Oceania Marina

The 2011-built Oceania Marina cruise ship is one of the fleet’s newest vessels, with sister ship Riviera. Both liners were constructed by Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard (in Genoa, Italy) and designed by the Norwegian marine architecture firm Y&S (Petter Yran and Bjorn Storbratten).

The vessel (IMO number 9438066) is currently Marshall Islands/France-flagged (MMSI 538003668) and registered in Majuro.

A modified version of this design is Oceania’s new ALLURA-Class, represented by the ships Vista (2023) and Allura (2025).

History - construction and ownership

Oceania Cruises is a USA-based passenger shipping company and luxury travel brand owned by NCLH-Norwegian (shipowner). Between April 2007 and September 2014, the company (as part of Prestige Cruise Holdings) was owned by Apollo Management LP, one of the world’s largest private equity investment funds.

Since September 2014, Oceania and sister company RSSC-Regent have been owned by NCLH, acquired at a total cost of USD 3 billion.

Since January 2026, Oceania has operated as an adults-only cruise line and sea travel brand.

Oceania ships offer luxury cruises with relatively shorter itineraries, as well as Around The World voyages of up to 180 days.

The 1,260-passenger Marina debuted in January 2011 as Oceania’s first newbuild. Sleek, spacious, and stylish, Marina marked a significant step forward for the upper-premium cruise brand.

Decks and Cabins

Oceania Marina staterooms (629 total in 17 categories, based on the sister ships’ design) include 147 Suites, 444 Balcony cabins, 20 Oceanview cabins, and 18 Interior cabins. Most staterooms (94%) are Balcony cabins, sized at 240 ft2 / 22 m2. The largest passenger accommodations are the aft-facing Owner’s Suites (1,335 ft2 / 124 m2 plus a 665 ft2 / 62 m2 wraparound terrace).

The ship has 15 decks, of which 12 are passenger-accessible and 6 contain cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Oceania Cruises’ Marina offers four reservation-only specialty restaurants, along with a buffet restaurant and several casual dining venues. Specialty restaurants are complimentary but require reservations. The most high-profile venue is Jacques, the first restaurant created on land or at sea by celebrity chef Jacques Pepin. Jacques is styled as a French bistro and focuses on classic French cuisine. Other specialty venues include the Polo Grill steakhouse, Mediterranean Toscana (both carried over from earlier fleetmates), and Red Ginger, a popular Pan-Asian restaurant.

Jacques also hosts the “Gerard Bertrand Food and Wine Pairing Experience,” offered through an exclusive partnership with Gerard Bertrand (born 1965, French winemaker who owns or manages 13 estates in Languedoc-Roussillon, southern France). The experience features a six-course gourmet menu with wine pairings and limited seating (40 guests per service).

Below is the complete list of Marina restaurants and food venues.

• Red Ginger (feng shui-inspired Pan-Asian fusion specialty restaurant)
• Jacques (124-seat complimentary dinner restaurant, reservations required; French cuisine by chef Pepin)
• Grand Dining Room (complimentary 340-seat restaurant with open seating for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; French-inspired cuisine with daily changing menus)
• Ice Cream Parlor (pool deck; offers classic flavors, including Humphry Slocombe, plus milkshakes and smoothies)
• Culinary Center (cooking classes and demonstrations; hosts the “Gourmet Explorer Series” of 20 classes and “La Technique,” focusing on the methods of master chef Jacques Pepin)
• La Reserve (24-seat wine bar with surcharge; wine tastings and seven-course dinner menus)
• Toscana (96-seat Italian fine dining restaurant, dinner-only, reservations required, complimentary; traditional Italian cuisine)
• Polo Grill (96-seat steakhouse restaurant, complimentary; reservations required)
• Privee (private dining room between Toscana and Polo Grill; 10 seats, USD 1,000 per room; Chef’s Table with seven-course gourmet menu)

In October 2015, Oceania announced plans to combine the Toscana and Polo Grill specialty restaurants into a new venue, “Tuscan Steak,” featuring rich wood paneling accented with platinum and silver. The gourmet menu includes items such as Bistecca alla Fiorentina, Maine Lobster & Shrimp Fra Diavolo, Tuscan Porterhouse Steak, and the signature Iberico de Bellota pork chops. A wine cellar showcasing fine wines is located at the entrance.

During the May 2024 refurbishment, three new dining venues and options were introduced: Aquamar Kitchen, a poolside Ice Cream Bar, and an alfresco Pizzeria operating at Waves Grill in the evenings.

Aquamar Kitchen is a wellness-themed dining venue (introduced on Oceania Vista in 2023). This complimentary, reservation-free restaurant offers wellness-inspired food and beverages, including smoothies, fresh-pressed juices, mocktails made with Lyre’s non-alcoholic spirits, energy bowls, avocado toasts, salads, wraps, tuna tacos, chicken sandwiches, and Oceania’s “Impossible Burger.”

The poolside Ice Cream Bar serves gourmet Humphry Slocombe ice cream, along with milkshakes and smoothies.

