Costa Rica Raises Cruise Profile

With the 2013-14 cruise season officially now under way, Costa Rica has announced a new strategy to strengthen and promote its growing relationship with the cruise industry. 

Minsiter of Tourism Allan Flores explained: “In addition to reaching important agreements with industry executives, we have concentrated our efforts on improving port infrastructure and the amenities available to passengers through our local entrepreneurs. These relationships and efforts will continue to strengthen our position as a cruise destination and create an even better experience for visitors.”

The arrival of Princess Cruises' Island Princess to the Port of Limón (above) marked the start of a cruise season filled with new arrivals, partnerships and improvements aimed to support the destination’s offerings and passenger services. This was the first of 64 ships expected to arrive in the port city, 12 per cent more than last year. Officials also announced plans to include the improvement of infrastructure as well as projects for the recovery of

architectural and cultural heritage in the Caribbean city.

As part of the destination’s new strategy, Costa Rica has also announced a cooperative partnership with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Through this partnership, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston and New York will begin promoting travel packages that include three-night stays in Costa Rica, with a city tour, running through to December 31.

To further solidify the country’s cruise offerings, a new Mesoamerican regional agreement has also been implemented. For the first time, countries in the region have cooperatively developed a partnership with cruise lines worldwide to introduce new routes through the Pacific. The new route, named Amazing Pacific, will begin operations on January 14, with the arrival of Azamara Club Cruises, part of the Royal Caribbean company, to Costa Rica’s Puerto Caldera region. Additional major Pacific ports will include Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico.

More info: visit www.VisitCostaRica.com. 

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a fabulous offer for all new subscribers this year - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to win a cruise in our free prize draw offer. See this link!

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Exclusive Wine-Tasting With Azamara

Azamara Club Cruises are quickly earning a reputation as one of the go-to lines for anything to do with wine and food-themed cruises, and here is another one that we really like the sound of...

Enjoy a private Napa Valley wine tasting, tuck in to artisan cheeses and explore the wine caves as part of the Azamazing Evenings event on Azamara Quest on an eight-night Coastal California fly/cruise from just £2,521 per person (based on two people sharing an interior stateroom). The event is included in the cruise price.

The price includes flights from London Heathrow, transfers and a 12-night cruise departing February 10 from Los Angeles and calling at Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Francisco and Ensenada in Mexico before returning to Los Angeles for the flight home. The cruise also includes selected standard spirits, wines and international beers; complimentary bottled water; soft drinks; speciality teas and coffees; meals and room service; housekeeping and dining gratuities; a bespoke AzAmazing Evenings event; and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

More info: call 0844 493 4016 or visit www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk.

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a fabulous offer for all new subscribers this year - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to win a cruise in our free prize draw offer. See this link!

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

P&O's World In 2015

P&O Cruises is offering two amazing world cruises for 2015, collectively visiting 69 unique destinations in 38 different countries and covering some 61,470 nautical miles.  

Arcadia is sailing a 106-night full World Circumnavigation exclusively for adults with single cabins available, and Aurora is sailing a 105-night South America and Pacific Adventure for families, couples and solo travellers alike. Both sail round-trip from Southampton and are now on sale.

At 106 nights with lead-in Vantage Fares from £9,999 per person, Arcadia’s cruise is a classic world voyage, with the destination and port-rich cruise featuring five maiden calls, to Bitung (Indonesia), Darwin (Australia), Lahaina (Maui, Hawaiian Islands), Manila (Philippines) and Sanya (Hainan, China). It also features extended calls in San Francisco, Honolulu, Sydney (above), Hong Kong, Dubai, Safaga and Sokhna (Egypt) to enable passengers to enjoy once-in-a-lifetime experiences in these ports, from tours of ancient civilisations visiting lavish tombs, temples and palaces in Egypt to the hustle-bustle of modern city life in Hong Kong.

Aurora’s South America and Pacific Adventure is family friendly with more time spent in New Zealand, including a cruise through its famed Milford Sound. The cruise features three maiden calls for the ship, to Akaroa (New Zealand), Rarotonga (Cook Islands) and Moorea (French Polynesia). Lead-in Vantage Fares for this cruise start from £9,299 per person.

