Transatlantic Cruise from Rome to Miami on the Oceania Riviera
Transatlantic Cruise
Cruises that cross the Atlantic Ocean usually take place twice a year: in spring (mainly from mid-March to early May) from America to Europe, and in late autumn from Europe to America, with most sailings taking place in October–November, though a few occur earlier or later. This article describes a 16-night cruise that concluded the transatlantic cruise season in early December. The cruise departed Italy from the port of Civitavecchia (near Rome) and concluded at the Port of Miami, Florida.
The cruise took place aboard the Oceania Riviera right after it underwent a comprehensive refurbishment, which primarily focused on the guest staterooms and suites as well as several public spaces. As a result, we received a brand-new cabin that no one had stayed in before us.
Transatlantic cruises in particular, and repositioning cruises between continents in general, are inexpensive compared to more "classic" itineraries, mainly because they feature more sea days and fewer port days.
This is likely one of the reasons Oceania Cruises offered the OLIFE ULTIMATE promotion for this transatlantic voyage on the Riviera. In addition to complimentary internet (one device per room), the package included 4 shore excursions per guest, a beverage package (including alcohol) for every guest, and $400 in onboard credit. This effectively covered all gratuities, leaving extra credit to enjoy the spa, book an additional tour, attend a culinary class, and more. The ship weighs 66,000 tons—small compared to mega-ships from Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess, and Carnival, yet nearly twice the size of Oceania's smaller vessels like Oceania Regatta. At full capacity, the Riviera holds about 1,200 passengers, but on this transatlantic sailing there were just over 900 guests with approximately 800 crew members! This translates to a personal service ratio of almost one crew member per guest. It is no wonder the cruise line is renowned for its exceptional service, and it comes as no surprise that many crew members—especially dining staff and entertainment team—knew most passengers by name within days. The ambiance is intimate, refined, and welcoming.
About Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises was founded in 2002 by veteran cruise industry executives specializing in luxury travel. It was established as an upscale boutique cruise line for travelers seeking high-quality voyages in an elegant yet casual atmosphere, focusing on superior service, culinary excellence, and immersive itineraries. Since 2014, the company has been part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, though bookings are handled separately. Bookings can be made directly on the official Oceania website or through travel agents specializing in luxury cruises.
Today, the fleet includes six cruise ships:
4 smaller vessels of approximately 30,300 tons accommodating up to 684 passengers with over 400 crew members. All of these ships have undergone extensive refurbishments covering staterooms and public spaces, including decks and pool areas.
2 larger ships (including the Riviera) of approximately 66,000 tons—still intimate in scale—accommodating up to 1,258 guests with 800 crew members.
These figures highlight a passenger-to-crew ratio of around 1.6 to 1.7 at maximum capacity, ensuring attentive, pampering service throughout your voyage.
Thanks to the relatively small number of passengers, you rarely feel crowded or encounter long lines. Everything feels spacious, calm, and seamless. Whatever you need, a crew member is always on hand to assist. The intimate environment also makes it easy to meet fellow travelers and build lasting friendships.
Two additional 67,000-ton ships designed for approximately 1,200 passengers are joining the fleet, starting with Vista launching in May 2023.
Most passengers are American and Canadian, along with many British, European, Australian, and international travelers. Passenger ages are generally 50+, with the average age increasing on longer itineraries.
Oceania's Gourmet Dining
Above all, Oceania Cruises is acclaimed for its culinary program. Once you taste the food, it comes as no surprise that the line consistently wins top honors for best cruise line cuisine from leading travel and cruise publications.
Many travelers and Michelin-starred chefs affirm that the dining quality rivals top Michelin-starred restaurants on land. Wine connoisseurs will also appreciate the extensive, curated wine lists.
Oceania Riviera features four specialty chef restaurants on par with fine-dining establishments:
♦ Jacques - French Restaurant:
♦ Toscana - Authentic Italian Dining
♦ Polo Grill - Classic Steakhouse and Seafood:
♦ Red Ginger - Contemporary Asian Cuisine:
Cruise fares include dining at all specialty restaurants without surcharge. Guests can reserve one sitting at each restaurant prior to embarkation, and additional reservations can be made once onboard based on availability. Visiting each venue more than once is highly recommended, as the menus are exceptionally rich and varied.
