Elevated Luxury
By Stacey Zable
Elevated Luxury
By Stacey Zable
Oceania Allura makes its debut, Oceania Cruises’ newest addition to their fleet.
The first thing we noticed when walking onto Oceania Cruises’ newest ship, Oceania Allura, is that it is beautiful. The Atrium makes a wonderful first impression with its curving staircase and impressive crystal chandelier. In a short time, we discovered that supporting the beauty is superior onboard service and dining. Oceania Allura boasts two staff members for every three guests and an abundance of included high-level dining experiences, both of which are core to Oceania Cruises.
The 1,200-guest Oceania Allura, which launched in fall 2025, brings to life everything travelers love about Oceania Cruises—from its refined design to its intimate onboard atmosphere. They also recently announced that Oceania Cruises is now adults-only for guests ages 18 and over, creating an even more elevated and serene experience. (Those reservations that include guests under age 18 that were booked before Jan. 7, 2026, will still be honored.) And while this sailing marked our first journey with Oceania Cruises, we could tell it was the first of many unforgettable voyages to come.
Yes, the Food is that Good!
Oceania Cruises touts itself as “the world’s leading culinary-and destination-focused luxury cruise line” and on Oceania Allura they certainly mean what they say with 140 chefs—one chef for every ten guests. It’s more than 6,500-square-foot main galley is as large as one for ships serving more than 3,500 guests—almost three times the number of guests actually on Oceania Allura. More than 700 different dishes are prepared daily on board from Oceania Cruises’ exclusive library of over 10,000 recipes and the ship even offers some new dining venues and new menus. At the helm of all this culinary mastery are the impressive executive culinary directors Chefs Eric Barale and Alexis Quaretti, both of whom are Master Chefs of France and have been with the cruise line some 20 years.
There is an abundance of spots to enjoy this high level of cuisine on board Oceania Allura. It has nine signature dining venues plus The Grand Dining Room, and meals at all of them are included in the cost of the cruise. Menus are typically extensive, including the opportunity to opt for more than one appetizer or entrée simply because, well, why should you have to decide. The Grand Dining Room alone has 270 new recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including an all-new signature eggs Benedict section with such extras as smoked salmon.
“It has nine signature dining venues plus The Grand Dining Room, and meals at all of them are included in the cost of the cruise.”
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are also available at the Terrace Café, where you can dine inside or outside on enhanced menu choices that include a sushi bar and 45 entirely new recipes, new Mediterranean lunch options, and an Indian Corner during dinner with 15 authentic recipes such as butter chicken and dhal.
Our favorite signature dining venue for dinner was Jacques, the French restaurant from Master Chef Jacques Pépin, featuring refreshed menus on Oceania Allura. A menu favorite is the sea bass filet baked in a puff pastry crust designed for two to share with the table, and we followed suit. The server also suggested we share the lobster baked in shell with mushroom cream sauce. The sauteed scallops and filet mignon rounded out our dishes for an incredible dinner. Coming in a close second for a wonderful dining experience was the Polo Grill, where you can choose from a menu of meat or seafood dishes. The scallops and filet mignon once again delighted our taste buds, as did the lobster mac & cheese side dish.
“Our favorite signature dining venue for dinner was Jacques, the French restaurant from Master Chef Jacques Pépin.”
Other onboard signature dining venues include Red Ginger for Pan-Asian cuisine with an expansive menu featuring 12 new Nikkei-inspired (Japanese-Peruvian) dishes and Toscana for Italian fine dining. Aquamar Kitchen serves a wellness-inspired menu, and Waves Grill is the place to get gourmet burgers and sandwiches cooked to order with fries and milkshakes for lunch or pizza and salad for dinner.
For anytime munchies, head to Deck 12, for a trifecta of delicious offerings. Baristas is a Viennese-style coffee house for specialty espresso drinks located next to The Bakery, where you can choose French and Italian pastries, small sandwiches, and the quiche of the day. In between is the new Crêperie when you want to go all out with French crêpes, Belgian and bubble waffles, and gelato.
Culinary Enrichment & More
If you want to take Oceania Cruises’ superior knowledge of cuisine with you then you can opt for an onboard class at The Culinary Center. The hands-on experience takes place at a purpose-built space with 24 individual stations. They offer a rotation of 60 different classes depending on the itinerary. And if you prefer to only watch the experts do what they do best, The Chef’s Studio invites you to learn a range of techniques, such as knife skills or regional specialties, from professional chef instructors.
Live art demonstrations and creative workshops by resident artists take place in the lovely Artist Loft. And those looking to learn more about digital technology can sign up for lectures that include photography and AI in the LYNC Digital Center. You are also able to borrow an iPad during the sailing to view the tech lectures if you are not able to attend them live.
“The hands-on experience takes place at a purpose-built space with 24 individual stations.”
Relaxation Spots
Another favorite space of mine and many other guests, is the Library. This comfortable oversized room with a contemporary design provides intimate groupings for seating with floor-to-ceiling windows. The space features books, magazines, puzzles, and board games. Nearby Horizons at the front of the ship, has its own intimate seating with a view of the sea designed for relaxing. At night, this lounge turns into a spot for music and dancing. If working out is your idea of relaxation, the fitness classes are complimentary at the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center. It also offers a gym, and a choice of massages, body wraps, and facials, as well as a hair and beauty salon.
“This comfortable oversized room with a contemporary design provides intimate groupings for seating.”
And when it’s time to relax at night, all staterooms and suites are outside-facing with verandas. They start at 291 square feet including spacious bathrooms with double-size walk-in showers and an abundance of storage. Opt for Concierge Level accommodations to have access to a special lounge with a selection of beverages and treats and a dedicated concierge.
Destination Driven
During Oceania Allura’s inaugural season, the ship will sail to more than 92 destinations on itineraries that range from seven- to 34-days. It sails in the Caribbean through mid-April 2026, when it will reposition to the Med for the summer and fall until early December when it returns to the Caribbean. Looking forward to the next evolution of the Oceania Cruises’ fleet, Oceania Sonata will make it’s debut in 2027 sailing from Europe’s storied Mediterranean ports followed by the radiant isles of the Caribbean. Where will you venture first?
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