Five Star Ocean Luxury with Food at its Heart

My Five Days On Board Oceania Vista

There are some invitations in this job that I never take for granted, and being invited by Oceania Cruises to spend five days on board the beautiful Oceania Vista was certainly one of them.

Having worked at sea myself for many years, I probably look at ships a little differently. Of course I notice the beautiful spaces, the food and the accommodation, but I’m also watching the service, the atmosphere, how the ship operates and, most importantly, how the overall experience feels.

And Vista left quite an impression.

First Impressions

From the moment I stepped on board, there was a lovely sense of calm.

Vista is luxurious, but not in an over the top way. It’s elegant, contemporary and beautifully finished, yet still feels comfortable and welcoming. There’s space to breathe, quiet corners to sit with a coffee or a book and gorgeous bars and lounges when you want a little more atmosphere.

Vista carries around 1,200 guests, so you’re getting that smaller ship experience rather than the feeling of being one of thousands. Oceania also operates Vista with two crew members for every three guests, which goes a long way towards explaining the level of service I experienced.

My Veranda Stateroom

I stayed in a Veranda Stateroom and I was genuinely impressed with the space.

It felt more like a beautiful hotel room than a traditional cruise cabin. There was plenty of storage, a lovely sitting area, a private veranda and a really spacious bathroom with a large walk in rainforest shower.

In fact, the bathrooms were one of the things that really stood out to me!

Vista is an all veranda ship and her standard veranda accommodation is around 291 square feet, so there really is a noticeable feeling of space.

Now, let’s talk about the food...

You simply cannot talk about Oceania Cruises without talking about food.

Oceania has built its reputation around The Finest Cuisine at Sea, and having now experienced it first hand, I can understand why food is such an important part of the Oceania experience. Vista has a huge choice of dining options for a ship of her size.

Over my five days I had the chance to experience several of the restaurants.

Polo Grill was my first evening on board, and what a way to start. Beautiful food, wonderful service and sunset views to top it all off.

Toscana brings all those wonderful Italian flavours together in a really elegant setting, while Red Ginger offers a completely different Asian inspired dining experience.

Then there is The Grand Dining Room, which is bright, airy and elegant. I ate there for both breakfast and dinner and loved the setting, particularly the gorgeous wake views from the aft of the ship.

There are also more relaxed options, including the Terrace Café, so fine dining certainly doesn’t mean formal dining every night.

That is something I particularly liked about Oceania. The food is taken very seriously, but the atmosphere remains relaxed.

There’s plenty to do on board

One of the questions I’m often asked about smaller ships is, “But what is there to do?”

Quite a lot, actually!

During my time on Vista there were culinary classes, art classes, trivia, scavenger hunts, wine tasting and destination talks. You could play pickleball or mini golf, spend some time in the Aquamar Spa, find a quiet corner with a book or simply sit and watch the world go by.

And that, for me, is part of the attraction.

You don’t feel that you have to be doing something every minute of the day.

There is a lovely pace to life on board.

Evenings on Vista

The evenings followed that same relaxed rhythm.

There is entertainment if you want it, but equally you can find a lovely bar, order a cocktail and just enjoy the atmosphere.

Martinis became a favourite little stop, and I also had a brilliant experience in Founders Bar where the bartender created a special cocktail for me! It became the Sinéad Cocktail after that! Those little moments are often the ones you remember.

And then there’s the crew...

The crew were absolutely amazing.

Having spent years working on cruise ships myself, this is something I always notice.

I know what happens behind the scenes to deliver the experience guests see every day. I also know what it is like to work alongside people from so many different countries, nationalities and cultures.

Some of the greatest lessons I learned during my own years at sea came from the people I worked alongside.

On Vista, the service felt warm and genuine. The crew were attentive without ever being intrusive, and there was a calm confidence to the service throughout the ship.

It makes such a difference.

Our ports along the way

Our itinerary gave me the opportunity to experience another side of Vista too.

In Portland,  I watched the fascinating operation of the pilot joining and later leaving the ship.

In Falmouth, we were at anchor and the ship’s tenders were used to take guests ashore. I still find it fascinating watching these operations and seeing the teamwork involved after all these years

And then came Dingle.

There was something very special about arriving back onto Irish soil from Vista, particularly under beautiful blue skies. This was my first every sailing into an Irish port !!

For me, cruising isn’t only about the ship. The itinerary and the destinations matter enormously, and Oceania Cruises has always placed a strong emphasis on destination rich itineraries.

So, who would I recommend Oceania Cruises to?

This is where having a conversation with a cruise specialist really matters.

There is no one size fits all when it comes to cruising.

For someone who appreciates beautiful surroundings, exceptional food, space, personalised service and a more relaxed style of luxury, I would absolutely have Oceania Cruises on my radar.

If the huge attractions, waterparks and non stop entertainment of the biggest resort ships aren’t what you are looking for, this is a very different style of cruising.

It’s about slowing things down.

Good food. Great service. Beautiful destinations. Comfortable surroundings. And time to actually enjoy them.

That is the Oceania difference I experienced.

Booking directly with me …

I have price parity with Oceania Cruises, so you can book your Oceania cruise through me at the same fare as booking directly. But alongside that, you have me.

You have someone who has now sailed on  Oceania Vista and experienced the product first hand. Someone who will take the time to talk to you, understand what you want from your holiday and help match you with the right ship, itinerary and experience.

I can answer those little questions that inevitably come up, help you prepare before you travel and be there throughout the whole journey.

For me, that is where using a cruise specialist adds real value.

Oceania Cruises was already a cruise line I knew well professionally. After five days living and experiencing Vista for myself, I now understand the product from the guest’s perspective too.

And I can genuinely say that when a client comes to me looking for that relaxed, refined style of luxury at sea, Oceania Cruises will very much be at the forefront of my mind.

A huge thank you to Oceania Cruises for inviting me on board and to the wonderful crew of Vista for looking after us so well.

And when you are ready to find out is Oceania Cruises right for you, you know where I am

Sinéad Lonergan

Your Cruise Specialist, helping you navigate the world of cruising