If you’re a foodie then you may want to tuck into the culinary and destination-led experiences of this upscale cruise line

Considering your next cruise? Or possibly your first? Then how about Oceania Cruises?

As a line that promises to serve up The Finest Cuisine at Sea, we step on board to check out the menu of facilities and the onboard experiences so you can determine if it’s got all the right ingredients for your next dream holiday

Introducing Oceania

Boasting onboard culinary schools; dishes designed by Maîtres Cuisiniers de France and godmothers that happen to be celebrity chefs, Oceania Cruises claims to be a cruise line founded by foodies, operated by foodies, for foodies.

It markets itself as the cruise line that serves The Finest Cuisine at Sea. It’s a claim that Oceania is so confident in upholding that it’s even trademarked the phrase.

It’s a cruise line not just for passengers who enjoy their food, it’s for those who savour every mouthful. Who appreciate the culinary art that goes into creating every course. Who value the origin of every ingredient and who are eager to take their palate on a culinary adventure as they cruise the globe. And it’s for those who like nothing more than to wash it all down with a perfectly paired rare wine or creative cocktail.

In other words, Oceania Cruises is a line for epicureans.

Passengers also happen to be around 65 years old. They’re mature. They want a relaxed, slow-paced, sedate cruise. Forget the wild rides and waterparks you’ll find on its sister brand Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania’s fleet is the complete opposite to this. It’s a sophisticated line of small ships offering a more intimate, “residential” vibe.

Although it can justifiably describe itself as an “upscale” line, it doesn’t fall into the “luxury” bracket. Price-wise it tends to float a good deal lower than the luxury liners (of which Regent Seven Seas is one such example and Oceania’s second and final sister brand).

Meet the fleet?

The Oceania ships are not only small in size, but they’re small in number too.

There are just seven ships in the entire fleet, with an eighth launching in 2025.

It’s a fairly simple fleet made up of just three ‘classes’ – that’s the term that cruise-buffs use to determine the style of ship.

Making the biggest splash is Oceania’s latest class: its Allura class.

In a star-studded launch, Vista hit the water in May 2023 and is the first in this class. While its sister ships have all undergone refurbishments over the past few years, this was the first launch for Oceania in more than a decade.

Although bigger in terms of tonnage and length than her immediate predecessors, Vista holds fractionally fewer passengers at 1,200 rather than 1,250 at double occupancy. The space has been embraced to create larger cabins, all of which have balconies (unlike the other sisters in the family).

Plus, the space has been utilised to introduce several new restaurants and eateries for the line, giving Vista a total of 11 venues where guests can dine or grab a refreshment.

Vista also boasts an exciting Casino Mixology Bar – a brand new concept for Oceania.

Plus, in a bid to up the stakes when it comes to the evening entertainment, Vista lays on Oceania’s most dynamic programme of shows. But presumably, in time, this will be rolled out across the fleet. The ship was launched to a fanfare of song and dance with its inaugural show choreographed by Dancing with the Stars pro-dancer Britt Stewart.

But, most significantly bearing in mind Oceania’s epicurean credentials, Vista is home to a cookery school that is double the size of its predecessors. These schools allow guests to experience the world’s cultures through the lens of food and cooking.

The second ship in the Allura class is (wait for it…) aptly named Allura. She’s due to set sail in 2025 and, while really similar in size and design to her sister, Allura promises to have a few added extras, such as a creperie.

The next class in the inventory is that of the Oceania class, to which Marina and Rivera belong.

It was both these ships that cemented Oceania’s culinary reputation since they were the first ships to have an onboard cooking school. While these schools now appear much smaller than those on the latest two ships, the focus on food is still very apparent.

These ships hold 1,250 guests and were built back in 2011 and 2012 respectively. However, both have been extensively refurbished. For example, Marina was only refurbished in 2024 and now boasts several features that debuted on Vista. This includes the signature Aquamar Kitchen serving a menu that’s all focused on wellness.

