Sailing on Oceania's Marina
Beccy Miller
Beccy and Emma from the Cruise Circle family were fortunate enough to be invited to spend 5 nights on the wonderful Oceania Marina, as she travelled across the Baltic Sea. Find out what they got up to...
Staterooms
We stayed in a Concierge cabin which was lovely and spacious, with a double bed, sofa area, a dressing table and a bottle of champagne waiting for us on arrival. The bathroom had a full-size bath and separate shower, with a selection of bath salts and scrubs next to the tub to relax with, which is a lovely touch! The bed was probably the comfiest I have ever slept in at sea, I slept soundly every night. The room attendant was lovely and attentive and we had breakfast in our cabin one morning. Concierge cabins and above also have access to a private sun deck via the spa.
Ship
Marina is a small ship, when she is full she sails with 1,250 guests, but there are plenty of public spaces, giving passengers lots of room to relax without ever feeling crowded. We were blessed with fantastic weather for the duration of the cruise and spent most afternoons on the pool deck, with plenty of comfy sun loungers and a fantastic pool to take a dip in, along with two hot tubs. It never felt crowded, even when we were at sea.
There are lots of lovely nooks and crannies to discover, from the opening atrium to the sofas up by Martinis, which - as well as serving killer martinis - also hosted quizzes in the afternoon. Horizons the main lounge offered terrific views of the front of the ship and was a great place to enjoy a post-dinner drink with the house band playing. I took advantage of our late arrival in Stockholm to enjoy a morning massage and facial in the spa. The treatment was fantastic and my skin felt great after. Some of our wider party took part in cooking sessions in a special culinary kitchen and you can also find boutiques, a casino, a theatre and an art gallery onboard.
Food
If you’re a foodie then you absolutely must take an Oceania cruise. They are renowned for ‘The Finest Cuisine At Sea’ and it’s a title that is well deserved. We ate in each of the speciality restaurants – this is included in the cruise fare, with a guarantee of at least one booking in each restaurant for every trip.
The first night we ate in the main dining room and even this was exquisite, with fantastic views of the wake next to us. The Dover sole was deboned at the table and the waiter accommodated us with sample dishes of one or two items. In Toscana, you can choose from a large selection of olive oils and all kinds of vinegar to accompany your bread selection which is a lovely touch and the gorgonzola filet mignon was superb. As a fan of Japanese cuisine, I was most looking forward to eating at Red Ginger, the Asian fusion restaurant and it didn’t disappoint, the miso-glazed cod and lobster pad thai were stand-out dishes.
Talking of lobster, the steak and lobster surf and turf sandwich in Waves Grill is a spectacular lunch choice, they also serve amazing milkshakes too! Polo Grill the streak house offers amazing prime rib and Jacques served some of the finest French dishes I have ever tasted - if you find yourself dining there, then I can highly recommend the saffron-infused bouillabaisse - it was out-of-this-world.
Excursions
As part of the OLife Choice concept, you can choose a ‘perk’ to enjoy on your cruise, excursions, onboard credit or a drinks package (Soft drinks, tips and a host of other amenities are already included) We did some fantastic excursions, the perfect length for each particular activity, with knowledgeable tour guides and a good mix of options. The process in the mornings to greet your guide ran like clockwork and was a pleasant experience. Oceania also offered a complimentary shuttle bus service from the port to the heart of each destination too, so if you like to explore on your own, you could still do this. I took a grand tour of Tallinn Old Town and also visited the lovely Imperial Fishing Lodge in Hamina and Emma had a fantastic morning kayaking in Helsinki.
Service
The service onboard was exemplary. When you needed something, it was there, without it being too in your face or feeling like you had someone hovering by you. Your glasses at dinner were filled seamlessly, staff remembered little things you liked and nothing was ever too much trouble. The cruise industry is known for its outstanding service, but Oceania takes it and elevates it. All in all, Oceania feel like cruising’s best-kept secret, the perfect stepping stone from mainstream lines to high-end luxury cruising and incredible value when you consider everything that is included with your fare. Try them, you won’t be disappointed!
Want to discover Oceania Cruises for yourself? You can find more sailings and ship information here
