MIAMI — Oceania Cruises' first newbuild, the 1,250-passenger Marina, was named here Saturday, with founder Frank del Rio calling the ship the beginning of "the next phase of Oceania’s evolution."
The Marina’s godmother, “Entertainment Tonight” host Mary Hart, named the vessel during a pierside ceremony at the Port of Miami. A Nebuchadnezzar (15-liter bottle) of champagne, custom-made by Armand de Brignac, crashed against the 66,000-ton ship’s hull.
Hart said that the Oceania crew was "so kind, so welcoming, so in love with this ship and so proud, that it makes me feel proud to be her godmother."
Del Rio thanked his team for sticking around since the line began operations with three 684-passenger R-class ships eight years ago, when the company broke into an industry dominated by two titans.
He also applauded Apollo Management, the New York-based private equity company that purchased Oceania three years ago and funded its expansion with the order for two $600 million dollar vessels.
Steve Martinez, an Apollo partner, told the audience that when he first agreed to travel on Oceania to consider the purchase, he did not have high hopes.
"We were analytical, cynical and downright sceptical," he said of his trip. By the end, he said, "We were blown away."
Del Rio and Oceania President Bob Binder also thanked the 500 travel sellers in the audience.
"Without our travel partners' support, we could have never built this ship," Binder said.
The ceremony included performances by the Marina Choir (assembled for this event), a flamenco guitar group and violinists. It was followed by a fireworks show, before the ship embarked on a three-day sailing for members of the press and travel agents.
The Marina entered service in late January, and features the industry’s first Bon Appétit Culinary Center, a Wine Spectator wine program and a Lalique grand stairway.