Why cruising is a feast for all the senses

No matter where you choose to travel, food is a gateway that helps us explore local cultures in a memorable way.

Often, it’s the sizzling curries or crispy street donuts that linger in the mind long after returning home. Renowned for serving The Finest Cuisine at Sea®, Oceania Cruises is a cruise line founded by foodies, for foodies.

Oceania Cruises is the only major cruise line to have two Master Chefs of France guiding an expert culinary team to ensure its onboard menus are authentic to each destination visited, and making use of the finest ingredients.

Let’s take a look at some of the upper premium cruise line’s most notable dishes.

Watermelon and duck confit salad

Skilfully balancing sweet and sour, with lime leaf and lemongrass humming in the background, the watermelon and duck confit salad has become a guest favourite onboard Oceania Marina and Oceania Riviera.

The dish is a mainstay of the onboard pan-Asian Red Ginger restaurant, reflecting Oceania Riviera’s 2024 itineraries, which visit Thailand, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong, among others.

Guests are surprised to learn the dish has its origin in Europe, as duck confit is a traditional ingredient in French cassoulet, but Oceania Cruises’ chefs pair it with watermelon for a fresh and savoury salad.

Oceania Cruises sources the freshest lobster available from Nova Scotia. Photo: Oceania Cruises

Steamed lobster

Lobster features prominently on the menus at the Polo Grill, a floating steakhouse onboard Oceania Cruises’ ships, and for good reason.

The line sources the freshest lobster available from the pristine waters of Nova Scotia thanks to a long-standing partnership with a father-and-son fishermen team in the region.

Honouring the ingredient, while also letting its quality speak for itself, chefs gently steam the lobster and serve it either with drawn butter or gratinated with breadcrumbs, garlic and parsley.

It strikes the balance between luxury and comfort, perfect when cruising along the misty, pine-forested coastlines of Canada, where the lobsters are caught.

Herb-crusted rotisserie chicken

Oceania Cruises’ executive culinary director since 2003, Master Chef Jacques Pépin, is one of France’s most awarded and celebrated chefs.

In Oceania Cruises’ Grand Dining Room, you will find one of Jacques’ signature dishes: Herb-crusted rotisserie chicken with mashed potatoes and jus de roti.

It’s a humble nod to Pépin’s roots. Recently sailing with Oceania Cruises, Jacques’ daughter, Claudine, described the dish as sheer comfort food, one that always reminds her of her father and her family.

Masterfully prepared dishes exemplify the essence of Tuscany and celebrate Italy’s culinary passion. Photo: Oceania Cruises

Risotto al porcino

Serving authentic Italian dishes with all the love and care of a doting nonna, onboard restaurant Toscana is where you’ll find generations-old family recipes shared by Italian crew members.

The standout dish, perfect after a day spent exploring the ruins of Pompeii or the cobbled laneways of Rome, is the mushroom risotto: Risotto al porcini.

Staying true to the minimalist aesthetic of authentic Italian cuisine, the dish incorporates porcini mushroom, risotto rice, ricotta cream and fried basil to create something deceptively simple but unforgettably delicious.

Aquamar Kitchen presents a fresh perspective on dining and the pursuit of wellness. Photo: Oceania Cruises

Avocado toast

On Oceania Cruises’ newest ship Vista, the signature dish at wellness inspired Aquamar Kitchen is the humble avocado toast, but not as you know it.

Taking inspiration from Mexico, rustic bread is heaped with zesty lime-infused avocado and crowned with plump prawns.

It’s a versatile, nutritious dish that chef Alexis Quaretti says can be enjoyed for breakfast or lunch, and fuels you up for a day of exploring.

Oceania Cruises’ newest March offer is here! For the month of March, you can save up to 40 per cent per stateroom on a fantastic array of 2024 sailings.

For additional information on Oceania Cruises’ small-ship luxury product, The Finest Cuisine at Sea, and expertly curated travel experiences visit www.oceaniacruises.com, call Oceania Cruises on 1300 355 200, or speak with a professional travel advisor.

Terms and conditions apply.