I don’t always have a butler and two housekeepers attending to me, but such was the case on Oceania Cruises’ 1,250-guest Marina, where I stayed in a Penthouse Suite during a spring sailing of the line’s Venetian Vignettes itinerary.
But, I will admit, I definitely put my butler to good use: He took care of my laundry, brought me breakfast in my suite, delivered canapes each afternoon when I returned from my daily shore excursion and reminded me of my dinner reservations.
While I didn’t take advantage of all the services he could offer, I wanted for nothing — a theme that carried on throughout the cruise experience and highlights Oceania’s commitment to top-notch service and guest comfort.
Luxurious Onboard Suites
Butler service isn’t the only benefit of booking the 420-square-foot Penthouse Suite (one of four suite categories onboard Marina, all of which come with this service).
Other perks included a roomy bathroom (with a shower, a separate tub and plenty of counter space and cabinets); a walk-in closet; Oceania’s own “Ultra Tranquility” bed; and a private veranda, where I polished off a complimentary bottle of Champagne and chocolates (provided to all suite guests). Other suite-only privileges include priority embarkation, exclusive access to a private Executive Lounge, access to the private Aquamar Spa Terrace, complimentary garment pressing and more.
Thoughtful Amenities And Delectable Cuisine
Although I loved my stateroom, I found myself eager to explore the rest of the ship. In my mind, there’s nothing worse than forgetting something in a stateroom and having to hike the length of a football field to fetch it. However, that was never the case onboard Marina. Despite it being one of Oceania’s larger vessels, Marina is small enough to get around in a matter of minutes.
The ship is beautifully appointed and includes an onboard library, an outdoor pool, two hot tubs and the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center, which has a menu of options including spa treatments, a hair and nail salon, acupuncture, personal training and guided meditation.
Marina’s public spaces include an onboard library.
Credit: 2022 Oceania CruisesBut one of the things I was most excited about was the culinary offerings. Well-known for its onboard cuisine, Oceania serves up some of the best food at sea. We chose our meals based on menus from Chef Jacques Pepin, Oceania Cruises’ executive culinary director, and had a variety of venues to pick from: In addition to the Grand Dining Room and Terrace Cafe, there are four specialty restaurants onboard (none of which have an additional charge, but do require advance reservations). Toscana serves up Italian fare; Polo Grill is the onboard steakhouse; Jacques specializes in French cuisine; and Red Ginger offers contemporary Asian flavors. Guests can also take part in daily tea service, along with wine and martini tastings.
For an additional charge, there are also two extra-special options: La Reserve by Wine Spectator — a seven-course wine pairing dinner — and The Dom Perignon Experience, a six-course indulgence that pairs each course with a special Dom Perignon vintage. And if guests are looking for an even more exclusive experience, recommend they book Privee, a private onboard dining venue that seats up to 10.
Advisors who book sailings after Nov. 13, 2023, can expect even more elegance, as Marina is scheduled for an extensive renovation next year, debuting again in late 2023.
Oceania’s Onshore Experiences
My time on the ship was fabulous, but I would be remiss not to mention our standout itinerary. Clients don’t have to be “Game of Thrones” fans to get Goosebumps sailing into Dubrovnik, Croatia, but it just might add to the magic of this ancient city.
In addition to Dubrovnik, we sailed to Split in Croatia, Corfu in Greece, and Messina and Sorrento in Italy (the itinerary also includes a stop in Kotor, Montenegro, but we weren’t able to dock there due to high winds). There are many shore excursion options to choose from, but my advice would be to choose a mix of all-day tours and shorter options that give more time for personal exploration. History and archeology buffs will be thrilled with all the ancient sites (especially ancient Pompeii — which was one of my favorite options). Comfortable, air-conditioned coaches awaited us on every dock, and Oceania pairs its shore excursions with knowledgeable guides.
