Oceanias New Winter Collection

Oceania Cruises is pleased to announce the introduction of the 2009-2010 Winter Collection of sailings to Asia, Australia, South America, the Caribbean and Mexico.

The most diverse collection to date with 18 distinct itineraries, Regatta, Insignia and Nautica will sail an enticing array of 24 voyages which range from 10 to 40 days in length and feature more than 40 overnight port stays. In the tradition of offering extraordinary value, all of our 2009-2010 Winter Collection itineraries offer a limited-time introductory offer of Free Round-trip Economy Airfare and 2 for 1 Cruise Fares that begin at just $1,499 per guest.

“Destination rich itineraries have always been our hallmark and this new collection introduces new destinations and itineraries that will have great appeal to both our loyal repeat guests and first-time guests alike,” stated Bob Binder, President of Oceania Cruises.

With an abundance of overnight calls, more than 40 in total, guests will have more than ample time to immerse themselves in the destinations called upon. A comprehensive program of excursions and overland tours afford the opportunity to experience the most intriguing historical, cultural and natural wonders. Angkor Wat, the Taj Mahal, Iguaçu Falls, Copper Canyon and the Galapagos Islands are just a few of the spectacles that await on these magnificent journeys.

Longer Voyages and More Varied Itineraries
Featuring new itineraries and an even richer mix of destinations, Oceania Cruises’ Winter Collection spans the globe. From the Sea of Cortez to India, Asia and the Far East, Oceania Cruises showcases the world’s most alluring port of call.

In addition to the ever-popular 25-day Amazon Adventure that sails round trip from Miami, Oceania Cruises has added two new long voyages to the roster of sailings. The new 40 day Grand Circle of South America sails from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro and showcases the continent in its entirety. Coquimbo, Callo, Salaverry, Manta, Fuerte Amador and Fortaleza add new spice to the stellar line-up of South American ports.

Nautica’s winter transit to Asia has been extended to 40 days and now includes Israel and Egypt along with the best of Turkey, India, Arabia and Asia. Highlights include Three days in Israel, Salalah, Muscat, Abu Dabi and 3 days in Dubai. Five days in India affords multiple opportunities to explore Goa, Bombay and the Taj Mahal.

“Our long voyages to Asia and the Amazon have proven exceptionally popular and our guests and travel partners have expressed a great deal of interest in a similar itinerary that explores South America. This new circumnavigation of the continent offers the opportunity for a leisurely exploration of this magnificent continent in its entirety,” added Binder.

Highlights of the 2008-2009 Winter Collection:
New 10 day Copper Canyon and Mexican Riviera itinerary sails round-trip from Los Angeles
New 40 day Grand Circle of South America sails from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro. Coquimbo, Callo, Salaverry, Manta, Fuerte Amador and Fortaleza add new spice to our roster of South American ports
40 day Istanbul to Singapore voyage includes Israel and Egypt along with the best of Turkey, India, Arabia and Asia
Highlights include 3 days in Israel, Salalah, Muscat, Abu Dabi and 3 days in Dubai
5 days in India to explore Goa, Bombay and the Taj Mahal
An enhanced Splendors of Down Under features overnights in both Sydney and Melbourne
Overnight calls in Asia include Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok, Hanoi, Kyoto, Taipei, Ho Chi Minh City
The limited-time offer of FREE Airfare from more than 100 gateways and 2 for 1 Cruise Fares expires December 31 2008, and stateroom and suite availability on many voyages is already limited. Consumers and Travel Agents may reserve their voyage online at OceaniaCruises.com or by calling 800-531-5658.

About Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises®, a Prestige Cruise Holdings company, is the world’s only upper-premium cruise line and 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, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, South 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.

About Prestige Cruise Holdings
Prestige Cruise Holdings (PCH) is a subsidiary of Apollo Management L.P. and the parent corporation of Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises. Formed in 2007 to manage select assets in Apollo Management’s cruise investment portfolio, PCH is led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Del Rio, the founder of Oceania Cruises. PCH is the market leader in the Upper Premium and Luxury segments of the cruise industry with more than 4,450 berths between the Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises brands, a number the company expects will grow to more than 6,700 berths by 2011.

