Aurelia

Aurelia at a glance

Aurelia is an Oceania Cruises ship launched in 2000, stretching 181 metres and carrying 238 cabins. Her scale keeps the atmosphere genuinely intimate — the kind of ship where the crew learns your name and the dining room never feels like a canteen. She is currently sailing itineraries from late September 2026 onward, calling at ports across the Transatlantic, South America, South East Asia, the Mediterranean, Japan, Australia, the South Pacific and the British Isles.

• Cabins: 238
• Cruise line: Oceania Cruises
• Longest sailing available: up to 186 nights

Dining on Aurelia

Aurelia carries eight distinct dining venues, and the breadth of the offer — from a daily-changing grand dining room to a private wine-pairing table for eight — is a genuine highlight of sailing with Oceania Cruises.

The Grand Dining Room is the flagship restaurant, open to all guests and included in your fare, with menus that change daily and offer at least ten starters and ten mains each evening, alongside vitality options. For something more intimate, Toscana serves Italian cuisine on exclusive Versace porcelain in surroundings of Chianti leather, hand-blown Venetian glass and Carrara marble — dishes range from squid carpaccio with champagne vinaigrette to hand-rolled gnocchi and pan-seared sea bass. Reservations are required and à la carte pricing applies.

Jacques brings classical French cuisine to sea — Coq au Vin, Confit de Canard, a serious cheese and wine list — inspired by Master Chef Pépin, with à la carte pricing. Polo Grill offers premium aged USDA Angus beef and seafood including Maine lobster and grilled swordfish in a classic steakhouse setting; a cover charge applies. Red Ginger explores Thai, Korean, Japanese and Malaysian flavours — dishes such as spicy duck oil watermelon salad or seven-spice lamb rack, paired with premium sake and lemongrass cocktails; reservation and cover charge required.

For something more relaxed, the open-air Terrace Café serves everything from fresh pastries at breakfast to grilled lobster and rotisserie meats in the evening, included in your fare. Aquamar Kitchen takes a mindful-eating approach — Lebanese bowls, fish tacos, avocado toast, energising smoothies — in a bright Mediterranean setting, also included. Poolside, Waves Grill turns out made-to-order burgers, herb-marinated fish and hand-dipped milkshakes through the afternoon, at no extra charge. And for the most exclusive table on the ship, Privée seats just eight guests per evening for a multi-course wine-pairing menu by La Reserve, in a dramatically lit private room with a chandelier above the marble table; à la carte pricing and cover charges apply.

Things to do on Aurelia

Aurelia's enrichment programme is genuinely built into the voyage rather than bolted on as an afterthought.

The Culinary Center runs hands-on cooking classes led by onboard chefs, teaching the regional cuisines of ports you'll actually visit — all included in your fare, with optional chef-led food tours ashore. The Artist Loft offers classes in painting, drawing, sculpture and photography, all with sea views through large windows and all included; you leave with a personal artwork from the voyage. The LYNC Digital Center runs complimentary photography and video sessions — from smartphone basics to travel photography — catering to all levels. And the panelled, floor-to-ceiling glass Library is available any time, included in your fare, for reading or quiet research.

Active guests can run circuits on the Running Track & Sports Deck with open ocean views, or use the Fitness Center, which includes modern equipment, complimentary group yoga and pilates classes, and a Kinesis® wall for core and flexibility work (personal training carries a fee). The Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center covers both fitness facilities and spa treatments — the facilities are included, while individual therapies and salon services are bookable for a charge. The pool deck offers a serene swim included in your fare, with cabanas and daybeds available for an additional charge. Baristas serves complimentary Illy coffee and pastries with 270-degree sea views throughout the day. A Casino styled on classic European gaming rooms is open to all, with entry complimentary and wagers charged separately. Boutiques carry curated jewellery, holiday wear and gifts.

Cabins and suites on Aurelia

Aurelia offers four cabin grades, from a well-appointed inside cabin to the largest suite on the ship. Full deck plans and cabin details are on the Aurelia cabins and deck plans page.

