For the first time in 10 years, Oceania Cruises has taken delivery of a new ship.
The Vista, the first ship in Oceania's Allura class, was delivered by the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy. The ship is the seventh in Oceania's fleet.
The Vista on May 6 will depart on a roundtrip christening voyage from Civitavecchia, Italy. The ship will sail to Valetta, Malta, where it will be christened on May 8 by its godmother, Italian-American chef, author, restauranteur and Emmy Award-winning food personality Giada De Laurentiis.
The ship will then sail a seven-day "Founders Cruise" from Rome to Venice on May 13 and continue sailing the Med until making a transatlantic voyage from London to New York in late August. From there the ship will sail to Montreal before tracing the East Coast and sailing a series of winter itineraries in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America.
The 1,200-guest Vista is the first in Oceania's two-ship Allura class. Photo Credit: Oceania
According to the line, sales have been strong for the Vista's first summer in the Mediterranean as only a few staterooms are still available this summer.
The 1,200-guest ship is the first in the line's two-ship Allura class. The 67,000-gross-ton vessel is 791 feet long and will be crewed with two staff members for every three guests, according to the line.
The Vista will offer 11 restaurants, down from 12 the line originally planned after reclassifying its new Culinary Center Dining Room as a space for classes and demonstrations instead of a restaurant for private group dinners and food-and-wine pairing experiences.
The ship will feature three new restaurants, including Ember, which will serve elevated American cuisine; the health-focused Aquamar Kitchen; and The Bakery at Baristas, an expansion of the coffee bar Baristas that will serve French and Italian pastries. The ship is also home to an elevated mixology program with specialty cocktails.
The Vista's entertainment will include Broadway-style productions featuring recognizable songs and contemporary dance led by "Dancing with the Stars" choreographer Britt Stewart.