Wondering what it’s like to sail with Oceania Cruises? We recently went on our first Oceania cruise, a 7 day cruise onboard Oceania Riviera. The truth is, after having taken over 50 cruises, this cruise experience was different in so many ways!
I’m more accustomed to big cruise ships. In fact, in the last few years we’ve sailed on some of the biggest cruise ships in the world. They’re exciting and beautiful, but I wouldn’t necessarily say relaxing.
I’ve also been wondering lately about if it’s worth it to upgrade to a smaller, more luxurious cruise line. So when Oceania reached out and invited us onboard an Alaska cruise leaving from Seattle, we happily accepted the opportunity to give it a try.
In this post I share our experience, observations, and a few things that surprised us. Whether you’re a first time cruiser or a seasoned cruiser, this Oceania cruise review will help to give you an idea of what to expect so you can decide if the small luxury cruise line is right for you.
I’ve also included 2 YouTube videos with my Oceania cruise first impressions as well as a detailed overview of our Alaska cruise, answering viewer questions.
Our Cruise
We sailed on Oceania Riviera, which debuted in 2012 and was extensively refurbished in 2022. This ship is approximately 66,000 tons, which is a small to mid-size cruise ship by today’s standards.
This turned out to be a major plus – for several reasons I’ll touch on throughout this post.
Itinerary
Our Alaska cruise began in Seattle and stopped in Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point (Hoonah), Sitka and Victoria, British Columbia. This was my fourth Alaska cruise, but one of the things I found appealing about this cruise was the more unique itinerary. We’ve never been to 2 of these ports, and I love new experiences!
Related: 30 Alaska Cruise Tips You Need to Know
Embarkation Day
As we boarded our cruise ship, I almost wondered if we were in the right place. The Seattle cruise terminal was surprisingly “un-busy”. This was my first taste of the pleasures of small ship luxury cruising.
With less than 1000 guests onboard, the check-in process was fast and easy. It was the opposite of the embarkation day chaos I’ve felt on bigger cruise ships in the past.
As we crossed the gangway and stepped into the atrium of our cruise ship, we were handed a glass of prosecco. It turns out that a welcome glass of bubbly is the way to my heart!
All joking aside, it was these special, and sometimes surprising touches, that we’d enjoy most throughout our weeklong cruise.
Wondering what it’s like to sail with Oceania Cruises? We recently went on our first Oceania cruise, a 7 day cruise onboard Oceania Riviera. The truth is, after having taken over 50 cruises, this cruise experience was different in so many ways!
I’m more accustomed to big cruise ships. In fact, in the last few years we’ve sailed on some of the biggest cruise ships in the world. They’re exciting and beautiful, but I wouldn’t necessarily say relaxing.
I’ve also been wondering lately about if it’s worth it to upgrade to a smaller, more luxurious cruise line. So when Oceania reached out and invited us onboard an Alaska cruise leaving from Seattle, we happily accepted the opportunity to give it a try.
In this post I share our experience, observations, and a few things that surprised us. Whether you’re a first time cruiser or a seasoned cruiser, this post will give you an idea of what to expect so you can decide if Oceania Cruises is right for you.
Cabin and Amenities
When we walked into our veranda stateroom on deck 8, we were impressed with the elegant decor and spacious room. It had everything we’d expected on a premium or luxury cruise, like a bed, nightstands, a desk or vanity and a loveseat sitting area. However, what stood out was that the furnishings and over look was elevated.
The nightside tables had beautiful marble tops and the incredibly comfortable bed sheets had subtle pinstripes.
The bathroom was a really nice size with more storage and drawers that I’ve ever seen on a cruise ship – probably perfect for a longer cruise! There was also a huge shower with glass doors and lovely smelling soaps, lotions, shampoo and conditioner.
We stayed in a forward veranda cabin with an extra-deep balcony. It had two loungers, two chairs and a small table, with plenty of space to enjoy the Alaska scenery. This was great when the ship was in port.
I will say there was a negative to this location. Since it was very far forward, we’d feel more movement, especially when the ship sailed from Seattle to Alaska and the seas were a bit rough. This is something to keep in mind if you’re sensitive to seasickness.
We also would feel the wind on sea days, which I suspect was due to it’s location.
That said, the balcony was large and we enjoyed it when the ship was in port.
Related post: 30 Cruise Cabin Essentials Every Cruiser Needs
First Luxury Cruise on Oceania Cruises! What It Was Really Like (video)
Cabin Amenities and Service
However I think the best part of our cabin were the amenities and service from our stateroom attendant.
