Hi Kevin! Thank you for taking the time to talk to us. Oceania Cruises serves The Finest Cuisine at Sea®. Can you tell us about the ethos behind this gourmet dining experience?
Food is the foundation of what we do on board each of our ships and in the destinations we visit. As the only true foodie ships in the world, we have more galley space and more fresh food storage than any other cruise line. We also have the highest percentage of culinary personnel devoted to the dining experience. To ensure the impeccable quality of each dish, we have one chef to every 10 guests; in fact, half of the crew on board are dedicated to the cooking or serving of food. And as with any great restaurant, all our dishes are prepared à la minute, using only the freshest ingredients.
The attention to detail is what makes our food stand out above others.
With 11 dining options on Vista, guests are spoilt for choice! Which restaurant would you recommend and why?
Red Ginger. Asian cuisine is my favourite to cook, so this is my favourite restaurant on board. I went to Japan last year, and it was a dream come true. I spent time educating my palate, and I especially loved Kobe beef! When Vista joined the fleet in 2023, she debuted two new restaurants, Ember and Aquamar Kitchen.
What can guests expect from Ember and Aquamar Kitchen?
Our casual, healthy eatery, Aquamar Kitchen, is open for breakfast and lunch and offers wellness-inspired choices with a hint of decadence. The menu has a variety of smoothies for breakfast and lunch and offers great plant-based and vegetarian options. Ember offers contemporary upscale American classics in a modern setting, complete with exposed brickwork and a fantastic open kitchen.
Privée is a firm favourite on Oceania Cruises. What makes this experience so special on Vista?
The private dining experience at Privée is exceptional. Each course will be perfectly paired with the most incredible wines – the service, ambience and taste make it a meal to remember. The Odyssey menu is very popular, but for a real treat, the Dom Perignon experience is a superlative meal paired with five vintage champagnes.
Lastly, can you cater for any type of dietary requirement?
We take our time to work with guests and ensure that, regardless of their dietary requirements – whether they are celiac, need to be gluten-free, are lactose intolerant, or anything else – they won’t go hungry. It’s a very personalised approach; we just need to know the restrictions so that we can be prepared. For example, if we are crafting a regular dish, we will substitute items so guests have the same meal but perfectly suited to their requirements. I am confident in saying that we go above and beyond, which is one of the reasons that guests come back to us time and time again.
