Oceania Surprises and Exceeds….

 

I had the pleasure of spending my 50^th Birthday on the new Oceania Marina for 12-days sailing from Venice to Istanbul this past month. This was my second time on this ship in her early 7 month career. I was splendidly pleased with her maturation as a young entrant into the cruise marketplace. She is lauded by her management as a premium-plus 5-star product but truthfully, she is a notch above and forays into the exclusive luxury market shared by Crystal, Regent, Seabourn, and Silversea Cruises.

This amazing 1200 passenger ship offers personal service from a hand selected staff who have all been employed in 5-star hotels throughout Europe and Asia, extraordinary cuisine with an amazing menu selection and many venues to choose from, and open dining concept which works beautifully, a mostly all- inclusive cruise program with the exception of alcohol, no lines to stand in, no harassment of onboard purchasing or add-ons, a country club casual dress code (a huge plus), offers some of the finest cruise itineraries offered with a port-of-call virtually every day, and caters to an affluent and well-traveled clientele. Oh, all bottled water, soft drinks, coffee drinks, juices, and alternative dining venues are included in the price of the cruise. A recent addition offers guests local transfers to the city center in selected ports-of-call…

All of this is offered at a fair price that is above its “so-called” contendersHollandAmerica, Celebrity, and Cunard. The difference from those well positioned premium class lines is that Oceania is BETTER… Yes, far better. For a 10-year old cruise line that will have 4 ships in 2012, two of these carrying 1200 passengers and two carrying 684 passengers,Oceania has well positioned its value proposition and has pushed itself into the luxury market. The premium class lines aforementioned cater to much larger audiences, do not have the variety of culinary offerings, charge for everything Oceania includes, and are no much different in price than Oceania Cruises!

This fine company uses famed chef Jacques Pepin as its cornerstone of offering truly fresh and superb cuisine in a variety of no-charge dining venues. The culinary offerings are the most extensive I have encountered to date and amazing. The lines has partnered with Bon Appétit and created a culinary arts kitchen with exceptional cooking classes, Wine Spectator for La Reserve, a gourmet dining venue that offers superb wine pairings, the Artists Loft, a place where guests can express their artistic side, and has an amazing Canyon Ranch Spa Club at Sea…  This is just a few of this fine lines offering…

I was fortunate to reside in a Penthouse  Suite on Deck 11 that offered elegant furnishings in muted sea foam tones. This 425 square foot masterpiece was well laid out with a walk in closet, large vanity, more than ample storage space, king sized “Tranquility Bed” with 1000 count Egyptian cotton sheets and bedding, large sofa with table, a working desk, vanity with lighting area for ladies to do their makeup, and a table with two large chairs at the foot of the bed for in suite dining. The balcony was substantial with residential style luxury club chairs and a table. The bathroom was all granite with a full-sized bathtub, separate shower stall, and huge sink… The line even provides Bvulgari amenities for most of its cabins and suites! I had two cabin attendants which kept the suite immaculate and a fine Indian Butler named Vijay, who was as professional and gracious as one could possibly imagine. All suites also have access to an Executive Concierge Lounge where there are many amenities and this area acts as the front office for these privileged guests. There is also access offered to the Canyon Ranch Spa Club for sunning to all suite passengers.

 Marina offers varied accommodations including inside, ocean view, balcony, concierge balcony, Penthouses, and three grades of custom designed Penthouses that match the finest residences shore side!  There is a stateroom for every taste…

This ship sailed after 2-days inVenice to Koper in Slovenia,Dubrovnik inCroatia, Kotor inMontenegro, and Corfu, Zakinthos, Patras,Athens, Chios in Greece, Kusadasi (Ephesus) and 2-days in Istanbul,Turkey.

I met a well-traveled group of guests for all over the US, Mexico, Canada, the  UK,Italy, Australia, and Hong Kong. This was an international crowd served by a brilliant international crew that were always polite, respectful, hard-working, and provided a caring experience to the varied guests on this ship.

So, as Oceania considers itself a premium-plus line, I say NOT. It is a low luxury to high luxury cruise experience. It offers exceptional value on a gorgeous ship with lovely crew, and some of the best food to be found at sea. My favorite part was not having to bring my tuxedo or a suit! It was elegant without being formal…

If you are looking for exceptional value, try Oceania Cruises!!!!