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Oceania Cruises

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Cruising with Oceania

Oceania Cruises' seven ships – Marina , Riviera , Regatta , Nautica , Insignia , Sirena and the brand new Vista (which debuted in May 2023) – stand apart from other midsize cruise ships thanks to their low 1-to-2 crew-to-passenger ratios, gourmet cuisines and comprehensive itineraries. An eighth ship, the Allura, will debut in 2025. Oceania sails around the world, with 2024 trips spanning Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, South America, Antarctica and the South Pacific, among other regions. Oceania's shore experiences are just as varied as its sailings: passengers can sign up for activities ranging from swimming in the Dead Sea to snorkeling with sharks and stingrays in French Polynesia to wildlife spotting in the Arctic Circle. Should you wish to extend your time on shore, you can sign up for a pre-or post-cruise land tour with Oceania, which includes most lodging, dining and transportation costs.

On board, you'll find plenty of ways to fill your time at sea. In addition to wine and martini tastings and educational presentations, a library with more than 2,000 books is available to all passengers. Cooking demonstrations and art classes take place aboard larger ships like Marina and Riviera, which can carry up to 1,250 guests. During your voyage – which, for 2024 cruises, can last anywhere from seven to 196 days – you can also take advantage of the casino and the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center. And if you're a foodie, be sure to sample the offerings available across the fleet's numerous open-seating dining venues – including the Grand Dining Room, which serves a gourmet global menu that changes daily. If sailing on the new Vista, two new options have been added – specialty restaurant Ember for classic American fare with an elegant twist and Aquamar Kitchen emphasizing dishes with an eye on wellness cuisine without sacrificing taste.

Pros & Cons

Ships make voyages to off-the-beaten-path destinations

Wide selection of both regular and specialty dining venues

Can earn benefits, such as shipboard credits, through the Oceania Club loyalty program

Not all onboard services are included in the cruise fare

No programming, facilities or supervision for children

Fewer daily activities than larger luxury ships from other lines

Expert Rating » 4.1
Traveler Rating » 4.2
Health Rating » 4.8

Oceania Cruises has been ranked based on an expert evaluation of the line's level of luxury, as well as an assessment of user reviews and health ratings.

# 4 in Best Luxury Cruise Lines
# 4 in Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean
# 7 in Best Cruise Lines for Couples

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Oceania Cruises Ships

Before You Book

Note: To see Oceania's updated deposit, cancellation and rebooking policies visit its website .
The price of your cruise includes lodging, meals at specialty dining venues, soft drinks, bottled water and most onboard entertainment, including internet access.
Shore excursions, baggage handling, alcoholic beverages, travel insurance, gratuities, spa services and other onboard services (such as laundry and medical services) are not covered in the cost of your cruise. However, the new “simply MORE” program includes roundtrip airfare, airport transfers, shore excursions, and Champagne, wine and beer at lunch and dinner.
Those who require medical care during their voyage or have an existing medical condition must notify Oceania in writing at the time of booking to ensure the cruise line can accommodate their needs.
A 20% deposit per person is required for those booking Owner's, Vista or Oceania Suite category rooms, and a $500 deposit per person is required for all other cabin categories. (Deposits for Grand Voyages are $1,500 per person.) Full payment is due 150 days prior to departure on all cruises unless otherwise noted.
Cruise cancellation fees depend on how far in advance the cruise is canceled and whether you purchase the cruise line's Travel Protection Program. For more information regarding cancellation and refund policies, consult Oceania's website .
Infants must be at least 12 months old to sail with Oceania.

Before You Board

You must acquire all necessary travel documents (such as any applicable visas) for your selected itinerary. This includes a passport that is valid for a minimum of six months after the cruise ends, as well as any essential inoculation records. You may be denied boarding if you do not possess the necessary documentation.
Depending on your itinerary, you may need to get vaccinated before setting sail. Prior to departure, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , which features a list of routine and additional vaccines you may need for certain international destinations.
You must be on board the ship at least two hours prior to departure. Priority boarding is available for guests staying in Concierge (or higher) cabin categories.
Suitcases exceeding 70 pounds are prohibited.
The number of specialty dining reservations you can make depends on your ship, stateroom selection and trip duration.
Shore excursions can be booked up to 365 days prior to embarkation.

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.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Oceania Cruises Riviera Cruise Review

Oceania’s riviera is the newest upscale cruise ship in the market. it’s a splurge—does it deliver the goods.

Updated June 2, 2015

Following hot on the heels of Oceania’s Marina that debuted in 2011, sibling Riviera launched in May 2012 and was quickly established as one of cruising’s most elegant options for the upscale audience. With menus overseen by chef Jacques Pépin, a Canyon Ranch spa, sumptuous bedding and tasteful cabin décor, Riviera caters to a discerning crowd that expects deferential service and a refined atmosphere.

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

About Our Cruise

Comparing splurges, our cabin: veranda cabin, cabin amenities, other cabins, grand dining room, terrace café, waves grill, in-room dining, canyon ranch spa club, other activities, shows & entertainment, other venues, kids programs, ship communications, internet facilities, dress codes, laundry facilities, general health & safety, smoking policy, tips and service charges, alcohol policies, loyalty program.

One of the youngest operators in the business, Oceania Cruises was formed in 2003, coming onto the scene with three of the 684-passenger “R-class” ships from Renaissance Cruises, a luxury line that went belly-up in 2001. When it came time to build two new ships, Oceania started with a clean slate, creating vessels that were double the size of the existing ships—the 66,084-ton Riviera carries 1,258 passengers. Features were carried over, but new ones were established, and the larger ships quickly won a devoted following. Oceania is not as inclusive as most high-end lines, instead following an à la carte model for gratuities and drinks.

Riviera winters in the Caribbean, offering 10-day voyages out of Miami that explore some of the region’s more exotic ports, such as Roatan, Samaná and St. Barths; summers are spent in the Mediterranean’s choicer locales, with itineraries ranging from 7 to 14 nights. We busted out our piggy bank for the splurge, eagerly anticipating smart service and fine dining.

Check-in went smoothly. We arrived shortly after noon and waited about 25 minutes in the lounge while suite and concierge guests were provided preferential embarkation. Upon boarding, we were a little surprised there was no one to show us to our quarters (something we’ve appreciated on most other luxe lines), but the cabin was easy to find, and luggage was delivered well before cast-off. This allowed time to explore the ship at leisure, and Riviera’s public area lived up to all expectations. This is a handsomely designed vessel with generous public spaces and a bevy of fine art. We’d rank the art collection alone as the best we’ve seen at sea—mostly early- and mid-20th century paintings from Cuban and other Latin American artists, with a few provocative, edgy pieces mixed in for good measure.

Oceania’s Riviera offered an adult cruise experience. No children were aboard for our itinerary. Children are allowed but there’s no facility or staff dedicated to them (something we think might be an issue in summer or during school holidays). Instead, Oceania caters to a well-heeled, older crowd—with few exceptions, virtually all guests were over 50. Although there’s no formal night, this crowd doesn’t waltz around after dusk in tracksuits and flip-flops. There’s also no poolside Hairy Chest Contest, no tacky souvenir glasses, and no gold chains sold by the inch. Yet for the most part, an easy-going atmosphere prevails, akin to that of an upscale resort geared to retirees.

Our veranda cabin was very comfortable—definitely a step up in quality, amenities and size from mainstream cruise lines. It was not, however, the size of entry-level cabins on Seabourn, Silversea, or Regent Seven Seas (by our measurements, the square footage Oceania claims for cabins is overstated).

Cuisine is a major focus for the line and, by industry standards, we found most dining on Riviera to be excellent, with a few exceptions. In addition to the rewarding main dining room and a terrific buffet, there are four specialty restaurants, and there’s no surcharge for these meals (though this is where we found food and service to be most uneven). Even the pool bar had tasty grilled fare, starting with a luscious surf and turf sandwich—sliced filet mignon and lobster medallions on toasted ciabatta. There was also a special wine pairing meal offered several nights of the cruise at La Reserve, which we found superb—the $95 add-on was worth it for foodies and wine aficionados.

Deck areas felt relatively spacious, and although we observed loungers to be in short supply around the pool, it wasn’t hard locating a place to stretch out on the decks above (the one pool, by the way, is larger than average for the luxury sector). Though activities were limited, there was a tennis court, mini-golf course and an art studio staffed by an artist. One sterling feature not found on any other cruise ship (except Marina) is hands-on cooking lessons—for a fee—with instruction overseen by the Culinary Institute of America. Shows on Riviera were rudimentary at best—okay if nothing else was going on, but nothing to go out of our way for. This isn’t uncommon with small-ship luxury lines, but given that Riviera has a larger showroom (and more guests), a better entertainment program was in order. There was, however, a good variety of live music on the ship, including a string quartet playing for afternoon tea and a pianist trolling through the standards at the Martini Bar each evening.

Riviera is noteworthy for a few things it doesn’t have. There was no camera crew on board, plaintively asking for poses. The ship lacks a traditional promenade deck, below the lifeboats. But for the most part, guests will be impressed with the number of features available that aren’t found on smaller luxury ships. The atmosphere is somewhat comparable to that of a Ritz-Carlton resort—slightly sterile and corporate, but appealingly polished.

For this reason it’s difficult to make apples-to-apples comparisons about whether Riviera provides good value. But just prior to publication we reviewed per-day rates for cabins on comparable itineraries for the upcoming year, for ships that offer an experience that is a notch above the Oceania product. Riviera’s veranda cabins for Mediterranean cruises averaged about $455 per day, per person—a fare that does not include gratuities or drinks, costs that can top $75 a day, per person (Riviera’s auto-gratuity is $15 to $22 per day and the all-inclusive drink package runs $59.95 per day).

Beyond the initial cruise fare, there are other cost issues to be aware of. Airport transfers arranged through Oceania were outrageous—the per-person rate was about three times the price of a taxi. Oceania’s gratuity rate is the highest in the industry. And shore excursions were extortionate—we dodged the herd and made all our own arrangements for considerably less. By contrast, we noted that Oceania’s airfare add-ons can be reasonable compared to these other lines. And for those who drink no alcohol, Oceania’s à la carte model works well.

Oceania’s Riviera is an undeniably beautiful ship, and it’s the newest vessel at sea designed for the upscale crowd. Not only does Oceania Cruises straddle an underserved market segment between the mass-audience cruise companies and the pure luxury cruise lines, but Riviera (and sister ship Marina) provides a unique bridge between smaller luxe ships with limited amenities and activity-filled large ships that can feel crowded. Only one other upmarket line, Crystal Cruises, has ships (almost) the size of Riviera (though both of Crystal’s ships are now more than a decade old).

We don’t take issue with Oceania marketing its product as “upper premium”—at least not in regard to Riviera. Elegant and classy, with dining that is among the best in the industry, the ship possesses many fine attributes that make a voyage memorable. The size of the ship is just about perfect for our taste—not too big, not too small, easy to get around. We would absolutely look forward to sailing on Riviera again, but for one caveat: It’s overpriced.

While current demand may be allowing Oceania to boost fares, we feel that there are other cruise lines offering similar itineraries that, for comparable fares or just a few dollars more, may provide discernably better value. And for spendthrifts, it’s not hard to find alternatives offering quality suites and good food and service that sell for quite a bit less than Riviera.

Choices fall into four general categories. Inside cabins, the most economical option, are located on decks 8 through 10. Lacking any view, Oceania says they measure a fairly compact 174 square feet, and the bathrooms have a shower stall only, no tub. There are 20 Ocean View cabins, all found at midship on Deck 7 and, with a larger bathroom and floor-to-ceiling window, these represent a significant step up from Inside units.

We stayed in one of the Veranda cabins, located on decks 7 through 11. Though all are the same size, these come at various price points based on location (higher decks being more expensive). A majority of the Veranda cabins (decks 9 and higher) are designated as Concierge Level, and although square footage is the same, extras include early check-in and embarkation, a welcome bottle of Champagne, priority restaurant and shore excursion reservations, unlimited access to the Spa Terrace, in-room laptop computer and discounted internet, iPad for use onboard, Bulgari toiletries, and other extras. There are also four types of Suites , described below.

There was a lounge on Deck 9 for guests in Concierge level cabins. TVs, reading materials and refreshments were available. Guests occupying Owner’s, Vista, Oceania and Penthouse suites could utilize an Executive Lounge on Deck 11.

Tastefully appointed with a generous use of dark walnut wood hues, our Veranda cabin was slightly larger than a typical balcony cabin on a mainstream cruise line (more on that below). With a bathroom featuring a full tub and a balcony decked in teak flooring—a rarity on newer ships—it was a very comfortable space to reside in. Speaking of contented, our bed was sumptuous, engulfed by quality linens that left us snug as a bug in a rug. Oceania says these are a “custom designed mattresses with 700-thread count cotton linens.” Hyper-allergenic pillows were available on request. Our photos below show the bed configuration in both queen-sized and twin layouts.

Cabin lighting was discrete, with recessed lights in the ceiling plus adjustable reading lights on either side of the bed—combined we had sufficient illumination. Fronting the balcony doors were three curtains—one that was a sheer, the other two completely blocked out light. Next to the sofa was an oval coffee table, and facing these was a small desk with a lamp and chair. Between the bathroom and beds was the closet, fronted by sliding doors. The closet measured 41 inches in width and contained 31 wood clothes hangers (plus two for robes). Next to the closet was a cabinet with three drawers and a shelf for the safe; one of the drawers contained a hair dryer. While we heard a few guests grumble about storage space being constrained, we found closets and drawers more than adequate for a trip of longer than a week (it’s not a suite, after all)—then again, we don’t travel with steamer trunks! Next to the drawers was the minibar and ice bucket, and above these were a couple slender shelves for glasses.

