vista cruises inc

Vista cruise ship review: What to expect on Oceania’s first Allura-class ship

"Is this a luxury cruise ship?" That was the question on everyone's lips during the maiden sailing of Oceania Cruises' Vista, the first new Allura-class vessel to debut for the upscale cruise brand.

We gawked at the beautifully designed public spaces, with their detail-oriented accents, eye-catching light fixtures and highly textured materials. (Yes, I petted the walls of the elevators and stroked every chair.) We luxuriated in enormous standard cabin bathrooms and sumptuous Tranquility Beds. We dined on exquisite freshly made pasta, perfectly cooked fish and decadent desserts. We ordered smoked, bubbled, herbed and ice-balled cocktails at the ship's craft cocktail bar and took photos of each creative concoction.

Vista is clearly a ship for travelers who love to explore new destinations, prioritize fine dining and premium beverages and immerse themselves in chic surroundings. However, in the cruise space, this ship is clearly in the upscale category and not true luxury.

Then again, when you're curled up on a circular day bed, drink in hand, on a resort-style pool deck in the Mediterranean, Vista might just provide all the luxury you need.

Overview of Vista

Vista debuted in May 2023, the first new ship for Oceania Cruises in a decade and the flagship of the line's new Allura class. It carries 1,200 passengers in cabins and suites that all have either a true balcony or a French veranda (meaning you can open doors to the fresh air but can't step outside).

The ship's target demographic is well-off, mature couples who are looking for destination-focused itineraries on a ship with elevated dining. For a small, 67,000-ton ship, Vista wows with eight restaurants, plus a bakery and private dining rooms for wine-paired meals. It also stands out for its expanded Culinary Center, for cooking classes and demos, and Artist Loft, where passengers can get crafty under the tutelage of resident artists.

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Fans of the line will appreciate that Vista is modeled from sister ships Marina and Riviera, and the layout is strikingly similar.

Vista is not an all-inclusive ship, but it's more inclusive than lines such as Celebrity Cruises or Holland America. Its fares cover all dining (except for private, wine-paired dinners), fitness classes, nonalcoholic beverages and in-port shuttles. Its booking promotions may offer additional inclusions, like free Wi-Fi, airfare, excursions, beverage package or shipboard credit.

What I loved about Vista

Dining choice.

Some people love to return again and again to their favorite restaurants; others prefer to try a new venue every time. I fall into the latter category, so I loved that I could eat at a different restaurant each night of my cruise on Vista.

I could get dolled up and go to a steakhouse or Italian restaurant, or I could play it casual and eat on the buffet's outdoor terrace or at the pizzeria. I could enjoy a multi-course sit-down lunch or take my pick of eight burgers at the grill. Vista also had plenty of options for between-meal grazing – a quiche from the Bakery, a scone at Horizons' afternoon tea, or a cookie from the Concierge Lounge.

Not only did Vista's large selection of eateries keep my meals interesting, but there wasn't a bad option in the bunch. Sure, sometimes I didn't order the right dish, but I enjoyed every meal I ate on board.

Vista will wow you with its gorgeous looks from the moment you step on board. The atrium gives a knockout first impression with its stunning floor-to-ceiling sculpture with a changing light display.

The bold center archway of the Grand Dining Room will immediately catch your eye, as will the ceiling design of the intimate Privee dining room. Each specialty restaurant has been designed with care, from the brick oven-inspired ceilings of Ember to the pagoda-style floor lamps in Red Ginger.

The noteworthy Grand Lounge sports geometric chandeliers and glass shelves of vases and glass sculptures, while the faux wood paneling on the pool deck sets it apart from any cruise ship Lido you've ever seen. The glam settings make you feel like you're a movie star and add to the decadent feeling of being on vacation.

Cocktails and mixology program

The new mixology program on Vista is one of its standout features. I happily ordered cocktail after craft cocktail at the Founders Bar in the name of research, trying drinks with smoke bubbles on top, frozen fruit balls in their center and unique ingredients (like tea) in their centers. The concept turns your standard pre-dinner drink into a playful and exciting event. It also makes a ship carrying mainly retirees feel hip and trendy.

Vista also carries a line of nonalcoholic "liquors" to make zero-proof cocktails that taste like the real deal, as well as nonalcoholic beer. It's a fabulous option for sober cruisers or travelers who need to rest their livers after a lively evening. Unfortunately, not all bars carry nonalcoholic cocktails. On my cruise, I found them on the menu at the new Aquamar restaurant and Horizons observation lounge.

What I didn't love about Vista

I failed to find anything serious to critique about Vista, so what I didn't love about the ship is more about my personality than any real failing of the cruise line.

Evenings on Vista do not offer a variety of pursuits. You can go to a bar, with or without music. You can try your luck at the casino. You can attend the one show each evening, but only if your dinner time allows for it. That's pretty much it.

My cruise did not offer karaoke night, evening trivia and games, or a pool deck party. I missed the two special-guest acts, a pianist and a guitarist, and the song-and-dance performances by the onboard cast failed to impress. The ship didn't offer any secondary shows at night — no comedians or musical acts you came to listen to and not talk over.

To be fair, small-ship upscale cruising isn't about nightlife, and most travelers on Oceania are perfectly content with a long dinner, an evening dancing or drinking in Horizons and an early bedtime. The library does have some board games you can borrow, so consider that as an alternative activity.

One should never judge a ship's service based on its first sailings when the crew is still getting used to each other and the layout and procedures of a new ship. I mention service solely to answer the question of why Vista isn't considered a luxury ship.

In terms of hardware, Vista is one fine ship, which rivals the vessels belonging to luxury lines like Silversea Cruises and Seabourn, even nipping at the heels of over-the-top sister line Regent Seven Seas Cruises. It's in the "software," so to speak, where the line relegates itself to the upscale sector. And that's fine.

In addition to not offering truly all-inclusive fares, Vista doesn't offer the personal, often fawning service you find on true luxury lines. I barely met my room steward. No one offered to carry my plate at the buffet. The chefs weren't offering to make me dishes off-menu, and on occasion, I had to work to flag down a waiter to bring me a drink. Personally, I'm fine with this level of service, but it does not put Vista in competition with ultra-luxury ships.

The few service issues will improve over time. But Vista, by nature, will never offer the crew-to-guest ratio or over-the-top service levels you'd expect to find on a more expensive cruise line.

Vista cabins and suites

Vista has only eight major cabin and suite types, making cabin selection a relatively straightforward process. Its three main non-suite cabin types – French Veranda, Veranda and Concierge Level staterooms – have identical interior layouts, so you're really only choosing between perks and exterior space.

New and noteworthy on Vista are Oceania's first dedicated solo cabins, 270-square-foot balcony cabins with a twin bed, smaller bathroom and slightly narrower design than a regular veranda room. They're Concierge Level rooms, so solo travelers get extra benefits, such as access to the Concierge Lounge and Aquamar Spa Terrace.

My cabin was a regular Concierge Level room with a private veranda. At 291 square feet, it was the same size as a Veranda room, but with a slightly nicer interior design. (French Veranda rooms are identical to Veranda rooms in design, but where the Veranda cabins have a private balcony, French Veranda rooms have floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open to a railing; you can get fresh air but you can't step out.)

I was very happy in my Concierge Level room on Vista. Oceania's Tranquility Beds are some of the best in the business, and I loved falling asleep between a snuggly duvet and 1,000-thread-count sheets. Even better, the bed is flanked by three-drawer nightstands, 100V plugs and USB ports and reading lights.

Storage is decent with a two-door closet, two deep drawers in the desk, two coat hooks on the wall and a few additional shelves. It was the perfect amount of space for me, but I could see how a couple might fight over the drawer space.

The room had a mostly forgettable love seat, other than it looked nice and pulled out into an extra bed. The oval marble table was a perfect size for room service breakfast.

The highlight of the room, in my opinion, was the spacious, marble-tiled bathroom. Here, there was storage in spades: two glass shelves in the large shower, one large drawer and shelf space in the vanity and a corner unit with four deep drawers and three shelves in a mirrored cabinet. The shower had a rain head and a wand on an adjustable mount. The large no-fog mirror lit up at the touch of a button, perfect for putting on makeup.

