A veranda stateroom on Oceania Cruises' newest Vista vessel isn't cheap. But after spending one night in the room, I now see why travelers are paying at least $2,350 for a vacation in the floating hotel room this year.
After sailing on four cruise ships from four different cruise lines, I've seen my fair share of mediocre staterooms. From confusing decor to insufficient toiletries, I don't expect much from the average cruise ship stateroom.
But Oceania isn't the average cruise line.
Don't expect hordes of families with young children and giant cruise ships with water parks and go-kart tracks.
Instead, the company focuses on a premium segment with smaller vessels and elevated dining options.
Oceania has seven ships in its fleet, the newest being the 1,200-guest Vista.
This new vessel launched in early May and will home port in Miami for most of what's left of 2023.
But on Sept. 17 over a thousand miles from this cruising hot spot, the Oceania Vista was docked in New York City. And it was there that the cruise line invited me to spend one night in its new ship's veranda stateroom.
Before I tapped my key card to enter the room, I had reasonably high expectations for a brand like Oceania.
Until then, I had only bunked in staterooms on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, Norwegian's Prima, Margaritaville at Sea's Paradise, and Celebrity's Apex.
While my staterooms aboard the Norwegian Prima and Celebrity Apex were the nicest of this list, neither compare to my veranda stateroom on the new Oceania Vista.
From the large balcony and bathroom to the well-stocked beverage station and Bulgari toiletries, it's easy to see why this stateroom fits in the premium cruise market.
At a little over 290 square-feet, this was the largest hotel room at sea I've stayed in.
And the balcony was undoubtedly the largest I've had as well.
While this private outdoor space was only furnished with two cushioned chairs and a small table, it could've easily accommodated more than two people.
I had never taken that many steps to get from my room's glass sliding door to the edge of the balcony.
Back inside, the living room was as expected — but with one surprise addition.
After staying in five cruise ships, I've learned that there's not much to be done with the "living room." Here, there was a small couch, desk, and table.
But it's worth calling out the latter, which was the first I've had in a stateroom.
Unlike any of the previous ones I've stayed in, there was plenty of room for this small table.
It's a minor — arguably unnecessary — addition given the adjacent desk.
But it gave me the option to pick between working from the desk and the comfortable couch. You can probably guess which one I preferred.
Speaking of comfort, Oceania's beds are so iconic, you can buy them for yourself.
My nest for the night had 1,000-thread-count linens and Oceania's "Tranquility Bed."
After a comfortable night's sleep, I can see why travelers would want to invest in one of these cruise-branded beds.
But my back isn't frail enough (yet) to be picky about bedding — I've yet to encounter an uncomfortable bed aboard a cruise ship.
Next to the slumber space, the small beverage station was one of the most obvious signals that this accommodation was more luxurious than average.
During typical sailings, the complimentary soft drinks in the mini refrigerator are restocked daily. No need to pay for an additional "refreshments package" just to get your daily Diet Coke in.
The still and sparkling water bottles were also "free."
As were the water bottles designed to be refilled around the ship. Having a steady supply of bottled and refillable water is a convenience I wish all staterooms had.
I've already mentioned the famed Bulgari toiletries.
But what we haven't discussed yet is the bathroom in general, which might be the biggest I've ever had in a stateroom.
I don't think I've ever seen built-in bathroom cup holders before.
Nor have I ever had a rainfall shower in my bathroom at sea.
It's not like the shower worked better than any of the other ones I've used before.
But it's a small touch that makes this bathroom feel more luxurious.
There were even two levels of toiletries holders inside the shower. Unlike other ones I've had in cruise staterooms, this one was spacious — a recurring but crucial theme with my Oceania accommodations.
Storage can be tight in cruise ship bathrooms. But the same can't be said for the one in this veranda stateroom.
Separate from the primary vanity, there was a standalone storage unit in the corner of the bathroom. The closet was located right outside the bathroom.
It's not hard to make a bathroom feel luxurious — just toss in some nice toiletries, marble walls, and clean countertops.
But here, it was done perfectly. I have no objections.
That's my general impression of this veranda stateroom: no complaints.
Even the decor — which is often my biggest and most finicky gripe with staterooms — was fine.
The decor pieces didn't draw attention to themselves. But at least there were no unnecessary murals or bland walls.
And while a light gray, blue, and white aesthetic can seem boring, the design of this room created a subtle but elevated aesthetic.
Through the remainder of 2023, vacations in the veranda stateroom start at $2,350 per person.
It's undoubtedly more expensive than a vacation with cruise lines like Carnival.
But it's the small details in this stateroom that make the loftier price tag worth it.
From the complimentary beverages to the spacious and well-designed bathroom, it's clear why this space serves the premium market.
My stateroom on the Oceania Vista was a great way for me to dip my toes into the higher-end cruise market.
While its 2023 fares aren't as aggressively expensive as luxury brands like Regent Seven Seas or Silversea Cruises, my veranda stateroom still had plenty of luxurious amenities that made it feel more upscale than the average stateroom. There's no question it's one of the most luxurious floating accommodations I've stayed in so far.