Our cabin had a marble- and granite-lined bathroom that was somewhat larger than what we usually get on mainstream cruise ships, however the additional space was devoted to a full-size bathtub (56 inches long, 17 inches deep). This is a terrific amenity for those who take baths, but for those of us who don’t it would have been nice to utilize the square footage toward a less-cramped bathroom (the floor of the shower stall was a fairly average 31 by 37 inches, though this is larger than showers on Oceania’s R-class ships). The shower and bathtub each had handheld showerheads on adjustable poles, and there was a rain showerhead in the shower stall.

Oceania says all Veranda cabins measure 282 square feet, including the balcony, but we take issue with this generous assessment. The inside of our cabin and bathroom came to 210 square feet; our balcony measured 110 inches by 66 inches, or 50.5 square feet. We can only assume that the extra 21 square feet Oceania claims represents unusable space behind walls (i.e., counting the space between cabins, plumbing areas, and between our cabin and balcony). While our cabin was larger than that of a typical mainstream cruise liner, it was not comparable in size to those of most upscale lines. Veranda cabins on Riviera (and Marina) are, however, a good bit larger than veranda units on the line’s three older, “R-class” ships.

The balcony was a decent sized space for two to hang out, with woven synthetic “wicker” chairs, each with a cushion. There was a small table, sufficient for coffee or drinks, but not much else.

Our cabin came with a pair of plush robes and slippers—the bathrobes were available for purchase ($75). Our stocked mini-fridge included complimentary sodas; there was a charge for other items. A corkscrew and bottle opener was provided, along with an ice bucket that was refilled twice daily. Above the fridge were two 100ml bottles of Oceania branded mineral water, replenished as needed.

There was a safe, but it wasn’t large enough for a typical laptop (13.5 inches wide, 8.5 inches deep). A hair dryer and sewing kit were located in a drawer next to the closet. The Oceania branded bathroom amenities included shampoo, conditioner, bath gel and body lotion—above-average products by our estimation. There were, however, no bath salts, and when we called the front desk to request these we were transferred to the spa—a jar of salts was available for $52. Fortunately, when we checked again with our cabin attendant he swiftly delivered a bowl of salts that were ample for a couple soaks.

The TV in our room was a good quality, high-definition 32-inch Insignia model, a smart TV with a built-in Blu-ray player. However not all channels were available with a high-def signal. The problem was probably with the monitor adjustments; some channels appeared in standard definition, some were incorrectly sized for the monitor dimensions. For the ship’s movie channel the grainy image was cropped on the sides, meaning the picture was not displayed as it was meant to be (see photos below).

The channel selection was detailed in a printed guide valid for the whole cruise. There was a typical range of news and sports channels, and channels dedicated to Oceania programming (shopping and shore excursions got the usual plugs). There were five movie channels that played about 100 different movies during the cruise. Some played a few times on one day, others repeated a second or third day, but the range was pretty solid, with some of the biggest commercial hits from the past six months, plus a few unexpected classics, like “Tom Jones” and “Midnight Cowboy.” There was also a DVD library maintained at the reception desk in the lobby. With more than 600 titles encompassing oddities such as the TV show Bewitched (13 discs), as well as both classic and current movies, children’s fare and TV shows, there was something for pretty much everyone.

We did not stay in the rest of these cabins, but we have summaries here provided by Oceania Cruises. Note that photos below have been provided by the cruise line and not our reviewer.

Inside Cabin Wonderful sanctuaries unto their own, these 174-square-foot staterooms boast beautiful designs and handsome furnishings that add to the serenity. Highlights include an oversized bathroom resplendent with marble and granite, and thoughtful touches such as a refrigerated mini-bar, vanity desk, breakfast table and a choice of a queen-size or two twin beds.

Deluxe Ocean View These spacious 242-square-foot staterooms with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows feel even more commodious with the curtains drawn back, the ocean in full view and natural light streaming in. The rich hues, custom-designed furnishings and stylish fabrics are equally enchanting. Queen or twin bed accommodations, a spacious seating area, vanity desk, breakfast table and oversized marble and granite-clad bathroom with separate tub and shower, are among the many conveniences.

Penthouse Suite Our collection of elegant Penthouse Suites rivals any world-class hotel for comfort. The design of each suite is ingenious, which maximizes its generous 420 square feet of space and puts every creature comfort at your fingertips. At its heart is a spectacularly luxurious queen-size Prestige Tranquility Bed that can be converted into two twin beds, if you wish. Commodious enough for private en-suite dining, the living area features a table and comfortable seating, refrigerated mini-bar and lighted vanity desk. The large marble and granite-clad bathroom features an indulgent, full-size bathtub and separate shower and is conveniently located next to the full-size walk-in closet. For the ultimate view, simply open the sliding glass door and relax on the exquisitely furnished private veranda.

Oceania Suite This new category of suite accommodation combines exquisite elegance with a premier location high atop Marina and adds in a wealth of amenities and copious space for good measure. Sprawling more than 1,000 square feet, each offers a living room and dining room, walk-in closet, expansive private veranda and much more. Enjoy a brisk morning workout followed by a therapeutic whirlpool in either your private Jacuzzi overlooking the sea or in the Jacuzzi tub in your Master Bath. Spend an evening screening first-run movies on your 50-inch LCD flat-screen television in your state-of-the-art media room. Indulge in course-by-course en-suite dining in your dining room or with the caress of a soft sea breeze on the expansive veranda. Wake up refreshed and rested on the king-size Prestige Tranquility Bed. Open the floor-to-ceiling glass doors, walk out on the private teak veranda and take in the stunning panoramic views from the comfort of the resort-style lounge furniture. Everything imaginable is provided in your Oceania Suite, even a second bathroom for guests.

Vista Suite Among the most spacious and luxurious of accommodations at sea, the eight Vista Suites surely will be in high demand. That is no surprise given their premier location overlooking the bow and that every inch of their 1,200 to 1,500 square feet (depending on location) has been meticulously designed for your enjoyment. Indulge in a relaxing soak in one of your suite’s two Jacuzzis – on your private veranda or in your lavish Master Bath. Watch first-run Hollywood films on the 42-inch LCD flat-screen television, enhanced by Bose® surround sound, or view them from the comfort of your bed on a second LCD flat-screen television. Access the Internet with the laptop computer that’s provided for up-to-the-minute news, to research upcoming ports, and to email friends. Wake up refreshed and rested on the king-size Prestige Tranquility Bed. Draw back the curtains from the floor-to-ceiling glass doors, walk out on the wraparound teak veranda and take in the panoramic views from the comfort of the resort-style lounge furniture. Everything imaginable is here in your suite, including a walk-in closet, a second bathroom for guests and your own private fitness room.

Owner’s Suite Even the most lavish superlatives fail to adequately describe the three Owner’s Suites onboard. With rich furnishings from Ralph Lauren Home, each spans the entire beam of the ship and measures more than 2,000 square feet. Boasting a large living room and dining room, spacious bedroom with a king-size Prestige Tranquility Bed, sumptuous bathroom, his and hers walk-in closets, and a dramatic entry foyer and music room overlooking the sea, they are truly palatial. A professional entertainment system with flat-screen televisions, 3D movies, and media library is provided as well as a laptop and iPad® with wireless access. Indoor and outdoor whirlpool spas beckon you for a relaxing soak – the latter has a flat-screen television for alfresco viewing. Enjoy en-suite gourmet dining from any of our six restaurants, served course-by-course by your Butler. No expense has been spared to ensure your total satisfaction.

{{photo_gallery "Oceania Riviera p2 g5"}} Oceania’s Executive Culinary Director is noted chef and cookbook author Jacques Pépin, and with seven different meal options for dinner alone, Riviera has upped the ante for fine dining on cruise ships. Of course, Monsieur Pépin is not actually working in the galley but, for the most part, we found the dining aboard Riviera to be among the best we’ve experienced at sea—it’s certainly a deserved calling card for the line. The Grand Dining Room , Riviera’s main restaurant, provided above-average meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. What surprised us was the Terrace Café , the buffet venue, where we had a succession of tasty meals.

There are four specialty restaurants on Riviera, open for dinner only, though we found the dining a little more uneven here. Still, with menus ranging from French to Asian, Italian to steakhouse, the variety was pleasing, and there’s no add-on fee for dining at these venues (as is common on mainstream cruise lines). The ne plus ultra was La Reserve , a small dining room used several nights each cruise for intimate wine-pairing meals with a surcharge.

Oceania claims its guests have the “freedom to dine whenever, wherever and with whomever you wish,” but we found tables for two in short supply for the four specialty restaurants, especially at Jacques. Guests in non-suite cabins were allowed to make one reservation for each of the specialty dining venues using Oceania’s clunky online booking system (four reservations total). Yet despite going online weeks ahead of our cruise we were unable to secure a two-top for any of these meals, except very early or late in the evening. Before the cruise we were told by a reservation agent to request changes soon after boarding; we did, but non-shared tables were still not available for two of these meals.

Guests staying in Owner’s, Vista and Oceania suites were allowed to make more than four restaurant reservations ahead of their cruise; these guests were also allowed to order course-by-course in-room dining through their butler from the Grand Dining Room menu or from any of the specialty restaurants, during regular operating hours.

With its bright crystal chandelier floating above, Riviera’s main dining room is, indeed, a grand spot, looking like a luminous space from a regal European hotel. Fine china, Riedel stemware and formal service complete the setting. The room slopes down gently from Deck 6 on terraces leading aft, and there are a number of tables for two lining the windows. For those who decry the dim lighting in many restaurants, request to be seated toward the center of the room and you’ll be basked in the chandelier’s glow. The room seats 566, nearly half the ship’s capacity, and we never waited more than 3 or 4 minutes for a table, even at prime time.

The dinner menu changed nightly, featuring seven different entrées that were notable for their variety (an additional three entrées—steak frites, poached salmon and rotisserie chicken—were available every night). Each evening, one appetizer, a soup and an entrée would be highlighted as part of Canyon Ranch’s Healthy Living menu, focused on healthy fats, whole grains and lean proteins; there were always several vegetarian appetizers and one entrée. And four courses were highlighted each night as the menu dégustation, with recommended wine pairings for each course.

Among the appetizers, we enjoyed the cheese soufflé sitting amid a chive velouté, the scallops served in shell with lemon, capers and seaweed, and a hearty terrine of tomato and eggplant. Looking like shrimp tails engulfed in a bird’s nest, the crispy Albanian kadaif-wrapped tiger prawns were delightful nuggets—a few more, please. There was a faro salad with grilled zucchini that seemed promising, but the dressing overwhelmed the dish—it was almost like a cold risotto. Salads could have used a little more imagination, but we enjoyed the lettuces with paper-thin beets and celery rémoulade, and the spinach salad with pine nuts, shaved parmesan and a bacon dressing. The basket of diverse, hearty breads on our table was hard to resist.

For entrées we loved the Florida lobster, served with a cognac sauce (different lobster entrées were served on several nights). We tried the vegetarian option one evening—potato and vegetable curry over rice; it was pretty ordinary. But the shrimp and zucchini risotto was a melt-in-the-mouth dish, as was the simple rotisserie chicken, smothered in jus de rôti. Desserts were modest in size, but rewarding, from the Cointreau-marinated strawberries in a brandy-snap basket to the chocolate “volcano” with passion fruit lava. There was a nightly ice cream, a sorbet, and a lighter dessert, along with cookies and petits fours. We adored the cheese plate option, which changed nightly and was served with various chutneys, olives and pressed cakes.

If the breakfast menu was fairly conventional, it was beautifully served and the venue was lightly visited. We found juices (the orange was fresh squeezed), stewed fruits, cold cereals and Bircher muesli, hot oatmeal, eggs and omelets, pancakes and waffles, along with typical sides. Among the more unusual offerings were steamed Finnish haddock or broiled kippers, buckwheat pancakes, and breakfast steaks or lamb chops.

We were delighted to find the Grand Dining Room open for lunch daily, even on port days—what’s more, the menu changed daily. We found the salad Niçoise to be perfectly rendered (with a choice of tuna, salmon or halibut), and the hanger steak stroganoff with a paprika cream sauce was rich and satisfying. Other lunch items steered to burgers, sandwiches, and salads, with a number of lighter and vegetarian options available.

Located on Deck 12 aft, the Terrace Café offers one of the best buffet spreads we’ve experienced on any cruise ship. While the space suffered slightly from limited seating during breakfast and lunch peak hours, we enjoyed all of our meals here, many of them on the outer deck where two dozen tables offered fine views and fresh air. A number of items were prepared à la minute—on the spot—and no, we’re not just talking about the omelet station. Servers were stationed throughout the buffet, and almost all food items were placed on our plate for us (helpful in minimizing the spread of food-borne illness).

The breakfast selection featured everything we expected, and a little more—from cold cuts and cheese to a fruit station with delectable options like papaya, raspberries and blackberries. We loved the array of pastries, and there was a station for fried eggs and omelets, and bacon, sausage, potatoes and other sides were nearby. One complaint: We found the brewed coffee not as good here as other restaurants on the ship (cappuccinos and the like could be had from the automated coffee station).

For lunch, the hot buffet station included such fare as grilled king clip fillet with vegetable aioli, veal scaloppini saltimbocca, and the grill had various meats cooked to order. In addition to a salad bar there was a variety of prepared salads that changed daily—Tuscan lentil salad, Caesar with grilled chicken, marinated tomato and fennel with prawns, Thai beef salad, etc. There was a carving station, a sushi spread, and a pasta bar with sauces that changed daily. Every couple days a lunch theme emerged—Mexican, Oriental, Seafood and Italian were featured on our cruise. We didn’t try all of these, but the south-of-the-border spread was probably our only disappointing lunch here.

Unexpectedly, it was at dinner where Terrace Grill really showed its strength, and a few of the dishes mirrored the offerings at the main dining room. We didn’t dine here in the evening till late in the cruise—some of the fare we missed included coq au vin, Palermo-style grilled swordfish, risotto with fava beans and morel mushrooms, a tajine of winter vegetables over couscous, a classic paella. There was a carving station nightly, which included beef Wellington one night, veal rack loin another. The night we dined at Terrace Grill we dived into Malaysian fish curry—prepared to order—king crab legs, coconut-miso sea bass wrapped in banana leaf, a sliver of prime rib, and sampled some of the competently prepared sushi. We didn’t have room for dessert, but the array was impressive.

