THE EXCITEMENT ONBOARD MARINA CONTINUES!
Whew! What a week it has been here onboard Marina! I've hardly had a moment to check in on the blog, so I thought it was time for an update. If you saw the post by our Blogger at Large on the Christening Cruise, you know that last weekend was an exciting and emotional event for all of us. You may not know that on the final night of that cruise, we celebrated with a grand performance by Willy Chirino. And Frank Del Rio may not know that I caught a couple of photos of him, his wife Marcia, and their grandkids dancing the night away. Frank was also thrilled to be invited to the stage to sing a few lines with Chirino!
The festivities ended all too soon - but just in time for more festivities to begin. Our guests disembarked the Christening Cruise on Tuesday morning, and by Tuesday afternoon more guests had embarked for the Inaugural Passage through the Panama Canal. It is amazing to watch the staff and crew ready the ship for the next cruise in just a few short hours. Before we knew it, it was time for the Sailaway Party as Marina departed for Cartagena, Colombia.
You may think that I will now have a chance to relax and take some time to enjoy all of our successes with Marina. But the work continues. While Marina is elegant, stunning and a whole other list of superlatives, Frank and I will settle for nothing short of perfection. For instance, yesterday we were raising the Buddha heads in Red Ginger so they would be more prominently displayed.
The other day Frank was walking down the stairs from his stateroom and suddenly stopped in his tracks. He pointed out the center post of the stair railing to myself and a couple other staff members that were nearby. The post and railing were painted black with some simple scrollwork, and Frank said, "That's not good enough." He decided a Moroccan silver overlay perhaps would improve the stair railing's appearance. It's all in the details!
Meanwhile, we also have film crews, models, editors, and a host of other Oceania Cruises team members onboard to film and photograph shots of Marina. One of our Owner's Suites has been taken over by crew members capturing Marina's beauty from every angle.
One of our butlers gets a touch up before going in front of the camera.
Chef awaits his big moment.
Speaking of chefs, I haven't mentioned our cuisine lately, but it continues to impress. I had to share a photo of this beautiful brioche.
And below is the spinach and goat cheese salad I had in Toscana last night.
I had to make up for my morning during which I had my usual chocolate croissant, however a guest showed me how to make it even better. I now slather it in peanut butter.
No matter how hard we may be working, we certainly continue to eat well!
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That spinach & goats cheese salad looks mouthwatering!
Like Helena I'm looking forward to being on Marina in March 2012. What a long time to wait! As she says, just keep the pictures and stories coming, it'll while away the time for us.
Just been watching Marina go through the Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal live webcam. Brilliant! http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html?cam=Miraflores
Posted by: Winifred | February 12, 2011 at 04:55 PM
The croissants don't sneak up on you. The aroma hypnotizes you and then you are finished.
We are looking forward to the August cruise from Dover. Can't wait. Have to get through tax season first though.
Posted by: Bruce Raskin | February 11, 2011 at 05:55 PM
Better watch those croissants!!!!!
They can sneak up on your waistline
Looking forward to being on Marina soon
Posted by: Lulu | February 11, 2011 at 05:15 PM
What wonderful photos and I can't wait till March 2012 for our voyage on the Marina. The food is fantastic and I must say the Spinach salad is one of my favorites.
I look forward to seeing more pictures and reading more stories of the marina.
Thanks and keep the stories coming!
Helena Dreyer
Posted by: Helena Dreyer | February 11, 2011 at 04:09 PM