New Oceania Cruises luxury liner Vista touches water for the first time

Oceania Cruises new luxury cruise ship Vista has been floated out, touching water for the first time and moving to her outfitting pier.

Vista is a new 67,000-ton, 1,200-guest cruise ship for Oceania under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente, Italy.

Giuseppe Torrente, Shipyard Director for Fincantieri, and Monsignor Tasca, Archbishop of Genoa, presided over the float out ceremony.

RELATED: Oceania cruises reveals accommodations aboard new ship Vista

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After the blessing of the ship, the shipyard’s Madrina, Anna Trucco, released a bottle of prosecco against the hull, uttering the age of pray for good fortune for the ship and all those that will sail on her.

“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,” he added.

The ship is the first of two all-new Allura-class cruise ships for Oceania. She will debut signature lounges, bars, wellness facilities and new dining experiences for the cruise line.

The ship will also feature three Owner’s Suites designed by Ralph Lauren home, and some of the largest cabins in the fleet, with Veranda Staterooms, Penthouse Suites, Oceania Suites and Vista Suites.

When the ship’s inaugural itineraries opened for sale in September last year, she broke all previous records for demand for a new cruise ship.

In a statement following the float out, Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager of the Merchant Ships Division of Fincantieri, said it was a proud day for the shipyard.

“Ten years have passed since we delivered Riviera to our friends at Oceania Cruises, from the same Sestri shipyard,” he said. “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.”

Vista will sail her maiden voyage from Rome to Barcelona on April 14th, 2023, followed by twelve additional European cruises before she repositions to the US to sail a range of Canadian, New England, Panama Canal, and Caribbean itineraries.