10 Differences Between The New Oceania Allura And Vista Cruise Ships
Oceania's second ship in its new Allura class has set sail on its maiden voyage taking travelers on itineraries around the Mediterranean Sea. The 1,200-passenger Oceania Allura follows Oceania Vista, which launched in May 2023 and is also currently sailing in Europe. Both ships will move to the Caribbean for the winter season and return to Europe next summer.
New for Vista is a 129-day sailing, dubbed the Kangaroo Route, from Sydney to London visiting more than 80 ports in 34 countries, beginning Feb. 26, 2027.
Oceania is well-known for its focus on culinary travel and onboard dining experiences, but also for service (there is a ratio of two staff for every three guests). While this is certainly not a surprise for a cruise ship, Oceania takes it to the next level. An onboard cooking school, elevated dining in specialty restaurants (all free for guests) and specialty chef partnerships lure foodies who recognize Oceania's sailings as a cut above other cruise lines that may focus more on shipboard amenities as their primary selling point.
The pool deck on Oceania Allura Oceania
While the two ships are nearly identical, the cruise line made some tweaks (as all cruise companies do) when evolving their ships as they join the fleet. This takes into account customer and employee feedback, historical data on what venues and areas of the ship prove more popular than others during its first year of sailing, and the latest trends in the industry. As a result, Oceania Allura looks very similar, yet has a few notable differences for the eagle-eyed sailor. This is what you can expect.
Aquamar Kitchen on Oceania Allura Oceania
With an 8-to-1 chef-to-guest ratio, there is no question that the caliber and quality of food is going to be elevated. In fact, half of the ship's crew works in restaurant and bar service.
'Oceania is definitely a line for foodies,' says Jason Leppert, editor of PopularCruising.com. 'Compared to other lines, it offers more included specialty dining choices, making it a great value, especially on its newer ships like Allura.'
The newest Oceania ship certainly allures with its wide array of new food and beverage options on board that are not currently sailing (or at least yet) on older sister Oceania Vista.
A new creperie is on Allura and prepares a variety of sweet dishes, including Belgian and bubble waffles. Oceania
A new French crêperie prepares the French pastry in both savory and sweet form, along with frozen yogurt and other treats like bubble and Belgian waffles or ice cream sundaes. This is all complimentary for guests and served in a care overlooking the pool deck and patios. Not only is this new to Allura, but also to the entire fleet as this venue is an entirely new concept for the brand.
The Privee private dining room Oceania
The French dining room Jacques, named for and serving classic recipes from well-known chef Jacques Pépin, is also new to Allura. This specialty dining restaurant has proven popular on other ships in its fleet (like Marina and Riviera), and Vista will eventually be getting its own Jacques by late 2025. Allura also showcases a new line of service and flatware, which will eventually be the Jacques standard on other Oceania ships.
Also new to Oceania is more tableside preparation of certain dishes like hand-cut beef tartare mixed a la minute in front of guests. And in the Grand Dining Room, 270 new recipes have been added to Allura's menu, like a new eggs benedict menu at breakfast.
Passengers can learn to cook recipes related to the itinerary's destinations. Oceania
Another novelty for Allura is at Red Ginger, the Asian fusion restaurant found on other Oceania ships, but here it has a new Nikkei menu, blending Japanese and Peruvian flavors. A dozen new dishes are on the menu like a braised Peruvian short rib, soft shell crab tempura bao buns and chicken anticuchos skewers in a spicy huacaina sauce.
Leppert points out that cooking classes are not new to cruise lines, citing brands like Explora Journeys, but that typically those lines have a higher price point. Oceania is the only line in its competitive set to offer such a robust culinary center experience.
The Grand Dining Room serves three meals a day. Oceania
Many are sure to book the new Gerard Bertrand wine pairing lunch, which leans heavily into his bio-dynamic and ecological wine labels. Each course has its own special wine selection, but this once-a-cruise special event does carry an extra charge of $175 per person. This is the only dining experience that costs extra and debuted on Allura. Vista will eventually get this wine pairing lunch later this year, and two more Oceania ships (Riviera and Marina) will follow suit in 2026.
A selection of gelato and ice cream is now available by the pool in addition to Terrace Cafe, too, something not found on Vista when it launched. Terrace Café also has changes of its own, including a new Indian corner with 15 new menu items available at dinner and 45 new sushi roll recipes on offer
Toscana restaurant has its own olive oil master that offers a menu of olive oils to pair with the food. Oceania
For those that like consistency, many of the other onboard venues remain the same, including Toscana (with its own olive oil master), Aquamar Kitchen (with made-to-order smoothies and grain bowls) and the Viennese coffee menu at Baristas (although Italian brand Illy is no longer on offer).
At the onboard cooking school ($89 per person), 24 cooking stations allow guests to learn how to make signature recipes from the destinations on the itinerary from licensed culinary faculty.