Quietening any mumbles of looking a little frayed around the edges, both ships are now freshly upholstered and plushly furnished.

Finally, the third class in the Oceania fleet is the Regatta class, to which Regatta, Insignia, Nautica and Sirena belong.

These are the real ‘small’ ships in the fleet, holding just 670 guests. Each has four or five restaurants and were built prior to the days of the on board cooking school.

Although significantly older, they too have been fully refurbished over the past few years – although it has been reported that some areas are in need of a spruce up.

All the Oceania ships have casinos, spas, fitness centres and al fresco pools with ample space on which to soak up the sun.

Onboard vibe

If you’re looking for lively entertainment at every hour of the day, pub quizzes, pool parties and packed nightclubs, then Oceania may not have the right vibe you’re looking for.

Cruising with Oceania is a refined, relaxed experience – some may say sedate. For the average Oceania passenger, sedate and steady is exactly how they like it. For some it may be too quiet.

Day time entertainment whilst at sea comes in the form of lectures, spa treatments, curling up to read a book in the library, indulging in lavish afternoon tea, lazing by the pool or trying your hand at croquet and, of course, food – eating it and cooking it.

Evening entertainment comes courtesy of guest entertainers, such as pianists, classical string quartets and singers and a lineup of onboard shows. However, don’t expect to see Broadway or West End-standard shows that you may see on the mega ships, Oceania is not in this calibre (although as we’ve said, Vista is upping the ante in this regard).

And of course, evening entertainment revolves around (you guessed it) food. Eating and drinking is the raison d’être for Oceania – and for its guests.

While dining is a big deal on Oceania, it’s a (relatively) more casual affair when it comes to the dress code. Unlike its sister brand, Norwegian Cruise Line, which has an “anything goes” dress code, Oceania passengers are asked to don “country club or resort-style attire”. They clarify this by saying: “shorts, casual jeans, t-shirts, athletic footwear, and sandals are not allowed” in any restaurant after 6pm. There are no formal nights on Oceania, but you won’t feel out of place if you wanted to dig out your cocktail dress (but best leave the gown and tuxedo at home).

And seating is “open” on board, meaning there are no rigid set dining times and fixed allocated seating.

In the main restaurants, dining is a five-star affair with starched napkins and white linen tablecloths. However, over the past few years Oceania is adding to the line-up by adding more casual eateries, namely its Aquamar Kitchen, its al fresco Pizzeria and a poolside ice cream parlour. This is creating a more laid-back and welcome vibe around the ships.

However, the serving and preparation of the food – whether that be an ice-cream or a lobster – is always said to be top notch.

The Finest Cuisine at Sea

Food is the foundation upon which Oceania has built its reputation.

The line is endorsed by a string of famed chefs and restauranteurs. For example, Giada De Laurentiis (for those who don’t know she’s a celebrated Italian-American chef, author, restauranteur and Emmy Award-winning food personality) is the official godmother of Vista.

Plus, Oceania lays claim to being the only cruise line to have two of its chefs inducted into the prestigious echelons of the Maîtres Cuisiniers de France.

With so much emphasis placed on sourcing the ingredients (think Castilla-La Mancha saffron or custom-milled French flour), preparing the dishes and serving them, the cruise line claims to have the highest percentage of “culinary personnel devoted to the dining experience than any other cruise company”. On Vista that percentage stands at 50%, with one chef for every 10 guests.

The staple restaurants on board every Oceania ship include The Grand Dining Room. This elegant, grand dame of the fleet’s restaurant inventory has a new menu each day and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Toscana is Oceania’s take on authentic Italian; Polo Grill is a classic steakhouse with time-honoured favourites including certified Black Angus beef and Jacques, modelled after a Parisian bistro, is for those with a passion for French fare.

Joining the line-up on board Vista is Ember serving a menu of inventive American creations blended with time-honoured classics. Highlights include porcini-dusted bone-in ribeye with foie gras-truffle demi-glace.

