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Jancruz

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This was an email sent to me from Oceania!

 

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS FOR THE DEBUT OF THE NEW OCEANIA CLASS

 

Oceania Cruises Finalizes Contract with Fincantieri

 

June 18, 2007, Miami, FL – Oceania Cruises and Fincantieri have finalized the agreement for two new 1,260-guest mid-size cruise ships for delivery on September 30, 2010 and July 30, 2011, with an option for a third vessel to be delivered on May 30, 2012. The total value of the contract, including the option for the third ship, is $1.6 billion dollars. The ships will be constructed at Fincantieri’s Sestre Ponente facility in Genoa, Italy.

 

“I am delighted to have finalized the contracts for these magnificent ships and I am confident that Oceania Cruises and Fincantieri will set new standards with the new Oceania Class when they debut in just a few short years,” stated Frank Del Rio, Chairman and CEO of Oceania Cruises.

 

Now that all technical specifications have been finalized, Oceania Cruises and Fincantieri will now move forward with detailed design work for the interiors. The world-renowned architectural firm of Yran & Storbratten has been retained to design the ships’ luxurious accommodations and dramatic public areas.

 

“Fincantieri and Oceania Cruises share a legacy of innovation and superior product delivery, and I am certain that our guests and travel agent partners will find that the new Oceania Class will elevate our upper premium experience to new heights,” stated Del Rio.

 

Steve Martinez of Apollo Management commented, “We are extremely pleased with the expedient manner in which Frank and the entire team at Oceania Cruises have finalized the agreement with Fincantieri. Oceania Cruises has enjoyed tremendous success and we are confident that these spectacular new ships will further solidify their leadership position within the hospitality industry.”

 

The design specifications for the Oceania Class call for the vessels to be 782 feet long, 105 feet wide, with a draft of 24 feet, and will accommodate 1,260 guests on 11 guest decks. The ships will feature 630 staterooms and suites that are on average, 50% larger than the Regatta Class; 98% of all guest accommodations will feature sweeping ocean views and 95% will boast oversized, private teak verandas. The ships will be powered by diesel-electric engines and operate with twin screw propellers, with a speed of 20 knots. They will be equipped with two bow thrusters to enhance maneuverability, and will also be “green ships” employing the most advanced environmental systems and technology.

 

"We are very happy and enthusiastic to start work on this new project. Fincantieri is a well-established leader in the cruise sector and is in a strong position to take up this challenge given the company's wealth of expertise and experience in this field. Moreover, these vessels will further extend our product range which spans from mega yachts of over 70 metres to cruise ships of more than 113,000 gross tons," stated Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri.

 

About the New Oceania Class

 

 

 

 

 

Rendering of the New Oceania Class

 

 

 

Designed by Fincantieri and the world renowned architectural firm of Yran & Storbratten, the Oceania Class vessels will usher in new generation of luxurious, mid size cruise ships. Under the direction of Y&S Executive Architect, Gunnar Aaserud, the Oceania Class represents an evolution of the line’s extremely popular Regatta Class ships. This new class of mid size cruise vessels will retain all of the warmth, popular design elements and signature amenities of the Regatta Class while affording guests an additional level of comfort, convenience and many new luxury amenities. Designed to cruise to all corners of the globe, the new ships will boast a cruising speed 20% faster than the Regatta Class. In addition to their greater speed, the Oceania Class will have a greater range that enables them to undertake itineraries to virtually any destination worldwide.

 

The new Oceania Class vessels will set a new standard in culinary excellence, featuring six open-seating gourmet restaurants which boast the capacity to seat 150% of the ship’s guests in a single seating. The Grand Dining Room will be an opulent space crowned with a magnificent frescoed domed ceiling. The four specialty restaurants will feature the line’s signature Polo Grill and Toscana along with two new specialty dining venues, an elegant French bistro and a Pan-Asian restaurant.

 

These new ships have been designed with all the signature elements that guests and travel agents cherish, and the décor will be imbued with the same warmth and charm that the Regatta Class is renowned for. Signature public spaces will include the Martinis, Horizons, The Patio, and a Grand Staircase that sweeps up both sides of the lobby. Public areas and accommodations will include rich wood paneling and granite accents, opulent furnishings and a museum quality art collection that will include many rare nautical antiques.

 

About Apollo Management L.P.

 

Apollo is a leading private equity and capital markets investor with more than 16 years of experience investing across the capital structure of leveraged companies. The firm employs more than 80 professionals and has offices in New York, Los Angeles, London and Singapore. Since its inception, Apollo has managed more than $33 billion of capital across a wide variety of industries both domestically and internationally. The firm's most recent private equity fund and its co-investment affiliate have capital commitments of $11.6 billion.

 

About Oceania Cruises

 

Oceania Cruises® is the world’s only upper-premium cruise line. Oceania Cruises offers a unique combination of the finest cuisine at sea, luxurious accommodations, exceptional personalized service and extraordinary value. As the leader in destination cruising, Oceania Cruises sails to more than 180 ports in Europe, China and the Far East, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Central America and the Caribbean. Featuring three intimate and elegant mid-sized ships, Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, the line will introduce two new mid-size Oceania Class ships to its award-winning fleet in 2010 and 2011. For additional information, to make a reservation, or to order a brochure, please contact your Travel Agent or Oceania Cruises at 800-531-5658. Visit us at OceaniaCruises.com.

