Featured image: Oceania Riviera in Sydney, captured by Mal Graham
A succulent whole Maine lobster sits between me and a newly retired couple from Switzerland, who share a table with my husband and I at the Polo Club restaurant. Before I can contemplate how to delicately attack the delicious meal in front of me, a silver service waiter appears, and makes short work of the shells, pulling the lobster meat swiftly onto my plate before whisking the main shells away. It’s not the first time I’ve been assisted, with another server expertly deboning an entire fish for me in several smooth moves, at the Grand Dining Room the night before. Poetry in motion.
Over dinner, Maya and Bruno shared that their friend has chosen to live aboard the ship, with the fares working out cheaper than a retirement village in Switzerland. I’ve heard whispers of this before, but it’s not until this trip aboard the glamorous Oceania Riviera that I could really understand it. I mean, who wouldn’t want all this at their fingertips?
With four main hero restaurants, the stylish Grand Dining Room, and more casual eateries around the ship, food is at the heart of the offering on board. A cooking school, daily wine tastings focusing on high-end vino from different regions of the world, whisky tastings, paired wine dinners and more, are an indulgent, popular part of the offering.
In the Taste of Italy wine tasting, I learned that Italy has over 900 grape varieties, with only 300 of those categorised so far. Raul, the head sommelier, led our class and brought an appreciated mix of knowledge and humour to the class. He leads a team of 17 sommeliers on board, who are easily identifiable in each dining area, as they’re adorned with huge metal tastevins, which make them easy to spot. The wine lists are diverse, and the somms are eager to share their knowledge and suggest different wines from around the globe.
Intimate sanctuaries are dotted across the ship, spreading guests out amongst the different venues and floors, meaning that despite having over one thousand guests on board, it never feels crowded. And with the ‘country club casual’ dress code at the restaurants, it also always feels elevated. Oceania Riviera’s appeal also lies in the balance it strikes between scale and intimacy. Carrying around 1,250 guests with roughly 800 staff, the ship feels large enough to offer serious choice, yet polished enough to deliver the kind of personalised service usually associated with much smaller luxury vessels.
One of our favourite spots was the outdoor terrace at the stern of the ship, which rewards passengers a reward for finding the hidden gem. Spilling out from the Terrace Cafe, round tables are spaced generously across warm teak decking, each set with crisp white napkins and glassware that catch the light as the ocean glides past just metres away. Deep rust-coloured cushions soften the woven chairs, adding a relaxed, Mediterranean feel that invites you to linger rather than rush a meal. Umbrellas stand tall like sentinels, ready to offer shade later in the day, while uninterrupted sea views stretch out beyond the railings, the wake of the ship gently unfurling behind you.
Another one of the quiet luxuries we discovered aboard Oceania Riviera was the elegant Horizons Lounge, a grand observation space perched at the ship’s bow where afternoon tea is served daily around 4pm. White-gloved waitstaff glide between tables, serving from four-tiered pastry carts laden with delicate sandwiches, scones and pastries, while a live string quartet fills the room with soft, stirring music. Cosy booths line the windows, occupied by guests playing cards or absorbed in a book, while others gravitate to tables near the stage to fully immerse themselves in the daily performances. With an extensive tea menu on offer, many settle in with a warm cup, but my husband and I chose afternoon champagne, raising a glass to moments like these, now beautifully etched into our memories. Stay a while longer and the string quartet music transitions into jazz, as pre-dinner drinks kick off, and the afternoon builds momentum into the evening.
Red Ginger was one of our favourite restaurants on board, and as with all their specialty restaurants, it delivered wow moments throughout the meal. A thoughtfully curated tea menu is offered to guests at the start of the meal, with blends like the Orchid Vanilla (Madagascar vanilla and coconut) offering a luxurious, indulgent start to the night. A chopstick selection is then brought to the table, where diners can select their preference, from slim metal Korean chopsticks (which I always find the hardest to use), to various wooden, plastic, and differently weighted options. Plus of course, there are forks and knives for those who would prefer that instead. The food is the real hero of the story of course, but I must make mention of the intricate origami serviette that was awaiting me once I returned from the ladies room. No simple refolding to be seen here!