I also appreciated the comfortable, padded balcony furniture. Standard balconies on Vista come with two upright chairs and a round drinks table, but the cushions made the seating comfier than the mesh-and-metal versions you find on many big-ship cruise lines.

Other thoughtful touches in the room include an electronic thermometer and do not disturb sign touchpad, quiet-close drawers, wooden hangers and carafes of Vero water, plus reusable water bottles to take on tour (to reduce single-use plastic water bottles). The mini fridge was stocked with soft drinks, though my cabin attendant didn't seem to notice that I was drinking exclusively club soda. You'll also find the requisite safe and hair dryer (neither of which I used), an umbrella and a shoehorn.

Concierge Level rooms come with extra perks, most of which are useful but not necessary. You get access to the lovely Aquamar Spa Terrace, with its hot tubs, day beds and thalassotherapy pool. You also get access to the Concierge Lounge on Deck 9; I don't know why you'd want to watch TV in this windowless lounge, but I appreciated the 24/7 drinks and snacks and access to a concierge.

Other amenities include a welcome bottle of Champagne, pashmina-style cashmere lap blankets for use in your cabin and a tote bag. Perks include priority embarkation, lunch and dinner room service from the Grand Dining Room menu (I totally missed this one), priority specialty restaurant reservations, and complimentary laundry (up to three bags), pressing (on embarkation day) and shoeshine service.

For those with an urge to splurge, Oceania has four additional suite categories, each with butler service and access to an Executive Lounge. The Penthouse Suites are simply an expanded version of the balcony rooms, with additional closet and seating areas. The Oceania Suites have a full living and dining room, a separate guest or TV room, large balcony, guest bathroom and marble-clad master bath and dressing area. They are mostly found on Deck 12, but two on Deck 11 aft have wraparound corner balconies.

The eight Vista Suites, which I didn't see, are even bigger than the Oceania Suites and located at the front of the ship, so they have extra-long wraparound balconies. The three Owner's Suites span the entire aft width of the ship, with two balconies, and are designed by Ralph Lauren Home. A light-filled grand foyer opens onto the living, dining and bar area on one side and the enormous master bedroom with king-sized bed, walk-in closet and generous bathroom with soaking tub and ocean-view shower.

Vista restaurants and bars

Oceania prides itself on being a foodie cruise line, and Vista carries on the line's tradition with six major dining venues included in the cruise fare, over-the-top extra-fee wine-paired private dinners and a new mixology program that goes above and beyond what its competitors are offering.

It's hard not to nitpick a line that brags it has "the finest cuisine at sea" (and has even trademarked that tagline). Each meal may not be the best you've ever had on a cruise ship, but each meal you have will be solid, with plenty of choice of both where to dine and what to select from the menu. Vista is certainly a ship foodies will appreciate.

Restaurants

I made a point to try every restaurant on board during my weeklong cruise, and it actually took some scheduling to make it happen. It's a good thing most of Vista's sailings are 10 days or longer, so you have ample time to sample all the dining venues and even make repeat visits to your favorites.

You are allowed to make at least one advance reservation for each of Vista's four specialty restaurants — possibly more depending on the length of the cruise and the type of cabin or suite you book. Once on board, you can ask if there's walk-in availability for additional meals.

The Grand Dining Room is perhaps the most gorgeous main restaurant I've ever seen on a cruise ship. The design, with white archways in the center of the room, is also functional; it separates the giant venue into nooks, so it doesn't have that hotel ballroom feel.

At breakfast, you can order everything from grilled lamb chops and broiled kippers to omelets, pancakes and lighter fare, such as yogurt parfaits. The highlight of the lunch menu is the "Taste of the World" sampler platter themed around a different country each day.

The dinner menu makes three suggestions for themed meals: selections from Jacques Pepin's namesake French restaurant on Vista's sister ships, global cuisine and Aquamar Vitality cuisine (ie lighter dishes). Don't miss the creative Humphry Slocombe ice cream for dessert, with flavors like Elvis the Fat Years and Harvey Milk & Honey Graham.

The Terrace Café is Vista's buffet venue with indoor and outdoor seating. The stunning wall mosaics set the tone for the sophisticated spread you can sample here. Think daily sushi, an array of fine cheeses, made-to-order omelets, pasta and steaks and premium ice cream (including one Humphry Slocombe flavor at lunch and dinner). The vegetarian options weren't always the best at the Terrace Café, though it often had gluten-free pasta.

On either side of the Terrace Café are several new and returning casual dining venues that should not be overlooked.

Waves Grill has always been one of my favorite grill venues at sea. Midday, it serves sandwiches, hot dogs, grilled entrees (mahi mahi, cajun chicken) and a huge selection of burgers, including Wagyu, veggie and salmon, in addition to the classic cheeseburger.

In the morning, it offers a downsized breakfast buffet with made-to-order omelets. At night, it transforms into a pizzeria with Italian-style pizza, a burrata menu (do not miss the burrata and tartufo dish) and a sinful Nutella pizza dessert. Pro tip: You can place an order at Waves and ask for your dish to be delivered to your table at the Terrace Café, so you don't have to choose between the options.

Past Oceania cruisers might wonder where Waves' famous smoothies and power bowls got to. The answer is Vista's new "healthy" dining venue, Aquamar, set up on the opposite side of the Terrace Café from the Waves Grill.

In the morning, don't miss Aquamar's selection of avocado toast or its freshly made juices, unusual lattes and smoothies. (You haven't lived until you've spiked your morning OJ with turmeric and cayenne pepper.) Energy bowls, banana pancakes and omelets round out the breakfast menu.

The lunch menu at Aquamar is vast. You can order poke-style bowls or compose your own, do a breakfast repeat with omelets and avocado toast, or order sandwiches from around the world, including tuna tacos, falafel pita, a Mexican chicken wrap or an Impossible burger. Wash it all down with a nonalcoholic cocktail that will have you convinced you're drinking the real thing.

All the previously mentioned restaurants allow you to dine at will, but Vista has four reservations-required dinner spots that are the stars of the show. Three return from sister ships Marina and Riviera, while one is new, replacing French restaurant Jacques.

The new entrant to Oceania's food scene is Ember, serving inventive American fare. Though the venue is one of Vista's signature restaurants, it has a more casual vibe than the others, and meals here don't take quite as long. Consensus on my sailing is the standout dishes are the spinach and artichoke dip, lobster mac and cheese (with an actual hunk of lobster-in-the-shell on top) and the triple chocolate brownie sundae.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Polo Grill, Vista's fanciest restaurant, where dinners can take hours. It's a classic steakhouse in a dimly lit setting with an enormous menu where protein is the star.

While it was perhaps not my favorite dining venue on board, the salmon I ordered was cooked perfectly, so moist and tender that I raved about it for the rest of the cruise. Folks at my table ordered everything from filet mignon to a whole Maine lobster, and everyone was satisfied with their choices.

Also, you may be understandably tempted to order the Polo Quartet of four desserts to finish your meal. I will save you the trouble by telling you the key lime pie is hands down the best of the bunch, and you should order the full-size version and skip the tasting plate.

Toscana is Oceania's long-standing Italian restaurant, but on Vista, it's newly enhanced with dishes created by the ship's godmother, Italian food star Giada De Laurentiis. If you enjoy veal, this is your spot; nearly half of the secondi menu consists of veal dishes (you can also order lamb and roast suckling pig here). I tried Giada's branzino and wasn't wowed.

Whatever you order, make sure to order at least one pasta dish with Toscana's incredible ship-made pasta. You can't go wrong with Giada's lemon spaghetti or the pesto gnocchi. If you need to skip dessert at one specialty restaurant, this is where I'd pass … unless you are a die-hard tiramisu fan.

The final specialty restaurant is Red Ginger, a pan-Asian dining experience. Perhaps it's because I love Asian food, but I have a hard time choosing what to eat at Red Ginger because everything looks so good. You could make a meal on appetizers alone.

