A quiet first swim in the lagoon
On a warm morning in Marghera, just across the lagoon from Venice, a ship slipped into the water for the first time. No crowd, no confetti past the Rialto—just a shipbuilder’s milestone. Oceania Sonata’s float-out at the Fincantieri shipyard on August 27 moves her from dry dock to the fitting-out berth, where her interiors will take shape ahead of a debut in August 2027.
Sonata is the first of five ships in Oceania Cruises’ new Sonata Class. Sister ship Oceania Arietta follows in 2029, with three more due in 2032, 2035 and 2037. The build continues a Fincantieri partnership stretching back nearly two decades, through Marina, Riviera, Vista and last year’s Allura.
“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. 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.”
Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Oceania Cruises.
More space, not more people
At roughly 86,000 gross tons, Sonata will be nearly 30 percent larger than Allura, yet she’ll carry only 90 additional guests—a ship built for elbow room, not occupancy.
She’ll sail as an adults-only retreat with 695 rooms and suites. A third are suites, including four two-bedroom Owner’s Suites, a first for the brand. Two new categories join the fleet: the 600-plus-square-foot Horizon Suite, with separate living and sleeping areas and an oversized veranda, and the 488-square-foot Penthouse Deluxe Suite, framed by floor-to-ceiling sliding doors.
A table set for the world
Thirteen dining venues will operate on board, led by returning favorites Jacques, Red Ginger, Polo Grill, Toscana and the Grand Dining Room, joined by two newcomers: La Table par Maîtres Cuisiniers de France and Nikkei Kitchen.
Where she’s headed first
Sonata’s inaugural season runs August 2027 through April 2028, calling at more than 90 ports across Europe, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Mexico and Central and South America.
Mediterranean Collage
A 14-day maiden voyage from Rome to Trieste, departing August 7, 2027, via Malta, seven Greek ports, Montenegro and Croatia.
Greeks & Byzantines
A 7-day sailing from Athens to Istanbul, departing October 14, 2027, calling at Paros, Heraklion, Rhodes, Patmos and Izmir.
Panama Canal Coastlines
A 16-day crossing from Los Angeles to Miami, departing January 6, 2028, with a daylight Canal transit and stops in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Cartagena.
Tropical Coves
A 10-day Miami round-trip, departing March 1, 2028, through Puerto Plata, San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Antigua and Tortola.
Her cabins aren’t finished, but the outline is already clear: a ship built for fewer people and more room, arriving in Europe next August.
About the Author: Staff Writer
