Oceania Cruises has set its sights on America’s 250th anniversary with a series of voyages scheduled for 2026 that focus on Alaska and New England, regions closely tied to the nation’s geographic reach and historical development. Between May and October of that year, the line plans to operate 19 sailings in these waters, offering itineraries designed for extended port stays and measured exploration aboard its small, luxury vessels.
In Alaska, the program emphasizes the scale and remoteness that have long defined the territory. The itineraries trace a course through glacier-carved fjords and coastal towns shaped by the gold rush era, including Juneau and Skagway, while also incorporating time among the region’s wildlife and ice fields. Scenic cruising past Hubbard Glacier and through the Holkham Bay Glacier Fjords forms a central element of these voyages, complemented by optional shore activities such as flightseeing by helicopter and guided glacier walks that bring travelers into close contact with the landscape.
The New England sailings turn instead to the built environment and historical record. Ports such as Boston and Newport anchor these itineraries, reflecting chapters of American history from the Revolutionary period to the wealth and architecture of the Gilded Age. Calls at destinations like Bar Harbor add a coastal dimension, with opportunities to explore shoreline paths, historic sites, and regional culinary traditions, particularly during the autumn season when foliage defines the coastline.
Oceania Cruises has positioned these voyages as an extension of its long-standing focus on destination immersion, aligning the anniversary year with itineraries intended to highlight the country’s landscapes, history, and cultural development. Company leadership has described the program as a way to connect travelers with the defining elements of the American experience through both place and pace.
The voyages will be operated by Oceania Riviera and Oceania Vista, ships whose relatively small scale allows access to ports less suited to larger vessels. On board, the contrast between rugged itineraries and refined accommodations is central to the product. Staterooms and suites are notably spacious by cruise standards, and dining remains a defining feature, with specialty restaurants such as Jacques and Polo Grill reinforcing the line’s culinary reputation.
Beyond port calls, each sailing incorporates onboard and shoreside programming intended to deepen engagement with local culture and cuisine. These include small-group excursions, nature-focused outings, and enrichment programs offered through venues such as The Culinary Center, the LYNC Digital Center, and the Artist Loft.
Among the featured itineraries is a 10-day Alaska Discoverer voyage sailing from Seattle to Vancouver in late May 2026 aboard Oceania Riviera. The route includes Ketchikan, Wrangell, Icy Strait Point at Hoonah, and Juneau, followed by glacier cruising in Holkham Bay before concluding in Vancouver. A longer Alaska Horizons sailing, also aboard Riviera, departs Seattle in early July for a 12-day roundtrip that includes a call at Ketchikan on July 4th, visits to Juneau and Skagway, glacier viewing at Hubbard Glacier, and a stop in Klawock, offering insight into Tlingit culture, before continuing to Victoria.
In the Northeast, an 11-day Autumnal Allure voyage aboard Oceania Vista departs New York in October 2026 and traces a course through Newport and Boston before continuing to the Bay of Fundy, Halifax, and Sydney. The itinerary proceeds up the St. Lawrence River with a call at Quebec City and concludes in Montreal, bringing together American and Canadian ports in a seasonal passage along the continent’s historic northeastern seaboard.
Taken together, the 2026 Alaska and New England programs reflect Oceania Cruises’ effort to frame America’s semiquincentennial not through ceremony alone, but through travel that follows the physical and historical contours of the nation itself.