To start, try the sushi, duck and watermelon salad or summer rolls. For your main, consider the miso-glazed sea bass, lobster pad thai, bulgogi ribeye steak or red curry chicken. You might think dessert is a non-starter, but the caramel tapioca was tasty, and the soft ice cream with Japanese togarashi is a fun mix of sweet and spicy.

Vista also offers multiple options for intimate or private wine-pairing lunches and dinners on board. They include a wine-pairing lunch at Ember and wine-themed dinners in private dining rooms attached to Toscana and Polo Grill. Hidden between those two restaurants is Privee, another intimate dining room where two special dinners are held: Odyssey (described as a "gustatory journey for the senses") and the Dom Perignon Experience that pairs special Champagnes with equally special dishes.

But the food options don't end with the restaurants. The Bakery by Baristas was a popular spot for daily beignets, quiches and pastries. Afternoon tea in Horizons is an Oceania specialty, with your choice of Twinings tea, scones with jam and clotted cream, tea sandwiches and cakes and petits fours all wheeled around in glass carts by formally dressed waiters.

Vista's bars are hopping before and after dinner because there's not much else to do on board at night.

The Martini Bar is the most happening lounge, located near the Grand Dining Room, several specialty restaurants and the casino. A pianist performs here on and off throughout the evening. You can find all your standard mixed drinks here, as well as a special martini menu. At peak times, you might not be able to find a seat.

On the other side of the casino is the Founders Bar, a new concept for Oceania, dedicated to creative craft cocktails. If you like your drinks topped with smoke bubbles, frozen balls of fruit or sprigs of herb or dried fruit slices, this is your spot. Seating is limited, but you can request your drink be delivered around the corner to the Grand Lounge, a stunning scenery area where a classical string quartet plays in the evening.

Be careful — it's so fun trying out all the crazy concoctions that you might bust your drink budget if you haven't upgraded to the premium beverage package.

Horizons is the observation lounge at the top of the ship, looking forward. We heard rave reviews of the live band here and some choice words about the resident DJ, but if you want to watch the sunset or get your groove on after deck, Horizons is the bar for you.

Baristas is the coffee bar by day and aperitif bar by night. Get your daytime caffeine fix with Illy espresso, macchiatos, cremas and more, including coffees spiked with booze. After 6 p.m., you'll find an Italian-influenced list of aperitifs and digestifs (amaretto, Campari, limoncello), as well as wines and cocktails (such as an Aperol spritz or negroni).

The pool bar serves all the daiquiris and coladas you can drink while lounging on Vista's gorgeous, resort-style pool deck. You can also order drinks at any of the restaurants. Aquamar has a lovely menu of nonalcoholic cocktails, fresh juices, lattes and smoothies.

Vista is also introducing new immersive cocktail experiences for the cruise line, which unfortunately had not yet debuted on my sailing. These will include a customizable Bubbly Bar in Baristas, a Bloody Mary Bar at lunch in the Terrace Café, a Macallan whisky and chocolate pairing, and cocktail-making seminars pairing Brugal 1888 rum with ice cream or tea.

Vista activities and shows

An Oceania cruise is a destination-focused trip, so onboard activities are kept to a minimum. You'll find trivia contests, spa seminars, casino tournaments and technology classes at the LYNC Digital Center, such as travel photography and photo editing for social media.

Where Oceania excels in onboard activities are with cooking classes and demos in the Culinary Center and art classes at the Artist Loft. Oceania brings on real chefs and working artists to lead the workshops. Sign up as soon as you get on board because these popular classes fill up quickly.

I tried a "drip technique" painting class where we decorated glass plates, and it was a far cry from the watercolor or needlepoint classes you might find on other ships. The two-part class explored a unique technique, and even though I'm not experienced in crafting and my plate looked pretty bad after the first class, the artist knew what he was doing, and my final product was surprisingly good. It's also a fun way to socialize with other passengers and the artists in residence.

Vista's culinary center is three times larger than the versions found on sister ships Marina and Riviera. In addition to the test kitchen with 24 individual cooking stations, a second room can be arranged for lectures or even dinners. Classes are themed, often related to the ship's destination, and yes, you can eat what you cook. They do cost extra; fees start at $79.

On a warm, sunny day, Oceania's gorgeous resort-style pool deck is the place to be with padded loungers and day beds, a main pool with a wading area around it and a couple of hot tubs. Sporty types should head to the ship's topmost half decks for an outdoor running track, shuffleboard, croquet/bocce, pickleball, mini-golf and a golf-driving cage.

The Aquamar Spa on Deck 15 offers a barber shop, salon, fitness center with aerobics studio and sauna and steam rooms in the men's and women's locker rooms. Concierge Level and suite guests receive complimentary access to the Aquamar Spa Terrace at the front of the ship, with two hot tubs and a thalassotherapy pool.

If it's cool and rainy, consider decamping to the nook- and book-filled library, where you can borrow games, settle in with your laptop or peruse guidebooks. Baristas is right around the corner. The ship also has the requisite shops selling fine jewelry and logo items.

In the evenings, you can find a singer-pianist in Martinis, a string quartet in the Grand Lounge and a band followed by a DJ in Horizons. I heard great things about Vista's Music Station Band, but somehow I was always eating dinner when they were performing.

Each night, there's a show in the Vista Lounge, either a guest performer or a typical cruise ship song and dance show by the onboard performers. One of the new shows on Vista was choreographed by Britt Stewart, a professional dancer who's worked with "Dancing with the Stars."

Vista itineraries and pricing

Vista will spend its summers in the Mediterranean and winters in the Caribbean. In fall 2023, the ship will also visit Canada and New England and transit the Panama Canal twice. Cruises range in length from seven to 90 days, but most are one to three weeks in length.

Cruise-only prices start from $1,799 for a French Veranda cabin or $2,049 for the lowest-category balcony room on a seven-night Caribbean cruise. Alternatively, you can choose Oceania's more inclusive and expensive OLife fares; these start from $2,599 for the French Veranda cabin or $2,849 for a regular balcony room.

The current OLife promotion runs through June 30 and includes round-trip airfare and transfers, plus your choice of four shore excursions, a beverage package or $400 onboard credit per cabin. Starting in July, the line will offer a set of included perks, without the need to choose, but the actual inclusions may change during promotional periods.

What to know before you go

Required documents

The travel documents you need for your Vista cruise are determined by your itinerary and homeports. For most cruises, you will need a passport that is valid for six months after your trip ends. For round-trip sailings out of U.S. homeports, a birth certificate and government photo ID will suffice. It's up to each passenger to determine if any of the ports of call require additional visas.

When you finish checking in online for your cruise, Oceania will email you a boarding pass that you should print out and bring with you to the terminal.

Crew gratuities are added to your onboard bill and amount to $18 per person, per day, in Concierge-class rooms and below, or $23 per person, per day, in upper-level suites. Gratuities can be prepaid. You are always welcome to tip above the auto-gratuity for exceptional service. All tour guides should be tipped in cash at the end of a tour.

A 20% gratuity is added to onboard bar and spa bills.

Vista is one of the first Oceania cruise ships to use Starlink high-speed internet. I can attest to the speed of Oceania's premium plan after attending a 90-minute Zoom meeting with only the slightest of lag.

Every cabin comes with one free Wi-Fi login (for one device at a time), or you can pay to add additional devices or for the premium plan that accommodates music and video streaming.

Carry-on drinks policy

Passengers can bring up to six bottles of wine per cabin for consumption in their room. If you wish to drink your own wine in a restaurant or public area of the ship, you will need to pay a $25 per bottle corkage fee.

Smoking policy

Vista offers designated areas on the Deck 12 pool deck (forward, starboard corner) and in the smoking lounge on Deck 14 forward, outside Horizons. The latter is a gorgeous space with forest-green walls, but it is entirely indoors. This policy applies to e-cigarettes, pipes and cigars, in addition to regular cigarettes.

Smoking is forbidden everywhere else on board, including in cabins and on private balconies. Passengers who are caught in violation of the smoking policy will be disembarked at the next port of call and may also be required to pay additional fees to cover costs for cleaning or replacing damaged furniture or decking.

