New O ship coming

Looks like O is buying the Ocean Princess and will launch her as the O Sirena in 2016. This bides well for different itineraries, I hope.

Super news

My ta just sent us article

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Love the name! The mermaid!

Looks like O is buying the Ocean Princess and will launch her as the O Sirena in 2016. This bides well for different itineraries, I hope.

Great news! She'll need a bit of "sprucing up" before she can be up to O standard :)

I am sure that it will be taken care of.

Here is article

MIAMI – November 25, 2014 – Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq: NCLH) today announced a definitive agreement with Princess Cruises, Ltd. to purchase Ocean Princess for its newly acquired Oceania Cruises brand. The 684-passenger ship joins Oceania Cruises’ trio of award-winning sister ships Insignia, Regatta and Nautica. The new addition will be named Sirena.

Upon delivery in March 2016, Sirena will immediately undergo a 35-day, $40 million refurbishment in Marseille, France to elevate the ship to the Oceania Cruises’ standard of elegance. Drawing on the recent transformation of Insignia as inspiration, the ship will feature Oceania Cruises’ renowned specialty dining restaurants, Toscana and Polo Grill, along with more recent additions to the fleet such as Baristas and the cook-to-order grill at Terrace Café. The ship will welcome her first guests in late April 2016.

The addition of Sirena, along with the recently completed refurbishment of Insignia, Nautica and Regatta, demonstrates Oceania Cruises’ unwavering commitment to mid-size ships and destination orientated cruising. With Sirena, Oceania Cruises will expand the number and diversity of destination-rich itineraries offered, appealing to both seasoned world travelers and passionate cruisers.

“The acquisition of Sirena provides measured capacity growth based on the proven platform of Oceania Cruises’ highly regarded mid-size ships,” said Kevin Sheehan, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, parent company of Oceania Cruises. “Our belief in the Oceania Cruises brand and our commitment to its growing base of loyal guests were the rationale behind our decision to bring Sirena into the fleet.”

“The addition of Sirena opens up an entire array of new itinerary options for Oceania Cruises as we think about our deployment strategy,” added Kunal S. Kamlani, president and chief operating officer of Oceania Cruises. “The award-winning guest experience delivered on our ships, coupled with a collection of innovative itineraries that cater to new markets, will combine for an alluring siren song for both our current and future guests.”

The inaugural season for Sirena will be released in late February 2015 with reservations opening on March 4, 2015. For more information on Oceania Cruises, visit http://www.OceaniaCruises.com, call 855-OCEANIA or contact your travel professional.

About Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises offers unrivaled cuisine, elegant accommodations and exceptional personalized service, all for an extraordinary value. Known for its unique and destination-rich itineraries that appeal to the seasoned traveler, Oceania Cruises calls on more than 330 ports across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific, Asia, Africa and the Americas aboard five award-winning mid-size ships: the 684-guest Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, and the 1,250-guest Marina and Riviera. Oceania Cruises recently announced the acquisition of a new ship, Sirena, which will join the fleet in March 2016.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq: NCLH) is a diversified cruise operator of leading global cruise lines spanning market segments from contemporary to luxury under the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands.

These brands operate a combined 21 ships with approximately 40,000 lower berths visiting more than 430 destinations worldwide. The company’s brands will introduce six new ships through 2019.

Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising, which revolutionized the industry by giving guests more freedom and flexibility on the most contemporary ships at sea. Oceania Cruises is the market leader in the upper-premium cruise segment featuring the finest cuisine at sea, gourmet culinary experiences, elegant accommodations, impeccable service and destination-driven itineraries. Regent Seven Seas Cruises is the market leader in the luxury cruise segment with all-suite accommodations, highly personalized service and the industry’s most inclusive luxury experience featuring round-trip air, fine wines and spirits and unlimited shore excursions among its numerous included amenities.

# # #

CONTACT: Media Contact: Investor Contact:

AnneMarie Mathews: 305-436-4799 Andrea DeMarco: 305-468-2463

amathews@ncl.com ademarco@ncl.com

<Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Fleet Expansion for Oceania Cruises 11 25 2014.pdf>

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This is a positive move from NCL with deep pockets to enhance Oceania.

Let's hope that ALL the future moves from NCL will be this good.

This is a positive move from NCL with deep pockets to enhance Oceania.

Let's hope that ALL the future moves from NCL will be this good.

My sentiments exactly. Seems as if NCL wants to keep Oceania just as it is and that's what we all want!

Great move.....

Love the name! The mermaid!

Ditto....very excited!!

Am thrilled they are committing to the mid-sized ships and will eagerly await the new itineraries.

So another R ship from Renaissance. Wonder if she will be configured to look just like the other three?

Since we like the smaller ships this is great news.

We are told the Pacific Princess is also available. Two is better than one.

way back in May, and the info I got from the GM on Riviera in April was correct!

Now we'll see if there's going to be a 3rd O class!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2045664

Wonder if she will be configured to look just like the other three?

I would say... of course!

