ONBOARD THE OCEANIA ALLURA -- Although specialty restaurants are increasingly popular throughout the cruise industry, fueled by guests' resistance to the regimented seating slots in the main dining rooms of old, it was the Oceania Allura's Grand Dining Room that impressed a fellow diner on the first evening aboard.
Looking around at the clean-lined aesthetic of the space, characterized by understated white, silver and glass design elements, she nodded her approval.
"It's so not Las Vegas-y," she said.
In fact, elegant design is a key feature of the ship, the second in Oceania Cruises' Allura class following the Oceania Vista, which launched in May 2023. The Allura's maiden voyage departed from Trieste, Italy, bound for Athens, on July 18.
That said, even more important than the look of the restaurant is what's on the plate.
"At Oceania Cruises, we put food at the heart of everything we do," said chef Alexis Quaretti, Oceania Cruises' executive culinary director, citing the brand's "The Finest Cuisine at Sea" concept that drives the onboard dining experience.
The vessel boasts one chef for every eight passengers -- there are 1,200 guests at double occupancy -- as well as two staff members for every three guests.
Oceania introduced The Creperie on the Allura. Photo Credit: Felicity Long
Culinary offerings on the Allura include the Creperie, a first for the line, where passengers can sample French crepes, Belgian waffles and Italian ice cream. There's also a new iteration of Oceania's signature French restaurant, Jacques, named for chef Jacques Pepin, the line's first executive culinary director and a personal hero of mine.
Jacques features updated menu items, from such new experiential dishes as tableside preparation of beef tartare to a refreshed version of classics, like duck a l'orange with Grand Marnier.
Also new are the dozen or so Japanese-Peruvian dishes, known as Nikkei cuisine, on the menu at the pan-Asian specialty restaurant, Red Ginger, including specialties like tuna ceviche and soft-shell crab tempura in bao buns.
The other two onboard specialty restaurants are the Polo Grill and Toscana. All four require reservations.
Another draw for foodies is the Culinary Center, where chef Kathryn Kelly, director of culinary enrichment, offers cooking classes and a Chef Studio series for guests who would rather watch than cook.
The Allura's library is on the 14th deck.
As for the Grand Dining Room that so impressed on Day 1, the menu features 270 new recipes, including 30 additions to the breakfast menu, created by its two resident Master Chefs of France and executive culinary directors, Alexis Quaretti and Eric Barale.
The Allura is also introducing the Gerard Bertrand Wine Pairing Luncheon for serious wine lovers who want a sommelier-curated experience.
Things to do when not dining
While onboard, we got a first look at Oceania Cruises' revamp of its onboard activities, set to roll out across its fleet of eight ships and some of which are debuting on the Oceania Allura this month.
The offerings range from early morning yoga and other wellness experiences to The Blue Horizons Party, which debuted on the Oceania Marina and will now be offered fleetwide. Designed to evoke a private yacht party vibe, the event invites guests to attend wearing some shade of blue while they mingle with fellow guests and listen to live music.
Proof that the Allura takes wellness seriously is the range of activities that go beyond spa treatments at the Aquamar Spa.
On one sea day, for example, I was able to choose from six events, from acupuncture and tips on better posture and alignment to an abs workout and a sunset stretch.
A penthouse suite on the Allura. Photo Credit: Felicity Long
The overall elegance of the Allura experience extended to my expansive penthouse suite and generously sized bathroom with double sinks and a large shower.
While onboard, I also checked out the Lync Digital Center, powered by high-speed Starlink WiFi, which offers complimentary classes designed for all skill levels, covering everything from social media basics and smartphone photography to videography and photo editing.
The Allura's inaugural season includes 26 voyages and 92 destinations in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Canada and New England.