While many guests enjoyed Jacques, we were somewhat disappointed by our meal here, especially considering this is the one venue that Oceania’s Executive Culinary Director Jacques Pépin chose to put his name on. The restaurant is designed to be an elegant French bistro, and the menu certainly looked appealing, with such traditional offerings as terrine of foie gras, escargots in garlic butter, sautéed frog legs, bouillabaisse, and Iberian rack of pork.

For our starter we tried the baked French onion soup, which was capped with a crusty ceiling of Gruyère. We also sampled the pumpkin soup, which was impressively presented in a terrine made from a real pumpkin. But the soup that was spooned into our bowl was tepid. We asked our waiter to replace it, and a hot portion arrived seven or eight minutes later. For entrée we ordered the Dover sole, which was deboned at the table—the classic preparation with lemon and caper butter was enhanced with croutons that sopped up the juice. Dessert was an apple tarte, served Tatin-style. A cheese trolley was wheeled over and the selection of AOC French offerings was mouth-watering.

We liked the effort for tableside presentations, and the salmon-colored room is attractive, filled with pickled wood furnishings and a glass and brass show rotisserie. But despite a few windows, the view is obscured by curtains and, with only six two-top tables, we were unable to secure a reservation here for anything but a shared table. Maybe wit hit Jacques on an off night and perhaps we would have enjoyed it more with a table to ourselves, but we felt this meal should have been stronger, more nuanced.

Unique to Riviera and Marina, Red Ginger is one of the ship’s most popular specialty restaurants, an Asian fusion venue with a strong emphasis on a jazzy contemporary décor, and equally jazzy food. While our dinner was good, satisfying in the main, it was not quite the rapturous experience we’d been lead to expect. For instance, every diner receives a small bowl of traditional edamame to start, but this is kind of like receiving a basket of French bread. How more interesting it would have been to be served edamame presented with a dynamic new angle.

But we’re in the minority on this—a number of passengers we spoke to described Red Ginger as their favorite meal. And there’s no denying that the room itself—black, with red and gold accents—was quite handsome, each table graced with a flower-burst of flame ginger. The acoustics weren’t great, it’s a noisier room than the other specialty restaurants—we’d request one of the tables along the walls.

For appetizer we had caramelized tiger prawns—succulent shrimps in a very sweet chili sauce. Another starter, crispy ginger calamari, was better, smartly seasoned and cooked. We found the tom kha gai too creamy, and not spicy enough—it tasted flat (and despite a red chili pepper on the menu used to indicate hot items). Spicy duck and watermelon salad could have been edgier, and we would have preferred seeded watermelon. The Thai beef salad, however, was lovely, studded with eggplant, shallots and basil.

Our entrées were more satisfying. The miso-glazed sea bass was excellent, the tender fish beautifully presented in what appeared to be a ginger leaf. Lobster pad Thai was a fine twist on a well-traveled road, with generous hunks of lobster flesh bursting from the silky noodles. Various sides were available—brown or jasmine rice, stir-fried udon noodles, broccoli and shitake mushrooms, and a meager portion of asparagus. For desserts, the cake was fine, if a bit filling after our feast; the trio of fruit sherbets was an excellent alternative, especially the coconut, which found just the right balance of cream and coconut flakes.

Our most disappointing meal on Riviera was undoubtedly Polo Grill, and that sentiment was shared by all four of us at our table, as well as other passengers we spoke with. A steakhouse on a cruise ship shouldn’t require reinventing the wheel, but we find it amazing how often cruise lines deliver a subpar steakhouse experience (and usually with an up-charge—not the case on Riviera). The room is fine, located on Deck 14 aft, tricked out with masculine dark wood paneling, contemporary art and padded leather chairs—it certainly looks the part.

Our appetizer was the shrimp cocktail, which won us over with massive shrimp served in a martini glass, hovering around a small puddle of cocktail sauce. When more cocktail sauce was offered we said yes and an avalanche was spooned on. The salad we ordered was described as “honey smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato and aged cheddar cheese,” but it was decidedly ordinary: a few leaves of Romaine with tomatoes to the side topped with a grate of undistinguished cheddar and bacon crumbles. Dressing for this deconstructed dish was provided in ramekin—it was quite zesty and overwhelmed whatever flavor was to be found.

The menu promised USDA prime, but for a main we ordered the Colorado rack of lamb, a quartet of plump, if petite chops. The dish was okay, but the lamb could have been better seasoned. Off-the-shelf mint jelly was spooned on the side; we would have preferred a savory mint sauce. A side dish of potatoes au gratin was good, a smallish portion suited for one. We also sampled the prime rib—available in a 16-ounce queen’s cut or a 32-ounce, bone-in king’s cut—we found it mediocre. The dessert selection aimed higher, and key lime pie emerged as the standout for our table. For sheer gumption, the chocolate mousse “burger” on an almond bun with apricot jelly was a delight to see. The first bite was a surreal taste sensation, but thereafter it seemed ordinary.

Our service here was attentive, but the courses came out in ponderous fashion, making our meal at Polo Grill a near-three hour experience.

Located just opposite Polo Grill on Deck 14, Toscana is Riviera’s Italian restaurant. Although we didn’t experience anything groundbreaking here, we found our meals here satisfying. Many tables are next to or near the venue’s floor-to-ceiling windows, so it’s a good place to be parked for a scenic sunset sail-away. The long and diverse menu encourages a second visit. The selection of olive oils and vinegars alone is surprisingly inviting, sampled with bread and a roasted bulb of garlic.

For starters we enjoyed the decadent sformatino, a timbale of parmesan, served with black truffle sauce and spiked with fried artichoke leaves. Breaded, fried calamari came with spicy marinara and aioli sauces. Carpaccio of beef tenderloin with shaved parmesan and arugula was presented in classic style, as was the Caesar salad, prepared tableside. Sautéed jumbo shrimp was wrapped in prosciutto, while spinach salad was graced by Sardinian goat cheese and Kalamata olives. Not a loser in the bunch.

For mains, we liked the filet mignon topped with sautéed garlic spinach and Gorgonzola cheese, flanked by grilled polenta tiles. And the pasta trio was perfect for those of us who couldn’t decide on a pasta dish: There was risotto with lobster, tortellini with ricotta and spinach, and fettuccini lathered in way too much cream—we lapped it up.

The wine tasting room just outside the Terrace Café on Deck 12 is the setting for a gourmet meal held on several nights of each cruise. It’s not a restaurant per se, more like a wine cellar that borrows the adjacent kitchen of Terrace Café for an occasional feast. Floor-to-ceiling windows line one side of the room, allowing passengers to drool over the event. Affiliated with Wine Spectator magazine, La Reserve has three different menus, each offering seven courses matched with seven wines. Two of the menus are priced $95 per person, plus 18-percent gratuity; the Connoisseur Menu (starring Kobe beef sous vide and Brittany blue lobster) is $165 plus gratuity. With a maximum of 24 guests each evening we’d strongly recommend booking before boarding (at least two of the nights filled weeks ahead of embarkation).

We chose the Discovery Menu for our evening at La Reserve, a night which began with the ship’s Executive Chef coming out to introduce his team, including sommelier, two waiters and a crew of three assistants. We were provided a glass of Bouvet brut for toasting, a French bubbly from the Loire, then seated at the long, walnut table for the amuse bouche of sea urchin panna cotta topped with caviar—a surprising spoonful of sea and dairy. The evening’s first course was a lobster and mascarpone pancake with carrot emulsion and rock chive cress, a dish that provided the crustacean the elegant stage it deserved. This was paired with Champagne Pommery brut rosé. A cream of porcini soup was sparked by three nuggets of duck foie gras interspersed with three wonderfully oily croutons—a Cervaro Castello della Sala chardonnay from Umbria was the rich and balanced accompaniment.

Our third course was pumpkin ravioli with a sprinkle of crushed amaretto biscotti. The dish was sweet, and we expected a viognier would be too much for the pairing, but the Novelty Hill viognier from Washington was surprisingly complex, a fine marriage of equals with the ravioli. Bay scallops topped with Jamón Ibérico pata negra was petite but scrumptious—the scallops, we were assured, were fresh, loaded onto the ship during embarkation. Our fifth course was the 72-hour braised short rib, cooked sous vide and enticingly pink. It was ravishing in taste and texture, and nicely paired with Silver Trident’s Twenty Seven Fathoms, a cabernet sauvignon from Napa that quickly emerged as the table’s favorite (interestingly, the winery is owned by one of Oceania co-founders).

There was a cheese course, a slab of AOC Brie de Meaux, fragrant and perfectly ripe atop a toast with raisin-onion compote and quince jelly. Another cabernet sauvignon—Hess Collection Allomi Vineyard—was a voluptuous fruit bomb to contrast with the cheese, seducing us down the aisle to dessert. This was a mille-feuille comprised of a hundred sheets of paper-thin dough, interspersed with raspberry and vanilla cream—it was sweetly fragile and flavorful. Alas, the late harvest chenin blanc from Château la Varière accompanying this final course was the only one we found to be a letdown, a 2001 vintage that was metallic and discordant.

The overall meal consumed 3 hours, and wines were poured a healthy half-glass at a time (requests for refills were not refused). While we would not consider Riviera’s cuisine to be Michelin-star quality, La Reserve came close. It was a memorable meal and the wine selection was smartly chosen.

Located on the pool deck, just outside the Terrace Café, the Waves Grill was open for al fresco breakfasts and lunch till 4 p.m. daily. The morning selection was a streamlined version of what was offered at Terrace Café, and also served buffet style. This included an array of fresh fruits, cold cuts, yogurt and muesli. There was an egg station where omelets and fried eggs were cooked to order; next to it was a counter with scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and potatoes.

The lunch menu stuck primarily to hot sandwiches and Black Angus burgers. Star offering was the surf and turf sandwich—a couple grilled Florida lobster medallions and slices of filet mignon served on toasted ciabatta. It was quite tasty. The burgers were available in various formats—the Texan (grilled onions, bacon and BBQ sauce), the Romano (provolone, roasted peppers, pesto on ciabatta), the Maguro (soy and ginger marinated ahi tuna seared rare), etc. Hot dogs, Cajun chicken paillard, grilled mahi mahi and veggie burgers were also on offer.

Waves also served as the ship’s ice cream stand, and cups or cones were available with various toppings, along with milkshakes, malts and fruit smoothies.

This is Riviera’s private, eight-seat dining room, located between Polo Grill and Toscana. The decadent room, cast in bold red and white tones, can be reserved for the evening for $250. Guests may order off the menu of either Polo Grill or Toscana while relaxing on throne chairs upholstered in supple, white baby crocodile leather.

With so many good dining options available on Riviera it seemed anathema to order in, but room service was available 24 hours. Duty called. The breakfast menu was limited to continental—a little surprising on an upmarket ship. We could order with a tag hung outside the room by 11 p.m. the night before; ordering by phone was also possible. The breakfast selection covered just about anything cold we would want—juices, fruit, yogurt, packaged cereal, along with toast, pastries, muffins and hot coffee.

We filled out our room tag and asked for breakfast to be delivered at 7:45 a.m. Nine minutes prior we received a call to the room to alert us that delivery was on the way, and 2 minutes later came the knock on the door. The table in our cabin was barely adequate to contain a meal for two (even a continental breakfast); the table on the veranda was even smaller.

Our English muffin arrived warm warm, and pitchers of milk brought were hot for coffee and cold for our cereal. But the pot of coffee was not on par with what we were served in the Grand Dining Room. And the fruit plate was unimpressive—simply diced fruit, more like fruit cup. All in all it was fairly mediocre. We also noted that room service breakfast was not available on disembarkation morning (the one time when we’d otherwise consider it).

The 24-hour menu was a little more diverse. There was a selection of salads, including a chef’s pantry salad (with ham, roast beef, turkey, shrimp and cheese), an antipasto selection with cold cuts, and shrimp cocktail on bruschetta. Chicken consommé and French onion soup were offered. Sandwiches included grilled ham and cheese, turkey, roast beef and a club sandwich. Entrées included grilled strip steak, broiled chicken breast, salmon supreme—all served with steamed vegetables—spaghetti all Bolognese or hamburger. During the evening, guests residing in suites could order off the standard restaurant menus through their butler. Riviera had five bars covering most areas of the ship. There was another bar for the Riviera Lounge (open when shows were held), plus an excellent little coffee bar that was one of our favorite hangouts on the ship. Unlike most of the mainstream lines, bottled water, soft drinks, cappuccino, espresso, coffee, iced tea, dispensed juices and milk were all included in the cruise fare. However, unlike most of the luxury cruise lines, alcoholic drinks involved a surcharge.

Wines by the glass started at $8 for a chardonnay or cabernet sauvignon from La Terre; other options for a dollar or two more included Nobilo sauvignon blanc, Danzante pinot grigio, Estancia pinot noir reserve and Spellbound petite sirah; the Champagne available by the glass was Perrier-Jouet grand brut, for $18. The list was stronger for wines by the bottle and included such offerings as La Crema chardonnay ($52), Domaine Huet la Haut-Lieu vouvrey sec ($78), Greg Norman shiraz ($39), and Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($132). The very limited selection of beers included the usual American name brands for $5 to $6—Samuel Adams was the most exotic label we spotted.

Each day, a trio of drinks were listed in the Currents newsletter; the cocktails of the day could be had for $5. Happy hour (two-for-one) was offered each evening from 5 to 6 p.m. at most of the bars.

This was a great spot on Riviera, a coffee bar on Deck 14 with seats overlooking the pool and out to the sea. With real Italian baristas preparing proper espresso-based drinks (using Trieste’s best, illy coffee), we almost felt transported to a seaside café in Italy. We came here often. The coffees may be spiked with various liquors for an add-on. There are small bites available from a deli case—pastries, croissants, cookies and biscotti—and juices in the morning. Don’t miss the delicious caramelized French pound cake, known as canelé (and you are forewarned: they are highly addictive).

