Oceania Vista
Santorini at sunset, dining with great friends
We have sailed on many different cruise lines, but stepping aboard the Oceania Vista felt different. It didn’t feel like boarding a cruise ship; it felt like checking into a chic, residential hotel that just happened to float.
This was our first time sailing with Oceania, and we chose a bucket-list itinerary in the Eastern Mediterranean, sailing from Istanbul to Athens through the Greek Isles. We experienced it with our close friends, which we always believe is the secret ingredient to a perfect cruise. Sharing those sunsets and dinners makes everything better.
Launched in 2023 as the first of Oceania’s new "Allura Class," this ship is a stunning modernization of the brand. With a capacity of just 1,200 guests and 800 staff, the ship boasts an incredible ratio of two staff members for every three guests. The result? There are minimal crowds, the ship is quiet and relaxed, and the service that feels personal rather than just checking the boxes. The design is fresh and sophisticated without being fussy, elegant but unpretentious.
Here is our deep dive into the ship that is redefining the "upper premium/luxury" category.
Sail Away: The Ship & Stateroom
The "Sweet Spot" Positioning
The Family Tree: It helps to know where Oceania comes from. It is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which obviously owns the mainstream Norwegian Cruise Line, but also the ultra-luxury Regent Seven Seas. This lineage explains exactly where Oceania sits: it hits a valuable "sweet spot" in the market, bridging the gap between big-ship resources and ultra-luxury refinement.
The Competition: Oceania competes directly with lines like Viking and Azamara, sitting noticeably above premium lines (like Celebrity) but just below the all-inclusive price point of Silversea or Regent.
The Crowd Factor: With only 1,200 guests, the luxury here is space. We rarely saw a line or felt crowded, which makes a massive difference in the buffet or by the pool. The service was polished and attentive, a clear tier above the mainstream experience.
Overnight Stays: One feature we love is that Oceania schedules more overnight port stays than most lines. This is fantastic if you want to experience the nightlife in a city or just have a leisurely dinner at a local restaurant without stressing about "all aboard" times.
The Cabins (Residential Luxury)
The Vibe: We stayed in a Concierge Level Veranda, specifically an accessible suite. The design is soothing, with soft tones of wheat and seagrass, accented by organic textures and high-end finishes. It didn't feel like a standard cabin; it felt like a calm, well-appointed retreat where we actually wanted to spend time.
The Living Space: Because it was an accessible unit, the layout provided the necessary open floor space and turning radius required for maneuverability. The "Tranquility Bed," with its 1,000-thread-count linens and perfect support, was definitely more comfortable than the beds you typically encounter on mainline cruise lines. This focus on comfort extended to the private veranda, which featured teak flooring and upholstered furniture. Crucially, the transition from the room to the balcony was seamless (ramped), making it easy to roll right out and enjoy the ocean view in total privacy.
The Bathroom: This is where the accessible design is most critical. The bathroom was expansive, featuring a fully barrier-free, roll-in rainforest shower equipped with standard grab bars. The sink area was designed for easy approach, and there was ample storage for toiletries, a rarity at sea.
The Strategic Perk: Since this was a Concierge Level suite, it unlocked keycard access to the Aquamar Spa Terrace (which we detail fully in the "At Leisure" section below).
Our accessible Concierge Level Veranda
Eat This: Culinary Highlights
Oceania’s slogan is "The Finest Cuisine at Sea." While that is a bold claim, we found the food to be consistently excellent across the board. Here were our standouts.
Aquamar Kitchen (The Wellness Hit)
The Vibe: This was our favorite spot to eat on the ship. It’s a dedicated wellness restaurant that proves healthy food doesn't have to be boring. We loved the breakfast smoothies, avocado toasts, and the various fresh bowls at lunch. The space itself matches the menu, it is incredibly light, airy, and decorated in soft whites and pastels, making it the perfect spot for a guilt-free start to the day.
Red Ginger (The Fan Favorite)
The Dish: You cannot sail Oceania without eating at their signature Asian restaurant, Red Ginger. The atmosphere is moody and stunning, and the Miso Glazed Sea Bass is legendary for a reason. We also highly recommend the Vietnamese Summer Rolls, delicate rice paper wrapping crisp vegetables and herbs. They are a masterclass in texture and freshness, serving as a perfect light counterpoint to the richer main courses.
Toscana (Italian Elegance)
The Vibe: Dining here feels like a special occasion. The menu is vast, featuring family recipes sourced from the Italian culinary staff. The custom Versace china adds a touch of glamour, but the real star of the show was the olive oil "sommelier." Her passion was infectious, and the way she curated specific oils to match our bread choices was fantastic and truly made the dinner for us.
Jacques (The Return of a Classic)
The Scoop: When the Vista launched, it featured a new American concept called Ember, but Oceania recently made the bold decision to replace it with their beloved French bistro, Jacques. After experiencing the warm, unpretentious atmosphere and the classic menu ourselves, we can clearly see why loyalists fought to get this concept back onboard.
