Holland America Line may have been the first, but I doubt if she’ll be the last…
The first to have a culinary arts center on board her ships, that is…
Oceania Cruises – who has always patted themselves on the back for having some of the best cuisine on sea, will be offering a state-of-the-art culinary studio when they debut their new 1,258-guest Marina in winter 2010.
The new center will be fully equipped with individual work stations, each with induction cook tops, a first at sea, affording guests the opportunity to gain a hands-on learning experience.
Why make the Marina a “ship for epicureans”?
According to Bob Binder, president of Oceania Cruises:
“The culinary experience has always been the foundation of our brand. When we designed Marina, we added in some new twists and a range of dining you don’t find on other ships. The shipyard told us they’ve never built a ship with so much space dedicated to dining. The culinary studio features 22 stoves, each with it own workstation, food processor, cutting boards and burners. Guests will be actually creating the dishes along with the instructor – it’s really the best way to learn. We’ll also have a dedicated wine-tasting center.”
Oceania Cruises’ curriculum, designed in part by Bon Appétit, will appeal to a wide range of tastes and incorporate regional cultures and cuisines. Depending on the itinerary, classes may range from 45 minutes to three hours, and cater to all levels of aptitude, from beginner to master-chef level. The culinary experience will also be brought ashore with market tours where guests will shop for local ingredients with the chef. Additionally, guest chefs may arrange for students to have private tastings at wineries and access to famous shore-side kitchens.
A Ship for Food Lovers
Oceania Cruises’ new Marina has been purposefully designed for epicureans with 10 dining venues, including six open-seating, gourmet restaurants. Public spaces awash in rich woods, marble and granite, fine wool carpets and lustrous leather retain the intimacy and signature design elements of the line’s three sister ships while affording an increased level of space, comfort, convenience and luxury amenities. Guest accommodations are comprised of 629 staterooms and suites, 96 percent of which have private verandas. Facilities include an array of elegant bars and lounges, a full-service spa, spacious fitness center, outdoor swimming pool and hot tubs.
A new standard for spaciousness…
The Marina will set a new standard for spaciousness. The standard veranda stateroom on the Marina will be 282 square feet, larger than any found on premium cruise lines, and even larger than some suites on premium cruise lines. The penthouses will be even more spacious at 420 square feet.
Every stateroom and suite features a separate bathtub and shower, and all will have marble baths.
Additional information about the Marina’s culinary center, including participating chefs, will be released in the coming months. Reservations for Marina are scheduled to open during the fourth quarter of 2009. For more information please contact me.
No need to wait ’till 2010…but you need to book by August 31, 2009
If a cruise is on your horizon, no need to wait for 2010 when there are sooooo many great bargains right now. If you’re not in the market to buy a foreclosure, or don’t have a clunker to trade in, why not help the economy by taking a cruise, and if you book it with me, it sure helps my economy!
Oceania Cruises is offering some great buys:
New European Reflections Promotion with $1,000 Price Reduction off 2 for 1 Cruise Fares with Free Airfare per stateroom on 17 sailings to the Baltic, Eastern and Western Mediterranean. 3rd and 4th guests are 50% off and Single Supplement is just 25%.
Splendid Escapes | 2009-10 Asia, Australia & South America – As diverse and culturally rich as Asia and Australia themselves, Nautica’s voyages Down Under and in the Far East sparkle with a thoughtful blend of big-city ports such as brawny Brisbane and petite destinations like Thailand’s playful Ko Samui. With more time in port, and overnight calls in the most fascinating destinations, you can explore with abondon. In South America, spend an evening in robust Rio de Janeiro watching a hypnotic samba show. Or observe a colony of Magellanic penguins guilelessly caring for their young in Chile’s gorgeous Otway Sound. We invite you to see for yourself. Enjoy up to $2,500 off per stateroom with Free Airfare and 2 for 1 Cruise Fares, plus $500 Shipboard Credit and Free Pre-Paid Gratuities on select sailings.
New Caribbean Sale Promotion with Free Airfare and 2 for 1 Cruise Fares, plus $500 Shipboard Credit and Free Pre-Paid Gratuities per stateroom. This season, Regatta presents the very best of the tropics. Gaze upon aquatic wonders darting Tobago’s colorful Buccoo Reef from the comfort of a glass-bottom boat. On tiny Tortola, gentle trade winds swirl across the pristine beaches, cooling the air and encouraging sunbathers to linger just a bit longer. Such is life in the tropics, where the days are carefree and the smiles ever so genuine.
Oceania Cruises is pleased to announce the launch of its new 2010 European Collection of Sailings in conjunction with its offer of $2,000 Price Reduction off 2 for 1 Cruise Fares with Free Airfare per stateroom on all 2010 sailings to Europe. Their 2010 European Collection features 34 unique itineraries sailing to more than 130 ports ranging from 10 to 36 days in length. In addition to offering guests extraordinary value, guests sailing on 2010 European Collection voyages will receive free unlimited soft drinks and bottled water.
I would love to help you plan your next “foodie vacation” on board one of the magnificent Oceania Cruises ships. Please call me at 931-484-8228 or Email Me How easy is that!
thanks for your time and bon appétit wherever you are!
elaine
P.S. Have you been on an Oceania Cruise? Were you pleased with the food? Please leave a comment. Thanks so much!
Just minutes off Interstate 5 in magnificent Northern California – one of the most breathtaking scenic routes I have driven in the United States – lies the historic logging town of McCloud. It’s the perfect starting point for a rail adventure back in time to an elegant period of railroad travel where the journey was often more important than the destination. Still is.
With their deep “Pullman Green” exteriors and rich mahogany and brass interiors, meticulous attention to detail marks the carefully restored 1916-era heavyweight dining cars that make up the Shasta Sunset Dinner Train.
The two-night package includes:
