Oceania Allura: The Newest Ship of the Best Cruise Line For Foodies

Contributors John and Sandra Nowlan put Oceania Cruises to the test. Could Oceania Allura really deliver “the finest cuisine at sea?”

Oceania Cruises promotes itself as having “The Finest Cuisine at Sea.” After we tasted the fresh, flaky butter croissants made from scratch every morning at 5:00 and 7:00 AM, we knew we were in good hands.  

When we learned that half the crew of 800 were dedicated to the food and beverage teams (that’s one chef or cook for every eight passengers), we understood why Oceania has consistently received such high ratings for its culinary excellence.

Boarding Oceania Allura

We were aboard the 1,200-passenger, all-balcony Oceania Allura, launched less than a year ago, the newest in the upper-premium cruise line’s fleet of eight mid-size vessels. 

When we boarded in Miami for an innovative two-week itinerary (Charleston, South Carolina; Norfolk, Virginia; Bermuda; and the Bahamas), we were impressed by the bright, modern atrium, the generous use of marble in public areas, and our 290-square-foot stateroom. 

Settling Into Our Spacious Stateroom

Our cabin had an array of perks uncommon on most cruise ships—floor-to-ceiling sliding-door windows, a luxurious Tranquility mattress, twice-daily housekeeping, complimentary still or sparkling water, free soft drinks in our mini-fridge, free room service, plush cotton towels, robes and slippers (two sizes), and a giant interactive TV including a wide variety of free movies. 

The bathroom was very generous in size, with bars of Italian-made Aquamar soap and a shower big enough for two, with regular and rainforest nozzles. As on most ships, internet access was frustratingly slow at times, but it was available at no cost to all guests. 

Exploring Food and Beverages on Oceania Allura

After settling in, we wanted to explore the many dining options on Oceania Allura. To its credit, Oceania does not charge for any of its four specialty restaurants. Reservations are required but easy to confirm (and you can book more than once each cruise). 

Unlike the ultra-luxury (and more expensive) lines, alcoholic drinks are not included but drink packages (including non-alcoholic wine and beer) can be purchased. 

Allura’s main dining area, the Grand Dining Room, has an opulent, all-white interior with elegant chandeliers that match the sophistication of the specialty restaurants. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included a wide variety of favorites (including limitless lobster and fine beef cuts). 

Oceania was among the first cruise lines to adopt “anytime dining” (6:30-9:30) for its main restaurant, and we found it worked well, with very few lineups for a table. Service in the Grand was usually excellent except for one occasion when we were served by inexperienced waiters who were new to the ship. The difference in professionalism was startling.

Oceania Allura’s Four Specialty Restaurants

We tried all the specialty restaurants at least twice and were impressed by the level of service from the staff and creativity in choices and presentations.

At Jacques, the signature restaurant overseen by celebrity and Michelin-starred chef Jacques Pépin, we enjoyed Brittany Duck Breast with Grand Marnier sauce and a Sea Bass Filet encased in puff pastry. Delicious and decadent! The restaurant was a bit noisy with a scalloped faux-brick ceiling that reflected sound. 

At Red Ginger, the Asian restaurant with appropriate dark woods and red accents, culinary highlights included Spicy Duck and Watermelon Salad, Miso Glazed Sea Bass, Lobster Pad Thai and Seven Spice Crusted Lamb Rack. Pampered guests are even offered a choice of chopsticks. 

Many cruise lines include an Italian restaurant, and Toscana on Oceania Allura was outstanding. Served on Versace china, our favorite dishes included Lobster Tagliolini with Garlic and Chili Peppers, Octopus Carpaccio, Dover Sole, and a flavorful, tender Osso Buco. Fresh bread was offered with a choice of a dozen or more varieties of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. 

Extra-cost steak houses are now standard on many cruise lines so Allura’s no-additional-cost Polo Grill turned out to be a very tasty surprise. We savored its Thai Barbeque Pork Ribs, Surf & Turf (Lobster and Beef Filet), and Grilled Pluma Iberico de Bellota (choice pork from Iberian pigs fed on acorns).  Desserts included a creative swirled Baked Alaska. 

