Yes I know I said the last post would be my final thoughts on Marina but I just have to tell you about the library.
Imagine a corridor lined on one side with book cases and alcoves furnished with leather armchairs, even a fire place (well, OK not a real one), and you'll roughly get the picture.
It's such a clever design as each alcove is like a private space.
Even better, they operate an honesty system so all the bookcases are open. You just come and help yourself to some reading matter and, hopefully, put the book back when you have finished.
So civilised.
And I must also mention the Owners' Suites, furnished by Ralph Lauren Home. They are amazing. Big (the whole width of the ship), elegant, with a very small exercise room and a very big piano in the entrance hall. Now that's definitely something to brag about.
As you walk in you turn left for the bedroom and bathroom and right for the sitting area, pictured left.
If that's a little out of your price range, there's always the Oceania suite, a new category. It's no way as big as the Owners' Suites but it was my favourite for the chic furnishings (bottom picture).
And the Vista Suites, below, are pretty good too. They also have an exercise room - and it's bigger than the one in the Owners' Suites with a cycle and another instrument of torture that none of the great brains from Oceania could identify.
I just know it looked hard work.
Jane Archer
