Oceania Sonata is the first vessel in a new generation of luxury cruise ships for Oceania Cruises. The 86,000gt ship is under construction at Fincantieri's Marghera yard near Venice and is scheduled to begin its maiden voyage on 7 August 2027.
Designed for 1,390 guests and 855 crew, Oceania Sonata will be the largest ship built for the cruise line while retaining a comparatively spacious, small-ship luxury ratio. Oceania publishes 695 suites and rooms, with suites accounting for approximately one-third of the accommodation.
Construction at Marghera
Fincantieri cut the first steel for Oceania Sonata in June 2025. The keel was laid at Marghera in February 2026, bringing the first major hull sections together inside the building dock.
The ship was floated out on 27 August 2026 and moved to a fitting-out berth. A float-out is a construction milestone rather than delivery: interior work, technical commissioning, trials and formal handover must all be completed before the vessel can carry passengers.
Oceania Sonata is scheduled for delivery in 2027. Until that process is complete, registry details and some technical particulars may change or remain unavailable.
Size and capacity
Oceania Cruises lists the ship at approximately 86,000 gross tonnes and 922 feet in length, equivalent to about 281.03 metres. The operator has not yet published a definitive beam or draught on its principal ship pages, so Deck7 leaves those measurements unconfirmed rather than combining conflicting third-party figures.
The public guest capacity is 1,390, matching the berth figure reported by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings in regulatory filings. Oceania also lists 855 staff members and 695 suites and rooms.
The official deck plan currently publishes 12 guest-accessible levels: Decks 4 to 12 and Decks 14 to 16. Deck 13 is omitted from the numbering. Accommodation is spread across the central residential decks, with major restaurants and lounges placed above and below.
Suites and staterooms
Approximately one-third of the accommodation will be suites. Four two-bedroom Owner's Suites form the largest category, while Horizon Suites and Penthouse Deluxe Suites make their first appearance in the Oceania fleet.
Other categories include Oceania Suites, Vista Suites, Penthouse Suites, Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms and Veranda Staterooms. Oceania's published plans place suites and balcony accommodation across Decks 6 to 11, with private Concierge and Suite Lounge facilities also included.
As the ship remains under construction, layouts and amenities should be treated as preliminary until delivery. Oceania itself notes that the published onboard and dining information is subject to change.
Dining aboard Oceania Sonata
The ship has been designed around Oceania Cruises' culinary positioning. Two new concepts lead the programme: La Table par Maîtres Cuisiniers de France and Nikkei Kitchen, which combines Japanese technique with Peruvian flavours.
Returning restaurants include The Grand Dining Room, Jacques, Polo Grill, Red Ginger, Toscana, Aquamar Kitchen and Terrace Café. Baristas, Waves Grill and other casual options extend the selection through the day.
La Table, Toscana and Polo Grill are positioned on Deck 4, while The Grand Dining Room is located on Deck 5. Nikkei Kitchen and several casual dining venues occupy the upper decks.
Life on board
Public spaces include the multi-level Grand Atrium, Grand Lounge, Sonata Lounge, Opus Lounge, Martinis, a casino, boutiques, library and Artist Loft. The LYNC Digital Center provides a technology space, while Destination Services and the Concierge support port-intensive itineraries.
The Culinary Center will offer practical cookery classes, complemented by guest speakers and destination-focused enrichment. The Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center, fitness facilities, pools and outdoor decks provide the principal wellness and recreation areas.
Oceania is positioning the ship as adults-only for new bookings, in line with the wider brand policy, and has not designed it around children's clubs or family attractions.
Maiden season
Oceania Sonata is scheduled to depart Civitavecchia on 7 August 2027 for a 14-day maiden voyage to Trieste. The Mediterranean Collage itinerary includes Salerno, Catania, Valletta, Katakolon, Heraklion, Paros, Piraeus, Mykonos, Argostoli, Corfu, Bar, Split and Zadar.
The wider inaugural season comprises 22 published sailings between August 2027 and April 2028, visiting more than 90 destinations on voyages lasting seven to 16 days.
After its European programme, the ship will cross the Atlantic to Miami for Caribbean, Latin American and Panama Canal voyages. This varied first season establishes the vessel as an itinerant international ship rather than one attached to a single permanent homeport.
The Sonata-class programme
Oceania Sonata is the first of five Sonata-class vessels ordered for delivery between 2027 and 2037. Oceania Arietta is scheduled to follow in 2029, with three additional ships planned for 2032, 2035 and 2037.
The class builds upon Fincantieri's work on the 67,000gt Oceania Vista and Oceania Allura, but introduces a larger platform with more accommodation and expanded public spaces. Oceania Sonata will become the ninth ship in the fleet when delivered.
Identification and environmental record
The ship has been associated with IMO number 1036276 during construction. A permanent MMSI, call sign and final port of registry have not yet been confirmed through the official sources reviewed by Deck7.
Oceania and Fincantieri have not published sufficiently detailed ship-specific confirmation of the primary fuel, LNG capability, shore-power equipment or exhaust-gas cleaning system. Those Ship Index fields remain Unknown until an authoritative technical document or delivered-vessel registry confirms them.