Riviera’s piano bar percolated with conversation and soothing music each evening—it was the busiest bar leading up to mealtime. During the day this spot was largely empty except when various activities transpired on sea days, announced in the ship’s newsletter. This included martini and vodka tastings (with a $15 add-on), presentations from the spa (culminating in a product pitch), social gatherings and, most entertainingly, lively Spanish lessons.

This wasn’t a bar, per se, but an art-filled corridor that served as another preprandial gathering spot, with potted palms interspersed between chic couches and chairs. The ship’s string quartet played here for much of the evening. The full bar menu was available (drinks were prepared at the adjacent Casino Bar), and waiters were staffed in the evening. On one of the two evenings we stopped by for a drink, between sitting down and receiving our drink we waited almost 25 minutes. The server seemed unable to multi-task.

Located next to the casino, this was Riviera’s most garish venue, awash in bright light that flooded the room from behind plexi wall coverings. The color of the lighting was adjustable, but usually the volume was set to full-on lavender. We wouldn’t call it ugly, but it was pretty brash compared to the rest of the ship. A half-dozen framed Picasso drawings were showcased here—wonder what he would have thought?

This was Riviera’s one al fresco bar option, serving the pool area and those dining at the Waves Grill. Servers effectively canvassed the area for orders.

Located on Deck 15, this was the bar with a view, a 270-degree panorama from Riviera’s highest indoor venue. The full bar menu was available here, and the bar was also used for various presentations on sea days, including Bingo, a needlepoint gathering, etc. In the evening there was live music and dancing, though this is not a ship that parties late.

Each day at 4 p.m., Horizons was the setting for afternoon tea. This was a pretty great spread, with assorted finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, and a station for caramelized fruit. We only tried it once during our cruise—wish we’d stopped by earlier.

The Tucson, Arizona-based wellness resort company Canyon Ranch has been operating on cruise ships since 2004, when the brand was brought onboard Queen Mary 2. Since then they have become a competitor to Steiner Leisure, the dominant name in cruise ship spas, currently found on most of the major cruise lines. Occupying the forward portion of Deck 14, Riviera’s Canyon Ranch Spa Club is a sleek and impressive facility, with a steam room, a Finnish sauna, men’s and women’s changing rooms, full salon and boutique selling Canyon Ranch (and other) products.

Costs for massage and skin care treatments ranged between 20 and 50 percent higher than typical Steiner Leisure prices on other cruise lines. But the list of treatments was expanded from the typical cruise selection, incorporating more Asian modalities than we usually see. Massage prices ranged from $165 for the 50-minute Canyon Ranch treatment to $278 for 80-minute deep tissue or sports massages; couples massages started at $330; facials started at $159 for the 50-minute deep cleaning or gentlemen’s facials. An 18-percent gratuity was added to all treatments, services and training in the spa, salon and gym. Other treatments included reflexology, Shiatsu, Reiki, Ayurveda, acupuncture, wraps and scrubs, waxing, hair styling and coloring, manicures and pedicures. A few shorter treatments were offered daily at a discounted rate.

Forward of the spa itself was the quiet Spa Terrace , a private area of the ship that contained shaded loungers, heated ceramic tile loungers, and a thalassotherapy pool, with a butler stationed for drink service. Capacity was limited, and access to the Spa Terrace involved an add-on fee: $25 per person for 1 day, $60 for 3 days, $175 for 10 days.

The Fitness Center had more than 50 pieces of cardio and weight-training equipment featuring the latest from Technogym, including a pair of Kenesis stations. We found plenty of treadmills and bikes, and the gym was never over-crowded when we visited. Complimentary morning stretch, abs training, and legs, bums and tums sessions were available. Spinning, Yoga, and Pilates were offered for $11 per session; one-on-one training was available, starting at $77 for 25 minutes.

Located mid-ship on Deck 12, Riviera has just one pool, but it is one of the more attractive swimming facilities we’ve enjoyed at sea, and generously sized for a midsized ship. Although the pool was usually adequate for the number of passengers, the two small whirlpool tubs were insufficient, and the loungers surrounding the pool were often at a premium (we usually grabbed one easily one deck above).

Bar (and food) service is available from the Waves Bar and Waves Grill, on opposite ends of the pool. For the most part there was no music at the pool, though on sea days a live band played (with great moderation) during the lunch hour.

Although there’s no real promenade deck on Riviera, there was a decent amount of outdoor sunning space, with loungers available beyond the pool deck. Deck 14 had a good number of loungers overlooking the pool area, along with a pair of covered relaxation areas leading to the spa; the port side area was known as the Sanctuary , and we had a lovely nap here on a couple occasions when the sun was too bright.

The outdoor section of Deck 15 extended for only about one-third of the aft section of the ship. Accessed by stairs from Deck 14, this is where the jogging track was located, but it was fairly short—we’d estimate a lap was less than 600 feet in length. The ship’s Shuffleboard and Croquet/Bocce courts were also found here. Deck 16 , accessed by stairs from Deck 15, was a small forward section only, but with plenty of empty loungers for sunning. This is also where the mini-golf green was found, along with a practice golf cage and tennis court.

One of the unique features of Riviera (and its sibling Marina) is the Bon Appétit-sponsored Culinary Center on Deck 12, with cooking stations for lessons conducted by guest chefs. Two classes on each sea day and (usually) one on port days were offered in the studio for hands-on cooking lessons covering subjects and recipes for topics such as pasta, fish, desserts and regional cuisines. There were 12 cooking stations shared by two students, and the charge for the two-hour classes was $69. We signed up for one based on food from the ship’s restaurant Red Ginger, preparing three of the venue’s most popular dishes (and receiving recipes for several others). The class was enjoyable and fast-paced, and we look forward to crafting the lobster pad Thai at home someday. We were impressed by the careful attention to health and sanitation requirements.

More hands-on creativity was invited at the Artist Loft , located opposite the Culinary Center. The ship brings aboard artists-in-residence to provide tutoring in their particular areas of expertise, in a class setting equipped with the tools and supplies for guests to create their own artworks. The artist on our particular cruise was undeniably talented and pleasant to interact with, but his classes leaned toward collage, with varying results. There was no charge for the classes, and they were packed on the days we peeked in.

On Deck 15 there was an artificial green set up for Croquet and Bocci, along with a Shuffleboard court. Several competitions were organized (especially on sea days). On Deck 16 we found a tennis court, nine-hole mini-golf, and a practice golf cage. Next to the pool was an area for table tennis. Other activities included Team Trivia (held in the Riviera Lounge or Martinis once or twice daily), Duplicate Bridge, art auctions, and Bingo.

Located on Deck 5 forward, the Riviera Lounge was the ship’s showroom. While just one deck high the sightlines were generally acceptable in the center of the room, but we found on the sides, latecomers often blocked the aisles and view. But we didn’t feel like we were missing much. No matter whether the music showcased Andrew Lloyd Webber or the Rolling Stones, after a few days, a sense of sameness started to emerge.

Jean Ann Ryan Productions takes credit for the stage shows. The first, “Up in Flames,” was a tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John, with three lead singers and six dancers; the backing band—at least it was live—featured eight musicians. The sound mix was thin, with the highs and lows clipped to avoid offending tender ears. The singers were good, but the dancers had very little room to work with, forcing the most basic staging an choreography. It was a very conservative, play-it-safe entertainment. Another night, “Now and Forever” was organized around the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, and while the sound mix was still free of bass or treble, the costumes and staging were a little more assertive. We were not enticed to see the two remaining shows, “Rock On” and “Flower Power.”

Other shows that took place in the lounge included a ventriloquist/singer with Muppet-like props and a musty routine, a comedian, and one of the ship’s singers performing a solo concert. Movies were also played here.

Other entertainment included the ship’s band playing by poolside at lunch on sea days, a pianist during the evening at Martini’s, and a string quartet that played in the Grand Bar, all of which we were enjoyed. There was also a band playing light dance music in Horizons most evenings (before 9 p.m.).

Riviera’s casino was at midship on Deck 6 and, though modestly sized, it was usually adequate for the number of passengers using it. There were a few dozen slot machines plus tables for Poker, Blackjack, Craps and a Roulette wheel. We noticed a surge of business on a couple nights as shows let out from the nearby Riviera Lounge—the Roulette table would go from empty to standing room only. As the chips dwindled, the players left, and within 20 minutes the table was virtually empty again.

Smoking was not allowed in or near the casino.

Riviera’s graceful lobby was located on Deck 5. This is where the Reception Desk was found, along with Destination Services (shore excursions) and the Concierge . There were fine paintings, a couple carved pieces and an elegant curved staircase designed by Lalique, topped by a sparkling chandelier. There was rarely a line at the Reception Desk.

The Library was located on Deck 14, conveniently next to Baristas coffee bar. There was a fairly good range of books offered here, and we could “check out” two at a time (no one was on hand to monitor what went in and out). The leather chairs and ersatz fireplace were excellent spots to while away the day when the weather wasn’t cooperating.

In addition to the books, Oceania offered a worldwide newspaper service that provided full-format printed newspapers delivered direct to cabins on the morning of publication. The price was $6.50 per day, per newspaper (Sundays excepted). The periodicals included New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, the Times UK and a number of others, including major European papers.

Also located on Deck 14 next to Oceania@Sea was the Board Room was where we found most of the ship’s games, along with a few card tables for informal play. There was a sign-up sheet for Chess, Mahjong and other games.

On our cruise there was a duo teaching Bridge and overseeing Duplicate Bridge games on sea days; the lessons and games were held inside the Polo Grill. We sat in on a couple of lessons and found the teaching style a bit confused—beginners were quickly in over their heads. We also sat in on a round of Duplicate Bridge one day, joined by about 35 other very competitive guests.

There is no facility or program for children on Riviera. “We don’t really cater to families,” explained an Oceania sales representative.

Shopping on Riviera was concentrated into a trio of side-by-side boutiques located on Deck 5, next to the lobby. The selection wasn’t broad, but the stores were spacious and uncrowded. We saw little that we haven’t seen on most other cruise ships.

One shop carried men’s and women’s clothing from brands such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Joseph Ribkoff, and Las Olas. There was Oceania logo merchandize—T-shirts, golf shirts, visors, mugs, backpacks, and teddy bears—a few books, snacks and a small selection of sundries such as razors, deodorant, etc. One space was reserved for handbags, including Furla, Chopard, and Alviero Martini, while next door was fragrances and beauty products. The jewelry store featured David Yurman and H. Stern, along with watches from Rado, Yarmond Weill, Dior, DKNY and Fossil.

With a crew of 800 aboard Riviera, there were 1.6 guests for each crewmember, an above-average amount of staff for the cruise industry. For comparison, on the newest Cunard and Celebrity ships there are 2.1 to 2.4 passengers (respectively) for each crewmember; on Seabourn and Silversea ships it’s 1.3 to 1.5 passengers per crewmember.

We found overall service to be quietly discrete—that is, not showy. The senior officers of the ship did not (that we observed) mingle with most passengers. Things got taken care of, but we found that in the specialty restaurants service could was a little uneven, sometimes rushed.

Overall, we didn’t find the crew much more polished than those on less expensive mainstream cruise lines, so Oceania’s $15-per-day day (per person) automatic gratuity seemed out of line. To justify the highest gratuity rate in the industry, we’d expect service on par with what we experience at a typical Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton resort. It wasn’t.

A daily newsletter, Currents, was distributed to our cabin each evening, covering the activities schedule and hours of operation for the following day. All announcements by the cruise director were handled in English, and they were kept to a minimum, which was refreshing.

Letters and postcards with appropriate postage can be dropped off at the Reception Desk for mailing. Postage may be purchased for a “nominal fee;” mail is collected one hour prior to sailing from each port of call. We had one brief phone call home from our room, which was charged at a rate of $4.95 per minute.

The guest directory says passports will be collected by ship staff upon embarkation, “in order to facilitate the ship’s clearance in each port.” For our cruise, passports were checked but not collected during embarkation.

Right behind the ship’s espresso bar on Deck 14, and opposite the Library, Oceania@Sea was Riviera’s internet station. There were 33 PCs available for use, but we could also log onto the ship’s WiFi signal with our own devices.

The per-minutes rate was a steep 99 cents a minute (the highest we’ve seen at sea), plus $3.95 activation fee, but a more-reasonable 200-minute package was available for $160 (.80/min). The best deal was an unlimited internet access package, priced $27.99 per person, per day.

Oceania maintains a fairly relaxed dress code, and no formal nights were designated on our cruise. The recommended attire throughout the cruise was “resort or country club-casual.” For evening dining, “elegant casual resort wear is suggested.” Jeans, shorts, T-shirts, athletic footwear and sandals were not permitted in the Grand Dining room or specialty restaurants. At the Terrace Café dressy shorts and casual shirts were allowed in the evening. Tank tops and swimsuits were not permitted in any restaurants at any time of day.

Self-service laundry facilities are located on decks 7 through 11. Self-service laundry tokens were available through the reception desk. Tokens were $2 per wash and $2 per dry. Detergent, irons and ironing boards were available for use here.

For the safety drill held just prior to sailing away, we were required to bring our life jackets from the cabin, and room keys were checked against a list. Those not in the muster station during the drill were called for over the P.A. system.

Riviera was generally very clean through, as we would have expected (being a new ship).

A clinic is located on Deck 4. Hours were 8 to 9:30 a.m. and 6 to 7:30 p.m. (medical/nurse assistance was available 24 hours).

There were only two designated smoking areas on Oceania Riviera, one inside and one out. These were in the port-side corner of Horizons Bar on Deck 15, in a glassed room set apart from the rest of the bar; and on the forward starboard side of Deck 12, the pool deck. Smoking was not allowed in any other outdoor areas, inside the casino, or in cabins and on their balconies. The policies appeared to be well enforced, as we never saw anyone abusing them.

