Details on Oceania Newbuilds

While the new ships for Oceania were announced many months ago, details about the ships beyond their size hasn't been known until now. These definitely sound interesting!

The ships will have 626 staterooms, and capacity of 1,252 guests, along with 780 crew. A full 96% of the cabins will have a private teak verandah. Overall, there will be four Owner's Suites, six Vista Suites, 10 Oceania Suites, 120 Penthouse Suites, 440 veranda staterooms, 20 ocean-view staterooms and 26 inside staterooms.

Dining options include 6 restaurants, all continuing the Oceania style of open seating. The new ships will feature dark woods, Italian marble, granite, wool carpets and leather. Signature public spaces will include Martinis, Horizons, The Patio, and a grand staircase that sweeps up both sides of the lobby. The color palette will feature earthen and jewel tones, while furnishings and accent pieces will create an atmosphere designed to resemble that of a fine home or manor."One of the hallmarks of the Oceania Cruises experience is the refined yet relaxed atmosphere onboard and that is something that will continue with our new ships," said Bob Binder, president of Oceania Cruises. "Guests will experience the same intimate ambience as our current ships, and the staff-to-guest ratio will be even greater, resulting in an even higher level of personalized service onboard."

The first ship is scheduled for delivery in fall, 2010, with the second expected in summer 2011. Interestingly, the new ships will boast a cruising speed of 20 knots, which is 20 percent faster than the Regatta class. In addition to their greater speed, the new ships will have a greater range that enables them to undertake the itineraries to destinations worldwide.

Look forward to sharing more as these ships get closer to completion.

Azamara and Oceania Europe 2009 Itineraries Announced

Oceania has opened the books on their 2009 European season! Since their inception as a line, they've become known for their innovative and exciting itineraries, and 2009 will be no exception. Some of the highlights:

• All sailings will be offered with Free Airfare & 2-for-1 Cruise Fares through August 31, 2008.
• From the Black Sea to the Baltic, there are 52 extraordinary voyages to choose from including 10 distinct Western Mediterranean itineraries.
• A new 16-day Venice to Rome voyage highlights the scenic splendor and intriguing history of the Dalmatian Coast.
• Regatta returns to Scandinavia and Russia and marks Oceania Cruises' return to Norway and the British Isles.
• Magnificent maiden ports include: Hellesylt, Norway; Fowey, United Kingdom; Biarritz, France; and Koper, Slovenia.

Following on the heels of sister line Celebrity, and not surprisingly right after competitor Oceania announced their 2009 summer European schedule, Azamara Cruises has announced the opening of their 2009 European season. Sailings will go on sale starting April 2.

Cruises range in length from 7-15 nights, and feature visits to a total of 91 ports in 36 different countries. They will depart from five different home ports through the season: Athens, Greece; Barcelona, Spain; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Rome and Venice, Italy. Overnight stays are be offered in Barcelona; Edinburgh, Scotland; Florence and Ravenna, Italy; Istanbul, Turkey; St. Petersburg, Russia; and Stockholm, Sweden. Late-night (10 p.m. or after) departures will be offered in 10 ports of call.

Azamara ships, being smaller and targeted toward cruisers who are looking for a more intimate experience, both onboard and ashore, are well suited for European cruising. In many locations, they can dock as opposed to tender, or dock far closer to cities such as Paris, allowing passengers more time in the featured cities.

This looks to be a great season for both lines! And of course I have to say - if you're interested, or want to know more about the itineraries or to get in your advance reservation, give me a call or drop me an email!

Satellite TV Comes to Oceania!

Hate to miss your favorite program and still don't have a DVR or TiVo? Your team playing a major sporting event? Oceania has you covered! Furthering their committment for a complete passenger experience, Oceania has signed an agreement with Wave Entertainment Network (a division of SeaMobile Enterprises) for Satellite TV services for their fleet.

Encompassing, cable, satellite and broadcast networks, audio content, video-on-demand, adult programming, special events, and other video content typically offered via multi-channel platforms, the Wave Entertainment platform uses a combination of satellite technology delivered by SeaMobile's Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN) and caching technology that allows viewers to experience live events and network programming in time slots they are accustomed to seeing. The store-and-forward feature ensures cruisers won't miss their favorite programs during their cruise. It'll be like your personal DVR in your cabin!

Oceania Insignia will be the first ship in the line to receive the full-feature system, followed by Nautica and Regatta later this year.

There goes your husband's excuse not to sail during the "big game."

Azamara Becomes More Flexible

No, this isn't a post about a new Pilates class on Azamara.

As frequent readers of this blog know, I'm a fan of the Deluxe lines, both Oceania and Azamara. I feel they each offer a niche which was previously ignored between the mainstream and luxury lines. With smaller ships (5 of the former Renaissance ships between them), open dining, and more unusual itineraries, they appeal to sophisticated travelers who are looking for something different, with a higher level of service and quality than the mainstream brands, but at an exceptional value.

One difference between the lines when Azamara began was that Azamara's alternative restaurants weren't fully included in the fare. Those in standard cabins received one night free in one of the two restaurants, while suite guests received two complimentary nights. Oceania, on the other hand, had no charge for their alternative restaurants.

Very quietly recently, Azamara responded to this difference (and criticism about it from their agent partners and guests) and now has removed the charges for their two restaurants, Prime C and Aqualina. Guests in standard cabins can enjoy two confirmed nights in these restaurants, while suite guests will have 3 confirmed reservations. Further reservations may be made, on a complimentary basis, as space permits.

This is terrific news and a positive step for Azamara. I'm glad to see they're listening to their clients, and better understanding their market.

If you've been considering either Azamara or Oceania, contact me for more information! Azamara has some wonderful onboard credit offers right now, and Oceania has many sailings on a "2-for-1 and free air" promotion, though that's sometimes a bit of a misnomer.

You can also read my review of the Azamara Quest inaugural here, or it's archived in the November blog articles.

More Fuel Surcharges

Oceania and Regent Seven Seas have both added new fuel surcharges for their passengers. Oceania passengers will be assessed $7/person per day effective December 1 for sailings which are not paid in full as of that date and all new bookings. Regent's surcharge is $7.50/person per day also effective for new and unpaid bookings as of December 1, 2007.

I believe it's only a matter of time before the RCI brands (Celebrity, Azamara and Royal Caribbean) announce similar surcharges.