Waves Grill is a casual fast-food venue serving the Pool Deck with made-to-order daily specialties and gourmet gelato or freshly made ice cream. The menu includes more than 20 items, such as burgers with fresh-made salads, coleslaw, hand-cut fries, Surf & Turf Wagyu Burger, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, and cold sandwiches. In the evenings, Waves Grill transforms into an alfresco pizzeria serving freshly baked pizzas, grilled Italian specialties, salads, rosemary focaccia with burrata, and desserts such as Nutella pizza.

Terrace Cafe & Bar is a complimentary casual buffet restaurant open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with both indoor and outdoor seating and changing menus. Terrace Bar also functions as a small pizzeria. In the evenings, Terrace Cafe transforms into “Tapas On The Terrace,” serving traditional Mediterranean cuisine. Once per cruise during dinner service, the Terrace Cafe also hosts an Indian Corner featuring approximately 15 authentic Indian dishes.

The Lido Buffet’s Sushi Station offers approximately 45 recipes, including two types of sashimi and uramaki, three varieties of nigiri, and a daily vegetarian sushi option.

Red Ginger also offers a five-course tasting menu (a-la-carte priced) with shareable platters for two to four guests, soups, salads, appetizers, seafood, vegetarian and meat main courses, and a variety of side dishes. Fleetwide since 2026, Red Ginger’s menu also includes 12 Nikkei dishes (Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine developed by master chef Gustavo Sugay), combining traditional Peruvian ingredients with Japanese culinary techniques.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Much of the inspiration for Marina’s layout comes from high-end establishments such as Miami’s Mondrian Hotel, the Palm Court at New York City’s Plaza Hotel, and the Bouchon dining venue in Napa. Marina is not positioned as a fully inclusive luxury vessel; instead, her cruises are offered at a more moderate price point, with many services and experiences available a la carte, from cocktails to enrichment programs.

Below is the complete list of Marina lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues.

• Marina Lounge (main showroom and theater for live evening entertainment and themed dance parties; also hosts daily trivia quizzes, lectures, and presentations)
• The Casino (operates with USD wagers; served by the Casino Bar)
• Martinis (piano bar serving a wide selection of martinis)
• Three Boutiques (duty-free perfumes, jewelry, Oceania-branded merchandise, clothing, gifts, and convenience items)
• Upper Hall lounge area (features a grand piano for live performances; served by the Martinis Bar)
• Grand Bar (wine bar hosting wine tastings; served by Baristas offering complimentary illy beverages)
• Concierge Lounge (for Concierge Level and Suite guests)
• Executive Lounge (for Concierge-Level Balcony and Suite guests)
• Artist Loft (educational center for Oceania Cruises’ enrichment programs)
• Oceania@Sea (24-hour Internet computer room; private lessons and group classes available)
• Pool area (one swimming pool, two whirlpools, sunbathing area, and bandstand; served by the Waves Bar)
• Sanctuary (outdoor shaded relaxation area with loungers)
• The Patio (shaded outdoor lounge with chairs, daybeds, and sofas)
• Baristas (patisserie and specialty coffee bar serving complimentary illy coffees)
• Horizons (lounge and bar with floor-to-ceiling windows, live entertainment, and full bar service; also serves afternoon tea and transforms into a nightclub at night)
• Fitness Track (power walking and jogging track) and Promenade (Deck 6)
• The Library (over 1,000 books, including numerous port and destination guidebooks) and Board Room
• Sun Deck (served by the Polo Bar; features sun loungers, showers, and deck games such as shuffleboard, golf driving net, 9-hole mini-golf putting greens, and paddle tennis)

Aquamar Wellness Center includes a Spa Terrace, swimming pool, two spa whirlpools, steam rooms, treatment rooms, styling salon, Canyon Ranch Spa Club, fitness center, and boardroom for card and board games. Canyon Ranch Spa Club treatments include acupuncture, Ayurveda, healing energy therapies, body wraps and scrubs, skin care, tanning, massages, and exotic treatments.

Aquamar Kitchen (added in 2024) is a signature wellness restaurant. Breakfast offerings include smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and energy bowls, while lunch features avocado toast, salads and wraps, an Impossible Burger, yellowfin tuna tacos, and a crunchy chicken sandwich. The beverage menu includes premium non-alcoholic wines from Pierre Zero and mocktails made with Lyre’s non-alcoholic spirits. Aquamar Kitchen is complimentary and does not require reservations.

Itineraries

MS Marina’s itinerary program focuses on World Cruises and luxury voyages to exotic destinations in the South Pacific (including sailings from Australia, New Zealand, and French Polynesia), South America, Canada and New England (USA), and Europe (Mediterranean, Canary Islands, and Baltic). Oceania Marina also offers Panama Canal transits and Transatlantic crossings (RepositionCruises.com).

Oceania Marina is the first of the line’s two newbuilt vessels. Her sister ship and fleetmate is Riviera. On September 2, 2014, NCL Norwegian purchased Prestige Cruise Holdings (owner of Oceania and RSSC-Regent Seven Seas) for USD 3.025 billion, becoming the official owner of all vessels in both fleets.

