Seventh Oceania Cruises Ship To Be Named Vista – Other Cruise News: Cruise Re-Starts Continue – More UK Coastal Cruises Likely
by Kevin Griffin
A brief look this week at Oceania’s seventh ship, the Vista. And as with last week, the return of cruising is gaining momentum with Royal Caribbean Group adding two more ships in the Mediterranean, while further operators examine joining the UK coastal trades to English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh and Manx waters.
THIS WEEK’S STORY
Seventh Oceania Cruises Ship To Be Named Vista
Oceania Cruises last week announced that the first of its new 1,200-berth “Allura” class ships would be named Vista. The new pair are being constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri SpA.
The luxury vessel, the seventh for the line, will enter service in 2023, and will be followed by her sister ship in 2025. Vista will deliver ‘the finest cuisine at sea’, exceptionally personalised service with two staff members for every three guests, a warm and welcoming ambience and several unique firsts for the brand in the realms of dining and guest experience.
Oceania Cruises Allura Class Luxury Cruise Ship – OceaniaNEXT Announcement
“Oceania Cruises is an innovative and ever-evolving brand. We are always looking over the horizon, and Vista represents our view to the future,” stated Bob Binder, president & Ceo.
The Grand Dining Room will soar almost two decks in height and pay homage to the “beautiful age” of early 20th Century Parisian society through its contemporary interpretation of Belle Époque, not to mention some of the finest ocean liners of the 1920s and 1930s.
Vista will sail her first commercial voyage in early 2023. Measuring approximately 67,000 gross tons, she will accommodate 1,200 guests and be staffed by 800 officers and crew, offering industry-leading space and staff-to-guest ratios. Her sister ship will debut in 2025.
For additional information on Oceania Cruises’ small-ship luxury product, exquisitely crafted cuisine, and expertly curated travel experiences, ask your favourite cruise agent.
OTHER CRUISE NEWS
Cruise Re-Starts Continue
Celebrity Apex (Credit: Bernard Biger – Chantiers de l’Atlantique)
After individual ship re-starts by Royal Caribbean, first in Singapore, then in Haifa, Barbados and now Nassau and Bermuda, as well as Celebrity in St Maarten, the latest re-starts are Celebrity’s new Celebrity Apex, in Athens and Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas, in Cyprus.
ATHENS
Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Apex Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini & Haifa
CYPRUS
Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas Rhodes, Crete, Mykonos & Santorini
More UK Coastal Cruises Likely
Marella Discovery (Courtesy Marella Cruises)
Last week we outlined eight ships that will be offering short UK coastal cruises. More additions will probably bring this number to a dozen such ships fairly soon.
Marella Cruises by TUI is investigating offering such coastal cruises, possibly from Dover. If introduced, the short cruises would be used to test systems and protocols for their of its more distant ships that trade further afield.
And Folkestone-based Saga Cruises is planning to offer cruises to England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales as well as the Isle of Man.
These cruises would depart from Dover, just a few miles from Saga’s headquarters. The two newly-built Saga ships, Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure, carry up to 999 passengers each.
(Kevin Griffin is managing director of The Cruise People Ltd in London, England. For further information concerning cruises mentioned in this article readers can visit his blog)
