Oceania Cruises has taken delivery of its newest ship, the Oceania Allura, making a grand entrance in the fleet and the brand. The vessel was welcomed at Fincantieri Shipyard in Genoa, Italy, and became Oceania’s eighth ship and second in its Allura Class. Elegant and dedicated to sharing the best of everything, the Oceania Allura is set to redefine the small ship luxury cruising experience.

The 804-foot and 68,000-GT Oceania Allura will accommodate a mere 1,200 passengers for a luxurious, intimate setting. The ship is also known for its large standard staterooms, among the largest at sea, as well as having the highest guest-to-staff ratio in the industry, providing service that is the hallmark of the Cruise West experience. An important aspect of the ship is its crew of world-class chefs, with one for every eight guests – an unusual ratio within the cruising industry that reflects Oceania Cruises’ reputation for the finest dining on the high seas.

Oceania Cruises’ chief luxury officer, Jason Montague, called Oceania Allura the “most stunning and luxurious ship to date for the Oceania Cruises brand.” According to him, “the ship represents a milestone for Oceania as it redefines the possibilities for the future of luxury cruising, offering the finest culinary experiences at sea, while providing guests with an opportunity to explore sensational, unique destinations and experience entirely new ports of call”. “At the heart of this beautiful ship, we have a talented team — including the crew, who are dedicated to providing our guests with the finest culinary experiences, the most delightful intimate service and introducing them to the incredible things our world has to offer,” Montague continued.

Culinary Excellence at the Forefront

Culinary distinction is the foundation of the Oceania Cruises Creations dining experience, and Oceania Allura takes this to even higher levels with several firsts across its dining portfolio. The ship debuts new, innovative dining options such as a French-style crêperie where visitors can indulge in freshly made crêpes, and an updated iteration of Jacques, the line’s signature French eatery named after legendary chef Jacques Pépin. At Jacques, patrons can enjoy tableside-prepared beef tartare and an eponymous Eggs Benedict breakfast menu that will take breakfast to a whole new, swanky level.

One of the attention-grabbers on Oceania Allura’s culinary offerings is Nikkei-style Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine at Red Ginger, a favorite dining venue for the line. Adding to these new developments, Oceania Allura debuts the Gerard Bertrand Wine Pairing Luncheon, serving perfectly paired sommelier selections with dishes that are inspired by the destination for a memorable culinary event. These gastronomic upgrades make Oceania Allura an unbeatable choice for those who consider themselves foodies and want their cruising experience to be one that not only features world-class cuisine but with stunning destinations, to match.

Innovative Experiences Beyond Dining

In addition to its exquisite dining options, Oceania Allura features a wide array of amenities that are perfect for travelers. Among the highlights is the reimagined Library, located on Deck 14, offering sweeping sea views and a residential aesthetic that encourages guests to relax and take a break from the sun while taking in the view. Located next to the library, the new LYNC Digital Center offers free classes on photography and video editing, and social media to keep interest and skill level high for our guests on board. As part of this new initiative, there will be Starlink® WiFi-enabled classes hosted by Digital Concierges, providing guests with an innovative way to come together and learn while cruising.

Oceania Cruises has further prioritized relaxation and enrichment by offering guests ample opportunities every moment of the day to simply relax, explore, or learn something new on board Oceania Allura. From cultural talks to cooking demonstrations to digital media classes, the ship offers a little something extra than just your run-of-the-mill cruise.

Launching Season and Planned Fleet Growth

In its first season, Oceania Allura will embark on 26 voyages, visiting 92 destinations in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and North America. Its maiden voyage is set to sail from Trieste, Italy, to Athens, Greece on July 18, 2025. It was there that a new chapter in Oceania Cruises’ unparalleled culinary reputation was written. A formal christening is set for November in Miami, and a roster of godparents for the ship — chosen from the ranks of the Best New Chefs at Food & Wine magazine — will be on hand for the ceremony.

Future-wise, Oceania Cruises has announced the development of the fleet with four Sonata Class vessels through 2035. The first vessel of this new class, Oceania Sonata™, will be delivered in 2027, followed by Oceania Arietta™ in 2029, with two more ships earmarked for 2032 and 2035. This new and bold strategic initiative demonstrates Oceania Cruises’ continued willingness to take daring steps to solidify its leadership role within the luxury small-ship cruising sector, not only in the region but on the world stage.

The Future of Luxury Travel

Thought-provoking and stylish, Oceania Allura is a testament to the brand’s continued evolution and penchant for growth. Centered around immersive destination experiences, luxury, and culinary exploration, Oceania Allura aims to deliver a refined and immersive travel experience to guests. As the cruise line plans for the future, with new ships and more offerings, one thing is certain and that is that Oceania Cruises is dedicated to creating new experiences, redefining luxury travel, and providing its guests with access to the best of cruising.

“For over two years, we agonized over the balance of good details and not getting bogged down in the weeds., In the end, we believe we got that balance right, and that the book is chock-full of engaging content that ranges from garden variety psychology to the great questions of human existence,” says Baumeister, senior author of the bestselling megatextbook “Social Psychology and Human Nature.”13 million copies sold to date). Underpinning this latest chapter, with Oceania Allura, the forward outlook for small-ship luxury cruising has never been stronger.

(Source: Oceania Cruises, Fincantieri Shipyard, SPA)