Country Club Cruise Line and Five Very Interesting Things to Know About Oceania Cruises

For Immediate Release

Country Club Cruise Line and Five Very Interesting Things to Know About Oceania Cruises

Family-Owned and Operated Since 1998, Cruises-N-More Offers Respected Expertise and Superior Deals, Prices & Amenities

Lake Mary, Fla. (Oct. 29, 2014) – Oceania Cruises offers the finest cuisine at sea, elegant accommodations and exceptional personalized service – all for an extraordinary value – and is known for its unique and destination-rich itineraries that appeal to the seasoned traveler. This country club cruise line is famous for enriching body, mind and spirit.

There are five award-winning mid-size ships: the 684-guests Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, and the 1,250-guests Marina and Riviera.

1. The Art Collection Aboard was Hand Selected By The Founders of the Line

With one of the more exquisite art collections at sea, Oceania Cruises will be debuting their Art Collection Audio Tour onboard the Marina and Riviera beginning Nov. 1, 2014. Narrated by Oceania Cruises Founder, Chairman and CEO Frank J. Del Rio and Co-Founder and Vice-Chairman Bob Binder, the complimentary tour provides stories and descriptions behind many of the more than 2000 original works adorning the mid-size ships.

The collection of museum-worthy art was personally acquired by Del Rio and Binder over a period of years and includes well-known stars as well as hidden gems – reflecting the way the line approaches itineraries.

As they stroll about the ship admiring the collection, guests will be entertained by Del Rio and Binder’s recorded commentary with behind-the-scenes tales of the art acquisitions found on the ship. While the two executives have a great appreciation for the arts, the light-hearted and often comical commentary implies that they do not consider themselves professional art curators, yet the narration reveals their immense passion and enthusiasm for the two ships.

The audio devices for the Oceania Cruises Art Collection Audio Tour are available to guests as a complimentary amenity and include recorded insights on more than 25 signature pieces of art on each ship. The pieces of art included in the tour feature a placard with a number and an audio device symbol, and guests can simply enter the number into the player keypad to hear the story behind the piece.

“We created the Oceania Cruises Art Collection Audio Tour and also published a book, The Oceania Cruises Art Collection, at the request of our guests, who are really enamored by the artwork onboard Marina and Riviera,” shares Del Rio. “We hope the tour will enhance the guest’s appreciation of the collection by sharing what inspired the artist, and what attracted us to the piece, but in a light-hearted way that will have anyone that knows us saying, ‘Here they go again.’”

While most cruise lines hire a third party to curate decorative art for their ships, the two Oceania Cruises executives traveled the globe hand-selecting every piece of art. From the masters Picasso and Miró to the modern art of Robert Mars and Damien Hirst, to emerging artists such as Li Domíguez Fong and Carlos Luna, the diverse collection spans a number of eras and genres. In a nod to Chairman Del Rio’s Cuban heritage, the collection features an array of celebrated Cuban artists, including Wifredo Lam, Cundo Bermúdez and René Portocarrero.

“Frank and I decided to personally choose each piece of artwork for the ship, which led to frequent debates over which of us has better taste in art,” explains Binder. “We selected pieces that are bold and interesting, that make a statement, provoke conversation and inspire emotion, much like the ships themselves. We hope everyone will enjoy a glimpse into our selection process.”

The Oceania Cruises Art Collection book is available on Amazon.com and at OceaniaBookCollection.com. Guests can visit the purser’s desk for an audio device upon boarding Marina and Riviera beginning Nov. 1, 2014.

2. Innovative Destinations & New Ports of Call. The Oceania Cruises Winter Cruise Collection includes 12 new exciting destinations not previously visited by Oceania Cruises ships. The new ports of call include:

Boracay Island, Philippines; Cooktown, Australia; Eden, Australia; Gisborne, New Zealand; Jamestown, Saint Helena; Jeju, South Korea; Luderitz, Namibia; Newcastle, Australia; Norfolk Island, Australia; Raroia, French Polynesia; Sanya, China; and Shimizu, Japan.