Vista has complimentary self-service launderettes on decks 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. Each is outfitted with a detergent dispenser, washers and dryers, an ironing board and a seating area with a TV if you choose to wait for your load to finish. You can walk away while your load runs, but set a timer because folks will remove your clothes if you don't pick them up in a timely fashion.

Alternatively, you can pay to send out your clothes to have them washed and/or pressed.

Electrical outlets

Vista's cabins and suites offer electrical outlets and USB ports on both sides of the bed and by the desk. You'll find both U.S. 110V and European 220V outlets. Americans may want to bring an adapter for charging devices in public rooms where the outlets are all European-style.

The onboard currency is the U.S. dollar. The reception desk can change dollars for the local currency.

Drinking age

You must be 21+ to drink alcohol onboard all Oceania cruises. When the ship is in international waters, young adults ages 18 to 20 may purchase and drink beer or wine (as well as the House Select beverage package).

Oceania does not have a complicated dress code with specific attire required on certain evenings. Instead, the line suggests "elegant casual resort wear" for evenings and requests that guests do not wear casual jeans, shorts, T-shirts, baseball caps, casual sandals or sneakers in the restaurants after 6 p.m.

For casual dining, choose the Pizzeria or Terrace Café for your evening meal. Shorts and baseball caps are allowed; athletic wear is not.

Elegant casual resort wear translates into date-night dresses (but not full-on cocktail attire), skirts and blouses or dressy pants and tops for women, and collared shirts and slacks for men. Jackets and ties are not required.

During the day, casual attire is fine, but please don't wear swimwear, bathrobes or pajamas in public areas. You'll need footwear if you leave the pool deck.

Bottom line

Vista is an elegant mid-size cruise ship that's the perfect home base for travelers who appreciate dining variety, enjoy interesting cocktails and fine wines and wish to explore the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

Cabins and suites are thoughtfully designed, though, for longer voyages, you might need to take advantage of onboard launderettes as cabin storage might be tight.

Vista offers a high-end experience on a beautifully designed ship, but you'll have a choice in how you spend your vacation budget rather than paying upfront for all-inclusive fares.

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A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON THE SMALL, LUXURIOUS SHIPS OF OCEANIA CRUISES

Oceania cruises' vista.

• Culinary Experiences
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• Suites & Staterooms

Your World From A New Perspective

Ships facts.

• Year Built: 2023
• Tonnage: 68,000
• Guest Capacity: 1,200 (Double Occupancy)
• Length: 791 feet

Innovative Mixology Program

The introduction of an elevated and innovative bar program aboard Vista reveals an expansive collection of immersive mixology experiences, curated cocktail menus, ultimate pairing experiences and specialty beverage carts. Discover the latest cocktail-crafting trends and techniques such as flavored mist bubbles, an extensive selection of low- and no-sugar wines and zero-proof cocktails, plus Negronis aged in wooden barrels and experiential beverage carts like the Bubbly Bar and Ultimate Bloody Mary Bar.

Imaginative New Dining Concepts

Vista is your world from a new perspective and honors our passion for serving The Finest Cuisine at Sea ® with imaginative new dining concepts and the debut of new epicurean delights. Be among the first to experience Ember, the newest addition to the Oceania Cruises family of restaurants, and Aquamar Kitchen, offering an array of indulgent, wellness-inspired dishes. Enjoy unforgettable dining experiences at treasured and iconic dining venues that have been elevated to new heights, from the refined elegance of The Grand Dining Room to the ultimate steakhouse experience at Polo Grill. Join us as we embark on the next chapter of Oceania Cruises’ culinary story.

Residential-Style Luxury

Vista sets new standards for comfort and residential-style luxury with all-veranda accommodations. All staterooms and suites feature beautifully appointed bathrooms with oversized rainforest showers, large vanities and copious storage space. Penthouse, Oceania, Vista and Owner’s Suites are ultra-spacious and true seagoing residences with an abundance of living and dining space for entertaining or simply relaxing. In a first for the brand, Vista will feature a new category of Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms dedicated to solo travelers.

Bathed in soothing tones and detailed with multiple layers of luxurious furnishings, accents and artwork, each stateroom and suite is a welcoming home away from home.

Vista will present a fresh perspective on the finest cuisine at sea with an astounding array of dining options that range from informal to the extravagant.

Signature Spaces Revealed

From the oceania cruises blog.

INTRODUCING VISTA’S DRAMATIC NEW SIGNATURE SPACES

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T+L's Review of Oceania Cruises' Vista

Oceania Cruises' new ship, Vista, has a resort-style pool, a stunning cocktail bar, and spacious cabins.

Courtesy of Oceania Cruises

​​I woke up to gray skies as Oceania Vista pulled into the port of Naples, Italy. Determined to reverse my weather luck, I went to deck 12 for a Morning Sunrise smoothie at Aquamar Kitchen. It worked. Some combination of the restaurant’s white-tile backsplash and baby-blue accents and the tropical smoothie brightened my mood. Heartened, my husband and I decided to brave the rain and set out in search of life-changing pizza. 

Last week, I was one of 1,200 passengers on Oceania Cruises’ first new ship in 11 years. With the debut of Vista , the brand, owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, rolled out its new Allura class of ship. It’s the first Oceania vessel where every room has a balcony, and it launched with Starlink (yes, the Elon Musk Wi-Fi), which was strong enough for me to take a Zoom call in the middle of the Tyrrhenian Sea with my camera on. Of Vista ’s 11 bars and restaurants, three are entirely new to Oceania — including a high-end cocktail counter that’s giving Death & Co. at sea, and the health-focused Aquamar with made-to-order salads, protein-dominant lunch bowls, and pressed juices.

There are, however, venues that faithful Oceania cruisers will recognize, like steak house Polo Grill and Italian restaurant Toscana, also on the Oceania-class ships, Riviera and Marina , and the older Regatta-class vessels. I was particularly excited to eat at Toscana, not only because I’d heard about the olive oil cart, but because Giada De Laurentiis — the ship’s godmother who sailed with us and christened Vista in a portside ceremony in Valletta, Malta — supplied two recipes for the menu. As someone who watched a lot of Everyday Italian in the early aughts, I felt strongly about trying her signature Capri-inspired lemon spaghetti. The lemon-cream sauce with grilled shrimp and capers delivered . It was easily the most talked-about dish on board, with the exception of the duck-and-watermelon salad at pan-Asian restaurant Red Ginger.

I hit the jackpot – which, on Vista , isn’t winning big at the deck-six casino, it’s scoring a Red Ginger reservation — about halfway through our cruise, as we sailed from Malta to Naples. From our corner table, my husband and I took in the glass-and-gold light fixtures and the geometric black aluminum dividers that created cozy seating nooks near the windows. We dug into tuna and salmon sashimi, pork-and-vermicelli spring rolls, and — of course — the famed duck-and-watermelon salad (which lived up to the hype), all paired with a Sonoma chardonnay. The showstopper, though, was the medium-rare bulgogi rib-eye plated on chic, blue-rimmed Tokyo Design Studio ceramic. We capped our night at Martinis — bet you can guess what that bar serves — where a pianist plays every night and the well of Elton John covers and The Botanist gin seemingly never runs dry.

Maya Kachroo-Levine/Travel+Leisure

Most nights, though, Founders Bar was the spot. New to Oceania, its most ambitious bar aboard has a menu of 26 intricate cocktails that use house-made syrups and top-shelf booze like Whistle Pig and parsley-infused Grey Goose. Of those cocktails, we tried nine (a decent showing, but not our best), and kept coming back to the Not So Sure, a potent take on an old fashioned made with Earl Grey tea–infused Woodford Reserve bourbon.

We marveled over the mixology — smoke, bubbles, and botanical spritzes were all part of the show — with other industry insiders, including Oceania executives and travel advisors who’d joined the preview sailing. Still, the onboard demographic was typical for Oceania, which tends to attract travelers in their 60s. That’s where the stories are. We dined with one couple, in their mid-80s, who have done two month-long stints on Oceania ships. They spent our meal at Ember, Vista ’s new American restaurant, telling us about the preparations that go into cruising the east coast of Africa to safeguard against Somali pirate attacks. Another gentleman, who grew up visiting Malta, sent us to the Valletta pub where actor Oliver Reed spent his time while shooting “Gladiator.” (Apparently, one night, Reed challenged British sailors to a drinking contest — and died in that very bar. At the unassuming pub on a Valletta side street, you can buy a shirt with Reed’s final, unpaid bar tab: eight pints; 12 double rums; 14 whiskeys. We opted for a slightly more restrained order.)