 

 

Jan

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I suggest they move the "Art?" auctions to someplace south of Tasmania!! :mad:

 

 

I agree with Kiwifruit, no way do we want them down this part of the world. :( On our recent cruise unfortunately the Art Auctions took over the ship. It was on the Tahitian Princess and we could not enjoy the lovely Tahitian Lounge at the front of the ship due to all the Art placed there as well as the terrible auctions. Why do we need to have them? :eek:

 

Jennie

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Dear Kiwifruit, Aussie Gal, esther e and others.....

 

Thank you for joining in on the "Art?" Auction situation. I didn't mean to imply that the area south of Australia was where these annoying cruise oddities should be placed. Anywhere would be just fine, as long as it was not on "my" cruise.

 

For the past four or five Oceania cruises, we have been subjected to a number of quite intrusive auctions (and auctioneers) who took over the ship with cluttered lobbies, walkways and sitting areas displaying their "art", and who would daily intrude on luncheon peace and quiet with overly loud announcements of upcoming "auctions" and "free champagne".

 

I do wish that this feature of otherwise outstanding Oceania cruises could be sent packing.....

 

:(

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Ah yes! A few things truly bothered me; one being the display of "art" along the beautiful railings of the staircase. Those railings are lovely and should be left without further adornments, if you get my drift. The other complaint was when we were sitting enjoying the string quartet and having to look at a photo of boxers, boxing. It took away from the peaceful atmosphere of the music and wine.:mad: I have nothing against the "art" auctions, but I sure wish they could be held in a separate part of the ship. Yes, we all know about them; Lord knows there's enough printed literature that comes to our stateroom daily. We don't have to have them in our face, so to speak. :eek: O.k., off my soapbox.:)

 

Esther

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On our cruise in May we were trying to enjoy the String Quartet. People were purchasing Art at a table very close to where we were seated. They were very loud and annoying. I felt sorry for the musicians who were trying to perform. If we have to have the Art Auction on the ship it would be nice to have another place in which to purchase it.

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Maybe if a few of those paintings along the railings on the staircase got "accidentally" knocked over they would be moved to a more out of the way location. Did I just write that!!!!???? I thought it was only in my mind.

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On our cruise in May we were trying to enjoy the String Quartet. People were purchasing Art at a table very close to where we were seated. They were very loud and annoying.

We had the same problem the art guy was talking very loudly over the string quartet.

 

I did make mention to Oceania in my comment form ...they should put his desk on Deck 4 or someplace where he can do business without disturbing the people trying to enjoy the music.

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Oceania Cruises® is the world’s only upper-premium cruise line.

 

[unquote=Jancruz1;10723583]

 

The latest issue of Cruise Travel magazine has articles about both Azamara and Oceania. Azamara touts themselves as a Deluxe cruise line, filling a niche between premium (Holland America, Princess, Celebrity) and luxury (Crystal, Silversea, Regent, Seabourn, Cunard). The article on Oceania states that it is a Premium (not upper-premium) cruise line. I contacted the editor of Cruise Travel, and he stated that the news release from Oceania did, in fact, refer to Oceania as an upper-premium line, but Cruise Travel opted not to differentiate between upper and regular premium (sounds like a fuel grade, doesn't it?). I recently completed extensive training from Cruise One (a cruise travel agent franchiser), and they refer to both Azamara and Oceania as Deluxe cruise lines.

 

From what I've been able to observe, Oceania offers at least equal, if not higher amenities than Azamara to its faithful clients, and I would hate for an inexperienced cruiser to get the impression that Azamara occupies a higher echelon of cruise line categories.

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Mike, I am sailing on Azamara 9/1 BUT I do not expect an Oceania cruise....I will post from the ship and I will give all of you my opinion..

Celebrity has their hands full right now with the Millie.. she was damaged when she hit some rocks..all passengers on board have a full refund coming and after sitting in Citivecchia for many days has just canceled the cruise..and the July 12 cruise has just been canceled with passengers getting a full refund and 50% off their next cruise..oh what to do with 2300 passengers..

Jan

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Hi Jan

 

I'll be anxiously awaiting your impression of the Journey. I just had clients who had received a AAA flyer on the Journey's Brazilian itinerary next January; I converted them to the Oceania Patagonia cruise that departs a couple of days later.

 

One of the sales folks from X recently conducted a 45-minute webinar on Azamara and opened it up to Q & A's. Several subtle differences, but one that kind of stuck out was the fact that only one dinner in a specialty restaurant is included (unless one books a suite); otherwise they're charging to eat in the specialty restaurants (I think the charge was $20). They're claiming butler service for all categories - let me know how this works out, please. Their automatic gratuity charges are also higher.

 

Best to Stu...

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Hi Jan

 

I'll be anxiously awaiting your impression of the Journey. I just had clients who had received a AAA flyer on the Journey's Brazilian itinerary next January; I converted them to the Oceania Patagonia cruise that departs a couple of days later.

 

One of the sales folks from X recently conducted a 45-minute webinar on Azamara and opened it up to Q & A's. Several subtle differences, but one that kind of stuck out was the fact that only one dinner in a specialty restaurant is included (unless one books a suite); otherwise they're charging to eat in the specialty restaurants (I think the charge was $20). They're claiming butler service for all categories - let me know how this works out, please. Their automatic gratuity charges are also higher.

 

Best to Stu...

 

Thanks..there are many more things than that, so check it out and I will be writing..also I am going on the new Majestic American Line to Alaska on Empress of the North (paddle boat) holding 233 passengers, I will write about that also (if anyone is interested)

Jan

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I suggest they move the "Art?" auctions to someplace south of Tasmania!! :mad:

 

Hey, I'm FROM Tasmania, and we have MUCH better taste than that :)

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