On Oceania Cruises, there is twice a day housekeeping and our room was always immaculate. In addition to the regular cleaning, our water was replenished daily (and reusable bottles were provided for port days). Our evening turndown included chocolates on our pilloes and a mat and slippers placed beside the bed.
Related: What to Pack for an Alaska Cruise (clothing, gear & essentials)
Dining
We heard a lot about the food and dining on Oceania Cruises, and the line is well known for its culinary focus. This is one of the areas that surprised us a little.
There was so much choice. I didn’t expect a smaller cruise ship to have several places to dine, and the experience was a bit different than we were used to.
The Grand Dining Room was very beautiful. It felt elegant and what I’d expect from traditional cruising. However the menus and food were pretty standard “cruise food”. This is to say the food was good to very good, but overall it wasn’t remarkable. That said, food is subjective, and we may not have had realistic expectations for a main dining room venue,
However, here is where Oceania Cruises shined and impressed us!
Specialty Restaurants Are Included
4 Specialty restaurants were included on our cruise. Red Ginger (Asian) lived up to it’s reputation (everyone told us we must try it!). We also enjoyed Polo Grille (Steakhouse) and Toscana (Italian).
In fact we had the most incredible scenic cruising during our Italian dinner and it made everything even better. I know I should describe the pasta or lobster, but a highlight for me was the fresh bread, and olive oil and balsamic cart.
Our family favourite was Jacques, the French restaurant. The French onion soup was excellent, and the rack of lamb was one of my favourite meals of the cruise.
Related: 20 Cruise Specialty Dining Tips, Tricks & Secrets
The Terrace Cafe
One of my favourite places to eat onboard was the Terrace Café, the ship’s buffet. Tables were set with glassware and cutlery, and servers came by to take drink orders. It felt calmer and more refined than the typical cruise ship buffet.
When the weather was nice, we could sit outside at the back of the ship. Eating breakfast or lunch outdoors while taking in the Alaska views was pretty special.
We even ate dinner there a couple of nights when they were Alaska themed. The quality of food was really good and we enjpyed the relaxed atmosphere, especially for an Alaska cruise itinerary. Something that surprised us was how well staffed this venue was. Service was excellent and exceeded what we’ve ever experience on any other cruise ship in a buffet or casual dining restaurant.
Waves Grill
Between the pool and the buffet, there was Waves Grill, another popular casual dining option. The food was really good, with choices such as a Wagyu and lobster burger, a shrimp roll and very good pizza. Casual food definitely didn’t feel like an afterthought on Oceania.
Room Service
Complimentary 24-hour room service was one of the inclusions we appreciated most. We ordered a light breakfast to our cabin every morning, and we were even able to order it on disembarkation morning.
Starting the day with coffee and a light breakfast before going into port helped us avoid rushing on early mornings.
We only ordered snacks once, but the quality and presentation were excellent. The menu also included appetizers and main dishes, making this a genuinely useful included dining option.
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea was served daily in Horizons lounge and quickly became one of our favourite Oceania traditions. Frank and I went 3 times during our cruise and really enjoyed the atmosphere delicious food and tea.
Servers came around with finger sandwiches, savoury bites, desserts and warm scones served with cream and jam.
A live string quartet played during tea, and the large windows in Horizons offered beautiful views. The whole experience felt elegant and a little old-school, in the best possible way.
Lido Pool Deck
Although this was an Alaska cruise, we sailed in July and got lucky with a couple of warm and sunny days.
After our excursion in Ketchikan, we went for a swim, relaxed in the hot tub and enjoyed a drink by the pool. Since many guests were still in port, the area was especially quiet.
The plush loungers and resort-like atmosphere made the Lido pool deck one of the most beautiful spaces onboard. On a warm-weather itinerary, I could easily imagine spending a lot of time here!
Related: 12 Things to Never Do on a Cruise Ship Lido Deck
Ports and Excursions
This Alaska itinerary was amazing – and somehow we got lucky with some warm and sunny weather each port day.
In Ketchikan, we attended the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. It’s exactly what it sounds like, a bit touristy and gimmcky, but it was fun.
This was right near our cruise ship in Ward Cove, so it was pretty fast and easy. We decided to head back to the ship to enjoy time onboard, so we didn’t mind.
At Icy Strait Point, we took a small-group 4×4 excursion that brought us off road and to two incredible lookouts. We were lucky enough to see bears from a distance in the valley below. It was really something!
Sitka was probably the biggest surprise of the cruise. We took a Zodiac tour where we saw bald eagles, sea stars and five whales! The scenery and landscape were breathtaking. Being the only ship in port, it was so peaceful out on the water!
