Oceania Cruises: Spectacular Sailings with a Foodie Flair on the Oceania Riviera

Overall cruise experience

Our overall experience sailing with Oceania Cruises was amazing. The tone was set with the very first touchpoint at embarkation in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Ship staff directed us to board the Riviera, welcomed us with bottles of water, and checked us in onboard in the theater. Quite the change from the normal crowds and long lines in the cruise terminal that we’ve gone through when sailing with mainstream cruise lines. (This was probably due to Monte Carlo not having a standard cruise terminal, but it really set Oceania apart in our eyes.)

Oceania’s ships are the perfect size, with passenger capacities ranging from 670–1,250 guests. The smaller ship size means a better crew to passenger ratio, which translates to a higher and more personal level of service.

The ships are small enough to never feel crowded (no lines for the theater or fighting for a table in the buffet). But they’re still large enough to have varied dining and entertainment options. While not as elaborate as on larger ships, the evening shows were surprisingly good.

Feel like curling up with a good book? The libraries on Oceania’s ships are huge, with a wide range of fiction and nonfiction—plus cozy armchairs. Or participate in shipboard activities to earn ‘Big O’ points. (On longer sailings, the art scavenger hunt is a lot of fun.) Don’t forget to redeem these points at the end of the cruise for useful items like logo polo shirts, hats, or beach bags.

Oceania’s smaller ships can access smaller ports that larger ships cannot. We enjoyed visiting ports such as Monte Carlo, Ajaccio (Corsica), Catania (Sicily), Valletta (Malta), and Antibes (France). Don’t worry, the itineraries also visit popular ports like Barcelona and Valencia in Spain, and Naples and Rome in Italy.

Each Oceania itinerary feels unique, rather than having the same 7-day Mediterranean cruise on repeat.

The Bounty Cake at Red Ginger is a delicious blend of coconut and chocolate.

Dining experience

The dining experience is really a point of distinction with Oceania Cruises. Their slogan is that they have “the finest cuisine at sea”, and their original culinary partnership was with famous French chef Jacques Pépin. (The namesake of their French restaurant, Jacques.) Giada De Laurentiis is a more recent addition as a culinary ambassador for Oceania Cruises.

What I love about Oceania Cruises is that all the specialty dining restaurants are free of charge. (The only exceptions are the upscale food and wine pairing dinners at La Reserve and the private dining experience at Privée.) I also love that there are so many specialty restaurants on board the Riviera (and her sister ship, the Marina).

Specialty dining venues:

• Jacques (French): This is my personal favorite. Start off with the goat cheese soufflé and of course, the French onion soup. Entrée choices include seafood, meats, and proteins cooked on the rotisserie. Indulge your sweet tooth with French desserts such as Crêpes Suzette and Crème Brûlée. (Be sure to save extra room for dessert in all the specialty restaurants—you’ll be served a ‘pre-dessert’ of sweet treats while you’re waiting for your main dessert.)

Shrimp entree at Jacques, the French specialty restaurant

• Toscana (Italian): We usually skip the antipasti course to devote extra stomach space to the delicious choices in the breadbasket. The breads are served with your choice of olive oil and balsamic vinegar from their special trolley. For the pasta course, the gnocchi and lasagna are amazing. For the second course, the osso buco and veal scaloppine never disappoint. For dessert, try the red berries tiramisu for a new twist on an old favorite.

Savory roasted chicken at the Toscana Italian restaurant

Satisfy your sweet tooth with this apricot tart at the Toscana specialty restaurant.

• Polo Grill (Steakhouse): Oceania’s Polo Grill offers a wide range of steakhouse classics. Start off with the shrimp cocktail or the lobster bisque. Then choose your preferred cut from the steak and chops section of the menu (complete with delicious toppings like sautéed onions or blue cheese crumbles, and sauces like béarnaise or au poivre). There is a strong seafood selection on offer, including salmon, lobster, and swordfish dishes. I’m a big fan of the cheesecake, but for a ‘lighter’ end to your meal, choose the tangy Key Lime Pie.