Oceania Cruises has what is probably the highest gratuity surcharge in the industry. For those in standard cabins a “suggested gratuity” of $15 per guest, per day is automatically added to shipboard accounts “for your steward or stewardess and all restaurant staff.” Guests in Owner’s, Vista, Oceania or Penthouse suites are charged an additional $7 per guest, per day for butler service. Gratuities are pooled. An 18-percent gratuity was automatically added to all beverage purchases, spa and salon services, and for dinner in La Reserve.

Cash advances were available, applied to your credit card, up to $500 per day, incurring a 5 percent service fee. Foreign currency exchange was limitedly available—euros while sailing in Europe—also incurring a 5 percent service fee.

A $25 corkage fee is applied for wine bottles brought aboard for consumption in the restaurants or bars. However, Oceania also “reserves the right to confiscate and retain all alcohol bought ashore for consumption onboard the vessel.” This policy seemed to give the cruise line a lot of latitude to make alcohol decisions on a case-by-case basis. Alcoholic beverages are served to guests age 21 and up only.

Oceania Club is the frequent-cruiser program of Oceania Cruises. Credits are issued for each voyage—1 credit for itineraries up to 24 days, 2 credits for cruises of 25 to 34 days, etc.

With 2 to 4 credits—Blue level—members are invited to a cocktail reception, receive members-only offers and receive a 10-percent discount on Oceania logo merchandize. Bronze level is achieved with 5 to 9 credits and members additionally receive a $200 shipboard credit and a 20-percent discount on internet packages. At 10 credits members attain Silver status, which boosts the shipboard credit to $400, adds in pre-paid gratuities and avails a 10-percent discount on shore excursions and beverage packages. Additional levels and benefits are attained at 15 points (Gold), 20 points (Platinum) and 40 points (Diamond). A free cruise, with certain restrictions, is offered when reaching the Platinum and Diamond levels.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

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Oceania Cruises Reviews

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Two islands and three continents on the Sirena: Cruising cannot get better than this. his.

Every passenegrs needs seem to be met with the utmost courtesy, respect and kindness. I was especially impressed by the gesture to Jewish passengers to have an opportunity to hold a Friday night Sabbath blessing, prayers and service in the library at 6.30pm. Prayer books were provided, automatic candles, wineglasses, Kosher Kiddush wine, red and white, and best of all three fabulously homemade, fresh challahs baked by the chef. G-d bless him - what a fine gesture. Better than at home! It is these small details that mean such a lot and make the cruise experience one of the finest in the world. Thank you for the best twelve days ever! Delicious food, incredible coffee by your fine baristas (we are from Sydney, Australia and know about good coffee) and the most immaculate room service/cleaning by ever smiling, obliging Anna. Di and Steve Alperstein (Room 4018)

Date of experience : April 22, 2023

When booking a cruise for 25K.refund

When booking a cruise for 25K.to secure the cruise we had to pay $2300. Deposit immediately. All well and good But unfortunately we had a medical issue and we had to cancel which was nearly 10 mths before departure They take $350 each person for cancellation fees which we accept and the balance of $1600 Now the bad bit you have to wait 3 mths to get your refund. WHY!!!!

Date of experience : March 01, 2024

Horrible horrible customer service with…

Horrible horrible customer service with blatant bait and switch tactics. Agreed to one price over the phone for a Greek cruise and charges a higher one after the fact without warning. Then goes radio silent when trying to reach the sales consultant (Sam or Saad Shakir) via email and phone numerous times. Says their director will reach out to rectify things but never does. And then the nerve of the company to try and keep 50% of my deposit even when I canceled within the alloted timeframe. DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS POS COMPANY. Would give them 0 stars!!!!

Date of experience : February 05, 2024

WOW some of those reviews are awful (and incorrect)

WOW! I saw so many negative reviews! But looking more into the content, many are not relevant to Oceania; the complaints about "overbooked flights" relate to airlines, not Oceania. The complaints about tiny showers by obese people, well, did you have to book two seats on your flight? Do you really think that you can arrive by air and go straight to your ship? NOOO. we always arrive a day or two before embarkation to ensure we're OK to go. The list goes on and on. We've cruised on Oceania five times (Holland America and Virgin cruises before this) and have had no bad experience, BUT when we missed ports for any reason, we were given future cruise credits without question. Food? Bloody good and if it wasn't, send it back for a redo. Looking forward to our next cruise! Here's a heads up; we only EVER deal with our Oceania rep (Tia, you're wonderful) and have NEVER had any problems!

Date of experience : December 12, 2023

Terrible pre trip service

I booked for an Oceania cruise for the Med in Sept. My friend fell and broke her so hip we asked for a 5 day ext. for the total payment to be made, after having paid a deposit, about 6 months out so she could see the specialist. They refused. We tried to transfer our deposit to another cruise next year - they refused - and took $1100. Their reason was we’re weren’t booking like for like. But they didn’t have the same 15 cruise in 2025. We had to cancel . I will never deal with them again. Be wary - their customer service is sh….t.

Date of experience : April 04, 2024

The crew was rude & disrespectful

The crew was rude & disrespectful. Also I was charged $75.00 more than I should have. I will never use Oceania Cruise line again. No compensation for the canceled costa mya stop, or the GI & covid that spread thru the ship making everyone sick & miserable. The servers were the best ever, especially Nolwazi

Date of experience : March 07, 2024

If you ask for feedback at least respond to the problems

One thing you are taught in customer service is if there are issues deal with them. Oceania failed in this regard spectacularly! We were asked for comments on day 7 of the cruise – my negative comments (with examples went over the given space by 50%. I was never approached on the cruise about them. Comments from other passengers were along the lines – they probably have so many passenger issue comments to deal with that they have not got around to mine! As I say passenger niggles were too common and them not being addressed was common place.

Date of experience : December 16, 2023

Customer Service Stinks

Customer service. Many reviewers mentioned this and we strongly agree--they should spend some money on training and they should follow through on complaints. The cruise itself was very good and the ship was new (Vista) so the accommodations were excellent, our stateroom was spacious and well kept by housekeeping. The library was excellent and the other amenities were very good. The staff were helpful and courteous. We registered with our passports on line and provided a credit card to charge for shipboard purchases as requested during the pre-cruise registration. They totally messed up the credit card info and contacted us on a Saturday night that our card was no good. We were told it was our fault for not providing the card during check in at the ship (we were never asked). The attitude we received caused my wife to get extremely upset. The larger problem was the travel to and from the ship: They did not use the name on my passport to book the flight and we did not receive the booking from Oceania in time to have them correct it, so we had to book our own flights. Because of that, they would no longer provide ground transportation to and from the ship and the airport. We paid $75.00 for a cab to the ship, they charged us an additional $138.00 for a coach from the ship to the airport, which dropped us and our baggage two floors and a half mile from the Delta check in counter. Bottom line: don't take the inclusive deal on travel, book your own and save money and the hassle of dealing with them. No, we did not get any offer to compensate us.

Date of experience : February 28, 2024

Guest abandonment at quay

At time of writing we should have been on SIRENA cruising to Panama. With the cruise lines permission we were boarding at Costa Maya but the ship decided not to dock. This decision was made with full knowledge that they were abandoning us in Mexico 6000 miles from home . They made no attempt to contact us ( or our emergency contacts) either by phone SMS what’s app or e mail .The final insult to this gross misconduct is that they are refusing to give us any refund.To anyone thinking of using this line …. Don’t … as they really don’t care about you or your welfare

Date of experience : March 09, 2024

Extremely dangerous food hygiene practices

I and many other guests on Oceania marina sailing from Lima to Peru developed food poisoning. The food was served cold, inadequately defrosted. smelt rotten tasted awful and gave us all food poisoning at many points over the dates we spent on board. diarrhoea, vomiting and diarrhoea, abdominal pain, days of abdominal pain. All were denied by the general manager on board but when you pay over £10,000 for a cruise the least you can expect is good quality food. Dr Fiona French

Date of experience : December 25, 2023

Our Favourite cruise line by far

We have travelled with Oceania cruises over ten times. All wonderful experiences. The food is simply the best. Lobster, steaks , excellent Dover soles. Their Asian fusion restaurant Red Ginger is as popular as the French ‘chez Jacques’. The Polo Grill serves t-bones which have to be seen to be believed! We love their format. Great destinations, great shows, no extra charges , no charges for coffee and soft drinks. We’ve cruised with Seabourn, Silversea, and Regent, all very good too, but Oceania is the best - relaxed glamour at very reasonable prices. (BEWARE those companies who charge for all drinks including soft drinks - when you get the bill it’s eye watering). Oceania also have the best choice of onboard activities and the staff are marvellous. Our next cruise with them is in 3 weeks around the Caribbean and we can’t wait! One tip - Sam in the Southampton office is our go to customer service agent who can help with any queries. Go book!

Date of experience : March 25, 2023

Sirena Food no better than ok. Staff great.

Our first (and last) cruise with Oceania. Azamara far better. Went Miami to Mexico etc on Western Caribbean Wonders and then back to Miami. Ship old (‘99) but ok. Staff great but not trained to be observant. Food no better than ok. Basic drinks package (included for us) was very good. Free WiFi worked very well. Cruise Director unbelievably camp which most passengers found very irritating. Evening entertainment awful. Only two group shows, two performances from a not funny comic, two performances from a violinist TWO FILMS and one evening of the life story of the camp director. Didn’t get to stop at Costa Maya so two days at see. Last two days in the incredibly awful Cozumel which is a resort island dedicated to big cruise ships. Sorry Oceania but you need to sharpen your act. All those we met who had previously cruised with Oceania were doubtful about returning.

Date of experience : January 25, 2024

Regatta Cruise - Underwhelmed

We were on the Regatta from Australia to New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa x 2 and French Polynesia. My feedback is as follows: 1. Staff - very friendly and generally eager to please. However, tend to be a number who lack training, so service is variable. 2. Cabins - please don't pretend they are state rooms, it insults the passengers! Generally basic, but good enough, but shower area is tiny. Bigger suitcases would not fit under the bed (ours, which are medium, did). Housekeeping were excellent. For the price I really expected more. 3. Restaurants - The Terrace/Waves is basically buffet/canteen style with servers; food was reasonable, but often over salty and can run out quickly. The two specialty restaurants had good food and service, but no menu changes/specials, so if you are on the cruise a long time it gets a bit boring. The main dining room again has limited options, so after a while it can get boring. Service tends to be slow because they have no sittings and seems that the kitchen cannot cope if a lot of guests decide to eat at the same time. This is particularly annoying if you want to see a 21.30 show. Again, staff are keen, but some lack training, and inadequate staff at peak times. 4. Gym - reasonable facilities, but no air con, so it can get uncomfortably hot. 5. Shops - only 2, can be a bit pricey, but I guess you expect that on a cruise. 6. Excursions - extremely overpriced and the hype in the description rarely reflected the reality, so generally left disappointed. American Samoa was particularly disappointing. A cultural show where the locals spoke for 20-30 minutes in their own language, with no translation! The catamaran in Tahiti was supposed to be the fastest in its class, but didn't even have it's sails up, just puttered around, ending up for an hour on a reef for snorkelling,where there was only sand and a relatively strong current. Two passengers slipped and fell in the boat, so needs to be fitted with more grips before there is a serious accident. Zip line and long boat/waterfall tours also have potential for a serious accident, or even death. 7. Entertainment and activities - generally underwhelming. There was a bit of a lack of variety and some of the singers were not all that good. No comedian on our leg of the cruise. Magician did a good first show, poor second show. Soul singer was the highlight-two excellent shows and a great voice. Summary - not great for the price. In my opinion Cunard is better and cheaper (based on my pre-COVID experiences). The ship is really too small to keep more active passengers entertained for a long cruise. The excursions are very overpriced and poor quality. The food is average for what is supposed to be a gourmet style experience.

Date of experience : March 30, 2024

Oceania create expectations they fail to meet

I have just arrived back from 2 back to back cruises on Marina to South America. On every level it was disappointing. Communication was poor reliant on an inarticulate cruise director. A good example is that the Captain was taken off ill. Rumours spread rather than a simple statement in the news letter. Attention to detail is haphazard. Staff not managed or badly trained. Management were uninterested, complacent or ... Food, best on ocean, is a joke and any comments went to junior staff who, I suspect, never passed comments on. Simple errors were everywhere.

Date of experience : December 02, 2023

Salmonella Poisoning Alert

Five days short of a 14-day cruise on the boat Regatta, (Sydney-New Zealand-Sydney), I was struck down with salmonella poisoning from a club sandwich delivered to my room. I suffered vomiting with stomach pains and cramps. All I could stomach for the rest of the cruise was sips of cold water. The food supervisor and other staff went into denial and I was treated as though it was my fault I caught the poisoning. I asked, as the poisoning took place on the high seas, on the boat, did they think I'd had Uber deliver me a KFC take-away meal. I was told if I wanted medical advice on the ailment, I could see a nurse at a cost of US$300.00. Their customer care policy is non-existent. And the 'beer, wine, champagne and more' is a blatant rip-off. The cabins are tiny with a minute bathroom and terrible shower cubicle (too small for large-bodied people).

Efficient and helpful staff

My request to cancel a cruise was dealt with efficiently and sympathetically. I had really good interaction with a number of staff. Money held by Oceania was returned to the cruise agent, for refund to the client, within the agreed timeframe. Unfortunately the cruise agent Planet Cruise were not as easy to deal with and kept the money for six months. I really hope that I get the opportunity to book another cruise with Oceania in the future, directly of course and not through an agent.

Date of experience : November 14, 2020

Not vegetarian friendly at all

Oceania hold thenselves out as Vegetarian specialists - they are not. They say they have a veg menu, but all they have is a regular menu we could pick items off. They turned back the veg clock 30 years. Over promised, under delivered. P&O did a better job. There was also an oddly disengaged crew. It was like everyone had a really big argument and were not speaking.

