Oceania Cruises - Experts & Thought Leaders

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) advised a syndicate of lenders led by BNP Paribas (“BNPP”), SACE SpA and SIMEST SpA on the financing and delivery of the cruise vessel Norwegian Aqua, owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. group (“NCLH”) and built at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy. Norwegian Aqua is the third of NCLH’s Prima-class vessels and, at approximately 156,000 gt, is the largest vessel to be built at the Marghera shipyard. It can accommodate approximately 3,550 passengers and offers travellers a 10% increase in size and capacity to its guests compared to its sister vessels. Comparable cruise lines Norwegian Aqua's design reflects Norwegian Cruise Line's commitment to sustainability and innovation for a responsible cruise experience. First, it is designed to be spacious, offering up to 36% more space per guest than comparable cruise lines. It also stands out as one of the most visually striking ships ever constructed with the design of the hull artwork signed from artist Allison Hueman. As part of its numerous advanced technological features, Norwegian Aqua debuts the Aqua Slidecoaster, the world’s first hybrid roller coaster and water slide at sea using a magnetic lift system to launch guests through twists and turns. Its Glow Court is a first-of-its-kind interactive space that transforms a high-tech LED sport arena by day into a nightclub. Responsible cruise experience The NCLH group expects to add 12 additional ships across its three brands through 2036 NCLH is a global cruise company which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. With a combined fleet of 33 ships and approximately 70,000 berths, they offer itineraries to approximately 700 destinations worldwide. The NCLH group expects to add 12 additional ships across its three brands through 2036, which will add approximately 37,000 berths to its fleet. The cross-border WFW Finance team that advised the lenders was led by Paris Partner Alexia Russell, supported by London Associate Parit Patani, Paris Associate Panagiotis Pantos and Trainee Solicitor Emma Devenish. Alexia commented: “We are delighted to have assisted BNPP and the lenders on another successful delivery for NCLH, having most recently advised the syndicate of lenders on the deliveries of Seven Seas Grandeur and Vista in 2023. We wish both the vessel and NCLH all the best as it enters into service.”

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. has announced a new leadership structure to execute on its multibillion-dollar fleet expansion for its ultra-premium and luxury cruise brands. Jason Montague has been appointed Chief Luxury Officer for NCLH, effective February 17, 2025, overseeing both Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises, capitalising on his extensive industry expertise and strong track record previously pioneering these brands. This appointment underscores NCLH’s focus on its Charting the Course strategy, which includes adding five new builds to its upscale brands’ fleets and plans to refurbish nearly all their existing vessels. Next phase of growth "With over 20 years of expertise in luxury hospitality and a strong track record of driving excellence, Jason brings exceptional strategic expertise to our company and to our executive team," said Harry Sommer, President and CEO at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. He adds, "Having already led Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises in the past, Jason is uniquely positioned to shape their future. His unwavering passion for these brands, coupled with his financial acumen, alignment with our corporate culture and strong focus on executing our Charting the Course strategy, make him the ideal pioneer for this next phase of growth. Jason is ready to hit the ground running from day one, and I am confident his leadership will propel our brands forward, setting new standards in upscale travel." NCLH’s bold vision For Oceania Cruises, the brand is expecting three new builds through 2029, starting with Allura later this year To advance NCLH’s bold vision for the future, the company plans to substantially increase its presence and positioning in the ultra-premium and luxury markets. Over the next five years, NCLH will execute its previously announced multibillion-dollar investment in its upscale brands as it pursues continued leadership in this market. For Oceania Cruises, the brand is expecting three new builds through 2029, starting with Allura later this year. Additionally, the brands’ ships Marina and Riviera will be refurbished in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Regent Seven Seas Cruises For Regent Seven Seas Cruises, two new vessels will be added through 2029, in addition to planned enhancements to Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager in 2025 and 2026, respectively. "I am deeply honoured to once again lead Regent Seven Seas Cruises and collaborate with Frank in pioneering Oceania Cruises," said Jason Montague, incoming Chief Luxury Officer at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. New standards Jason Montague added: "This is an exciting time for these two award-winning brands, as we are ready to execute on our commitment to delivering sophisticated mid-sized, upscale and luxurious ships with elegant designs and state-of-the-art offerings." He continues, "Also, the passion and exceptional talent of team members across each brand, both shoreside and shipside, are a true inspiration. I am confident we will set new standards and create unforgettable experiences for our guests." Prior roles of Jason Montague Before this appointment, Jason Montague served as a Special Advisor to NCLH for two years Before this appointment, Jason Montague served as a Special Advisor to NCLH for two years, after pioneering the Regent Seven Seas Cruises brand as President and Chief Executive Officer until 2022. Before that, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer for both the Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, where he successfully oversaw the launch of Sirena for Oceania Cruises and the Seven Seas Explorer for Regent Seven Seas Cruises.  Jason Montague's educational background Before NCLH’s acquisition of Prestige, Jason Montague was Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President at Prestige, where he played a key role in launching Oceania Cruises, overseeing the purchase of its initial R-class vessels, securing an investment from Apollo Global Management, and acquiring Regent Seven Seas Cruises.  He also led the financing and delivery of Oceania Cruises’ new ships, Marina and Riviera. Prior to that, he served as Oceania Cruises’ VP & Treasurer and SVP of Finance. Earlier, he ran a consulting practice focused on strategic planning for SMEs and was VP of Finance at Alton Entertainment Corporation. Montague holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Miami. Andrea DeMarco’s leadership To provide transition support, Andrea DeMarco, President of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, will remain in her role through March 4, 2025. DeMarco’s leadership has been instrumental in the success of Regent Seven Seas Cruises over the last few years. "We are grateful to Andrea for her more than a decade of contribution to the company and for setting the foundation for Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ continued growth and success. We wish her the very best in her next chapter," said Harry Sommer, President and CEO at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

