Oceania Cruises plans to completely revamp two of its ships, Riviera and Marina, and give them a full “stem-to-stern” overhaul.
The undertaking, which will be completed over the course of this year and next, is the next step in its ongoing OceaniaNEXT programme.
Once completed, Oceania said it would proudly deploy a fully refreshed fleet comprising brand new or “better-than-new” ships in every destination.
Oceania expects Riviera to re-enter service in December 2022 and Marina in November 2023. Each ship will accommodate 1,210 guests.
Every suite and stateroom will be renovated, while public spaces will feature a refreshed colour palette, new fabrics, furnishings and light fittings.
“At Oceania Cruises, we continue to raise the bar and elevate the guest experience at every opportunity,” said president and chief executive Howard Sherman.
He added the work would extend to new culinary concepts and “immersive new destination experiences”.
Riviera will debut on 7 December sailing a 16-day Mediterranean, Atlantic and Caribbean cruise from Rome to Miami.
It will then resume sailing seven- to 14-day trips from Miami to the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America before returning to Europe in late March 2023. An inaugural Far East season will follow in late 2023 and early 2024.
Marina, meanwhile, will return to service on 13 November 2023 sailing a seven-day cruise from Barcelona to Lisbon. From Lisbon, Marina will sail to Miami to sail its annual South America season, starting 3 December 2023. Details of Oceania’s 2024 itineraries will follow in the coming weeks.
Oceania’s other ships – Insignia, Regatta, Sirena and latterly Nautica – have all been refreshed, with Nautica returning to service on 1 April.
P&O Britannia in the Caribbean, photo credit Spacejunkie
Arcadia will depart on a Canary Islands sailing on Sunday (27 March), restoring the line to its six-ship fleet – with seventh vessel Arvia joining P&O’s ranks in December.
The LNG-powered ship will sail its maiden voyage to the Canaries followed by a winter season in the Caribbean out of Barbados.
P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said the return of Arcadia marked “an important milestone” for the company “one certainly cause for celebration”.
“Britannia and Azura have had a very successful season in the Caribbean from Barbados and Iona has spent her maiden winter months in the Canary Islands and northern Europe and will soon head up to the spectacular Norwegian fjords for the summer of scenic cruising and thrilling adventures,” said Ludlow.
“It is evident that our guests are reassured by the steps we have taken to protect their health and wellbeing and that they are delighted to be back on board reigniting their passion for travel.”
Six months after the restart, Princess Cruises has added a total of eight ships back in service, including the new Enchanted Princess, which welcomed its first guests in November.
Back in Action in the Caribbean, West Coast and Hawaii
Pursuing a phased restart plan, Princess grew its active fleet to eight ships in the past six months.
The premium brand is now offering cruises in the Caribbean, West Coast and Hawaii, sailing from three different homeports.
Here are the details:
Majestic Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,600 Date: In service since July 25, 2021 Region: West Coast Homeport: Los Angeles (United States) Length: 7 nights Itinerary: Mexican Riviera
Regal Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,600 Date: In service since July 31, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 5 to 7 nights Itinerary: Eastern and Western Caribbean
Sky Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,600 Date: In service since August 30, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 7 nights Itinerary: Western and Eastern Caribbean
Grand Princess Capacity at 100%: 2,600 Date: In service since September 25, 2021 Region: West Coast Homeport: Los Angeles (United States) Length: 10 to 15 nights Itinerary: Mexican Riviera, Sea of Cortez and Hawaii
Emerald Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,100 Date: In service since October 15, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 14 and 15 nights Itinerary: Panama Canal and Southern Caribbean
Ruby Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,070 Date: In service since October 31, 2021 Region: West Coast Homeport: San Francisco (United States) Length: 15 nights Itinerary: Hawaii and Panama Canal
Enchanted Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,600 Date: In service since November 10, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 10 nights Itinerary: Southern and Eastern Caribbean
Caribbean Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,100 Date: In service since November 28, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 7 nights Itinerary: Western and Eastern Caribbean
Most of the Fleet Set to Return by May
As Princess returns to additional destinations in 2022, more vessels are resuming service. According to the company’s current restart plans, most of the fleet is set to be sailing again in May, in time for summer seasons in Alaska and Asia.
Here are the planned service resumption dates:
Discovery Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,660 Date: March 27, 2022 Region: West Coast Homeport: Los Angeles (United States) Length: 7 nights First itinerary: Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta
Island Princess Capacity at 100%: 1,950 Date: April 27, 2022 Region: Panama Canal Homeport: Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles (United States) Length: 14 nights First itinerary: Cartagena, Panama Canal (old locks), Puntarenas, San Juan del Sur, Huatulco and Puerto Vallarta
Diamond Princess Capacity at 100%: 2,600 Date: April 28, 2022 Region: Asia Homeport: Yokohama (Japan) Length: 6 nights First itinerary: Nagasaki, Busan and Kagoshima
Royal Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,600 Date: May 2, 2022 Region: Alaska Homeport: Vancouver (Canada) Length: 12 nights First itinerary: Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Sitka, Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm, Ketchikan and Victoria
Crown Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,070 Date: May 7, 2022 Region: Alaska Homeport: Seattle (United States) Length: 7 nights First itinerary: Juneau, Glacier Bay Park, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria
Sapphire Princess Capacity at 100%: 2,600 Date: August 28, 2022 Region: Asia Homeport: Hong Kong to Fremantle (Australia) Length: 12 nights First itinerary: Nha Trang, Phu My, Singapore and Lombok
Coral Princess Capacity at 100%: 1,950 Date: September 3, 2022 Region: Australia Homeport: Sydney (Australia) Length: 35 nights First itinerary: New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti and South Pacific
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