As many of you know, we recently flew from Gatwick to Lisbon to join Oceania Vista for the final leg of her incredible five-month World Cruise. Despite warnings of hour-long queues due to the new EU airport entry systems, we were pleasantly surprised to sail through customs in just 20 minutes. A quick £10 taxi ride later, we arrived at the city terminal where Vista was waiting on the edge of Lisbon’s beautiful waterfront.
We spent a fantastic few hours exploring Lisbon’s famous steep streets, photographing the iconic yellow trams and soaking up the atmosphere before returning onboard just in time for a spectacular sailaway.
Our first impressions of Oceania Vista
After spending time onboard, what stood out most was the overall feeling of space, tranquillity and understated luxury. Rather than trying to impress with flashy attractions, Oceania Vista focuses on exceptional dining, beautifully designed accommodation, enriching experiences and attentive service. Every area of the ship feels thoughtfully designed, creating a relaxed atmosphere that never feels crowded, even on a longer voyage.
What are the cabins like on Oceania Vista?
With fewer than 800 cabins, Oceania Vista has a wonderfully intimate atmosphere. The ship never once felt busy during our stay, and every stateroom features a private veranda, meaning there are no inside cabins onboard.
Our Concierge Veranda Stateroom was incredibly spacious and featured one of the largest standard cruise ship bathrooms I’ve ever experienced. The signature Tranquility Bed certainly lived up to its name. We both joked that we’d happily smuggle it home in our suitcases!
What are the facilities like on Oceania Vista?
Rather than focusing on high-energy attractions, Oceania Vista offers experiences designed around learning, wellness and relaxation.
Guests can enjoy hands-on cookery classes in the Culinary Centre, painting workshops in the Art Studio, along with mini golf, paddle tennis and pickleball on the upper decks.
The Aquamar Spa
Tucked away at the front of the ship, the Aquamar Spa is a peaceful retreat and one of our favourite spaces onboard.
Looking at the ship through our travel agent eyes, we did notice the pool area could probably benefit from a little post-World Cruise refresh compared with the immaculate condition of the rest of the ship. With Vista heading to Miami afterwards, we’re sure that will soon be taken care of. Even so, it remained a lovely place to unwind.
One of the biggest perks for Concierge guests is unlimited complimentary access to the private spa terrace throughout the voyage.
What is the food like on Oceania Cruises?
Of course, we couldn’t write about Oceania Cruises without mentioning the food.
We gave ourselves the difficult task of trying as many restaurants as possible and only missed two of the speciality venues, which isn’t bad going!
While the Grand Dining Room was exceptional, our personal favourites were:
- Waves Grill for relaxed lunchtime dining
- Aquamar Kitchen for healthy, fresh breakfasts
- Red Ginger for outstanding Asian cuisine
The quality of food throughout the ship completely lived up to Oceania Cruises’ reputation for serving some of the finest cuisine at sea.
What can you look forward to from Oceania Cruises?
There is plenty to be excited about, with Oceania Cruises preparing to launch a magnificent new all-suite ship designed specifically for World Cruises, alongside five additional new ships planned for the fleet.
Closer to home, this season also features several highly sought-after UK roundtrip sailings, giving British travellers even more opportunities to experience Oceania without the need to fly.
Our verdict on Oceania Vista
If you’re wondering what makes Oceania Vista different from other luxury cruise ships, we’d say it’s the combination of exceptional food, generous accommodation, elegant surroundings and a genuinely relaxed atmosphere. Rather than trying to be the biggest or busiest ship at sea, Vista excels by doing the finer details exceptionally well.
It’s a ship that feels sophisticated without ever feeling formal, making it an excellent choice for travellers looking for refined luxury and unforgettable destinations.
We’d love to help you find the perfect Oceania Cruises voyage. Get in touch with one of our Oceania specialists and we’ll help you find the sailing that’s right for you.