I was fortunate enough to be offered an Educational Trip with If Only & Oceania Cruises on board the Allura, sailing around the Greek Isles.
We flew from Luton into Athens and were transferred to the cruise port to board the beautiful Oceania Allura. The ship has a capacity of 1,200 guests and has a tonnage of 68,000. We were extremely lucky to be allocated an A3 Concierge Veranda Cabin each! The cabins are beautiful with the most comfortable beds, lots of storage space and spacious bathrooms with walk in showers as well as a bottle of champagne in our cabin when we arrived. I was also greeted by the Cabin Steward who was very attentive and always on hand if I needed anything – he was particularly helpful when I locked myself out of my cabin!
One of the things that stood out was how much Oceania include – Speciality Dining, 24 Hour Room Service, Fitness Classes, Wi-Fi, Daily Afternoon Tea, Entertainment, Gratuities, and non-alcoholic beverages like specialty coffees, teas, sodas, and Vero Water. Guests also select either a Shore Excursion Credit or a Beverage Package (wine, champagne and beer).
The ship is truly special, it is small enough that it does not feel too busy but big enough that there are plenty of facilities onboard.
Day 1
On our first day, we enjoyed a late lunch in Waves which is a casual dining spot on the pool deck which offers a small buffet as well as a menu with burgers, toasties and hot dogs on offer – there is even a wagyu beef burger with lobster tail! We then headed to our cabins to freshen up for the evening.
That night, we had a lovely private cocktail party in the Horizon Lounge followed by a wonderful dinner at the Italian Restaurant, Toscana, which was my favourite of the week. The highlight here was the Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar tray that is bought round, with a choice of 10 olive oils and 10 balsamic vinegars for you to handpick! We then headed to the Allura Lounge to watch the evening show.
Day 2
On Day 2, we woke up in the beautiful Santorini, where I took advantage of the Complimentary Room Service and had breakfast on my balcony whilst sailing into Thira. After breakfast, we got onto an early tender over to the mainland where we then used the cable car to reach the top of the village of Thira. We explored the boutiques and enjoyed the views whilst walking around for a few hours before stopping for lunch overlooking the bay. We then headed back to the ship for a ship tour and then we all treated ourselves to a waffle and ice cream at the Creperie! That evening, we headed to the Grand Dining Room for another amazing dinner! After dinner, we headed to Horizons to watch the evening entertainment, where they had the ships band playing who were brilliant
Day 3
On Day 3, we woke up in a very sunny Rhodes Town. That morning, it was Gemma’s Birthday (from If Only) so we celebrated with a late breakfast in Aquamar, where they serve healthier breakfast options, including avocado on toast, acai bowls and fresh smoothies. We then headed into Rhodes town and explored the medieval town, then we stopped for a birthday cocktail for Gemma! The afternoon was spent back on the ship, enjoying lunch and the pool area before we got ready for pre drinks at the Martini Bar. Dinner tonight was at the Asian Restaurant – Red Ginger. This was probably my second favourite restaurant and the highlight here was the choice of chopsticks that got bought over to our table. The food was also incredible, we went for family style so that we could all try everything! We then headed to Horizons again to watch the evening entertainment.
Day 4
Day 4 was the day we were due to spend in Crete, due to high winds, the ship was unable to dock and so we had an unexpected day at sea. The crew were brilliant and the new daily programmes were updated promptly with lots of activities available throughout the day. The whole group were tasked with trying an activity that we wouldn’t normally do – I chose to do bracelet making and bingo! There were lots of other options including dance classes, jewellery cleaning, board games, presentations etc. We also tried the afternoon tea which was delicious! That evening, we met for dinks in the Founders Bar which is an intimate area with a chic vibe and high-end craft cocktails, featuring tableside mixology, vapor-filled flavour bubbles, and a premium selection of aged bourbons and a unique smoky smell. Following this, we headed to the casual dining buffet restaurant, Terrace Café where we sat outside overlooking the back of the ship, watching the sunset as we dined which was very special. The food in this restaurant is of a very high standard for a buffet and they also do a few options that you can order including pizzas. After dinner, we headed to Horizons bar for the ‘Blue Horizon Party’ where guests are encouraged to wear blue. The entrainment team were out in full force, providing different acts and lots of performances which got everyone o the dancefloor!
Day 5
On Day 5, we woke up in the small port of Katakolon – this port exceeded my expectations, it’s a lovely pretty port with gorgeous boutiques and restaurants. We spotted a land train which took you to a local winery, followed by the best beach in the area. We hopped on the land train which only took 15 minutes and spent a few hours on the beach and swimming in the sea. After that, we went back to the port and had a traditional chicken gyros lunch whilst over looking the sea and the ship! That afternoon, a few of us socked up the last few hours of sunshine around the pool area before getting ready for our final dinner at Polo Grill. We had another fabulous meal in the Polo Grill which offered 4 different types of Steak, chicken dishes, fish options and vegetarian options – lots of choices for everyone! We then headed for a night cap before getting an early night before our flight home the following day from Corfu.
I could not recommend Oceania enough, the service and the food are second to none and the staff are incredible at working so hard to keep such high standards. A huge thank you to If Only and Oceania for the experience.