Plus, another new addition comes in the form of Aquamar Kitchen. This new signature venue serves those with an eye on healthy dishes – or as Oceania says: “wellness-inspired dishes”. Expect smoothies, cold-pressed juices and energy bowls for breakfast with lunch comprising an array of salads, tuna tacos or grilled chicken wraps.

The casual nature is rolled out in the Terrace Cafe, while for those who cannot drag themselves too far from the pool, Waves Grill is the perfect pitstop.

Oh, and we mustn’t forget about afternoon tea. This experience is as much about the atmosphere as it is the array of French pastries, delicate sandwiches and irresistible desserts. At 4pm in the Horizon lounge, the classical string quartet plays while this celebratory teatime event unfolds. It’s such a very British affair and so very civilised as you sip your artisan tea.

Come the evening (or earlier should you so wish) you’ll be moving on to the stronger stuff.

Just as important for the passengers (and certainly the crew) is the wine. With every meal comes a tipple or two.

Oceania handpicks the rarest of wines and curates a collection seen nowhere else at sea. Spanning the globe, up to 80 different labels are sure to impress even the most critical wine connoisseur.

Throughout the sailings there are normally several opportunities to join a wine-tasting session or even a private dinner where wines take centre stage and are perfectly paired with the dishes of the day.

Culinary classes

This is where Oceania stands out.

The Oceania and Allura-class ships all have cookery schools where passengers can grow their own culinary skills.

Each passenger has his or her own cooking station where they practice their newly-learnt culinary techniques and hone their palettes to savour the flavours of regional delights.

There is a whole lineup of hands-on cooking classes, ranging from French gastronomy and Ionian classics to delectable desserts and the art of wine pairing. And of course, many of the shore excursions present another opportunity to ignite the taste buds while in situ.

On Oceania’s Culinary Masters’ Cruises, passengers are joined by the line’s head chefs when they share their culinary knowledge and foodie stories.

And if you’re in the mood for something fun, then how about becoming a mixologist and conjuring up a cocktail. In hands-on seminars, this is your turn to become the bartender equipped with all the proper cocktail-making tools. Sample drinks inspired by the latest cocktail-crafting trends and techniques such as those topped with flavoured mist bubbles or Negronis aged in wooden barrels.

Sleep tight

Even on Oceania’s smallest ships, some 70% of its staterooms have verandas. On Vista that’s gone up to 100% with every cabin boasting a balcony. There are no windowless ‘inside’ cabins or balcony-less ocean-view cabins on the Allura class.

When it comes to the standard staterooms, Vista has the most spacious of them all measuring more than 290sq ft.

Vista is also the first of the fleet’s ships to have solo cabins – six in all. They measure 270sq ft, which is fairly impressive for a solo cabin – even more impressive in that they too have balconies.

The crème de la crème of Oceania accommodation come in the form the Owner’s Suites, Vista Suites, Oceania Suites and Penthouse Suites.

As well as huge beds, marble-clad bathrooms, dining and lounge areas and larger verandas, among the privileges for suite guests are:

24-hour butler service
Unlimited access to Aquamar Spa Terrace
Order in from any speciality restaurant and enjoy course-by-course in-suite dining
Free laundry service – up to three bags per suite
Priority ship embarkation with priority luggage delivery
Complimentary welcome bottle of Champagne
Priority online speciality restaurant reservations
Complimentary pressing of garments upon embarkation
And for suite guests aboard Marina and Riviera, they enjoy exclusive card-only access to private Executive Lounge.

Shore excursions

From Europe and South America and Africa to Australia and Alaska, Oceania’s fleet sails the seven seas. Being small, the ships are able to access the smaller ports of call that the mega ships just cannot reach. In all, Oceania offers 600 ports to explore.

