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Oceania Vista Review

5.0 / 5.0
134 reviews
See all photos
Editor Rating
5.0
Excellent
Overall
Aaron Saunders
Contributor

The first new ship to be built for Oceania Cruises in over a decade, Vista is, at first blush, quite similar in appearance to fleetmates Marina and Riviera. From the outside, the trio are nearly identical, save for a few differing stylistic and architectural changes here and there. The three ships even share the same basic dimensions: a length of 785 to 791 feet and tonnage that hovers around 67,000 for each.

But that's where the similarities end. On the inside, Oceania has gone back to the drawing board with Vista, crafting new interior spaces, accommodations and venues that draw the best features of Oceania's past vessels and refine them with additional flair and style. And it works: stepping aboard Vista, you could be forgiven for thinking you've wandered into a high-end hotel rather than a cruise ship that is nestled firmly in the "upper premium" category, where the price of admission is significantly less than many all-inclusive luxury cruise lines.

Stepping onboard Vista, there's a sense of grandeur and glamour that might not be expected for a ship of this size. A sweeping staircase rises attractively from Deck 5 to 6, framing a rotunda of sorts that acts as a bookend for the ship's shops, dining venues, shore excursion and purser's desks.

The glamourous atrium is the place to see and be seen aboard Vista (and is instantly Instagrammable -- expect to see plenty of passengers posing there). But it also sets the tone for Vista's interior décor, which presents itself as delightfully lavish and endlessly interesting. Wandering the decks is a journey in discovery. Don't expect stale pastels and minimalist design here; Vista has a bold, imaginative interior design palette that brings hues of champagne and caviar, accented with healthy splashes of gold and nautical hues.

Couple that with a huge assortment of bars and dining options and a generous amount of ingeniously designed open deck space that somehow manages to never feel crowded, and Oceania manages to exude a sort of "home-away-from-home" feeling -- if, that is, your home featured immaculate wainscotting, plush deckchairs, and plenty of marble.

Cabins are lavishly presented, with beds so soft and inviting that simply getting out of bed in the morning is something of a chore. But you'll want to: Vista, like the rest of Oceania's fleet, sails port-intensive itineraries to places you might not expect and stays there longer than many competitors.

The result is a ship that punches above its weight. Were Vista to debut for a luxury cruise line, it would fit right in, both in terms of style, design and comfort. Oceania thought of the little things, too, when designing Vista. Cabin carpeting is only made from naturally-occurring wool colors and not dyes that passengers can have allergic reactions to, and butter and flour for the onboard croissants are imported from France.

Everything about Vista feels, well, la dolce vita -- for a fraction of the price. If there's an immediate con of the ship, it's that ceilings in general in several public spaces feel rather low compared with other vessels. If you're over six foot two, you might have to watch your step.

The lead ship in Oceania's new Allura-class, Vista will be joined by a sister-ship, perhaps unsurprisingly named Allura, in 2025.

Oceania's Vista Deck Plan Includes Unexpected and Creative Spaces

Oceania full embraces its "upper premium" pedigree and runs with it, crafting cozy and inviting spaces -- both indoors and out -- that exist only for the pleasure of passengers aboard Vista.

To that end, Vista sports a magnificent Library on Deck 14 that is divided into three sections -- all of which are just steps away from the nearby Baristas coffee bar and the brand-new onboard Bakery. Hundreds of titles are present, from modern fiction to classics, and with a generous selection of nonfiction books covering a plethora of topics -- including maritime history, for those interested.

Oceania has also raised the bar on creative spaces aboard Vista as well. The line's Culinary Center has been dramatically expanded aboard Vista, and features interactive cooking stations with induction ranges next to an adjacent classroom for demonstrations and presentations.

Across the corridor, the new Artist's Loft features two Artists-In-Residence per sailing, each of whom sell their creations onboard in addition to offering up masterclasses that highlight their unique individual style and techniques. It's adjacent to the LYNC Digital Center -- perfect for those looking to brush up on their image editing skills or simply catch up on some emails.

But the newest and coziest space onboard (perhaps too cozy for its own good, given its popularity), is the superb Founders Bar on Deck 6. Tucked away on the port side of the ship just aft of the Casino, this bar -- which Oceania's own deckplans still list as the "Casino Bar" -- is a den of craft cocktail mixology. Frequently packed to standing room only on our sailing, people come here for the intimate atmosphere that really gets hopping in the post-dinner hours, and the luscious drinks that are delivered with no small amount of flair, thanks to "flavor blaster" garnishes: smoke bubbles that burst and dissipate dramatically.

It's also the place to be for high-end bourbon, rye, scotch and whisky, like WhistlePig's cleverly-named (and beautifully-tasty) Boss Hog V: The Spirit of Mauve.

