At Sea Day #1: Voyaging from Bora Bora to Nuku Hiva on Oceania Marina

Oceania Marina sailing from Bora Bora to Nuku Hiva

February 15, 2019

ABOARD OCEANIA MARINA, French Polynesia – After visiting four islands in the past five days, we got our first full day at sea today sailing from Bora Bora Island to Nuku Hiva in the remote Marquesas Islands. Spent most of the day working but took a two-hour break to swim and read.

Got up at 11:55 a.m. Spent the afternoon working on my blog and eating at the lunch buffet. Took a break shortly after 5 p.m. to read and swim at the pool, then watched sunset.

This is the first time Mom and I have cruised with Oceania, which has a six-ship fleet. Oceania was formed in 2003 by cruise industry veterans Frank Del Rio and Bob Binder, who continue at the helm today.

“As destination specialists, Oceania Cruises is famous for voyages around the world in its award-winning mid-size ships while offering the finest cuisine at sea, all at an extraordinary value,” according to today’s Currents newsletter. “Here on Marina, with a maximum of 1,250 guests to pamper, our 793 staff members from [more than] 50 nations cater to your every wish with impeccable personalized service.”

Marina’s keel was laid March 6, 2009, at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Sestri Ponente, Italy. The ship entered service in 2011.

Darkness upon us, I went down to the cabin at 7:00 to get ready for dinner. Mom and I ate at the Terrace Cafe buffet tonight. I enjoyed a main course of Polynesian seafood curry.

Settled back into my “floating office” adjacent to the Internet cafe on Deck 14 to sort mail and pay bills – mundane chores not even a global nomad can escape from. Always my least favorite part of the month. Also worked on my calendar.

Down to the cabin a bit before midnight. Read the cruise newsletter, watched TiVo on my phone, and posted today’s few photos. Fell asleep about 1:35 a.m.

One neat aspect of the Currents newsletter is it states the position each day of Oceania Cruises’ other five ships, something I’ve never seen on any other cruiseline. Today Insignia was not far away in Papeete, Tahiti Island (it is crossing the Pacific from North America to Australia as I recall); Nautica is at Phuket, Thailand; Regatta is in Auckland, New Zealand; Riviera is at sea en route to Miami; and Sirena is calling at Parati, Brazil.

Tomorrow we are scheduled to arrive at Nuku Hiva Island at noon. Oceania only offered one shore excursion there despite the fact we’ll be visiting for two days. There are multiple times for the tour, but they were all sold out before the cruise, so Mom and I will be self-exploring. Not quite sure yet exactly what we’re going to do.