By
Alex Smith |
Oceania Cruises’ newest ship, Vista, has been floated out at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Sestri Ponente, Italy.
The cruise line celebrated the construction milestone for the ship with a ceremony at the yard, presided over by Giuseppe Torrente, shipyard director for Fincantieri, and His Excellency Monsignor Tasca, Archbishop of Genoa. After the blessing of the ship, the shipyard’s godmother and mechanical engineer Anna Trucco released a bottle of prosecco to break against the hull.
“Ten years have passed since we delivered Riviera to our friends at Oceania Cruises, from the same Sestri shipyard,” said Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of the merchant ships division of Fincantieri. “The launch of this new ship therefore represents an important milestone not only of her construction, but also in the consolidation of the relationship with the shipping company. I am sure that Vista will give life to a new class of ships that will stand out for its refinement and technological advances.”
Vista will have capacity for 1,200 guests and 800 crew members. The ship will offer 12 dining options, four of which will be appearing for the first time on an Oceania Cruises ship, along with eight bars, lounges and entertainment venues. Owner’s Suites and a Library styled by Ralph Lauren Home will also feature onboard, while new concierge level veranda staterooms will be available for solo travellers.
The ship will sail her maiden voyage from Rome, Italy, to Barcelona, Spain, on 14 April 2023, followed by 12 more European cruises. She will then redeploy to begin sailings from the USA to the Canadian Maritimes region and New England, the Panama Canal, and the Caribbean.
“Vista is Oceania Cruises’ most anticipated ship in the history of our company, and I am thrilled to be here with our partners from Fincantieri as the ship morphs from blueprints and steel into reality,” said Howard Sherman, president and CEO of Oceania Cruises. “Vista is truly a ship of dreams, and we cannot wait to welcome her inaugural season guests next year.”