• Inside cabin G (14 m²): Positioned exclusively on deck 4 — a lower, quieter deck with minimal wave motion, making this the preferred choice for guests who are sensitive to ship movement. Sleeps up to 4.
• Ocean-view cabin C (15 m²): A large panoramic window delivers an unobstructed sea view and natural daylight without the balcony surcharge. Sleeps up to 4.
• Concierge Level Balcony cabin A1 (20 m²): Your own private balcony brings direct access to sea air and views unavailable from inside or ocean-view cabins. As a suite-category cabin, it also unlocks access to the exclusive Executive Lounge and Concierge Lounge — both private retreats with dedicated concierge service and complimentary drinks and snacks throughout the day. Sleeps up to 4.
• Owner's Suite OS (92 m²): The largest accommodation on board, designed as a private residence at sea. Suite privileges — including both the Executive Lounge and Concierge Lounge — apply. Sleeps up to 4.

Where Aurelia sails

Aurelia's itinerary programme from late 2026 onward spans some of the most compelling sailing regions in the world. The highest number of departures are Transatlantic crossings, with sailings also running to South America, through the Mediterranean in 2026 and 2027, across the South Pacific, around Australia, through Japan (see Japan cruises in 2026 and 2027), and even around the world.

Home ports include Miami, Barcelona, Sydney, New York, Lisbon and Los Angeles, among others. The single Sydney sailing is a good example of Aurelia's reach from Australian shores: local to Sydney it requires no flight at all, and from another state it is a short domestic hop rather than a long-haul journey to the port. The vast majority of itineraries — departing from the United States, Greece, Spain and elsewhere — are naturally built into a longer trip, and that is exactly where our DreamAway Packages come in: we book the cruise, the flights, any hotels either side and all transfers as one joined-up holiday.

Why book Aurelia with CruiseAway

Our cruise experts specialise in Oceania Cruises and know Aurelia's cabin grades and fare structures in detail — they'll help you choose the right cabin and the right inclusions for your trip, whether that's an inside cabin on deck 4 or the Owner's Suite. Every booking is covered by our Best Price Guarantee, and if your voyage involves flying to the port, a DreamAway Package lets you put the entire holiday — cruise, flights, hotels and transfers — on one booking, in one place.

Alternatives to Aurelia

If you're considering other ships sailing similar routes, a few options are worth a look.

Azamara Quest (Azamara Cruises) departs from the same ports and visits a broad overlap of the same countries as Aurelia. It's a straight alternative — no flight required — and fares start from A$2,729pp*.

Viking Sky (Viking Ocean Cruises) also sails from the same departure ports and shares countries including the United States, Spain, Portugal and France. Again, no additional flight is needed for this alternative. Fares start from A$5,245pp*.

Silver Ray (Silversea) departs from the same ports and calls at a significant share of the same countries. Like the others above, this is a no-flight alternative — the same kind of trip from the same ports. Fares start from A$6,750pp*.

Other ships in the Oceania Cruises fleet you may be comparing include Regatta, Riviera, Allura, Marina, Insignia and Sirena.

Common questions about Aurelia

Is food included in the fare on Aurelia?

Most dining on Aurelia is included in your cruise fare — The Grand Dining Room, Terrace Café, Aquamar Kitchen and Waves Grill all carry no supplement. Polo Grill, Jacques, Toscana and Red Ginger operate à la carte with cover charges or individual dish pricing, and Privée's wine-pairing menus carry a tasting menu charge. Baristas coffee and pastries are complimentary throughout the day.

What is the difference between the Concierge Level cabin and the Owner's Suite?

Both cabin grades unlock the Suite & Concierge Privileges tier, giving keycard access to the Executive Lounge and Concierge Lounge with dedicated concierge service and complimentary refreshments. The key distinction is space and position: the Concierge Level Balcony A1 is 20 m² with a private balcony, while the Owner's Suite OS is 92 m² and designed as a private residence at sea.

Can I learn to cook on board?

Yes — The Culinary Center runs hands-on cooking classes led by onboard chefs, focused on the regional cuisines of the ports Aurelia visits. These classes are included in your cruise fare. If you want to go deeper, optional chef-led food tours ashore are also available.

Which cabin grade is best for guests sensitive to sea motion?

The Inside cabin G is positioned exclusively on deck 4 — a lower, quieter deck where wave motion is minimal. It is specifically noted as the preferred grade for guests who are sensitive to ship movement.

Does Aurelia sail round-the-world itineraries?

Yes — there are round-the-world sailings available among the current programme, with the longest itineraries running to 186 nights. These are among the 38 sailings currently on sale through CruiseAway, departing from late September 2026.