That said, the ship really is putting in the work when it comes to appealing to millennials. There’s the excellent Wi-Fi; pickleball ( America’s fastest growing sport , by the way, with NPR reporting “the strongest growth among players under 55”); a very Sweetgreen-like salad counter at Aquamar; and a coffee shop that looks like one in walking distance of my home in L.A. (marble counters, gold accents, leather bar stools) and pulls an espresso shot of similar quality. 

Meanwhile, Oceania has vastly expanded the number of tours and excursions available, something that should also appeal to a younger crowd. “These aren’t the run-of-the-mill shore excursions that everyone is used to on cruises,” promises Frank Del Rio, Jr., the new president of Oceania Cruises, in an interview with Travel + Leisure . All in, the company has developed more than 100 of these new, smaller-group choices, which leverage the expertise of locals and unlock under-the-radar activities, as T+L   contributing editor Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon recently reported . These “Go Local” tours brought Greaves-Gabbadon to locals’ homes in little-known destinations, like the “Croatian hamlet of Škopljanci (population: nine), where a local farmer welcomed me with homemade cherry schnapps.” 

Eager to find my own version of a nine-person town with cherry schnapps, I opted for a spin around Corsica that promised a visit to the mountains of Vizzavona and “Corsican snacks.” We took an astounding drive from the western port city of Ajaccio to Hôtel-Restaurant Monte d'Oro in the center of the island. I found our guide easy to tune out (she was, indeed, a local, but her monologue felt more suited to an old-school cruise tour of 50 people, rather than a group of 20 snack enthusiasts). But I loved watching the landscape transform from beach and sparkling sea to Alps-rivaling mountain views as our bus climbed 3,815 feet to Vizzavona. Waiting for us inside the hotel, the oldest on Corsica, dating back to 1880, was an impressive charcuterie spread, served under vines weeping down from wood-paneled ceilings. After lunch, I chatted with a server about the biodynamic red wine they were pouring and cozied up in the hotel’s sitting room, where I pulled a Molière biography from a paperback-cluttered shelf and read quietly aloud to my husband. I assume he loved it.

I did absolutely no research on Corsica  – beyond reading the excursion pamphlet on my flight from Paris to Rome, and skimming Napoleon's Wikipedia page. And yet, I still wound up on a stunning stretch of the island I would have never known about. I didn’t have to worry about how to get there. All I had to worry about was how long I had before my husband’s patience ran out on my very slow French-to-English translation of Molière’s life.

Other culinary adventures are a key part of Oceania’s effort to appeal to all age ranges. On Vista, there are 17 new culinary tours on top of an already robust lineup of cooking classes. Executive chef Kathryn Kelly says, in various ports, foodies will head to the market (like the main open-air agorá on Corfu, Greece ), with shopping assignments and euros from Vista chefs. Then, they’ll come back on board for a class at the ship’s culinary center, which is three times larger than the ones on older ships.

After a morning of shopping and an afternoon of Corsican charcuterie, I returned to my cabin and posted up on my balcony to watch as we pulled away from Ajaccio. My concierge-level stateroom, at 270 square feet, had a sizable balcony, a queen-size bed, and a double shower. (I spoke to several experienced Oceania cruisers who were beyond excited about the increased size of the showers.) Though the rooms are about the same square footage as those on other Oceania ships, the Vista designs make smarter use of the floor plan, said Greg Walton, CEO of Studio Dado, the firm that designed most of the ship. To take one example, closets were moved from next to the bed to a spot closer to the door, which freed up room to expand those showers, Walton explained in a conversation with T+L.

The new Allura-class Vista has more suites than others in the Oceania fleet, too: there are 14 Oceania Suites (up to 1,200 square feet); eight Vista Suites (up to 1,850 square feet); and three Owner’s Suites with Ralph Lauren Home decor, two massive terraces, and 2,400 square feet of space. 

As we sailed away from Corsica, I went up to the main pool area, which Walton said is “designed to feel like a resort” with cabanas and light wood–colored accents, ordered a barrel-aged Negroni, and took it with me to the whirlpool. After my soak, I watched the sunset from Polo Grill, over martinis and filet mignon, and then went back to Founders Bar, to continue my absolutely crucial cocktail-sampling mission. 

After seven days on Vista — the longest I’ve ever spent on a ship — I was surprised by how much I wanted to stay on board. I wasn’t ready to part with my new routine, from early Morning Sunrise smoothies to Not So Sure cocktails before bed. “Next year, 40 percent of our trips will be 30-plus days or longer,” Del Rio says. Dubbed Grand Voyages, those itineraries have been extremely popular among Oceania guests as they return to cruising. “We have the 180-day around-the-world cruise that we also sell in segments,” he adds.

Vista will sail in Europe this summer — a June itinerary, for example, goes from Athens to Istanbul in 10 days, from $5,089 per person , including food; select wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages; six shore excursions; and a $600 credit to use on board toward spa services or top-shelf drinks. The ship will come stateside in the fall, starting with an 11-day sail from New York to Montreal, then head to the Caribbean for the winter. A seven-day round-trip cruise from Miami, visiting Mexico, Belize, and Honduras, starts at $2,228 per person (or $318 a day for the trip, including food, non-alcoholic drinks and house wine, four excursions, and a $400 onboard credit).

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Gastronomy + great mixology experiences vie for dominance on vista, oceania cruises newest vessel.

by Laura Schreffler

Photo Credit: Oceania Cruises

On May 6, Oceania Cruises’ newest ship in a decade, Vista, set sail through Malta, Sardinia, Naples, and Corsica, with a star-studded ship log of guests to boot, inclusive of ship “godmother” Giada De Laurentiis and Harry Connick Jr. , who performed at the opening night gala May 8 in Malta. Clearly, this 1,2000-guest vessel is a legend in the making… but what should new guests expect when they head on board?

In a snapshot, here are the highlights. There are:

• 11 dining options, 3 of them brand-new

• 1,200 guests served by 800 crew members, equalling two crew members for every three guests

• The most spacious standard staterooms at sea; more than 290 square feet of space

• All Penthouse Suites and staterooms feature large bathrooms with oversized rainforest showers

• All Owner’s, Vista and Oceania Suites feature luxurious soaking tubs

• Palatial Owner’s Suites and top-of-ship Library have been styled exclusively in Ralph Lauren Home

• There are new Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms for solo travelers

• Eight bars, lounges, and entertainment venues

• Vista is home to Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center and Aquamar Spa Terrace

• Staffed Concierge and Executive Lounges for Concierge Staterooms and Suites, respectively

Photo Credit: Oceania Cruises When you’ve got Giada De Laurentiis representing, needless to say, the food has got to be good. Luckily, there’s nothing to worry about on board Vista, the ship that offers more than something for everyone. Indeed, it appears to offer everything.

That said, there are three new brand-wide dining outlets on board, the first of which is Ember, a restaurant which features a menu of inventive American creations and classic dishes. Highlights include items like braised short ribs on polenta, grilled swordfish with asparagus, crab cakes with spicy aioli, and a cobb salad with smoked chicken.

My personal favorite of the three new additions is Aquamar Kitchen, which should please even those with the most finicky of palettes (or Angelenos, who live and die by their health food). This is a wellness-focused, mostly plant-based eatery, with a slew of cold-pressed juices and superfood smoothies for breakfast, hearty homemade granolas and avocado toasts, organic power bowls, and savory breakfast wraps. For lunch, this airy spot offers enhanced, guilt-free, yet delicious items, inclusive of salmon with quinoa tabouleh and lemon tahini, yellowfin tacos with white cabbage slaw, and salads with green goddess dressing.