Official Press Release Oceania Cruises dated 25th August 2008.

Oceania Commences Marina Construction

Oceania Cruises is pleased to announce that it has commenced construction of its first new Oceania-Class ship during the gala steel-cutting ceremony at Fincantieri’s Sestre Ponente Shipyard in Genoa, Italy.

Presided over by Frank Del Rio, Chairman of Prestige Cruise Holdings, Oceania Cruises’ parent company, and attended by some of the line’s most loyal past guests, the first piece of steel was ceremoniously cut to officially begin construction of Oceania Cruises’ first brand-new ship.

During the ceremony, Del Rio also revealed the name of the first ship as Marina along with design details of the Veranda Staterooms and Penthouse Suites.

“Oceania Club members, our loyal repeat guests, are not only responsible for Oceania Cruises’ success, they have also played a great role in the design and development of these splendid new ships,” stated Del Rio.

After the ceremony, Oceania Club members, dignitaries from Fincantieri and members of the media toured the builder’s mock-ups of the Veranda Staterooms and Penthouse Suites. These accommodations, which are on average, 50% larger than those on the Regatta Class ships, will set new standards for spaciousness and comfort.

Veranda Staterooms, at 312 square feet, will incorporate larger sitting areas, marble-clad bathrooms with separate tub and shower, copious closet space and extra-large private verandas for relaxation.

The Penthouse Suites will be 429 square feet and feature a large living area, space for in-suite dining, separate sleeping area, extra-large bathrooms, walk-in closets and a host of other amenities.

“Marina will not be just a ship, she will be a place of beauty that offers our guests unparalleled comfort, amenities and a culinary experience that is beyond compare. Marina, along with her sister-ship, will be the most beautiful ships to sail the seven seas,” added Del Rio.

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 new ships will have a greater range that enables them to undertake the itineraries to virtually any destination worldwide.

The new ships will be awash in rich, dark woods, Italian marble, lustrous granite, fine wool carpets and sumptuous leather. No detail is being overlooked to create an array of spacious, yet intimate public spaces and luxurious staterooms and suites.

They will accommodate 1,252 guests in 626 staterooms and suites who will be served by more than 780 staff members. 96% of all accommodations will feature private teak verandas and guests will dine in their choice of six open seating restaurants. Additional details on the ships’ public spaces, suites and dining venues will be revealed in the comings months.

Oceania-Class Facts:
MARINA: Debuts September 2010
Oceania Class II: Debuts July 2011
Guest Capacity:  1,252 (Double Occupancy)
Tonnage: 66,000 – estimated
Builder: Fincantieri; Sestre Ponente, Italy
Length: 782 feet 
Width: 105 feet 
Draft: 24 feet 
Cruising Speed: 20 knots 
Propulsion: Diesel Electric, 2 controllable pitch propellers
Restaurants: Six Open Seating Restaurants 
Accommodations:  626 Guest Staterooms and Suites:
3 Owner’s Suites
6 Vista Suites
10 Oceania Suites
121 Penthouse Suites
440 Veranda Staterooms
20 Ocean View Staterooms
26 Inside Staterooms

About Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises® is the world’s only upper-premium cruise line and 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, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, South 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.

About Prestige Cruise Holdings:
Prestige Cruise Holdings (PCH) is a subsidiary of Apollo Management L.P. and the parent corporation of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Formed in 2007 to manage select assets in Apollo Management’s cruise investment portfolio, PCH is led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Del Rio, the founder of Oceania Cruises. PCH is the market leader in the Upper Premium and Luxury segments of the cruise industry with more than 4,450 berths between the Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Cruises brands, a number the company expects will grow to more than 6,700 berths by 2011.

Official Press Release Oceania Cruises dated 4th August 2008.