Oceania Cruises®, the world's major culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, celebrates 15 years of The Culinary Center, the first-ever hands-on cooking school at sea, with an array of new classes for 2025 and beyond.   Announced 15 years ago ahead of the launch of Marina™, the first purpose-built foodie-ship for the line, Oceania Cruises' Culinary Center is now available on four of its elegant ships, Marina, Riviera™, Vista™, and Allura™, its newest ship due to join the fleet in Summer 2025. Culinary classes for 2025 In celebration of this 15-year milestone, Oceania Cruises has added new culinary classes for 2025, putting the spotlight on dishes from the Pacific Northwest of the United States, Polynesia, and Australia, among others. The Culinary Center boasts more than 60 current classes taught in custom-built teaching kitchens with individual stations and professional-grade equipment. The classes offer the chance to explore a destination's culture and history through food or to hone core kitchen skills thanks to the faculty of dedicated Chef Instructors. Kathryn Kelly She is also the chief architect of the line's signature range of Culinary Discovery Tours™ Chef Kathryn Kelly, Oceania Cruises' Director of Culinary Enrichment, is the founder and driving force behind The Culinary Center and oversees Oceania Cruises' team of 11 talented Chef Instructors. She is also the chief architect of the line's signature range of Culinary Discovery Tours™, a key part of The Culinary Center program. These popular chef-led excursions, which are available in more than 40 destinations worldwide, feature the opportunity to learn to cook destination-inspired dishes back on board after a morning of shopping for ingredients in local markets or to learn from local experts and artisans about the food and culture of the region. Chef Kelly is planning a new swathe of chef-led tours for 2025 which will be announced in the coming months. The Culinary Center "We are the only cruise built by foodies, for foodies. Food is at the heart of everything we do at Oceania Cruises - we have built our ships around the culinary experience, from vast galley spaces to an unparalleled range of restaurants," said Frank A. Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises. "I am so proud to say we were the first line ever to have a hands-on cooking school at sea, and the popularity of The Culinary Center shows no sign of abating. This is a testament to the incredible work done by Chef Kelly and her creative team, as they continue to drive our culinary legacy." New dishes and class themes Chef Kelly added, "It's been an amazing evolution over the past 15 years, from the first Culinary Center aboard Marina, followed by Riviera, to the even more expansive Culinary Centers onboard Vista and her sister Allura, which have twice the number of individual stations." "I am thrilled to be working with such a creative and collaborative team as we constantly look for new dishes and class themes to introduce to our curious guests." Bringing the latest culinary trends The talented Culinary Center Chef Instructors have hundreds of years of experience When not on board, the team lives in locations all over the world, from Christchurch, New Zealand, to Riga, Latvia, to San Francisco, California, making them perfectly placed to keep their fingers on the global food pulse to bring the latest culinary trends to the kitchen classrooms on board. The talented Culinary Center Chef Instructors have hundreds of years of experience and fascinating career histories between them. Food programs Backgrounds include an early career as Julia Child's executive assistant; executive chef for world-renowned television shows such as "Sesame Street" and "30 Rock"; and leading the food programs of blue chip companies including Google and Amazon. With graduates from The Culinary Institute of America, Le Cordon Bleu, and Boston University's prestigious gastronomy program on the team, Oceania Cruises' guests can truly learn from the best in the business. New Classes for 2025 Culinary Northwest Passage One of the trendiest regions in the culinary world today is the Pacific Northwest. Truly a celebration of the farmer and the fisherman, this class is inspired by the innovative chefs from Seattle to Anchorage. The Pacific Northwest food scene embraces seasonality and is often revered as the farm- and sea-to-table bedrock of modern American cuisine. This class also includes some of the guest's favorite fish and seafood fundamentals. The "deep dish" signature desserts are bound to be some of the first recipes users will want to make when user return home.  Down Under Abundance Oceania Cruises has created a class that celebrates the sea, the mountains, and the vineyards When the chefs travel to New Zealand and Australia, they marvel at the abundance of ingredients here. The seafood is diverse, and the meats are prized all over the world. Working with the "down under" chef colleagues, Oceania Cruises has created a class that celebrates the sea, the mountains, and the vineyards of this special region of the world.  It's a Dessert Party Make the early dinner plans as usual, then join us at 8:00 p.m. for a dessert and beverages class before the evening show begins.  Users might prepare a decadent lava cake paired with a glass of Champagne, or they might make a crêpes Suzette paired with a Grand Marnier spritzer. Join Oceania Cruises for a marvelously sweet way to spend the evening between dinner and the show. South Seas Salt Life After a day lounging on a pristine white beach complete with a swim in a blue lagoon, doesn't some grilled seafood and an exotic fruit drink sound divine? Polynesian cuisine celebrates fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients with subtle influences from France and China.  Tradition and family gatherings dictate the Polynesian "salt lifestyle." Join Oceania Cruises as their Tama'a Maitai – enjoy the meal Polynesian style. Snow Days Brunch Is there any better feeling than the first snowfall? For many of the users, it makes them want to bake their favorite cinnamon rolls or egg casserole. Join Oceania Cruises for a celebration of those leisurely days when it is snowy outside and they want to share family favorites with loved ones and warm their toes by the fire. No snow day brunch is complete without warming or bubbly cocktails, so Oceania Cruises will share some of the mixologists' most popular recipes for taking the chill off. See the user at brunch.