Passenger perks and parties flow during Oceania Cruises anniversary season (Photos)

Oceania Cruises is sharing its 10th anniversary celebrations this year with its passengers, kicking off a year of special events, designated sailings, engaging social media initiatives and onboard activities.

Founded by cruise industry visionaries Frank Del Rio, Bob Binder and Joe Watters in 2003, the line’s mission was to deliver destination-rich itineraries, best in class cuisine, an inviting country club atmosphere, and luxurious accommodations all at an extraordinary value. And having sailed on the line’s super spiffy Marina, your National Cruise Examiner can state unequivocally that the company does deliver all of the above.

With the addition of Marina in 2011 and Riviera in 2012 to the fleet of Regatta (2003), Insignia (2004) and Nautica (2005), Oceania Cruises created an entirely new segment of the industry with attractively-appointed mid-size ships, some of the best cuisine afloat, and top service.

“Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Oceania Cruises is an achievement made possible by the loyalty of our guests, employees, crew and travel partners,” said Frank Del Rio, the line’s founder, and chairman and CEO of parent company Prestige Cruise Holdings. “Because of their support, the next 10 years – and beyond – are filled with just as much promise and opportunity to continue to evolve the Oceania Cruises experience and the modern cruise vacation for our guests.”

Passenger anniversary perks

As part of the merriment passengers will have the opportunity to sail with company founders and top executives on four specially designated “Anniversary Sailings.” Each voyage will feature a different executive who will host an anniversary cocktail reception, celebratory caviar brunch and gala dinner with private label 10th anniversary wine served complimentary. Frank Del Rio, Joe Watters, Bob Binder, vice chairman of parent company Prestige Cruise Holdings, and Kunal S. Kamlani, Oceania Cruises president, will sail.

Climb on board and celebrate

Marina’s 14-day Scandinavian Serenade departing from London to Stockholm on June 11, 2013 with Bob Binder. In addition to a 3-day stay in St. Petersburg, Russia, the cruise visits Amsterdam, Netherlands; Oslo, Norway; Copenhagen, Denmark; Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany; Riga, Latvia; Tallinn, Estonia and Helsinki, Finland.

Riviera’s Italian Escapade with Kunal S. Kamlani, departs on July 3, 2013, from Rome for a 10-day voyage to Venice. Ports include Florence/Pisa/Tuscany (Livorno), Italy; Sorrento/Capri, Italy; Amalfi/Positano, Italy; Taormina (Sicily), Italy; Corfu, Greece; Kotor, Montenegro and Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Regatta’s 7-day Coastal Alaska with Frank Del Rio on July 5, 2013 from Seattle to Seattle with calls at Ketchikan and Wrangell, Alaska; and Prince Rupert, Canada.

Nautica’s Roman Legends with Joe Watters, departs September 6, 2013 for a 10-day voyage from Barcelona to Athens. Visits include Provence (Marseille), France; Portofino, Italy; Florence/Pisa/Tuscany (Livorno), Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Sorrento/Capri, Italy; Taormina (Sicily), Italy; Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey and Santorini, Greece.

Passengers who sail with Oceania on these cruises will get to enjoy the anniversary dessert called ZEN, a Manjari Chocolate Bar with Milky Gianduja-Yuzu and Hazelnut Croquant featured in the Grand Dining Room and a menu of Canyon Ranch SpaClub® 10th anniversary treatments available on all ships.

Also throughout the year Oceania Cruises’ fans will find profiles of crew members who will also pass the 10-year mark with the company on the line’s Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/OceaniaCruises. Nearly 100 crew members are reaching this milestone and past guests will find a number of pictures and stories from many of their favorite officers, staff and crew.

Oceania Cruises’ repeat passengers will also be invited to share pictures and memories from sailings over the past 10 years on the company’s Guest Book on its Facebook page. The company will be tweeting 10th Anniversary updates and news throughout the year at #OceaniaCruises10.

For more information, visit www.OceaniaCruises.com. To make a reservation, see your travel agent or call toll-free 800-531-5658.

About Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises® offers unrivaled cuisine, luxurious accommodations, exceptional personalized service and extraordinary value. Award-winning itineraries visit more than 330 ports in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and the Americas aboard two pairs of mid-size sister ships: the 684-guest Regatta and Nautica, and 1,250-guest Marina and Riviera.

About Prestige Cruise Holdings

Prestige Cruise Holdings (PCH) is the parent company of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. PCH manages select assets in Apollo Management's cruise investment portfolio and is led by Chairman & CEO Frank J. Del Rio and President & COO Kunal S. Kamlani. PCH is the market leader in the upper-premium and luxury segments of the cruise industry with ove

Advertisement

, National Cruise Examiner

LA-based free-lance writer Patti Pietschmann earned her cruise credentials writing on the subject for newspapers, magazines, guide books and the Internet for the last several years. She has taken more than 250 cruises, throughout the world, on ships of every size and category, but personally...

Today's top buzz...