Oceania Sonata to feature new suite category and debut two dining venues

Oceania Cruises has revealed details of its newest ship, Oceania Sonata, as it gears up for a “60-day sprint” prior to going on sale in January.

The first Sonata Class vessel sets sail in summer 2027 and will feature a new category of suites, two new restaurant concepts, expanded casual dining venues and more space for enrichment activities. It will have capacity for 1,390 passengers – 190 more than latest vessel Allura, which was christened in Miami on November 13 – but with a higher space ratio per guest.

Further ships are on order for 2029, 2032 and 2035 in what Oceania Cruises’ chief commercial officer Nathan Hickman called “disciplined growth”.

He said: “We have seen over the years that the ship sells from the top down. About 73% of our staterooms on Allura are Standard Veranda staterooms, but if there’s a demand for suites, I realised we wanted to shift that to where the market is.

“So almost a third of our accommodation on Sonata will be our suite categories or higher. We’re going to have a category between our Penthouse and Oceania Suites called the Horizon Suite. I think that another choice within our suite category is going to prove hugely popular.”

The 56 sq m Horizon Suites will have separate bedroom and living areas and will be equivalent to the size of two standard staterooms.

Casual restaurants including the Aquamar Kitchen and Waves Grill will be expanded while two new “dining concepts” are yet to be revealed but will span haute cuisine to relaxed dining, according to Hickman.

The Lync Digital Center, which hosts enrichment sessions on tech topics such as AI, online privacy and smartphone photography, will also double in size to offer further onboard learning.

Jason Montague, chief luxury officer for Oceania and sister brand Regent Seven Seas Cruises, said: “As we go into the future, guests are willing to pay for more experience and more space, so we think it’s a win not only for our past guests but also driving new-to-brand guests as well.

“Working with our partners is part of that key aspect, understanding exactly why Oceania is the perfect platform for guests, especially guests who traditionally may have sailed on the bigger ships.”

Hickman added: “When someone comes to Oceania, a lot of times they’re stepping up from a contemporary or premium line.

“They don’t want a trade-off, they want an upgrade.

“I think this is the Goldilocks size. It allows us to deliver those big-ship experiences in terms of choice, but also the luxury of details that people expect.”

Oceania Sonata’s itineraries are set to be revealed on January 21, 2026, before going on sale on January 28. Preference will be given to past guests who are enrolled in the company’s loyalty programme, which now stretches across three brands to include status earned via Norwegian Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises bookings.