Oceania unveils new voyages on Riviera, sailing Africa & Asia, in 2024-25

Oceania Cruises says it 1,250-guest ship Riviera will explore Africa and Asia at the end of 2024, and into 2025, with three brand new itineraries.

The “jewel” of these itineraries is a 59-day Grand Voyage which offers guests the opportunity to explore off-the-beaten path ports across Africa and Asia, the cruise line says.

Riviera will sail from Barcelona, call at the Canary Islands, before heading down the western coast of Africa with days at sea, stopping at ports in Senegal, Gambia, Ghana and an overnight stay in Walvis Bay, Namibia.

At the journey’s most southern point, guests will enjoy an overnight stay in Cape Town before heading up the eastern coast via Madagascar, for an overnight stay in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; and then across to the Seychelles, Maldives, Thailand, Malaysia, before the journey culminates in an overnight stay in Singapore.

“These longer, destination-immersive voyages offer curious, well-travelled guests the chance to explore some of the most off-the-beaten-path ports in the world, all from the elegant surroundings of Riviera. Sailing from Europe to Asia, via both coasts of Africa, is a true bucket list journey, combining iconic cities and unknown gems, with our incredible onboard service and the best value in luxury cruising, these voyages are hard to resist,” said Frank A Del Rio, president of Oceania Cruises, in a news release.

Riviera will explore bucket list African ports such as Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Walvis Bay and Dar Es Salaam as well as stopping in the iconic Asian ports of Phuket, Penang, Colombo and Malé.

Her new itineraries range from 27 to 59 days, travelling from Europe across Africa and Asia.

Riviera will also take guests to smaller, more niche ports across the globe, stopping at Antsiranana in Madagascar, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Sao Tome and Lome in Togo.

Guests will have the opportunity to delve deeper into the natural wonders and local cultures of these destinations with more than 400 shore excursions to choose from.

New itineraries 

The new itineraries include:

• A Tale of Five Seas, 59-day voyage departing on Nov. 14, 2024 from Barcelona, and arriving in Singapore on Jan. 12, 2025.
• West African Rhythms, 27-day voyage departing on Nov. 14, 2024, from Barcelona, and arriving in Cape Town on Dec. 11, 2024.
• Colonial Crowns, 32-day voyage departing on Dec. 11, 2024 from Cape Town, and arriving in Singapore on Jan. 12, 2025.

All guests sailing on these itineraries benefit from Oceania’s “simply MORE” offering.

This includes a shore excursion credit of up to $2,600 per stateroom, in addition to free roundtrip airfare; free airport transfers; free Champagne, wine and more during lunch and dinner; free soft drinks and specialty teas and coffees; free gourmet specialty dining and unlimited Wi-Fi.

Riviera was recently upgraded with redesigned staterooms, public spaces, dining rooms and a new pizzeria and trattoria, providing a revamped alfresco dining option.

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