Strikes delay Oceania’s new ship

Oceania Cruises has been advised by Fincantieri shipyards in Italy of construction delays and as a result, the cruise company will reschedule the maiden voyage of its new ship, the Riviera. Construction on the 1,250-guest ship fell behind schedule when strikes at the shipyard, located near Genoa, Italy, lasted longer than expected. The maiden voyage of Riviera has moved from April 24 to May 16, and all guests affected by the delay will be contacted by their travel agents or by Oceania Cruises directly to discuss alternative cruise dates. Oceania’s president, Kunal Kamlani said: “We sincerely regret any inconvenience that this may cause our guests. We are working very closely with the shipyard to ensure Riviera is completed to meet Oceania’s high standards of quality and service.” Fincantieri’s CEO, Giuseppe Bono said: “We know that sophisticated international travellers are anxious to welcome Riviera and we regret that labour strikes have caused this delay. All of us at Fincantieri are committed to producing a superior quality ship and we will deliver a truly magnificent vessel to Oceania Cruises without further delays.” The Riviera will sail a 10-day “Pearls of the Aegean” itinerary on its maiden voyage, featuring an overnight aboard ship in Venice before visiting Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu, Monemvasia, Crete, Santorini, Kusadasi (gateway to Ephesus), Delos, Mykonos and Athens. Guests booked on affected sailings will have the option of re-booking another cruise and receive a future cruise credit, which ranges from $250 to $1,000 per guest, depending on category of accommodation. In the event guests do not wish to rebook, they will receive a full refund. Travel agent commissions will be protected. Go http://www.Oceaniacruises.com for more.