Oceania Cruises has officially brought one of its most beloved ships Down Under, with Oceania Riviera making her Sydney debut as part of her first full season of voyages in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. The 1,250-guest vessel arrived in Fremantle in late November before sailing via Busselton, Albany, Kangaroo Island, Adelaide, Melbourne and Tasmania to reach Sydney, where she docked for the first time yesterday.
Riviera will now spend the 2026 season in the region through to March, offering a collection of 14‑ to 35-day itineraries that blend marquee cities with smaller, character-rich ports. Travellers can learn more about the line’s destination-focused style on the official site for Oceania Cruises.
Culinary-Focused Voyages with Local Flavour
True to Oceania Cruises’ reputation for “The Finest Cuisine at Sea”, Riviera’s Australian season is designed as much around food as it is around scenery. Guests can join small‑group shore excursions that go beyond standard city tours to explore local markets, rice fields, vineyards and truffle farms, with a view to connecting each destination to what ends up on their plate back on board. This fits neatly with the ship’s existing onboard offering, which includes multiple specialty venues such as French restaurant Jacques, pan‑Asian Red Ginger, classic steakhouse Polo Grill and Italian favourite Toscana.
The culinary focus is complemented by Riviera’s intimate size and high staff-to-guest ratio, which together create a more residential, country‑club feel than that found on many larger mainstream ships. For Australian travellers, that means opportunities to taste regional produce in situ – from South Australian seafood to New Zealand lamb and Pacific Island delicacies – while enjoying refined interiors and attentive service throughout the voyage.
Itineraries That Mix Icons and Hidden Gems
Riviera’s 2026 program features a mix of 14‑, 21‑ and 35-day journeys departing from multiple ports across Australia and New Zealand, giving guests flexibility to choose anything from a focused two-week escape to a longer, grand‑voyage-style experience. Alongside headline ports such as Sydney, Auckland and Melbourne, itineraries call at lesser-known gems like Mystery Island in Vanuatu, Kangaroo Island in South Australia and Dunedin in New Zealand’s South Island.
These smaller destinations play to Riviera’s mid-sized footprint: large enough to offer a wide choice of dining and facilities, but compact enough to access ports that mega‑ships often bypass. On Kangaroo Island, guests can encounter wildlife and rugged coastlines; on Mystery Island, it’s all about snorkelling in clear lagoons and wandering car‑free paths; while Dunedin delivers a mix of Edwardian architecture and easy access to the Otago Peninsula’s coastal scenery.
Trade Support and Regional Commitment
To mark Riviera’s first call into Sydney, Oceania Cruises hosted more than 100 trade partners on board for ship tours and a hosted lunch in venues such as Jacques and the Grand Dining Room, giving the local industry a first‑hand look at the product Australian guests can expect. The visit follows a broader period of momentum for the brand, including the naming of new ship Allura and previews of forthcoming next‑generation vessel Sonata, which will debut in 2027.
For Australian and New Zealand cruisers who value smaller ships, longer itineraries and a strong focus on food and culture, Riviera’s inaugural season represents one of the most compelling new options on the horizon. More information on itineraries and fares can be found at Oceania Cruises.
