Oceania Vista

The 2023-built Oceania Vista cruise ship is the first of two "ALLURA Class" 1200-passenger ships similar to the sisterships Marina and Riviera but with some key design changes related to outdoor spaces and passenger accommodations.

The newbuild Vista is the Oceania fleet's 7th member. It was constructed by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in Genoa Italy (at Sestri Ponente Yard) and scheduled for inauguration in 2023 May. The sistership Allura will be launched in 2025.

Like all fleetmates, the vessel (IMO number 9876957) is currently Marshall Islands/France-flagged (MMSI 538009952) and registered in Majuro.

History - construction and ownership

Oceania Cruises is a US passenger shipping company and luxury travel brand owned by NCLH-Norwegian (shipowner), Between April 2007 and September 2014, the company (as part of "Prestige Cruise Holdings") was owned by Apollo Management LP - one of the world's largest private investment equity funds. Since September 2014, Oceania and the sister company RSSC-Regent are owned by NCLH - acquired at a total cost of USD 3 billion.

Oceania ships offer luxury cruises with relatively shorter itineraries, as well as Around The World voyages up to 180 days in length.

Decks and Cabins

Oceania Vista staterooms (613 total in 16 grades) include 149 Suites, 444 Balcony cabins (of which 6x Solo/Studios), and 20 French Balcony. Most cabins are sized 245 ft2 / 23 m2. The largest passenger accommodations are the aft-facing Owners Suites (1335 ft2 / 124 m2 plus 665 ft2 / 62 m2 wraparound terrace).

Unlike the other fleetmates, Oceania's ship Vista has no Oceanview (cabins with non-opening windows) and Interior cabins (without windows).

The boat has 15 decks, of which 11 are passenger-accessible and 6 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Oceania Cruises Vista ship offers 12 total dining options (4 of which are fleet-firsts) and has four reservations-only / specialty restaurants, plus a Lido Buffet restaurant and casual food bars. Specialty restaurants come with no additional charge but require reservations for dinner. The Ember Restaurant, as design, resembles a French bistro and focuses on traditional French cuisine specialties. The other restaurants are Polo Grill (steakhouse), Toscana (Mediterranean), Red Ginger (Asian), and Grand Dining Room.

Follows the complete list of Oceania Vista restaurants and food bars.

The Grand Dining Room (2-decks high MDR) offers an expanded menu (with new items from Chef Jacques Pepin), daily-changing appetizers, soups, salads, entrees.

Red Ginger is a pan-Asian specialty restaurant with a 5-course "tasting" and a-la-carte priced menus. Menu items include Spicy Roast Duck, Beef Rendang, Thai Sweet Potato Curry.

Ember (124-seat complimentary dinner restaurant, reservations-only, offers French food by chef Pepin)

Grand Dining Room (340-seat complimentary restaurant for open-seating Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, offers French-inspired dishes, menus are changed daily)

Waves Grill is a casual fast-food bar serving the Pool Deck with made-to-order daily specialties and gourmet gelato/fresh-made ice cream. On offer are burgers with sides of fresh-made salads, coleslaw, hand-cut fries.

Terrace Cafe & Bar is a complimentary, casual buffet restaurant open for Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner (daily changing menus), with both indoor and outdoor sitting. Terrace Bar also doubles as a small Pizzeria. In the evenings, Terrace Cafe transforms into "Tapas On The Terrace" restaurant serving traditional Mediterranean food.

Culinary Center facilitates cooking classes and demos, and also hosts "Gourmet Explorer Series" which consists of 20 new cooking classes. The "La Technique" is an exclusive cooking class focusing on Jaques Pepin's techniques. The Culinary Center Dining Room is a VIP restaurant bookable for private dinners or exclusive food-and-wine pairing.

Aquamar Kitchen (24-seats) is a wine bar at surcharge, offering wine tastings and a 7-course dinner menu.

Toscana (96-seats) is a complimentary Italian restaurant (dinner-only, reservations-only), complimentary offering traditional Italian food. The menu includes items like Octopus/Truffle Carpaccio with Champagne Vinaigrette, Artichoke-Parmesan Timbale with Black Truffle Sauce, Homemade Gnocchi with Pesto, Lobster Risotto, Pan-Fried Sea Bass. Oceania Vista's godmother (chef Giada De Laurentiis) created two signature dishes served only in the Vista ship's restaurants Toscana and Grand Dining Room.