• Red Ginger (Asian): This is my least favorite of Riviera’s restaurants, although I’m in the minority here. I think the best approach is to order many plates to share. Starters include skewers, tempura, and sushi. The miso-glazed sea bass gets rave reviews, but I prefer noodle-based dishes like the lobster pad thai or the beef with udon noodles. Be sure to check out the tea menu to enjoy alongside dessert (try the coconutty Bounty cake).

Enjoy the vibrant colors and flavors of Red Ginger, Oceania's specialty Asian dining venue.

• The Grand Dining Room: This is Oceania’s main dining room, open for breakfast and dinner (plus lunch on sea days). The setting is beautiful—light and bright, with lovely artwork.

Don't miss the Serrano ham appetizer in the Grand Dining Room

The breakfast menu is extensive, with a wide array of healthier options (bircher muesli and yogurt parfaits) and breakfast standards (omelets and French toast). You’ll be tempted by pastry options like pain au chocolat and croissants.

Lunch service offers a three-course menu, with daily specials and typically a section focusing on the flavors of a certain country.

Dinner service offers a four-course menu. We couldn’t resist the serrano ham appetizer with artichokes, and they have a nice selection of soups and salads. There are many entrée options daily, including Jacques Pépin’s signature dishes and globally inspired dishes. Dessert options include a soufflé of the day as well as the Humphry Slocombe ice cream flavor of the day.

Casual dining venues:

• Terrace Café: This is Oceania’s buffet, but an upscale buffet experience. It’s open daily for all three meals. Breakfast has all the standard offerings, plus an extensive fruit selection and a knockout pastry area. (If you see a daily special that looks like apple cake, get it!)

Lunch offers a wide variety of salads, several hot entrees, a sandwich of the day, and plenty of desserts. Plus, you can always get grilled-to-order burgers, fish, and chicken.

Dinner menus feature hot and cold appetizers, salads, a carving station, a pasta station, sushi, and hot entrees. What I love is that you can order steak and shrimp every day from the grill station. The Terrace Café is the perfect option if you’ve had a long day of sightseeing and just want a more casual dining experience.

• Waves Grill: The Waves Grill is located just outside the Terrace Café as you head towards the pool. The menu features burgers and sandwiches, but elevated (i.e. the surf and turf Wagyu). Adjacent is the ice cream station, where you can get milkshakes or a hand-scooped cone of your favorite flavor. I always swing by here to see what the Humphry Slocombe flavor of the day is!

Enjoy this delicious burger at the Waves Grill, overlooking the pool.

• Baristas: This is Oceania’s coffee bar, where you can get your favorite cup of java (straight or with an added liqueur). Right next to the coffee bar is an area that most guests miss, where you’ll find some light food options. Sample sliced cheeses and meats, tiny sandwiches, cookies, and my favorite: canelés (small French pastries that are caramelized on the outside and custardy on the inside).

• Afternoon Tea: You’ll want to experience afternoon tea at least once during your cruise. (Pick a day that you’re not going to have a big dinner.) It’s served in Horizons, the observation lounge, with a string quartet or special musical accompaniment. Enjoy your tea of choice with a wide selection of decadent pastries, savory finger sandwiches, and scones. Longer sailings may include some specialty tea experiences. If the éclair tea is offered on your sailing: go!

Decadent eclairs at the eclair tea—bet you can't choose just one!

Conclusion

We loved our first sailing with Oceania Cruises so much that we were worried that we had overly romanticized it. Since then, we have sailed with Oceania three more times aboard several of the ships in their fleet. We loved each sailing just as much as our first!

I highly recommend Oceania if you’re looking for a premium cruise experience with elevated dining and service, but without the price tag of an ultra-luxury line.

• Got a sweet tooth? Don’t miss the afternoon tea, the tasty treats by the coffee shop, or the hand-scooped Humphry Slocombe ice cream! (My favorite flavors are Toast & Jam and After School Special.)

• You can only make a limited number of dining reservations in advance. But once on board, you can usually get extra reservations as a walk-in. (This worked well for us, since we prefer to dine early.)

• The smaller ships in the Oceania Cruises fleet have fewer specialty restaurants. If having more dining options is important to you, choose one of their larger ships (the 1,200–1,250 passenger size).

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our cruises page.