Oceania Cruises unveils its 2014-2015 winter itineraries

George Argyropoulos, managing director of Cruises International.

With new ports in Asia, Africa and the Americas, Oceania Cruises' five ships - Riviera, Marina, Nautica, Insignia and Regatta - will visit a diverse array of destinations on five continents.

"The launch will feature a record-breaking 86 voyages for the company, 44 of which are new itineraries, and include 19 all-new Grand Voyages ranging from 24 to 71 days, and 15 Around the World Combination itineraries as part of Insignia's epic Around the World in 180 Days cruise," said George Argyropoulos, managing director of Cruises International.

All 2014-2015 Winter Collection voyages include two-for-one cruise fares. Guests who book a veranda or higher category by 31 December 2013 will enjoy the added value of free pre-paid gratuities, free unlimited Internet and early booking savings of up to R50,000.

"The 2014-2015 Winter Collection truly spans the world with new and diverse itineraries, plus 16 new ports of call in South America, Africa, China, Indonesia, New Zealand, and the Caribbean and Hawaiian Islands," said Argyropoulos.

'Riviera' in the Caribbean

Riviera offers 12 itineraries exploring the Caribbean for the winter 2014-15 season. The new seven-day cruise, Colorful Caribbean stops in Honduran city of Trujillo, a new port of call for Oceania Cruises. The new 14-day sailing, Sunny Getaways, stops in three new ports: Santa Marta, Colombia; El Guamache (Isla Margarita), Venezuela; and Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. Several new 10-day itineraries visit the Eastern and Western Caribbean, and the new 12-day Holidays in the Tropics spends the holiday season calling on beautiful islands that include St. Barts, Antigua, and Barbados. With the exception of the ever-popular Mayan Mystique, all itineraries are new.

'Marina' in Paradise

Marina begins the season in Rio de Janeiro with two South American voyages, including the new 16-day Southernmost Wonders that sails around the southern tip of the continent. The remainder of the season will mostly be spent in the South Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand with nine new voyages ranging from 10 to 18 days, including overnight stays in Easter Island, Bora Bora, Tahiti, and Nuku Hiva. The season ends with a fascinating 16-day voyage, Americas Adventure, which travels from Lima to New York through the Panama Canal.

'Nautica' from Africa to Asia

Nautica returns to Africa and Asia with eight itineraries ranging from 15 to 35 days, stopping in ports from Cape Town to Beijing and Dubai to Tokyo. Guests will spend the holidays exploring Africa on South African Holiday, a 15-day cruise that visits Mossel Bay and Port Elizabeth, two new ports of call for Oceania Cruises in South Africa. The 30-day Safaris, Temples & Jewels visits exotic ports from Cape Town to Singapore with overnight stays in both cities as well as the Maldives. Nautica then begins five cruises exploring Asia, ranging from 16 to 35 days, which showcase ports throughout China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, including two-night stays in Shanghai and Rangoon and one-night stays in Bangkok, Saigon, Hanoi, Tokyo and Beijing.

The Panama Canal & South America on 'Regatta'

Regatta begins her season with a new 16-day Panama Canal sailing, Festive Panama Canal -which stops in Corinto, Nicaragua, a new port -followed by the popular 10-day Mayan Mystique cruise in the Western Caribbean. Another new Panama Canal cruise, the 18-day Bridge of the Americas, travels from Miami to Lima, followed by three South American cruises that explore the natural beauty of Peru and Chile, the vibrant cultures of Argentina and Brazil and the exotic wonders of the Amazon. Regatta completes the season with two cruises in the Eastern Caribbean islands, followed by a final Panama Canal transit from Miami to San Francisco that stops in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, another new port for Oceania Cruises.

Around the World with 'Insignia'

After a Caribbean and an Amazon cruise, Insignia departs from Miami for the company's first ever Around the World in 180 Days cruise. The Around the World in 180 Days cruise is a star-studded, port-intensive 180-day voyage setting sail round-trip from Miami on 10 January 2015. This extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime voyage circumnavigates the globe visiting five continents, 44 countries, and 89 ports of call.

Around the World itinerary combinations, ranging from 34 to 128 days, will open for bookings with the 2014-2015 Winter Collection launch, offering a unique array of exotic ports in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australia and the South Pacific.

An Oceania Nautica verandah suite... just watch the world go by...

For example, the 36-day Sunshine & Safaris, from Miami to Cape Town, affords a rare opportunity to visit ports in Togo and Benin and also features calls in Belém, Brazil and São Tomé, São Tomé & Principe, two new ports for the line. The 55-day Pagodas & Pearls, from Shanghai to Papeete, features overnight stays in Shanghai, Beijing, Bali and Tahiti as well as Cairns, Australia, while also visiting the Philippines, Komodo and Whitsunday Islands.

Guests booking these combinations will receive complimentary amenities from the line's Exclusive Prestige Package, depending on the length of the voyage they book, including a one-night pre-cruise luxury hotel stay, access to exclusive shore-side events, laundry service, round-trip transfers, Internet and pre-paid gratuities and Ship board credit.

All-new Grand Voyages

With the Winter 2014-2015 launch, the company unveils 19 new Grand Voyages ranging from 24 to 71 days blending multiple itineraries for in-depth exploration. For example, Regatta's 71-day South American Odyssey travels roundtrip from Miami, crossing the Panama Canal to Peru, sailing through the Chilean fjords and around the southern tip of Cape Horn, and spending two nights in both Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. Nautica explores the East on Imperial Explorer, a 46-day voyage from Cape Town to Hong Kong showcasing the best of Africa and Asia.

These voyages feature two-for-one cruise fares and the additional value of Exclusive Prestige Package amenities. Depending on the length of the voyage booked, guests will receive a one-night pre-cruise luxury hotel stay, laundry service and roundtrip transfers. For bookings made by 31 December 2013, these voyages also offer free pre-paid gratuities and free unlimited Internet for all stateroom and suite categories.

For more information and to make bookings, contact your travel agent, call Cruises International on +27 (0) 11 327 0327 or visit www.cruises.co.za.