Oceania's Riviera Ship Visit

The Riviera is currently on an 18-night cruise sailing around the British Isles. She started sailing from Southampton, sailing up the east coast, all the way around Scotland, taking in the Shetland Islands and the Orkney Islands, then across to Cork before finishing in Belfast. The guests onboard are so lucky to have such amazing weather as the UK is enjoying temperatures of 25°C – 28°C this week. I felt like I was on a cruise on the Med than on the Tyne.

There are currently six ships in the Oceania fleet with a seventh ship called the Allura debuting in 2025.

Oceania ships are smaller in comparison to other cruise lines which makes them wonderful and so unique as they offer a boutique-style type of cruising with a more personal feel and more intimate spaces on board.

The Riviera is one of the largest ships in the fleet, taking a maximum of 1,238 passengers in 625 staterooms.

I felt so special to board the Riviera since it has been 4 years since she last docked at the Port of Tyne plus she underwent an extensive refurbishment in late 2022, so it was great to see her looking brand new and shiny.

We started our visit with a welcome drink before we were taken on a tour. There are 15 decks to explore so there was lots to get through before lunch. We took in the many restaurants passengers can dine in, which includes The Grand Dining Room, Red Ginger, Jacques, The Polo Grill, Toscana, La Reserve by Wine Spectator and the Terrace Café. Each restaurant offers a different cuisine from Mediterranean, French, and Asian-Fusion, these restaurants are more formal dining but there is also a buffet style restaurant which is a little more informal for those that don’t feel like getting dressed up one evening. Guests are also offered high tea daily between 4pm-5pm and they can also indulge in a tasting menu too during their stay. There are so many options. Just to note, that some of the speciality restaurants must be pre-booked far in advance as these can get fully booked very quickly.

There are so many activities and entertainment options onboard for guests to choose from including the relaxing and invigorating spa, a gym, an outdoor swimming pool, and plenty of Jacuzzis and sunbeds to relax on. In the evening , the Horizon Bar has live bands, there’s a games rooms, a library, casino and the theatre. I especially loved the culinary area where guests can learn to cook, which usually includes a theme depending on where they are sailing in the world. They also offer a Culinary Discover Day where the team will take guests offshore, they'll choose some produce from the local market before heading back to the ship to cook up a storm for lunch - this sounds like loads of fun.

All staterooms have been refurbished to a high standard offering a light and traditional twist with comfort and cosiness in mind. We had the pleasure of visiting the Oceania Suite with a separate lounge area, walk-in wardrobe, spacious bathroom and an outdoor Jacuzzi bath on the veranda. We also visited a Veranda stateroom and an Inside stateroom. Back on Deck 6 we were taken to The Grand Dining Room where we were treated to a 5-course meal before we had to say our goodbyes and disembark before the ship set sail for her onward journey.

The Riviera is offering a traditional cruise with a small boutique, intimate feel to it. Elegant and grand this would suit adults looking for rest and relaxation with luxury thrown in the mix. Although children are welcome onboard, there are not as many activities for them and I would recommend this type of ship to couples, sole guests, friends, leisure and corporate groups.