The other hero venues on board included Jacques, their classic French speciality restaurant inspired by French chef, author, culinary educator, television personality, and artist Jacques Pepin, and Toscana, an Italian restaurant with rich, regional dishes. Forget cocktail carts, Toscana featured an olive oil trolley, with an outrageous amount of options to elevate your experience with their freshly made bread. When we dined there, the waiter was kind enough to guide us, as the options really were fabulous but overwhelming.
It’s worth noting that the specialty restaurants on board are complimentary, with open-seating dining and no dining surcharges, unlike some other cruise ships in a similar class.
If you’re looking for a quiet spot tucked out of the morning breeze to enjoy a coffee, there are plenty of course, but we enjoyed a serene spot we found on the deck overlooking the pool, to enjoy our barista made coffee from Barista Cafe (of course).
Beyond the restaurants and lounges, Riviera also leans into enrichment, with Oceania’s Culinary Center offering hands-on cooking classes at sea, alongside creative sessions in the Artist Loft and wellness experiences at the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center.
I cannot write about Oceania Riviera without taking a moment to discuss the team on board the ship. Oceania Riviera knows hospitality, and they do it well. From the moment you’re greeted at each venue, each experience was made into a memorable one. While we were only on board for 7 days, the staff knew our names, and our coffee orders, and we were welcomed as part of their community. Although you’re not ‘meant’ to have favourites, we did. Selfia is a gorgeous, warm-hearted Balinese woman, who was brimming with personality and outstanding service, and we were lucky enough to keep bumping into her at Waves pool bar, and Martinis cocktail bar. Beware her martinis though! She can make a mean one, and with the all-inclusive package most guests sign up for, it’s quite easy to be late for dinner! Martinis Bar is also a great place to listen to the pianist each night.
I think one of the highlights of the overall experience for my husband and I were the other passengers. There’s something to be said for a cruise ship of this quality. It attracts incredible people. As a couple in our mid-40s, we were some of the younger people on board, however we had the time of our lives. The other guests were fascinating, worldly, wonderful people. Most retirees, they had all lived varied, interesting lives, and were now happy to share their stories, and their bottles of wine, with us and other guests. We made some friends for life, and learned a lot of tips and tricks for making the most of cruise ship travel!
Some key points that might be helpful:
- Book the shore tours AS SOON as you can. They book out quickly.
- The wine tastings as USD$95pp
- There are USB and USBC charging points in the room
- Guests as issued with metal water bottles, which you can refill around the ship. Handy for shore tours too!
- Upgrade your wifi to the Starlink if you need to access the internet remotely, or just want better wifi. It’s still not great but definitely an improvement
- Bring your own Aloe Vera if you’re planning on catching some sun. My husband got burnt by the pool and we couldn’t get any on board
- The little nooks in the library are great for reading or relaxing
- The Surf & Turf Wagyu and lobster burger is a must at Waves Grill
- A Laundry service is offered for up to 20 items for a fixed price of USD$24.95
- Dry cleaning and pressing is also offered at a per-unit price
- There’s a Hamilton Beach brand hair dryer in the room
- You can also order breakfast to your room (we literally only discovered this on the morning we checked out)
- There are all sorts of amazing classes and culinary discovery tours on board – however they also book out early so get in quick!
- We live in Adelaide, and the ship docked here on its route from Singapore to Sydney. There’s a similar 17-day voyage coming up that travels from Perth, to Busselton, Albany, Esperance, Adelaide, Melbourne, then over to New Zealand with stops in Picton, Wellington, Napier and Gisborne.
Finally, would we go again? Absolutely. It comes highly recommended from us!
For more information on Oceania Riviera, and other other cruises offered by Oceania, head to https://www.oceaniacruises.com/
More News