Polo Grill (98-seats) is a complimentary Steakhouse restaurant but reservations are required. All beef-based dishes are with 28-day dry-aged (USDA-certified) Black Angus Prime Beef. The menu also includes premium seafood (like Grilled Swordfish and Maine Lobster Au Gratin).

"Privee" is a small-capacity (10-seats) private dining room available for booking at USD 1000 (for the entire room). The gourmet dishes are part of Oceania's Chef's Table experience, with a 7-course dinner menu.

"The Bakery at Baristas" is a specialty coffee bar and a patisserie serving freshly baked pastries.

In October 2015, Oceania Cruises announced a plan to combine the "Toscana" and "Polo" restaurants into the new "Tuscan Steak" (steakhouse and seafood restaurant). The new venue's design is marked by quality wood paneling decorated with platinum and silver. Its dinner menu includes items like "Bistecca Alla Fiorentina", "Maine Lobster & Shrimp Fra Diavol", "Tuscan Porterhouse Steak", Oceania's signature pork chops "Iberico de Bellota". At the entrance, there is a wine cellar with a selection of fine wines.

• The Grand Staircase is a signature feature of the Atrium's Lobby level marked by a floor-ceiling wire art pillar of crystals.
• Martinis Bar is also redesigned, with plenty of comfortable seating (2-seat couches and armchairs), custom-designed sculptural lighting casts, a grand piano (for live performances in the evenings).
• The Grand Lounge features plenty of cozy alcoves (furnished with angled sectional sofas and armchairs), a gold-infused color palette, custom-designed sculptural lighting, contemporary artworks.
• Horizons (observation lounge & bar) is designed with wraparound floor-ceiling windows, a central circular bar (with high chairs), plenty of seating (mainly 4-seat round tables with armchairs) and provides white-glove Afternoon Tea service and live musical performances.
• Pool Deck features a rectangular swimming pool flanked by two large Jacuzzis (outdoor whirlpool hot tubs) and is surrounded by a sunbathing space with padded loungers and small tables. The pool's sundeck area is on two decks - the lower level has the pool and sun loungers, while the upper level also has umbrella-covered outdoor wicker furniture (daybeds and deckchairs).

New dining options (9) are exclusive to the Oceania Cruises' ALLURA ships (Vista and Allura). Details on the new culinary experiences, as well as on the boat's public spaces and staterooms are to be gradually revealed in the coming months.

Ember Restaurant offers American cuisine specialties for lunch and dinner, with menu items like Braised Short Beef Ribs with Creamy Parmezan Polenta, Grilled Swordfish Steak with Seasoned Asparagus, Thai Crab Cakes with Aioli Sauce, Smoked Chicken Cobb Salad with Avocado Dressing, among others

Aquamar Kitchen offers more wellness-themed (organic) food, with healthy- and vegetarian menu items. For Breakfast are offered raw/cold-pressed smoothies and fresh juices, homemade healthy granolas, avocado toasts, veggie power bowls, breakfast burritos/wraps. For Lunch are offered Slow-Roasted Salmon with Quinoa-Tabbouleh-Tahini Sauce, Grilled Yellowfin Tacos with Cabbage Slaw, Fried Chicken Sandwiches (on fresh-baked whole grain buns).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Such as her sister ships Marina and Riviera, Oceania ship Vista sports some of cruising's most palatial rooms, featuring furnishings from Ralph Lauren Home and layouts by Dakota Jackson of New York and S.B. Long designers of Greenwich, Connecticut. The cruise liner also has a Lalique-designed grand lobby, ten restaurants and many bars and lounges. Amenities include a full-service Aquamar SPA, Bon Appetit Culinary Center (for demos and cooking classes), and the Aquamar Kitchen by Wine Spectator wine bar lounge.

