Experience Unforgettable Alaskan Wonders: Oceania Riviera's Journey Through the Last Frontier

Luxurious Accommodations: A Sanctuary at Sea

The staterooms aboard the Riviera are meticulously designed to offer the ambiance of a high-end hotel, boasting exquisite finishes such as intricate crown moldings, polished marble countertops, and refined wall sconces. Each cabin features generously sized bathrooms and sumptuously comfortable bedding, elevating the onboard experience. Standard inclusions for guests encompass a minibar stocked with refreshing beverages, complimentary still and sparkling water, premium Bulgari bath products, and convenient 24-hour room service, ensuring a pampered stay.

Elevated Services: Concierge and Suite Privileges

For those seeking enhanced comfort, the Concierge Level Veranda staterooms provide additional perks, including complimentary laundry services, a welcoming bottle of prosecco, and exclusive access to a serene spa terrace located at the ship's forward section. This tier also grants entry to the Concierge Lounge, where guests can enjoy complimentary snacks and a variety of beverages. The suites offer an even higher degree of luxury, complete with dedicated butler service for tasks such as packing and unpacking, a fully stocked bar, and the unique option of course-by-course room service from the ship's specialty dining venues, ensuring a truly bespoke culinary experience.

A Gastronomic Journey: Fine Dining at Sea

Oceania's esteemed reputation for culinary excellence shines brightly on the Riviera, which hosts an impressive array of dining establishments, allowing guests to savor a different gastronomic adventure each night of the week. The Grand Dining Room stands as the ship's flagship eatery, distinguished by a magnificent Lalique crystal chandelier that casts a warm glow over its traditional setting. Beyond this, a selection of specialty restaurants beckons. While most guests receive one complimentary visit per voyage, additional reservations can be made for a fee. The Polo Grill offers a refined steakhouse experience, while the pan-Asian Red Ginger, a personal favorite, delights with innovative dishes such as the lobster avocado salad accented with crispy fried lotus root. For a taste of the Mediterranean, Toscana offers a diverse menu, complemented by a tableside presentation of gourmet olive oils. Jacques, named in honor of Oceania's former executive culinary director, Jacques Pepin, epitomizes classic French cuisine, serving celebratory dishes like the exquisite lobster Thermidor.

Casual Delights and Refreshing Drinks

For more relaxed dining, the Terrace Café provides a casual atmosphere, occasionally transforming into a lavish feast during Alaskan voyages, showcasing fresh salmon, succulent shrimp, plump scallops, and locally sourced game meats, including flavorful reindeer sausage. By the poolside, Waves Grill offers a delightful selection of pizzas in the evenings. The ship also features a variety of bars, including the lively Martinis and a charming, albeit discreet, casino bar, each providing a unique setting for evening relaxation and socializing.

Riviera's Itineraries: Exploring Pristine Waters

The Riviera is making its debut in Alaskan waters for the 2025 season, offering a diverse selection of voyages ranging from nine to twelve days, departing from Seattle, Vancouver, or Whittier. Following its Alaskan season, in late 2025, the vessel will embark on trans-Pacific journeys, featuring extended itineraries of twelve days or more across Asia, Australia, and enchanting destinations like Tahiti. The Riviera is set to return to Alaska for the summer of 2026, promising more opportunities to explore its majestic landscapes. In both 2025 and 2026, select voyages will include calls at Klawock, Alaska's newest cruise port. Here, visitors can partake in whale watching, engage with Tlingit totem pole carvers, browse local craft fairs, and sample fresh seafood in a region of Alaska that remains largely untouched by mainstream tourism, offering an authentic and serene experience.

Engaging Shore Excursions: Immersive Local Experiences

Oceania provides an extensive array of shore excursions at each port, encompassing everything from scenic tours to adventurous fishing expeditions, all available for an additional charge. Highlights for the author included several excursions featuring abundant, butter-drenched crab legs enjoyed with stunning ocean views. Oceania's detailed descriptions of these tours, including any restrictions, were commendably comprehensive. Among the memorable experiences were a highly successful fishing trip in Ketchikan and an exhilarating helicopter ride to the Denver Glacier for a captivating dog sledding demonstration. During the latter, insights were gained into the millennia-long selective breeding of Alaskan sled dogs for their unique characteristics, and the role of competitive dog sledding, including the renowned Iditarod, in preserving this breed. However, a notable omission was the lack of mention regarding women's achievements in the Iditarod until specifically inquired about, a point that, once addressed, revealed that two women have collectively won the race five times. Despite this, the journey was profoundly rewarding, particularly the chance to interact with adorable, weeks-old husky puppies.

Onboard Activities and Entertainment: Enrichment and Relaxation

A standout amenity on the ship is the state-of-the-art culinary center, a custom-designed classroom equipped with a demonstration kitchen and individual workstations. Here, guests can hone their knife skills and sautéing techniques. The author, alongside fellow passengers, mastered the art of perfectly searing scallops (the key being to bring them to room temperature and pat them dry), crafting a delectable smoked salmon spread, and assembling a delightful deep-dish berry cobbler. While the ship features a single pool, the cold and rainy weather during the voyage deterred most from taking a dip, though the expansive indoor fitness center remained a popular hub for active guests. The Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center offers a range of spa treatments, fitness classes, and salon services. However, the author found the spa experience somewhat impersonal, noting a product seminar occurring in the relaxation lounge and a transactional conclusion to the massage. A more tranquil ambiance pervades the afternoon tea service, where a wandering quartet provides soothing background melodies. Evening entertainment often takes the form of production shows, typically presenting a jukebox style that blends music from Broadway, Hollywood, and classic mid-century standards.

Family Offerings: An Adult-Oriented Environment

Oceania's ships are primarily designed with adult travelers in mind, a distinction that is unequivocally clear. While children are not explicitly forbidden on the Riviera, the vessel lacks dedicated facilities or programs for younger guests and teenagers. Childcare services are not provided, the entertainment options are distinctly adult-focused, and restaurants do not offer children's menus. Despite this, some families with children were observed during the author's trip. In contrast, many other cruise lines operating in Alaska specifically cater to families, offering extensive amenities and specialized programming for children, making them a more suitable choice for family vacations.

Accessibility: Inclusive Travel Considerations

The Riviera is equipped with six accessible staterooms, distributed across Inside, Outside, and Veranda categories, thoughtfully designed to accommodate passengers who use wheelchairs. These specialized staterooms feature wider doorways, ample turning space, and grab bars, notably lacking the raised threshold into the bathroom found in other cabins. While suites offer more spacious interiors and also do not have a step into the bathrooms, they are not specifically configured for wheelchair users. The ease of accommodation for guests with mobility devices can vary by port. However, American and Canadian ports on the Riviera's Alaskan itineraries generally adhere to comprehensive accessibility regulations, ensuring they are well-equipped to meet most mobility requirements. Oceania advises passengers with specific needs to communicate these at the time of booking to facilitate appropriate arrangements. Furthermore, shore excursion descriptions detail whether tours are suitable for individuals with reduced mobility, aiding in informed decision-making. The Riviera's dining venues and bars are adept at catering to a wide array of dietary restrictions and preferences, though providing advance notice is often appreciated to ensure a seamless culinary experience.