Ironically, beyond Aquamar Kitchen, I found myself hanging out at the third concept, Baristas, most of all. Coffee is a serious affair for most folks, which the powers-that-be at Oceania realized, and reacted to. Baristas, on the top deck, not only offers 270-degree views over the sea, but gives guests their coffee kicks, too, in the form of elaborate illy espressos, cappuccinos and lattes (with flavorings!), as well as delicious pastries, finger sandwiches, and homemade biscotti. It’s also home to Bakery, just a few steps away, as well as the Library, a great place to enjoy and indulgent chocolate-almond croissant or bombolini while reading a good book or people-watching.

Other concepts exist on Oceania already, but are fully updated here on its newest, most enhanced ship. The Grand Dining Room is the luxurious grand dame of Oceania Cruises’ culinary world. This is an elegant place to enjoy a traditionally long and winding Mediterranean dinner, with Continental cuisine on deck, from signature Jacques Pépin classics to an incredible spectrum of global flavors and an all-new Executive Chef’s Tasting Menu. Menus change daily with an expansive choice of at least 10 appetizers, soups, and salads and 10 dinner entrées, along with healthy options.

Red Ginger was one of the best dining experiences I had on board. It features Pan-Asian dishes, inclusive of everything from Thai and Korean to Japanese and Malaysian cuisine. The sushi was a standout, being that it’s one of the only venues on board to offer my personal go-to dinner of choice, and I loved that there was flair and presentation right from the get-go, when our servers offered up a box of exquisite chopsticks to choose from, therefore personalizing the experience. Items inclusive of a salad of spicy roast duck and watermelon with cashews, mint, and Thai basil, Malaysian beef penang with coconut rice and paratha roti, and Thai vegetable curry with sweet potatoes, aubergine, mushrooms, and basil in green curry sauce, were standouts.

Toscana presents an evolution of Tuscan cuisine in a quintessentially Italian setting of rich Chianina leather, handblown Venetian glass, and Carrara marble, with an Italian pedigree to boot: many of the dishes served here originated from recipes courtesy of the mothers and grandmothers of Oceania’s own Italian culinary staff. Octopus carpaccio with Champagne vinaigrette, artichoke and parmesan cheese timbale with black truffle sauce, hand-rolled gnocchi with pesto, rich risotto with lobster medallions and shallots, and a pan-seared sea bass filet finished with Sorrento lemon, chardonnay, and capers are among the most popular items, all of which are presented on custom-designed Versace china.

Terrace Café is a go-to for many as it’s a place that offers a quick fix, a plethora of options, great views, and a stylish terrace. At breakfast, Terrace Café features a seemingly never-ending array of items such as made-to-order eggs, omelets, pancakes and waffles. Come lunch, an expansive menu of international inspired dishes is complemented by flavorful roasted and rotisserie meats and homemade pizzas. In the evening, there’s a smörgåsbord of grilled-to-order lobster tails, fish, filets, and steaks; freshly made, hand-cut sushi and sashimi; a varied menu of hot and cold specialties; and locally inspired specialties from the various ports of call.

Polo Grill is Oceania’s onboard answer to a classic steakhouse experience. Richly layered décor and an abundance of custom millwork create an imaginative rendition of tradition set against crisp white linen tablecloths while a cadre of black jacketed servers. Think: a place Frank Sinatra might hang out (or Harry Connick Jr., as it were). As this is a steakhouse, meat is the focus — notably the beef dishes, all of which are 28-day dry aged certified Black Angus USDA Prime — though seafood dishes such as grilled swordfish and whole Maine lobster gratinée are also on the menu.

Priveé is that private dining experience that all guests are seeking, but not all will have. A meal here is special: it’s a marquee venue for bespoke, intimate culinary celebrations for a maximum of 10  guests, enhanced as such by dramatic backlit, debossed walls and a blooming flower petal ceiling from which a dramatic chandelier descends over the polished marble slab dining table.

And last but certainly not least is Waves Grill, a casual and colorful setting that offers a slew of All-American favorites. Located in a spacious, shaded area steps from the swimming pool and Terrace Café, Waves Grill offers an extensive menu during lunch and late into the afternoon for that much-desired midday snack slump, or a light bite for the ravenous masses who have spent the day ashore adventuring. Items found here include burgers and sandwiches, as well as fresh salads, coleslaw, and crispy, hand-cut fries. For those with a sweet tooth, try a housemade sorbet, a made-to-order hot fudge sundae, or a thick, hand-dipped milkshake.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that craft cocktails were a major focus for Vista, most notably at the dedicated Founder’s Bar. Here I found a lot of smoking fruit, intricate presentations involving a “Flavor Blaster Gun,” and housemade tinctures that really elevated the mixology game. The only problem: Founder’s Bar is small, and everyone wants in (not a bad problem to have if you’re Founders Bar, though).

That being said, Founder’s Bar isn’t the only experience onboard. Vista is dedicated to showcasing an immersive, experiential beverage program including specialty beverage carts like The Bubbly Bar, which serves up exclusive Champagne cocktails, and The Ultimate Bloody Mary Bar, where guests can DIY their perfect brunch accompaniment.

But that isn’t all. Special wine and spirits experiences are also available for those who choose, like Bond, to accept their mixology mission. A few highlights can be found below.

The Macallan Experiences

Leaning into the popularity of The Macallan’s single malt whiskies on board, Oceania Cruises is launching a series of experiences taking the brand to new heights, such as The Macallan Diamond Bar Cart, which features the brand’s most iconic expressions, as well as exclusive offerings like The Macallan Smoker, which brings theater and ritual to smoking cocktails by utilizing flavor blasters to infuse the drink; The Macallan Flight Program; and The Macallan Chocolate Pairing, a decadent pairing of guests’ choosing including: Macallan Quest & milk chocolate, Macallan Lumina & chocolate truffles with fruit, Macallan Terra & white chocolate, and Macallan Enigma & dark chocolate.

Brugal 1888 Doblemente Añejado Rum Offerings

Other educational/entertaining experiences for guests feature Brugal 1888 Doblemente Añejado Rum. These include the Brugal Rum & Tea at Sea, which teaches guests about the history of pairing rum and tea since the 17th century while providing them a hands-on mixology experience to mix, match, and taste-test a series of complementary flavors; the Nearly Neat Serving Cart with Brugal 1888, a concept designed to bring a sophisticated alternative to traditional cocktails with an exclusive Nearly Neat menu; and Ice Cream and Brugal Cocktails, which will be available at pools, restaurants, and lounges for guests to cool off with a decadent — and boozy — treat.

Wine and Champagne experiences are as follows:

● Moët & Chandon Champagne Experience, making its debut on Vista, is a delectable three-course pairing extravaganza featuring rare vintages. Guests will start with a Mediterranean sea bass tartare paired with the mature 2013 Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Brut, followed by a duck foie gras terrine accompanied by the silky Moët & Chandon Nectar Imperial Champagne, and finished with a cured beef tenderloin coupled with the elegant and refined Moët & Chandon Imperial Rose Champagne.

● Connoisseur Wine Pairing Lunches will be another addition to Vista with two carefully crafted epicurean journeys from which to choose. Menus include five different Mediterranean influenced dishes paired with a premium range of wines. The head sommelier along with bar, restaurant and galley teams, will explain each course pairing concept and their flavor profiles.

● Dom Pérignon Experience, a signature Oceania Cruises experience since 2019, will be showcased on Vista as part of the intimate dining venue Privée. Each of the three Champagne vintages enjoyed during this six-course tasting menu is effortlessly paired with two courses which are specifically crafted to bring out the nuances of the grapes and the ratio of the blend. Courses include scallops rossini with mole negro followed by black truffle risotto, Brittany blue lobster in yellow curry broth with coconut foam, seared sashimi-style Wagyu beef with octopus tempura, that culminates with sakura tea geisha flower ice cream topped with lemon caviar.

WHICH STATEROOM TO STAY IN

For many, the hardest part of a cruise is the accommodation. But thankfully, every accommodation (see what I did there) has been made aboard Vista to maximize space, and to make the experience completely modernized and convenient for guests. That being said, there are always ways of getting the most out of your stay, and here, that means staying in one of the Owner’s Suites. There are only three of these 2,400 square foot behemoths, and they go fast, so book early. Each suite is styled exclusively in Ralph Lauren Home, with lofty heights, commanding views, and walls of glass in every room. Thoughtfully layered design elements like traditional millwork on the walls  result in an opulent yet soothingly comfortable aesthetic. Essentially, they’re like grand estates at sea.

