Built by Fincantieri in Italy, Oceania Cruises’ 1,200-guest Oceania Allura represents the brand’s “bold vision for an entirely new generation of luxury travel experiences”. The vessel, which is the second in the Allura class and the eighth in the fleet, debuted in the Mediterranean in July 2025 and has been called Oceania Cruises’ most innovative and luxurious ship to date.
“Oceania Allura redefines modern luxury, thanks to her graceful design, intuitive service and the broad array of immersive experiences our guests can choose, both onboard the ship and ashore,” says Steve Odell, the brand’s senior vice president of international and consumer sales.
Odell predicts guests will be most impressed by the culinary experiences, all of which have been designed in line with the brand’s ‘The finest cuisine at sea’ philosophy. Oceania Cruises has created 11 “distinctive” venues for Oceania Allura, including a new Crêperie, and revamped menus in signature spaces, such as the Grand Dining Room, Pan-Asian speciality restaurant Red Ginger, and Jacques, a French bistro named in honour of the brand’s first executive culinary director, Chef Jacques Pépin.
“A personal favourite and a clear guest favourite too, Jacques serves much-loved French classics alongside a selection of new and innovative dishes created by our two talented executive culinary directors and resident Master Chefs of France, Alex Quaretti and Eric Barale,” says Odell.
Oceania Cruises has also curated multiple opportunities for guests to explore the culture and history of the destinations they are visiting through food. For instance, they can participate in expert-led classes at the expansive Culinary Center and Chef’s Studio, or they can join the Chef’s Market Dinners, which take place in The Terrace Cafe once or twice every cruise and showcase the best cuisine from the region the ship is sailing in.
“This not only reflects our commitment to evolving with guests’ growing interest in healthy, locally sourced and authentic cuisine, but also reinforces our standing as the ultimate cruise line for foodies,” says Odell. “By using fresh ingredients sourced directly from local markets, guests are offered a truly authentic culinary journey and the chance to enjoy the flavours of each destination.”
Oceania Allura’s bars and dining venues are designed to deliver luxurious culinary experiences
In addition to delivering an authentic culinary- and destination-focused cruise experiences, Oceania Cruises sought to bring its “ethos of offering the luxury of choice” to life onboard Oceania Allura. “We wanted to empower guests to personalise their holiday experience,” explains Odell. “All of the non-negotiables – such as speciality gourmet dining, Wi-Fi, non-alcoholic beverages and gratuities – are included for every guest. They can then choose whether to add shore excursions or a beverage package for alcohol depending on their personal preferences.”
Feedback from guests suggests Oceania Cruises has achieved these goals. “The reaction to Oceania Allura has been simply phenomenal,” says Odell. “Everyone has praised the ship’s luxurious refined decor, the breadth and outstanding quality of our complimentary dining experiences, and the sense of spaciousness and calm throughout. Oceania Allura represents a new level of experience, one that raises the bar for luxury cruising.”
Oceania Cruises aims to raise the luxury cruising bar even further when it debuts four new Sonata-class vessels between 2027 and 2035. The first of the 86,000gt ships, Oceania Sonata, is already under construction at Fincantieri’s Marghera yard and is set to debut in summer 2027. It will be followed by Oceania Arietta in 2029 and two yet-to-be-named ships in 2032 and 2035.
“These four innovative vessels will continue our evolution as a leader in small-ship luxury,” says Odell. “The class marks a bold step forwards in design, sustainability and guest experience.”
Each ship will carry 1,390 guests and offer the most space per guest in Oceania Cruises’ history. “They’ll be the most amenity-rich ships we’ve ever launched, with new suite and stateroom categories and fresh culinary concepts designed to surprise and delight even our most loyal guests,” says Odell, adding that the brand will reveal full details in late 2025. “We’re confident these four new ships will set a new benchmark in responsible luxury cruising.”
Guests can participate in hands-on cooking classes at the onboard Culinary Center
Oceania Cruises will also continue to refine its onboard and onshore offerings to ensure they evolve in tandem with guests’ ever-changing expectations of a luxury cruise experience.
“Today’s luxury travellers are looking for more than just relaxation; they seek purpose, personalisation and connection,” says Odell. “They want to explore the world in meaningful ways, savour authentic local cuisine, and engage in experiences that enrich and inspire. At Oceania Cruises, we’re responding to this by creating a more immersive and choice-driven offering.”
This is exemplified by the brand’s “incredible range” of small-group shore excursions, says Odell. He highlights examples such as the award-winning chef-led Culinary Discovery Tours; the architect-led Beyond Blueprints excursions that provide behind-the-scenes access to iconic buildings; and the Go Local tours, which give guests a glimpse into the life of the local communities they visit.
“For us, luxury is no longer just about fine finishes, it’s about giving people the freedom and choice to explore new experiences, deepen knowledge, dine well, rest deeply, and connect meaningfully with places and friends old and new.”
Discover more insights like this in the Autumn/Winter 2025 issue of Cruise & Ferry Review. Don’t miss out – subscribe for FREE and get the next issue delivered straight to your inbox.