On Location: “A ship for foodies”: Oceania Allura mesmerizes with gourmet bites & luxe design

STORY BY DIANE TIERNEY 

When your clients step aboard Oceania Cruises’ new 1,200-guest Allura ship, they may be momentarily speechless.

The atrium’s enormous, curvaceous, crystal chandelier that soars two decks high is a showstopper. The ultra-luxury atmosphere first impression doesn’t stop there – it carries throughout the entire ship.

PAX attended Allura’s North America christening in Miami, Florida from Nov. 12-16 – a voyage that also visited Nassau, Bahamas.

The ship’s godparents are a prestigious alumni group – Food & Wine magazine’s six “Best New Chefs” Katie Button, Calvin Eng, Aisha Ibrahim, George Mendes, Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Lawrence "LT" Smith.

The choice is fitting for a cruise line that’s wonderfully obsessed with providing gourmet dining.

“A ship for foodies”

Oceania claims to have the finest cuisine at sea and has 140 chefs on board Allura.

About half of the ship’s crew are dedicated to culinary operations. This is a ship for foodies and despite being a relatively small ship, there are 12 dining venues.

Specialty complimentary restaurants include Jacques (French). Here, you’ll find menu items like filet steak with seared foie gras, duck parmentier with prange-braised carrots and poached scallop gnocchi with lobster.

There’s also Polo Grill (steakhouse), Toscana (Italian) and Red Ginger (Asian).

Additionally, the glamourous Grand Dining Room showcases more than 200 new recipes; there’s a new Creperies, Terrace Cafe, Aquamar Kitchen (wellness focused), Waves Grill, Ember (American classics), as well as Bakery at Baristas (pastries) and Afternoon Tea.

Other dining experiences are at the Culinary Centre where classes are taught and meals enjoyed in the adjacent dining room.

Fee-based options include Privee, a private dining option for 10 guests, and the Gerard Bertrand Wine Pairing Luncheon for a sommelier-curated experience.

Guests can enjoy bars and lounges such as Martinis, featuring specials named after Hollywood celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Sean Connery – shaken not stirred, tableside.

Founders has comfy armchairs and serves aged bourbons, spicy ryes and negronies from a wooden barrel.

Horizons’ floor-to-ceiling windows frame beautiful views. The Grand Lounge feels like a private club. Waves is near the pool for chilled favourites.

That’s showbiz

Shows are cleverly executed with a small troupe of talented dancers and singers.

“Broadway: A Documentary in Concert” takes a backstage peek at the history of Broadway in music, dance, costumes, choreography and the creative process. “Flashback” is a high-energy celebration of well-known songs that defined generations.

Musicians and singers in the bars and lounges play fan favourites such as the music of Elton John, Queen, the Eagles and more

Accommodations

Oceania has 612 staterooms and claims to have the most spacious standard staterooms at sea at 27 square metres (290 sq. ft.).

Staterooms range from 22 square metres (240 sq. ft.) for solo and French balcony cabins, to the 186 square metre (2,000 sq. ft.) Owner Suite. Penthouse staterooms and higher categories include butler service.

All staterooms feature sumptuous beds and linens, boutique hotel style furnishings and lavish marble bathrooms – that make leaving your stateroom a difficult decision.

All about amenities

Guests can also enjoy a main pool and hot tubs surrounded by padded loungers.

There’s also a handsome library, Artist Loft that features workshops, digital centre with tech classes, casino, mini-putt golfing, sports court, running track, fitness centre and spa/salon.

Advisor tools

Speaking with PAX, Brennan Quesnele, senior vice president of sales and trade marketing said Canada “has been a vital and vibrant market for us since our inception and continues to be so.”

“As our brand has grown, Canadian agents and the consumer base have grown with us,” Quesnele said. “Canada continues to be one of the top source markets in our global view. Our Canadian books have been robust this year as we introduced several Canada-focused promotions early this year – such as our Canada at Par.”

“We’re a thoughtful brand and have been curating and tailoring promotions and policies to benefit our Canadian travel partners and guests.”

Quesnele, notably, was born in Ontario, Canada and is a former travel advisor.

The line also has a dedicated advisor site at Oceania Cruises Travel Advisor Centre

“They will find a myriad of marketing and sales support tools and be able to access our new Oceania Insiders University,” said Quesnele.

“It’s our dedicated e-learning platform where advisors can learn at their own pace, on their schedule. It’s not just educational, it’s fun and engaging. We’re the perfect brand for advisors’ clients who are looking to step up to a luxury experience from big-ship premium brands.”

Oceania sails to more than 600 destinations with voyages that span from seven to more than 200 days.

“Our intimate, luxurious ships put guests at the forefront of the experience as they’ll be one of a few hundred, rather than a few thousand. We’re also the ultimate value in luxury cruising, so for travellers who want to be pampered without being nickled and dimed, we include everything that travellers value – such as all specialty dining, no charge for soft drinks and coffees and gratuities,” said Quesnele.

Nathan Hickman, Oceania’s chief commercial officer added that Oceania “describes its guests as Cultured Explorers.”

“About 50 per cent of our guests are 65 to 75,” said Hickman. “They are well educated, comfortably wealthy, active, curious, retired – but not done learning. They especially enjoy our experiential and enrichment programs.”

The inaugural season of Allura includes 26 voyages that span 92 destinations including the Caribbean, Mediterranean plus Canada and New England.

Diane Tierney has been on 103 cruises to 57 countries and has 142,000 followers on Instagram. Follow her here! 

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.