John McGuire Travel insights from Jenna Buege, senior editor of The Compass
From late 2024 into 2025, passengers aboard Oceania Cruises’ 1,250-passenger ship Riviera will have the chance to explore lesser-known ports in Africa and Asia with three exciting new itineraries from the popular cruise liner. Ranging from 27 to 59 days, these enticing offerings present travelers with the best of both worlds as they discover incredible destinations while simultaneously enjoying the “home-away-from-home residential-style luxury” and culinary goodness Oceania Cruises is known for.
According to Oceania Cruises, “the jewel” of these fresh itineraries is “A Tale of Five Seas,” a 59-day Grand Voyage sailing across Africa and Asia that docks at some truly off-the-beaten-path ports. With this itinerary, travelers will kick off their adventure in Barcelona and call at the Canary Islands before navigating down the western coast of Africa and stopping in Senegal, Gambia, Ghana and an overnight stay in Walvis Bay, Namibia. Upon reaching the country’s southernmost point, travelers will enjoy an overnight stop in Cape Town before heading up Africa’s eastern coast and stopping in Madagascar and Tanzania along the way. Finally, Riviera will take sailors across the Indian Ocean to Asia where they’ll stop in the Seychelles, Maldives, Thailand and Malaysia before ending their voyage with an overnight stay in Singapore.
“These longer, destination-immersive voyages offer curious, well-traveled guests the chance to explore some of the most off-the-beaten-path ports in the world, all from the elegant surroundings of Riviera,” said Frank A Del Rio, president of Oceania Cruises. “Sailing from Europe to Asia, via both coasts of Africa, is a true bucket list journey, combining iconic cities and unknown gems, with our incredible onboard service and the best value in luxury cruising, these voyages are hard to resist.”
As an added bonus, guests sailing on Oceania Cruises’ new Asia and Africa itineraries can take advantage of the brand’s simply MORE offering, an exclusive deal providing guests with a shore excursion credit up to $2,600 per stateroom; free roundtrip airfare; free airport transfers; free champagne, wine and more during meals; free sodas, specialty teas and coffee; free gourmet specialty dining and free, unlimited Wi-Fi.
During its shorter voyages, Riviera will take guests to iconic ports like Port Elizabeth, Dar Es Salaam, Phuket, Penang, Colombo and Malé. The ship will also make stops at small, more niche ports like Antsiranana in Madagascar, Sao Tome and Lome in Togo and Hambantota in Sri Lanka. Wherever they go, travelers will find more than 400 shore excursions to choose from, helping them to immerse themselves in each destination’s natural wonders and local culture.
Riviera’s New Itineraries:
A Tale of Five Seas
A 59-day voyage departing on November 14, 2024, from Barcelona, and arriving in Singapore on January 12, 2025. According to Oceania Cruises, ports of call include Seville, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arrecife, Mindelo, Dakar, Banjul, Abidjan, Sekondi-Takoradi, Lome, Sao Tome, an overnight stay in Walvis Bay, Luderitz, overnight stay in Cape Town, Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, Maputo, Nosy Be, Mayotte, overnight stay in Dar Es Salaam, Antsiranana, Mahe, overnight stay in Male, Colombo, Hambantota, Phuket, Langkawi, Penang, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, finishing with an overnight stay in Singapore.
West African Rhythms
A 27-day voyage departing on November 14, 2024, from Barcelona and arriving in Cape Town on December 11, 2024. According to Oceania Cruises, ports of call include Seville, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arrecife, Mindelo, Dakar, Banjul, Abidjan, Sekondi-Takoradi, Lome, Sao Tome, an overnight stay in Walvis Bay, Luderitz, finishing with an overnight stay in Cape Town.
Colonial Crowns
A 32-day voyage departing on December 11, 2024, from Cape Town and arriving in Singapore on January 12, 2025. According to Oceania Cruises, ports of call include Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, Maputo, Nosy Be, Mayotte, overnight stay in Dar Es Salaam, Antsiranana, Mahe, an overnight stay in Male, Colombo, Hambantota, Phuket, Langkawi, Penang, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, finishing with an overnight stay in Singapore.
About the Author
Senior Editor for VAX VacationAccess and world explorer, Jenna loves writing about all things travel. When she’s not busy creating content, she spends her time exploring the great outdoors, cuddling with her two black cats and researching her next big (sometimes strange) adventure.
