Culinary- and destination- focused Oceania Cruises provides an immersive experience for guests sailing the Mediterranean in 2024. A choice of 95 itineraries in the region feature both favorite cultural cities and lesser-known ports with food and beverage-focused shore excursions and onboard opportunities that feed both body and soul. The luxury cruise line has five ships (out of the seven in its fleet) sailing the Med next year. They range from only 670 to 1,250 guests with personalized service the key to all that it offers.

Foodie Tours

Guests who love all things food and wine can choose among Oceania Cruises’ extensive list of shore excursions to discover more about Mediterranean cooking on Food & Wine Trails tours and Culinary Discovery Tours™. Food is also a part of many of Oceania Cruises’ Go Local tours that offer special experiences within the communities guests are visiting.

A “taste” of what guests can experience with these options includes a visit to the Atarazanas Central Market in Malaga, Spain, with a Chef Instructor. Here, guests get to purchase ingredients for an onboard cooking class making Spanish tapas and sipping on sangria and sherry. While stopping along the Amalfi Coast, guests visit and have lunch (paired with wines) at a family-run winery. They also see how hand-crafted limoncello is created and get to sample the citrus liqueur.

On an excursion to a farm in Zadar, Croatia, guests tour and then join a traditional farmer in the fields possibly picking potatoes, digging up sugar beets vegetables, or pruning olive trees before snacking on Croatian treats made from the farm’s fresh ingredients.

Onboard Ship Delights

Oceania Cruises’ ships have been designed with numerous culinary features ideal for food lovers. The ships sailing the Med include new ship Vista, which features eight bars and 11 dining options, with three new signature culinary venues: Ember for classic American fare, Aquamar Kitchen with a wellness focus, and The Bakery at Baristas for freshly baked French and Italian pastries.

Sister ships Riviera and Marina each have six open-seating gourmet restaurants with no surcharge, a food and wine pairing experience at La Reserve by Wine Spectator, and private dining in Privée. The sister ships’ Culinary Center invites guests for hands-on cooking classes at sea, from making fresh pasta and French crêpes to Spanish paella and Greek dishes. Sirena’s four restaurants includes her signature specialty restaurant Tuscan Steak for Italian fare, steak and seafood, and Red Ginger for Asian cuisine.

Destination-Intensive Mediterranean Itineraries

Sailing from cities that include Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon, Athens, and London, Oceania Cruises’ Mediterranean cruises bring culinary-focused guests to locales where food and wine experiences are a strong part of the culture. Select choices can include Valencia, Spain, known for its oranges and seafood and paella. Or Provence, a foodie destination with cheese and wine tasting in Avignon. Another option is Santorini, where wine tasting can also be a part of guests’ exploration.

More Included

For all sailings departing October 1, 2023 or later, Oceania Cruises simply MORE™ offers guests even more inclusions with food and beverage opportunities among them. Guests get a free shore excursion credit up to $1,600 that can be used on a culinary tour if they choose to do so, plus they get a free beverage package. This greater value means more opportunities to indulge in what guests enjoy the most when traveling.