Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises is a Miami, Florida, United States-based shipping company that operates four luxury cruise ships on world-wide itenaries. It is currently the world’s largest upscale cruise line, offering good-quality food and itineraries at a cheap price when compared to other upscale cruise lines.[1] Since April 2007, Oceania Cruises is owned by Apollo Management.[2]
History
Oceania Cruises was founded in 2002 by luxury cruise industry veterans Joe Watters and Frank Del Rio,[3] the latter being the former vice president of Renaissance Cruises.[4] The founding management team included industry veterans Bob Binder, Robin Lindsay, James Rodriguez, and Howard Sherman.[citation needed] The company chartered the former Renaissance Cruises ship R Two from Cruiseinvest and renamed her Insignia in October 2002.[5] In April 2003 the Insignia was chartered to the french travel agency TRM for three months, during which Oceania Cruises operated no vessels. On 15 June 2003 Oceania Cruises re-commenced service with two ships: the Insignia was renamed Regatta[5] and a new ship (R One, a sister ship of the Insignia/Regatta, also chartered from Cruiseinvest) entered service as the new Insignia.[6].
In November 2005, a third R-class ship entered service for Oceania Cruises when the company chartered the R Five from Cruiseinvest and renamed her Nautica.[7] At the naming ceremony of the Nautica, Frank del Rio announced the plan of adding a fourth ship, Marina, to the Oceania Cruises fleet in July 2007.[8] This however did not come to pass.
In February 2007, the majority of Oceania Cruises' stock were sold to the New York-based Apollo Management. The following month Oceania made a memorandum agreement with the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy to construct two new 1,260-passenger ships.[9] The contract was finalised in June 2007, with delivery dates for the new Oceania Class ships set for January 2011 and July 2011. The contract also includes an option for a third vessel of the same type that could be delivered in May 2012.[10]
Fleet
Regatta class
The Regatta class ships were built in 1998—2000 for Renaissance Cruises as a part of their R class.[4] They have a gross tonnage of 30,277 and can accommodate a maximum of 824 passengers in 343 cabins.[1]
| Ship | Built | Builder | Entered service for Oceania |
Gross Tonnage | Flag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Regatta | 1998 | Chantiers de l'Atlantique | 2003 | 30,277 tons |  Marshall Islands |
Previously R Two and Insignia |
| MS Insignia | 1998 | Chantiers de l'Atlantique | 2003 | 30,277 tons | Marshall Islands |
Previously R One |
| MS Nautica | 2000 | Chantiers de l'Atlantique | 2005 | 30,277 tons | Marshall Islands |
Previously R Five |
Under Construction
Oceania class
Three 1,260-passenger, 66,000 gross ton ships currently under planning stages at Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, set for delivery in January 2011, July 2011 and the last in 2012, respectively. 580 of the 626 cabins and suites will have private balconies. The interiors of these ships are designed by the Norway-based Y&S Architecture and Interior Design.[11]
| Ship | Planned delivery | Builder | Planned service entry | Gross Tonnage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Marina | 2010 | Fincantieri | 2011 | 66,000 tons |
| MS Riviera | 2011 | Fincantieri | 2011 | 66,000 tons |
| Unnamed | 2012 | Fincantieri | 2012 | 66,000 tons |
Destinations
Africa, Arabia, Black Sea, Caribbean, Central America, China, Greek Isles, Iceland, India, Mediterranean, Mexico, Russia, Scandinavia, South America, Southeast Asia
References
- ^ a b Ward, Douglas (2006). Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. pp. 354–355, 421–422, 514–515. ISBN 981-246-739-4.
- ^ Oceania Cruises press release April 30, 2007, retrieved 25. 6. 2007
- ^ Oceania Cruises press release June 26, 2003, retrieved 25. 6. 2007
- ^ a b Boyle, Ian. "Oceania Cruises". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
- ^ a b M/S R Two at Fakta om Fartyg Template:Sv icon, retrieved 25. 6. 2007
- ^ M/S R One at Fakta om Fartyg Template:Sv icon, retrieved 25. 6. 2007
- ^ M/S R Five at Fakta om Fartyg Template:Sv icon, retrieved 25. 6. 2007
- ^ Oceania Cruises press release November 22, 2005, retrieved 25. 6. 2007
- ^ Oceania Cruises press release March 14, 2007, retrieved 25. 6. 2007
- ^ Oceania Cruises press release Juny 18, 2007, retrieved 25. 6. 2007
- ^ "Oceania Cruises Reveals First Design Details of the New Oceania-Class". Oceania Cruises. 2008-02-27. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
External links
