A stiff sea breeze coaxed me awake as I wandered across the open deck, bathed in the Mediterranean sun, on a mission for coffee.
Suddenly, I heard the chime of the public address system onboard Oceania Cruises’ Riviera; the captain had announced that our scheduled port of Chios, Greece, had been canceled due to wind and swell conditions.
Perched on a plush bar stool and sipping an Iced americano, I reflected on how relieved I was about our missed port: It was day seven of a 10-day sailing in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, and now my day belonged to Oceania’s Riviera. And I was especially keen to check out the ship, especially after it emerged from a late 2022 refurbishment.
Refreshed Spaces
Indeed, the dry dock yielded some gorgeous interior spaces — both private and public areas now sparkle. My Concierge Level cabin felt generously sized at 291 square feet, with a large bathroom. The stateroom itself was bright and airy, with completely redone interior finishes that included fanciful art, modern carpeting, premium wall coverings and thoughtfully placed charging locations (including a USB-C port). And my private teak veranda also featured a pair of comfortable cushioned seats.
These premium design touches permeated the entire ship: I noticed a Lalique crystal-adorned staircase in the lobby, Picasso prints dotting the public spaces and a gorgeous new crystal chandelier in the Grand Dining Room.
The writer stayed in a Concierge Level stateroom.
Credit: 2025 Oceania CruisesFood as a Focus
There are also enough specialty restaurants onboard Riviera to fill an entire voyage — and I tried them all — but a standout might ultimately be as simple as the Greek theme night in Terrace Cafe. Other evenings, we dined at Jacques (named for Oceania’s founding executive culinary director, chef Jacques Pepin); feasted on pork spare ribs at Red Ginger; and noshed on satisfying baked-to-order pizzas at Waves Grill, which turns into a trattoria at night. If clients want more Italian fare, there’s also specialty restaurant Toscana.
The focus on food doesn’t stop with the restaurants. During a port stop in Kusadasi, Turkiye, we ventured onshore during a chef-led excursion to a local inn, where we lunched on specialties such as stuffed grape leaves and steamed dumplings with yogurt and spices. We also visited a roadside produce stand to sample fresh watermelon and walked through the fish market near the port. Chef instructor Stephanie Hersh, former executive assistant to Julia Child,
led the excursion and a cooking class.
ulinary classes are offered to guests.
Credit: 2025 Oceania CruisesLuxurious Touches
Riviera is a smaller ship, carrying just 1,250 passengers. There’s one pool and plenty of plush loungers, and The Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center offers a variety of massages and treatments in addition to salon services.
Guests traveling in Concierge Level or higher also have exclusive access to the front-of-the-ship sun deck, with shaded loungers and a heated thalassotherapy pool.
I found the cruising sweet spot — having enough onboard amenities, but never feeling crowded — even on an impromptu sea day.
