Oceania Cruises is launching its first new luxury cruise ship in more than a decade, with another to follow soon, ahead of a summer travel season that could be record-breaking for global tourism.
Christened this month during a maiden voyage through the Mediterranean, the Vista is the eighth ship in the Oceania fleet, and the first of two brand new vessels for brand; sister ship Allura is scheduled to make her debut in the spring of 2025.
Vista was actually scheduled to debut a week (on May 20), but the company said unprecedented demand for the inaugural season saw her first sailing brought forward by a week for an inaugural sailing on May 13 from Rome to Venice.
At more than 791 feet and 67,000 tons, Vista has a guest to crew ratio of 1,200 guests served by 800 crew members—equivalent to two crew members for every three guests. And the company touts the Vista hosts some of the most spacious standard staterooms at sea, measuring more than 290 square feet. The Vista also has new concierge-level veranda staterooms intended for solo travelers, perhaps reflecting a growing number of digital nomads working remotely —even from sea (when Wi-Fi permits).
One of the key tenets to any cruise ship is its culinary program. And as a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Lines and a sister line to Regent Seven Seas, Oceania bills itself as the destination- and culinary-focused cruise liner.
The Vista has 11 onboard dining venues, including three of which are new to Oceania ships. These include Aquamar Kitchen, a plant-based and wellness-inspired eatery for breakfast and lunch; The Bakery at Baristas, serving specialty coffee drinks (think lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, and even affogatos) and freshly baked pastries all day; and a new signature restaurant, Ember, an upscale yet relaxed space where guests can enjoy a more refined, white-tablecloth dining experience.
The Vista also hosts eight bars, lounges, and entertainment venues. Among them is the Casino Mixology Bar, a new concept for the line, focused entirely on the art of the cocktail. It boasts a wide selection of bourbons and ryes in addition to tableside preparation of cocktails and spirits.
The Vista is already sold out for this year’s summer season on the Mediterranean. In September, the ship will set sail for Canada and New England before heading south for a series of winter itineraries based out of Miami, sailing across the Caribbean with major stops in Mexico and Bermuda.
Next year, the 2024 summer season will see the Vista return to the Mediterranean as well as the Aegean and Adriatic Seas, with ports of call throughout Italy, Turkey, and Greece.