General News
28 July, 2025
Maiden luxurious voyage
OCEANIA Cruises, regarded as one of the world’s leading culinary and destination-focused cruise lines, is preparing its luxurious 1250-guest ship Riviera to sail its first Australia and New Zealand season of voyages.
The ship will make its maiden voyage to Cairns on Friday, February 13, 2026 and return in April, as well as twice each in November and December
Riviera will be the only Oceania Cruises vessel in the region to offer exclusive itineraries with a gourmet foodie focus.
Guests can immerse themselves in the local culinary scene through a broad array of small-group shore excursions including visits to local markets, special plantations and farms, incorporating everything from Australia’s globally revered seafood to New Zealand’s world-famous lamb.
The 2026 Australia and New Zealand season will run from November 2025 to March 2026, featuring a diverse selection of itineraries, ranging from 14 to 35 days, with departures from multiple ports across the region.
“We are incredibly excited to bring Riviera to Australia and New Zealand for the first time,” said Oceania Cruisers’ chief luxury officer Jason Montague.
“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.”
Riviera features The Culinary Centre, a state-of-the-art cooking school at sea where guests can participate in hands-on cooking classes inspired by regional flavours.
The award-winning culinary team has introduced a new class for this year designed to showcase local foodie highlights, the ‘Down Under Abundance’ – a culinary experience inspired by the richness of ingredients found in Australia and New Zealand.
Carefully crafted in collaboration with Oceania Cruises’ ‘Down Under’ chef colleagues, the class celebrates the freshest offerings from the sea, the mountains, and the vineyards of this extraordinary destination.
Riviera has a remarkable selection of gourmet dining venues, each providing a unique culinary experience, including:
Toscana – Authentic Italian cuisine using seasonal ingredients
Polo Grill – An elegant steakhouse in a refined setting
Jacques – A French bistro curated by Jacques Pépin
Red Ginger – An innovative approach to pan-Asian gastronomy
The Grand Dining Room – Where the menu is as sophisticated as the dining room itself
Terrace Cafe – Open sky dining featuring a special destination-themed chef’s market dinner
Waves Grill – Relaxed and casual deckside diner-style dining
Horizons – 180-degree views.
Alongside the onboard culinary centre, Riviera features the Artist Loft, an elegant creative space for artistic expression.
Bumper season
MORE than 6000 passengers and crew have descended on Cairns this week as two of the biggest cruise ships dock at the cruise liner terminal.
Carnival Encounter arrived on Tuesday and departed on Wednesday and Carnival Adventure is due today, leaving tomorrow.
The cruising season has started in the Far North with 91 ship visits from July 1 through to June 30 next year.
Carnival Splendor, which holds up to 3734 passengers, will visit the city seven times this year and five times next year.
Carnival Encounter will call in 10 times, with up to 3200 passengers this year. The busiest month will be October with 13 ships bringing 11,575 passengers. Next year it is November with 19 visits, totalling 13,317 passengers.
Ports North chief executive officer Richard Stevenson said 2025 was another big year with 91 calls expected this year and coincidentally 91 also projected for 2026.
“This cruise activity is a direct result of targeted investment in the port’s capabilities, and we’ve seen growing interest each year from leading cruise lines, reinforcing the port’s reputation and commitment to deliver genuine economic and tourism outcomes for the region,” he said.