Samantha Davis-Friedman of Travel Age West says Oceania's 'uniquely food-focused cruise experience' is popular with cruisers, so much so that it has become the 'highest-rated onboard experience for 14 years.' A few onboard shuffles
The grand staircase in the cruise's foyer. Oceania
Common when cruise lines launch a new series of ships, there are tweaks made to the design after crew give feedback on the success of the layout. For example, the library on Allura was moved to be next to Horizons Lounge and digital center, where guests can learn tips and tricks about photography and using mobile devices. On Vista, it is next to the coffee bar; Allura's new location allows the space to be much quieter.
Another key change made to this ship targets solo travelers. While Vista has cabins designed for singles, Oceania Allura does not (although they can still pay a supplement to book a standard cabin for just one person). Environmental differences
A stateroom with balcony on Oceania Allura Oceania
For some travelers, it is the eco-friendly changes that Allura brings to Oceania's fleet that will most impress. Ship-building timelines mean that sometimes a new series of ships may not debut with the latest technology, if it is not ready in time.
Such is the case with Allura, which relies exclusively on marine gas oil (MGO) instead of heavy fuel oil (HFO), giving it a more sustainable operation. This green option was not fully ready yet when Vista was being developed.
According to Giuseppe Cusenza, project manager at the shipyard, this type of fuel 'produces significantly lower sulfur oxide and particulate emissions.'
Oceania Allura is currently sailing in southern Europe. Oceania
Other green features of Allura include onboard 'food digestors' that convert food waste to liquid and a waste heat recovery system that uses excess warmth from the engines to help with the freshwater desalination process (reducing overall energy usage). The ship also features shore power systems that help to reduce emissions while a ship is in port.
There is also a trim stabilizer designed to reduce the ship's roll sensation by up to 77% by monitoring stability levels and adjusting its balance accordingly as well as a lower friction hull coating to reduce drag and improve efficiency.
Horizons Lounge on the top deck of Allura. Oceania
Overall, this ship is more efficient, allowing it to use less fuel and reduce overall emissions. There's also a system that can monitor the ship's needs and adjust energy usage in real time.
While most people choose a cruise based on the itinerary, these changes, along with the line's culinary focus, give Allura a differentiating factor.
As Davis-Friedman calls it, Oceania is a foodie experience from 'ship to shore,' and that continues with the debut of its newest ship. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes 19 New Cruise Ship Restaurants, Itineraries, Shows And Shore Excursions By Ramsey Qubein Forbes Windstar Cruises Finds Success With Mystery Destinations Cruise Trend By Ramsey Qubein Forbes AT&T Adds New 'Surf N' Turf' Day Pass For Cruise Ship Travelers By Ramsey Qubein
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Gatwick ‘optimistic' minister will approve expansion plan
Gatwick airport's outgoing boss said he is 'optimistic' the airport's expansion plan will be approved. Chief executive Stewart Wingate claimed the benefits from the West Sussex airport bringing its emergency runway into routine would last 'for generations'. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has a deadline of October 27 to decide whether to give the go-ahead to the proposal. Gatwick submitted a modified development consent order (DCO) application after the Cabinet minister announced in February she would back the scheme if adjustments were made, covering issues such as noise mitigation and the proportion of passengers who would travel to and from the airport by public transport. The project would see Gatwick move the emergency runway 12 metres north, enabling it to be used for departures of narrow-bodied planes such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s. This would increase the airport's capacity by around 100,000 flights a year. Gatwick's plan also involves remodelling and replacing existing taxiways – which connect runways to terminals, hangars and other facilities – extending both terminals, and installing new aircraft gates. Local campaigners opposed to expansion are concerned about the impact on surface transport, noise, housing provision and wastewater treatment, but the airport insists it has conducted 'full and thorough assessments' of those issues. Mr Wingate said: 'The critical final decision on our northern runway plans is just weeks away and follows a rigorous and lengthy planning process. 'I remain optimistic the Secretary of State will approve our privately-financed, shovel-ready plans to unlock further growth for London Gatwick and the UK economy, generating new jobs, trade and tourism opportunities for generations to come.' Gatwick says its plans would create £1 billion per year in economic benefits and generate an additional 14,000 jobs. Mr Wingate will start his new role as managing director for UK airports for Vinci Airports and Global Infrastructure Partners on September 1, overseeing the future development and strategic direction of Gatwick, Edinburgh and Belfast International airports. His replacement at Gatwick will be Pierre-Hugues Schmit, currently Vinci Airports's chief commercial officer. Gatwick announced on Thursday its underlying earnings for the first six months of the year were £262 million.
