Oceania Cruises has officially begun construction on the Oceania Sonata, the first vessel in its brand-new Sonata Class. The ceremonial steel-cutting took place at the Fincantieri-Marghera shipyard in Venice, Italy. Scheduled to debut in summer 2027, Oceania Sonata will become the ninth ship in Oceania’s fleet, followed by her sister ship, Oceania Arietta.
A New Chapter in Small-Ship Luxury Cruising
Described as ushering in “a new era in luxury cruising,” the Sonata Class builds on Oceania Cruises’ longstanding reputation for culinary offerings, immersive itineraries and refined, small-ship design.
“Oceania Sonata heralds the dawn of a new era in luxury cruising,” said Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Oceania Cruises, in a press statement. “We are proud to continue our legacy of innovation alongside Fincantieri, our shipbuilding partner for close to 20 years. Together, we have crafted ships that stand as some of the most acclaimed examples of luxury, elegance, comfort, and Italian craftsmanship at sea.”
Oceania Cruises’ relationship with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has already produced several of the line’s vessels, including Oceania Marina, Oceania Riviera, Oceania Vista and the soon-to-launch Oceania Allura, which debuts in July 2025.
Solar Eclipse Cruises
Oceania Cruises has unveiled additional sailings dedicated to the solar eclipse on August 12, 2026. The new sailings are carefully timed and routed to intersect the eclipse’s path of totality or near-totality, offering prime viewing from the waters surrounding Iceland, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Portugal.
July 30, 2026 – Copenhagen to Reykjavik: This sailing places guests in the heart of the eclipse path. With ports including Invergordon, Scrabster and Akureyri, travelers can explore medieval castles and go whale watching before viewing the eclipse while departing Grundarfjordur, Iceland. Onboard astronomer Dennis Mammana will lead eclipse discussions and stargazing sessions.
For more information, visit OceaniaCruises.com.