Follows the complete list of lounges, clubs, and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Vista Lounge (main showroom/theatre for live evening entertainment and themed dancing parties; hosts daily trivia quizzes, lectures and presentations)
• The Casino (operates with USD bets; served by the Casino Bar)
• Martinis (a piano bar serving a variety of Martinis)
• Three Boutiques (duty-free perfumes, jewelry, Oceania-logo merchandise, clothes, gifts, convenience goods)
• Upper Hall lounge area (with grand piano for live performances; served by the Martinis Bar)
• Grand Bar (wine bar) hosts wine tastings and is served by Baristas (making complimentary illy beverages).
• Baristas Bar is the ship's patisserie/brand coffee bar served by certified professionals.
• Concierge Lounge (Concierge Level and Suite guests lounge)
• Executive Lounge (Concierge-Level Balcony and Suite guests)
• Artist Loft (educational center for Oceania Cruises' enrichment programs)
• Oceania@Sea (24-hour Internet computers room; Private lessons/group classes are also provided)
• Pool area (with one swimming pool, two Whirlpools, sunbathing area and a Band Stand; served by the Waves Bar)
• Sanctuary (outdoor shaded area with loungers)
• The Patio (outdoor shaded lounge with chairs, daybeds, sofas)
• Baristas (patisserie and specialty coffee bar serving illy coffees, complimentary)
• Horizons Lounge & Bar (served by the Horizons Bar) has floor-ceiling windows, live entertainment, full bar service. The venue also serves Afternoon Tea and doubles as a nightclub/disco.
• Fitness Track (Power Walking/Jogging Track); Promenade (on Deck 6)
• The Library (1000+ books of which many port-destination guide books, Ralph Lauren Home furniture and accessories); Board Room

The ship's Theater (Vista Lounge) hosts 4 main show productions developed by a professional team of producers, technicians, and performers to bring Oceania's onboard entertainment to the highest level. The first three productions (announced in March 2023) are titled "Into the Night", "Headliners", "The Anchor Inn", and "The Music Triangle".

• Into the Night (choreographed by Britt Benae Stewart who is an American professional dancer and choreographer on the dance competition TV series "Dancing with the Stars") is a dance-themed production mixing dancing with styling and American Idol-like entertainment.
• Headliners is a VIP concert showcasing a resident cast/crew (vocalists and instrumentalists) performing some of the world's most popular songs from the repertoires of music icons like Bee Gees, Cher, Celine Dion, Adele.
• The Anchor Inn is a UK-themed song-and-dance production set in the "Anchor Inn Pub" where a group of professional musicians celebrates the British music's "good times" by recreating some of Britain's greatest hits by celebrities like Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Rod Stewart, Dusty Springfield, Madness.
• The Music Triangle show is themed on the history of music.

Positioned midship on Deck 14, the Sun Deck is served by the Polo Bar and is fitted with padded loungers and deckchairs, 4-seat tables, showers.

Forward on Deck 15 is the Aquamar SPA Center. The ship's wellness complex consists of Spa Terrace, Spa Whirlpool, Steam Rooms, Treatment Rooms, Styling Salon, Spa Club, Fitness/Gym, and Boardroom (card playing and board games). Spa Club treatments include Acupuncture, Ayurveda, Healing Energy, Body Wraps and Scrubs, Skin Care, Tanning, Massages and Exotic Treatments.

Aft on Deck 15 is the Fitness Track (Power Walking/Jogging Track) and two deck game zones - Shuffleboard (starboard) and Croquet/Bocce (portside).

Forward on Deck 16 are two sports facilities - Paddle Tennis Court and the adjacent 9-hole Golf Putting Green (Mini-Golf Course with golf driving nets), along with a teak sundeck area with padded loungers and low tables.

Itineraries

Oceania Vista itinerary program was officially announced on September 9, 2021, and sales/bookings opened on September 16th.

Oceania Vista's Maiden Voyage is currently scheduled for May 13, 2023 (rescheduled from April 14th). The 7-day "Founder's Cruise" (itinerary May 13-20, from Civitavecchia-Rome to Venice) will be hosted by Frank J. Del Rio (NCLH-Norwegian's President and CEO) and will also commemorate Oceania brand's 20th anniversary.

The boat's inaugural cruise season starts with Mediterranean itineraries. In Sept 2021 were announced a total of 18 voyages visiting 24 countries (on 4 continents), premium sea travel destinations (Spanish-French-Italian rivieras, Adriatic/Dalmatian Coast, Greek Islands, Holy Land/Israel, Canary Islands, Iberia/Spain and Portugal, British Isles, Caribbean, Central America, Panama Canal), port city overnights (Lisbon, Venice, Istanbul, Haifa-Jerusalem, Bordeaux, Montreal, NYC), small ports (Vendres, Bodrum, Kavala, Bozcaada Island, Chania Crete, Killybegs Ireland, Shelburne Nova Scotia, Martha's Vineyard Island MA USA, Corinto Nicaragua).