Extended calls on Aurora will be in Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, Sydney and San Francisco so passengers can take in these cities’ breathtaking sights during the day as well as into the night.

P&O managing director Carol Marlow said: “A world cruise offers so much more than an extended holiday, it’s an experience of a lifetime, an adventure on an epic scale. How else can you visit so many destinations around the globe, enjoy a whole host of once-in-a-lifetime experiences and immerse yourself in new cultures, countries and sights while travelling in consistent style and comfort?

“Our two world cruises for 2015 are no exception and offer excellent value for money. With prices from £89 per person, per night for our South America and Pacific Adventure on Aurora, it’s a fantastic way to see the world without having to compromise on home comforts. Booking early also means passengers receive the best value, with our Price Promise protection, and they can enjoy all the benefits that booking early affords, such as being able to secure their preferred choice of cabin and dining option.” 

 

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's World Cruise specialists.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Great Summer Offers From Oceania

Oceania Cruises are featuring some superb new cruise bargains this summer, including the Panama Canal as well as the Baltic and the Mediterranean.

Choose from:

Aug & Sept: Baltic cruises with free gratuities, from £1,332pp
Receive free gratuities and a $200 onboard credit per stateroom when booking the 10-night `Baltic Odyssey’ cruise from Stockholm to Copenhagen on August 24. On mid-sized luxury  ship Marina, prices offer a massive saving of £1,753pp. The $200 credit is also offered on the September 3 sailing in reverse from Copenhagen to Stockholm, with prices from £1,319pp.

July 13: 12-night cruise, Venice to Istanbul, £1,819pp

This ‘Paths of the Byzantines’ sailing from Venice to Istanbul on board 1,250-guest Riviera calls into Slovenia, Croatia, the Greek Islands and mainland Turkey. The price was was £4,004 and also includes a $200 onboard credit per stateroom.

August 6: 10-night Mediterranean cruise, now £1,319pp
Take the family on an educational cruise during the school summer holidays, spending three full days (2 nights) in Haifa, and an itinerary that starts in Athens and also visits Crete, Limassol, Rhodes, Kusadasi (Ephesus) and Istanbul, for a final day in the city. The ‘Sacred Sanctuaries’ voyage on Riviera was £3,040 and represents a saving of £1721pp, as well as including a $300 per stateroom onboard credit.

August 22: 21-night Ultimate Panama Canal, £3,039pp
Oceania's magnificent 21-night sailing from San Francisco to New York visiting Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, through the Panama Canal, the Caribbean and on to New York now has a £1,724pp saving off the lead-in fare of £3,039pp, plus $300 onboard credit per stateroom and free internet throughout the sailing.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruising specialists. 

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Crystal's Pacific Coast Extravaganza

~ Shore Excursions Explore Region’s Renowned Outdoors, History, and Artistry ~

On its sole Pacific Coast itinerary this year, Crystal Cruises has set more than 40 Crystal Adventures ashore, almost a dozen of them new. From Vancouver to Los Angeles, the seven-night Crystal Symphony voyage on April 29 explores the Pacific Northwest and California coastlines with a selection of new nature-loving, cultural and historic shore-side options, such as:

For Art and Film Fans

• Explore private art studios and galleries, from glass-blowing in Seattle to the historic art colony of Sausalito.
• See the real-life movie locations used in films such as The Goonies, Free Willy and Kindergarten Cop.

For Outdoor Adventurers

• Zip-line through dense Oregon forest near Astoria, over eight lines, and into a private lake.
• Follow Lewis and Clark’s footsteps through the same dunes and fields they “discovered” outside Fort Clatsop.
• Sail San Francisco Bay aboard the ORACLE team’s USA 76 America’s Cup yacht, just months before the city hosts this year’s race.

For History and Culture Buffs

• Ride a “Magic Bus” through landmarks of San Francisco’s 1960’s counterculture.
• Go behind-the-scenes at the 146-year-old Fort Stevens, the only US fort in the 48 states to be bombed by a foreign power since the War of 1812.

Also, for the first time ever, three complimentary “You Care, We Care” voluntourism opportunities will be offered on one cruise, with guests and crew assisting at an Astoria State Park and helping feed the hungry in Victoria and Santa Barbara. Other coastal Crystal Adventures explore Victoria’s charming architecture; local wine, cheese and seafood; quaint seaside villages; Mount St Helens; the City by the Bay by helicopter; and outdoor sporting activities on wheels or the water in Santa Barbara.

