In December 2012, I had the privilege to sail on a brand new ship in the Oceania Cruises fleet, the MS Riveria. Launched just a few months earlier, the 1,250 passenger ship was exquisite and the service was impeccable.
The Riveria is the sister ship to the MS Marina which made her debut a year earlier. These two Oceania-class ships were the first new builds for the cruise line, as their other ships previously sailed under the now defunct Renaissance Cruises. Each of the ships features nine signature dining venues, 626 staterooms and carry 780 crew.
A few weeks ago, one of my friends sent me a message saying he and his husband were sailing on the Marina and could I offer some advice. Since the two ships are nearly identical, I did my best to point them to some of the ship’s best features including the Martini bar (surprise!) and one of the best Asian restaurants on any ship, Red Ginger.
I also pointed out one of the ship’s often overlooked dining options, the Terrace Cafe where steaks, pork, lobster and more are grilled to order in this buffet-style grill with alfresco dining overlooking the aft of the ship.
But all the tips in the world couldn’t stand up to one of the highlights of Steve and Angelo’s cruise… a stop in Havana, Cuba. Oceania Cruises started sailing to Cuba just last month (March 2017) from Miami on the Marina and they were one of the first to experience this hot new destination since travel opened up to United States citizens.
Steve and Angelo were kind enough to allow me to share some of the photos they took around the ship which I’m sharing with you today. Another post will give you a look around Cuba during the day and at night, so stay tuned for that as they photos are incredible!
Let’s take a look around the Verandah Stateroom which according to Oceania, are one of the largest at sea clocking in at 282 square feet. Each has a private verandah, seating area, mini bar, closet and a marble and granite bathroom with a bath/tub and separate shower.
One thing you will notice onboard both Riveria and Marina is the extensive art collection. In fact, there are over 2,000 pieces of artwork handpicked by the founders of the cruise line. Those looking to explore the collection can do so via a self-guided audio tour that tells the story behind each piece.
The pieces below are from Jacques onboard Marina, the signature restaurant of Jacques Pepin.
Speaking of Jacques, this restaurant is open for dinner only and is designed to make one feel like they are dining in a Paris bistro. The highlight of the menu is the chicken, duck, pork and beef which is cooked on a rotisserie that diners can see and certainly smell.
Food is served in the classic French style, including this dish of shrimp, lobster, and crab.
Other restaurants onboard Marina and Riveria include Toscana, an Italian eatery where food is served on Versace china; Red Ginger, a fantastic (truly fantastic!) Asian restaurant; The Polo Grill, the line’s signature steakhouse; and the Grand Dining Room, the ship’s main restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Afternoon tea is served at 4pm daily and offers guests a choice of pastries, finger sandwiches, scones and more all accompanied by a string quartet.
Again, thanks to Steve and Angelo for sharing their photos and be on the lookout for the next post which will highlight scenes from their time in Cuba. If you don’t want to keep checking back, sign up to have all my blog posts delivered to your inbox in real time. Go to the top right and enter your email address to get started.
If you’ve been on the Riveria or Marina, be sure to let me know what you thought about your time onboard.