Date of experience : October 30, 2023

Oceania Cruises Need Improvements

Outrageous prices for shore excursions. Tour guides could hardly speak English and the itineraries were mostly uninteresting. Marina ship was old and dated needing new furnishings and carpets. Our toilet was clogged for 3 of the 9 days. Food was excellent though but the specialty restaurants were mediocre at best.

Date of experience : June 20, 2023

My cruise round Australia

I had been with this line before but found it has definitely lowered its standards? As per person below's review, I also found the food limiting eating vegetrian and chicken, Food always came up luke warm. One evening my meal was served and the other 5 got their's 40 minutes later which was when my jacket potsto arrived as well, The fruit plates were boring, same old melons, orange and occasionally papaya. Apart from strawberries, no berries and I did not see a banana the whole trip The last day at sea was cold and yet no lectures were programmed and the evening show was cancelled , A very boring day My friends and I each had 950 US dollars to spend but found the shop had very old fashioned but overpriced stock, the dresses looked like they had come out if a charity shop. The perfumes like Dune and white linen were popular in the 70s. Standards have definitely gone down and I doubt I will use Oceania again.

Date of experience : November 27, 2023

NEVER book a cruise on Oceania if…

NEVER book a cruise on Oceania if having reliable Internet matters. Or an app to plan and keep up to date with goings on onboard and off-shore. And whoever is in charge of marketing at Oceania has not yet claimed its Google knowledge panel…so guests cannot even leave a review. In 2023, what global hospitality brand doesn’t allow guests to engage digitally? Sadly, and surprisingly, it’s Oceania Cruises. My bad for not checking before we booked what will be our last cruise with this brand.

Date of experience : September 03, 2023

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Oceania Cruises: The Complete Guide

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Oceania Cruises is a high-end cruise line with a reputation for excellent dining and the ability to visit a wider variety of ports because its ships aren’t as large as the typical cruise liner.

Oceania Cruises, part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, launched in 2002. It focuses on travelers who want more privacy and personalized service when they sail. Oceania sits between its two sibling lines — the higher-end Regent Seven Seas and family-friendly Norwegian — when it comes to ship size and prices.

Here’s what you need to know about Oceania.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

About Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises sails to all seven continents and visits more than 600 ports in more than 100 countries. The line recently introduced a new base fare, which includes round-trip airfare and Wi-Fi.

Cabin types: The cruise line offers cabins at various prices, ranging from inside staterooms to oceanview rooms with furnished balconies. Suites are also available in a variety of sizes. Oceania ships have a concierge level, which gives passengers access to a private lounge and concierge assistance.

Main U.S. routes: Oceania covers the globe. Those who want to depart from the U.S. will find itineraries for Alaska, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Mexico and New England, among others.

Loyalty program: Oceania Club awards credits based on the length of the trip. The more credits you earn, the higher the elite status you’ll achieve. Benefits include perks like onboard credit, discounts on spa treatments and complimentary wine and prepaid gratuities.

Oceania Cruises destinations

Oceania Cruises ships' smaller size gives them access to ports that larger ships can’t visit. The line also offers world cruises that circumnavigate the globe in 180 days, as well as a range of longer, regionally focused sailings.

Antarctica.

Canada and New England.

Middle East.

New Zealand.

South Pacific and Tahiti.

Panama Canal.

South America.

Depending on how long you want to sail and where you’re going, you can find itineraries as short as seven days and longs as a whopping 200 days.

» Learn more: The pros and cons of cruises

Oceania cruise prices

Oceania sailings range in price depending on such factors as cabin type, ship, destination and length of trip. Keep in mind that Oceania is an upscale brand that prides itself on gourmet cuisine and onboard service — and its rates tend to reflect that.

For those looking for a weeklong cruise in the Caribbean, a trip departing from Miami and stopping in Mexico, Belize and Honduras starts at $1,399 per person. If you’re interested in Europe, a 10-day trip from Rome to Barcelona starts at $2,470 per person. Both rates are based on double occupancy in an inside stateroom.

Those who want to make like Magellan can book the 180-day around-the-world cruise starting at $48,499. A shorter, but still luxurious, 72-day itinerary in Asia starts at $19,599. Suites will increase the cost of the cruise but add more space for you to relax in your cabin.

The cruise line has announced a new base fare package called “simply MORE,” which comes with a host of inclusions. These include round-trip flights, airport transfers, shore excursions and a beverage package for all guests in the cabin.

» Learn more: The best ways to book a cruise

What is the best Oceania ship?

Oceania has eight ships in a range of sizes; the smallest accommodates just under 700 passengers, while the largest can hold up to 1,250. The cruise line has a low staff-to-passenger ratio, between 1.5 and 1.7 staff per passenger, which allows for more personalized service. Many of its ships have capacity for 684 passengers, which means they can feel less crowded than larger ships.

The best Oceania cruise ship is its newest one — Vista. Every room has a veranda, plus space for storage, rain showers in the bathrooms and upscale furnishings.

What is the newest Oceania ship?

The newest Oceania ships are the Vista, which set sail in 2023, and the Allura, which is scheduled to sail in 2025. Both of these are on the larger end of its fleet, with a capacity for 1,210 passengers.

They’re also part of a new class of Allura ships, which feature more onboard amenities and features compared with the other six ships in the fleet. Some examples of this on the Vista include four new dining venues, concierge-level staterooms for solo travelers and larger standard staterooms with over 290 square feet of space.

» Learn more: Do you need a passport for a Caribbean cruise?

What’s included on Oceania cruises?

Accommodations in the category you select.

All meals and snacks at buffet restaurants, dining rooms and specialty restaurants.

Water, juice, soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas.

Champagne, wine and beer during lunch and dinner.

Wi-Fi access for two devices.

Fitness center with guided classes.

Shows and entertainment.

Pool access.

Onboard activities.

Round-trip airfare and airport transfers.

Shore excursions.

In-port shuttles.

Cooking school sessions with chef instruction.

Government fees and port taxes.

The mostly all-inclusive nature of Oceania sailings makes the pricing and experience simpler, since you won't need to pull out your credit card for every soda or latte. That said, there are still some things you’ll need to pay extra for, such as spa services, gratuities and certain beverage packages.

» Learn more: Are cruises all-inclusive?

Oceania Cruises loyalty program: Oceania Club

Oceania Club members earn credits on each cruise they take, with more points awarded for longer cruises. For example, a cruise that lasts up to 24 days earns one credit, cruises for 25-34 days receive two credits, and trips longer than 158 days get 15 credits.

Earning status can take a while unless your first cruise is lengthy. If you’re looking for elite status on a cruise line, Oceania isn't especially rewarding for people who cruise occasionally.

Oceania Club elite status tiers

The Oceania Club loyalty program has seven levels:

President’s Circle.

With your first cruise, you automatically become a Blue member after signing up. The more nights you spend on Oceania ships, the higher your status tier and benefits. Here’s how to reach each tier along with some of the best benefits at each level.

To earn: Accrue at least five credits.

Best benefits: $100 shipboard credit, members-only offers and discount on Wi-Fi packages.

To earn: Accrue at least 10 credits.

Best benefits: $250 shipboard credit, complimentary prepaid gratuities and VIP shore excursion check-in.

To earn: Accrue at least 15 credits.

Best benefits: $400 shipboard credit, $300 spa treatment credit and two custom air fee waivers (worth $398).

To earn: Accrue at least 20 credits.

Best benefits: $500 shipboard credit, a free cruise, priority terminal check-in and an invitation to dine with the ship's officers.

To earn: Accrue at least 40 credits.

Best benefits: $750 shipboard credit, $400 spa treatment credit and complimentary wine tasting.

President’s Circle

To earn: Accrue at least 60 credits.

Best benefits: $1,000 shipboard credit, complimentary prestige beverage package and free laundry service.

How to earn Oceania Club credits

Travelers earn credits based on the length of a sailing. Even a three-week cruise earns just one credit, which means it can take some time to reach the first elite tier — Bronze, which requires five credits. Even though they’re part of the same holding company, you won’t earn Oceania credits when sailing with Norwegian or Regent Seven Seas.

How to redeem points

There are no points to redeem with Oceania Club. The primary purpose of the program is earning credits to reach different elite status tiers. At each level, there are various benefits you receive when on a cruise.

» Learn more: The best cruise lines

What is Oceania Cruises known for?

Oceania is best for travelers who want to go beyond the most commonly visited ports and foodies who prioritize onboard dining. Its smaller ships usually make for a more customized and personal experience. While Oceania has launched a new Allura Class of ships that nearly doubles its average passenger count, the staff-to-passenger ratio is still excellent.

Yes. There’s no need to worry about paying an additional fee to stay connected aboard an Oceania cruise ship, as it’s included in the cruise fare. Each cabin receives two free Wi-Fi logins.

Yes, for the most part. Oceania sailings include accommodations, shore excursions, port shuttles, activities, food and most beverages, specialty dining and entertainment. Not included in the fare are some beverage packages, gratuities, spa treatments, laundry and specialty excursions.

The recently-introduced new base fare, “simply MORE,” also includes round-trip flights, airport transfers and a beverage package for all guests in the cabin.

House Select (included for all passengers)

Premium wine, champagne and beer with lunch and dinner. Specialty coffee, tea, soft drinks and juices.

Prestige Select ($30 per guest, per day)

All House Select drinks.

Unlimited premium wine, champagne, beer and spirits anywhere and whenever you like.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card

on Bank of America's website

1.5x-2x Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Review: Oceania Vista

Reviewed by Madison Flager

What is the line? Oceania Cruises

Name of ship? Vista

Passenger occupancy? 1,200

Itinerary? Rome to Rome

Start out with the big picture—what is this cruise line known for?

Oceania has long prided itself on being a culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, and Vista upholds that reputation. While the newest ship is still geared toward the line’s core demographic—travelers 55 and up—the flexible dining options, health-conscious menus, inventive bars, and well-balanced itineraries are likely to appeal to a slightly younger audience, too.

Tell us about the ship in general.

Oceania’s first new ship in over a decade set sail in spring 2023, and can hold 1,200 passengers. It marks the start of the line’s new Allura Class, and boasts all-veranda cabins (a first for Oceania), a staff-to-guest ratio of 2:3, three new culinary venues, and stronger Wi-Fi, thanks to the adoption of SpaceX’s Starlink technology.

Who is onboard?

During the christening sailing, passengers consisted of journalists from around the world, travel agents, longtime fans of the brand, and friends and family, with nearly every decade accounted for. Typically, Oceania guests tend to be 55-plus, with a mix of couples, solo travelers, and families with adult children looking for a food and beverage-focused experience, and a mix of well-known and off-the-beaten-path ports of call. While children are allowed onboard, there is no kids’ programming.

Describe the cabins.

I stayed in a Concierge Level Veranda Stateroom, which had more than enough elbow room for two guests, thanks to the seating area—there’s a small couch and a chair in front of the dresser and mirror—and balcony. Decorated with cool gray tones, marble and leather accents, and crisp white bedding, the rooms feel upscale but not ostentatious. We were particularly delighted by the large bathroom, especially the shower, and the seemingly endless storage space throughout the cabin; little things like the USB chargers on either side of the bed were appreciated as well.

New to the ship are Concierge Level Solo Veranda Staterooms, offering solo travelers a spacious room in which to rest their head (though that shower size definitely leaves something to be desired), a generous balcony, and access to an airport-like lounge on their floor with snacks and beverages. Guests in Concierge Level cabins also get perks like priority embarkation, a welcome bottle of Champagne, and free laundry service (up to three bags).

On the other end of the spectrum, the Oceania Suite is like a luxury apartment at sea, with a dining table, wet bar, massive balcony, and two bathrooms, one with a standalone bathtub. The Vista and Owner’s Suite are even more elaborate.

Tell us about the crew.

The crew was kind and welcoming, though not overly attentive. Our cabin steward introduced himself on the first day and was a friendly face throughout the week. As the ship is on the smaller side, you can expect to recognize crew members quickly (some may pop up in more than one dining venue). The hero of our sailing was Pablo at the shore excursions desk, who was incredibly patient and helpful when we showed up on day one without a clue what we wanted to do, and a long line behind us.

What food and drink options are available on board?

Of the ship's 11 culinary spaces, three are new: Aquamar Kitchen, where you can offset richer meals with poké bowls, smoothies, or avocado toast; the Bakery at Baristas, serving freshly baked pastries, finger sandwiches, and an impressive breakfast assortment (so much smoked salmon!); and a new signature restaurant, Ember, which was designed to mimic New American restaurants in northern California. It has a cozy feel and is meant to be a slightly quicker dining experience, with family-style sides and hearty entrees (lobster mac and cheese, porcini-dusted bone-in ribeyes).

Returning guests will be happy to see Oceania staples like Toscana, an Italian restaurant where a cart filled with a dozen or so oil and vinegar bottles gets rolled over to you with your bread, and Red Ginger, a pan-Asian restaurant featuring dishes with Thai, Korean, Japanese, and Malaysian influence (the watermelon duck salad came highly recommended, and was in fact delicious). It’s worth nothing that none of these specialty restaurants come with an upcharge.

While not new, Vista ’s Waves Grill stays open for dinner as a pizza joint, and is a great place to dine on days when you come back to the ship late or are eager for a casual dining experience—the pizza was fantastic, and there are at least three different burrata appetizers to choose from, along with a great selection of wine.

Is there a spa on board and is it worth visiting?

The Aquamar Spa and Vitality Center is one of the most beautiful spaces on the ship. Don’t skip a visit to the terrace, where you can relax on plush lounge chairs (including heated ones) in between dips into the plunge pool or hot tub. While the main pool is by no means a party scene, this space is markedly more serene, thanks to its tucked-away location at the back of the ship. As for the treatments, standard fare is offered: massages, facials, hair and nail services, salt scrubs.

Tell us about the activities and entertainment.