Other unexpected pleasures aboard Oceania's new Vista include dedicated courts for pickleball, croquet/bocce and shuffleboard; a generously-sized mini-golf course forward of the radar mast on Deck 15; and plenty of secluded chaise lounges scattered amongst the central Pool Deck on Deck 12, attractively sheltered from the wind via faux slatted wood panels.

Cabins on Oceania's Vista Are Lavish and Luxurious

Oceania went all-out when designing the cabins aboard Vista, all of which offer private balconies. In fact, even the smallest room is still generously-sized at 261 square feet, and the bulk of cabins onboard hover around 300 square feet, leaving plenty of space to lounge around.

That's a good thing, because you'll want to spend time in these cabins, which are graced with rich hues of grey and marble, and accented by recessed lighting that softly illuminates rooms by day and night. Beds are soft; linens are high-quality and crisp to the touch; and bathrooms are stocked with Bulgari toiletries as a matter of course.

Bathrooms -- which can politely be described as cavernous at nearly every cabin grade -- have so much free space you could almost do a cartwheel. Almost. Ditto for the glass-enclosed shower, which is generously sized. You'll need to outstretch your arms to touch the walls here; something that is a rarity among oceangoing ships, where tight bathrooms and smaller showers have become the butt of every cruise ship comedian's repertoire.

Passengers will also find plenty of power options, from North American and European-style outlets to USB and Lightning charging ports that are located literally everywhere you could think of.

Things only get better from there. Vista's top-end suites are a sight to behold, including the three mammoth Owner's Suites that take up the entire width of the aft portions of Decks 8, 9 and 10 and span a whopping 2,400 square feet apiece.

Vista Has 12 Different Dining Options Onboard -- Three of Which Are New

For a ship of its size, Oceania's Vista offers an astonishing 12 different dining options onboard, including three all-new venues for the line. And with the consistently high level of quality present in the cuisine onboard, passengers are unlikely to find themselves wanting for culinary delights -- whether it's simpler fare like pizza, or full-blown, multi-course dining extravaganzas.

In addition to standard cruise expectations like the Main Dining Room and Terrace Café buffet, Vista introduces a new casual option: the Aquamar Kitchen. Here, passengers can indulge on fresh-made power juices, smoothies and non-alcoholic beverages while dining on a variety of avocado toasts and muesli for breakfast, while lunches trot out a variety of healthy poke and buddha bowls, pitas, sandwiches and other fare with flavors inspired from around the globe.

For those who are at peace with the calories consumed on a cruise, The Bakery on Deck 14 adjacent to Baristas coffee bar does not disappoint. Freshly-baked produce of all kinds is available here from morning until evening. The croissants are authentically French, thanks to ingredients imported directly from France, while the beignets will have you thinking you've stumbled onto Bourbon Street.

The last new entrant to the culinary scene aboard Vista is Ember. Oceania's take on a modern American steakhouse, Ember blends California's wine heritage with more relaxed, casual steakhouse elements. The focus here is on good, flavorful food paired with wines from Oceania's cellar or American craft beers. It's a nice counterpart to the more formal, heavy, rich steakhouse experience found on many ships, with an atmosphere that is relaxed and convivial.

Rounding out the classic dining options onboard Vista are Oceania favorites Toscana (Italian), Polo Grill (formal steakhouse), Red Ginger (Asian), poolside staple Waves Grill, and the exclusive small-table dining experience Privee (degustation). Vista also offers round-the-clock room service.

Pros

A midsize ship with a healthy dose of bling, new and exciting restaurants and plenty of modern amenities

Cons

Low ceilings could have tall passengers ducking; vegetarian/vegan selections can be uneven in some restaurants

Bottom Line

Oceania's newest ship offers a luxe experience full of glitz and glamour for a reasonable price.

About

Passengers: 1200
Crew: 800
Passenger to Crew: 1.5:1
Launched: 2023
Shore Excursions: 1824

Fellow Passengers

Vista, like all Oceania Cruises vessels, draws a mostly English-speaking passenger that typically hails from North America. Passengers are affable and well-travelled, and are generally drawn to the line for its semi-inclusiveness and focus on destination-driven cruise itineraries.

Two camps of people are typically drawn to Oceania: passengers who want to step up from the big ship lines to something smaller and more inclusive, and passengers who have cruised the luxury lines before but are drawn to Oceania for its destination-oriented itineraries. Passengers tend to be experienced cruisers from all walks of life, though new-to-cruise passengers are well represented thanks to the line's broad worldwide itinerary selection.

While people hail from all walks of life, they all, naturally, tend to be working professionals or well-off retirees with a taste for life's finer things -- from Bulgari toiletries to lush linens and indulgent dinners.

Oceania is not a good choice for families with children. There are no children's facilities onboard, and the prevailing atmosphere is one best suited to adults -- though children between age 1 and 18 can technically sail with the line if accompanied by adults.

