Oceania Cruise’s Newest Ship: the Allura Class Vista Makes a Shining Debut

Some things like good wine simply take time. In the case of Oceania Cruises, it took a decade to add a new ship to its fleet. However, what the brand’s all new Allura class Vista makes clear, it was well worth the wait. 

Completed this year, this 791-foot, all-veranda ship has a 1,200-guest capacity and spans 16 decks. I was on Vista’s inaugural voyage that departed Rome May 6th. The Vista was officially christened May 8th in Valletta, Malta, by Archbishop Jude Scicluna. Then Rabbi Marc Labowitz formally “bristened” the ship. Using his angelic voice, Rabbi Labowitz blessed the ship, sang a quick prayer for smooth sailing, then hilariously told passengers, crew, and local dignitaries that, “In keeping with tradition, just a tiny bit would be shaved from the hull.” 

Food personality and cookbook author Giada DeLaurentiis was named as Vista’s Godmother and pulled the ceremonial lever smashing the champagne bottle against the hull, while legendary Grammy and Emmy award-winning musician Harry Connick, Jr. serenaded everyone in a dazzling, pier-side ceremony under an elegant tent. We were then treated to a July 4th-worthy harbor-side fireworks extravaganza.  

On this seven-day voyage – which also marked Oceania’s 20th anniversary – the ship was fully occupied. However, due to Vista’s generous layout and plentiful public’s areas, lounges, bars, and exterior spaces, the ship barely seemed half full. That delightful sensation continued as uniformly excellent service delivered by 800-crew hailing from 54 nations – reflecting a stellar guest-to-crew ratio of 3:2.

Delightfully Designed by Studio Dado 

The Vista has a comfortable, contemporary feel designed by Florida-Based Studio Dado that is modern – but never stark – and invitingly warm. The Atrium’s massive Czech crystal light fixture resembling a two-story flowing waterfall is breathtaking. Public areas are all spacious and chic with comfortable seating at every turn. Elegant clean lines, light woods, and a sense of panache unpretentiously prevail.   

Hallways have gray, blue, and white carpets with geometric diamond patterns and fleur-de-lis style designs that seem to mimic the high seas. There are several excellent Picasso’s onboard, however, many other enormously talented, but lesser-known contemporary artists such as Cubans Miguel Florido and Raphael Soriano, and Basque artist Beñat Olaberria are represented adding to a sense of international artistic vogue. Several landings also have interesting swirling white marble sculptures that make any kind of speed ascending or descending stairs virtually impossible.

Sumptuous Staterooms

Vista’s all-balcony staterooms are very generously sized in all categories. The entry level French Veranda stateroom is 240-square feet, while the brand’s new category in response to consumer demand is the Concierge Solo Veranda stateroom has a twin bed and measures 270-square feet. The Veranda and Concierge Veranda staterooms all measure 291-square feet. Larger Penthouse Suites range from 440-square feet up to Owners’ Suites that have a whopping 2,200 to 2,400-square feet.

I hung my hat in a Concierge Veranda stateroom decorated in a gray, taupe, and white color scheme with a 60-inch flat screen television, double seating area, and marble coffee table. The stateroom also had a small desk, plenty of strategically placed USB ports and outlets, and stocked minibar replenished daily. Stateroom carpets are composed of natural, un-dyed wool and thus hypoallergenic and happily fragrant free. The 7th generation Tranquility mattresses are divine, while linens are woven with intoxicating 1000-count sheets that made getting out of bed a serious challenge.

The enormous gray and white Carrara-style marble bathroom had more than double the cabinet and storage space than in similar suite categories on this size of ship. The double-sized walk-in shower possessed easy-to-operate, intuitively controlled rain and standard shower heads, Bulgari amenities, and incredibly soft, single-twist, cotton-ribbed towels. Staterooms also have the most user-friendly climate control mechanism I’ve encountered at sea.

Passengers in staterooms on concierge levels also have access to dedicated Concierge Lounges on those decks with a cappuccino machine and pastries in the morning and snacks and drinks throughout the day. 

Dining for the Discerning 

An industry first, Vista remarkably has one chef for every 10 passengers, a mind-boggling number that explains in part why the food onboard is so consistently delicious. As Chef Bernhard Klotz, Vista’s Vice-President of Operations explained, “‘The finest cuisine at sea,’ “starts with great ingredients. Accordingly, beef and veal are Galician sourced which traditionally ages its meat about a decade longer, making it far more flavorful.” Fresh fish is locally sourced as much as possible and frozen fish and seafood are sourced from Boston’s Steve Connolly Seafood Company. Of course, mais oui, the butter is French.     

In addition to Oceania’s signature restaurants: Italian Toscana, Pan-Asian Red Ginger, and Polo Grill classic steakhouse, the staple favorites: the Grand Dining Room, the Terrace Café, and Waves Grill, are now joined by three new stellar onboard dining options. 