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
Escape the crowds at Versailles with a trip to Vincennes, Paris' quieter chateau
PARIS (AP) — For visitors to France overwhelmed by the crowds at Versailles, the Paris region offers a calmer chateau experience: The fortress of Vincennes, a medieval royal residence with the tallest keep in Europe that once held renowned figures such as the Marquis de Sade. The massive fortress east of Paris, just 15 minutes from the city center by metro, immerses visitors in history as soon as they walk through the drawbridge. The castle is much older than Versailles and closer to Paris, local guide Cindy Smili-Yesli said. 'It's a fairly quiet castle,' she said. 'The visiting conditions are much more pleasant. Here, you can really take a close look at every detail of the decor in the keep.' Vincennes welcomes up to 145,000 visitors a year, when over eight million visit Versailles. Europe's tallest keep The Chateau of Vincennes was first built in the second part of the 14th century, as the Hundred Years War was raging between the kingdoms of France and England, on the location of a royal manor that was used as a hunting base in the nearby woods. French King Charles V, who ascended the throne in 1364, chose to make it his residence. The immense 52-meter (171-feet) keep was meant to show the extent of France's power. 'It has been a powerful symbol of the royal monarchy since the mid-14th century,' Smili-Yesli said. But Vincennes was also a symbol of an historic English success against France. Henry V of England and his court moved into the chateau for some time after his successful military campaign, in accordance with the 1420 Treaty of Troyes. Henry V died at Vincennes in 1422. He was 35. 'The legend of Vincennes says that his body was reduced to ashes in the castle's kitchens, and his bones were recovered,' Smili-Yesli said. Famous figures imprisoned From the 15th century, the keep housed a prison. Famous captives included future King of France Henri IV, accused of plotting, writer and philosopher Denis Diderot, and the Marquis de Sade, known for his writings on sex. 'The Marquis de Sade was imprisoned in the keep of Vincennes in the mid-to-late 18th century because of his writings and his actions as a libertine,' Smili-Yesli said. 'He was originally held on the first floor of the keep. But as he did not get along well with one of his cousins, the Count of Mirabeau, the jailers, to punish him, moved him down to the ground floor into a much less pleasant cell, subject to cold and damp.' Many common law prisoners were also imprisoned at Vincennes, including women, especially during a series of scandals in 1679 to 1680 involving poisoning and witchcraft. Some graffiti left by the captives can still be seen on the stone walls. A Gothic Holy Chapel Facing the keep, the spectacular Holy Chapel, built in the Gothic style, features stunning stained glass windows from the mid-16th century which depict the Apocalypse through various spectacular scenes. The castle served as a refuge for the royal family at shaky times. In 1648, when a series of rebellions broke out in the kingdom, young King Louis XIV settled there. The Sun King later wished to move further away from Paris, which had been hostile to him during that period. He went on to build a palace in Versailles, west of the French capital, and left Vincennes with his court in 1682.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dutch rail firm hosts student sleepover to ease housing crunch
After a lively night, students with weary faces step out of ochre tents pitched on the first floor of Utrecht's main station, stirred by train departure calls. The tents are part of a first-ever indoor campsite by Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the Dutch state rail company, for 12 students without housing in Utrecht during orientation week before university starts. The Netherlands had a housing shortfall of 396,000 homes last year, or 4.8 percent of the total stock, according to annual figures from ABF Research for the national government, with student cities such as Utrecht among the worst affected. "We really wanted to do something for this demographic," NS spokesperson Sarah van Amerongen told AFP. "There's a big shortage for rooms for them for housing in Utrecht but also in all the other big cities. And we thought... it would be super nice if we can give them a place to sleep here in the middle of Utrecht," said Amerongen, 29. Arthur Simeon, 22, who will study economics, said staying at the station spared him a two-hour daily commute from temporary housing in Delft. "I'm very new to the country. I just need to get to know people and make friends, so that I can have an enthusiastic experience," said Simeon, who arrived in the Netherlands from Kampala, Uganda three weeks ago. Along with the tents, students received breakfast from station shops, activities such as a concert and yoga, and gym showers nearby. "Kind of rough to go through the shower every night all the way to Basic Fit (the Dutch gym chain) because you have to walk outside in your flip flops," said Asia Ferrando, who will begin a master's in international criminology. "Other than that, sleeping is fine." – Housing crisis – Ferrando, 23, from Italy, welcomed the initiative, having spent three months searching for housing in Utrecht. "It's kind of hard because of course the prices are very high. Some places don't allow you to register (with the municipality) there and as an international student you need to register in the Netherlands to stay longer than four months," she said. Ferrando's housing search has run into obstacles ranging from people unwilling to offer video viewings to others unwilling to live with foreigners who don't speak Dutch, a pattern that reflects the worsening housing crisis, she said. "We are a small country, but we have almost 30,000 student rooms short. And especially in the big cities, it's a very, very big issue," said Joost Bokkers, founder of Hospi Housing, a social enterprise linking tenants with hosts. "A lot of students have to stop their studies, and cannot come to the Netherlands because they do not have an accommodation." Utrecht alone lacks 6,000 student rooms, Bokkers said, after visiting the campers to offer help. The 12 students are expected to resume their housing search on Thursday, when NS dismantles the tents, feeling slightly more settled in their new city. sh/srg/dc
