Oceania Cruises has reached a major construction milestone with the float-out of Oceania Sonata, the first ship in a new generation of luxury vessels for the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings brand.
The 86,000-gross-ton ship touched water for the first time at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy. Delivery is scheduled for 2027, with her maiden voyage planned for August of that year.
The ceremony was attended by Paolo Novarino, senior director and project owner for Oceania Cruises, and Marco Lunardi, director of Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard.
Designed to accommodate up to 1,390 guests, Oceania Sonata will build on the style introduced by the Allura-class ships while offering more space and several new onboard features. All accommodations will have private verandas, while approximately one-third will be suites.
The ship will introduce new accommodation categories, including Horizon Suites and Penthouse Deluxe Suites, along with four two-bedroom Owner’s Suites. New dining concepts will include La Table par Maîtres Cuisiniers de France and Nikkei Kitchen, which will combine Peruvian ingredients with Japanese culinary techniques.
A New Generation for Oceania Cruises
Oceania Sonata follows Oceania Vista and Oceania Allura, which were delivered by Fincantieri in 2023 and 2025. While those vessels belong to the Allura class, the new ship represents the next stage of Oceania Cruises’ fleet development.
The Sonata-class orderbook currently includes five ships, not six as stated in some reports. Following Oceania Sonata in 2027, Oceania Arietta is scheduled for delivery in 2029. Three currently unnamed sister ships are planned for 2032, 2035 and 2037.
The float-out allows construction work to move into its next phase, including completion of the interiors, installation of onboard systems and sea trials.
Marghera Continues Its Cruise Ship Legacy
The milestone also highlights the importance of Fincantieri’s Marghera facility, one of Italy’s leading cruise ship construction centers.
Thirty-six cruise ships have been built at the shipyard since 1991. Around 6,000 people work at the facility each day, including Fincantieri employees and personnel from partner companies.