The innovative Aquamar Kitchen is a healthy concept eatery with fantastic salads, poke bowls, avocado toast varieties, soups, wraps, healthy sandwiches, and burgers. I fell in love with Aquamar dining there several times during the week. Also new, Ember is a cutting edge, creative, farm-to-table contemporary American restaurant that resembles Napa Valley’s finest. It has an open kitchen and also offers Cellar Masters’ wine-paired, multi-course, mouth-watering menus. Happily, a large bakery serving all manner of French patisserie and delectable quiches, has been added to Vista’s excellent Baristas Coffee Bar.  Be sure and try Barista’s addictive ‘crema’, a marvelous frozen, creamy, mocha slice of heaven on the high seas. Of course, afternoon tea at Horizon’s is not to be missed.

Seriously Serene Spa & Fitness Center

Vista’s Executive Chef Frederic Camonin and his team are extremely talented. Additionally, every mere mortal knows that the word ‘diet’ is a very dirty, four-letter word. So to retain my politeness, I never once uttered that word and instead made good use of Vista’s enormous and perfectly outfitted fitness center. Fortunately, the fitness center is so appealing, a few passengers even joined me. It’s open 24-hours, has floor-to-ceiling windows and mesmerizing views, state-of-the-art Technogym equipment and weight machines, free weights, and a separate indoor cycling room with Technogym bikes. There are several fitness classes daily including spinning, Pilates, yoga, stretching, HITT, abs, and guided meditation. For those needing an extra push, a personal trainer can be reserved. 

Vista’s Aquamar Spa & Vitality Center is an oasis of calm with 11 treatment rooms including an unusual quartz stone massage bed and a couple’s treatment room. I had a deep-tissue massage and when I turned over for the second half of the treatment I was thrilled to see that the ceiling had a Rolls-Royce-style starlight headliner. The most difficult decision of one’s day at Aquamar Spa will be deciding which of the full menu of spa treatments to partake in. 

For those seeking to look younger on disembarkation than embarkation, there’s also a medical spa offering physician-administered Thermage skin tightening treatments, and Restylane and Dysport facial fillers. Traditional Chinese acupuncture by a licensed practitioner is also available. A light filled beauty and nail salon and barber station with a complete service roster is another haven of relaxation. When it’s time for some sun, the adjacent Spa Terrace has two outdoor Jacuzzis, a Thalassotherapy, jetted mineral water pool, with comfortable loungers and dreamy daybeds. The large main pool area, three decks below, also has plenty of shade, and two more Jacuzzis, and Wave’s Bar, with its beautiful green velvet bar stools and geometrically cut gorgeous green marble base.

Exciting Excursions & Onboard Learning

Oceania is destination-focused and at each port-of-call, choices abound to meet guests’ gamut of interests, including food, wines, culture, art, and history, and are led by talented local expert guides. Generally, I prefer to go off on my own to explore, but one day I opted to join a small group walking tour of historic Naples and was impressed by the depth and breadth of our local guide. She was not only passionate about her city, but displayed intricate knowledge of local architecture, history, and a host of fun facts keeping participants engaged for the tour’s duration.   

As Oceania is also food-focused, they also host immersive, food-forward, chef-led excursions with trips to local food markets, restaurants, and destination-focused food, wine, and spirits tastings in select destinations.

Vista’s expanded Culinary Enrichment Program is an airy, light filled cooking studio with 24 stations where Executive Chef Kathryn Kelly and her delightful team teach informative, easy-to-learn courses. During my enjoyable class, with an equal number of men, we learned to make Limoncello cake, feta-stuffed, prosciutto wrapped figs, and naturally, a Limoncello cocktail.

At the Artists Loft, in another inspiring, bright space with floor-to-ceiling windows, talented artists-in-residence can help channel one’s inner Chagall. The current artist-in-residence is Willard Andre Allen whose work graces the walls of several of Oceania’s ships. Next door, the LYNC Digital Center offers several courses in DSLR camera comprehension, landscape and travel photography, and social media photo basics for the cyber-challenged among us. For the pleasure of reading, Vista’s library is a gorgeous spot to learn about your onward journey or curl up with a good book.  

One thing is clear, Oceania’s new Vista is not your parents’ cruise or ship. While it most certainly will appeal to Boomers, offerings have been modernized and hence also holds major appeal to Gen X and Millennials. This in turn also makes it the perfect multi-generational holiday experience. Whatever floats your boat, whether inspired food or excellent wine-paired meals prepared by some of the industry’s finest chefs, innovative craft cocktails poured by talented mixologists, or intellectual curiosity to be satisfied by some of the world’s most desirable destinations and excursions, not to mention great onboard entertainment and top-notch service, a cruise on Oceania’s new Vista will be a pleasure.