Other Onboard Culinary Options

Many guests chose to eat all their meals in the Terrace Café buffet. We could soon see why. The selection of fresh, imaginative dishes was extraordinary for a mid-size ship and a mainly self-service venue. The food choices usually matched those in the Grand Dining Room, with an additional carving station and grill for lobsters or steak. Those decadent breakfast croissants we mentioned earlier were just one of the creations prepared by twenty pastry chefs and seven bakers. The selection of fresh fruit, especially at breakfast, was the best we’ve ever seen—raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, even kiwis were in abundance. 

Two other, smaller restaurants must be noted. The poolside Waves Grill featured American favorites like sandwiches, burgers, and shakes while the health-oriented Aquamar Kitchen turned out nourishing treats like smoothies, poke bowls, and avocado toast. Both were open for breakfast and lunch. 

It took us several days before we discovered a “forget-the-calories” treat on Deck 14. The Crêperie is new to Oceania, offering sweet indulgences such as crêpes Suzette, various waffles, sundaes, Italian ice cream, and sorbets. 

Another popular daily indulgence was the traditional Afternoon Tea, served in the bright Horizons Lounge, also on Deck 14. Music was provided by the resident pianist or the delightful Bright String Quartet. 

Enjoyable Entertainment and Enrichment

The talented string quartet ensemble also entertained each evening before dinner, but in a narrow space on Deck 6 with limited seating. Better, we think, if the group had been placed in the spacious atrium so that even more guests could enjoy the classical music.

The 1200-seat, single-level Allura Lounge was our main entertainment venue, featuring comfortable seating and spectacular special effects. With minimal slope, it was sometimes difficult to see the whole stage, but the evening shows we saw were very engaging. 

The singing, comedy, and magic acts were well received but outshone by the three Broadway-style productions featuring the ship’s seven-piece band, four vocalists, and eight dancers. The most effective of the three was on our last full day with a show called “Our World”, an international musical journey featuring national costumes and familiar tunes. 

Destination talks, entertaining enrichment lectures (rum, pirates, Bermuda Triangle, battleships) and daily trivia hosted by the cruise director were all well-attended diversions in the Allura Lounge. The ship also boasts a surprisingly large, comfortable library and a Culinary Center with daily hands-on cooking classes by dedicated chefs. 

An Interesting Itinerary

Cruising, of course, is about travel and this Oceania itinerary was particularly interesting. Instead of heading south from Miami, we traveled north to Charleston, South Carolina and Norfolk, Virginia. 

Historic Charleston was especially attractive because of its heritage laws and well-preserved 18th-century homes. In Norfolk, we docked alongside USS Wisconsin, a World War II and Korean War battleship now a popular museum. A tour highlight was the nearby Military Aviation Museum with its collection of still-flyable WW II fighters, bombers, trainers and seaplanes, including a number of German aircraft.  

Several passengers told us they chose this cruise because of its visit to Bermuda. We spent two days in the British Overseas Territory, berthed and secured at the historic Royal Naval Dockyard with its many shops, galleries and museums. Then we sailed south to Freeport, Bahamas, followed by a visit to the crowded cruise port and the Bahamian capital, Nassau, before heading back to Miami.

As much as we appreciated the layout of the Oceania Allura, its comfortable staterooms, the high-end entertainment and enrichment programs, and its innovative itinerary, it was the cuisine that stood out. As the line’s president has stated, “Food is the foundation of Oceania. It’s the very core of our business.”  With more modest pricing than the all-inclusive, ultra-luxury lines, Oceania is becoming the cruise line of choice for serious foodies. 

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Hotel Tip for Cruise Travelers

Arriving in Miami, or any cruise port, a day in advance of sailing is always a good idea. In downtown Miami, we stayed at the comfortable and convenient Elser Hotel and Residences. The cruise port is just a short drive away.  

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Disclosure: The authors were guests of Oceania Cruises but any ideas expressed in this post are their own.

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