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We gawked at the beautifully designed public spaces, with their detail-oriented accents, eye-catching light fixtures and highly textured materials. (Yes, I petted the walls of the elevators and stroked every chair.) We luxuriated in enormous standard cabin bathrooms and sumptuous Tranquility Beds. We dined on exquisite freshly made pasta, perfectly cooked fish and decadent desserts.
Frustrations with Oceania Cruise: Denied tickets and Payment Discrepancies
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. 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.
Where does Oceania Marina sail from?
The notable exception is poolside, where there don't seem to be enough cocktail servers to keep up with passenger demand. 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.
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Is Oceania Insignia a good ship to cruise on?
Oceania Cruises maintains a strong focus on quality food and wine with complimentary specialty dining. Its loyal clientele, often younger than on luxury lines (Oceania Cruises is ranked premium, with luxury-level cuisine), love to eat and drink in style as they sail the globe. And sail the globe they do, as Oceania’s six ships cover more than 450 destinations. (Vista, Oceania’s newest and most glam ship, debuts in May 2023.) Port-intensive itineraries, including many late-nights and overnights. Among the well-maintained vessels, Riviera and twin Marina rank the largest, and arguably, the most stylish. The two were purpose-built for foodies, showcasing more dining choices and a Culinary Center offering hands-on cooking classes.
Oceania Cruises Reviews
Reservations are needed for Toscana, Polo Grill, Jacques and La Reserve; passengers are promised at least one reservation in each (other than La Reserve) per cruise. Book as far in advance as possible; once onboard, add your name to waitlists to score additional bookings. Riviera draws an active crowd of repeat guests, mostly American, who indulge well onboard and explore energetically ashore. While 55+ might cover the age range, I saw plenty of couples and groups of friends who looked younger. These cruisers are a friendly bunch and engage with other passengers in bars and lounges.
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We found folks to be friendly, and the atmosphere not at all stuffy. 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. For casual dining, choose the Pizzeria or Terrace Café for your evening meal. Every cabin comes with one free Wi-Fi login (for one device at a time), or you can pay to add additional devices or for the premium plan that accommodates music and video streaming. Vista's bars are hopping before and after dinner because there's not much else to do on board at night.
My 440 square feet included a dining table, spacious veranda and access to the Executive Lounge with its concierge and coffee, soft drinks and snacks. I only used the lounge once, but I really appreciated Penthouse amenities, like welcome Champagne, priority restaurant reservations and laundry service. I didn’t interact with my butler other than for breakfast room service, but I liked the idea of having one. The biggest, fanciest suites are dubbed Oceania, Vista and Owner’s and grouped behind an etched glass door. Those lucky occupants wallow in more than 1,000 square feet and up, with media rooms, indoor and outdoor whirlpool spas and other luxurious appointments. For a ship of its size, Oceania's Vista offers an astonishing 12 different dining options onboard, including three all-new venues for the line.
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How to earn Oceania Club credits
The Oceania Suites have a full living and dining room, a separate guest or TV room, large balcony, guest bathroom and marble-clad master bath and dressing area. They are mostly found on Deck 12, but two on Deck 11 aft have wraparound corner balconies. The mini fridge was stocked with soft drinks, though my cabin attendant didn't seem to notice that I was drinking exclusively club soda.
I happily ordered cocktail after craft cocktail at the Founders Bar in the name of research, trying drinks with smoke bubbles on top, frozen fruit balls in their center and unique ingredients (like tea) in their centers. The concept turns your standard pre-dinner drink into a playful and exciting event. It also makes a ship carrying mainly retirees feel hip and trendy.
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. The pool bar serves all the daiquiris and coladas you can drink while lounging on Vista's gorgeous, resort-style pool deck. Aquamar has a lovely menu of nonalcoholic cocktails, fresh juices, lattes and smoothies. You are allowed to make at least one advance reservation for each of Vista's four specialty restaurants — possibly more depending on the length of the cruise and the type of cabin or suite you book. Once on board, you can ask if there's walk-in availability for additional meals. I made a point to try every restaurant on board during my weeklong cruise, and it actually took some scheduling to make it happen.
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. The christening cruise sailed from Rome to Rome, with stops in Naples; Valletta, Malta; and Ajaccio, France in between. Guests in Concierge Level cabins also get perks like priority embarkation, a welcome bottle of Champagne, and free laundry service (up to three bags). The current OLife promotion runs through June 30 and includes round-trip airfare and transfers, plus your choice of four shore excursions, a beverage package or $400 onboard credit per cabin.
That's a good thing, because you'll want to spend time in these cabins, which are graced with rich hues of grey and marble, and accented by recessed lighting that softly illuminates rooms by day and night. Beds are soft; linens are high-quality and crisp to the touch; and bathrooms are stocked with Bulgari toiletries as a matter of course. Oceania has also raised the bar on creative spaces aboard Vista as well.
Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Each night, there's a show in the Vista Lounge, either a guest performer or a typical cruise ship song and dance show by the onboard performers. One of the new shows on Vista was choreographed by Britt Stewart, a professional dancer who's worked with "Dancing with the Stars." On the other side of the casino is the Founders Bar, a new concept for Oceania, dedicated to creative craft cocktails. If you like your drinks topped with smoke bubbles, frozen balls of fruit or sprigs of herb or dried fruit slices, this is your spot. Seating is limited, but you can request your drink be delivered around the corner to the Grand Lounge, a stunning scenery area where a classical string quartet plays in the evening.
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