“California and the Pacific Northwest are renowned for their beauty and culture, but these excursions offer innovative ways to experience those touchstones of America and Canada’s ‘left coast’, whether world-famous or under-the-radar,” says Philip Ordever, Vice President, International Sales & Marketing. 

The Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle, Astoria, San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles cruise also features a jazz theme honouring saxophonist, composer and arranger Benny Golson. All-inclusive “Book Now” fly-cruise fares start from £3,314 per person.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's leading luxury cruise specialists.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

More Oceania Offers

It's the New Year, so the cruise offers are rolling in thick and fast. Here are the latest from Oceania Cruises, with some great savings on a selection of exotic voyages. 

February 2: Caribbean hideaway, 10 nights £1502, saving £1266 
Escape the British winter and spend 10 nights cruising the Caribbean on board the new, food-lovers cruise ship, Riviera. The 1250-guest, mid-sized luxury ship will be sailing a round-trip cruise from Miami to the British Virgin Islands, Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Barts, including a $500 shipboard credit per stateroom. 

February 26: 16 nights Australia/New Zealand, £3589, saving £1975
 This 'Splendours Down Under' cruise is on the 1250-guest Marina, renowned for its culinary excellence, wine pairing centre and hands-on cookery school. The sailing of New Zealand’s south-eastern coastline concludes in Australia, to call into Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney. 

March 10: 25-night Oriental Grand Cruise, £3222pp, saving £3441pp
 Cruise from Beijing to Bangkok in the spring, visiting Korea, Japan, Taiwain, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand on board Oceania's mid-sized Nautica, now with a $500 shipboard credit per stateroom. 

March 28: Caribbean Hideaways, 10 nights £1809, saving £959
 Cruise the Caribbean islands of Tortola, Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Barts on board Riviera, and receive a $300 per stateroom credit to spend in the ship’s bars, spa and boutiques. 

April 20: 19-night cruise with a Panama Canal transit and £1692pp saving
 Oceania's long cruise from Miami to San Francisco, on the mid-sized Regatta travels through the Caribbean Sea and along the west coast of Mexico via a magnificent Panama Canal transit, including a $500 per stateroom credit to spend on board. 

May 9: Gatweay to Alaska, £1749pp, with £1028 saving 
Cruise from San Francisco along the west coast of the USA and Alaska, to arrive into Vancouver 9 nights later, on the 650-guest Regatta, and including a $500 per stateroom credit to spend on board.

All fares include return UK flights, all meals, no supplement for speciality dining, complimentary bottled water and soft drinks.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Oceania's Big Alaska Savings

Oceania Cruises is offering two early-season Alaska sailings with great savings, making them a real bargain for this magnificent part of the cruise world. Take a look at these two offerings and save up to £1,028 on a fabulous voyage.

 

Gatweay to Alaska, now £1749pp (was £2,777)
Cruise from San Francisco along the west coast of the USA and Alaska, to arrive into Vancouver 9 nights later, on the 650-guest luxury cruiser Regatta. Departing on May 9, this Gateway to Alaska has a saving of £1,028pp, and includes a $500 per stateroom credit to spend on board, plus return flights from the UK, all meals, bottled water and soft drinks. 

Alaskan Fjords & Frontiers, saving £741pp
This magnificent 7-night Alaska cruise on Regatta also benefits from a $500 per stateroom credit to spend in the spa, onboard shops or bars. It sails on May 18 and is now on offer for £1,559pp (was £2,300). Price includes return flights from the UK, all meals, bottled water and soft drinks.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Cunard's Extra-Value Winter Sparkle

Cunard’s Winter Holidays gained an added sparkle today as the luxury line announced a series of January 2013 sailings from Southampton to exotic locations that will now have two-night hotel stays in some of the world’s greatest cities, transfers, flights home and upgraded balcony accommodation on board all provided on a complimentary basis.