The dramatic double-doored entry opens into the foyer and a beautiful dining room that is dominated by a floor-to-ceiling bow-shaped wall of glass that overhangs overlooks the sea. The centerpiece of the room is the elegant Brook Street Salon dining table that is surrounded by a fleet of Holbrook Director’s Chairs from Ralph Lauren Home with a polished nickel Chatham pendant chandelier overhead. The living room features lustrous wenge walnut flooring, a quartered rosewood cocktail bar with hammered nickel countertop, and sumptuous lounging area filled with modern furnishings that showcase the expectedly nautical flair. At the end of the living room, there’s a wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling glass wall, as well as a second wall of glass that opens onto an expansive teak veranda that is furnished for lounging, entertaining, and dining.

And finally, the master bedroom can be considered an entire retreat unto itself, featuring a luxurious Cote d’Azur king-size bed, capacious walk-in closets, and an opulent master bath with a large soaking tub and an ocean-view shower. A second teak veranda off the master bedroom promises peaceful solitude.

PLAY, INDULGE, REPEAT

With the restaurants, off-boat excursions, and bars on board, there’s always something to do. But for those days at sea when you don’t want to just sit around having a Sunday Funday (but, you know, on a cruise Sunday Funday could always take place mid-week), Vista offers a lot to do over its 11 decks. There’s a putting green and pickleball court, a giant pool deck, complete with modern beach club cabanas, and the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center, a spa with several treatment rooms, state-of-the-art workout and personal training spaces, a salon, and barbershop. It is significant for the brand in that it is its first, purpose-built holistic wellness center.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there’s also a casino (with its own bar). Pick your poison — either way, the intention here is that you’ll disembark feeling lighter, happier, and more fulfilled. I certainly did.

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Inside the Oceania Vista, the cruise line’s first new ship in more than a decade

Oceania Cruises is launching its first new luxury cruise ship in more than a decade, with another to follow soon, ahead of a summer travel season that could be record-breaking for global tourism.

Christened this month during a maiden voyage through the Mediterranean, the Vista is the eighth ship in the Oceania fleet, and the first of two brand new vessels for brand; sister ship Allura is scheduled to make her debut in the spring of 2025.

Vista was actually scheduled to debut a week (on May 20), but the company said unprecedented demand for the inaugural season saw her first sailing brought forward by a week for an inaugural sailing on May 13 from Rome to Venice.

At more than 791 feet and 67,000 tons, Vista has a guest to crew ratio of 1,200 guests served by 800 crew members—equivalent to two crew members for every three guests. And the company touts the Vista hosts some of the most spacious standard staterooms at sea, measuring more than 290 square feet. The Vista also has new concierge-level veranda staterooms intended for solo travelers, perhaps reflecting a growing number of digital nomads working remotely — even from sea (when Wi-Fi permits).

One of the key tenets to any cruise ship is its culinary program. And as a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Lines and a sister line to Regent Seven Seas, Oceania bills itself as the destination- and culinary-focused cruise liner.

The Vista has 11 onboard dining venues, including three of which are new to Oceania ships. These include Aquamar Kitchen, a plant-based and wellness-inspired eatery for breakfast and lunch; The Bakery at Baristas, serving specialty coffee drinks (think lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, and even affogatos) and freshly baked pastries all day; and a new signature restaurant, Ember, an upscale yet relaxed space where guests can enjoy a more refined, white-tablecloth dining experience. 

The Vista also hosts eight bars, lounges, and entertainment venues. Among them is the Casino Mixology Bar, a new concept for the line, focused entirely on the art of the cocktail. It boasts a wide selection of bourbons and ryes in addition to tableside preparation of cocktails and spirits.

The Vista is already sold out for this year’s summer season on the Mediterranean. In September, the ship will set sail for Canada and New England before heading south for a series of winter itineraries based out of Miami, sailing across the Caribbean with major stops in Mexico and Bermuda.

Next year, the 2024 summer season will see the Vista return to the Mediterranean as well as the Aegean and Adriatic Seas, with ports of call throughout Italy, Turkey, and Greece.

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Find a Cruise on Vista

with a cruise advisor

Debuted in May 2023, Oceania Cruises' first new ship in more than a decade can hold up to 1,200 passengers and 800 crew members. Vista is the inaugural ship in Oceania's Allura Class, featuring top-of-the-line amenities like a culinary center, an artist loft and an extensive library, along with facilities like a pool, a casino, a spa and a fitness center. Additionally, Vista offers enrichment opportunities like destination-focused seminars led by guest speakers and dynamic musical performances.

One of the highlights of Oceania Vista is its wide array of dining venues, from specialty restaurants like Ember (American fare) and Toscana (Italian cuisine) to the poolside Waves Grill and daily afternoon tea service. In the evening, guests can grab a drink at their choice of several bars and lounges; Vista's immersive mixology program utilizes innovative techniques and trends to create an elevated cocktail experience.

Vista's well-appointed staterooms – which range from 240 to 2,400 square feet – boast balconies, queen-size beds, rainforest showers, flat-screen TVs and 24-hour room service, among other amenities. If you splurge for a suite, you'll enjoy added benefits like iPads, cashmere blankets, complimentary laundry and shoeshine services, access to the Executive Lounge and butler service.

Oceania Vista explores an array of popular destinations in the U.S., the Caribbean, Mexico, the Mediterranean and more.

U.S. News Insider Tip:  The design of the Vista creates more expansive and contemporary public areas than other ships in Oceania's fleet, so even when the ship is at full capacity, it never feels crowded. Also, since it is an all-veranda ship, all guests have the same great ocean view. – Julie L. Kessler, Contributor

Pros & Cons

Offers wide array of activities and entertainment options

No dedicated facilities for children on board

• Expert Rating » 4.5
• Traveler Rating » 4.5
• Health Rating » 4.8

Vista ranks # 1 out of 7 Oceania Cruises Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 1 in Best Oceania Cruises
• # 5 in Best Cruises to the Caribbean
• # 8 in Best Luxury Cruises
• # 8 in Best Cruises to the Mediterranean
• # 10 in Best Cruises to Europe

Vista offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

Vista contains 11 decks. Find out which features are available on each Vista deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 35 guests have reviewed Vista , giving it a rating of 4.3 on a scale of 1-5.

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Reviews by traveler type.

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Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Press Releases

Oceania cruises accelerates debut of new ship vista.

Exceptional Demand Drives Brand To Introduce Additional Inaugural Voyage

MIAMI , Dec. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Oceania Cruises, the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, announced that it will accelerate the debut of its new ship  Vista  by introducing a new "Founder's Cruise" departing from Rome on May 13, 2023, and sailing to Venice.  Vista  had been scheduled to debut on May 20, 2023, but unprecedented demand for the ship's inaugural season has now driven the maiden voyage forward by a week. 

" Vista  has been driving exceptional demand from the moment we first revealed her inaugural voyages. With all of her maiden season voyages sold out or on waitlist status, we are introducing an additional voyage to satisfy that exceptional demand," stated Howard Sherman, President and CEO of Oceania Cruises.

The new "Founder's Cruise" will be hosted by Oceania Cruises' Founder Frank J. Del Rio in celebration of the new ship and to commemorate the brand's 20 th anniversary. Sailing from Rome, travelers will experience enthralling explorations of the most illustrious and alluring destinations in Italy, Greece, and Croatia, punctuated by exclusive celebrations, inaugural cocktail receptions, and other special events. Guests joining this inaugural voyage will be among the very first to experience Vista and her stunning interiors, harmonious public spaces, imaginative new dining and mixology concepts, and new standards for residential-style luxury, including the most spacious standard staterooms at sea.

