Oceania Cruises added one more luxury cruise liner to its fleet. Second new-build and sister ship to 2011’s Marina, latest Riviera, which debuts in May 2012 is the most beautiful, elegant and sophisticated ships to debut in the past 50 years. The 66,084-ton, 1,250-passenger ship set sail on its maiden voyage earlier this month from Venice to Athens on her 10-day Pearls of the Aegean excursion.
“As Riviera embarks on her maiden voyage, our guests will no doubt be warmly welcomed by her officers and crew and they are also sure to be impressed by the sophistication and style of this magnificent ship,” said Kunal S. Kamlani, president of Oceania Cruises. “Riviera is a proud addition to the award-winning Oceania Cruises’ fleet.”
Like her sister, Riviera sports some of cruising’s most palatial suites, featuring furnishings from Ralph Lauren Home and designs by Dakota Jackson of New York and S.B. Long Interiors of Greenwich, Connecticut. The ship also has a Lalique-designed grand lobby, 10 dining venues (of which six are open-seating gourmet restaurants with no surchargeand) numerous bars and lounges.
Cuisine has always been important to the line, but Riviera and Marina are specifically designed to appeal to guests who not only love consuming gourmet food, but also talking about it and even cooking it. La Reserve by Wine Spectator offers enlightening wine and food pairings. The new Bon Appétit Culinary Center is the only hands-on cooking school at sea.
In addition, artists-in-residence teach fine arts in Artists Loft, a new enrichment center. For specialty coffees and snacks, there is Baristas Coffee Bar. Intimate lounges abound. Accommodations in every category are incredibly spacious, especially with regard to the lavish bathrooms.
From May 16 through November 29, 2012, Riviera will enjoy her first season in and around Europe, with port of calls in France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Turkey, Israel, Croatia, Cyprus, Montenegro, Morocco and Monaco. Oceania Cruises will be adding over 1,000 new tours and vacation packages for guests to customize their itinerary and take advantage of potential savings. To learn more, visit OceaniaCruises.com
