Luxury liner Oceania Allura serves decadent feasts at sea
There’s one chef to eight guests on this 1200-passenger vessel. At brunch there’s enough champagne to fuel a Gatsby soiree.
Stepping into the Grand Dining Room of Oceania Allura feels like gatecrashing an extravagant soiree from The Great Gatsby. It’s all champagne sparkle and decadence, only this time the party’s sailing along the Adriatic instead of unfolding on Long Island.
It’s brunch time aboard Oceania Cruises’ newest ship, and the Belle Epoque-styled dining room shimmers with edible seductions: caviar twinkling like tiny black pearls, oysters piled scandalously high, plump lobster tails lounging beneath beds of spider crab, then foie gras en-croute, thick slices fanned like an edible hand of cards.
That’s just one corner of the spread. Elsewhere, omelettes sizzle with shaved truffle, rare beef cascades from huge joints, artisanal cheeses appear in the peak of ripeness, and, snagging my eye in the far corner, are macarons, delicate millefeuilles and tiny eclairs. Too much? Possibly. But the beauty of a brunch is choice. You can play greedy, moderate or restrained and, as waiters scurry around with bloody Marys and chilled champagne, I’m thankful the sea remains beautifully calm.
I’ve joined Allura for its inaugural voyage, a four-night trip from Genoa to Trieste, and our extraordinary brunch reflects the high-end standards of every dining venue. There’s one chef to eight guests on this 1200-passenger vessel and, like its sister ship, Vista, Allura has fee-free speciality restaurants, including Jacques, Red Ginger (featuring new “Nikkei” Japanese-Peruvian options), the Polo Grill and Toscana.
Guests need to book these as soon as they board, as they prove hugely popular. I try out Jacques, an elegant Art Deco meets Belle Epoque-styled venue, where a somewhat predictable French menu includes old-school but delicious favourites such as escargots, beef tartare, seared foie gras and a top-notch tarte tatin.
Worth trying too are the new Creperie (alongside Baristas cafe on Deck 14), the super-authentic Pizzeria, and Waves Grill. For dinner, daily changing menus feature at the Grand Dining Room and easygoing Terrace Cafe buffet, but you can also play it healthy – especially at breakfast and lunch in Aquamar Kitchen, where poke bowls meet with omelettes, fresh smoothies and excellent seared tuna tacos.
Worried about overindulging? Allura has a well-equipped gym, alongside yoga, stretch and pilates classes. On the top deck, there’s also paddle tennis, golf, pickleball and croquet. The pool is decently sized, though admittedly most guests on my voyage seem more content to lie on the sumptuous circular daybeds set over the water’s edge than swim. Or you can wallow in the jacuzzis both poolside and on the spa’s spacious outdoor Aquamar Terrace.
Aside from the food and health-focused amenities, Allura is a strikingly good-looking ship. Luxurious, yes, but not in a stuffy way. Having sailed on Regent Seven Seas Grandeur, from NCL’s top-tier fleet, I can confidently say I prefer the more relaxed vibe of Allura. The ship is decorated throughout in calming tones of blues, taupe and cream, and the artwork is admirable: exquisite sculptures mix with interesting abstracts, including my favourite piece, a striking wall hanging called Sunrise by Vezzini Chen, made with glass and porcelain discs that echo the translucent delicacy of jellyfish.
My only gripe is the newly expanded library. Unlike Vista’s clubby charm, with its Ralph Lauren leather chairs and well-stocked shelves, Allura’s feels spacious but sparse, with fewer books and little to tempt you to linger.
That said, if you’re in the mood to learn, Allura offers some standout classes. At the Art Loft, artist in residence Frank Hyder will guide you through watercolour techniques and collage, and in the Culinary Centre, Chef Kelly leads us on a fun two-hour session making Pasta al Limone e Basilico and New World Allspice Crepes – and yes, you get to eat what you cook.
Chef Kelly runs a tight ship (forgive the pun), and it is clear she doesn’t like distractions. One chatty guest gets a Kelly glare when she fails to pay attention – and no, it wasn’t me, even though I inadvertently chucked the whiskey intended for our cocktail-making session into the frying pan, instead of the olive oil.
Best of all, though, are the tech-savvy classes at the Lync Digital Centre. The session on creating Instagram Reels proves mind-blowingly helpful, and other guests are equally inspired by the landscape and travel photography classes.
My mini cruise barely allows me to scratch the surface of my Penthouse Suite’s indulgences. I could happily wile away hours on the sun-drenched veranda, cocktail in hand, but the interior is just as diverting, featuring a cloud-soft Tranquillity bed, a walk-in dressing room straight out of a fashion fantasy, dual vanity unit and power shower, and a butler so efficient I half expect him to anticipate my cravings before I have them.
Even at entry level (French Veranda), staterooms are larger than average, all featuring a comfortable sofa and cocktail table, and as with the rest of the ship, the decor is restful and elegant. Alternatively, you could opt for the enormous Vista Suite with a wraparound balcony, separate dining area and 24-hour butler service.
With two days at sea, we are kept busy, exploring all the treats on offer. And for some, the bars are an understandable lure. Best of the bunch is Founder’s, where the mixologists conjure truly inventive cocktails, employing blow torches and bell jars. My advice is to opt for the Rye’s Up, a potent mix of Whistle Pig six-year-old Rye whiskey with passionfruit puree, lemon juice, egg white and orange jam.
It packs more punch than its pretty hue suggests. One glass in, the conversation gets livelier and laughter ricochets off the chrome-panelled walls. Another round is ordered, and suddenly this glitzy little bar feels less like a cruise ship lounge, and more like the start of a very glamorous caper.
I raise my glass, clink with strangers, and think: if this is how Allura does aperitivo hour, I may never disembark.
In the know
Oceania Allura sails a 10-day voyage from Trieste to Rome departing May 27, 2026; from $8380 a person, twin-share, for a Veranda stateroom, inclusive of gratuities, speciality dining, soft drinks and wi-fi. Guests can choose between complimentary wine and beer at lunch and dinner or a $US600 ($910) shore excursion credit.
oceaniacruises.com
Louise Roddon was a guest of Oceania Cruises.
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