Founder's Cruise - 7 Days Aboard Vista – May 13-20, 2023

May 13: Rome, Italy  May 14: Sorrento/Capri, Italy  May 15: Messina, Italy  May 16: Argostoli, Greece  May 17: Corfu, Greece  May 18: Dubrovnik, Croatia  May 19: Zadar, Croatia  May 20: Venice, Italy

Calling on a new destination each day, this voyage treats guests to iconic marquee ports and hidden gem destinations with a truly unique itinerary that features sought-after culinary experiences, captivating scenery, immersive connections with locals, and memorable onboard experiences to commemorate a momentous week aboard what will be the most dramatic new ship of 2023.

The "Founder's Cruise" will open for sale tomorrow, December 8, 2022. For additional information on Oceania Cruises' small-ship luxury product, exquisitely crafted cuisine, and expertly curated travel experiences, visit OceaniaCruises.com, call 855-OCEANIA, or speak with a professional travel advisor.

Vista Highlights

• 12 dining options, four of the concepts brand new
• 1,200 guests served by 800 crew members = two crew members for every three guests
• The most spacious standard staterooms at sea – more than 290 square feet
• All Penthouse Suites and staterooms feature large bathrooms with oversized rainforest showers
• All Owner's, Vista, and Oceania Suites feature luxurious soaking tubs
• Palatial Owner's Suites and top-of-ship Library styled exclusively in Ralph Lauren Home
• New Concierge Level Solo Veranda Staterooms for solo travelers
• Eight bars, lounges, and entertainment venues
• Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center and Aquamar Spa Terrace
• Staffed Concierge and Executive Lounges for Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms and Suites, respectively

About Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises is the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line. The line's seven small, luxurious ships carry a maximum of 1,238 guests and feature the finest cuisine at sea and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe. Expertly curated travel experiences aboard the designer-inspired, small ships call on more than 600 marquee and boutique ports in more than 100 countries on 7 continents on voyages that range from 7 to more than 200 days. The brand has a second 1,200-guest Allura Class ship on order for delivery in 2025. With headquarters in Miami, Oceania Cruises is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., a diversified cruise operator of leading global cruise brands which include Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

About   Norwegian   Cruise   Line   Holdings   Ltd.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) is a leading global cruise company which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands. With a combined fleet of 29 ships with over 60,000 berths, these brands offer itineraries to approximately 500 destinations worldwide. The Company has eight additional ships scheduled for delivery through 2027, comprising approximately 20,000 berths.

SOURCE Oceania Cruises

Released December 7, 2022

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Vista Yacht Cruises Inc - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Vista Cruises Inc.

• Duluth Loves Local

No trip to Duluth is complete without experiencing the majestic beauty of Lake Superior aboard the Vista Fleet! Choose Your Cruise; from our sensational Sunset Dinner Cruises catered by Savories Catering, exciting narrated Sightseeing Tours, and delightful Family Fun and Pizza cruises with entertainment for the whole family. Experience the wonders of Lake Superior as we cruise next to 1,000-foot lake freighters and oceangoing vessels to take in the activities of the Twin Ports harbor. See lighthouses, ships, beautiful waters and more during your narrated tour aboard the Vista Fleet. Daily May-October.

VISTA CRUISES, INC.

• Engineering District : Detroit
• TSO Series Number : TS-3 Transportation Lines on the Great Lakes System
• Principal Commodity List : PASSENGERS
• Area of Operation : LAKE SUPERIOR ONE MILE OFF SHORE BETWEEN DULUTH AND SUPERIOR ENTRIES AND DULUTH-SUPERIOR HARBOR
• Passenger : 2
• Vessels List : VISTA QUEEN, VISTA STAR
• Address 323 HARBOR DR. DULUTH MN 55802
• Phone : 218-722-6218

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Diana Shipping Orders Two Methanol Dual-fuel Bulkers

Greek shipowner Diana Shipping on Wednesday announced it has placed an order for two new methanol dual-fuel Kamsarmax bulk carriers from China's Tsuneishi Group (Zhoushan) Shipbuilding Inc.The 81,200 dwt newbuilds were ordered at a purchase price of $46 million each, Diana said. The vessels are expected to be delivered by the second half of 2027 and the first half of 2028, respectively.

Hanwha Ocean Lands $500M Deal to Build Four Very Large Ammonia Carriers

Hanwha Ocean has secured an order worth approximately $500 million to construct four very large ammonia carriers (VLACs) for Greek shipping company Naftomar Shipping and Trading Co. Ltd. Inc (Naftomar). Each VLAC will be able to transport 93,000 cubic meters (cbm) of ammonia, a carbon-free fuel, making them the largest vessel of their class in the world, Hanwha Ocean.

Insights: Frank Manning, President & COO, Diversified Marine, Inc.

Frank Manning has quickly risen through the ranks during his eight years in the shipyard business, today serving as president and COO at Diversified Marine, Inc. (DMI) in Portland, Ore. Crucial along the way has been a passion for the business itself and the people that make it all possible.“The first day I walked in a shipyard I knew that I was in the right industry,” Manning said.

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A cargo ship that ran aground off St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands earlier this month has been refloated and towed to a safe mooring location at the Crown Bay Sandfill dock, the U.S. Coast Guard said.Vessel owners and salvors will now coordinate further operations to remove the damaged cargo, remaining oil and conduct further salvage or repair operations for the Bonnie G.

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803 Carnival Vista 2024 Review, Cruise News + Trip Insurance Cruise Radio

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A Southern Caribbean review of Carnival Vista after its dry dock. Dan Skilken, President of TripInsurance.com stops by to answer some listener questions on the Norwegian Cruise Line guests being stranded in Africa and medical conditions on a cruise ship. Staff writer Richard Simms drops by with cruise news. 

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• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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About the Vista Fleet

The Vista Fleet is Lake Superior’s locally owned original attraction. We are an Excursion Boat Company and Floating Events Center based in Duluth Minnesota. The Fleet consists of: The Vista Star (100 ton vessel) that holds up to 220 passengers, The Vista Queen (46 ton vessel) that holds up to 50 passengers and the Zenith Adventure Shop (located behind the DECC/Amsoil Arena) which is a 5,000 square foot Adventure Marketplace. The Zenith Adventure marketplace is the gateway to North Shore experiences and adventure. We create new and original experiences for travelers and locals including paddleboard/kayak rentals, guided SUP/kayak tours, and guided hikes right from the storefront. The Vista Star and Queen start the season in early spring and run through late fall. Including Daily: Sightseeing Tours, Dinners, Sunset Cruises, River Cruises, Chartered Events, Public Special Events and Lake Adventures. There are many sights seen aboard the fleet including iconic landmarks such as: The Aerial Lift Bridge, Historic Canal Park, The Blatnik (High Bridge), the Bong Bridge, Midwest Terminal, CN Taconite Docks, Etc.. The cruises are fully narrated with a blend of entertaining facts, games, concessions, a full bar and much more. The Vista Fleet believes in embracing an outdoor life and creating superior memories.

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Man shot and killed on street in Chula Vista, suspect arrested

By renee schmiedeberg • published april 7, 2024 • updated on april 7, 2024 at 4:24 pm.

Chula Vista Police have arrested a suspect involved in a deadly shooting that took place late Saturday night on Center Street and Third Street in the city.

Officers received reports at 11:17 p.m. on Saturday that one man had been shot on Center Street, near Third Avenue, according to the Chula Vista Police Department.

Just before the shooting, a physical alteration occurred between the shooter and the victim, according to CVPD.

First responders found a 36-year-old man from San Diego in a truck with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body, police said.

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They gave the man life-saving measures until medics arrived and took him to a hospital. Despite the efforts, he was pronounced dead later. The identity of the victim has not yet been released.

Through witness statements, officers learned the suspects left the scene in an older, white pickup truck with unique markings.

Not long after midnight, a patrolling officer spotted a vehicle matching that description cruising westbound down H Street in Chula Vista, police said. Officers stopped that car and detained its two occupants who matched witnesses' descriptions, according to police.

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One of those occupants is identified as 32-year-old Christian Benavides of San Diego, CVPD said. Police arrested and booked him into San Diego County Jail on charges including murder.

Police are still actively investigating this incident. They are still gathering evidence and speaking with witnesses on circumstances leading to the shooting.

Anyone with information is urged to contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or submit tips anonymously online or through the P3tips mobile application.

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