Afterwards, we took the free shuttle into town where we had time to explore Sitka, see Orthodox churches and learn more about its unique Russian history.
Our final port was Victoria, B.C. We’ve been here before by cruise ship, but it was always a short evening visit. This time the Captain of Oceania Riviera brought our ship in at 1:00 and we stayed until 11:00 pm.
We actually had time to walk from the port into the town. Along the way we we visited Beacon Hill Park, where we saw deer, ducks and wild peacocks! We enjoyed walking by the Fairmont Empress and Parliament buildings. Victoria is a beautiful city!
No Lines Getting On and Off the Ship
One of the things we came to realze during our cruise is how there’s a sense of ease sailing on a smaller cruise ship.
Cruising with fewer passengers made it easy to get on and off the ship in port. We didn’t encounter long lines at the gangway, restaurants or activities, and we rarely had to wait for anything. This made the entire cruise feel more relaxed.
When speaking with other guests, they mentioned the same thing. In fact, many first time cruisers shared with me that they chose Oceania Cruises in large part because of this, and they were glad they did.
Activities and Entertainment
Sine we had 4 port days, that was the focus for us on this cruise. However we did participate in occasional daytime and evening activities. There was trivia, a putting game and axe throwing that was part of the O activities. In the evening we enjoyed going to the martini bar or listening to the band play at Horizons.
Captain’s Reception
The Captain’s reception was held in Horizons and included complimentary cocktails. There were no formal nights, so it felt special without being overly dressy.
Along with afternoon tea, it reminded me of traditional cruise experiences that aren’t as common as they once were.
Culinary Class
One of the best activities I did onboard was a hands-on cooking class in Oceania Riviera’s Culinary Center. Our class had an Alaska theme, and we prepared a salmon spread and a berry crostata.
The chef was personable, and we cooked at individual stations while enjoying white wine. I love a cruise activity where you learn something and have fun at the same time. If you enjoy cooking, reserve early since classes can fill up quickly! There is an extra charge for this event.
What Is Included on Oceania Cruises?
Oceania isn’t completely all-inclusive, but a lot is included. The cruise fare includes things that would likely be extra on most mainstream or premium cruise lines. Things like specialty dining, gratuities, Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service, specialty coffees, sodas, water, juices, smoothies, quality ice cream and self-service laundry are all included.
Having more included made the cruise feel less transactional. We didn’t feel as though there was always another package or upgrade being offered, which added to the relaxed atmosphere. Many guests told us they liked that as well.
Your World Included Beverage Option
With Oceania’s Your World Included program, our booking came with a choice between a shore excursion credit or complimentary wine and beer. We had the beverage option.
This included wine and beer by the glass during lunch and dinner restaurant hours. It wasn’t a full drink package, so cocktails, spirits and drinks outside those times cost extra.
For us, it added value because we could enjoy wine with lunch or dinner without thinking about the cost each time. Cruisers who prefer cocktails throughout the day may want to compare the available upgrade with paying as they go.
Complimentary Laundry
Laundry may not be the most exciting cruise amenity, but the washers, dryers and detergent were complimentary and incredibly practical.
There was also an ironing board and iron available, which was useful when clothes needed a quick touch-up before dinner.
Meeting Other People
On a smaller ship, we saw many of the same people onboard and on excursions, so conversations happened naturally. There was a nice camaraderie among guests, and the comfortable sitting areas made it easy to have a drink and chat without competing with loud music or crowds.
First Impressions of Our First Luxury Cruise and Q & A (video)
Who Is Oceania Cruises Best For?
Oceania Cruises is a good fit for cruisers who appreciate quality food, personal service, fewer crowds and a slower-paced vacation. It may especially appeal to experienced cruisers who miss the traditional touches of cruising they enjoyed years ago. Our cruise had many mature travelers, but also couples and solo cruisers in a younger demographic.
While there were shows and activities, Oceania isn’t trying to compete with the nonstop attractions found on mega-ships. For cruisers who enjoy good meals, interesting destinations and time to actually relax, this can be a positive trade-off.
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Final Thoughts on Our First Oceania Cruise
Our first Oceania cruise was different from the larger mainstream cruises we’ve taken, and that was exactly what made it interesting. The culinary experiences were a highlight, but the uncrowded ship, thoughtful service and practical inclusions also stood out.
Oceania Riviera gave us a relaxed and elegant way to experience Alaska. We would happily sail with Oceania again, and I’d especially like to experience it on a warm-weather itinerary.
Have you cruised with Oceania, or would you consider trying a smaller luxury cruise line? Please let me know in the comments below.
Happy Cruising!
Ilana