Ship with ‘best cuisine at sea’ will soon arrive Down Under

If you’re a cruise aficionado who’s also a foodie, then hold on to your toque. The line that promises “the best cuisine at sea”, as its trademarked slogan goes, is debuting one of its most loved ships in Australian ports this coming season.

The Norwegian Cruise Lines-owned Oceania is sending Oceania Riviera to this region to provide a range of itineraries running from November 2025 to March 2026.

A cooking class aboard Oceania Riviera.

She follows sister ship Oceania Regatta, which took the honours of being the first Oceania ship down south when she hit these waters last year.

Launched in 2012 and refurbished in 2019, the 1250-passenger Oceania Riviera has won almost 50 awards, many of them for food and drink. Almost double the size of Regatta, her “big small ship” status means she carries eight restaurants, including four specialty eateries. A lavish cooking school is another signature space.

Oceania Riviera has new itineraries.

With the global rise in gastronomic culture, Oceania is far from being the only cruise line to focus on cuisine. The culinary experience has become an important pillar to every cruise offering, as travellers take ever more sophisticated and informed palates on their journeys.

But Oceania is certainly the OG when it comes to being a line founded on the love of food. The now eight-ship line was founded in 2002 by the former heads of Renaissance Cruises and Crystal Cruises, who wanted to create a high-end hotel experience afloat with the cuisine to match.

Dishes for all seasons.

The company says that this coming Australia and New Zealand cruising season, “Riviera will … offer exclusive itineraries with a gourmet foodie focus”, additionally honed to highlight regional produce and specialities onboard and ashore.

Excursions include meals at renowned restaurants and visits to farms and producers.

Itineraries include the 22-day positioning voyage from Singapore to Sydney titled Komodos and Kangaroos, visiting Surabaya, Bali, Lombok, Komodo, Waingapu Sumba, Perth, Busselton, Albany, Penneshaw (Kangaroo Island), Adelaide, Melbourne and Burnie. It departs Singapore on November 18.

See OceaniaCruises.com