Pickleball devotees will be happy to know there is an outdoor court; golf putting greens, shuffleboard, and lawn games like cornhole line the top deck, too. The resort-like pool is a popular space to hang, and at night, guests can visit the casino, the adjacent Founder's Bar (where drinks come smoking, scented, and otherwise made to be photographed), the theater, and the piano bar.

There’s tons of experiential programming on offer as well. Head to the Artists’ Loft to take a class with the talented artists-in-residence, or visit the expanded Culinary Center for cooking demos and classes developed by executive chef Kathryn Kelly.

How was the experience for families?

This isn’t the line to choose if you’re looking for a kids’ club, wave pools, or Go-Karts (Oceania’s sister brand, Norwegian Cruise Line, is better suited for that). Guests under 18 (and over six months) are allowed, but must stay in the same stateroom as an adult, and can’t participate on shore excursions or land tours without an accompanying adult.

Where did it sail and how were the excursions? Did anything stand out?

The christening cruise sailed from Rome to Rome, with stops in Naples; Valletta, Malta; and Ajaccio, France in between. ( Vista will spend most of 2023 in Western Europe, then move to North America and the Caribbean.) We had an overnight in Valletta, something Oceania is working to do more of, along with offering more late-night stays for single-day ports, so that guests can spend more time on land. Their itineraries do a good job of mixing well-known cities with smaller, lesser-known ports, and the shore excursions include both highlights tours of historical sites and landmarks and programs geared toward returning visitors; we heard great things about the pizza crawl in Naples.

Anything we missed?

Oceania offers a great middle ground in terms of experience and offerings—both grand and cozy, with a wider range of fare options than luxury lines, since it’s not all-inclusive. Go for excellent food and beverage, unique ports, good service, and a comfortable space you’ll be happy to come back to at the end of busy days on land.

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The 5 best destinations you can visit on an Oceania Cruises ship

Among major cruise lines, Oceania Cruises is particularly known for its diverse array of itineraries.

Despite operating just seven ships, the upscale brand offers voyages in every corner of the world, from North America and Europe to Africa, Asia and Australia. Its vessels visit more than 450 different ports.

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Oceania has a particularly large footprint when it comes to Europe itineraries, with five or six of its seven ships spending at least parts of their spring, summer and fall in Europe in a typical year.

Oceania also typically deploys at least one of its vessels to Alaska in the summer.

In the winter, Oceania moves at least two of its vessels to the Caribbean (sometimes more) while basing one ship in Asia and one ship in South America. Yet another vessel will be sent on an around-the-world voyage during winter.

The line typically also offers one or two sailings each year out of Cape Town.

Among the line's voyages, there's everything from seven-night cruises in the Caribbean to 200-day globe-circling voyages. The company generally doesn't do very short sailings of just three or four nights, unlike mass-market lines.

Overwhelmed with the choices? Here are our picks for the five best Oceania cruise destinations.

Northern Europe

Some of Oceania's most interesting itineraries are around the United Kingdom, Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea.

Each year from April through as late as October, the line sends at least two ships to the region (sometimes more) and offers itineraries ranging from just nine nights to a whopping 51 nights.

The voyages will take you to such Northern European countries as Germany, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, all in a single 10-night vacation. Or you could spend 10 nights visiting multiple ports in Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

Other voyages focus on Scotland and England.

Related: The ultimate guide to picking the right cruise line for you

Note that Oceania voyages in the Baltic traditionally have included a multinight stay in St. Petersburg, Russia, considered the highlight of any Baltic cruise. But in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Oceania pulled all St. Petersburg stops indefinitely. Whether St. Petersburg will return as a call on Baltic sailings in coming years will depend on whether there is a resolution to the conflict.

In the meantime, Oceania has cut back on Baltic sailings and changed up its port list for the Baltic sailings it has kept.

In Northern Europe, Oceania ships mostly sail out of Southampton, England; Amsterdam; Hamburg, Germany; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Copenhagen; and Oslo.

The Mediterranean

Many of Oceania's most popular itineraries are in the Mediterranean, where it sometimes deploys as many as five ships during parts of the summer.

The Mediterranean trips typically range from about 10 nights to as many as 22 nights, though there occasionally are Mediterranean voyages as short as seven nights. They include voyages focused specifically on the Western Mediterranean or Eastern Mediterranean and some that include stops across both areas.

Typical of the latter is the line's 12-day "Mediterranean Splendors" routing, a one-way trip between Istanbul and Lisbon, Portugal, that brings stops in Turkey, Greece, Malta, Spain and Portugal.

More focused Mediterranean itineraries include the line's nine-day "Cultural Crossroads" voyages between Athens, Greece, and Civitavecchia, Italy (the port for Rome), which mostly concentrate on stops along the west coast of Turkey and the west coast of Italy.

In the Mediterranean, the line's main hubs are Barcelona; Monaco; Valletta, Malta; Civitavecchia and Venice, Italy; Piraeus (the port for Athens), Greece; and Istanbul.

Related: The best Mediterranean cruise for every type of traveler

Oceania typically sends one of its seven ships to Asia every winter for Asia-focused sailings out of such cities as Bangkok, Singapore and Tokyo.

The line also typically sends a second ship on an around-the-world cruise that includes multiple segments in Asia, resulting in two of the line's ships sailing in Asia during the winter.

The vessels typically offer a relatively wide mix of itineraries, never staying in the same part of Asia for too many voyages in a row.

Asia itineraries that Oceania offers include 10-night voyages between Bangkok and Singapore with stops at Ko Samui, Thailand; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; and Nha Trang, Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City.

Related: The best cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity

The line also typically offers several 10-night "Japanese Immersion" sailings each winter out of Yokohama, Japan (the port for Tokyo), with stops at Nagoya, Kobe (for Kyoto), Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Kochi and Shimizu in Japan, as well as Busan, South Korea.

Longer Asia itineraries include 18-night "Spiritual Shrines" sailings from Bangkok to Tokyo that include calls in Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan.

Oceania isn't a huge player in Caribbean cruises, unlike its sister company Norwegian Cruise Line . But it typically sends two vessels to Miami every winter to operate warm weather-focused getaways to well-known Caribbean ports. It also offers some Caribbean sailings from other regional ports, including Panama City, Panama.

Typically, Oceania's Caribbean sailings are either 10 or 12 nights, with a typical 10-night voyage featuring stops in St. Kitts, St. Vincent, Dominica, St. Barts, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

A few shorter, seven-night Caribbean itineraries are also available, with routings generally focusing on the Western Caribbean and bringing stops in Mexico, Belize and Honduras.

Among the line's most far-flung Caribbean itineraries for the coming year is a 12-night voyage out of Miami that brings visits to the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. Barts, Dominica, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia and Antigua.

South America

Oceania typically bases just one ship in South America each year and only for about five months in the winter. However, it also often has a second ship visiting the region briefly as part of an around-the-world cruise.

As a result, the line typically offers around a dozen South America cruise departures in any given year out of such cities as Rio de Janeiro; Santiago, Chile; Buenos Aires; Lima, Peru; and Miami.

Many of Oceania's South America sailings are lengthy, with some extending for as many as 24 to 30 nights.

Among these longer sailings are 24-night trips between Lima and Buenos Aires that include a visit to Antarctica, as well as stops in Chile (including in the Chilean fjords), Argentina and Uruguay.

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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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How to save on cruises with AARP Travel

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Savings-conscious consumers have long gravitated toward AARP. The advocacy organization for older Americans negotiates discounts on everything from mobile phone plans and drug prescriptions to restaurants, hotels and, yes, cruises. While “older” generally connotes seniors ages 65 and above, AARP membership is open to Americans who are considerably younger. But is it worth subscribing if you’re looking to save money on your next cruise?

I remember feeling insulted when right before my 50th birthday I received an invitation by mail to join AARP. “I’m nowhere near retirement,” I thought as I crumpled it, mumbled something about ageism and tossed it in the trash. This was years after AARP (pronounced A-A-R-P with the letters sounded out) officially changed its name to its acronym. It was founded in 1958 as the American Association of Retired Persons, but as leading-edge baby boomers began retiring in their 50s, AARP started to engage with them to encourage younger membership.

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More than a decade later I’m still not retired, but this assignment gave me an excuse to finally join AARP. When I did, I took a look at the perks of membership to see which benefits would be useful to my travel plans. Here’s what I learned about how to save on cruises with AARP Travel.

You don’t have to be retired or age 50-plus to join AARP

You do need to be age 50 or older to reap full benefits, but Americans ages 18 to 49 can also join AARP. Folks under 50 can receive most member benefits, aside from those restricted by law or contract, such as certain insurance products.

To sign up, simply visit AARP.org and click “Join Now.” Membership is $16 per year, although rates can be as low as $9 per year if you sign up for a multiyear membership term.

Related: This annual membership can save you hundreds on flights and hotels

When you join, you’ll also get a second free membership for another adult in your household, as well as a monthly AARP Bulletin and the bimonthly AARP The Magazine.

You can book cruise travel via the AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia

The booking engine that offers member discounts for cruises, as well as hotels and rental cars, is the AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia . This is where you can search for ocean or river cruises, just as you would on Expedia, with an added bonus: AARP members can receive up to $100 onboard credit on more than 15 cruise lines and up to $200 onboard credit on select Holland America Line cruises.

You can search for a cruise by using a drop-down menu of almost two dozen destinations (you have to pick one to search) and then plugging in your desired travel dates.

The ocean cruise options are fairly extensive but not deeply discounted

Since Expedia powers the AARP Travel Center, it offers access to an extensive range of cruises to global destinations, from a three-night Caribbean sailing from Miami on Norwegian Sky to an 80-night world cruise on Cunard ‘s Queen Victoria. In all, I found thousands of sailings offered by most major cruise lines through mid-2025.

When I searched for Caribbean cruises during the period from Jan. 1 to April 30, 2024, the booking engine returned more than 800 options offered by 13 cruise lines. When I narrowed my search to just premium and luxury cruise lines, I saw a seven-night Caribbean itinerary from Miami on Oceania ‘s new cruise ship Vista in mid-February priced at $2,599 per person for a balcony cabin with bonus shore excursion, beverage, specialty dining and Wi-Fi inclusions. This Western Caribbean itinerary calls on Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Harvest Caye, Belize, with two sea days.

That seemed like a terrific deal, but when I checked Oceania’s website, I found the same price with all the included bonuses. The only difference was the “up to $100” onboard credit available with AARP membership. In this case, the credit was the full $100 because the cruise fare was more than $2,000. Cruises priced below $2,000 per person get a $50 credit.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on an Oceania Cruises ship

Other deals in the luxury category included a seven-night Caribbean cruise in late February 2024 in a verandah suite aboard Seabourn Ovation for $3,249 per person. The cruise departs from St. Maarten and calls on the British Virgin Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Guadeloupe and Martinique before ending in Barbados. On Seabourn ’s website, verandah suites for this itinerary started at $3,419 per person. So, the AARP price did offer a savings of $150 per person — plus the $100 onboard credit.

Budget-minded cruisers can also find plenty of three-night sailings for $300 per person or less (for an inside or ocean-view cabin on Norwegian Sky with free drinks, dining and excursion credits) and even some seven-night sailings for under $500 per person (for an inside cabin on Royal Caribbean , MSC Cruises and Princess Cruises ships). All were similar to what’s available on the cruise lines’ websites, but with AARP qualified for an onboard credit of $50.

Cruisers who prefer Holland America also have plenty of choices. They can, for example, book a seven-night Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale in early March 2024 aboard Nieuw Statendam that visits Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Cozumel; and Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. The price? An inside cabin was priced at $614 per person (comparable to what HAL offers on its website) and came with a $50 onboard credit.

What I discovered is that the $200 onboard credit deal with AARP links directly to Holland America’s website for booking and is valid only for balcony and suite bookings on select cruises lasting 10 days or more.

AARP members can also book expedition cruises , such as 12-night Antarctic Explorer itineraries on Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, via the AARP Travel Center. These are priced at $11,995 per person (the same price as on Viking’s website) with just a $25 deposit. Again, the only savings is the $100 onboard credit.

Basically, the AARP Travel Center seems to be an expedient way to compare ocean cruise deals as they are offered by individual cruise lines via the booking engine Expedia — with the chance of scoring a slightly discounted cruise fare and the added bonus of a $50, $100 or $200 onboard credit, depending on the cruise booked.

AARP Travel Center has offers from 4 major river cruise lines

The AARP Travel Center also allows you to search and compare river cruises by searching the destination “Europe” and a specific date range.

A search for European river cruises in 2024 and 2025 turned up hundreds of options on river ships operated by AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Uniworld River Cruises and Viking. Itineraries ranged from a seven-night Rhine River cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland, in late March 2024 aboard Avalon Panorama for $1,949 per person to several sailings of 20 nights or more priced at $15,000 per person and above for suite accommodations.

There were also more than a dozen Viking itineraries on the Rhine in March and early April 2024 for $1,999 per person, which is the same price featured on Viking’s website. Uniworld prices start at $2,999 per person, also comparable to its website, while AmaWaterways ’ value fares ($1,919 to $2,159 per person for Rhine cruises) all matched the cruise line’s pricing — and were in February 2024. Brrr!

A search for river cruises in Asia in 2024 and 2025 turned up more than 300 sailings on AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways and Uniworld, most 12 to 14 nights in length with prices ranging from $6,999 to $8,399 per person.

Once again, the AARP Travel Center seems to be an efficient aggregator, pulling deals from Expedia’s booking engine. River cruise fares also are eligible for a $50 or $100 onboard credit.

River cruise fans can find additional members-only deals beyond onboard credit

AARP members also have access to specific deals on river cruises offered by AARP-preferred travel providers.

Offers include saving up to $100 per person on river cruises booked via Grand European Travel. These are aboard luxury river cruise ships in Europe operated by Uniworld, and the $100 discount per person is off prices comparable to those listed when booking directly with Uniworld.

For example, the eight-day Enchanting Danube itinerary in March and April 2024 aboard S.S. Maria Theresa starts at $3,299 per person, the same as on Uniworld’s website. The total savings? A $100 per person discount if booked with Grand European Travel.

