At the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, the keel for Oceania Sonata was formally laid, marking a key stage in the vessel’s construction. In accordance with longstanding maritime practice, the ceremony recognised the traditional significance of keel laying in the shipbuilding process and the collaborative work between the cruise line and its shipyard partner.
Representatives from Oceania Cruises and its parent group (Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings) were present alongside senior management from Fincantieri.
Company officials indicated that the milestone reflects the combined technical efforts of naval architects, engineers, designers, and shipyard craftspeople who have contributed to bringing the project to its current stage.
Oceania’s leadership described the event as an affirmation of their strategic progression in fleet expansion and the continuation of their operational profile within the wider cruise sector.
Fincantieri’s management noted that the construction of Oceania Sonata draws on accumulated expertise derived from building previous classes of vessels for the cruise line, and that the partnership between builder and operator has evolved through successive projects, reinforcing standards of shipbuilding and vessel outfitting.
Scheduled for a maiden departure in August 2027, Oceania Sonata will become the ninth vessel in the line’s fleet and is followed by plans for three additional sister ships: Oceania Arietta in 2029, and two further units slated for delivery in 2032 and 2035.
The newbuilds have a volume of approximately 86,000 GT tons and max passenger capacity of 1390. One-third of the staterooms are in suite categories, including two-bedroom Owner’s Suites and the newly introduced Horizon Suites and Penthouse Deluxe Suites.
Oceania Sonata's nine restaurants include the Peruvian-Japanese venue Nikkei Kitchen and the French restaurant La Table.
Sonata's keel laying and associated announcements align with the construction schedule advancing toward delivery and entry into service as part of Oceania’s fleet deployment plan.