by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 9:50 AM ET, Fri November 14, 2025
Oceania Cruises celebrated the christening of its newest ship, the Oceania Allura, at a private ceremony in Miami with not one but six godparents, all celebrated chefs, on Thursday, November 13.
The six godparents, chefs Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Katie Button, Calvin Eng, Aisha Ibrahim, George Mendes and Lawrence “LT” Smith represent the Food & Wine Best New Chefs franchise, breaking a bottle of Champagne against the Allura’s bow for good fortune in a centuries-old tradition.
The christening ceremony included cocktails and dinner, followed by remarks by Oceania’s Chief Luxury Officer, Jason Montague, and Chief Commercial Officer, Nathan Hickman, along with Food & Wine publisher Tom Bair.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to officially welcome Oceania Allura to our fleet,” said Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Oceania Cruises. “It is only fitting that she be christened in our hometown of Miami – a city that embodies vibrancy and sophistication. We are deeply honored to celebrate this momentous occasion alongside her distinguished godparents, marking a new chapter in our historic collaboration with Food & Wine.”
Oceania Allura can accommodate up to 1,200 guests and boasts a 2-3 crew-to-guest ratio, along with 12 onboard dining venues, including the Crêperie, a new French-inspired venue.
As the eighth ship in Oceania’s fleet, the Oceania Allura is the sister ship to Oceania Vista and has been sailing in the Mediterranean during the summer season on seven- to 34-day voyages.
Now, the ship will sail a variety of itineraries throughout the Caribbean this winter from Miami.
“This is the beginning of an inspiring partnership between Food & Wine and Oceania Cruises. We both share a simple but powerful belief: that excellence never goes out of style,” said Tom Bair, publisher of Food & Wine. “For decades, we’ve each stood for craftsmanship, for creativity and for a deep respect for the culinary world – past, present and future. By naming Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs franchise as godparent of this beautiful ship, Oceania Cruises celebrates the future of dining. These chefs are innovators – redefining how we experience food – and now they’ll bring that creativity to the sea.”
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