests who desire only the best need not look further than these extravagant suites. Simply ring the Butler for exclusive services that include garment pressing and serving your dinner in-suite and revel in the fact that the Oceania Cruises’ Marina suite experience has no peer.
Upgrade Your Experience
Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms offer an unrivalled combination of luxury, privilege and value. A wealth of benefits, such as room service from The Grand Dining Room and free laundry services, elevates the experience to the sublime. On board Marina, you will also have the services of a dedicated Concierge and Private Concierge Lounge access. Located in the most desired of locations, each Concierge Level Veranda Stateroom is much more than simply a stateroom – it’s an experience.
Exquisitely Elegant Staterooms
Space is perhaps the ultimate luxury, and that is something all our accommodations provide in lavish excess. Defined by their elegance, our staterooms feature tasteful furnishings and a serene ambiance. Many staterooms feature an oversized marble and granite-clad bathroom with a tub and separate shower. You will appreciate the refrigerated mini-bar, copious closet and drawer space and our revolutionary Tranquility Bed, a luxury our guests consistently describe as heavenly.
Featuring iconic new furnishings, fabrics and artwork exclusively by Ralph Lauren Home, each of the three Owner’s Suites measures more than 2,000 square feet and spans the entire beam of the ship. Boasting a large living room, king-size bed, two walk-in closets, indoor and outdoor whirlpool spas and a dramatic entry foyer with a music room, these suites also include exclusive card-only access to the Executive Lounge featuring a private library.
Owner's Suite Privileges
In addition to Stateroom Amenities
Given their lavish interior design that resembles an elegant and luxurious Park Avenue home along with their premier location overlooking the bow of the ship, the eight Vista Suites are in high demand. These 1,200- to 1,500-square-foot suites include access to the exclusive Executive Lounge as well as every imaginable amenity, such as a large walk-in closet, king-size bed, second bathroom for guests, indoor and outdoor whirlpool spas and your own private fitness room.
Vista Suite Privileges
In addition to Stateroom Amenities
+Up to 20 garments per laundry bag; additional restrictions apply.
++Certain limitations apply.
Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.
Conceived by the famed New York designer Dakota Jackson, each of the twelve Oceania Suites sprawls over more than 1,000 square feet of luxury. These stylish suites feature a living room, dining room, fully equipped media room, large walk-in closet, king-size bed, expansive private veranda, indoor and outdoor whirlpool spas and a second bathroom for guests. Also included is access to the private Executive Lounge with magazines, daily newspapers, beverages and snacks.
In addition to Suite & Stateroom Amenities
+Up to 20 garments per laundry bag. 3 day turnaround time and laundry will not be accepted 3 days prior to disembarkation.
++Certain limitations apply
All Suites and Staterooms are Smoke-Free
The elegant Penthouse Suites rival any world-class five-star hotel for comfort and beauty. Their design, maximises the generous 420 square feet of space and features a dining table, separate seating area, full-size bathtub/shower and separate shower, walk-in closet and a private veranda. Passengers can enjoy exclusive card-only access to the private Executive Lounge and the services of a dedicated Concierge.
In addition to Suite & Stateroom Amenities
+Up to 20 garments per laundry bag. 3 day turnaround time and laundry will not be accepted 3 days prior to disembarkation.
++Certain limitations apply
All Suites and Staterooms are Smoke-Free
These beautifully decorated 282-square-foot staterooms reflect many of the luxurious amenities found in our Penthouse Suites, including a private veranda, plush seating area, refrigerated mini-bar and an oversized marble and granite-clad bathroom with a shower. Guests also enjoy access to the private Concierge Lounge featuring your own dedicated concierge, magazines, daily newspapers, beverages and snacks.
Exclusive Concierge Privileges
In addition to Stateroom Amenities
+Up to 20 garments per laundry bag; additional restrictions apply.
++Certain limitations apply.
Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.
Our 282-square-foot Veranda Staterooms are the largest at sea. Featuring a comfortably furnished private veranda, our most requested luxury, each stateroom also includes a plush seating area, refrigerated mini-bar, spacious closet and a marble and granite-clad bathroom with a shower.
Veranda Stateroom Amenities
Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.
These comfortable 242-square-foot staterooms with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows feel even more spacious with the curtains drawn back and the ocean in full view. Features include a generous seating area, vanity desk, breakfast table, refrigerated mini-bar and a marble and granite-clad bathroom with a bathroom with a shower.
Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom Amenities:
Deluxe Oceanview Accessibility Features:
Available in staterooms #7082 and #7085
Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.
Wonderful private sanctuaries, these 174-square-foot staterooms boast elegant designs and handsome furnishings that add to the serenity. Highlights include a spacious marble and granite-clad bathroom with a shower, as well as thoughtful touches such as a vanity desk, breakfast table and refrigerated mini-bar.
Inside Stateroom Included Amenities:
Complimentary soft drinks replenished daily in your refrigerated mini-bar
Smoking in suites, staterooms and on verandas is strictly prohibited.