Oceania Cruises Names New Cruise Ship Marina

Oceania Cruises has revealed that its new cruise ship will be called Marina. The cruise ship is the first purpose-built ship and significantly larger than the other 3 cruise ships in its class. Marina will measure 65,000 tons and carry 1,260 passengers.
Marina is planned to set sail in autumn 2010 with a sister ship planned to join in July 2011.
Marina is going to offer open-seating dining in the restaurants which will mean a more relaxed informal approach to dining; a variety of staterooms will also be available including 11 suites with their very own outdoor whirlpools. All other details have been kept secret for now but the launch in 2010 is guaranteed to be exciting and worth the wait.

Oceania Cruises Announces Cruise Fuel Surcharge Update

In response to the continually escalating price of fuel, Oceania Cruises is increasing its fuel surcharge* to $15 per guest per day for all new reservations effective June 16, 2008. The surcharge will apply to all currently published sailings.

The fuel surcharge of $15 per guest per day, regardless of voyage length, will be effective for all new reservations as of June 16, 2008. The fuel surcharge applies only to the first two guests in the stateroom or suite and does not apply to third or fourth guests.

Official Press release Oceania Cruises dated 6 June 2008.

Oceania Cruises’ 2009 European Collection Drives Record Demand

Oceania Cruises announced that on March 3rd, a new record for reservations was set as the line’s 2009 European Collection of sailings went on sale. Oceania Cruises opened its reservation lines at 8 am on March 3rd and took more than 500 new reservations in the first hours. At the close of business the line had bested it previous reservations record by more than 20% and some departures were close to 50% sold.

“With limited availability for our 2008 sailings, Travel Agents and Oceania Club members have been eager to learn details of our 2009 European itineraries. Our Travel Partners have always provided us with tremendous support and the response to our newly released itineraries has been nothing short of spectacular,” stated Bob Binder, President of Oceania Cruises.

Oceania Cruises’ 2009 European Collection includes 56 voyages to Scandinavia and Russia, the British Isles and Norway, the Western Mediterranean, and the Greek Isles. Sailings range from 10 to 30 days in length, call on more than 80 ports of call, and feature an abundance of overnight port stays.

“One of the primary drivers of our success has been our focus on providing our guests with the richest and most rewarding destination experience possible. When you combine our itineraries with an acclaimed dining experience, and a level of personal service that can only be found on mid-size ships, it creates an unrivaled value proposition that drives demand from agents and past guests to exceptional levels,” stated Frank Del Rio, Chairman and CEO of Prestige Cruise Holdings.

Highlights of the 2009 European Collection
From the Black Sea to the Baltics, there are 56 extraordinary voyages to choose from including 10 distinct Western Mediterranean itineraries.
 
A New 16-day Venice-Rome voyage highlights the scenic splendor and intriguing history of the Dalmatian Coast. Insignia sails from Venice to Rome on May 15 and calls on Koper, Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu, Sarande, Valletta, Taormina, Sorrento, Amalfi, Florence, St Tropez, and Cinque Terre.
 
Regatta returns to Scandinavia and Russia and sails to Norway and the British Isles for the very first time. A 12-day Norwegian Fjords and British Isles cruise sails roundtrip from Dover on July 13 and calls on Edinburgh, Invergordon, Alesund, Hellesylt, Belfast, Dublin, Waterford, and Fowey.
 
A new 14-day Egypt and Israel itinerary sails from Barcelona to Istanbul and includes Tunisia, Malta, Greece, Egypt, Israel, Cyprus and Turkey. This voyage departs aboard Nautica on June 27, Insignia on August 9 and Regatta on October 31.
 
4 new Grand Voyages that span all of Europe and South America. Guests may sail from Venice to Stockholm; Barcelona to Venice, showcasing virtually the entire Mediterranean; Istanbul to Miami; and Rome to Rio de Janeiro.

Official Press release Oceania Cruises dated 04 March 4 2008.

Oceania Cruises’ Nautica Debuts Down Under

Oceania Cruises’ Nautica debuted in glorious Sydney, Australia today, kicking off her inaugural season of sailings to Australia and New Zealand. Nautica arrived from Europe after a 45-day journey from Rome via Singapore and during her two-day inaugural stay in Sydney, she will host hundreds of top-producing Australian travel agents and media as the ship and the line’s award-winning product are showcased Down Under for the very first time.