The Grand Dining Room
In the main venue, The Grand Dining Room—open daily for breakfast and dinner, and for lunch on sea days—the cuisine is diverse and executed to perfection, accompanied by impeccable white-glove service.
Meals are served on custom fine Versace china and designer European tableware.
In addition, the ship offers a generous buffet at the Terrace Café and an open-air Waves Grill serving gourmet burgers, hot dogs, lobster rolls, and filet mignon sandwiches. Adjacent to the pool is an artisanal gelato bar along with a smoothie/juice bar offering fresh fruit juices, milkshakes, and wellness drinks throughout the day at no extra charge.
Baristas Coffee Bar
Overlooking the pool deck, Baristas serves complimentary specialty coffees, espresso drinks, fresh pastries, finger sandwiches, and light bites that rotate throughout the day.
Horizons Lounge
Horizons provides 24-hour coffee, tea, and soft drinks, along with light breakfast offerings. The highlight here is the traditional 4:00 PM Afternoon Tea, where white-gloved waiters serve loose-leaf teas, delicate sandwiches, pastries, cookies, and warm scones with clotted cream and jam.
Located on the highest deck with expansive panoramic windows, Horizons is a wonderful venue for watching ocean vistas, sunsets, and port arrivals, all accompanied by live string quartet performances during afternoon tea.
Complimentary 24-hour room service is included, allowing you to enjoy a full breakfast or private dinner in your stateroom.
Guests staying in Penthouse Suites and higher receive daily afternoon treats delivered to their suite, such as chocolate-covered strawberries, cheese boards, fruit skewers, olives, and gourmet nuts.
Non-alcoholic beverages—ranging from premium bottled water and sodas to juices, isotonic drinks, specialty coffees, and teas—are complimentary throughout the ship. Mini-bars in staterooms are restocked daily with soft drinks.
On every Oceania cruise, a lavish Sunday Brunch is presented in The Grand Dining Room from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, featuring spectacular displays of gourmet cuisine accompanied by live string ensemble performances.
The Culinary Center Cooking Classes
A distinctive feature aboard Oceania ships is The Culinary Center, which offers hands-on, two-hour cooking classes with different menus daily. Led by a master chef and culinary instructors (available for an added fee), participants prepare three gourmet dishes and savor their creations at the end of class. We took part in the "Farm & Fisherman" workshop, which was both delicious and full of practical cooking techniques. Recipe cards are provided to take home. Each workstation features individual induction cooktops, sinks, and premium cookware, with all ingredients pre-washed, chopped, and measured. A fantastic experience for food enthusiasts!
Sports and Fitness Facilities
To balance out all the outstanding food and drinks, the ship provides comprehensive fitness and sports amenities.
While the ship is not geared toward children with waterslides or climbing walls, it offers excellent recreational facilities: a state-of-the-art gym, complimentary fitness classes (yoga, Pilates, spinning), a pickleball/paddle tennis court, ping pong, mini-golf, shuffleboard, bocce ball, and a jogging track.
Daily fun putting and deck game challenges award "Big O Points," which can be redeemed on the final day for branded Oceania gifts and merchandise.
Art Collection and Gallery
Throughout the ship, an impressive multi-million dollar art collection of original paintings and sculptures is displayed, complete with artist names and descriptions next to each piece.
At embarkation, guests receive an art scavenger hunt sheet featuring 64 cropped detail photos of artwork, carpets, and furnishings across the ship. Finding where each image is located makes for an engaging voyage-long activity that encourages guests to closely admire the ship's curated art collection, earning prize points upon completion.
Entertainment and Relaxation
The ship features an intimate casino and full-service spa (treatments available for an extra fee), offering everything needed for rest and relaxation.