Shore excursions are split into different types:

Unsurprisingly, Culinary Discovery Tours are offered in virtually every destination that Oceania visits. Accompanied by one of the line’s Chef Instructors, you’ll shop for fresh ingredients at local markets before heading to a private home or chef-selected restaurant to savour the local dishes.

In the French Riviera and Mediterranean, you can embark on a Food & Wine Trails Tour led or organised by a local culinary expert, such as a sommelier or chef, giving you a local insight into the food and wine scene.

Beyond Blueprint tours are offered in Europe and are designed to spark your interest and appreciation for architecture. Guided by an architectural historian, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the world’s most iconic and fascinating architectural landmarks. For example, on the list is The Royal Library and The Blue Planet aquarium in Copenhagen or the Equinox office building in Oslo.

Meanwhile, if you’re interested in environmental initiatives, Oceania’s Go Green tours allow you to experience the ways in which local communities and businesses around the world are endeavouring to conserve, sustain and elevate their surrounding environments. For example, you might visit a sustainable coffee farm, or you might drop in to a factory to see how clothes are made using recycled plastic materials.

More ways to interact with local communities is to join one of the Go Local excursions. You’ll be welcomed into the homes of local families to chat over a homemade cup of tea or small meal. They’ll tell you about their lives, daily struggles and simple pleasures. They too are curious about your life and so the conversation flows.

Responding to the growing demand for well being and self care, Oceania has rolled out a string of beautiful experiences to help mind, body and soul. How about soaking in a therapeutic hot spring in Norway? Or doing tai chi in a tranquil garden in France or doing yoga in the foothills of India? Wellness Discovery Tours are offered in Europe, Asia, Australia and South America.

Plus, with Oceania scheduling their timetables to allow for more late evening departures and overnight stays in ports, there are ample opportunities for evening excursions. Options could include a twilight dinner and traditional dance performance in Bali or a sunset cruise in Bora Bora.

What’s included?

When it comes to determining what’s included in the price of an Oceania cruise, the company has given it a lot of thought. In particular, the bosses have responded to the opinions of their passengers. That’s why from October 2024, for all new reservations on sailings departing on or after 1 January 2025 they’re introducing the ‘Your World Included’ offering. This will replace Oceania’s long-standing ‘Simply More’ offering.

The biggest difference is that all tips are now included in the standard fare. There’s no need to put your hand in your pocket to show your appreciation for the onboard staff. Us Brits are not comfortable with this largely American protocol, so for us it’s a win. However, gone is the shore excursion credit and drinks package that was automatically included in the previous offering.

As part of ‘Your World Included’ you’ll get:

All your meals, including all those in the speciality restaurants and those enjoyed in your cabin
Unlimited wi-fi
All your soft drinks, Vero water, teas and all types of coffees across the ships
Cold-pressed juices, fruit smoothies, homemade ice creams
All fitness classes in the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center.
Free launderettes plus laundry services and pressing for Concierge and Suite levels
All onboard tips

According to the company, “based on a 10-day cruise, guests will receive always included amenities valued at more than $1,800 per stateroom when compared to premium cruise lines.

But what about those fabulous wines and cocktails you’ve just read about? These will now be charged for separately. If you’re a wine connoisseur or you simply want to enjoy a few glasses each day, then your best bet is to buy a drinks package before you step onboard.

Bottom line

Promising to serve The Finest Cuisine at Sea is certainly an audacious claim. On the whole this goes fairly undisputed among food critics and cruise aficionados. Passenger reviews however are a mixed bag.

It’s described as a ‘premium’ line as opposed to a ‘luxury’ line and we’d agree with this. It’s a great entry point for guests wanting to dip their toe into the upscale cruise market.

The Oceania ships are not five-star floating resorts, but they are more posh than most mega cruise ships while being cheaper than the true luxury offerings out there.

The Allura-class ships are definitely worthy of attention and, if you fit the customer demographic, certainly serve up a fantastic, upscale cruising experience.