by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 2:20 PM ET, Thu August 27, 2026
Oceania Cruises has reached a construction milestone for its newest ship, Oceania Sonata, which has been floated out at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy.
The 695-room ship has moved from dry dock to the fitting-out berth, where work on its interiors and onboard spaces will continue ahead of its planned debut in August 2027.
Oceania Sonata will be the first of five ships in the line's new Sonata Class. Sister ship Oceania Arietta is scheduled to enter service in 2029, followed by three additional ships planned for delivery in 2032, 2035 and 2037.
“The float out of Oceania Sonata is an incredibly exciting moment as we move one step closer to welcoming our first guests aboard next August,” says Jason Montague, chief luxury officer of Oceania Cruises. “We are tremendously grateful to our partners at Fincantieri whose expertise and craftsmanship are bringing Oceania Sonata to life. 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.”
At approximately 86,000 gross tons, Oceania Sonata will be nearly 30 percent larger than Oceania Allura but will have just 90 additional guest accommodations. The ship will feature an adults-only environment and larger public spaces, including bars, lounges and other guest areas.
Suites will account for one-third of the ship's accommodations. Four Owner's Suites will feature two bedrooms, a first for Oceania Cruises. The ship also will introduce two new suite categories: the more than 600-square-foot Horizon Suites, with separate living and sleeping areas, walk-through closets and oversized verandas, and the 488-square-foot Penthouse Deluxe Suite, which will feature an expanded layout and floor-to-ceiling sliding doors.
Oceania Sonata will have 13 dining venues, including two new concepts: La Table par Maîtres Cuisiniers de France and Nikkei Kitchen. Other restaurants will include The Grand Dining Room, Jacques, Red Ginger, Polo Grill and Toscana.
The ship's inaugural season will run from August 2027 through April 2028, with itineraries covering more than 90 destinations in Europe, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Mexico, and Central and South America.
Oceania Sonata's maiden voyage, the 14-day Mediterranean Collage, will depart Rome on August 7, 2027, and end in Trieste. The itinerary includes ports in Malta, Greece, Montenegro and Croatia.
Other inaugural-season itineraries include the seven-day Greeks & Byzantines voyage from Athens to Istanbul, departing October 14, 2027; the 16-day Panama Canal Coastlines voyage from Los Angeles to Miami, departing January 6, 2028; and the 10-day Tropical Coves cruise roundtrip from Miami, departing March 1, 2028.
Oceania Cruises and Fincantieri have worked together on the construction of several ships since Oceania Marina was delivered in 2011. The partnership continued with Oceania Riviera in 2012, Oceania Vista in 2023 and Oceania Allura in 2025.
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