Oceania Cruises to bring new ships to Alaska next year

Oceania to bring new ships to Alaska

JUNEAU, Alaska — Oceania Cruises has announced it will bring new ships to Alaska and will begin cruising the Inside Passage next year.

“Our guests are always seeking destinations rich in history, culture, adventure and stunning scenery. The great state of Alaska delivers all of these points of interest and more,” Chairman and CEO Frank Del Rio said in a statement Friday.

Company executives thanked Alaska’s governor and the Legislature for recently approving legislation to reduce the state’s passenger head tax. Cruise lines already doing business here had complained it was too high.

Oceania Cruises advertises itself as a high-end cruise line. Its ship, the Regatta, will complete 10 Alaska voyages in 2011. The trips go on sale Wednesday and start at $3,499 per person for double-occupancy bookings.

Oceania has three ships that carry 684 passengers and 400 crew members. The majority of the itineraries will be 12-day, Vancouver-to-Anchorage voyages. Ships will stop in Sitka, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Homer and Hoonah.

Disney Cruise Lines and Crystal Cruises already announced they would bring new ships to Alaska in 2011.

Oceania Cruises is owned by parent company Prestige Cruise Holdings.