Oceania Cruises, known for exceptional culinary offering and emphasis on comfort and service, has new itineraries, new culinary classes, a $50m refurbishment programme and a re-Christening in store for 2014, as well as a new art book and new facilities on board the line’s five mid-sized luxury cruise ships.

New cruises for summer 2014
Oceania Cruises’ summer 2014 sailings include an almost entirely new line-up of over 90 voyages, including 70 European sailings (of which 93% are new), featuring 10 new ports of call in Tirana (Durrës), Albania; Antibes, France; Hamburg (Bremerhaven), Germany; Chania (Crete), Kos and Syros, Greece; Ullapool, Scotland; Lysekil, Sweden; and Milford Haven, Wales. In total during summer 2014 the line’s five ships – Riviera, Marina, Regatta, Insignia and Nautica – will sail to more than 180 destinations. In addition to the European programme, the ships will sail 10 Alaska voyages, 7 new Canada/New England cruises and 3 Panama Canal voyages.

New Grand Voyages for winter 2014
Oceania Cruises is adding 19 new Grand Voyages for winter 2014, ranging from 24 to 71 days. Included among the sailings is a 71-day South American Odyssey on board the 684-guest luxury ship Regatta. This is a round trip from Miami, crossing the Panama Canal to Peru, sailing through the Chilean fjords and around the southern tip of Cape Horn, and spending two nights in both Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. Meanwhile Nautica explores the East on Imperial Explorer, a 46-day voyage from Cape Town to Hong Kong showcasing the best of Africa and Asia. Depending on the length of the voyage booked, guests will receive a one-night pre-cruise luxury hotel stay, laundry service and roundtrip transfers.

New classes for the only cookery school at sea
Oceania Cruises is offering a new choice of more than 20 themed cookery classes in its Bon Appetit Culinary Centers in 2914, on board the 1250-guest luxury cruise ships Marina and Riviera. The classes will be themed according to the regions in which the ships are sailing, including France, Spain, Italy, Morocco and the Baltics, as well as to regional specialities, such as pasta making, preparing and cooking fish, specialities from the line’s Asian-fusian restaurant Red Ginger, and healthy dishes from the Canyon Ranch spa. The culinary centres were the first at sea to feature individual work stations with hobs, and present lessons from 45 minutes to three hours, for all abilities, under the guidance of professional chefs. The cooking experience is enhanced with visits to local markets and food producers, where the professional chefs purchase ingredients for the classes.

Example class: Oceania Favourites, Red Ginger: Learn to cook a selection of the most requested recipes from the acclaimed Red Ginger on board Marina and Riviera. Guests learn how to use the regional cooking techniques using Asian ingredients. This class is available on a number of sailings, including the 12 night Baltic Explorer cruise on board Marina, departing from Stockholm to Southampton on 11th July 2014, which costs from £2846pp, including all meals, UK flights to Stockholm, complimentary bottled water and soft drinks.

New Art book enhances Oceania’s cruising experience
In time for the first 2014 sailings, the five ships in the Oceania Cruises’ fleet stock the line’s new book, `The Oceania Cruises Art Collection’ which showcases the art and artists featured in its $4 million art collection on board onboard the 1284-guest luxury ships Marina and Riviera. More than 2,000 works from some of the world’s most famous artists are featured in the 205 page book, which also tells the story of how the line’s founders, Frank J. Del Rio and Bob Binder personally amassed the collection. Famous artworks include Picasso drawings, modern art by Robert Mars and Damien Hirst, and the work of emerging artists such as Li Domínguez Fong and Carlos Luna. The Oceania Cruises Art Collection can also be ordered from Amazon.com and at OceaniaBookCollection.com.

Insignia returns to the fleet with a re-fit and re-Christening
Oceania Cruises welcomes the 684 guest, luxury cruise ship Insignia back into the fleet in May 2014, after a two year interval. She re-joins Oceania Cruises two other R class ships (Nautica and Regatta) and the newer 1250 guest `O’ Class ships, Marina and Riviera. Her return will be commemorated by a re-Christening event on 11th June, during a 10-day celebration cruise from Istanbul, embarking on 10th June, taking in the coastlines of Turkey, Cyprus, Israel and Greece. The christening sailing costs from £1,529 per guest and includes a special rechristening package with a $200 per stateroom shipboard credit, free gratuities and a free unlimited internet package. Immediately prior to her summer 2014 Mediterranean season, which starts in Barcelona on May 8th, Insignia will also undergo a multi-million pound transformation to bring her on board facilities and styling in line with Marina and Riviera.

$50m refurbishment for Regatta, Insignia, and Nautica
Oceania Cruises’ three R-Class ships, Regatta, Insignia, and Nautica will undergo a combined $50 million dollar transformation during the second quarter of 2014, the largest refurbishment programme in the company’s history. All public rooms, suites, and staterooms will feature elegant new furnishings and décor and many of the amenities and design elements on the line’s newest ships (Marina and Riviera), including the addition of Baristas, Oceania Cruises’ signature speciality coffee bar, and the state-of-the-art grill in the Terrace Café.

The refurbishment will also include new tiling and pool deck furniture, The Canyon Ranch Spa Club will have new Steam and Changing Rooms and the Sports Deck, located atop the ship with magnificent vistas of the sea, will feature a new mini-golf course, new shuffleboard courts and selection of deck games. The transformed Insignia will debut on May 8, 2014 in Barcelona for her 7-day Jewels of Europe cruise. Nautica will debut on May 16, 2014 in Civitavecchia for her 10-day Cliffs & Coves cruise and Regatta on June 7, 2014 in Vancouver for her 10-day Majesty of Alaska cruise.