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Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line is renowned for delivering The Finest Cuisine At Sea® and unique epicurean experiences. Boasting a range of exquisite speciality restaurants onboard for guests to enjoy, Toscana serves up authentic Tuscan dishes. The traditional Italian restaurant also provides a culinary deep-dive into an essential ingredient which traces its origins back 4,000 years – olive oil.

Wine and fine dining make a quintessential pairing, and in each of Oceania Cruises’ restaurants, a professional wine sommelier is central to the team to help guests select the finest beverage to match their gourmet cuisine. In Toscana, found onboard each of Oceania Cruises’ fleet of six small, luxurious ships, guests can enjoy a sommelier experience with a twist – a table side olive oil pairing guided by a trained connoisseur.

While Toscana specialises in traditional Tuscan fare, it also pays homage to the vibrant and unique flavours of regional Italy. Enjoyed with its selection of freshly made, artisanal breads, the dining experience begins with an introduction to the subtleties and nuances of olive oil, followed by a recommended pairing from its specially curated collection of oils and vinegars crafted in Tuscany, Puglia, Sicily, Lazio, Liguria and Emilia-Romanga.

Oceania Cruises is committed to sourcing only the very best ingredients and the most talented chefs from around the globe to create its one-of-a-kind culinary offering. Toscana’s Executive Chef, Mario Santoro, believes choosing the right olive oil to suit your individual palate is just as important as choosing the right wine.

“I suggest approaching olive oils as you would wine. They are complex and can vary greatly in aroma and taste – and like wine, the prospect of tasting and pairing can sometimes be intimidating. Ask yourself if you like contrasting flavours – or something more complimentary? Do you prefer smooth and mild, fruity, or robust and rustic? Olive Oils can run the gamut.” Mario explains.

In addition to its unique olive oil pairings, Toscana offers diners an extensive choice of over thirty traditional Tuscan dishes spanning Antipasti Freddi and Antipasti Caldi (cold and hot first course) to Le Pasta and I Rissoti (pasta and risotto) – with Chef Santoro’s favourite signature creation being Fra Diavolo with fresh Tagliolini, a heavenly spicy pasta dish featuring lobster and chilli flakes.

And while a guest’s exploration into the complexity of olive oil may start at Toscana, there is much more to be learnt ashore too. Oceania Cruises offers a collection of sailings which traverse some of the most famous oil producing regions in the world, including these standout itineraries:

  • As celebrated by Toscana, olive oil is the liquid gold of Italy. Oceania Cruises’ Roman Realms 12-day voyage onboard Riviera takes guests to the home of some of the world’s most renowned olive oil producing regions including Tuscany, Sicily, Rome, and Palma de Mallorca. Once guests have sampled some of the best oils – and wines – they can delve into an exploration of antiquities from the Roman Empire, coexisting side by side with treasures from the Renaissance period.
  • Oceania Cruises’ Artifacts & Antiquities voyage visits the great Minoan ruins of the Palace of Knossos in Greece, where olive oil is said to have first originated. Discover priceless treasures from remnants of colossal temples – from fortresses erected by medieval knights, to gracious homes of the Renaissance gentry, on this 10-day voyage onboard Nautica.
  • Just two hours outside Amman, Jordan, in the middle of a vast desert, sits 155,000 olive trees. They produce some of the Middle East’s highest quality olive oil, all extra-virgin. Oceania Cruises’ Sacred Lands is a 20 day voyage onboard Nautica, which offers an Essential Jordan Overload Program, with a rare opportunity to sample the region’s oils and explore this fascinating destination’s off–the-beaten-path sites in small, private groups with knowledgeable guides. Visit historically important ancient cities as well as the expansive Wadi Rum desert wilderness.