From Travel Newsletter dot com


"Nautica Upgrade to Set New Oceania Standard Oceania Cruises will extensively renovate and upgrade its third ship in a two-month, multimillion-dollar project, Seatrade Insider has learned. New features will include a cabana deck, a glamorous outdoor lounge and more lavish Owner's and Vista Suites. Oceania made major renovations to Regatta and Insignia before they entered service but, said spokesman Tim Rubacky, 'Nautica will set the new standard for us.' Deck 11 forward will convert into a by-reservation cabana deck with double Balinese lounge beds, Roman shade roofs and sheer drapery partitions. Near the Deck 9 pool another new space, The Patio, will provide a shaded al fresco lounge with cushioned wrought-iron furniture, paddle fans and sheer curtains. Rubacky compared it to 'a veranda-type lounge at the swankiest Miami Beach or California hotel.' With a bandstand close by, The Patio will also be used for nighttime entertainment. The six Owner's Suites and four Vista Suites will gain new Empire-style furnishings with!
couture fabrics, Bose Surround Sound audio systems, wide-screen plasma TVs and fresh artwork. New, more contemporary furnishings are planned for the 52 Penthouse Suites. Toscana, the Italian dining venue, will be gutted and redecorated in contemporary colors. All verandas, the pool deck and aft dining terrace will be refitted in teak, and new carpeting and furniture will be installed shipwide. Robin Lindsay, svp vessel operations, is managing the project with a team of senior Oceania execs. Yran & Storbraaten are handling the design work. Nautica (the former R Five) is currently on subcharter to Pullmantur. In late September, the ship heads to T. Marriotti in Genoa for its drydock and technical maintenance before moving to Marseille for the interior outfitting. Nautica's naming festivities are scheduled for Nov. 22 in Istanbul."


Sounds like Nautica is really going to be amazing when they are finished. Can't wait to hear back from those of you who are sailing her in the near future.

Kathy

Sounds to me like Oceania is really setting a new trend in the market with all of this renovating! They seem to be offering new concepts that other lines have not even considered. Very interesting to see how the other lines will follow their aggressive concepts. I have never heard of the balinese beds on any line other than Sea Dream, which does not have balconies like Oceania does, so more reason to offer them as a "make-up". Is there to be an extra charge for these services/dining venues? If I were a non-smoker, or they would just allow me to smoke on the balcony I would definitely have my eye on this line.

There is no extra charge for the Polo Grill and Toscana, but they are reservation only.

They already have Balinese beds by the pool area on Regatta and Insignia but the new private area sounds like it will be wonderful.
Can't wait to cruise on Nautica!

"Deck 11 forward will convert into a by-reservation cabana deck with double Balinese lounge beds, Roman shade roofs and sheer drapery partitions. "

There will be a daily charge for the Cabanas..
Jan

Susan, can you look into what the extra charges will be for the cabana deck? Thanks, Olivia

Olivia,
Will be happy to and get back with you in the morning.

bet they won't have those available for a while.. but..
deck 11 forward top of the ship is /was a great place to get lost with a book away from the pool
Since they charge a daily fee of about $15.00 to use the very private deck area outside the spas which has a thasotherapy Whirlpool..balenise beds and teak chaises..( unless you get spa treatments, then it is free) I am assuming that will be the same charge.. although.. since more people would think that is pretty awesome may be more..
http://www.oceaniacruises.com/T_Mai...D=299e11ed-238f-4f6b-9a43 -b5b08858212

didn't work so click deck 11
deck 11 forward before Balenise beds and private tents ( how damn cool will that be?)

Claudia,
You are absolutely correct. They have released all the changes that are being made on the Nautica, but there is no mention of pricing for the reservations only on Deck 11. On the Insignia and Regatta, you can see the whirlpool and deck area on the front on Deck 9 from the fitness center, but we never saw anyone use it on our two week cruise. I do know they charge extra for it, and it would be a great place for a private party in my opinion.

Hi Olivia,
I am not trying to interfere on this board..I have a lot of information about Oceania since I am on the phone with them about 3 hours a day..If you or Susan or Ngaire would rather I not post and give info..I will honor that, I am not trying to do anything but be helpful..but I certainly will not be here if I am not wanted
Sincerely
Jan

Jan, where is that coming from? I just read this whole thread and I don't think Olivia ever mentioned you?

I just did the same thing looking for what prompted this? What am I missing here????

No she didnt..she specifically left me out and adressed her question to Susan..Olivia did this on other threads..and really..I have no problem but I dont want to be somewhere someone doesnt want me..as I said, I am only trying to be helpful and I admire Ngaire and Susan a lot..!!
Jan

Jan, I don't want to speak for Olivia but I think this is a case of wanting to hear what our own travel agent says. That way, we can always say, "well you said so!"

Being that this is a board sponsored by Brown and Keene and with a membership made up of many B&K clients, this is something that you might just have to get used to. I don't think anyone actually meant to be disrespectful to you.

We used it every day.. they say they charge for it, probably to deter throngs of people from using it..but if you are at the sauna area you just go out the door...shhhhhhh
Private party is a good idea.. 'cept you gotta go through the sauna areas to get there.. :D

Jan: I would have done the same thing not to slight you but because I would be booking with B&K and would want to hold them responsible for any info - your info is appreciated -

Thanks Joanne, I understand..perhaps (probably) I was oversensitive..feeling very emotional about New Orleans..
Jan

I think we're all overly emotional about NO crisis

I completely agree with Karen. No offense, Jan, but we are here on B&K's website because we are B&K's clients and we'll obviously be prone to address all our questions directly to them.

I completely understand..
Jan

"They already have Balinese beds by the pool area on Regatta and Insignia but the new private area sounds like it will be wonderful.
Can't wait to cruise on Nautica!"


WE cruise on May 17, Istanbul to Athens. This is my first time on this board. What are Balinese beds? When and how can you start reserving them on the Nautuca?

They are double chaise lounges ( in teak with thick cushions and pillows and on the Nautica they are making a really private area with them in it..
while they do have these all around the pool area on Regatta and Insignia, this new area on Nautica is supposed to be something "really" special.. so can't wait to se it..
I couldn't find pictures of the chaises on Oceania ships but here is one from Sea Dream Yacht ( not a bad ship by the way ..( same idea of the chaises, although I do not know how they will have it set up on Oceania..
I think that you won't be able to make reservations until you board and probably through
the spa services desk, since they will be outside the spa area.. very private. [img]http://www.seadreamyachtclub.com/getfile.pl?type=photo&id=43[/img]

Thank you Jan,

I really think you were trying to be helpful, thanks again.
Sandy
P.S. Jan is not my agent but nither is B&K, but I find this board really helpful, I didn't know you had to be a B&k Client.....sorry

Sandy,
You don't have to be a B&K client. Everyone is welcome.

Hi Sandy,

There are a lot of people who post here without being B&K clients, and the gracious B&K hosts have made everybody very welcome. They want these boards to provide information for anybody who needs/wants it, and they encourage everybody to ask questions and help as we/they can.

That being said, those of us who are B&K clients will be asking the B&K representatives to acquire information for us instead of other cruise agents (like Jan) who post here but aren't affiliated with the agency we happen to prefer doing business with.

So jump right on in, and let everybody help you as much as they can! The water is great, and so are all the ships!