More than 1,200 invited guests watched as godmother Italian-American celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis pressed the button that sent a bottle of bubbly smashing against the ship’s hull before American crooner Harry Connick Jr closed the evening with a live performance that saw both Frank Del Rios, senior and junior, join him on stage to belt out Italian classic Volare.
The celebrations were a fitting introduction for the first of the boutique line’s new Allura-class vessels, which has been hailed as a natural evolution of the Oceania brand. Second ship Allura arrives in 2025, and there’s talk of more after that, although no details have yet been released.
While still retaining the cosy club-like feel of the rest of the Oceania fleet, Vista is like the sophisticated sister with a contemporary vibe and spacious public areas bathed in a palate of muted shades, sinuous lines and carefully placed objects d’art.
Lashings of marble and sparkling crystal chandeliers give this 1,200-passenger ship an upmarket vibe more reminiscent of Oceania’s six-star sister brand Regent Seven Seas Cruises, though company chiefs are quick to stress the differences between the two brands.
Building on Oceania’s culinary flavours, Vista debuts a trio of new dining concepts with speciality restaurant Ember (designed to resemble the bistros of California’s Napa Valley with rustic tables and brick-vaulted ceiling) serving American classics and The Bakery at Baristas, an extension of the popular coffee bar serving freshly-baked pastries.
Proving popular was the new Aquamar Kitchen for its selection of wellness snacks with fruity smoothies, energy bowls, banana pancakes and avocado toast.
Established dining spots given a more upmarket makeover include Red Ginger, which has a more Indo-Chinese flavour with French accents. Toscana takes its inspiration from the Tuscan town of Siena and steakhouse Polo Grill has more of an equestrian ambience. Hand-painted ceiling murals and mosaics complete the feel of bespoke opulent touches.
These restaurants and the main Grand Dining Room also benefit from smaller tables and decorative partitions, designed to create a more intimate ambience, while the pool deck area has been given more of a resort atmosphere with wooden surrounds, flowing curves and raised “lilypad” sunbeds lapped by the waters of the pool.
A 10-day Mediterranean Athens to Istanbul "Greek Islands Odyssey" voyage onboard Oceania Vista, departing 1 June, leads in from £4,329pp staying in a Veranda Stateroom.
