We might have been in The Culinary Center on an Oceania Cruises ship. Except we were in Sydney’s CBD.
Lyndey Milan OAM – chef, author, and popular media personality – was giving us her rules for Mediterranean cooking. She was also rustling up some classic Greek snacks with Sydney Hellenic Club chef Peter Conistis.
Among her tips on Mediterranean cooking:
- I don’t use low-fat anything.
- Use good Greek yogurt.
- Use a butcher for your meats, not the supermarket.
- Use red wine vinegar.
- You can’t beat extra virgin olive oil.
Lyndey Milan also revealed how, after the death of her banker partner John Caldon, cruising helped heal the wounds. She went cruising on an Oceania Cruises itinerary Oceania with friends and discovered the lines passion for cuisine.
Lyndey Milan has also published a book called Taste of Greece, along with her son Blair, who sadly passed away from acute myeloid leaukemia.
But it was Greek cooking – and Oceania’s itineraries in Greece – that was the subject of this week’s presentation.
New ships
Oceania recently launched Vista, its new Allura class vessel now sailing in Europe. You can read our review of Oceania Vista here.
In 2025, there will be Allura – another benchmark vessel with even more improvements.
Jason Worth, Vice President Sales, and General Manager Asia Pacific, announced more than 70 voyages across the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. Vista sails through the capitals of Scandinavia, the Norwegian Fjords, and the British Isles.
2025 Summer highlights
- More than 100 itineraries, and nearly 50 Grand Voyages
- Allura, Vista, Marina, Sirena, and Nautica explore Europe with 70+ diverse itinerary options
- Itinerary lengths ranging from 7 to 56 days
- 100+ overnight stays including Seville, Jerusalem, Istanbul, Bordeaux, Berlin, Antwerp, Montreal, Bora Bora, and Papeete. This gives guests more time to explore Oceania Cruises’ ports of call
- 10 new ports of call including Cesme, Turkey; Kemi, Finland; Lulea, Sweden; Maniitsoq, Greenland; Pozzallo (Sicily), Italy; Samos, Greece; Scrabster, Scotland; Sibenik, Croatia; Sundsvall, Sweden; and Vaasa, Finland.
- And in more good news – Oceania Regatta will sail the first summer season of voyages in French Polynesia and Hawaii. There is a selection of seven new exotic sailings and itineraries ranging from 10 to 18 days. They offer a utopia of cultural encounters, memorable adventures, and pristine natural surroundings.
- Oceania Cruise will visit the region during the ideal months of August, September, and October with itineraries spanning the gorgeous blue lagoon of Bora Bora, the black sand beaches of Tahiti, the colourful coral reefs of Raiatea, the soaring mountains in the verdant jungles of Nuku Hiva and more. Four of the seven new sailings link French Polynesia with the captivating craters, dramatic canyons, and lush waterfalls of the Hawaiian archipelago.
An expansive offering of Mediterranean voyages is available with sailings from Spain, France, and Italy to Greece, Israel, and Turkey.
Nautica will be dedicated to the region with Marina bookending the North Atlantic summer season with Mediterranean itineraries and Vista sailing the region in autumn.
Other European options
Culture-rich Northern Europe voyages aboard Vista and Sirena are available where travellers will discover the medieval cities and fortresses lining the Baltic, the striking architecture and modern design of Scandinavia, the famous castles of Scotland, the legendary landscapes of Ireland, and the historical and iconic attractions of England.
Allura will call on iconic cities and lesser-known gems including Cadiz, Olbia, Messina, Palma de Mallorca, Palermo, and Cinque Terre and feature overnight stays in Istanbul and Monte Carlo.