The vessel (Fincantieri Sestri Ponente, hull number 6194) is powered by four Wartsila marine diesel engines (12V46C, 2 x 12.6 MW, and 8L46C, 2 x 8.4 MW) with a combined output of 42 MW. Total propulsion power is 30.3 MW, including bow thrusters (2 x 2.2 MW), a stern thruster (1 x 1.9 MW), and fixed-pitch propellers (2 x 12 MW). The registered shipowner is NCL BAHAMAS LTD, while the current ship manager is MARINA NEW BUILD LLC.

NCLH Norwegian received government permission to operate cruises to Cuba from the USA with three Oceania ships—Marina (starting at the end of 2016), Regatta (starting in 2017), and Insignia (November–December 2017). Oceania ships operated a variety of itineraries, including a circumnavigation of Cuba (with calls at Cienfuegos and Havana), as well as visits to Cuba as part of selected Panama Canal transition cruises.

The Apollo Group provides all Oceania ships with the complete onboard hotel product and services. This includes administration, food and beverage operations (preparation and service), housekeeping, as well as vessel provisioning and crewing. Other cruise lines served by Apollo include Thomson UK (Marella Cruises) and RSSC-Regent.

Oceania Marina refurbishments review

During the May 2024 drydock refurbishment, two new dining venues were added—Aquamar Kitchen (wellness-inspired and introduced with Oceania Vista in 2023) and the Pizzeria (an alfresco restaurant serving Italian dishes, including pizzas and burrata). The poolside ice cream parlor was expanded and now offers milkshakes and smoothies. The refit also included renovations of all Penthouse Suites (custom-crafted furniture, new closets and cabinetry, updated lighting, carpets, upholstery, additional power outlets and USB ports), all cabin bathrooms (Italian marble, increased storage, oversized showers), and all public areas. Martinis, Horizons, the Grand Dining Room, and The Library were refreshed with new carpeting and upholstery. The Polo Grill steakhouse was upgraded with new carpeting, window treatments, and pillowed leather dining chairs.

The ship’s May 2020 drydock refurbishment, completed under the OceaniaNEXT project, resulted in several deck plan changes (details to be announced). Confirmed updates included the introduction of a new Owner Suite category designed by Trevor R. Howells (Los Angeles-based interior design firm).

Owner Suites are two-room accommodations furnished with Ralph Lauren Home furniture. The color palette features white, navy blue, camel, and cream tones. Upholstery and fabrics are in mélange patterns (stripes and solids) with silver- and gold-toned metallic accents. The suite’s foyer features premium wood paneling and stone flooring (limestone with black cabochon accents). The in-suite bar is crafted from mahogany with a quartzite stone top.

The suite’s living room features floor-to-ceiling windows, Grimaldi-weave sail-white fabrics, a self-playing piano made from polished ebony-black hardwood, a sectional sofa with navy blue cushions, and a mahogany lounge chair. The dining area includes a Mayfair table and a Barrett Medium Knurled chandelier in natural brass. The master bedroom is fitted with a king-size bed, Mayfair Bergere armchairs, and nickel-trimmed lighting.

The suite’s wraparound balcony is premium teak-floored and furnished with custom-made Ralph Lauren outdoor lounge furniture.

Drydock 2024

The scheduled drydock in 2024 (April 30–May 18) was conducted at Navantia Shipyard in Cadiz, Spain.

The multi-million refurbishment project included the complete renovation of all passenger staterooms.

All public spaces (hallways, stairways, bars, lounges, and dining venues—including the Grand Dining Room, Polo Grill, Martinis, Horizons, and The Library) were renovated with new carpeting, furnishings, fabrics, lighting fixtures, artwork, Tuscan marble accents, and refreshed upholstery.

The Penthouse Suites were redesigned and fully refurbished with new custom-made furniture, wardrobes and cabinetry, carpets and upholstery, updated lighting, additional power outlets, and USB ports. Penthouse Suite bathrooms were upgraded with Italian marble throughout, increased storage, and larger showers.

All top-tier staterooms (Oceania Suites and above) were redesigned and upgraded.

The ship’s three existing restaurants were renovated, and three new dining venues and culinary options were added.

Aquamar Kitchen is a wellness-themed dining venue (introduced on Oceania Vista in 2023). This complimentary, reservation-free restaurant offers wellness-inspired cuisine and beverages, including smoothies, fresh-pressed juices, mocktails made with Lyre’s non-alcoholic spirits, energy bowls, avocado toasts, salads, wraps, tuna tacos, chicken sandwiches, and Oceania’s “Impossible Burger.”

The new Ice Cream Bar (poolside) serves gourmet Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream, along with milkshakes and smoothies.

Waves Grill transforms in the evenings into an alfresco trattoria-style venue serving Italian cuisine, including fresh-baked pizza by the slice and gourmet desserts.

The Polo Grill steakhouse received new carpeting, dining chairs, and window treatments.