On 13 November, Oceania Cruises christened its newest ship, Allura, as she readies for her inaugural sailing season in the Caribbean.
Allura is Oceania’s eighth ship and the second in the Allura class. Her inaugural season sailings will cover over 92 destinations on an array of 7- to 34-day voyages, from iconic cities to lesser-known gems.
Oceania Allura also boasts the most spacious standard staterooms at sea, measuring nearly 27 sqm, and accommodates 1,200 guests at double occupancy, with a two crew to three guests ratio.
In line with the brand’s reputation delivering ‘The Finest Cuisine at Sea’, there’ll be 12 onboard dining experiences, of which the Grand Dining Room will offer 270 new recipes across all three meal services.
Related: Oceania Cruises takes fine dining to Allura-ing new heights
Making a comeback is the cruise line’s original French restaurant, Jacques, blending new flavours with well-loved dishes that have been guest favourites since Jacques was first introduced aboard Oceania Marina in 2011.
Allura also had six godparents at the christening ceremony: chefs Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Katie Button, Calvin Eng, Aisha Ibrahim, George Mendes and Lawrence "LT" Smith.
“By naming Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs franchise as godparent of this beautiful ship, Oceania Cruises celebrates the future of dining. These chefs are innovators – redefining how we experience food – and now they’ll bring that creativity to the sea,” noted Tom Bair, publisher of Food & Wine.
Oceania Allura will be homeported in Miami for winters, and sail the Mediterranean next summer.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to officially welcome Oceania Allura to our fleet,” said Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Oceania Cruises. “It is only fitting that she be christened in our hometown of Miami – a city that embodies vibrancy and sophistication. We are deeply honored to celebrate this momentous occasion alongside her distinguished godparents, marking a new chapter in our historic collaboration with Food & Wine.”
Next up, Oceania Cruises has four Sonata Class ships on order, scheduled for delivery in 2027, 2029, 2032, and 2035.