Six Reasons to Sail on Oceania Cruises New Allura
Generally speaking there are a whole host of reasons to take a cruise: the ability to visit several interesting ports of call without the need to unpack and repack, specialty curated excursions, and great entertainment to name just a few. However, with Oceania Cruises newest member of their fleet, the Allura, the belle of the ball really, there are many more good reasons to cruise, not to mention the utterly delicious ones.
Allura is a Stunningly Designed Ship
The Allura is an 804-foot, all-veranda stateroom ship, has a 1,200-guest capacity in double occupancy, and spans 16 decks. Even when at capacity, due to the Allura’s generous and perfectly designed layout, plentiful public spaces, lounges, restaurants, and bars, she barely seemed half full. This is complimented by uniformly stellar service delivered by 800-crew members from 47 nations, reflecting a guest-to-crew ratio of 3:2 with cosmopolitan flair.
Allura has a contemporary feel designed by Miami-based Studio DADO that is modern, yet invitingly warm and comfortable. The Atrium’s curved stairs wrap around an enormous crystal chandelier resembling a two-story flowing and breathtaking sculpture. Public areas are all spacious and chic with comfortable textured seating at every turn. Clean lines, light marble, and a sense of panache are ever-present.
Hallways have gray, blue, and white patterned carpets mimicing the high seas. Throughout the ship’s public areas is a museum-worthy art collection. There are several large and dramatic canvases by renowned artists adding a sense of vogue. Several landings also have interesting marble sculptures making haste ascending or descending the stairs impossible. You may wish to allocate time for art perusal and can pick up the ship’s art collection index at the front desk aid in your appreciation.
Spectacular All-Suite Staterooms
Allura’s all-balcony staterooms are very generously sized across the board in all categories. The Concierge Solo Veranda stateroom measures 270-square feet. The Veranda and Concierge Veranda staterooms all measure 291-square feet. Larger Penthouse Suites range from 440-square feet up to Owners’ Suites that contain an enormous 2,200 to 2,400-square feet.
The Concierge Veranda stateroom in which I stayed was decorated in a cream, taupe, and white color scheme with a 60-inch flatscreen television, double seating area and marble coffee table. The stateroom also had a small desk, plentiful strategically placed USB ports and outlets, and daily replenished minibar. Stateroom carpets are composed of natural, hypoallergenic, un-dyed wool and thus happily fragrant free. The seventh generation Tranquility mattresses are divine, and linens are woven with intoxicating 1000-count sheets rendering perfect sleep. The large balcony was furnished with enveloping chairs, a marble table perfect for holding champagne glasses and canapés, and a lounger mandating afternoon naps.
The enormous gray and white Carrera-style marble bathroom had more than double the cabinet and storage space than those of similar suite categories on this size of ship. The double-sized walk-in shower possessed easy-to-operate, intuitively controlled rain and standard shower heads, Aquamar amenities, and incredibly soft, single-twist, cotton-ribbed towels. Staterooms also have very user-friendly climate control mechanisms.
Say Ahh to the Spa & Fitness Center
Allura’s Aquamar Spa & Vitality Center is a Zen oasis. With 11 treatment rooms, including one massage bed containing sand and salt minerals to alleviate stiff muscles and aid in blood circulation, there is a complete massage menu ensuring no muscles go ignored.
There is an onboard aesthetic physician who can analyze skin for pigmentation, redness, aging, pore size, and quality. Also on offer, Restylane, sold by the syringe, to restore volume for the lower third of the face, Dysport, chargeable by the area, for the face’s upper third, Thermage – a 90-minute, non-invasive laser cell stimulation to increase collagen and elastin – resulting in a tightening effect to restore lost volume, and Micro-needling, focusing on the skin’s surface to reduce the appearance of scars, large pores, and other skin irregularities. Prices for these are competitive with those found in major U.S. cities.
Acupuncture is also available by a trained doctor of Oriental Medicine. Consults are complimentary and treatments can address a wide variety of ailments from back pain to sleep issues. A light-filled beauty and nail salon and barber station has full-service menu options and excellent technicians.
