HISTORY
MS Riviera is an Oceania-class
cruise ship (of 15 decks) which entered service with Oceania Cruises in
May 2012. She is the sister ship of MS Marina.
Riviera was built by Fincantieri in Sestri Ponente, Italy, and was
launched in July 2011. The vessel was originally scheduled to be
christened in Monte Carlo on 19 April 2012, but in January 2012 it was
announced that the ship's maiden voyage would be delayed to May due to
shipyard labor strikes. Riviera was christened in Barcelona on 11 May
2012, and embarked on its 10-day maiden voyage from Venice to Athens on
16 May 2012.
Riviera has a capacity of 1,250 people, housed in 625 staterooms. Other
facilities include ten different dining areas, along with various bars
and lounges, a culinary center, a Canyon Ranch spa and fitness center, a
swimming pool and hot tubs.
The theme of Oceania Cruises is self-described as “a seamless blend of
country club casual atmosphere with the sophisticated elegance of a
private yacht”. The Riviera's reception area features two spirals of
stairs decorated with Lalique crystals, six crystal pillars, and a
hand-crafted Italian chandelier which weighs 300 pounds (140 kg),
measures approximately 6.5 by 6.5 feet (2.0 by 2.0 m), and sports three
hundred and eighty crystal spheres.
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