Instead of multi-story theaters with Broadway-style productions, entertainment takes place in intimate lounges hosting musical revues, guest lecturers, cooking demonstrations, and trivia games.
The outdoor pool deck features a heated swimming pool and multiple whirlpool hot tubs.
Oceania cruises do not hold formal nights requiring tuxedos or evening gowns. The onboard dress code is country club casual, allowing guests to dress comfortably and stylishly.
Stateroom Categories
The ship has very few inside and oceanview cabins; the vast majority are spacious veranda staterooms and suites. Options range from Penthouse Suites with separate living and sleeping areas, walk-in closets, oversized marble bathrooms, and spacious balconies:
to expansive multi-room Owner's Suites. All suites feature dedicated butler service, though stateroom service across all cabin categories is attentive and thorough.
All rooms are equipped with luxury Bvlgari toiletries, plush bedding, and stocked mini-bars.
Self-Service Launderettes
A highly convenient amenity rarely found on other lines is the complimentary self-service launderettes located on stateroom decks, equipped with washers, dryers, and free detergent. This is invaluable during extended sailings of 10 nights or more. Full-service paid laundry and pressing services are also available.
Transatlantic Cruise Itinerary
Rome (Civitavecchia) - Italy
The embarkation port for this cruise is Civitavecchia, located approximately 80 km (about a one-hour drive northwest) from Rome. Spending at least two nights in Rome before the cruise is highly recommended to explore the Eternal City.
Article on excursions from this port: Tours North of Rome Before or After a Cruise from Civitavecchia Port
Guided Excursions from Civitavecchia Port
♦ Recommended Tour to Orvieto & Civita:
Best Of Civitavecchia Shore Tour: Orvieto & Civita Di Bagnoregio Tour - A 7-9 hour excursion departing directly from the cruise terminal to two remarkable ancient towns: Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio, both recognized for their historic heritage.
♦ Private Tour with Driver to Rome from Civitavecchia for Cruise Passengers:
Civitavecchia Port: 9 Hours Luxury Private Full-Day Shore Excursion of Rome
Includes port pick-up and drop-off tailored to cruise ship schedules, touring Rome's top attractions with a private driver.
♦ Private Airport Transfer in Rome (Airport to Hotel or Vice Versa):
Rome Airport Transfer - ONE WAY
Cannes - France
The following day, the ship arrives at its first port of call: Cannes, in the French Riviera. You can spend the day exploring Cannes, famous for its annual International Film Festival and seaside promenades, or join an excursion into the scenic hilltop villages of Provence.
This time, we chose an excursion to Gourdon, a picturesque village perched on a 760-meter-high cliff reached via a scenic, winding mountain road. The village is known for its artisan soaps and perfumes, charming boutique shops, cafes, and sweeping panoramic views spanning the mountains down to the Côte d'Azur coastline.
Barcelona - Spain
The next port of call is Barcelona. No matter how many times you visit, the vibrant capital of Catalonia always enchants with its world-class art, architecture, markets, dining, and shopping.
We opted for a countryside "Cava and Chocolate" gastronomic tour visiting two family-run producers. The first was Caves Pagès Entrena, a historic family-owned winery producing authentic Cava (Spanish sparkling wine) located about 45 minutes from central Barcelona. The guided tour explains the artisanal production process, followed by tastings paired with local cheeses, cured meats, and traditional Catalan tomato bread.
From there, a 10-minute drive leads to Chocolates Simón Coll, a historic family confectioner. The visit includes an interactive multimedia presentation on chocolate making, live demonstrations, generous tastings, and a factory store offering a vast selection of chocolates at factory prices.
Following the 5-hour excursion, plenty of time remains to stroll down Las Ramblas, explore the famous Mercat de la Boqueria, and wander the historic Gothic Quarter. Walking back from Las Ramblas to the cruise terminal takes an easy, scenic 30 minutes with views of the ships in port.
Gibraltar
Following a relaxing sea day, the ship docks in Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory centered around the iconic 426-meter-high limestone Rock of Gibraltar stretching 6 km long.
