Cruise review: The new Oceania Allura where opulence meets exceptional value

If new-build ship Oceania Allura was an aeroplane cabin, it would be wedged between premium economy and business class. For Champagne on a craft beer budget, Oceania Cruises’ is your go-to.

Caviar ahoy! This brand new ship has one chef for every eight guests.

The lowdown 

Allura is the eighth ship in Oceania’s fleet - and is almost identical to 2023-launched Oceania Vista at 68,000 tonnes for 1200 passengers and 800 crew. Vista and now Allura are bigger ships than their predecessors, while also doubling down on Oceania Cruises’ trademarked logo: “The Finest Cuisine at Sea”. Allura’s opulent interiors easily rival those of its more luxurious stablemate, Regent Seven Seas. Sonata - Oceania’s largest ship at 86,000 tonnes for 1390 guests - is due for completion in 2027.

The Grand Staircase welcomes guests onboard.

The cruise 

The six-night inaugural voyage from Trieste to Athens is a great sailing - but not quite long enough to sample the many excellent dining options. Foodies will want at least eight to ten nights. Work it all off at the Aquamar Spa’s complimentary daily classes in stretching, yoga, indoor cycling, and pilates. Or swim it off in the generous-sized main pool, which is surrounded by jacuzzis. There’s also a well-equipped fitness centre, mini golf course and a pickleball court. 

The inviting main deck area of the Allura.

The cabins

Staterooms and suites are located on eleven of the fifteen decks across six categories — from the lead-in 27-square-metre Veranda Staterooms to the 223-square-metre Owner’s Suite. All cabins have verandas, a spacious lounge area, and marble bathrooms with double-size walk-in showers. The Concierge Level Veranda Stateroom (just above entry level Veranda Staterooms) come with in-room bonus services like three bags of free laundry during your cruise - and unlimited free access to the restricted-entry lavish Spa Terrace, with whirlpools and a Thalassotherapy (heated seawater) pool. 

Stretch out in your verandah stateroom.

Something different

Cruising means lazy sea days with time to learn and try something new if you’re so inclined. Allura’s Artist Loft (with a resident artist offering daily art classes), and the LYNC Digital Centre are two very different concepts that many guests embraced. LYNC staff don’t just sort your Wi-Fi problems - they offer classes in technology trouble shooting. The Artist Loft was the most zen space on board, as guests painted and drew with the ocean as a backdrop. 

If you don't fancy a workshop, Martinis bar always awaits.

Hands on cooking

 The Culinary Centre (available on four Oceania ships, including Allura) is another fun, educational space with 24 cooking stations. Look out for Senior Chef Instructor Noelle Barille’s classes. Oceania also offers around 50 chef/culinary led shore excursions, with a strong focus on family-run wineries and restaurants, plus produce markets.  Sailing into Athens, we cooked Melitzanosalata dip and Corfu Pastitsio, enjoyed with a Greek Metaxa Ginger spritz - all made under Chef Barille’s friendly tutelage.

Put your skills on show at The Culinary Center. Picture: Oceania Allura

Food and drink 

Oceania’s “finest cuisine at sea” tagline is a big call. The food is (mostly) exceptional, and represents great value for money given their cruises are less pricey than those of the top tier luxury lines like Oceania’s stablemate, Regent Seven Seas. 

The two main dining venues (no reservation required) for breakfast, lunch and dinner are the Grand Dining Room and the Terrace Cafe. The latter is the main al fresco option - and also hosts Chef Market nights, which are akin to food theatre.

And that's why the call it The Grand Dining Room.

The semi-alfresco dining Aquamar Kitchen does healthy low-calorie options like protein bowls, while the poolside Waves Grill specialises in deadly high-cal pizza.  In terms of what’s new in food, the ship has introduced The Creperie - a tasty French crepes joint also specialising in Belgian bubble waffles, and Italian-style ice cream sundaes. 

There four speciality restaurants, including the return of French restaurant Jacques, named after the line’s first-ever culinary director, Jacques Pepin. Order the hand-cut steak tartare and the escargot in garlic; Jacques is also found on Oceania Marina and Oceania Riviera. 

Italian flavours at Toscana.

During the inaugural voyage, Jacques debuted its Gerard Bertrand Wine Pairing Lunch - a sommelier-curated, six-course lunch highlighting French wines such as a Gerard Bertrand Minervois La Liviniere ‘Clos d’Ora’ from Languedoc-Roussillon, paired with braised beef short rib.

You can pick up some gourmet techniques to take home with the hands-on cooking classes.

Italian Toscana, pan-Asian Red Ginger  (order the Miso-glazed sea bass with lime wedges) and the Polo Grill steakhouse complete the speciality restaurant line up. There are 140 chefs on board with a ratio of one chef for every eight guests. 

Good to know 

Guests love that all speciality restaurants, gratuities and Wi-Fi are included in the fare. But speciality restaurants are generally only open for dinner (with the exception of Jacques’ wine-pairing lunch). You need to book well ahead. If you’re a wine enthusiast, consider the Prestige Select Beverage package from US$69.95 (A$106) per guest per day including Champagne, spirits, wine, beer and other beverages by the glass. 

Enjoy afternoon tea at Horizons.

What’s hot

Toscana Restaurant’s ‘Olive Oil Sommelier’ helps diners select the premium olive oil that best suits their individual taste profiles and meals. 

What’s not 

The Aquamar Spa + Vitality Centre is a beautiful ocean-facing space - but the lead-in treatments are expensive, starting at $US59 (A$91) for a 30-minute manicure and $US199 (A$300) for a 50-minute massage. 

The deluxe Penthouse Suite is seagoing fantasy.

Rating: 9/10

Oceania Allura has a great vibe, delicious food and terrific crew. It represents solid value for money. The fact it’s not all-inclusive allows you to tailor the voyage in terms of what you want to get out of it, saving pennies on things like fewer shore excursions. 

The 21-day Grand Adriatic & Aegean - Trieste to Athens, departs 7 July, 2026, aboard Oceania Allura™.  Veranda Stateroom is priced from AU$16,760 per person, Concierge Stateroom – from AU$18,340 per person.

The writer sailed as a guest of Oceania Cruises. 

Originally published as Cruise review: The new Oceania Allura where opulence meets exceptional value