The Terrace Café (The Al Fresco Favorite)
The Experience: Forget what you know about cruise buffets. Because of the passenger ratio, there are no chaotic lines here. We loved the themed nights, where the kitchen transforms the spread to focus on a specific cuisine. The real secret, however, is the outdoor terrace. Enjoying dinner al fresco on the back deck, with the ocean breeze and a glass of wine, is an experience that beats even the finest indoor venues.
The Grand Dining Room, not one of our favorites but we did love the vibe and view
At Leisure: Spa & Entertainment
The Aquamar Spa Terrace (The Hidden Gem)
The Secret: If you book a Concierge Level Veranda or above, you get unlimited keycard access to the Aquamar Spa Terrace.
Why it matters: This is a private, open-air deck at the very front of the ship. It features thalassotherapy pools and hot tubs with infinity views over the bow. It is quiet, exclusive, and arguably the best spot on the ship to watch a sail-away. Trust us: this perk alone is often worth the upgrade price, especially if you are in a warm weather destination.
The Main Spa (The Sanctuary)
The Reality: The spa itself is lovely, clean, and offers solid treatments, but to be honest, it is fairly typical of what you find on most premium cruise ships. It’s a great place for a massage, but unlike the rest of the ship which feels revolutionary, the spa feels standard.
The Culinary Center (The Masterclass)
Activity: Vista features a dedicated hands-on cooking school with individual workstations. These classes are incredibly popular, so if you are interested, sign up as soon as you board. While we didn't take a class this time, we met the Chef Instructor and found her to be incredibly personable, her energy alone makes us want to book a spot on our next sailing.
Horizons (The Daily Ritual)
The Event: Promptly at 4:00 PM, the Horizons Lounge hosts a beloved tradition. We made it a point to attend this daily Afternoon Tea, which feels incredibly civilized thanks to the string quartet playing in the background and the panoramic ocean views. The white-glove service features rolling pastry carts that are dangerous for the waistline, but the real draw is the warm scones served with proper clotted cream and jam. It is the perfect pause button in the middle of the day.
Entertainment Surprise (An Unexpected Highlight)
Smaller ships often struggle with entertainment, but the Vista surprised us. The main production shows were generally excellent, high energy and well-produced. Beyond the theater, we loved the various performers around the ship; whether it was a string quartet or a pianist, the live music added a lovely texture to the evenings.
Afternoon Tea cart (scones were separate and brought fresh from the kitchen)
The Essentials: Logistics & Accessibility
Value & Inclusions
What’s Included: This is where Oceania truly differentiates itself from the premium market. Daily gratuities are now included in the fare (a value of ~$20+ per person/day), which aligns them closer to ultra-luxury lines. Beyond that, the "soft" costs that usually nickel-and-dime you are gone: Starlink Wi-Fi is included (and fast), as are all non-alcoholic beverages, including premium bottled water, sodas, and unlimited specialty coffees.
Advisor Note: A major unadvertised perk is that Oceania almost always provides free shuttles from the port into the city center, a service other lines charge $15–$20 for.
What’s Extra: The main out-of-pocket expense is alcohol. You can purchase a beverage package or buy à la carte, but be aware: while your daily crew gratuities are covered, an automatic 20% service charge is added to every bar purchase. Shore excursions and spa treatments are also extra unless you have a specific promotional credit.
Good to Know: The Quick Hits
Laundry: A rare find in luxury cruising—there are free self-service laundry rooms (detergent included) on almost every passenger deck.
Outlets: No adapter anxiety here. The cabins feature massive connectivity, including standard US plugs, European plugs, and both USB-A and USB-C ports on both sides of the bed.
Water: Oceania uses the Vero Water system. You will find refillable glass bottles of still and sparkling water in your stateroom (refilled twice daily) and at all dining venues, eliminating single-use plastic.
Dress Code: Leave the tuxedo at home. The vibe is "Country Club Casual" every night. There are no formal nights, though shorts and jeans are not permitted in the main dining venues after 6 PM.
Accessibility
The Good: As a newer ship, Vista benefits significantly from modern design standards. We found the public areas effortless to navigate, with flat thresholds, wide corridors, and automatic doors in almost all main thoroughfares. There is ample space to maneuver a scooter or wheelchair in dining venues without feeling like an obstruction. Furthermore, the accessible staterooms are outstanding, easily as good as any we have encountered at sea.
The Reality: While the hardware is good, the operational focus on accessibility is much less robust than most lines we have sailed on. The plush, thick carpeting in the hallways (while luxurious) can be a workout for manual wheelchair users. Most importantly, Oceania itineraries are heavier on "tender ports" (where you take a small boat to shore instead of docking) than many mainline cruise lines. If you cannot step onto a tender boat, you may be stuck onboard on those days, as they rarely offer roll-on tender capabilities.
Selfie with the ship
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