By
Alex Smith |
Oceania Cruises’ Riviera is to sail its first Australia and New Zealand season from November 2025 to March 2026.
The cruise season will feature a selection of seven different itineraries ranging from 14 to 35 days, with departures from multiple ports across the region. Destinations will include Mystery Island in Vanuatu, Dunedin in New Zealand and Sydney in Australia.
Guests will be offered a range of small-group shore excursions exploring the local culinary scene, including visits to local markets, rice fields and truffle farms. Chef-led Culinary Discovery Tours will take visitors to local restaurants or to see local fisherman and farmers.
A ‘Down Under Abundance’ class will be available at Riviera’s Culinary Center school
Riviera’s Culinary Center, a cooking school where guests can participate in hands-on cooking classes inspired by regional flavours, will also feature a new class, the ‘Down Under Abundance’. Curated in collaboration with Oceania Cruises’ Australian and New Zealand chef colleagues, the class includes produce from the sea, the mountains and the vineyards of the region.
Guests will also have the option to add a pre- or post-cruise land programme. The ‘Great Barrier Island Adventure’ in Auckland, New Zealand, includes chartered fishing trips, star-gazing experiences and a tour of the city. The ‘Scenic Journey to the Blue Mountains,’ meanwhile, will depart from Sydney to explore the landscape before joining a hike with a National Park Ranger, who will share Dreamtime stories of the Aboriginal people who first inhabited the area.
"We are incredibly excited to bring Riviera to Australia and New Zealand for the first time," said Jason Montague, chief luxury officer at Oceania Cruises. "This new chapter reflects our commitment to offering exceptional, immersive experiences that celebrate the region’s diverse cultures and breathtaking landscapes. Riviera’s voyages will offer travellers an unmatched opportunity to savour the finest local cuisine while exploring some of the world’s most iconic destinations in unparalleled comfort and style."