3. Oceania Cruises is Famous for Enriching Body, Mind and Spirit. Enriching your mind can be tremendously entertaining, as well. The ultimate source of insider’s knowledge is the esteemed and often-famous guest lecturers, who are aboard for the express purpose of enlightening the guests with their personal insights, historic outlooks and vast expertise regarding the treasures ashore. Imagine how your perceptions might change after discussing the current political climate in Russia with a former diplomat or historian while sailing the Baltic Sea. Just think how it would enhance your understanding of French wine to learn about France’s unique terroir from an acclaimed vintner who lived there. These are the kinds of encounters that comprise the Oceania Cruises experience. In addition, the Canyon Ranch experience personifies healthy living and spiritual awareness. Oceania Cruises is proud to offer Canyon Ranch’s inspiring philosophy throughout the entire fleet.

4. Dining is one of Oceania Cruises Passions. The Culinary Discovery Tours provide Oceania Cruises guests with epicurean interests a unique opportunity to explore local food markets, vineyards, farms and restaurants with a knowledgeable chef from the Bon Appétit Culinary Center. Culinary traditions are often at the heart of many cultures.

Guests spend time in the kitchen with local culinary experts learning about the spices, fruits, vegetables and cooking customs that have influenced Caribbean cuisine for centuries. The goal is for guests to leave the tour with new culinary skills, satisfied taste buds and a deeper appreciation for the vibrant culinary traditions found in the Caribbean.

The new Culinary Discovery Tours will be offered during the “Holidays in the Tropics” sailing that departs Miami on Dec. 23 and on two “Island Paradise” voyages embarking in early 2015. Highlights from the new Culinary Discovery Tours include:

• St. Lucia – Spices Cooking Studio. After assembling at the Bon Appétit Culinary Center, guests begin the tour with a scenic drive through Rodney Bay Village to a magnificent private estate situated on the grounds of a former sugar cane plantation on the Atlantic side of the island. Guests explore an expansive herb garden at the estate before heading to inside the home for some hands-on cooking instruction. Using fresh, local ingredients, guests will prepare a menu of authentic Saint Lucian cuisine while learning about the subtleties of flavor and historical influences from the chef. Once the cooking process is complete, guests will enjoy their creations while taking in the natural vistas surrounding the property. On the return drive to the pier, guests will stop at the bustling open-air Castries Market, where farmers have brought locally grown fruits, vegetables and spices to market for nearly 100 years.

• Antigua – Market Visit & Cooking Demo. Guests will enjoy a short ride to the center of downtown St. John’s and walk the local market with their Bon Appétit Culinary Center chef, who will show them a wide variety of typical local fruits such as breadfruit, mangoes, sour sap and dasheen. Afterwards, guests will make the short, but scenic, journey through the city of St. John’s to the charming Villas at Sunset Lane boutique hotel and cooking school owned by renowned Chef Jacquie, who will invite the guests into her kitchen to help prepare lunch. Chef Jacquie shops daily from local organic farmers and will share her secrets for shopping and eating seasonally. Following a hands-on cooking demonstration, guests will enjoy local, seasonal favorites for lunch while overlooking the beachfront property. After lunch, guests can go for a stroll on the private beach or relax at the property and perhaps peruse a book from Jacquie’s extensive library.

5. Internet is now an Included Amenity. As part of the program, guests booked in Owner’s, Vista and Oceania suites will receive unlimited complimentary Internet access to enjoy throughout their voyage. Guests booked in Penthouse suites or Concierge Level staterooms will receive blocks of complimentary Internet time based on cruise length, starting with 200 minutes for a seven-night cruise and extending to 500 minutes for voyages over 16 nights.

Guests will be able to take advantage of the free Internet either through the ship’s Wi-Fi system or at the Oceania@Sea Internet café. Oceania Cruises recently upgraded the Wi-Fi system across the fleet to increase bandwidth and provide connectivity throughout the entire ship, including all public spaces, outdoor decks and all suites and staterooms.

Special other amenities:

• Exquisite specialty restaurants are complimentary.
• Roundtrip airfare is included. Oceania Cruises also eliminates the hassle of searching for flights by including free roundtrip air service from major USA and Canada gateways.
• Unlimited soft drinks, coffee beverages, juices and bottled water.

Cruises-N-More highly recommends Oceania Cruises for its outstanding service and amenities. If you would like to know more about Oceania Cruises, or to book a cruise, please contact Tiffany Neidhardt at tiffany@cruises-n-more.com or call 800-733-2048 (toll-free USA/Canada) or +1-407-771-4454 direct-dial. Visit Cruises-N-More at http://www.cruises-n-more.com/.

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