The best way to experience Gibraltar is from above: a 30-minute walk from the port brings you to the cable car station heading up to the summit, offering magnificent panoramic views of the bay, the Strait, and the Spanish coastline. The upper section comprises the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, covering around 40% of Gibraltar's land area. Over 200 Barbary macaque monkeys roam freely across the reserve. Gibraltar is very easy and enjoyable to navigate independently without an organized tour.
Tenerife - Canary Islands, Spain
After another restful day at sea, the ship reaches its final European port: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands.
This is one of Europe's most popular winter cruise ports, offering pleasant weather year-round when much of mainland Europe is chilly. In November 2022 alone, 80 cruise ships called at Tenerife!
A 5-hour guided 4x4 Jeep tour to Teide National Park is highly recommended. The route winds through volcanic landscapes, craters, and pine forests, offering spectacular viewpoints over Mount Teide, the coastline, and the Atlantic.
Those preferring a relaxed day in town can take a 10-minute walk from the cruise pier directly into Santa Cruz de Tenerife's city center, exploring historic plazas, pedestrian streets, and shops.
Sea Days - Crossing the Atlantic Ocean
Five consecutive sea days follow as the ship crosses the Atlantic toward the Caribbean—ideal time to unwind, enjoy the onboard amenities, and indulge in gourmet dining.
As you sail westward, the weather grows progressively warmer and sunnier. While initial sea days brought moderate swells and breezes, the ship handled the crossing smoothly with minimal motion. The remainder of the crossing offered calm seas, gentle breezes, and ideal conditions to enjoy the open decks.
Sea days offer unforgettable panoramic ocean sunrises and sunsets from the top decks.
Antigua - Caribbean
Upon reaching the Caribbean, the itinerary features two island stops: Antigua and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Antigua is the largest of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, famous for having 365 beaches—one for each day of the year—with clear turquoise waters perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and water sports.
Beyond its beaches, Antigua offers historic harbors like Nelson's Dockyard, scenic lookouts like Shirley Heights, lush rainforests, and unique sweet black pineapples. A private island tour with Antigua V.I.P. Tours is a great way to explore the island's highlights and enjoy beach time.
Detailed guide to Antigua: Antigua Travel and Vacation Guide
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico, known as "The Island of Enchantment" (Isla del Encanto), is a vibrant destination blending Spanish, African, Taíno, and American cultural influences. It boasts the richest Spanish colonial heritage in the Caribbean, featuring historic fortresses, walled cities, cobblestone streets, and lively plazas.
Puerto Rico is also celebrated for diverse natural landscapes spanning tropical rainforests (El Yunque), limestone caves, and offshore cays. San Juan's cruise terminal is located right beside Old San Juan, making it effortless to walk off the ship directly into the historic quarter's colorful streets, cafes, shops, and forts.
A private 4-5 hour tour with Jorge, owner of Unique Quality Tours, is highly recommended. He offers personalized excursions ranging from coffee, rum, and culinary trails to rainforests and ziplining. We opted for a tour to neighboring Loíza, exploring caves, coastal beaches, mangrove lagoons, and scenic overlooks of Isla Verde, Condado, and historic fortifications, led by an informative and fluent English-speaking guide.
The tour concluded in the heart of Old San Juan, leaving ample free time to walk through the historic blue cobblestone streets back to the ship.
More details in my travel guide: Puerto Rico Travel Guide
Miami, Florida
Departing Puerto Rico, two final sea days provide a relaxing conclusion sailing to Miami, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the ship's amenities and culinary experiences.
The onboard Oceania Club sales desk consistently drew strong interest, offering substantial discounts, reduced deposits, and flexible terms for future bookings.
Disembarking such an impressive ship is made easier knowing another voyage can be booked for the future. An exceptional cruise experience from start to finish!
For Miami attractions and road trip itineraries departing from Miami, check out my articles:
Miami Travel Guide
Miami Food Tours and Guided Excursions
Detailed road trip itineraries from Miami on my website:
Road Trip Route from Miami to New Orleans
Road Trip Route from Miami to Key West or Miami to Orlando