03/09/2026
Yesterday I had the chance to spend a few hours onboard Oceania Vista while she was in Greenock, and I have to say, I was so impressed with this beautiful ship and I really didn’t want to leave.
I was shown around the ship along with some other travel partners, so I got to see everything from the public spaces and restaurants to the staterooms and suites, and the first thing that struck me was just how calm and beautifully designed it all felt.
Vista carries 1,200 guests, but it did not feel like a large ship. There is so much space, the interiors are incredibly elegant and the décor is so beautiful all through the ship. Lots of soft natural tones, beautiful artwork and little details that make it feel more like a luxury hotel than a traditional cruise ship. The service felt very much the same. Polished and attentive, but still warm and natural. Oceania has two crew members for every three guests, which probably explains why that personal level of service comes through so strongly.
Every stateroom on Vista has a veranda, and even the standard Veranda Staterooms are around 291 square feet, so they feel really spacious. The bathrooms are particularly generous, with large rainforest showers, and then the suites take things to another level again with much more living space and a Butler service.
One of my favourite parts of the visit was lunch in the stunning Grand Dining Room.
We were given a menu featuring a selection of dishes from restaurants around the ship, which was such a nice way to get a taste of the different dining styles onboard. I went for the filet mignon and it was absolutely delicious.
Food is a huge part of the Oceania experience, and you really get a sense that it is taken seriously. Specialty dining is included, rather than having an additional charge, and Vista has a fantastic choice of restaurants including Toscana, Polo Grill and Red Ginger.
Oceania also hosts The Culinary Center. It is a proper hands on teaching kitchen rather than simply a demonstration space, so guests can actually take part in cookery classes with Chef Instructors and learn new skills while they travel. There are also plenty of other opportunities to do something a little different onboard, from art workshops and guest speakers to digital classes and destination focused enrichment.
Oceania has now moved to an adults only experience for new reservations, welcoming guests aged 18 and over, and after spending time onboard I can completely see how that suits the style of cruising. It feels relaxed, grown up and unhurried, with the focus on great food, thoughtful service and the destinations rather than constant entertainment.
And although it feels very luxurious, it does not come with the formality that some people associate with cruising. There are no traditional formal nights, with the dress style much more relaxed elegant instead.
There is a really generous amount included too. Specialty dining, gratuities and WiFi are included, along with in room dining and a selection of non alcoholic drinks. Guests can then choose between complimentary w**e and b**r by the glass during lunch and dinner, or a shore excursion credit depending on the length of the voyage.
By the time we finished our tour, I honestly could have quite happily stayed onboard and sailed away with them.
Vista just had such a nice feel to it. Beautiful without being flashy, luxurious without feeling formal, and with a real focus on the things that matter if you enjoy travelling well: good food, space, service, interesting destinations and time to actually enjoy it all.
If that sounds like your kind of cruising, I’d be delighted to help you explore where Oceania could take you next.