Oceania Club Reunion Cruise : Milestones and Memories

Executive Vice President James Rodriguez shares stories from the Oceania Club Reunion Cruise, sailing from Rome to Lisbon on board Marina.

The Oceania Club Reunion Cruise is one of my favorite events of the year because it gives me the chance to see past guests with whom I’ve sailed before, and so many have become dear friends. I also enjoy meeting new Oceania Club members for the first time, hearing all the stories of their cruise, and having the opportunity to thank them for their loyalty. Our guests have always been my favorite part of cruising, and the Oceania Club Reunion Cruise is all about celebrating our guests.

Needless to say, this cruise was packed with fun events honoring our guests’ milestones. We treated our Platinum, Gold and Silver members to an unforgettable wine-pairing dinner in La Reserve, and our Bronze members enjoyed fine wines and Italian cuisine in Toscana. Captain Igor Bencina and General Manager Damien LaCroix hosted a cocktail reception for all Oceania Club members in Horizons lounge, and it was wonderful to have the opportunity to talk with so many of our guests.

During the reception, Oceania Club Ambassador Sabina Hawel recognized several guests who achieved special milestones on this cruise, including Mr. and Mrs. James Parshall, who reached Gold member status, and Mr. and Mrs. Adriano Botehlo, who reached Platinum member status. We also recognized our most traveled guests, Mr. and Mrs. Brian Clark, who have traveled 488 days with us and received their Diamond level pins on this cruise. Horizons was filled with loyal guests who have traveled time and again with Oceania Cruises, and it was wonderful to hear their stories and have the chance to share our appreciation with so many cherished guests.

Of course, while we had plenty of fun on board, we also greatly enjoyed exploring all of the spectacular ports of call on this cruise, from Florence to Barcelona to Lisbon. I especially enjoyed chatting with guests as we strolled the lovely boulevards of Aix-en-Provence, which we visited from the port of Toulon. Meanwhile, Manager of Loyalty Marketing Neli Arias hosted guests on a special shore excursion from Toulon created exclusively for this cruise, and all of our guests agreed it was one of their favorites. They traveled into the countryside of Provence – so beautiful in autumn with the grapevines all the color of ochre and crimson! – to visit Château La Coste. This stunning château is not only a world-class winery but also a breathtaking outdoor museum. The stroll through the grounds was unforgettable as guests passed one of five spider sculptures in the world by Louise Bourgeois, a striking pavilion designed by Frank Gehry, a sculpture by Alexander Calder and the stunning architecture of Japanese architect Tadao Ando. It would be hard to say which was more enjoyable, exploring the art installations or tasting the delicious wines produced here.

I was sad to see this amazing journey come to an end. But I’m already looking forward to the next Oceania Club Reunion Cruise and another opportunity to celebrate milestones and make memories with our cherished guests.

Check out more pictures from the trip on the Oceania Cruises Facebook here!