Oceania Will Restart with Marina in Europe in August

Oceania Cruises will make its long-awaited return to sailing when Marina starts sailing to Scandinavia and Western Europe in August.

The 1,250 guest ship will start its season out of Copenhagen on Aug. 29, resuming the ship’s original schedule. Oceania then plans to phase-in the rest of its fleet with itineraries and ship debuts “evaluated for port availability and adjusted as needed” closer to sailing dates.

“The entire Oceania Cruises team is excited to now shift our focus to safely restarting operations and ultimately welcoming back our guests to begin exploring the world once again, Oceania president and CEO Bob Binder said in a statement announcing the news.

All guests and crewmembers must be vaccinated in order to be allowed on board. Oceania will also require COVID-19 antigen testing prior to boarding and a second test prior to disembarkation.

The line will also employ a “socially responsible check-in” that will have guests go through staggered embarkation with documents signed electronically.

Those requirements, and the check-in process, are the same as those unveiled by Oceania’s parent company, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, earlier this year.

Oceania also says that as the fleet comes back online, guests will be pleased to see enhancements made to the brand’s culinary experience and onboard service.

“Our guests have been waiting a long time for this moment. We know that when our guests return, we want to not just welcome them back to the Oceania Cruises they remember and cherish, but also to exceed their expectations by elevating dining experiences and service levels,” Binder said, adding that details of those enhancements will be released later.