Cruise schedule 2023

Next are listed the new ship's inaugural voyages as dates and call ports.

• (April 14/canceled) 12-day Maiden Voyage from Civitavecchia-Rome to Barcelona, visits Sorrento, Messina Sicily, Valletta Malta, Livorno, Monte Carlo Monaco, Toulon France, Port-Vendres, Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Spain), Ibiza Town, Valencia.
• (April 26/canceled) 10-day from Barcelona to Lisbon, visits Alicante, Malaga, Canaries (Arrecife, Tenerife, Gran Canaria), Tangier Morocco, Lisbon (overnight).
• (May 6/canceled) 14-day from Lisbon to Venice, visits Cadiz-Sevilla, Malaga, Cartagena, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Marseille, Monte Carlo, Civitavecchia-Rome, Sorrento, Messina Sicily, Dubrovnik Croatia, Venice (overnight).
• (May 13) 7-day "Founder’s Cruise" (from Civitavecchia-Rome to Venice/Trieste) visits Italy's Sorrento and Messina/Sicily Island, Greece's Argostoli/Kefalonia Island and Corfu Island, and Croatia's Dubrovnik and Zadar.
• (May 20) 12-day from Venice to Athens-Piraeus, visits Split Croatia, Bari, Kotor Montenegro, Mykonos Island, Kavala, Istanbul (overnight), Kusadasi-Ephesus, Rhodes Island, Santorini Island.
• (June 1) 10-day from Piraeus-Athens to Istanbul, visits Santorini Island, Heraklion Crete, Bodrum, Antalya, Limassol Cyprus, Rhodes Island-, Kusadasi-Ephesus, Bozcaada Island, Istanbul (overnight)
• (June 11) 14-day from Istanbul to Rome-Civitavecchia, visits Istanbul (overnight), Izmir, Santorini island, Rhodes Island, Limassol Cyprus, Haifa-Jerusalem (overnight), Chania Crete, Kefalonia Island, Giardini-Naxos Sicily, Salerno.
• (June 25) 10-day from Civitavecchia-Rome to Athens-Piraeus, visits Naples, Messina Sicily, Valletta Malta, Mykonos Island, Istanbul (overnight), Kusadasi-Ephesus, Santorini Island.
• (July 5) 10-day from Piraeus-Athens to Venice, visits Mykonos Island, Istanbul (overnight), Kusadasi-Ephesus, Corfu Island, Kotor Montenegro, Dubrovnik Croatia, Venice (overnight).
• (July 15) 10-day from Venice to Rome-Civitavecchia, visits Croatia (Split, Dubrovnik), Piraeus-Athens, Mykonos Island, Santorini Island, Kefalonia Island, Giardini-Naxos Sicily, Salerno.
• (July 25) 10-day from Civitavecchia-Rome to Barcelona, visits Naples, Messina Sicily, Valletta Malta, Livorno, Monte Carlo Monaco, Saint-Tropez, Marseille, Palma de Mallorca.
• (August 4) 14-day from Barcelona to London-Southampton, visits Malaga, Tangier Morocco, Cadiz-Seville, Lisbon (overnight), Porto-Leixoes, La Coruna Galicia, Bilbao, Bordeaux (overnight), Saint-Malo.
• (August 18) 12-day roundtrip from Southampton, visits Leith-Edinburgh, Kirkwall Orkney, Stornoway (Isle of Lewis and Harris), Greenock-Glasgow, Belfast Irland, Liverpool, Dublin Ireland, Holyhead (Isle of Anglesey, Wales), Waterford Ireland, Isle of Portland.
• (August 30) 18-day Transatlantic from Southampton-London to NYC New York, visits Le Havre-Paris, Saint-Malo, Torbay England, Ireland (Cobh-Cork, Belfast, Dublin, Killybegs), St Johns NL Canada, Saint Pierre & Miquelon Islands, Saint John NB Canada, USA (Bar Harbor ME, Boston MA, Newport RI).
• (September 18) 11-day from NYC to Montreal, visits Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, St John, Shelburne NS, Sydney NS, Saguenay, Quebec City, Montreal (overnight).
• (September 29) 15-day from Montreal to Miami starts with an overnight in Montreal, then visits Quebec City, Saguenay, Sydney NS, Shelburne NS, Bar Harbor ME, Portland ME, Martha's Vineyard Island, NYC (overnight), Charleston SC.
• 16-day Panama Canal cruises (October 16/ Miami to Los Angeles, November 3/LA to Miami) visit Grand Cayman Island, Cartagena Colombia, Puntarenas Costa Rica, Corinto Nicaragua, Puerto Quetzal Guatemala, Mexico (Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada).

