We found an ad in Travel & Leisure about this Mediterranean cruise on Oceania's Riviera. This was our first cruise, and what a delight it turned out to be! The ship is relatively new, and all public and private areas were spotless and tastefully elegant. The Riviera is a mid-size ship and caters to people who want comfort, an interesting itinerary, and are not so interested in evening shows and raucous entertainment. We booked a Penthouse Suite on Deck 11, which turned out to be just about the most convenient spot onboard, close to elevators, stairs, and only one deck below the pool and some of the restaurants. Yet we did not have any noise issues. The 420 square foot cabin was beautifully appointed, with a walk-in closet, large bathroom with two sinks, shower, and full-size bathtub. The veranda was quite large, able to easily accommodate 4 chairs and a small table when we had guests.

We had a butler who brought us canapes every afternoon and was knowledgeable about ports, shore excursions, and restaurants. I didn't think we would use his services, but he was very helpful. In fact, all the staff at every level was friendly and professional. Service is a hallmark on this ship. We asked, and it was provided immediately. We had access to the Executive Lounge, which has coffee, tea, sodas and snacks all the time.

Dining on the Riviera is wonderful at every venue. The four specialty restaurants run the gamut from Italian to Asian cuisine. Our favorite was Jacques, the French restaurant, where we dined twice. The lamb is spectacular! The Grand Dining Room is elegant and offers a huge variety of dishes every bit as good as in the specialty restaurants. There is a wonderful buffet restaurant, the Terrace, for those who want to dine more casually for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The diners may be more casual here, but the food is outstanding. Finally, there is the Waves Grill near the pool, offering sandwiches and light fare. Read more