Launching July 2025, Oceania Cruises reprises Jacques, it's signature fine-dining French Restaurant on the new Allura ship. This is the eighth vessel in Oceania Cruises' fleet featuring the most spacious standard staterooms at sea for up to 1,200 guests. Onboard there is one chef for every 10 guests, and an expansive hands-on Culinary Center and Chef's Studio for culinary classes and demonstrations by onboard chef instructors.
Named after the celebrity French chef Jacques Pépin, there are more than 270 new recipes created for the Grand Dining Room on the ship. Menus feature breakfast specialties, French bistro-inspired lunch dishes and an array of appeal dinner presentations. Exclusive wine pairing Sommelier's Choice experiences and Cellar Master's Classic wine pairing luncheons are popular on Oceania Cruises.
Frank A. Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises said, “Jacques is our culinary patriarch, having been a member of the culinary team since day one. His creativity and expertise form the very heart of our philosophy, The Finest Cuisine at Sea, which drives everything we do. Bringing this fabulous restaurant to Allura as she launches this summer, and to Vista later in the year, means the world to me."
The Grand Dining Room
'The Finest Cuisine at Sea' is available to guests in the luxury Grand Dining Room. According to Del Rio, “We are renowned for The Finest Cuisine at Sea and this is not just a tagline; it is a philosophy which guides everything we do. Dining is the cornerstone of the Oceania Cruises experience, and the new menus for The Grand Dining Room are a shining example of the culinary artistry of our talented team, led by Chefs Alexis Quaretti and Eric Barale, our Executive Culinary Directors and resident Master Chefs of France.'
Both will work closely with Chef Pépin to refresh the Jacques menu.“It is wonderful to bring Jacques to our two newest ships, and I am thrilled to be working alongside the man himself to create this latest version of our signature French restaurant,” said Chef Quaretti. “When considering this new generation of Jacques, it was very important for me to introduce recipes from personal childhood memories and to share my vision of French family food as well as honoring the classic French bistro experience.” Chef Quaretti added, “In crafting these new dishes, I drew deep inspiration from my childhood, family life, and of course, from across my career, including collaborations with renowned Chef Jacques Pépin, our culinary patriarch. Other inspirations for new menu items are especially personal, such as the Mousse au Chocolat de Mamie Huguette, which uses my grandmother’s cherished recipe and is re-created with the same care and precision she taught me.”
An Artful Approach to Dinner
Alongside the most loved dishes from Oceania's Marina and Riviera, the menu will feature new additions, such as duck with Grand Marnier-infused orange sauce; veal medallions in morel sauce; and a range of vegetarian options. For dessert lovers, classic treats such as Crêpes Suzette and profiteroles will be available on the dessert trolley.
Chef Pépin commented: “I am so excited to be writing the next chapter of Jacques with my friends and colleagues, Chefs Alexis Quaretti and Eric Barale. This is the perfect opportunity to experiment with some delicious new dishes and to explore unique ways to serve some of the classics that our guests have come to know and love. We have lots of exciting plans for this latest iteration of Jacques. I cannot wait to share them.”
Guests can also look forward to a more interactive dining experience at Jacques, featuring tableside service for new dishes like beef tartare. Enhanced decor, including thoughtfully selected crockery, glassware, and silverware, will emphasize an authentic Parisian bistro atmosphere.
Inaugural Voyage
The inaugural voyage of the Oceania Allura cruise ship is scheduled on July 18, 2025, departing from Trieste, Italy. The six-day cruise has plans to visit Rijeka and Dubrovnik, Croatia; Ravenna, Italy; and Kotor, Montenegro.