Departures aboard Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria are all included and hotel stays, transfers and flights back to the UK are offered in Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Auckland, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Featured hotels include noted properties such as the Four Seasons in Sydney, Kowloon Shangri-La in Hong Kong and Fairmont Singapore, in keeping with Cunard’s own legendary standards of service on board ship. Complimentary upgrades from outside accommodation to balcony staterooms are offered on all featured sailings.

CEO Peter Shanks commented: "Faraway winter holidays are becoming more popular as well as more adventurous and the best way to see a variety of exotic destinations is by ship. Cunard has created the perfect winter holiday, with relaxing arrivals into each new port of call now complemented by longer stays at signature cities across the globe, as well as flights home. Combined with Cunard’s legendary service levels on board, it adds up to a superb value winter sun option."

The winter holidays series with these benefits covers these voyages:

Queen Mary 2 Southampton to Dubai: Jan 10-30, 2013; 20 nights now from £2,299 per person in balcony accommodation with two-night stay and return flight. Southampton to Singapore: Jan 10-Feb 11; 32 nights now from £3,999 per person in balcony accommodation with two-night stay and return flight. Southampton to Hong Kong: Jan 10-Feb 19; 40 nights now from £4,999 per person in balcony accommodation with two-night stay and return flight. Southampton to Sydney: Jan 10-Mar 7; 58 nights now from £7,399 per person in balcony accommodation with two-night stay and return flight.

Queen Victoria Southampton to San Francisco: Jan 10-Feb 5, 2013; 26 nights now from £3,299 per person in balcony accommodation with two-night stay and return flight. Southampton to Sydney: Jan 10-Feb 26; 46 nights now from £5,799 per person in balcony accommodation with two-night stay and return flight.

Queen Elizabeth Southampton to Los Angeles: Jan 6-Feb 6, 2013; 31 nights now from £3,399 per person in balcony accommodation with two-night stay and return flight. Southampton to Auckland: Jan 6-Feb 22; 46 nights now from £6,199 per person in balcony accommodation with two-night stay and return flight. 

For bookings, see this link to the UK's luxury cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Regent's 20th Anniversary Collection

To celebrate 20 years of delivering the most coveted luxury experiences to its guests, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is marking its 20th Anniversary this summer with a special collection of sailings in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Alaska, plus two special sailings with the line’s President.

In honour of this two-decade milestone, the commemorative sailings, ranging from seven to 14 nights, are on each of the ultra-luxury line’s three all-suite ships and include an array of memorable surprises for guests, including special fares, selected itineraries with free Business Class upgrades on any suite category booked, specially-designed luggage tags and commemorative pins. 

A gala 20th Anniversary dinner will also be hosted on each voyage. As with all Regent sailings, guests enjoy unlimited and complimentary shore excursions in every port and, with their cruise fares being the most inclusive in the marketplace, they include: return flights and transfers, gourmet dining without cover charges, open bar and onboard gratuities.

Choose from:

26 June | 7-nights | Seven Seas Mariner | Istanbul to Athens | from £1,917 per person | FREE BC FLIGHT UPGRADE

2 July | 10-nights | Seven Seas Voyager | Stockholm to Copenhagen | from £3,424 per person

12 & 29 July | 10-nights | Seven Seas Voyager | Copenhagen to Stockholm | from £3,502 per person

13 July | 7-nights | Seven Seas Mariner | Istanbul to Athens | from £2,297 per person

20 July | 7-nights | Seven Seas Mariner | Athens to Venice | from £2,281 per person

22 July | 7-nights | Seven Seas Voyager | Stockholm to Copenhagen | from £2,450 per person

27 July | 10-nights | Seven Seas Mariner | Venice to Monte Carlo | from £3,578 per person | FREE BC FLIGHT UPGRADE

6 August | 7-nights | Seven Seas Mariner | Monte Carlo to Barcelona | from £2,268 per person 

8 August | 7-nights | Seven Seas Voyager | Stockholm to Copenhagen | from £2,341 per person

13 August | 10-nights | Seven Seas Mariner | Barcelona to Lisbon | from £3,582 per person | FREE BC FLIGHT UPGRADE 

15 August | 10-nights | Seven Seas Voyager | Copenhagen to Stockholm | from £3,502 per person

22 August | 12-nights | Seven Seas Navigator | Vancouver to San Francisco | from £5,269 per person

25 August | 12-nights | Seven Seas Voyager | Stockholm to Southampton | from £3,993 per person

6 Sept | 10-nights | Seven Seas Mariner | Venice to Monte Carlo | from £3,578 per person.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Crystal Add More Port Over-Nights

As Crystal Cruises prepares to go “All-Inclusive” next month, the ultra-luxury line has decided to focus on significantly more local shipboard overnights at the beginning of cruises. 