“Australia and New Zealand are extremely important destinations and source markets for us and I am delighted that so many agents will be our guests aboard Nautica over the next few days and in the coming weeks,” stated Bob Binder, President of Oceania Cruises.

Glistening like new, Nautica recently completed a $5 million refit at the Union Naval shipyard in Marseille, France. During the refit, all soft furnishing were replaced or renewed, all new carpeting was laid throughout the public rooms and accommodations and more than $1 million was spent installing new bathrooms in the ship’s 52 Penthouse Suites.

Each of the Penthouse Suites is now resplendent with a new granite and marble bathroom which boasts all new flooring, countertops and vanities, bathtubs and fixtures. In addition, new 20” and 26” flat-screen LCD televisions with DVD players were installed in all of the Penthouse Suites, Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms and Stateroom accommodations.

Nautica will sail a total of four voyages in Australia and New Zealand during her inaugural season and return again in 2009 and 2010. “Australasia was the most requested new destination in our company’s history and subsequently became the fastest-selling voyages we currently offer. We’re eagerly anticipating the day we can dedicate one of our ships for a full-season of voyages Down Under,” added Binder.

Highlights of Nautica’s 2008-2009 Voyages Down Under
 
Southern Cross Holiday
18-Day Voyage from Singapore to Sydney, departs December 20, 2008
Singapore • Semarang • Padang Bay • Komodo • Darwin • Thursday Island • Cairns (Great Barrier Reef) • Townsville • Whitsunday Island • Brisbane • Sydney

Splendors of Down Under
15-Day Voyage from Sydney to Auckland,
departs January 7, 2009 and January 22, 2009 (Reverse)
Sydney (Overnight) • Melbourne • Hobart • Milford Sound • Dunedin • Christchurch • Wellington • Napier • White Island • Great Mercury Island •Tauranga • Auckland

Coral Seas and Asian Jewels
21-Day Voyage from Sydney to Bangkok, departs February 6, 2009
Sydney • Brisbane • Whitsunday Island • Townsville • Cairns (Great Barrier Reef) • Thursday Island • Darwin • Komodo • Padang Bay • Semarang • Singapore • Ko Samui • Bangkok (Overnight)

Free Airfare and 2 for 1 Cruise Fares

With Free Airfare from 20 North American gateways and 2 for 1 cruise fares, these extraordinary voyages are the pinnacle of value. 2 for 1 cruise fares that include free airfare start at just $4,599 per guest. As space is limited, guests should make their reservations as early as possible to ensure that they take advantage of the free airfare and receive the accommodations of choice on their preferred voyage.

Official Press Release Oceania Cruises dated 09 January 2008.

NCL: Apollo has Landed!

Private equity group Apollo Management agreed in September 2007, to become a major shareholder in NCL. This has now been finalised and Apollo have spent $1 billion for a 50 percent share of NCL. Star Cruises, NCL’s previous sole shareholder, still holds the other 50 percent.

A cruise line statement said “the money and backing will enable the line to implement Freestyle 2.0, a series of fleet-wide enhancements announced aboard Norwegian Gem just after its naming ceremony in New York last month”.

NCL has spent massively over the last few years with many new builds as they try and see off the threat of the Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean International. With two F3 prototypes on order at over $1.1 billion per ship, (first one due in 2009) it is no surprise to see some form of outside investment.

So what does this do for Apollo, well in a short period of time they now own 50% of NCL, Oceania Cruises and have agreed to purchase Regent Seven Seas. Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas are to be run independently under the banner of Prestige Cruise Holdings.

Not sure about reaching for the stars but in the cruising world Apollo has landed!

Prestige Cruise Holdings

Prestige Cruise Holdings is the banner under which Apollo Management will run its ever growing cruise business. This consists of the five star Regent Seven Seas and four star plus Oceania Cruises, both to be run as separate cruise lines under the watchful eye of PCH. This is a common factor within the cruise industry, aka Royal Caribbean and Carnival Corporation.