Oceania Cruises has floated out Oceania Sonata at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, marking a major construction milestone ahead of the ship’s debut in August 2027 as the first vessel in the line’s new Sonata Class.
New ship offers larger suites and expanded dining
Oceania Sonata will carry 695 rooms and suites at approximately 86,000 gross tons, nearly 30 per cent larger than sister ship Oceania Allura while adding only 90 additional guest accommodations. One-third of accommodations will be suites, including four two-bedroom Owner’s Suites, a first for the line. The ship introduces two new suite categories: the more than 600-square-foot Horizon Suite, and the 488-square-foot Penthouse Deluxe Suite with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors.
Dining spans 13 venues, including two new concepts, La Table par Maîtres Cuisiniers de France and Nikkei Kitchen, alongside existing Oceania favourites Jacques, Red Ginger, Polo Grill and Toscana.
Inaugural season spans Mediterranean, Panama Canal and Caribbean
Oceania Sonata’s inaugural voyage is the 14-day Mediterranean Collage, sailing from Rome to Trieste from 7 August 2027, visiting Malta, Greece, Montenegro and Croatia. The seven-day Greeks & Byzantines voyage runs Athens to Istanbul from 14 October 2027, including an overnight stay in Istanbul.
The 16-day Panama Canal Coastlines voyage runs Los Angeles to Miami from 6 January 2028, including a daylight Panama Canal transit and calls in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Cartagena. The 10-day Tropical Coves voyage is a round trip from Miami departing 1 March 2028, covering the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands. The ship’s inaugural season runs through April 2028, visiting more than 90 destinations.
Jason Montague, Oceania Cruises’ chief luxury officer, said the float-out represents a defining moment for the brand. “As the first ship in our new Sonata Class, she represents the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the brand and a defining milestone in the continued evolution of Oceania Cruises,” Montague said.
Oceania Sonata is the first of five planned Sonata Class ships, with sister ship Oceania Arietta following in 2029 and three additional vessels scheduled for 2032, 2035 and 2037.
For agents selling luxury cruising, the new ship and suite categories give advisors fresh inventory to promote ahead of the 2027 debut, particularly for clients seeking larger suite accommodation or new culinary concepts within Oceania’s established destination-focused itinerary style.