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More about Oceania Vista

Where does Oceania Vista sail from?

Oceania Vista departs from Miami, Lisbon, Southampton, Southampton, Bilbao, Barcelona, Istanbul, Monaco, Monte Carlo, Rome, Civitavecchia, Oslo, Stockholm, Los Angeles, Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Callao, Lima, San Diego, Sydney, Singapore, Dubai, Piraeus, Piraeus, Laviron, Tahiti, Manhattan, Reykjavik, and Montreal

Where does Oceania Vista sail to?

Oceania Vista cruises to Miami, Costa Maya, Harvest Caye, Roatan, Cozumel, Grand Cayman (Georgetown), Cartagena (Colombia), Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera), Corinto, Puerto Quetzal (Antigua), Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, Los Angeles, San Juan, St. Barts, Guadeloupe, St. Lucia, Antigua, Puerto Limon, Colon (Cristobal), St. Kitts (Port Zante), Grenada, Barbados, Dominica, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Great Stirrup Cay, King's Wharf, Ponta Delgada, Lisbon, Porto (Leixoes), La Coruna, Bilbao, Bordeaux, St. Helena (Jamestown), Paris, Southampton, Kirkwall, Belfast, Dublin, Holyhead, Cobh (Cork), St. Peter Port (Guernsey), Invergordon (Inverness), Lerwick (Shetland Islands), Greenock (Glasgow), Waterford, Plymouth, Brugge (Bruges), La Rochelle-La Pallice, Tangier, Almeria, Palma de Mallorca (Majorca), Barcelona, Marseille, Villefranche, Florence (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia), Taormina (Messina), Santorini, Pireaus (for Athens), Kusadasi (tours to Ephesus), Istanbul, Rhodes, Crete (Heraklion), Mykonos, Monaco (Monte Carlo), Palermo (Sicily), Corfu, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Split, Koper, Trieste, La Spezia (Cinque Terre), Naples, Argostoli (Kefalonia), Katakolon (Tours to Olympia), Izmir, Alicante, Malaga, Madeira (Funchal), Saint-Malo, Portree (Isle of Skye), Alesund, Geiranger, Flam, Stavanger, Skagen, Oslo, Aalborg, Copenhagen, Kiel, Berlin, Klaipeda, Tallinn, Helsinki, Stockholm, Riga, Visby, Aarhus, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Belize City, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Buzios, Rio de Janeiro, Ilha Grande, Santos (Sao Paulo), Punta del Este, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Stanley, Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego), Punta Arenas, Puerto Montt, Santiago (Valparaiso), Lima, San Juan del Sur, Acajutla, San Diego, Honolulu, Rangiroa, Moorea, Tahiti (Papeete), Sydney (Australia), Mooloolaba, Whitsundays (Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island), Townsville, Cairns, Darwin, Komodo Island, Bali, Singapore, Kelang (Kuala Lumpur), Phuket, Colombo, Mumbai (Bombay), Muscat, Khasab, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Safaga, Sorrento, Olbia, Kingston, Jamaica , Santa Marta, Huatulco, Akureyri, Isafjord, Reykjavik, Halifax, New York (Manhattan), Charleston, Key West, Port Canaveral (Orlando), Nassau, Raiatea, Rarotonga, Pago Pago, Apia, Samoa (formerly Western Samoa), Suva, Mystery Island, Noumea, Sydney (Nova Scotia), St. John's (Newfoundland), Liverpool, Corner Brook, Boston, Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island), Gaspe, Baie-Comeau, Quebec City, Montreal, Saint John (New Brunswick), Newport, St. Thomas, and Tortola

How much does it cost to go on Oceania Vista?

Cruises on Oceania Vista start from $2,609 per person.
Oceania Vista Cruiser Reviews

Not my favorite cruise line.

My wife and I are seasoned cruisers having just finished on Oceania Vista 09/13 to 09/23/2024. It was our 38th cruise. Let me start by saying it was our first cruise on Oceania.Read More
OceanJunkie

many10+ Cruises

Age 76s

Enjoyed the cruise, mixed views on the ship

The Vista showband was excellent and did a jazz session in Martinis one evening which we really enjoyed.Read More
sistersbrothers

many10+ Cruises

Age 61s

Enjoyed Vista but would be better with Jacques!

Why on earth would Oceania decided to ditch this marvelous venue for the uninspired and lackluster Ember restaurant?Read More
Tangakid

many10+ Cruises

Age 76s

Nearly perfect cruise on Vista

But we all loved the Vista and Oceania is back on my list of favourite cruise lines. It compares very well with high end lines that we have cruised on, such as Silversea, Regent, and Viking.Read More
CanuckCruiser604

many10+ Cruises

Age 64s

Oceania Cruises Fleet
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