For the upcoming European season, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony have doubled the number of voyages that begin with days (and nights) in port. The move eases the worry of late flight arrivals, lost luggage, relocating to/from hotels, finding quality restaurants and settling in prior to sight-seeing. This move also enhances recreational choices due to more extensive options being available onboard Crystal’s ships than can be found at hotels on land.

Overnights at the disembarkation ports of Venice, Barcelona or Istanbul, for example, allow guests to see significantly more of the final destination without having to move to a hotel or rush to the airport. Crystal has also added overnights to the middle and/or end of the majority of cruises this year. 

Some 26 large cultural capitals and smaller destinations renowned for their charm are featured in North America, the Pacific and Europe from March through December, with 69 overnights planned in Europe alone. A sample includes: 

• MEDITERRANEAN, including the BLACK SEA and MIDDLE EAST (43 overnights/10 ports): Venice, Ashdod, Istanbul, Odessa, Barcelona, Lisbon and Monte Carlo.
• BALTIC and NORTHERN EUROPE: (21 overnights/4 ports): Stockholm, Copenhagen and St Petersburg, with five cruises featuring two nights (“double overnight”) in the latter.
• WESTERN EUROPE and UK (5 overnights/4 ports): Edinburgh, Bordeaux and Reykjavik.
• NORTH AMERICA: (9 overnights/4 ports): New York, Quebec City, San Francisco and Montreal
• SOUTH PACIFIC, AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND: (6 overnights/4 ports): Papeete, Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney, with a huge complimentary VIP New Year’s Eve celebration during a double overnight in the latter.

 For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

40,000 Free Nights With P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises is giving away 40,000 free cruise nights on cruises of seven nights or more when booked in June or July 2011.

All cruises of seven nights or more, departing between August 1 and December 31 are eligible for one free cruise night when booked by July 31.

A nine-night cruise on board Oceana departing October 17, 2011 (E128) is priced from £761 per person including a one free night saving of £95 per person. Departing from and returning to Southampton, ports of call include Vigo, Lisbon, Cadiz, Casablanca and Oporto.

For bookings throughout June and July, P&O Cruises is also offering complimentary three night pre or post-cruise city hotel stays on selected exotic cruise holidays.

Aurora’s San Francisco to Sydney cruise is a 22-night cruise from January 26 to February 18, 2012. Ports of call include San Francisco, Hilo, Honolulu, Apia, Pago Pago, Port Denarau, Auckland, Bay of Islands and Sydney. Prices start at £2,086 and include three free nights in a Sydney Hotel but do not include flights.

All prices are per person and based on two adults sharing on a full board basis including all main meals, entertainment and most facilities.

All bookings must be made before July 31, 2011. More info at www.pocruises.com or, to book, contact the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Cruise-and-Stay In Style with Crystal

Guests joining Crystal’s Alaska and New England & Canada voyages can choose to extend their stay and enjoy a stylish city break either pre or post-cruise thanks to the launch of two fabulous new land packages.

These packages, which showcase the best of San Francisco and New York and offer fantastic value for money, feature private transfers, luxurious hotel accommodation, guided tours and access to an exclusive concierge service

New York: available pre or post-cruise on New England & Canada voyages between New York and Montreal, this three-night land package costs from £594 per person and includes:

· Three nights at the new five-star luxury boutique property, the Mondrian Soho

· A Broadway Artist Encounter at hotel then tickets to a show with the best seats in the house

· A Designer Shopping Experience in the Garment District

· A behind-the-scenes look at Christies Auction House – a private tour with afternoon tea

· Use of an exclusive concierge service

San Francisco - Available pre-or post-cruise on Alaska voyages round-trip from San Francisco, this three-night land package costs from £431 per person and includes:

· Three nights at the five-star boutique The Clift

· A half-day city tour followed by a trip to Alcatraz Island

· A full day wine-tasting tour to Sonoma and Napa Valley

· A romantic Champagne dinner

· Use of an exclusive concierge service

For reservations, visit Crystal Cruises at www.crystalcruises.co.uk or contact the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Oceania Cruises' New Ship Marina Christened In Miami

Oceania Cruises’new upper-premium cruise ship Marina was Christened in Miami last Saturday. The ship’s godmother, Entertainment Tonight host Mary Hart, named the ship at a lavish, invitation-only gala ceremony, which culminated with a 15-litre Nebuchadnezzar of champagne, custom-made by Armand de Brignac, crashing against the hull. Among the ceremony highlights were inspirational performances by the Marina Choir, assembled for the event, and the appointment of Master Chef Jacques Pépin as honorary commodore of the Oceania Cruises’ fleet.

Marina is a ship of firsts, featuring the first Bon Appétit Culinary Center, Master Chef Jacques Pépin’s first namesake restaurant at sea, Ralph Lauren Home-furnished Owner’s Suites, luxurious accommodations by Dakota Jackson, a Wine Spectator wine program and a Lalique grand stairway.

The new vessel arrived in Miami after her maiden voyage from Barcelona. Following a short preview cruise, she departed on the first of two 18-day Panama Canal transits that visit San Francisco and San Diego, both new ports for Oceania Cruises. Marina then operates a 12-day Caribbean cruise, round-trip from Miami, departing March 16, before sailing along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and on to Europe to begin her inaugural Mediterranean season.

Marina has been purposefully designed to carry guests to the world’s most alluring ports in elegance and style. She is full of rich woods, marble and granite, fine wool carpets and lustrous leathers which adorn public rooms. Facilities include 10 dining venues six of which are open-seating gourmet restaurants, an array of bars and lounges, a full-service Canyon Ranch SpaClub and fitness centre, swimming pool and hot tubs.

She joins current fleet-mates Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, which have taken guests around the world since 2002. Her sister ship Riviera will be christened in April 2012. A leader in destination cruising and defining the upper-premium market, Oceania Cruises offers gourmet cuisine, gracious service and award-winning itineraries at an exceptional value.

For more information, visit www.oceaniacruises.com/ or the uxury cruise experts of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

High Cuisine and Totem Poles

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Author, lecturer and naturalist Terry Breen will lecture on board Oceania Cruises' summer Alaska cruises on the elegant 684-passenger Regatta when the new itineraries debut in May. Breen will give enrichment lectures and share personal insights with guests as they explore the Inside Passage and lesser-known Alaskan ports.

With 19 years of expedition experience, Terry Breen has honed her love for cultural anthropology and exploration and has become an acclaimed area specialist. Author of The Cruiser Friendly Onboard Guide series, the first and only guides that explore the world as seen from the decks of a cruise ship, Breen will share her invaluable insight and understanding of Alaska's celebrated sights and uncultivated wilderness with guests.

- 12-day Alaskan Grandeur starting at £1406 per person -

Oceania's Alaskan Grandeur itinerary operates between San Francisco and Vancouver on May 26 and again August 14. Fares start from £1406 per person, based on two sharing. Ports include: Astoria, Wrangell, Juneau, Hoona, Sitka (called "Shee Atika" by the Tlingit Indians, then "New Archangel" by the Russians who moved in next) ousted and Ketchikan. Totem poles are one of Ketchikan's main attractions and the best places to view them are the Saxman Native Village (above) and Totem Bight State Park. Guests can also learn about the local cultures and ecosystems at the Southeast Alaska Discovery Centre.

As a special highlight, Pacific Northwest specialties will be featured during lunch in the casual Terrace Café and in the ship's elegant Grand Dining Room. Regional specialities will also be showcased in all four of the ship's open-seating restaurants, all of which are available with no surcharge.

Provisions are bought locally whenever possible and the ship's executive chef seeks the freshest catch and shellfish, making on-the-spot decisions. Consequently, not all selections will always be available and there may be surprise menu additions. Depending on the voyage and venue, appetisers might include Fresh Halibut Velouté - a creamy fish soup with saffron rice and julienne leeks - or Alaskan King Crab Legs, sure to be a guest favourite.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.