Oceania Vista departs on Dubai-bound World Cruise with key Red Sea transit test

Oceania Vista has departed PortMiami on Oceania Cruises’ 180-day world voyage, with a Dubai-bound Middle East programme and a full Red Sea and Suez Canal transit forming one of the most closely watched segments of the six-month circumnavigation.

The global voyage marks the first time the 2023-built vessel has been deployed on the cruise line’s flagship Around the World itinerary, taking over the role previously held by Oceania Insignia.

The 1,200-passenger ship is scheduled to visit 101 ports while crossing three oceans, before returning to PortMiami on July 6th, 2026.

While the itinerary spans a wide geographic range including Southeast Asia, Australia, the South Pacific, South America, Europe, the Mediterranean, and Northern Europe, the Middle East and Red Sea portion represents a strategically significant phase of the voyage.

The ship’s passage through the region provides a real-time operational test of long-haul cruising in waters that have seen shifting security dynamics in recent years.

Cruise lines operating international itineraries calling in the Middle East have in recent years been forced to reroute cruises at short notice due to the evolving security situation in the Red Sea.

Oceania Vista is scheduled to arrive in Muscat, Oman, on May 10th, 2026, followed by a call at Khasab on May 11th, and Abu Dhabi on May 12th, before making her first arrival in Dubai on May 13th, staying overnight at Dubai Cruise Terminal.

Oceania Vista returns to Muscat on May 15th, before continuing along the Arabian Peninsula to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where she is scheduled to call on May 20th ahead of calls in Safaga, Egypt, and a transit of the Suez Canal.

According to Oceania Cruises, the world voyage is highlighted by extensive destination programming, including shore excursions to 80 UNESCO World Heritage sites and 11 overnight stays in major ports such as Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Papeete, and Bali.

The itinerary also includes multi-day stays in Singapore, Phuket, Mumbai, Dubai, Safaga, and Bordeaux, allowing for deeper regional exploration.

Guests on board the 180-day voyage also have access to complimentary special onshore events and optional multi-day overland programmes, extending the cruise beyond port visits into broader regional itineraries.

Built by Fincantieri and delivered in 2023, Oceania Vista introduced a new class of ship to the cruise line’s fleet. At 67,000 gross tons, the vessel offers 11 dining venues and eight bars, lounges, and entertainment spaces, positioning her as one of the most modern ships currently operating global world cruises.