The state-of-the-art fitness center with floor-to-ceiling windows is open 24-hours and has TechnoGym equipment, weight machines, free weights, and a separate cycling studio with spinning bikes. There are several fitness classes daily including spinning, stretching, yoga, and Pilates. A personal trainer is also available.
Foodies Will Be in Bliss
Oceania Cruises always features some of the finest cuisine at sea and the Allura continues this tradition. It also has an astonishing one chef for every eight passengers, so culinary choices abound. This high ratio explains in part why the food onboard is so consistently marvelous.
Oceania’s signature restaurants are the Italian Toscana with its olive oil sommelier, the pan-Asian Red Ginger with new Japanese-Peruvian dishes known as Nikkei, and the Polo Grill classic steakhouse. There are also the staple favorites: the Grand Dining Room which now boasts 270 new recipes, the Terrace Café, Waves Grill, and the innovative Aquamar Kitchen healthy concept eatery. These are now joined by additional stellar dining options.
Allura’s new reimagined signature French restaurant, Jacques, is named after storied chef Jacques Pépin, Oceania’s first culinary director. Jacques not only has classically prepared French dishes, but also contemporary takes on classics such as hand-cut beef tartar deftly prepared table side.
The new Crêperie – located near the beloved Baristas serving fine gourmet coffees – entices with its sweet aroma. Serving authentic French crepes, its masterpieces are the Belgian Waffles and the irresistible Bubble Waffles enveloping delectable soft-serve gelato sundaes. There’s also wonderful soft-serve frozen yogurt in crunchy waffle cones.
Also launched with Allura is the new Gérard Bertrand Cellar Masters wine-paired luncheons with sommelier-curated, multi-course, mouth-watering menus. Experiencing this was akin to a pilgrimage into the very heart of the perfect marriage of food to wine, all explained by passionate sommeliers and the talented chefs who grace the kitchen. Despite all these new options, Horizon Lounge’s classic afternoon tea must also not be missed.
Curated Small Group Excursions
Oceania is destination-focused and at each port-of-call choices abound to meet guests’ gamut of interests, including food, wines, culture, art, and history. All are led by expert, local guides.
Another great aspect of Oceania Cruises is that at each port there are Oceania Exclusive offerings – with local guides and limited to 16 passengers – providing a far more intimate experience. As Oceania is food-focused, it also hosts immersive, food forward, chef-led excursions with trips to local markets, restaurants, and destination-focused food, wine, and spirits tastings.
Plenty to do Onboard
Allura’s expanded onboard Culinary Enrichment Program is housed in an airy, light-filled cooking studio with 24 stations. Here cultural connoisseur and Executive Chef Kathryn Kelly and her delightful team teach informative, easy-to-learn courses. There are regional specialty courses and dessert making parties.
At the Artists Loft, in another inspiring, bright space with floor-to-ceiling windows, talented artists-in-residence can help channel one’s inner Chagall. Artists-in-residence hosts daily classes.
The LYNC Digital Center offers daily complimentary digital learning classes ranging from smart phone technology to social media essentials, all very helpful for the cyber-challenged among us.
For the pleasure of reading, Allura’s large library is an inviting and comfortable spot to dive into gathering information about your next port of call, or to simply curl up with a good book. Floor-to-ceiling windows deliver stunning vistas to go with its well curated selection of books, guides, and other reading materials.
Whether you are a luxury cruise aficionado or a never cruiser who loves luxury travel, there is no better time to book an Oceania Cruise where you can savor the delights of the amazing Allura experience.
Julie L. Kessler is a journalist, attorney, and the author of the award-winning memoir: “Fifty-Fifty, The Clarity of Hindsight.” Her work has appeared in major publications around the world, including The L.A. Times, The S.F. Examiner, The Asia Times, The Jerusalem Post, The Vancouver Courier, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, The Daily Journal, among many others. She can be reached at Julie@VagabondLawyer.com