On January 8, 2019, the shipowner NCLH (Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd) announced a shipbuilding order with Fincantieri for two units planned for Oceania Cruises. Both vessels are of the new Allura-Class - the next stage of the fleet expansion project OceaniaNEXT. The new boats are designed and built by Fincantieri, with scheduled deliveries in 2023 (Vista) and 2025 (Allura).

The 67000 GT-ton ALLURA-Class ships have capacity 1200 passengers plus 800 staff-crew. These are new class mid-sized cruise vessels similar in design and amenities to Oceania's 2011-2012 newbuilds Riviera and Marina. The contract price for each of the newbuilds is ~EUR 575 million (per unit). NCLH obtained export credit financing with favorable terms to fund 80% of the total contract price, subject to certain Italian government approvals. As of 2019, NCLH had 10 cruise ships on order and planned for deliveries through 2027. Of those, 7 units were for NCL-Norwegian, 2 for Oceania, 1 for RSSC-Regent.

MS Vista was launched/floated out from drydock at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard (Genoa) on February 25, 2022. The special event was led by godmother/madrina Anna Trucco (shipyard employee) and attended by Giuseppe Torrente (Shipyard Director) and His Excellency Monsignor Tasca (Genoa's Archbishop).

On February 27, 2023, Oceania announced that Vista ship's godmother will be Giada Pamela De Laurentiis (1970-born Italian-American chef, restaurateur, TV personality). Giada De Laurentiis was the host of Food Network's culinary TV show "Giada at Home" (215 episodes/30-min each aired in the period 2008-2015). She owns two restaurants in Las Vegas (Nevada) - Giada (2014-opened, in The Cromwell Las Vegas Hotel & Casino) and Pronto by Giada (2018-opened, in Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino).

For the ship's outfitting, Fincantieri contracted LTH-Baas AS (1934-founded, Tallinn Estonia-based company) which is a marine turnkey provider of integrated services for both passenger and merchant ships. During Oceania Vista's construction, LTH-Baas completed 500+ different works, including the installation and testing of pipelines, exhaust systems (gas boilers, steam, condensate), evaporator and osmosis systems, freshwater cooling system, potable water tanks and storage/distribution systems, water filling system of the swimming pools, fire system, open deck washing, fire extinguishing system, air controls, heat recovery, as well as final outfitting of the passenger staterooms.

Oceania Vista vessel (hull/Sestri Ponente yard number 6308) was officially delivered on May 1st (2023). The christening ceremony (on May 8th) was held in Valletta Harbour, Malta. The event was led by the godmother and attended by Frank A. Del Rio (Oceania's President) and his son Frank Del Rio Jr (Oceania's Chief Sales & Marketing Officer) while Harry Connick Jr (1967-born American jazz singer, pianist, actor, TV host) performed in a 1-hour concert on the ship.

The naming ceremony was the highlight of the "VIP Christening Voyage" - a 7-day roundtrip itinerary from Civitavecchia-Rome visiting Naples.

In April 2023, Oceania signed with the 2014-established premium brand "Chapter 7 Whisky" a deal to create an exclusive 20-year aged Chapter 7 special cask whisky (batch of a total of 304 bottles) to celebrate its 20th anniversary as well as the launch of the Vista ship. The exclusive bottles are available for onboard purchase (via Harding+/part of Harding Retail UK) only during Oceania Vista's inaugural season (2023).

Inaugural itineraries 2023

Next tables show the boat's first voyage and inaugural cruise itineraries (as destinations) scheduled for 2023.

(MAIDEN VOYAGE) 7-day "" from Rome to Trieste/Venice

(Atlantic coastal relocation from the Mediterranean to the UK) 14-day from Barcelona to Southampton

(inaugural Transatlantic crossing from Europe to the USA) 18-day from Southampton to New York

(inaugural Caraibbean and Panama Canal transit) 16-day from Miami to Los Angeles

Godspeed!