GOOD JOB NCL/ OCEANIA Nice to hear good news

Not all R-ships were created equal

Remember when Azamara got theirs they added larger cabins to part of deck 8 (PH on O)

I do see they have W/C at the back of the lounge (Horizons) hope they will leave those there

Interesting to see where they will position her ASIA maybe

Not all R-ships were created equal

Remember when Azamara got theirs they added larger cabins to part of deck 8 (PH on O)

 

Compare and contrast...

http://www.princess.com/deckPlans.do?shipCode=OP

On the Azamara boards -- where they were speculating that Azamara would buy the ocean princess --someone mentioned that the new ship has a different configuration of mini suites. I think deck 8. Someone here may know something about this difference

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- where they were speculating that Azamara would buy the ocean princess --someone mentioned that the new ship has a different configuration of mini suites. I think deck 8. Someone here may know something about this difference

If the Ocean Princess/Sirena gets the same refit as our R ships did, as Sheehan inferred that she would, then the previous Deck 8 differences will be a thing of the past.

The entire deck of Penthouse Suites on Insignia, Regatta and Nautica have been transformed into virtual replicas of those on Marina and Riviera.

On the Azamara boards -- where they were speculating that Azamara would buy the ocean princess --someone mentioned that the new ship has a different configuration of mini suites. I think deck 8. Someone here may know something about this difference

 

 

Before they came to Azamara deck 8 had the regular size cabins think A Cat on O

then during it's refit they added ones to deck 8 like the PH on O

You can see video of the renovations here on CC ...just do a search

I was on the Ocean Princess several years ago on a 30 Rome to Capetown. Great acquisition. Warm woods, beautiful details, homey spaces, never seemed crowded.

I'm so pleased to see this announcement. Wouldn't it be great if all of the "former" R ships got together in one place and had reunion? :D

Logistics could be a nightmare, right, but it could be done.

If the Ocean Princess/Sirena gets the same refit as our R ships did, as Sheehan inferred that she would, then the previous Deck 8 differences will be a thing of the past.

 

The entire deck of Penthouse Suites on Insignia, Regatta and Nautica have been transformed into virtual replicas of those on Marina and Riviera.

Do you mean identical in size to those on O ships or scaled down version?

Do you mean identical in size to those on O ships or scaled down version?

Similar in style, same size as they always have been.

Ocean Princess was constructed with the same Deck 8 layout as Regatta, Insignia and Nautica. The other passenger deck layouts are also identical. As Lynn mentioned, there appears to be restrooms near the entrance to Horizons Lounge, which do not appear on the deck plans for the Oceania ships. The Princess layout for the casino and bar is also different; I would expect these to be renovated to match the current ships.

This has been in the planning stages for some time; I first had it whispered in my ear back in May, complete with the planned name, Sirena. I hinted at it in several threads speculating about a possible purchase, but didn't want to break a confidence. Now, seeing that it is actually NCL Holdings making the purchase, I wonder if the NCL takeover was actually in the planning stages back then, also.

There is already speculation that NCL Holdings might purchase the Pacific Princess and perhaps the P&O Adonia, which was in the Princess fleet until transferred to P&O. Princess and P&O are both Carnival owned. All based in relative closeness in Miami, I wouldn't be a bit surprised to learn that FDR, NCL's Sheehan and Carnival's Mickey Arison are all well acquainted. The ships don't really fit Carnival's profile.

Pacific Princess has the same layout as Ocean Princess. Adonia, which was the newest of the R ships, the R8, has the same layout as the Azamara ships did before refitting, which means that Deck 8 has all standard veranda-sized cabins and no penthouses. Azamara rebuilt the back half of Deck 8 into Sky Suites, similar to Oceania's penthouses. The remainder of Deck 8 on Azamara's ships are standard veranda cabins, like deck 7. If Oceania gained possession of Adonia, Deck 8 could be rebuilt to match the current ships. There also does not appear to be a casino on Adonia.

There also is speculation that Azamara has to step up or divest, especially if Oceania had all 6 of the other R ships. There were rumors that Azamara might buy Ocean Princess, but obviously NCL/Oceania won out.

For anyone who has not read up on the history of the R ships and is interested, here is the best information I could find:

R1, 1998, currently Oceania Insignia

R2, 1998, currently Oceania Regatta

R3, 1999, currently Pacific Princess

R4, 1999, currently Ocean Princess, will become Oceania Sirena

R5, 2000, currently Oceania Nautica

R6, 2000, currently Azamara Journey

R7, 2000, currently Azamara Quest

R8, 2001, currently P&O Adonia (was Royal Princess for awhile)

Not all R-ships were created equal

Remember when Azamara got theirs they added larger cabins to part of deck 8 (PH on O)

 

I do see they have W/C at the back of the lounge (Horizons) hope they will leave those there

 

Interesting to see where they will position her ASIA maybe

The Ren 1 through 6 were all exactly the same and Princess had the 3 and 4 so they are exactly the same less the upgrading..Azamara have the 6 and 7 which had no suites at all so they had to add some that are not a copy of O in fact a little nicer..and did a very good job I must say!! David Kelly that worked for Oceania moved over to Azamara when Dan Hanrahan was the President to oversee the renovation and addition of the suites..

Maybe this will be the ship that makes the run to the Bahamas..

Jancruz1