#PICKoftheWEEK - Oceania Cruises

From our Groups Manager, Liza Leister...I love working with Oceania because I never need worry about the quality and service my clients will be receiving.  Oceania is a premium cruise line whose tag line is Your World Your Way.  They really focus their cruises on the destinations and it is not unusual to find an itinerary which has 1 or 2 overnights in selected ports so you have more quality time to explore the regions you are cruising to.  If you have sailed with Holland America, Princess or Celebrity in the past, Oceania would be a great choice for your next cruise as an introduction to the world of premium cruising.

The ships of Oceania are the Regatta, Insignia, Nautica, Sirena, Marina and Riviera.  They are all comfortably mid-size and range from 684-1250 passengers.  The guest to staff ratio is 1.71 to 1.  This means you are NOT just a number as is the case with the larger cruise ships that are now the normal in cruising.   Larger ships simply cannot provide the pronounced intimacy, coziness and many other advantages of Oceania Cruises. I have been hearing feedback from many of my clients who have recently sailed on some of the mass-market ships that the service and quality of food has declined in the last 1-2 years.  With Oceania, you can relax on board their luxurious ships and savor exquisite cuisine that not only is renowned as the finest at sea, but also rivals the best restaurants ashore. Inspired by Master Chef Jacques Pépin, these culinary delights have always been a hallmark that distinguishes the Oceania Cruises experience from any other. Considering the uncompromising quality, perhaps the most remarkable aspect of an Oceania Cruises voyage is its incredible value. Lavish complimentary amenities abound, and there are never supplemental charges in any of the onboard restaurants. Value packages ensure that sipping a glass of vintage wine, surfing the Internet or enjoying a shore excursion is both convenient and affordable.  NO dreaded formal nights!  They just recommend country club casual clothing for dinner. 

IDEALLY MID-SIZE

• Mid-size ships catering to just 684 or 1,250 guests
  
• Visit boutique ports and seaside villages that large ships cannot access
  
• Never a crowd and no waiting in lines; experience your vacation according to your own schedule
  
• With open-seating in all our restaurants, dine where, when and with whom you please, at your own pace
  
• Cuisine never prepared en masse; every single dish created à la minute just for you
  
• Staff and crew attend to your every whim and remember your individual preferences
  

Find links here for an awesome FINAL SALE deal or FREE SAFARI deal that Oceania is running right now on select sailings which can include, buy one get 1, free pre-paid gratuities, free unlimited internet, onboard credits and FREE AIR.   The space is very limited on these sailings for these specials and they need to be booked by June 30, 2015.

Here a couple of sailings from I recommend from the “Final Sale” promotion:

MEDITERRANEAN MOSAIC

• Athens to Barcelona
  
• Riviera | Oct 5, 2015 | 8 days
  
• Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Taormina (Sicily), Italy; Sorrento/Capri, Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Florence/Pisa/Tuscany (Livorno), Italy; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Provence (Marseille), France; Barcelona, Spain
• Free Pre-Paid Gratuities
  
• Free Unlimited Internet
  
• $200 Shipboard Credit per stateroom
  
• $2,699 per person

 
SCENIC COVES

• Barcelona to Monte Carlo
  
• Riviera | Aug 5, 2015 | 7 days
  
• Barcelona, Spain; Palamos, Spain; Provence (Marseille), France; Saint-Tropez, France;     Florence/Pisa/Tuscany (Livorno), Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Cinque Terre (La Spezia),Italy; Monte Carlo, Monaco
• Free Pre-Paid Gratuities
  
• Free Unlimited Internet
  
• $200 Shipboard Credit per stateroom
  
• $2,599 per person
  

BALTIC MARVELS

• Copenhagen to Stockholm
  
• Marina | Aug 14, 2015 | 7 days
  
• Copenhagen, Denmark; Berlin (Warnemünde), Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg,Russia; Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden
• Free Pre-Paid Gratuities
  
• Free Unlimited Internet
  
• $300 Shipboard Credit per stateroom
  
• $99 Premium Air Upgrade 4
  
• $2,499 Per person

 It’s time for you to sail with Oceania and find out why they are the BEST VALUE IN UPSCALE CRUISING