Ship Review: Oceania Marina

Marina was Oceania Cruises’ first new-build when she took to the high seas, launching a new class and size of ship for the cruise line with the style and elegance of ships at the luxury end of the market.

• Sailing since: 2011.
• Size: 66,084 tons.
• Guests: 1,250, at double occupancy.
• Accommodations: 625 accommodations, ranging from basic inside and outside staterooms, through to balcony staterooms, penthouses, and suites including an Oceania Suite, Vista Suite and the opulent Owner's Suites. All accommodations are spacious with a classical, bright decor, and come with Prestige Tranquility Beds, featuring a mattress with 400 encapsulated springs and two inches of memory foam, plus a plush down comforter and hand-quilted throws.
• Dining options: Food is a key draw card with an impressive 10 venues overall and  room service. Beyond the venues included in the fare are Privée, an opulent and intimate venue for a maximum of eight diners, and La Reserve by Wine Spectator, a dining event held a number of times during a cruise.
• Entertainment: There are solo musicians playing at various venues, and a band with dancing most nights. For nightlife there are a number of bars and lounges including the Grand Bar, which doubles as a venue for light classical music, Martinis for a pre or post dinner cocktail, and the single story Horizons. 
• What’s onboard: An outdoor pool with two jacuzzis, plenty of deck space, an Artists’ Loft for enrichment pursuits, a library, an internet cafe, a Canyon Ranch Spa including a fitness centre, the Bon Appétit Culinary Centre run by Kathryn Kelly.
• Where you’ll find her: In 2018-19 Oceania Marina will be cruising in the Mediterranean, South America, and Europe (www.oceaniacruises.com).

The Ship 

When asked to describe Oceania Marina, it’s fair to say that she is ultimately a hybrid, balancing luxurious amenities with less-inclusive fares than luxury cruise lines. She was also a new build for the fledgling line, bigger than her older siblings, and launched as a real foodies' ship offering some of the best cuisine at sea overseen by the legendary Jacques Pépin. As such, Oceania Marina set a new benchmark in the upper premium cruise sector, and has attracted a devoted following since thanks to the innovative contemporary design which is more "South Beach Miami" than traditional cruise ship. She is also a mid-sized ship, but has plenty of big ship facilities for those who want them beyond a lineup of dining venues. Her wide choice of  accommodations are fresh, spacious and uplifting, resembling a boutique-hotel-on-the-water with designer touches, and in 2016 she underwent a refurbishment to keep her good looks in check. The entertainment might be a little low key for some, but there is plenty going on by day, and fine dining to indulge in at night.

Where We Stayed

Our home for a Mediterranean cruise was a Concierge Level Veranda Stateroom; this category is pretty much the same in every way as a standard Veranda Stateroom, but comes with additional amenities and perks. Some of these include early embarkation, a welcome bottle of Champagne, access to the Spa Terrace, a laptop computer and iPad (on request) for on-ship use, complimentary shoeshine and clothes-pressing at embarkation, a free Oceania tote bag to use on board and take home, priority pre-cruise dinner reservations and use of the private Concierge Lounge. The stateroom was spacious with a generous sized veranda including outdoor furniture, a plush seating area, a minibar and an oversized marble and granite bathroom with a full-size bathtub and a separate shower. The colour palette was mostly warm dark wood, light blue, and splashes of colour in artworks and cushions. New to the lineup of perks since we sailed is room service from the Grand Dining Room menu during lunch and dinner, free laundry service up to three bags per stateroom. 

Essentials

Beyond the Grand Dining Room, the ship's primary dining venue, this ship is ultimately a foodie’s dream. Pick of the alternative restaurants include Jacques, the first at sea venue to bear the legendary Jacques Pépin's name, and a chic restaurant resembling a Parisian bistro. Another must-do is Red Ginger is the lavish and ambitious Asian-fusion venue which takes great dishes of the Far East and combines them on one indulgent menu. The Culinary Center, where guests can learn kitchen secrets from a changing roster of master chefs, is worth saving time for if you enjoy cooking.

UltimateTravelMagazine.com Loves 

• The choice of six restaurants which don’t have a surcharge.
• Oceania's Culinary Discovery Tour program, which offers food-and-wine-themed excursions, and can include market tours, cooking classes and meals in signature restaurants.
• The traditional French cuisine with his own unique twist on offer at Jacques.
• Fellow guests were aged 50 and up with few if any children.

Insider Tips  

• The range of restaurants is overwhelming and it may not be possible to try every venue, especially on shorter cruises. Choose carefully.
• The dress code is casual-elegant throughout the ship both day and night - you won’t go to the dining venues in swimwear, but you can leave your formal gear at home.
• If you are planning to attend cooking classes book early as they sell out.