Oceania Cruises’ Riviera offers luxury by perfecting basics, with fine dining and elevated experiences. Photo / Supplied
Swapping waterslides and crowded buffets for fine dining and quietly elevated experiences, Oceania Cruises’ Riviera proves luxury at sea lies in perfecting the basics, writes Olivia Reid.
Have you been put off cruises by the thought of rainbow waterslides, giant buffets shared with hundreds of tourists, and screaming children?
Be deterred no longer. Oceania Cruises’ New Zealand and Australia route offers simple luxury anyone would want in a holiday.
The Māori Heritage Route begins in Auckland and travels through Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hobart and Melbourne before finishing in Sydney.
On board, Riviera shines as an example of sticking to the basics and doing them extraordinarily well.
At each port, passengers receive a list of excursions they can purchase, such as Truffle Treasure in Tauranga, where you can tour a truffle farm, watch trained truffle dogs, and sample truffle-infused delicacies, or “In the Footsteps of Lord of the Rings”, where attendees visit the Wellington studio where Peter Jackson brought the trilogy to life, stroll the same woods the Hobbits did at the start of their journey, and tour the Wētā Workshop complex.
In Napier, I chose the Art Deco Gin Tour and Tasting. Clambering on to a bus to The National Distillery Company in Napier’s historic Art Deco tobacco factory, we got a taste of the city’s main street before heading into the hills.
It was a perfect day to explore, as, despite the forecast, the sun shone while we looked over the harbour.
At the award-winning distillery, cellar door manager Ginny Williams and co-owner and founder Blair Nicholl took us through the history of the National Tobacco Company building, and how The National Distillery Company came to be.
The building was created for German tobacco tycoon Gerhard Husheer by architect Louis Hay in 1925, and is now classified as a Category 1 Historic Place.
The interior blends Art Deco with rich details, such as fruit motifs, not usually seen in the traditionally minimalist Art Deco style, making the building unique.
By 1932, the National Tobacco Company was one of Napier’s most successful industries and hired mostly women.
The National Distillery Company has now operated from the building for seven years, founded by friends Blair Nicholl and Ricardo Reis.
After the tour, it was time to taste four of their classic gins – the Verdigris Dry Gin, Hemp Gin, Native Gin and the newly released New Zealand Gin Day Souvenir Gin for 2026.
Ginny guided us through the tasting, explaining the flavours and inspiration behind each gin. The Native Gin was named for its use of native botanicals kawakawa and karamū, chosen for their peppery hit and sweetness, respectively.
Although I boarded the cruise excursion solo, I quickly found friends, sitting beside an American couple, two Canadians and a family from Mexico; a group as international as the rest of the travellers on board.
If you decide to stay on board during a port stop, you won’t be bored, with activities ranging from pickleball and technology classes to shuffleboard and trivia. Finish your holiday novel too fast? Don’t worry, just pop into the ship library. During sea days, the itinerary is even fuller, with art and cooking classes inspired by the destination.
In the afternoon, there’s tea complete with treats such as pistachio cake and chewy macarons, accompanied by a string quartet, while each night brings a different dance or music performance after dinner.
My most memorable evening was sharing a Hugo Spritz with a new friend at the Horizons Bar while we listened to the Jaxtones Band playing hits from the 1960s.
Oceania’s Riviera also offers the most important thing to revive the mind, body, and soul – a spa.
The Aquamar Spa and Vitality Centre provides a range of nourishing treatments, ranging from a coconut poultice massage, which uses a moisturising coconut compress followed by a traditional massage, to the caviar firm and lift facial, designed to moisturise and increase elasticity.
Craving a massage, I booked a Deep Tissue treatment and almost fell asleep as the masseuse gently worked the knots from my shoulders and neck, leaving me lighter and calmer than I’ve been in months.
For fitness fans, the gym is equipped with treadmills, free weights and cable machines, along with a running track.
Meanwhile, gentler, social movement can be found in group classes such as Pure Form Pilates, Indoor Cycling and Amazing Abs. They are held in small groups (around 10 people), and on-board personal trainer Shauna Ryans is an expert in modifying movements or sequences for people of every ability.
Eager for some stretching, I headed to Sunset Stretch, a yoga-based class that offers some of the best views you’ll get during a fitness class.
Luxury is everywhere on board, not just in the decor (think grand staircases and chandeliers), but the atmosphere too. Case in point: boarding was accompanied by a string quartet and glasses of ice-cold prosecco.
Each area, from the library to the restaurants, exudes timeless sophistication, from sumptuous leather armchairs in the library to French bistro Jacques, heirloom antiques and art from chef Jacques Pépin’s personal collection.
In accordance with the dress code, guests swapped shorts and T-shirts for sundresses, polo shirts and lightweight slacks during the day, shifting to cocktail fashion in the evening. While some may find dressing up to be a nuisance during a relaxing holiday, it creates an undeniable sense of anticipation as you get ready in your room before joining a restaurant full of diners in their Sunday best.
The pleasure of eating excellent food, especially for several days and without washing a single dish, is a treat rarely enjoyed, making the Riviera’s cuisine a strong drawcard.
It’s a strength the cruise line is well aware of, describing the voyage as “a luxurious home at sea designed for culinary and travel connoisseurs”.
While a buffet breakfast can be enjoyed at the Terrace Cafe or Grand Dining Room, I opt for room service each morning, which proved to be a trip highlight; it’s hard to beat breakfast in bed with an uninterrupted balcony view of the ocean.
Six specialty restaurants are available for dinner by reservation, including Jacques, Red Ginger, Polo Grill, Toscana and the exclusive restaurants La Reserve and Prive.
At these restaurants, one can expect dishes such as braised oxtail salad, caramelised prawns or a flawless tiramisu.
However, anyone familiar with high-class dining knows it’s about more than what’s on your plate. Service on board was exceptional, especially for this solo traveller, who appreciated the warmth and chattiness of waiters and sommeliers. The “group reservation” feature for the four main specialty restaurants was another benefit, allowing guests to book solo or be paired with other diners.
When booking at Asian restaurant Red Ginger, I opted for a group reservation and was paired with a friendly American couple who instantly put any hesitations at ease as we laughed over travel stories and great food.
The success of the Riviera cruise in delivering a luxury vacation lies in its ability to perfect the basics to an extraordinary level. It doesn’t rely on gimmicks or fleeting excitement to please guests, but focuses on the quality of its customer service, decor, food, experiences and entertainment, offering the ideal vacation for those seeking to relax in style and peace.
The writer travelled on Oceania Riviera’s 14-night “Maori Heritage Route”.
The New Zealand Herald travelled courtesy of Oceania Cruises.