Another savings opportunity is $50 off per person on Collette cruisetours . Cruise options here are more limited and are mostly on Amadeus River Cruises ships on the Rhine and Danube, plus some small-ship coastal cruising in Croatia and tours in Egypt featuring a four-night cruise.

Members-only benefits also include 5% off select rail-and-cruise vacations with Vacations by Rail . The discount is offered on a variety of itineraries in Europe that combine rail travel with cruises aboard river ships operated by CroisiEurope and Amadeus. The catch: All tours begin in London (Vacations by Rail’s parent company is British), which can be a detour for American travelers because it’s simpler to arrive by air in Amsterdam, Basel, Budapest or Bordeaux, France, where these cruises begin.

Some guided tours are 12 days, with four days of rail travel and hotel stays in advance of a seven-night cruise. Reviews, however, mention the hassle of getting luggage on and off trains by yourself (there are no porters).

Related: Best cruises for seniors who love to travel by sea

The cost of the four-day rail/hotel portion of Vacation by Rail’s 12-day Glacier Express & the Majestic Rhine cruise-and-rail tour also seems to account for about half of the overall cost for one-third of the days. The price is $5,095 per person for a June 2024 package, but the seven-night Classical Rhine itinerary on board MS Amadeus Star from Basel to Amsterdam that is included can be booked on the Amadeus website for about $2,600 per person on dates in May and July or $1,913 per person in April.

Both the agility required for train travel and the cost of the four-day rail tour are something to consider when weighing the value of a 5% discount.

Discounted cruise line gift cards are available to AARP Rewards members

Members who sign up for AARP Rewards — which lets you earn points by taking knowledge-boosting quizzes or using fitness-tracking or money-crunching tools — can also purchase gift cards for five cruise lines at a 10% discount. Applicable lines include Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America, Princess and Royal Caribbean.

AARP Rewards members have two options: $100 gift cards priced at $90 ($92 for Princess) and $500 gift cards priced at $450 ($460 for Princess). You can use these gift cards to pay for a portion of your cruise fare or, on some lines, onboard expenses.

Card availability and amounts may change at any time. You can purchase a maximum of 25 gift cards each month.

You can find deals for pre- or post-cruise hotel stays and get a discount on British Airways

You might save the most money by booking a pre- or post-cruise hotel stay with one of AARP Travel Center’s dozens of hotel partners, most of which offer a 10% discount off the best available nightly rate. The list includes Hilton, InterContinental, Radisson, Holiday Inn, Best Western, Embassy Suites, Wyndham, Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Kimpton and Hotel Indigo.

AARP also has partnered with British Airways. Members save $65 off World Traveller (economy) and World Traveller Plus (premium economy) or $200 off Club World (business class) fares when they purchase round-trip transatlantic tickets online to more than 130 destinations, including Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Restrictions do apply.

You can save money with AARP, but you should also do your homework

The AARP Travel Center seems to be a terrific place to compare fares when deciding which cruise line and month best suits your budget. Whether you eventually book via AARP, the cruise line’s website or elsewhere depends on your preference. (Remember, travel agents and advisers often have deals with extras that websites don’t.)

With similar pricing, it probably depends on whether the onboard credit is a better bonus than perks offered elsewhere.

Signing up for email offers from your preferred cruise line and checking its “deals” or “offers” tab on a regular basis might be your best bet for scoring a top deal. However, there’s no doubt that AARP’s $9 to $16 annual membership fee quickly pays for itself with even a one-time onboard credit — and there is a potential for additional savings. No matter your age, it can’t hurt to sign up.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
15 ways cruisers waste money
The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

SPONSORED: With states reopening, enjoying a meal from a restaurant no longer just means curbside pickup.

And when you do spend on dining, you should use a credit card that will maximize your rewards and potentially even score special discounts. Thanks to temporary card bonuses and changes due to coronavirus, you may even be able to score a meal at your favorite restaurant for free.

These are the best credit cards for dining out, taking out, and ordering in to maximize every meal purchase.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Travel | Regent Seven Seas Grandeur builds on luxury of…

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Travel | orange deputies arrest ‘potential serial killer’ in slayings of two women, things to do, subscriber only, travel | regent seven seas grandeur builds on luxury of 2 sister cruise ships.

Regent Seven Seas Grandeur is the third of three sister ships for the luxury cruise line. It debuted in late 2023 with several sailing dates in the Caribbean out of PortMiami, seen here during a cruise from Jan. 24-26, 2024. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

A Fabergé egg titled "Journey in Jewels" sits in the atrium on board Regent Seven Seas Grandeur. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

This bronze-and-glass bonsai cherry blossom tree sculpture welcomes diners into the Pacific Rim restaurant on board Regent Seven Seas Grandeur, the third of three sister ships for the luxury cruise line Regent Seven Seas Cruises that debuted in late 2023. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

The Compass Rose restaurant on board Regent Seven Seas Grandeur was designed by Miami-based Studio DADO. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

Chef John Stephano leads a class in the Culinary Arts Kitchen on board Regent Seven Seas Grandeur on Jan. 25, 2024. The ship is the third of three sister ships for the luxury cruise line that debuted in late 2023. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

The luxury pedigree that Regent Seven Seas welcomed with Seven Seas Explorer in 2016 continued with sister ship Seven Seas Splendor in 2020, but the third and final sister Seven Seas Grandeur offers up the best of class.

The ship’s features include the first Fabergé egg with a permanent home at sea. The blue-pearl-and-diamond sculpture titled “Journey in Jewels” is a small but commanding centerpiece rotating within its display case in the atrium for travelers to enjoy as soon as they step on board.

The egg is revealed as seven branches break away like waves that represent the Seven Seas. The ship’s godmother is Sarah Fabergé, the great-granddaughter of Peter Carl Fabergé.

A Fabergé egg titled "Journey in Jewels" sits in the atrium on board Regent Seven Seas Grandeur. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

It’s part of a 1,600-piece art collection that includes classic black-and-white photos from global destinations adorning the hallways between cabins to the steakhouse’s original Picassos. Travelers could spend a good afternoon wandering hallways and public spaces, akin to visiting a museum. A new app for the line also offers a digital art tour, like a personal guide.

“With each new ship, our team works tirelessly to identify and source the most impressive array of art pieces, building a collection that would be enviable by most modern-day museums, to ensure our guests’ time onboard is as enriching and thought-provoking as their time on land,” said Regent Seven Seas Cruises President Andrea DeMarco.

All three ships in the Explorer class are about 55,500 gross tons, with Grandeur sporting a 744-guest capacity among its all-suite offerings. The line has three older ships and just had two larger vessels ordered by parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, but they are not due until 2026 and 2029.

Until then, the three sister ships continue the line’s most refined take on their global, all-inclusive itineraries, with both Splendor and Grandeur set to return to Miami for the 2024-25 winter Caribbean season.

The line has given all three Explorer-class ships a succession of superlative monikers. Seven Seas Grandeur was dubbed with “A Heritage of Perfection,” following Seven Seas Explorer’s “the most luxurious cruise ship ever” and Seven Seas Splendor’s “the ship that perfects luxury.”

With 548 crew, Grandeur boasts a 1:1.36 crew-to-passenger ratio similar to its two sisters, so needs among travelers are attended to promptly.

The ship’s interior spaces are crafted by Miami-based Studio DADO, which has put its mark on sister lines Oceania Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line.

The Compass Rose restaurant on board Regent Seven Seas Grandeur was designed by Miami-based Studio DADO. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

That includes new takes on main dining venue Compass Rose, which DADO founding partner Yohandel Ruiz called “a feast for the eyes.”

It’s filled with fantastical tree-like arches right out of Alice in Wonderland with a cascading waterfall sculpture. At night, thousands of individually placed crystal-faceted leaves encrusted on pillars and branches illuminate the space.

The ship has five signature restaurants on board, including steakhouse Prime 7, Italian option Sette Mari at La Veranda, French offering Chartreuse and the latest version of Asian restaurant Pacific Rim, this time bringing a delicate bronze-and-glass bonsai cherry blossom tree sculpture as the centerpiece at the entrance. It’s a welcome and fitting addition to the dragon and prayer wheel sculptures on its two sister ships.

This bronze-and-glass bonsai cherry blossom tree sculpture welcomes diners into the Pacific Rim restaurant on board Regent Seven Seas Grandeur, the third of three sister ships for the luxury cruise line Regent Seven Seas Cruises that debuted in late 2023. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

The ship has 15 suite categories, all with their own balconies. The pinnacle of sailing options is the 4,443-square-foot Regent Suite at $11,000 a night. It features a $200,000 Hästens Vividus custom handmade mattress, an in-suite spa retreat with a personal sauna and steam room and 270-degree views from the ship’s bow from a 1,292-square-foot wraparound veranda. Those passengers get their own butler and personal car and driver in every port.

Some seven-night Miami-based sailings go for as low as $3,700 per person based on double occupancy.

For everyone on board is the spa with an infinity pool that looks out over the stern, fitness center, jogging track, casino, several lounges, card room, library and main pool. Top-deck fun includes pickleball, shuffleboard, mini golf and ping-pong.

A big draw to Regent is the mostly inclusive offerings, including free and unlimited shore excursions, round-trip flights, unlimited internet, prepaid gratuities, ground transfers and other amenities.

One of the best offerings on board, though, isn’t free. Back again is the Culinary Arts Kitchen, a staple borrowed from sister line Oceania Cruises, but a massively popular offering that lets 18 students create memorable dishes under the guidance of a chef team.

Chef John Stephano leads a class in the Culinary Arts Kitchen on board Regent Seven Seas Grandeur on Jan. 25, 2024. The ship is the third of three sister ships for the luxury cruise line that debuted in late 2023. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

During a preview cruise for media in January out of PortMiami, the class was led by the amiable Chef John Stephano talking students through a pair of sample dishes – pasta al limone, which is lemon pasta, and French crêpes with an allspice berry ice cream, offered during what are normally two-hour-long classes twice per day on sailings.

“I promise you’re going to make delicious and delightful food,” he said but joked that “anybody that struggles with their culinary skills today, we’ll be sending you down to the galley to help us out.”

Stephano deftly demonstrates and drops bits of history and detail during the demonstration with students gathered around, who then go one of the 18 individual stations equipped with induction cooktops, stainless steel sinks and a collection of tools, tongs, pots and pans, while he and assistant chefs make the rounds to ensure everyone is figuring out the steps.

The course options vary per cruise pulling from nearly 50 curated thematic class titles such as “1493: The Foodies’ New World,” “Familia Cubana” and “Flip-Flop Floribbean.” Classes are an extra $89, which is about the only extra-cost feature on a Regent sailing. They are often themed to the location where the ships sail.

The culinary team also has a hand in creating some of the unique excursions, which then pair up with some of the classes.

Grandeur just finished out its first run about the Caribbean during mostly sold-out itineraries from PortMiami and is now amid a set of Mediterranean voyages for summer 2024. It will then make its way to New York for fall color itineraries of Canada and New England in September and October and then return to Miami to begin the winter Caribbean sailing season into 2025.

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Caribbean cruise line reroutes ships, cancels stop at island port due to violence, turmoil

Published: Apr. 25, 2024, 12:11 p.m.

Royal Caribbean International has canceled stops at its private beach in Haiti through September as a result of the violence plaguing the island nation, a private fan blog, citing messages to travelers, reports. AP

Robert Higgs, cleveland.com

MIAMI – Royal Caribbean has cancelled stops at its private port of Labadee through the summer because of simmering violence in Haiti.

In March, the cruise line canceled stops at the private beach area through May, but this week Royal Caribbean reworked cruise schedules through the summer and into September, a post on the Royal Caribbean Blog said.

“Guests booked on cruises in the summer and early fall are getting notifications from Royal Caribbean that their visits to Labadee have been canceled,” the blog said. “On Tuesday (April 23), cruisers began to share updates they received from Royal Caribbean that their itineraries have been updated to drop Labadee and replace it with another port or a sea day.”

Labadee is a beach area on a peninsula in northern Haiti near Cap-Haitien used exclusively by Royal Caribbean. The cruise line has its own security force at the site, which is walled off from the rest of the country.

The 260-acre site has been leased by Royal Caribbean since the 1980s. It is about a six-hour drive from Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and thus far has not seen any incidents of violence, the blog said.

More than 2,500 people were killed or injured in gang violence from January to March across Haiti, a more than 50% increase from the same period last year, according to a report Friday by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti. The vast majority of violence is in Port-au-Prince .

Cap-Haitien, Haiti’s former capital, has been spared much of the violence and is going through a bit of a resurgence, The Associated Press said . Business owners, anxious parents and even historic state ceremonies have been relocating there, and that began even before gangs started attacking key government infrastructure in Port-au-Prince in late February.

Royal Caribbean International had no formal announcements of the changes posted to its website. Royal Caribbean Blog is an unofficial site for fans of the cruise line and is not affiliated with Royal Caribbean International.

But it cited chatter and messages from cruise ticket holders about changes to their itinerary that showed stops at Labadee were being canceled and replaced with either an extra day of cruising at sea or stops in alternate ports.

A notice from the cruise line, reposted on the blog, informed guests about the change in travel plans, without explicitly mentioning the violence.

“Due to the continuing situation in Haiti, we’ll now visit Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, instead of Labadee, Haiti,” the notice reads. “We’re sorry for the change – your safety is our top priority. Nevertheless, we’re excited to visit a new port with you!”

Grand Turk is the capital island in the Turks and Caicos archipelago north of Haiti.

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The crew was rude & disrespectful. Also I was charged $75.00 more than I should have. I will never use Oceania Cruise line again. No compensation for the canceled costa mya stop, or the GI & covid that spread thru the ship making everyone sick & miserable. The servers were the best ever, especially Nolwazi . Date of experience: March 07, 2024
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The cruise line has its own security force at the site, which is walled off from the rest of the country. The 260-acre site has been leased by Royal Caribbean since the 1980s.